Chances at Penn, fallbacks

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>Hey, guys.</p>

<p>I posted this thread (actually a similar one) in the Penn board without noticing this one, so I figured that it would be more appropriate to re-post here as oppose to bump the old thread. Plus it gives me a chance to add some important info I forgot and omit some not-so-important stuff.</p>

<p>I'm a little bit concerned about my chances of being accepted. I understand that as an Ivy League establishment, Penn is extremely selective. My main problem is my GPA. Now, please don't laugh me out of here when I say this, but... my average high school GPA was a 2.75. However, I scored very well on the SAT (2260 - Writing 800/CR 770/Math 690) and the ACT (33). Due to personal issues, my freshman and sophomore years were pretty poor. Fortunately, I was able to transfer to a different school my Junior year, and from there on out my grades were pretty good - the combined average of the last two years was around 3.8. </p>

<p>My main concern is that the overall GPA would belie my actual abilities and interest in learning. Before I continue, please realize that I fully understand that I've dug myself in a veritable hole here, so there's no need to tell me that, lol. I've taken summer classes as well as AP and CC courses, and am involved in several extra-curricular acitivies; in addition, I've contributed quite a substantial amount of volunteer hours in my community, which includes taking a Community Service class my senior year. Like I said, my main concern is the umbrella GPA, as the other stuff I don't feel is an issue.</p>

<p>Gender: Male
Race: White
Ethnicity: Irish/Jewish (pretty odd, I know!)
Location: Middle-of-nowhere, Missouri
Intended Majors: Poli Sci, Law</p>

<p>SAT II:</p>

<p>-Literature: 790
-World History: 770
-United States History: 780</p>

<p>The list of AP/CC classes I've taken (for both years) are as follow:</p>

<p>-AP Psychology
-AP Biology
-CC Latin III
-CC German III
-AP Ancient Greek II
-AP Economics
-AP/CC Senior Lit
-AP/CC Senior Comp
-AP English Language and Composition</p>

<p>In addition, extra-cirricular affiliations are as follows:</p>

<p>-Character Education Committee, per principal invitation (organized community events such as veteran, police, etc appriciation and acknowledged students with exceptional character)
-Welcoming Committee (welcomed new students to the high school)
-National Honor Society
-Renaissance
-Peer Meditation/Peer Tutoring
-Political Club (including lobying the State capitol)</p>

<p>Contributed 100 hours of community service</p>

<p>So... here's where I cross my fingers! I would appreciate any insight and thoughts on the matter. I'm hoping that in the application essay I can get a little personal and explain some of the reasons for my horrendous performance during the Freshman and Sophomore years. Not to seem haughty, but English is my strong suit - much more than math - so I think I can knock some people out.</p>

<p>Sorry for the massive post, but I wanted to be as thorough as possible. Also, if anybody knows about Haverford College, Duke, Rice, and Davidson College, how are my chances for getting in? I'm looking at them for fallbacks.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

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<p>Despite your weak GPA, it seems like you have a great chance of getting into Penn. The essay portion of the application is a way for you to spin your gpa into another plus. College admissions love hearing stories of how people overcame their obstacles! All in all, a pretty good shot at Penn.</p>

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<p>Emm, with good essays and recs, it will still be a mid reach at best. However, it is not impossible!
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/752133-i-will-officially-ban-use-word-chance-verb-4.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/752133-i-will-officially-ban-use-word-chance-verb-4.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>

This is what I was wanting to hear! :stuck_out_tongue: I agree, insofar as that I feel I can use my experiences in a positive manner. It’s good to hear that, though, from another person, as I was sort of wary about whether or not the college would be as enthusiastic about that idea as I was. My gut feeling is that it’s going to boil down to the ECs, recs, the interview and of course the essay; I’m assuming that the admissions people won’t really know what to do with such polar opposites grade-wise. I think I’ve got that area more or less down pat.</p>

<p>Also, I know that the Mid-West is fairly underrepresented at prestigious schools (as opposed to the East/West Coast), so I hope that will be a plus.</p>

