being jewish and applying to Penn ED

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Hey guys, here are my stats and I was wondering if being Jewish would help/hinder my chances:</p>

<p>Female, White.</p>

<p>Weighted GPA: 101.89 (will increase with addition of Senior Year grades)</p>

<p>SAT: CR: 700 Math: 790 Writing: 720
SAT II: Physics: 730 Math II: 800 Chem: 750</p>

<p>IB Diploma Candidate
IB Courses I have taken/am currently taking:
IB Physics SL
IB Physics HL
IB Math Methods
IB English HL
IB History HL
IB Psychology
IB Biology HL
IB French 6
Theory of Knowledge
AP Calculus BC (This, Calc AB, and Stats are the only AP classes offered in my school)
I am also currently taking chamber orchestra and science research.</p>

<p>Awards:
-The George Washington University Engineering Medal
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences: for Excellence in the study of Mathematics and Science
-National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalist
-Long Island Science Congress Awards
Highest Honors
Alternate for New York State Science Congress
L.I.S.E.L.A. Alphonse Campbell Memorial Award
Dr. Howard Mofenson Memorial Award
-Long Island Science and Engineering Fair
3rd Place Award
-Research Association Competition (Rohm and Haas)
2nd Place- Senior Chemistry Division
-Nassau Community College Science Fair
2nd Place Award</p>

<p>Internships, Conferences, and Summer Activities:
-Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Partners for the Future Program
studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the construction and plasticity of GABAergic inhibitory circuits in the mammalian brain. Only 14 out of about 500 students accepted into program
-Summer Research at Brown University
Working with DNA X-Ray Crystallography. Project involving the protein structure of KsgA will be entered into research competitions such as Intel, Siemens/Westinghouse, Long Island Science Congress, ISEF, and Research Association.
-Independent Research
Worked with an investigation of the antimicrobial properties of Magnifera Indica Kernels
Received awards listed above in competitions such as LISEF, LISC, Research Association, Nassau Community College Science Fair, etc.
-Techniques in DNA Based Biotechnology Course at Brown University
-National Young Leadership Conference
-ACA Summer Abroad in Florence, Italy
Italian Language Course
Intermediate Photography Course</p>

<p>Activities:
-B'nai B'rith Youth Organization: President (2011-12); Treasurer (2009-11)
-Student Government Association: 1st Vice President (2011-12); Treasurer (2010-11)
-Youth Council: Chamber of Commerce Liaison (2011-12)
-French Club: Founder and President (2010-2012)
-Habitat for Humanity Club: Treasurer (2010-2012)
-The Challenge: MSGVarsity Televised Academic Competition
-Mathletes
-Science Olympiads
-Engineering Club
-Quiz Bowl
-Forensics Club</p>

<p>Volunteer Work:
-American Cancer Society Relay for Life
Team Leader
-Kicking for the Cure Volunteer
-Pediatricians for Central American Children
Fundraising Volunteer
-Project Hope Volunteer
-Sunrise Day Camp
Year-Round Volunteer
-Peer Tutor</p>

<p>Honors:
-French Honor Society
-High Honor Roll
-Junior Honor Guard
-National Honor Society
-Science Honor Society
-The National Society of High School Scholars</p>

<p>Athletics:
-Varsity Spring Track and Field: 9th and 10th grade
-Varsity Winter Track and Field: 9th and 10th grade
-Volleyball
Rising Star award in 9th grade
Captain of Junior Varsity in 10th grade</p>

<p>My Essays should be pretty good, as well as my letter of recommendations.</p>

<p>Please let me know if you think I have a chance! Thanks!</p>

2

<p>I’m confused. Why would being Jewish increase your chances of getting in? That being said, you have a good shot.</p>

3

<p>thats why I was asking. I heard that because they have a significant jewish population, theyre more inclined to retain it by continuously accepting a fair amount of jewish kids. then again, it could just be because a lot of jewish kids apply to penn. who knows?</p>

<p>also, do you think that if there are a few other kids from my school who are very qualified, that my chances will be diminished to “unlikely” of acceptance ED?</p>

4

<p>You have a great background. I can’t imagine how they could possibly reject you.</p>

<p>However, in my opinion, being jewish may actually hurt you, because if they consider you to be in an “over” represented group, like the asian-americans are, then your spot might be given to a URM.</p>

<p>I am jewish. A lot of jews on CC have scolded me for saying this, because they say it simply isn’t true, and point to the incredibly high percentage of jews at some of the top colleges, and they tell me I am living in the past (which no doubt is true, because I am 55 years old)</p>

