Hey everyone,
The school on the top of my list is by far UPenn. I’d be grateful if I could be Chanced for UPenn CAS!
Academics:
Unweighted GPA - 3.93
Weighted GPA - 4.45
Class Rank: School doesn’t release, but I estimate at least top 5%. Very competitive schoo.
SAT: 1510 first try, but I’m planning on taking it again soon.
SAT II: 800 APUSH, Will take Math 2 in August.
Course load: Very rigorous, 6 APs Junior year, 6 APs Senior year.
AP Tests (abbreviated everything): APWS - 4 APCS - 4 Physics1 - 5 AB Cal - 5 Micro - 5 Macro - 5 APLang - 4 APES - 4
APUSH - 5
ECs:
-President of United Sounds at my school (Club teaching special needs students music)
-County School Board Leadership Program
-All-State Band
-First Chair in District Band
-Played my instrument and been in band since 5th Grade. Section Leader of School’s top band
-Section Leader for School Marching Band
-Played soloes for school Orchestra since 10th grade
-Mentor in our School’s Mentoring program
-Volunteered for Vecinos Unidos (tutored children basically)
-Independent Research in Economics
-Bunch of honor societies (NHS, MHS, SHS, EHS, HHS)
- Speech and Debate (only 10th grade)
-Cyber Patriots club (only 10th grade)
Awards (Weakest part, IMO) :
-Varsity Letters for Marching Band
-National AP Scholar + AP Scholar w/ Distinction
-2nd place and 6th place in regional debate tournaments
-Various School Awards
-Not sure if worth mentioning that my soccer team (when I was captain) won a large regional tournament
Extra info: I’m an Asian Male. (Hope this doesn’t decrease my chances too much! lol)
I do have a legacy.
Thanks for the help everyone, I really appreciate it!!! 
Hi Michael,
It’s a little tough, but I think you have a chance. Definitely worth applying.
You’re academically in a good position – if those couple B’s that caused your 3.93 GPA are from earlier years in high school, then it’s even better because that will show a positive trend.
I don’t want to be harsh, but I want to be honest and direct. Your EC’s are similar to what a lot of applicants at schools like Penn have. You don’t have something distinct and very, very impressive – unless you did something substantial in your economics research. To make up for this, your essays will need to be your forte. Capitalize on what makes you unique, challenges you had to overcome or maybe an interesting story about how music moves you (to show that one specialty). Perhaps sending an art supplement can help as well. I think that, in tandem with your legacy, should do the trick.
If you have questions about your essay, feel free to DM me. I was unfortunately waitlisted by Penn (Wharton), but was accepted into Harvard, Columbia and Oxford.
Hope this helped!
P.S. If you use the term “UPenn” in your essay or interview, change that to “Penn.” Apparently faculty and students at the University of Pennsylvania are a little picky with that.
inevitablewinner,
Thanks for the quick and thorough response!
The 3.93 GPA is unweighted, and I’ve never actually gotten B’s in my classes. Everything is either an A or A- (4.45 GPA when weighted).
As for the ECs, I’ll be submitting my research, and will hopefully make it something unique that sets me a part from the others. I definitely understand the part about being similar to other applicants though, that’s definitely been on my mind.
Thanks for the great advice. I’ll definitely DM you sometime! That part about the “UPenn” would have definitely gotten me haha.