<p>Hi everyone, this my first post on CC, so tell me if I left anything out! I'm a junior and a legacy at penn (my dad went to both the college and the law school). I plan on applying there early decision.</p>
<p>GPA: UW 3.7 W 4.14 (I go to an extremely competitive NJ high school which gives us each a decile, I will be at the top of the second decile- probably top 11-15%. I also have a STRONG upward curve [4.0 sophomore to 4.28 junior])</p>
<p>Extra Curriculars: Varsity tennis team 4 years, editor of the yearbook</p>
<p>Community Service: Two years ago my friend and I cofounded a program through which the tennis teams of our high school provide a twice a week tennis clinic for the kids of the Boys and Girls Club of Newark (the program has received statewide recognition including newspaper articles, statements from the mayor of Newark etc.)</p>
<p>I really love Penn, and hope to explain in my essays the parallel between the progress that UPenn has brought to the community of Philly and what I've been doing in Newark. My twin brother is also applying to UPenn with me, and has a stronger GPA, what effect might this have on my admission? </p>
<p>Your GPA is a bit lower than average for admits, but if, as you say, your school is exceptionally competitive gradewise, then Penn will know this and view it accordingly. Best way to gauge this is to ask people at your school (friends, counselors, etc.) what colleges students with your GPA /scores got into this year and in previous years (and assume it will be a bit harder next year ) Your chances also depend on whether you plan to apply to Wharton, which is more selective.</p>
<p>One thing I noticed, though, is that you didn’t include Calculus (either AB or BC) in your list of taken or planned APs. Unless this was an oversight, you should really consider this if it is at all possible, as Penn expects most incoming students to have taken Calculus if it is offered at their school. This is especially true for Wharton and Engineering, where is it almost a requirement.</p>
<p>Thanks Homerj. I plan on taking accelerated calculus next year, as well as accelerated physics, so hopefully, although neither is AP, this will help as I will have taken four years of every core subject.</p>
<p>Being a twin with legacy will really help. There was an article in the Daily Pennsylvanian recently about how the admissions officers just love their multiples. I’m a twin and applied ED with legacy, except my brother didn’t apply to Penn.</p>
<p>Admissions officers at every college prefer to either accept or reject twins together to prevent any bad feelings between the two, so if your brother is a strong applicant too, then your chances are even better.</p>
<p>You should try to improve your extracurriculars though, since they seem to be the weakest part of your application.</p>
<p>Although Penn says “legacy does not count” RD, they are not being entirely truthful; trust me. Legacy could very well mean the difference between a waitlist and an acceptance for RD; any type of hook these days – however slight – helps in the admissions process (regardless of what admissions officers say (or are advised to say)).</p>
<p>May be they are not truthful but this is what they said during a presentation when someone with legacy asked the question at the school during the adcom presentation (Upenn Philadelphia) (I differentiate this with an alum comducting a presentation in hometown, USA).</p>
<p>So if an adcom is telling a legacy during a presentation at UPenn, I am not going to assume they are lying especially when I am not impacted in anyway with how legacy works.</p>
) Your chances also depend on whether you plan to apply to Wharton, which is more selective.</p>