Penn is my favorite school I’ve seen. My parents and brother also went there. My college counselor said to apply ED to Penn, because it is the only school that I would be able to use legacy at. He said it was “a bit of a reach”, but that I should apply early. I told him my concern was that if I used my ED on Penn and they didn’t accept me, that my target schools (Boston University, Case Western, Northeastern) wouldn’t accept me regular decision and that I’d have to go to a safety/foundations school. He told me that ED was not a “strategy” for getting into school.
So, here are my stats:
GPA is 3.53, my school doesn’t weigh them.
Old SAT: reading 670, math 690, writing 670
New SAT: reading and writing 680, math 630 (I don’t think they superscore between old and new)
AP Calc AB: 5
AP Spanish Language and Culture: 3
I am currently taking AP Studio Art, AP Physics Level C, AP Statistics.
White, female, high income family
I go to one of the best private schools in DC. I’ve played violin since for years old and have played at The White House twice. I started playing guitar when I was 14. I was a program assistant at a computer camp, teaching kids how to code. I have 70 hours of community service, 45 from an animal shelter and 25 from a thrift shop. I also did pre-college at RISD. I did JV cross country freshman and sophomore year. I’m planning on studying physics and fine art at the college of arts and sciences.
I feel extremely average. Like, average on a NATIONAL scale. My college counselor thinks I should actually try. It would be a dream, but I just don’t see it happening. Even with a well-written essay and two recommendations from teachers who really like me.