Chance an Hispanic student trying not to depend on affirm. action?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Hello all,
I am now a Senior in high school, and I would like to apply to UPenn's Wharton School. I am Mexican-American, but I would like to know if I can depend on my statistics and experiences as a person instead of just depending on Affirmative Action to get in, depending on how much it is weighted on an app.</p>

<p>GPA: 4.24 W/ 3.90 UW
SAT 1: 2150
720 CR, 750 M, 680 W
SAT IIs: US Hist.=730, Span (not listening)=790, Planning to take Math II and Span w/ Listening in Oct and/or Nov.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Director of Public Relations for FIRST Robotics Team at school both Soph and Junior year. I am not participating in Robotics next year due to several reasons, but I have extensive knowledge in marketing and have made a significant impact on the team.</p>

<p>Church Youth choir, which sings at the service every Sunday.</p>

<p>For Senior year: School Madrigals (advanced choir that competes around country)
Peer Counseling
Church Core Team (leaders of Youth Group, Retreats, classes, etc.)</p>

<p>Volunteer:
I will have 150+ hours from the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store by the end of the summer.</p>

<p>I have several hours from Church activities like Habitat for Humanity and other small events.</p>

<p>30+ hours for tutoring in AP European History, helping in memorization techniques, reading skills, essay writing, and complete AP test prep. for the group.</p>

<p>Work Experience:
I work for a blind lawyer who requires assistance in setting up and using technology for disabled workers. It is a part-time job with varied hours, so I don't know if I'd call it a real job on an app.</p>

<p>Experiences:
Moved at the end of Freshman year to an affluent area from an area filled with hate crime. We moved due to the lack of safety at my high school and almost getting beat up and offered drugs.</p>

<p>I have seen poverty at several levels upon visiting my family in Mexico several times throughout the year, and we have helped our family through several things requiring financial assistance, including supporting my Grandma with Alzheimer disease. </p>

<p>Talents and priorities in life:
Enjoy playing piano (specifically musical soundtracks) and singing.
I am very religious and make it a huge part of my life.
I balance my studying with visiting my family in Mexico and SAFELY partying for special occasions because they are also important to me.</p>

<p>That is it. I am not sure how an admissions officer would see my different habits of living and studying compared to other applicants, but I hope they'll give me a chance. Please let me know what you think!</p>

2

<p>You seem like a nice, hardworking, passionate applicant and whatever race you are penn will take notice of that…with that being said your sat score is a little low. most penn applicants have 2200+ and 3.95+ gpa. You can overcome that slight deficit though with passionate and focused essays. </p>

<p>I hate to say this but without the urm card i would say you stand a low shot mainly because your ECs aren’t strong enough. Considering you are an urm, you stand a pretty good shot. Then again who actually stands a shot at penn or any of the ivys? A lot of times it just seems to be luck. In that case, good luck!</p>

3

<p>@knight2011, I greatly appreciate your honest and thorough response. I totally agree that my statistics are lower than average, but like you said, UPenn always seeks different applicants so it’s a matter of luck as well. I wish you luck in anything you’re doing as well :)</p>

4

<p>To everyone: I just received my AP scores and I’d like to report this year’s and last year’s scores together.</p>

<p>AP European History-5
AP Biology-5
AP Spanish Language-5
AP Calculus AB-5
AP Physics C: Mechanics- 5
AP United States History-5 (self-studied for that one)</p>

5

<p>does UPenn also look at AP Scores for admissions?</p>

6

<p>I believe if you can demonstrate that you actually graduated from elementary and middle schools in poor hispanic areas (``an area filled with hate crime´´), then you have a shot.</p>

7

<p>Truthfully, I’m not sure how Penn admission officers will react to your app, but I believe and hope that they will be as impressed by your personality and character when reading your essay as I am. I have mad respect that you don’t want to play the URM card and want to get in on your own merits. GL</p>

8

<p>While I do respect you, I don’t think you have a huge chance of getting in without affirmative action.</p>

9

<p>Do you think I could get in with affirmative action though? I hate to say it but that may be my only way in, and I need generous financial aid from a school like UPenn because the state schools here in California are just so expensive -__-</p>