Care to Look?

<p>Hey you guys. I am really interested in Upenn and have considered applying ED to CAS but my scores…well…they suck…but I just wanted to make sure so i can decide whether or not I should apply at all. Thanks you guys :)</p>

<p>2nd generation Korean-American
Born in Georgia, now residing in suburbs in California
Income bracket <40,000</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 unweighted, 4.67 weighted
Rank: 4/517 (for now…I think I will be moving up to 2/517 by next year)
PSAT: 190
SAT: ugh…690M, 650W, 640CR
ACT: 30 comp (30 English, 33 Reading, 30 Math, 27 Science)
31 (best combined comp) 34 English, 33 Reading, 30 Math, 27 Science
SAT II: 660 Math IIC, 670Bio E, 710 US History</p>

<p>Special Circumstances: nothing really, except that I moved from GA to CA in the second semester of my sophomore year and that GA did not offer AP classes to sophomores…so I technically had only 1 semester of AP World History…</p>

<p>10th:
AP World History: A (5 on exam)</p>

<p>11th:
Pre-IB Pre Calc/AP Calc AB: A
AP English Language: A (4)
AP US History: A (5)
AP Biology: A (4)</p>

<p>12th:
AP English
AP Calculus BC
AP Psychology
AP Economics
AP Physics</p>

<p>EC’s:

  1. National Honor Society 2 years</p>

<li><p>California Scholarship Federation 2.5 years </p></li>
<li><p>Latin Club 4 years (founder/instructor)
I had previously taken Latin in GA however, moving to CA which did not offer Latin, I decided to create a latin club and teach latin I and the culture to those interested)
I also took the National Latin Exam for Latin I and got bronze medal</p></li>
<li><p>Future Doctors of America 2 years (founder/co-president)
Basically, we bring guest speakers to our club meetings (neurosurgeons to pediatric cardiologists) who talk about their occupations, do volunteer work at local hospitals/Red Cross, do laboratory research at local biomedical institutions (Salk Institute of Biomedical Studies, UCSan Diego Medical School), volunteer approx 4-8 hrs/wk in local hospice (very fulfilling, I would definetly recommend everyone to volunteer, it is a maturing experience that you will never forget), and provide hands on experience to those interested in pursuing a medical profession.</p></li>
<li><p>LiNK-Liberty in North Korea 3 years (co-secretary/promotions director/public relations)
Spreading awareness upon the humanitarian crisis in North Korea and doing humanitarian activist promotions (ie: organized an all-day LiNK awareness assembly at school, protests in front of the Chinese Embassy in LA, sending petitions to various embassies and release North Korean detainees, host a benefit concert and raise $5,000 for SAFE Haven orphanages in China that are posts involved in an Underground Railroad to help NK refugees) I am a great advocate for this cause while many ppl in my church have dissapproved b/c they feel that I am simply straining the already tense relations our motherland: SKorea and NKorea and US. Nevertheless, I feel that this issue itself is my passion and energy not only b/c of the horrendous atrocities being committed right under our noses but also b/c some of my family members are in NKorea right now…and so, its not only a matter of human decency but of ultimate necessity. </p></li>
<li><p>Model UN 2 years (cofounder/activities director)
My involvement in LiNK led me to intiate our school’s 1st MUN chapter. (our school just opened in 2004…hence our class is the 1st graduating class for 2007!)</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Side note: I am very interested in studying international relations/US foreign diplomacy as well as a concentration in either Economics or HISTORY :)—not medicine though, just like getting involved within the medical field-never really considered being a doctor or nurse.</p>

<p>If youre only worry is your testing scores--then send that ACT! a 30 or a 31 is right in UPenns range, good luck!</p>

<p>umm...i really don't think a 30 will cut it for a non-urm, non-athlete, non-legacy...non whatever...any thoughts?</p>

<p>Isn't it a little late to be thinking about applying ED? </p>

<p>Although you're in the top 1% of your class and your ECs seem good, your SAT score is below 2000, considerably under Penn's average.
GPA and SATs are the most important factors... It'd probably be better if there was less of an imbalance -- Say, top 3% of your class, but a 2200 SAT.</p>

<p>Forget about ED, it's too late.
RETAKE your tests.</p>

<p>Also, have you considered Georgetown? </p>

<p>It's easier to get into and is also an excellent school with a better program in international relations.</p>

<p>thanks for your comments guys..georgetown is a possiblity at the moment, but I have heard that their financial aid is a notoriously bad</p>