<p>However, my response to that is that I am still not so sure of this, because just because a college is 20% jewish, and jews make up 2% of the population, that this is not necessarily evidence of total fairness, because perhaps the pool of jews applying really deserved to make up 30% of the class, if done strictly on merit. In other words, just because there are a lot of asian-americans at some UC colleges does not mean that they are still not being subjected to reverse discrimination at those colleges, if their “true” percentage, if based totally on merit, might have been even higher. </p>

<p>That being said, I think you will be accepted. You are super qualified. In your case, I think being jewish would be basically irrelevant. I don’t think that they could reject you with a straight face.</p>

5

<p>wow, thanks!
I actually dont remember if I checked off a box that said “Jewish” or if i’m just imagining it… but nevertheless I did mention BBYO in one of my essays because it is a big part of my life. (BBYO is B’nai B’rith Youth Organization which is an international jewish youth group)</p>

<p>Anyway, I really appreciate your optimism, it definitely made my day! I truly hope I am accepted, even with the other competitive applicants from my school applying ED…</p>

6

<p>You will be compared to the other applicants from your school. No question about that. How many are legacy? You need to be the top student in that group if you are not a legacy. Being Jewish has nothing to do with anything</p>

7

<p>1 is legacy. Better 2400 score but lower 1600 score. Approximately same sat2s. Exact Same course schedule. She does take science research but does not do any out of school research other than a psych project to submit to intel (my project deals with my KsgA research at brown)
She is my best friend haha so it’d be nice if one of us didn’t have to get rejected. I was told we would not be compared against each other directly, only within the regional pool</p>

8

<p>Opposite. I’m also jewish from long island. Do you know how many of me and my jewish friends in the same school of my 100 class grade applied to penn? Probably like 15 haha. Every jewish kid from ny is applying ed to penn so just try and stand out.</p>

9

<p>Haha oh jeeze, great. THanks.</p>

10

<p>haha good luck!</p>

11

<p>My son faced the same situation of being one of several students from his HS applying ED to Penn. They still took several kids and it was a mixture of athletes, legacies and unhooked students. You have amazing stats. In all likelihood both you and your friend will get in though no question, she is in the better position as a legacy. If Penn is where you want to go then that’s where you should apply early. There’s no crystal ball and you have as a good a chance as anyone. Good luck. Let us all know what happens.</p>

12

<p>You have a lot of things listed here. Remember you will only be able to submit the significant ECs/Awards on the Common App</p>

13

<p>@pensandpencils, my uncle is good friends with some active alumni and they all told him that the new dean of admissions is very set on connections not affecting admissions; however, the website still says that under the Early Decision plan, children of alumni receive preference in accordance with standard university policy. What are your thoughts? </p>

<p>@CrazyPluto, I picked the 10 that I felt were best but I am also attaching an activity sheet. Do you have any idea which activities you think I should make sure to include?</p>

14

<p>^ Penn is still very dedicated to its legacy admissions program. Both Admissions Dean Eric Furda and President Amy Gutmann regularly mention this. However, they also stress that it really only helps during Early Decision. Keep in mind, though, that more than 60%–and perhaps even more than 70% with the recent rise in applicant numbers–of legacy applicants are rejected every year. It’s really an all-else-being-equal kind of benefit.</p>

15

<p>Yeah my friend and I (both early decision) are about the same. She has slightly higher GPA and SAT though and she is legacy. That’s why I’m concerned they’ll look at us both and just pick her</p>

16

<p>@iwantyoupenn</p>

<p>is your high school special/prep school? will it make you stand out amongst the crowd? Also, aside from your friend is there anyone else apply to UPenn? I’ve been reading the boards, and I’ve gathered that the iveys tend to take like a quota, a limited amt of kids from the same school…?</p>

17

<p>My school is public but it’s ranked top 40 in the nation and it’s one of the largest IB diploma programs in the country. Also, there may be a couple of other students applying ED but I’m not sure</p>

18

<p>What is Penn’s admission history with your high school? In other words, what is the average number of kids applying early to penn from your HS and what percentage have been admitted, over the past 5 years. I understand your concern about your friend who is comparable to you and also has legacy but I see no reason for you to be passed up by Penn. You have very strong credentials and it sounds like you come from a very good school that probably sends kids to the Ivies every year. ??</p>

19

<p>I went to a very competitive high school too and I remember being very anxious about another girl in my advisory applying early to Penn with me. However in the end they liked us both, so we were the two accepted early that year (along with an athlete) and now are happily at Penn.</p>