Intended Major - PPE at CAS, also potential minors in music and legal studies.
ACT: 34 (34 E, 32 M, 35 R, 35 S) (SS is one point higher in English)
GPA: 96.5/100 W
Class Rank: N/A
APs: Chem (5) APUSH (5) Lang (5). Didn’t have the option to take any APs till Junior year
SAT IIs - will be taking USH, Chem, and Math2 in August. If my scores are decent, I’ll submit my highest two.
Awards: AP Scholar, NHS, State Festival
Extracurriculars:
(City Redacted) Youth Symphony: Out of the four symphonies, I am in the highest
(City Redacted) Brass Band: Played in a lower tier band on a full ride and 1st horn. Traveled to Indiana and competed in a continent-wide competition. Placed 1st one year, 2nd another.
School Band: Horn Section Leader since freshman year, I give free lessons to middle schoolers in my free time
(County Redacted) Youth Court. I’ve spent ~ 300 hours as a volunteer attorney for real first-time misdemeanor cases and have also served on student-led panels to help students with truancy issues
Quiz Bowl. Not the best at it, but I still enjoy it and have been a part of it since freshman year. Minimum time commitment.
Tri-M Music Honor Society. Was an officer junior year, should get an officer or better my senior year
Musical Orchestra. Large time commitment for ~ 3 weeks, and our orchestra has won prestigious city-wide awards against 56 other high schools.
Jazz Band. Only time I play the trumpet, that instrument WACK!
Work Experience: Worked at a baseball field’s concession stand summer into sophomore year, spent 11 months at a Panera Bread and was promoted to trainer, and I’ve worked at target since October of my junior year. Will probably only put panera and target on my application
Summer Activities: Travelled to Austria to perform, reading, working 30+ hours
Region: Midwest
Race/Ethnicity: white
Gender: Male
Income: Too high to qualify for significant financial aid anywhere but ivies
Hooks: was diagnosed with adhd late in my junior year (may not disclose- don’t want to be perceived as someone who takes medication purely for academic performance), homosexuality I guess
Essays - I’m being subjective and judging my own essays, but my common app talks about how the idea of natural aptitude is harmful to society and how I want to fix it. I would say it is a strong essay and it shows me in my fullest. My Upenn one I really enjoyed writing. I talked about how I fell in love with Upenn through their Center for neuroscience and society and how their focus on interdisciplinary interests is perfect for me. EXTREMELY university specific and talks about how their PPE program is a wonderful format for me.