Calling all Current students to pick your brain! Thank you

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
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<p>NOTE: BTW, I posted the same kind of thread on the AU, UMD, and PSU boards. I you know anything about these schools, post there too. Thank you.</p>

<p>Hello all, I am an African-American male from Philly who is about to become a high school senior. For many months, I have been going through the whole “college preparation” thing with my parents. We’ve been going through it picking schools for a list and finally, I think I have a good list. UPenn is on it, and my stats are pretty reachy, but I have some safeties.</p>

<p>1190 SAT, 2.8-3.0 GPA (school doesn’t calculate GPA or rank students). Will have great recs, great essay, and am VERY involved in EC’s</p>

<p>I really don’t care right now about my chances for the school, as I have two safeties. What I want to know is the ATMOSPHERE of UPenn, and the little things that I wouldn’t be able to get out of the guidebook. Like, how’s the food there? Is there a lot of racial tension on campus? Do blacks/whites separate themselves from each other? How are the dorms (big, small, what do they come with?) Basically, just a whole lotta stuff about UPenn you think I should know. Good or bad. I am visiting the school soon, btw. Thank you.</p>

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<p>Honestly, I think there is some segregation of the black/white population on campus, but from what <em>I</em> personally can see, it is more a self-segregation by blacks who feel more comfortable around other blacks (i.e.- by living & associating primarily with people in DuBoise house), which may not even be intentional. That said, it is certainly easy to become involved in a group of friends who are mixed based on race/gender/preference of jam flavor, etc. It's not something that people care about.</p>

<p>Dorms are different depending on what you want. There is not one "typical" dorm at Penn- even within the seemingly cookie cutter exteriors of Quad houses there are rooms of every shape and size. You can apply for dorms that range from strict "dorm style" (single/double with shared hall bathrooms and kitchens) to "apartment style" (like an apartment, usually 3 or 4 room quads with their own kitchenette, bathroom, & common room), to everything in between.</p>

<p>Food: above Avg for college food, I would say. Not gormet. You're from Philly, so I don't have to go into the whole: get food off campus too, it's yummy, schpiel.</p>

<p>Just a suggestion: retake SATs... even for Philly admits I think they're a little low. :)</p>

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<p>I second that. I feel there are two groups of African-Americans--one that prefers to associate primarily with other African-Americans, and others that will associate with all people on campus.</p>

<p>There have been some problems with racial profiling by the campus security forces (they're in a no-win scenario; either they're being too aggressive or they're being too lax and there is no in-between for the poor guys). The President spent a lot of money on 'diversity training' for the security force so maybe that will help...</p>

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<p>did I really mispell dubois? jebus. No more staying up til 2 am for me.</p>

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<p>For all of those people who have provided their services, thank you. BUMP.</p>

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<p>if u get into Penn w. those stats, the world is coming to an end. I am sorry, this AA business frustates me like none other and the joke is when you ppl post your stats, all of the kids that know they need help w. AA post that they are HISPANIC URM or AFRICAN AMERICAN as to highlight that their stats can be overlooked b/c of their race. Complete B.S.!</p>

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<p>I'm not even going to get mad about this.</p>

<p>I just want you to know that grades and SAT's aren't the only things that colleges look at when reviewing an admissions candidate.</p>

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<p>buddy, why do u deserve to go the University of Pennsylvania? Just tell me what? UR GPA is horrible, ur sat is horrible, and u think u deserve to get into Penn. I am sorry, a lot more hard working kids deserve to get in there than someone who just hids behind his/her URM logo. Good luck buddy and you put the bad face on AA. I am sorry if i sound harsh, but this just irritates me to the nth degree. Good luck, and the joke is, you prob will make it to a good school.</p>

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<p>White kids post "white" as their race when posting their stats too. Are they hiding behind their "white logo"? Cool off, have fun at Cornell.</p>

<p>RBase: I would suggest improving your SAT scores is possible, working your ass off in the first quarter of next year, and applying ED. It is certainly possible for you to get in.</p>

<p>Thanks, Rbase, for not using "ur" and other hilarious typos in your post. :)</p>

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<p>I have nearly the same stats. I'm not gonna even apply unless i get a call from the Penn coach :p</p>

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<p>idk, if having fun at cornell was a sarcastic comment, but i will give you the benefit of the doubt. Thinkjose, idk if your a URM, but this kid has a 3.0 GPA and not even a 1200, and wants to go to a school that valedictorians with 1450-1500s can't even get in. Plz, come on.</p>

