chance me for UPenn ED?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>applying ED for UPenn, CAS. possibly for the LSM program but I'm not sure yet.
I visited it last weekend and absolutely loved it. I plan to study biology/biomedical sciences.</p>

<p>About me-
*State: NC
*Ethnicity: Asian (Chinese.)
*Gender: Female
*Income: middle; around the lower end
*School: public
*Legacy: my cousin graduated from Penn.</p>

<p>Test scores-
*SAT I: 2130. R - 730, M - 720, W - 680. retaking in October
*SAT IIs: Biology - 770, Chemistry - 750 (my two "good" SAT IIs. not so good are French - 690, Math II - 670) may retake Math II in November, but I'm not sure.
*APs: Biology (5), European History (5), Environmental Science (5), Calculus AB (5), Chemistry (4), U.S. Gov & Pol (4), French Lang (4), World History (4). National AP Scholar (qualified, at least).</p>

<p>Academics-
*Rank: 8/286.
*GPA: weighted - 4.877. unweighted - 3.734.
*Senior year classes: AP Calculus BC, AP Physics B, AP U.S. History, Honors English IV, Honors Orchestra, Honors Authentic Research.
*Recommendations: chemistry/authentic research teacher (should be good), AP Gov & Pol teacher (should also be quite good). supplemental application from my orchestra teacher, because I devoted a lot of my time to orchestra. Counselor rec should be excellent as well, since I made an effort to really get to know/talk to her.</p>

<p>ECs-
*500+ hours of community/volunteer service at the hospital (for 2+ years) & other local organizations. I was also a TA last year, which boosted my hours.
*I was a "junior link" last year, who helped freshmen get used to the school.
*cello. Principal of cello section in orchestra; participated in orchestra all 4 years. Auditioned and made it to All-State Orchestra for 3 years (hopefully will be 4).
*National Honors Society member.
*Science Olympiad, Class Council (treasurer), Quiz Bowl, peer tutor
*sports: none. I had to quit figure skating :/
*job/work experience: none, unless I can count playing in a paid quartet?</p>

<p>Summer activities-
*2008: volunteered all summer at the hospital.
*2009: attended NC Governor's School for music.
*2010: took a class at NC State University and received three college credits.</p>

<p>essay: I'm going to talk about how I found out I had a lisp and how I hated it, but learned to accept it, and relate it to how I get over obstacles. still hashing it out.</p>

<p>let me know what you think. thanks :)
other colleges I'm looking at: WashU, UChicago, UNC, Duke, Columbia (reach).</p>

2

<p>Extracurriculars and SAT Reasoning are on the weak side, and having a cousin graduate from Penn does not mean you have legacy.</p>

<p>Penn, Columbia and Duke are all going to be reaches, with WUSTL and Chicago being a little better, and with UNC as your safety.</p>

3

<p>Most likely rejection at UPenn due to relatively weak SAT score and UW GPA</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>This would have little or no influence on your chance of admission at UPenn.</p>

4

<p>I think you have a shot at WashU, Chicago, and Duke, particularly if you can get your SAT score up to 2170 to 2200 or close to it. That should be doable. Right now they are all probably high matches to low reaches. I think Penn is probably a mid to high reach at this juncture. I think your EC’s are good and no, they aren’t great but good enough. I’m not sure I would call 500 hours of CS and making all-state orchestra for 3 years and soon-to-be 4 a pretty good accomplishment. Your GPA and class rank is solid.</p>

5

<p>@above, keep in mind that Duke is about as difficult to get into as Penn, if not more so for certain programs that it offers.</p>

6

<p>sorry; I thought cousin might be legacy but I guess not.</p>

<p>so should I apply to Penn ED or wait until RD?
other schools I was looking at: JHU, Cornell, Emory.</p>

<p>thanks for all the help, guys. my ECs aren’t THAT great but I think the orchestra/cello bit shows that I really dedicated myself to that over the years.</p>

7

<p>Apply to Penn ED if it’s truly the school you belong at. Don’t apply only if you think it will increase your chances - yes, acceptance rates increase, but so does the quality of applicants. </p>

<p>Your SATs could use a boost but you definitely show dedication, which colleges love, to orchestra and volunteer work.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t say you’re a shoo-in at any of those schools but they’re all fantastic and difficult to get into. You’ve got a good shot at any of them, provided your essays and recommendations stand out. Be sure to add 1 or 2 definite safety schools, but apply for the reaches too - if you don’t, you’ll always wonder what could have happened.</p>

8

<p>It’s all up to the essay. Your sec wep</p>

9

<p>

If UPenn is clearly your first choice school, then I suggest you apply ED to UPenn to maximize your chance of admission.</p>

10

<p>You should apply to maximize your chances…your ECs are probably not strong enough for RD</p>

11

Found this thread nearly five years later after I’ve graduated from Penn. Yes, I was admitted to Penn ED. Didn’t thin I had any shot after reading these comments but hey, guess there was a miracle.