<p>To the other poster: As far as a “mid reach at best”… I don’t know, lol. Maybe you’re right. I’d like to think that the other aspects of my resume would at least counterbalance the GPA for something like a “far match” (if there is such a thing). Hopefully the college will think the same! Would you think I would have a better chance at Duke? Or perhaps Haverford (a slightly less prestigious school) where I could help buffer up my GPA, so to speak, and then transfer?</p>

<p>Thanks a lot for the replies, guys.</p>

<p>Also, if anybody else has any thoughts on my Penn eligibility - or the fallback eligibility, for that matter - your input would be very much appreciated. =]</p>

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<p>would you mind chancing me?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/758099-chances.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/758099-chances.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>

</p>

<p>Of course, but unfortunately you are haring it from a teenager who does not know how this works. </p>

<p>Colleges get a plethora of excuses every year. From illness to being homeless, parental abuse to deaths in the family. While adcom are human and feel for these candidates, they will not overlook the totally qualified candidates to accept them. </p>

<p>Penn will probably have a sub 15% admit rate this year. 70% of the applicants have the stats and they can only take a small number of them. All of your schools other than Davidson are highly selective, your chances won’t be good.</p>

<p>I would post on the parent’s board for school suggestions. There are many good schools that will take you now, and you can aways try Penn as a transfer.</p>

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<p>Well, I want to be clear that I’m not the complaining type. I certainly won’t be grovelling or shoving sob stories down people’s faces. The only reason I posted that was to get some input on whether or not anybody else thought it might actually be an opportunity to turn a negative into a positive. The main thing I wanted to clear up was how the tests and GPA would balance out, and what people thought in that regard. I’m hoping the non-traditional ECs (at least in terms of the common things like Band, Science club, ect) will be a boost, as well as an excellent essay and recs. I’ve spoken with a few family members and they seem to think that while I don’t have a good shot, I might have an okay shot simply because of the randomness and their perceived “wild card” factor. Thanks for the cander, though.</p>

<p>I plan on applying either way, and hopefully they’ll see something unique. I appreciate the realistic response, and would of course like to hear anybody else’s thoughts.</p>

<p>Oh, and as far as chancing the above poster back: I will if you really want me to, but I’ll more than likely have no idea what I’m talking about, lol - that’s why I’m asking to be chanced! :P</p>

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<p>apply broadly. try mizzou. michigan doesn’t consider freshman gpa(and heavily weights scores and essays, ie your strengths) so you may have a good shot there by applying early response. 2.75 is beyond low for the ivy league. a 3.6 is low for penn. still apply, but don’t expect one part of the app to compensate for another.</p>

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<p>Yowza. Just to be clear, though, that’s my unweighted GPA. Weighted is something like 3.8-4.0 total and 5.7 for the last two years.</p>

<p>And Mizzou, lol… There’s no way. I’ve gotten invitations from both Colgate and Washington and Lee, so those are my last resorts. Thanks for the tip though. =]</p>

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<p>well the lol may be on you if you continue to consider Duke a fallback</p>

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<p>you realize nearly everyone gets mail from schools right? is that what you meant by invitations?</p>

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<p>Class Rank?</p>

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<p>^^^
Agreed with hmom5 and choklitrain (especially considering the fact that they are senior members). In brief, you are overreaching, and if you think that Washington and Lee and Duke are your fallbacks/safety, then you obvious have no idea how selective admissions work.</p>

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<p>Colgate and Washington and Lee are your “last resorts”?
Um, no.</p>

<p>Yes, you have very good test scores. But your biggest downfall (and it’s quite a big one) is that your GPA is extremely, extremely low for these schools - and one’s academic record is arguably the most important part of one’s application.</p>

<p>It’s obvious that you’re intelligent, and colleges will realize that, but they can’t overlook your GPA.</p>

<p>You need to give adcoms - especially at a place like Penn - a really good reason to take you over someone with test scores/ECs as good as yours AND a stellar GPA.</p>