Athlete with less than stellar resume...

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I just want to give a little bit of background concerning myself and this most important situation.</p>

<p>Firstly, I need to emphasize that I am entirely realistic about my credentials as a potential applicant. My resume is less than standard. The only figures that I have to my advantage are my two 700 scores on the SAT (critical reading and writing) and two AP courses that I posted rather mediocre scores in (AP Literature and AP Lang & Comp, 3's in both). I'm not trying to circumvent humiliation, but I'll just say that my GPA is most certainly not a 4.0 or even approaching that. Before I moved to consult anyone I have already been on the College Confidential messageboards extensively, scavenging for information about the University of Pennsylvania, the stringency of its admissions, and most importantly the difficulty of the curriculum.</p>

<p>It doesn't take much rumination to conclude that, based off of the information presented, my chances are almost zero. But that's just looking at my resume alone.</p>

<p>Let me throw this in...</p>

<p>I am a pretty goddamn good football player. I'm nationally ranked on several major football recruiting websites and hold several D-I FBS and FCS offers. This is NOT to insinuate that I anticipate admissions will lower their standards simply to accommodate one who is athletically adept---perhaps more so than academically. But recently, the coaching staff at UPenn has recruited me and has been very enthusiastic in their pursuit of me and their hopes of getting me admitted.</p>

<p>Allow me to elucidate for you how their system for recruiting operates. The school allocates a certain number of admissions spots (which would be full-ride scholarships at most D-I football programs) that the football coaching staff is responsible for fufilling via recruitment of high school players. Within this system there are three different tiers---echelons---each determining how many athletes meeting specified academic standards can be admitted. The first tier has the highest admissions expectations and accordingly has the most number of admissions positions available. The second tier is less so than the first. The third tier has just a modicum of positions available for signing. I was told that, based off of my credentials (or lack thereof) I fall into that third category. Because of my athletic aptitude, the coaches are extremely impressed and enthusiastic about seeking my acceptance. According to the coaches, my chances of getting in are currently "okay".</p>

<p>With many D-I athletic programs, especially the better ones, the opinion of the coach recruiting a player holds a significant amount of weight in the potentiality of that players admittance. If a player has a resume that is rather unimpressive (horrid, even, by some standards) if they meet the NCAA minimum qualifications and the coach pulls enough strings, the player is in. Of course, in this instance the athlete is in virtually only to play football and to likely have their coaches lobby on their behalf to score almost free grades from resentful instructors.</p>

<p>Being so rigid, I suspect UPenn differs a bit in its approach. Sure, I'm African-American, I'm a highly touted football player, I'm an excellent writer (though perhaps no better than average by UPenn standards), I have done community service, I took APs, etc (I'm not impoverished, perhaps unluckily so in this instance)---but for a school with such selective standards as UPenn, my resume is flat out unimpressive. There is no circumventing this.</p>

<p>I'm not really seeking to inquire about my chances of getting in. Few of you, if any, have had any experience with being recruited not only for athletics but for football which universally gets more attention and a slightly different regard from university administration than other programs. I've been getting recruited and offered scholarships by football programs from West Point to UAB since 2008, so I'm quite cognizant of this fact through experience. Concerning the objective opinions of any current attendees of UPenn this does not mean that I do not believe you could have practical and useful input, but it won't entirely be in the perspective of identifying with my situation as one who is being pursued primarily for his athletic talents.</p>

<p>I mainly want to know---coming from the standpoint of someone who isn't as qualified (at least in a quantitative sense) as other applicants and attendees,---is UPenn worth pursuing? I for one believe greatly in my ability and potential and I know that to succeed at anything sometimes requires a certain degree of aptitude but more often than not requires strong work ethnic and devotion. As I am a realist and one not given to circumvention, I must acknowledge that more often than not a resume is indicative of how well one fits a particular institution---hence why they are so commonly used in the application process. Honestly, in high school I did not work hard enough. I know ultimately this is an endeavor that I have to determine whether or not I want. But still, despite my aspirations and hopes, even if I do somehow manage to get accepted will I be getting myself into a hot water?</p>

