Chance a 2014 legacy ED applicant (CAS)

<p>Applying ED for sure, UPenn is my first choice by far.</p>

<p>Stats:</p>

<p>Asian American, Female, HS senior.
Applying ED to CAS, planning to major in communications and minor in Korean Studies.
(Born and raised in America, American citizen, Korean is second language. Used this as one of my essays.)
Father graduated from Wharton, occasional money donor.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.84 UW/ 4.44 W.
School does not rank, but according to school profile, I am in the top 12-15%. Competitive public school ranked in Newsweeks top 20 schools, sends few students to top schools- About 5-10 students accepted each year to UPenn, but about 15-30 students to Cornell each year).</p>

<p>Test Scores:
SAT. W: 780, R: 680, M: 720 Composite Score: 2180
-Retaking SAT I in October, aiming between 2200-2300.</p>

<p>SAT IIs. World History: 720, Korean with Listening: 800
-Taking Literature and Math I subject tests in Nov, have to rush scores.</p>

<p>APs. US Gov, 4. Psychology, 5. World History, 5. English Lang, 5.
Taking AP English Literature, AP Spanish Language, AP Microecon + Macroecon this year.
My senior schedule is strong with mostly APs or honors courses, but my biggest weakness lies in that I have taken several elective courses throughout high school although my school offers a range of AP courses that I could have taken. I will be graduating with 7 APs. </p>

<p>ECs:
Rotary Interact Club (comm service club), 11-12. Pres this year.
Liberty in North Korea club, 10-12. Treasurer this year.
NHS, 12.
American Red Cross Club, 9-12.
Traditional Korean folk dance troupe, 4 yrs.
D.C. Christian body worship team, 5yrs.
Active involvement in church youth group, gr 6-present.
Intern at Korea Institute for Future Strategies, 2 consecutive yrs: summer of '08 and '09.
Tutor native Korean immigrants in English at local tutoring center, 6 yrs.
Assistant at local Korean language school, 11-12.</p>

<p>Extra/other:
1st place in statewide writing and editing contest for poetry division, 2008.
1st place in speech contest hosted by club. (won my position as President in rotary)
1st place in 2007 essay contest hosted by Korean-American local newspaper.
State Distinguished Scholar.
National Merit commendation.</p>

<p>2 teacher recs: one from Marketing teacher and one from AP US Gov + Sociology teacher, both of whom are very close to me. I am expecting superb recommendations.</p>

<p>Essays:
Wrote a very strong essay about my heritage and the importance of diversity, etc. Extremely relevant to the theme of my application.
I consider creative writing one of my strengths, so I'm expecting my essays to be decent. </p>

<p>So, truthfully, what are my chances?
UPenn supposedly admits about 30-40% of legacy applicants who apply early decision. Do you think I have a shot or should I not even bother? Thanks. :)</p>

<p>your class rank is kind of iffy</p>

<p>Yes, sadly. Guess a lot of pressure on the Oct SATs.</p>

<p>Do people with your rank often get into Penn? If not, you could be in serious trouble, though being a legacy improves your chances in the ED round.</p>

<p>To update this thread; my OCT SAT scores came out this morning.</p>

<p>R: 800
W: 800, essay: 11
M: 750</p>

<p>I’m planning on applying to major in Communications, so do you think the math score will hurt me much?</p>

<p>And does my SAT score compensate a little for my class rank?</p>

<p>I think you have a great shot! Your rank isn’t top-notch, but because your school is so competitive, I think it’s okay. Ask your GC where most admitted applicants rank though, to get a better idea. Congrats on your SAT! You must have been so excited this morning! There is no way your 750 math will hurt you. With the legacy ED boost, I think you have a slightly better shot of being admitted than of being rejected.</p>