Chance a Senior?

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>So here are my stats:</p>

<p>GPA: 4.00 unweighted,
4.5 weighted. (My weighted would be higher if I took a partial schedule instead of a full one, as many of my peers do.)</p>

<p>I will have taken 11 AP classes by the end of this year. On past AP tests, scores are split evenly, with three 5's and three 4's.</p>

<p>Senior year schedule: AP Lit, AP Human Geography, AP Psychology, AP Calc, AP French, Honors Pre-Engineering, Photo Digital.</p>

<p>SAT I: 2270
780 CR
800 W
690 M</p>

<p>SAT II: 770 Biology E, 730 US History</p>

<p>Extracurriculars: (I know they're very average for an ivy applicant...)</p>

<p>Editor-in-Chief of Literary Magazine (10, 11, 12)
Secretary of Envirothon (10, 11, 12)
Patrol Leader in Girl Scouts (We do a TON of community service) (2-12)
Committee Chair in Rise to Interact (also community service) (9, 10, 11, 12)
SPCA Volunteer (10, 11, 12)
Model UN - delegate (12)
National Arts Honor Society (11, 12)
National Honor Society (12)
National Youth Leadership Conference (9)
Horseback Riding (10 years; did team in 11th grade)</p>

<p>I also studied abroad in Kenya this summer through Boston University and earned 4 college credits. (college-junior level course. Did fieldwork/research. Conducted an official wildlife count of Amboseli National Park - something that most grad students aren't able to do, apparently. Our data was stored as the official data for that count.)</p>

<p>Work Experience</p>

<p>Camp Counselor at Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (Summer 2010)
Stable Hand (11) </p>

<p>Thank you very much to anyone who will help me!</p>

2

<p>The definition of “average ECs” has become so broad that it’s tough to correctly label what’s “average” and what’s not.</p>

<p>I’m assuming you’re a girl who’s applying to SEAS, so that’ll help. But honestly, Ivy League admissions are so random that I’d rather not give anyone false hope by saying that they’re in, if they could very well be rejected in the end. There’s nothing that I see that can hurt you, though.</p>

3

<p>If what Excavalier says is true (that you’re applying to SEAS), that math SAT score will hurt you a lot.</p>

4

<p>Apply and see what happens. Wouldn’t be surprised of your acceptance</p>

5

<p>Actually, I’m applying to the college of arts & sciences. But yes, I am a girl.
Does applying to that particular school hamper my chances?</p>

6

<p>In that case I think you have a fairly good chance. You’re definitely qualified.</p>

7

<p>Traditionally, Wharton and SEAS are male/asian heavy where as the College of Arts and Sciences is usually pretty split gender wise and comparable to other ivies on ethnicity. So being a girl and applying to CAS as a girl won’t hurt you, but its not really a plus either, its just neutral compared to other applicants</p>

8

<p>Essays count more than ecs or even gpa and SAT scores at PENN. How well do think you did with your essays and how good will your teacher recommendations be?</p>

9

<p>@pennforme</p>

<p>That’s not true. They are viewed differently, but no one aspect is viewed <em>more</em> heavily than another.</p>

10

<p>They are viewed differently, but the essay is very important. As for OP, it seems like you have a lot of intrest in the environment/wild life. This is good, and if you expressed this well in your essays then I think you have an above average chance.</p>

11

<p>Well it’s hard to know for sure, but I am lead to believe that essays and recommendations can really make or break your application. This is because they expose you as a person in a way that SAT scores, gpa, and a list of extracurriculars does not. I personally think that people tend to overemphasize the need for “amazing ecs”. Most people I know here did regular ecs but were very into them and that is why the stood out. I think gpa and SATs go hand in hand, they can’t really have context in isolation.</p>

12

<p>Essays and recommendations can make or break an application, as can SAT scores and GPA, as can mediocre/outstanding ECs, but no one more than another. If anything, I’d say test scores and GPA put the applicant through the qualifying round; it’s the first step toward consideration. If you can’t handle the school work, no amount of passion – be it for Penn or for your ECs – will earn you a spot in the school. The point is, the trifecta beats the pair beats the single.</p>

<p>If it were up to me however, I’d firmly base my decision off of subjective materials. I believe that if a person is to be judged, he should be judged by his character rather than his accomplishments. Effort always tells much more about a person than the result. “Life is a journey, not a destination” – Ralph Waldo Emerson.</p>

13

<p>From what I hear, as long as the adcoms think you can handle Penn’s work, your admission relies on 4the essays, recs, ECs. This is why they are different than SAT/GPA, but you cannot have great essays, recs, and ECs but bad grades and get in, or the vice versa. I love how Penn is all about being very into your ECs, and not requiring that you are part of 20 different clubs and organizations. This has allowed me to relax and only focus on what I want to do, which is great.</p>

14

<p>Thank you guys; this is all very helpful.
I’ll be sure to adjust my application a bit to really let my passion for the environment shine through.</p>