Chance: UPenn ED

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Class of 2013; (pasty) White male; Small private school (250 students) in California</p>

<p>Transcript
- GPA (unweighted): 3.97
- GPA (weighted, max. of 4.2): 4.05</p>

<p>-Freshman (all A's): Physics (H), Algebra II (H), English 9, Guitar/Writing Lab, Hebrew Scriptures, Spanish 3, Theology, World History I</p>

<p>-Sophomore (all A's): Biology (AP), Theology, English 10 (H), Geometry (H), Metalsmithing, Spanish 4 (H), World History II (H)</p>

<p>-Junior (all A's, with the exception of an A- in PreCalc): Spanish (AP), U.S. History (AP), Chemistry (AP), PreCalc (H), English (H), Mandarin I</p>

<ul>
<li>Senior (expected): Physics (AP), Calculus (BC, AP), Spanish Literature (AP), Mandarin III/IV, English (AP), Theology, Senior Project</li>
</ul>

<p>Standardized testing</p>

<ul>
<li>SAT I: 740 M; 760 CR; 770 W (2270)</li>
<li>SAT II: 780 Biology </li>
<li>AP: 5 Biology </li>
</ul>

<p>Extracurriculars</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Competitive sailing (year round; will compete in college): 16 hours/week for six years; represented Northern California at junior national championships over past summer; among top three high schools sailors in Northern California</p></li>
<li><p>Varsity cross country: 10 hours/week for four years (Fall); attended California State Championships in 2010 and 2011; expected senior captain (2011-12)</p></li>
<li><p>Soccer: 8 hours/week for four years (Winter); two years junior varsity, two years varsity</p></li>
<li><p>Track: 10 hours/week for four years (Spring); Captain for 2012 season (usually reserved for a senior); expected senior captain (2011-12)</p></li>
<li><p>Boy Scouts: 3 hours/week (year round); Eagle Scout; served two years as Senior Patrol Leader, one year as Assistant Junior Scoutmaster; for Eagle project, designed and implemented summer sailing program for underprivileged kids (seasonal)</p></li>
<li><p>Guitar: 2 hours/week; for leisure</p></li>
</ul>

<p>Awards</p>

<ul>
<li>NHS: two years</li>
<li>Sophomore English Award</li>
<li>Freshman History Award</li>
</ul>

<p>Other Notes</p>

<p>As a caveat, my schedule is actually harder than it appears. According to my Academic Dean, I am taking the hardest schedule of anybody in my Junior class (eerrk -- I can just feel the pretention seeping off the page -- sorry!). Historically, the top of five students (of 60) at my school head off to the Ivies or Stanford.</p>

<p>Thanks for taking a look!</p>

2

<p>How is your rank? Penn tends to really like high-ranking students. Even if your school doesn’t rank, your school’s college profile provides enough information and percentile data.</p>

<p>Your academics look solid, but your extracurriculars are a bit weak for Penn. However, your chances go way up if you get athletically recruited.</p>

3

<p>My school does not report rank, but I imagine I would be second or third of eighty. I know, without a doubt, that I am at least within the top 10%. </p>

<p>Why do you think that my extracurriculars are “a bit weak”? What sort of EC’s does Penn want to see?</p>

4

<p>Your rank sounds like it’d be good enough for Penn, then, so that’ll boost your chances.</p>

<p>Your Eagle Scout project is impressive and you obviously are very dedicated to your various sports, but your extracurriculars don’t quite stand out. </p>

<p>Take a look at this link: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-pennsylvania/1255003-official-university-pennsylvania-ed-decions-class-2016-thread.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-pennsylvania/1255003-official-university-pennsylvania-ed-decions-class-2016-thread.html&lt;/a&gt; It’s the profiles and admissions decisions for a lot of people who applied for Penn ED.</p>

5

<p>Definitely worth applying ED; I’d say you have a pretty good shot at UPenn…</p>

<p>Good luck! :p</p>

6

<p>You know, I don’t usually chance people because it’s not really my place to tell anyone where they have a good or bad chance (it can be a crapshoot and also I’m not in any position of power in admissions so my opinion doesn’t really matter). But in your case, I wanted to say that I think you definitely have a shot, and that I disagree with xquiksilverx about “weakness” in your ECs.
Even though you’re not in a thousand clubs, you do have 4-5 very legit activities that you’ve obviously been dedicated to and excelled at. Three varsity sports plus competitive sailing (which I think is unique and could help you get in if you do intend to continue in college as you mentioned) plus Eagle Scout is tough–especially while maintaining your grades and scores as you have. It’s correct to say that your chances will increase if you’re recruited, but even if you aren’t, I think competitive sailing does stand out because it’s not necessarily a run-of-the-mill sport.
I think you are in a great place applying ED, and I wish you luck this fall!</p>

7

<p>Thanks to all who posted!</p>