<p>From a realistic standpoint---is it worth it?</p>

<p>I apologize for the dissertation, but I do hope someone will be willing to assist and provide some cogent and reflective feedback.</p>

2

<p>I personally think it’s been easier than high school so far. Sure, the curves are sometimes tough, but to be totally honest, not everyone here is a genius. Assuming that your post was written somewhat spontaneously and did not require five hours of revising, then at least your writing skills are better than those of several people in my writing seminar…</p>

<p>If you feel like you didn’t work hard enough in high school and still manage to get in, then I’m sure you can do well if you actually put some effort.</p>

3

<p>No—it only took four hours. I’m kidding, :-p</p>

<p>Well, it’s good to know that at least my writing ability might be more practical and beneficial at UPenn than I had previously assumed.</p>

<p>What is the math curriculum like? How rigorious is it?</p>

4

<p>I’m in Wharton and haven’t taken any math here yet, so I’m not really sure. Stat 101 wasn’t too bad though, just a set of problems every week or two that took anywhere from 3-6 hours.</p>

<p>What major are you thinking about?</p>

5

<p>I am not entirely cognizant of what all of the majors are off-hand (naturally, for I am sure there are many) but I am thinking more in the realm of English, Literature, Philosophy, or Political Sciecne. I have the intent of studying law upon graduation (if providence does not allow me to be drafted into the NFL).</p>

6

<p>I do feel its worth mentioning that I was involved in a few community service ventures. I served in the Urban League one summer volunteering for a Disability Clinic, I was involved with an enviornmental cleanliness program my junior year, and I was involved in a few other community service endeavors as well.</p>

<p>Not as extreme as some of the applicants who are up at 4AM every Saturday simply so they can bolster their resume, but better than nothing I suppose.</p>

7

<p>blinkdog, it is refreshing to see someone in these forums not obsessing over admission and taking a more realistic look at whether Penn is a good fit for him/her.</p>

<p>I know some students who have been admitted for non-academic merits and those students aren’t faring very well. One person I am particularly close to has several tutors help him on a weekly basis and he is still not getting grades that would place him into a good graduate school.</p>

<p>Considering your ultimate goal is law school and law school requires a strong academic record, I believe you are better served in a less academically intense environment where you can be a bigger fish in a smaller bowl. Also, please consider you are going to incur considerable costs by going to graduate school, a blow that can be softened by accepting a full ride for your undergraduate studies.</p>

8

<p>Thank you for your practical and realistic insight.</p>

<p>This anecdote that you have shared about your friend actually speaks volumes about the enviornment at Penn. Seeing as I am not one who devotes nearly that much attention to my studies, perhaps it could mean that if I did do so I could succeed…or perhaps it means that if I haven’t been inculcated with those habits yet it’s simply going to be difficult to try to pull them off in college, especially at a place like UPenn, and expect good results.</p>

<p>I do want to attend law school and I am certain law schools across the board would be far more impressed with my academic credentials if I graduated in the top 1% of UAB rather than just the top 75-80% of a place like UPenn…something that, considering my background, isn’t all that difficult to envision.</p>

<p>I do think UPenn has very strong programs in the subjects that I seek to study, which is quite enticing, but I’m still trying to look at the bigger picture. Bottomline, it does offer a better education.</p>

<p>Aren’t UPenn’s classes graded on a curve? Which means everyone’s grade is based on their performance relative to others?</p>

9

<p>this is a breath of fresh air.
personally, im tired of people here on CC calling their SAT scores mediocre despite getting 2300+… urghhh…
so good to know that there are few good people like you, blinkdog.</p>

<p>to answer your question, most of the time, upenn professors use the bell curve system. however you will encounter others who use a standard system of 90-100 for As and so forth.</p>

10

<p>A very refreshing post and very pragmatic. It seems to me that you have decided that your future is in taking advantage of your athletic abilities to get the best educational exposure you can (going to an institution that is focused on academics and research). The alternative is go to a Div I or II school with a good football program with the chance (however low or high) that you can make it to the NFL. I have seen both types of athletes, so my question is have you decided which way you want to go and are you comfortable with the decision?</p>

