<p>Objective:[ul]
[<em>] SAT I (breakdown):2350 (M: 780, W: 800, CR: 770) NOTE: This score is "superscored". I took the highest score from each of the sections from all the SAT's I have taken (three). My highest single sitting score is 2280.
[li] ACT: Not Taken[/li][li] SAT II: [/li][list]
[li]Math IIC (780)[/li][</em>]US History (770)
[<em>]Biology Molecular (7**30)
[</em>]Literature (730)
[<em>]Physics (700)
[/ul]
**NOTE: Will retake Literature in December, hoping for a 770+
[li] Unweighted GPA: 4.0[/li][li] Weighted GPA: 4.67[/li][li] Rank: 1/322[/li][li] AP Tests: [/li][ul]
[li]Biology (5)[/li][</em>]European History (5)
[<em>]US History (5)
[</em>]Calculus AB (5)
[<em>]Physics B (4)
[</em>]English Language/Composition (4)
[<em>]World History (5 - self studied, if that means anything?)
[/ul]
[li] IB: None taken[/li][li] Senior Year Course Load: [/li][ul]
[li] AP Calculus BC[/li][</em>]AP English Literature/Composition
[<em>]AP Macroeconomics
[</em>]Journalism
[<em>]U.S. Government
[</em>]Peer Tutoring
[/ul]
[<em>] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
[ul]
[li]National Merit Semifinalist[/li][</em>]AP Scholar w/Distinction
[/ul]
[<em>] Other Awards/Honors:
[ul]
[li]California Southern Baptist Convention Youth Bible Drill (2nd in state)[/li][</em>]Boy of the Month
[<em>]Essay published in anthology
[</em>]Poem published in anthology
[<em>]Selected as Senior Graduation Usher
[</em>]Nominated for Pepperdine Youth Citizenship Seminar
[/ul]</p>
<p>[/list]Subjective:[ul]
[<em>] Extracurriculars:
[list]
[li] School Newspaper (11-12, only upperclassmen allowed on staff)[/li]Positions: Editor-in-Chief, Staff Writer of the Year
[</em>] Student Council (10-12) Positions: Senior Vice President, Junior Treasurer
[<em>] Interact (9-12): Community Service Club Positions: Senior Treasurer
[</em>] Associated Student Body (10-12) Positions: Homecoming Committee
[<em>] Tennis (JV: 9-10, Varsity: 11-12) Positions: 2nd singles every year
[</em>] Asian Culture Club (10-12)
[li] California Scholarship Federation (9-12)[/li][/ul]</p>
<p>[<em>] Job/Work Experience: Babysitting (I put it as Childcare Assistant --> LOL!); quite a bit of work though (25 hours/week for summers 06-07)
[li] Volunteer/Community service: 500+ hours total[/li][ul]
[li] Covina Library Summer Reading Club Assitant[/li][</em>] Covina City Hall Human Resources
[<em>] Covina Parks and Recreation
[</em>] City of Hope
[<em>] Union Rescue Missions Trip
[</em>] Many, many Interact service projects
[/ul]</p>
<p>[<em>] Summer Activities:
[ul]
[li] Asian American Journalists Association - J Camp (pretty competitive to get into)[/li][</em>] California Golden Boys State (city Councilman)
[/ul]</p>
<p>[li] Essays:[/li][ul]
[li] Personal Statement: On my best friend, how we fuel each other intellectually (like to debate about philosophy)[/li][li] Short Essay: On my passion for journalism, school newspaper</p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]
[li] Teacher Recommendation: "One of the best students in my career" sort.[/li][li] Counselor Rec: Very good[/li][li] Additional Rec: From my journalism/student government advisor (same person, coincidentally) about my contributions to the newspaper/class of 2009</p>[/li]
<p>[/list]Other[ul]
[li] State: CA[/li][li] School Type: Public[/li][li] Ethnicity: Asian (Chinese <-- NOOOOO!)[/li][li] Gender: Male[/li][li] Income Bracket: 60-70k[/li][li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Not too priveleged area, last student to get into an ivy league was 5 years ago. One student got into UCB last year. One.[/li][/ul]</p>
<p>Reflection[ul]
[li] Strengths: test scores? gpa?[/li][li] Weaknesses: um, recs? essays? who the hell knows?[/li][/ul]</p>
<p>Don't be afraid to be brutally honest. I appreciate all input! :)</p>
<p>When you say “no one knows” for Wharton, meaning its what they call a “crapshoot” (hate that word)</p>
<p>Also if I apply to CAS under undecided, will it give me the opportunity to switch to Wharton/Engineer later on? Or is it really hard to do that?</p>
<p>well to the other schools im applying to im going in as undecided.
but for UPenn, with its unique system, I thought it would be best going is as a specified major.</p>
<p>yes, ive thought about it alot, but the thing is im truly “undecided” in all senses of the word.
(is it really a negative to put that down on your app, btw? In my case, would it be better to just put something i might be interested in?)</p>
<p>As evidence, here are the majors that I considered within the past four years of high school:
pre-med
business
computer science
engineering
philosophy
economics</p>
<p>there is a dural degree program with technology and wharton and u can still get considered for either wharton or engineering if u don’t get into the program
i would say in for all of them…wharton…i would say 80% just cuz it’s wharton, but u might have a great shot at the combined program</p>
<p>thanks for the info starcrane, would you be referring to the management/technology program?</p>
<p>I looked into that, I’m just really wary of having to write another essay unless i know its going to be worth it. Is there more information you could give me? The Penn website was a bit convoluted</p>
<p>I’d say you’d have a great chance at Wharton or HYP, for that matter. You’re a valedictorian with excellent SATs/SAT IIs and ECs. Just hope for the best. Don’t waste it on SEAS, apply to either CAS or Wharton. You can switch into engineering later if you must.</p>
<p>From my experience in the application decisions process:</p>
<p>Wharton: You have a medium to high chance of getting in.
CAS: You have a high chance of getting in.
Engineering: You have a low to medium chance of getting in. None of your activities suggests that you are engineer-oriented. Penn looks for involvement in your selected school.
Nursing: No.</p>
<p>People always underestimate the Engineering school’s selection process. “Don’t waste it on SEAS,” someone said. Statistically, Penn’s engineering department has the same internal acceptance rate as Penn’s Wharton. Nursing has the lowest acceptance rate, and CAS has the highest.</p>
<p>of course you have a chance. and your chances look really good. everything looks so much more impressive than mine…but you never know. good luck!</p>
<p>@lauke: thank you for the info. It’ll really help me in deciding. Concerning engineering, yea i don’t really have anything to show for in that department. Do you think that will hinder my chances of acceptance there, regardless of the other aspects of my profile?</p>
<p>Yeah, I can’t believe someone said not to “waste” it on engineering. No preprofessional degree can be called a waste…wasted degrees are those that are open-ended and won’t directly earn you a living (e.g. philosophy). Those majors happen to be concentrated in CAS. With your credentials, however, I’d advise you to not apply to SEAS. I’m not sure if you’ll have a good shot at Wharton either since you yourself said your school has a very poor reputation with the Ivies. If I were you, I’d apply to CAS and even go so far as to indicate you would like to major in English (which suits your credentials). Once you’re in, you can easily change your major to something that you’d like to pursue. Additionally, Asians who indicate they would like to major in English tend to be very attractive candidates for admissions to top colleges as they are in short supply. Good luck to you, whatever you choose to do!</p>
)</p>