Is the Program focused more on Business or International Relations? I would like to Double Major in International Relations and Economics.
My Stats:
Unweighted GPA: 3.79
Weighted GPA: 4.27
ACT Score: 31 (Up 1 point from a 30, I can’t take it again, I’ll be gone this summer)
Class Rank: Top 10%-- 72/732, subject to change though
Current Course Load:
Honors Physics, AP Biology, AP Language and Composition, Honors Pre-Calculus, Government, Latin III
Senior Course Load: AP Econ, AP Literature and Comp, AB Calc, AP Latin, AP Computer Science Principles, Art (this is a required class)
Extracurriculars:
Varsity Football
Varsity Track
Communications Officer in School Cultural Club,
Tutor at local elementary school
I also tutor struggling high school students
Work around 15 hours a week at Old Navy
Member of Model UN
NHS
Personal Hook:
I am a quadruplet and they’re all just as “smart”, if not smarter than me. We are African-American (so URM status I guess?), and, although we are well above average fiscally (my parents’ combined income is upwards 200K) , we still can’t really pay for college.
Hook EC:
National Security Language Initiative for Youth scholarship recipient. I will go to Morocco on a State Department scholarship to learn Arabic this summer and will return proficient in the language as a result (it is highly selective and very intensive (like 7% or lower acceptance rate. 600 get it total, and around 200 for the Arabic program)
Be kind to this fragile soul. Lol.
Your class rank and your ACT scores are too low for Penn. Huntsman is one of the hardest programs to get into at Penn also. Being URM is certainly a hook, but I doubt they will overlook your scores.
Aight. But I looked and both my GPA and test scores are in range for Penn. My GPA is average, and my ACT is in the bottom 25%. So why do people always say my scores are too low?
Edit: Actually according to college data my ACT is in the bottom range for the middle 50% percent of applicants (31-34)
Here is the link I used: http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg01_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=67
@sgopal2
All day, no replies?
Bump.
Your test scores and gpa are way too low. Those ranges include everyone who gets into UPenn, not just the huntsman program. Lotta athletes and whatnot with 30 ACT who bring down these averages.
Oh okay gotcha. Well, even if I couldn’t get into Huntsman (still gonna apply anyway) is there a chance I could get into UPenn for Int. Relations? Or even Georgetown SFS?
Do you have a chance with scores at the 25th percentile? Sure, but its going to be much lower than other candidates. I really doubt you would be competitive for Huntsman. You might have a shot at other majors. If you weren’t URM then it would not even be worth discussing. But if you decide to apply to Penn, then your only hope is to apply ED.
Good luck
Okay thanks for your input everybody!
I’m tired of all the negativity by all the other posts. Sure, you’re not a shoo-in by any means, but it’s definitely worth applying if you were a URM or not. There have been people admitted with your stats.
Make sure you really make yourself stand out with your essays, I can’t stess this point enough. They really do make or break an application. After a while, admission officers become jaded reading hundreds of (frankly boring) essays. This is the way you can set yourself from the rest.
Thanks for the advice @Janizary. I agree, people on CC always seem so negative on chances posts. I know for a fact that people have gotten in to Ivies with my stats. It’ll be harder sure. But not impossible by any means.
@NikkuWadde Hang in there! Like yours, my stats were far from perfect and I’m likely heading to Penn this fall.
Bump. Anyone have any other thoughts? Not just about UPenn, but any Ivy, as well as Georgetown SFS.
You need to try to get your ACT up to 33. You have the summer to prep. You can take ACT or SAT in October and get score in time, at least ACT you will. Wharton prefers business related ECs. Run the Net Price Calculators (NPCs). If annual income is near $200,000 your net costs will be $45-60,000/year. UPenn ED is probably your best shot. They are clear that they are an early decision school. Their ED admission rate is 25% although it’s a bit deceiving because part of that is athletes and legacy. If you really want U Penn, apply ED for your best shot. Other Ivies, maybe Brown. Harvard, Yale, Princeton give the most aid but also the hardest to get in.
For Georgetown, I would still say you need to have a 32-33 to have a shot but I haven’t looked at their 25/75 breakout. Knowing that most of the Top 20 schools either don’t give merit aid or only give it for the absolute top students is important since you will not get much need based aid.
I I’m not sure of it I can take the ACT again @Sportsman88. I’ll be in Morocco on that scholarship I mentioned. Btw, Georgetown’s 25% is 29. Their 50% is 30-33 and their 75% is 34+. And also, would my EFC be lower b/c my parents would have to pay for 4 kids going to college all at once? I ran the numbers for Georgetown, and they would give me like $45,000 in aid.
@NikkuWadde I have read everything I can on the Huntsman because I would like my daughter to apply for it. Have you read through the Frequently asked Questions for the Huntsman program? Here is a link http://huntsman.upenn.edu/admissions/faq. A couple things that jump out at me are that you need to take the SAT subject test in math level 2 and that you will have to take a placement test in Arabic as an applicant. NSLIY is a huge accomplishment, Congratulations!!!
Thanks @Ldoponce. I’ve already applied for the subject tests and will be taking: Literature, Biology, and Latin. (I didn’t know that the math SAT 2 was recommend when I applied, oh well). I’m gonna apply without the Math SAT b/c taking it in the fall will be too late anyways. I’m taking AB calc next year so hopefully that makes up for it.
Are you sure the Fall is too late? I’ve heard multiple schools say you can take the October test. Also, you need to be looking at the 75 score, not the 25 or your chance will be much lower than the overall selection rate. I’m just trying to help.
ACT publishes your score within two weeks. College Board is attrocious with delays in in SAT scores.