Chance me, please! :o)

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Hey guys, I feel like a total noob in this forum...</p>

<p>Penn is one of my top schools, which I will most likely be applying Early Decision. I know my standardized test scores are not exceptional, that is why I’m asking for your advice and your thoughts on how competitive will I be because I feel that they will be my ultimate downfall. I'm not very worried about the essay and teach recommendations. </p>

<p>Oh, ps, I will be applying to the college of Arts and Sciences</p>

<p>Here goes:</p>

<p>SAT: 2070
670 CR
700 math
700 writing </p>

<p>my subject tests are as follow
math 2- 760
chemistry - 740
spanish - 630 (yikes!)</p>

<h2>the only reason I took spanish was because when i looked at their website, they said they would PREFER a foreign language subject test</h2>

<p>i'm confronted with a number of options</p>

<p>1) retake SAT in october
2) retake SAT subjects (spanish, and i'll probably also take literature, just to give it a shot)</p>

<p>OR</p>

<p>retake the ACT in sept. (which i got a 29 on....i know...it's pretty bad..)</p>

<p>here's what i'm thinking. since the ACT is more subject-oriented, it will be relatively easier to increase my score. however, im not sure why, i feel biased against the ACT and i feel that ivies (which may or may not be true) like the SAT better. and plus, i only need to submit 2 SAT subject tests with the SAT I and chemistry and math 2 are good to go. </p>

<p>that's one dilemma</p>

<p>another option is that i can retake my SAT, but the chances of that score improving are much much slimmer (studies show)...and my score may even decrease. so...i'm not sure if that is worth the risk. </p>

<h2>OR, i can retake spanish plus take lit in the fall..and submit that with my SAT I 2070 score</h2>

<p>bottom line is, i dont know what is going to be most advantageous.</p>

<h2>I've decided to retake my ACTs in September, regardless of anything. But what about SATs and SAT IIs? what to do? </h2>

<p>here is other relavent info, i'm not gonna go into detail, but to give you a general idea...</p>

<p>Chinese Female</p>

<p>Rank: 4/400+ (99.1%tile) (end of junior year)
GPA: 4.393 weighted. I don't know my unweighted, but seeing that I've gotten all As in all my classes, it's probably at least a 4.0</p>

<p>APs: Language and Composition
Chemistry
Stats
Govn't and Politics
and Calc BC, Lit, Euro, Spanish, Bio (next year)</p>

<p>volunteer hours at a library, retirement home, and hospital</p>

<p>currently in an internship at a hospital where i'm conducting original research (will be published) with my mentor</p>

<p>piano: playing for 10years now.
-won prizes at the local, state, national, and international levels at competitions
-played in international piano festivals, master classes, etc.
-3 years and running in a youth orchestra as keyboardist
-frequent recitals at my music school
-played with orchestras</p>

<p>at school, i'm in numerous clubs including national honors society.</p>

<p>I'm not looking for compliments, i just want a real idea of where i'm standing. Thank you!!</p>

2

<p>Your scores do seem a bit on the low side, but they aren’t horrible. I would study a lot and retake them if I were you (studying helped me, at least), but I don’t think they would be your ultimate downfall.</p>

<p>As for your EC’s, you sound like a really accomplished person, but so will many many other people who apply to Penn. Excellent scores and EC’s aren’t enough, though they sure look good on a college confidential post. Remember, there will be a ton of kids all over the country with a list of EC’s just as impressive.</p>

<p>I would say as long as you show your passion and interest in your essay, you have as good a chance as anyone else. An essay that showcases your passion, character, and interest in the school is more than enough to make the admissions committee overlook a relatively low score here and there. You should be able to talk about why the activities you’ve taken are important to you, rather than allow them to remain a bland list on your resume.</p>

<p>Good luck, and I hope to see you next fall at Penn! Even if I don’t, I’m sure you will be happy wherever you go :)</p>

3

<p>aw! thanks for the little bit of hope haha…</p>

4

<p>What are you planning on majoring in? i.e. What do you consider yourself “passionate” about?</p>

<p>Also agree with above, test scores are below ecs. What are you expecting on the ap exams?</p>

5

<p>when you say test scores are below ECs, do you mean, they are, informally, less important than ECs?..</p>

<p>I’m planning to take the pre-med track at CAS…and hopefully get into med school, hence the internship and the volunteer at hospital settings. But i’m also passionate for music i’ve been playing for over 10 years. I plan to write an essay on both aspects of my life. </p>

<p>im expecting AP scores to range anywhere from 3-5. idk…But i thought AP scores are for after admission?</p>

6

<p>bump…other thoughts?</p>

<p>i’m going to retake my ACTs in sept…hoping for a 30+ (got 29 my first time…i didnt areally have time to study for them cuz they were before my APs or something…i dont remember…but i remember being really stressed out cuz i had a lot going on and not enough time to study)</p>

7

<p>Ugh OK, here is my two-cent.</p>

<p>Firstly it is almost impossible to know where to start when all you put is “won prizes at the local, state, national, and international levels at competitions” and “in numerous clubs including national honors society.” I have no bloody clue what you are good at (academically) and what you enjoy (academically).</p>

<p>Now I do not know what kind of unique experience you have had playing the piano, but, if it is just a leisurely type of thing, then I do not think it counts for a great EC.</p>

<p>Send in that research paper when it is published.</p>

<p>I really do not have much more to say. You know your weaknesses with standarized tests, and you already have a plan to do better. I just think that I need a bit more details with the ECs.</p>

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<p>2005 winner of lakeland civic orchestra young artists concerto comp.
2006 semi-finalist in the PianoArts North American Biennial Piano Comp.
-here, I competed at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music
-I worked with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
2007 accepted as keyboardist in a youth orchestra (3 years and running)
2007 accepted (through application process) to be in the premiere of Cleveland International Piano Competition’s first Junior Jury
2008 first prize winner of Arts in the Cathedral Competition for young artists
2008 debut at EJ Thomas Hall with the Akron Youth Orchestra as a winner of the AYS concerto competition
2008 performed in the master class series at the Gilmore International Piano Festival in kalamazoo MI
2008 finalist in the Piano/OHIO competition sponsored by the Cleveland International Piano Competition
2008- a second prize winner of the Buono and Bradshaw International Piano Competition and invited to perform at the Kosciuszko Foundation in NY
2009- 1st prize winner in the senior division of the Heidelberg Performance Pacesetter Competition
2009- a second prize winner again of the Buono and Bradshaw Int’l Piano Comp.
will be performing at the Kosciuszko Foundation this winter</p>

<p>I’ve also recitaled in churches and other halls around town. </p>

<p>i’m in academic challenge, asian awareness club, speech and debate, national honors society. I’ve also volunteered in libraries, retirement homes and hospitals, and i’ve interned at a hospital too</p>

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<p>Cool. Make sure you put all those down in CommonApp. (There is a place at the end of the app for you to include any extra information. You just throw whatever ECs that did not fit in the Activities section there. Make sure you list the most distinguishing ones in the Activities section though.)</p>

<p>So, with a better standarized test score and a couple of decent papers you have a fine application package I would say.</p>