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<ol>
<li><p>He is an URM -- whether you agree with it or not Penn wants diversity</p></li>
<li><p>He is from Philly -- Penn likes taking Philly kids</p></li>
<li><p>He does indeed have a decent shot -- See PM</p></li>
</ol>

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<p>THIS POST ADDRESSES BOTH:</p>

<p>"idk, if having fun at cornell was a sarcastic comment, but i will give you the benefit of the doubt. Thinkjose, idk if your a URM, but this kid has a 3.0 GPA and not even a 1200, and wants to go to a school that valedictorians with 1450-1500s can't even get in. Plz, come on."</p>

<p>and</p>

<p>"buddy, why do u deserve to go the University of Pennsylvania? Just tell me what? UR GPA is horrible, ur sat is horrible, and u think u deserve to get into Penn. I am sorry, a lot more hard working kids deserve to get in there than someone who just hids behind his/her URM logo."</p>

<p>Alright everybody, you SEE what happens when I try to be nice to people and not get mad?! I THOUGHT I had said pretty clearly in my first post that I wasn't looking for an assessment of my SAT scores, GPA, and overall chances by anyone. What I needed was general information on the college itself. Instead, what I got was these two posts! All I have to say to you, collegekid1988, is that you are a loser. I hope you never go to college. With that kind of stuck-up attitude, you probably will get rejected everywhere you apply.</p>

<p>I feel really sorry for you. You assumed from jump-street that I think I "deserve to get into Penn", when I never said those words or even believed that my stats guaranteed me acceptance into a freakin' ivy league college. As a matter of fact, I clearly stated "my stats are pretty reachy [I assumed that everyone knew I was referring to UPenn here], but I have some safeties."</p>

<p>You said that I want to "go to a school that valedictorians with 1450-1500s can't even get in", which is absolutely true, but why do so many overrachievers get rejected every year. U Penn is a huge ass school, with plenty of seats to fill, to put it bluntly. So why do so many perfect scorers get told "No" every year? Hmmm... maybe because they rely purely on their <sarcasm> 1600 SATs and their 4.0 uw GPA </sarcasm> to carry them into the school of their dreams, instead of applying as an actual person, rather than a slate of perfect numbers. Maybe if they spent more time on crafting their personal essays and adding personality into their interviews, more of these perfect scorers would get accepted into the nation's great schools.</p>

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<p>buddy, I am going to Cornell. Have a nice day.</p>

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<p>WHy don't you just leave his thread you are just trolling. He didn't ask for an asessment of his stats or chances yet you give them and a handfull of flames to accompany. Grow up.</p>

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<p>aite, i will grow up and i am leaving this thread. just AA really infuriates me b/c this kid probably will get into Penn and i worked my freaking *** off and didn't get in there.</p>

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<p>would anybody else like to help me?</p>

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<p>"aite, i will grow up and i am leaving this thread. just AA really infuriates me b/c this kid probably will get into Penn and i worked my freaking *** off and didn't get in there."</p>

<p>I saw your post in another thread and understood that. And even as a black student I can understand where you're coming from</p>

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<p>Food's decent, but you get tired of it. Penn requires you to get a meal plan first year, most people stop getting it after that. Food trucks are AWESOME -- cheap, convenient, GOOD food. There are always a bunch parked outside the Quad and all over campus. </p>

<p>I would say there is self-segregation among any race. For black students, this is extremely prominent because of Du Bois, but there are, of course, many black students who aren't self-segregated.</p>

<p>There's heavy greek life, which I love. Also club life because of the city location.</p>

<p>Dorms are all different types. Freshmen tend to be in the Quad (Ware, F-H, or Spruce/Riepe) or Hill. I would suggest living there to meet new people. Hill rooms are TINY. There is no A/C in Hill or KC/EH. If you want apartment style living, then do Du Bois or any of the Highrises... but first year students find that it can be very lonely since mostly upperclassmen reside there.</p>

<p>Hope that helps. Good luck. :)</p>

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<p>RBase, I'm in agreement with thinkjose. You need to retake the SATs & get your GPA up before you apply. Aim for at least a 1300 (or whatever the equivalent is on the new SAT). Write REALLY good essays, because that's what will most likely make or break you. Apply Early Decision, you'll have a better shot that way. </p>

<p>But Penn is what you make of it. There's not many blacks here, but they do have a voice on campus. there are 11 college houses, each is different (except the high rises). take a look at the website to see what each college house is like. </p>

<p>if you have any other questions, just send me a PM.</p>

<p>:)</p>