<p>In other words, are you holding out all options and will make a decision once you get an offer or have you decided that in the end, academics is the most important and you want to get to a school which has very good academics but will give a football scholarship? If so, make a list of other schools like UPenn and go from other as back up if UPenn does not work out i.e. schools with good academics and football programs.</p>

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<p>One measure of how you would fare at Penn would be to think about the type of high school you go to. If you are at a mediocre school and in the middle to the bottom of the pack academically, then you might have issues at Penn. However, if you go to a competitive private or public school and you are in the middle, then you would probably be able to handle the workload at Penn.</p>

<p>I have a child currently at Penn and I think that the grading for English and humanities classes is not that difficult and the requirements (papers etc.) have been fairly manageable. However, it is much more difficult to get an A in math and econ classes and probably in the pre-med track as well.</p>

12

<p>I attended two high schools. The school I attended in my senior year was in Montgomery County, Maryland, which is near the top in school disctricts nationally. My school district in South Carolina was also quite challenging and really not much more strenuous academically than my school in Maryland. I would say that my educational enviornment has been relatively tough throughout my school career, especially in high school, since I attended school in school districts with sufficient funding and high quality instructors, resources, etc…</p>

<p>I’m still trying to get some more perspective from more students at UPenn as well as people that know individuals at UPenn. Thanks for all of the responses thus far.</p>

13

<p>I’d just like to note that reading this was nice…grammar perfecto :)</p>

<p>I would say just try to show an upward trend with your grades this year, and with athletic assistance, you may get in. I’m a junior pursuing recruitment at top schools next year (different sport though) so I’ve researched that it can definitely help. Perhaps an interview would be good for you…you seem to be really skilled in writing and I’m sure you’d make a great interviewee as well. That might help with admissions.</p>

14

<p>My advice, for what it is worth, would be to use your very impressive athletic talents to get into the very best university you can. Univ. of Penn. is one of the very best universities in the US, and your degree from there is one you can be proud of for the rest of your life. Regarding your strong SAT scores, you most likely have the necessary aptitude. I believe that once you are there, in that environment, you will be more motivated to focus on your academics, with much riding on that. I would focus on the best college possible for you right now, and then move onto graduate school concerns. Don’t assume you won’t do well enough for a good graduate school…Good luck with it all.</p>

15

<p>I will contemplate that suggestion. Actually, I think that’s quite practical. I am capable of writing a persuasive essay for admissions—I have before (not for UPenn, however). Being a football recruit, I’ve never really had to interview for college but I do believe I am eloquent enough to convey my sentiments and desires to admissions.</p>

<p>I’ll suggest to the football coaches to ensure that I get an interview as well as an essay.</p>

16

<p>You know, what you’re saying sounds really good.</p>

<p>I’m assuming that you’re already an attendee at UPenn—if not, do correct me—so the fact that you would express this does speak volumes.</p>

<p>Problem is…and its a BIG problem…my math SAT wasn’t so hot. I’m not sure how centered the curriculum at UPenn is centered around math but obviously being such a selective and tough university there are at least some requirements for students. And my math ineptitude is a serious problem, even in high school this was the one subject in which I struggled greatly across the board. This is definitely worth nothing</p>

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<p>This is merely a question of curiosity, but if you are as good at football as you say you are how can you be in the “3rd tier?” It’s not like many other football recruits have 2300+ SAT scores and 4.0s.</p>

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<p>I was ranked as a top 30 national prospect at my position by Scout.com and in the 60s by ESPN…which is certainly D1 FBS level. I stated already that I have several scholarship offers from FBS and FCS schools, a few of which are quite good actually (at least on the gridiron).</p>

<p>I explained that the tiers are arranged not by athletic ability but rather by academic credentials. According to the coaching staff based on my credentials I am in the classification level to which they are only allocated a few spots for admissions. The first and second tier have more spots available and recruits are classified based on academic credentials. Obviously there’s more room to bring in players with better academic credentials.</p>

<p>Most football players may not have GPA’s in the 4’s…but I’d be willing to bet that most of them have high school GPA’s that exceed mine.</p>

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<p><strong><em>Bump</em></strong></p>

20

<p>

Attended? Have you graduated?</p>