Chance Me @ UPenn CAS ED

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

Hi everyone, I appreciate you taking the time to look at my profile.

I am a Filipino male applying for the biochemistry major at CAS.

Here are my stats:

  • GPA from Freshman-Junior years: 92.6 (3.93/4.0 unweighted) (on an upward trend)
  • Redesigned SAT: 1500 composite, 720 Reading + Writing, 780 Math
  • Subject Tests: 780 Math 2, 720 French
  • AP test scores: AB Calculus: 5, AP Lang & Comp: 4, AP French 4 (will take AP Chem, AP Statistics, AP BC Calculus, AP Micro econ, AP Macro econ, and AP Lit & Comp in May)

Extracurriculars:

  • Captain of school Jazz band (I lead on the alto saxophone)
  • President of school's French Club
  • Chess Club, 4th seed on school team
  • Varsity Rugby team (nationally ranked in top 10 in country)
  • Altar Server at my Catholic school
  • Member of School's
  • Piano (just as a leisurely activity)

Summer experiences:

  • UPenn Chemistry Research Academy
  • Took science courses at John’s Hopkins CTY summer program for 4 years in a row
  • Did water-quality analysis research on a local lake on a research team at a local college

Service:

  • Went on 8 day immersion trip in poorest parts of Nicaragua with an organization named Fabretto. Did manual labor in schools for orphans
  • Completed 100 hours of service requirement at my school in my school’s area through various programs

Honors:

  • National Honor Society, grade 12: member
  • AP Scholar Award
  • First Honors, grade 9: All grades 85 or above, average
  • Dean’s List, grades 10-12: All grades 90 or above, average 90 or above

My junior and senior course loads were very rigorous. In my senior year, all of my subjects are AP courses (5 of them) except Religion, which I am required to take all four years.

I have 3 strong recs from my guidance counselor, physics teacher, and French teacher. I also have an additional letter from a UPenn professor at the summer program I participated in this summer. I also believe I have quite strong essays as well.

What are my chances like for doing ED to CAS biochemistry? Also, on a random side note, does being Filipino give me a slight advantage at all (considering we are sort of an Asian minority and underrepresented at Ivy caliber schools)?

Thanks so much. I appreciate any advice/feedback!

2

Your stats are good for Penn and you have a good chance. That said Penn both accepts and rejects many students with similar stats each year so I would not be surprised with either outcome in your case. You are well within the feasible range for admission but you will be competing against many people with similar and better stats than yours. ED and your prior connection with Penn will prob help a bit too.