Chances at UPenn, RD?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Hi! I'm applying RD to the College of Arts and Sciences.</p>

<p>Ethnicity: Asian (Bangladeshi)</p>

<p>Gender: Male</p>

<p>GPA: 3.8</p>

<p>SAT I:
(1st Test)
CR: 790 M: 710 W: 640
(2nd Test)
CR: 740 M: 770 W: 730</p>

<p>SAT II:
Math II: 800
Physics: 790</p>

<p>AP:
Calculus AB: 5
Calculus BC: 5
US History: 5
Language & Composition: 5
Physics C (Mech.): 5
Physics C (E&M): 5</p>

<p>Senior Courseload:
AP Government & Politics
AP Literature & Composition
AP Chemistry
AP Economics
AP Statistics
AP French
AP Psychology</p>

<p>Awards: (Not very many)
AP Scholar
National Merit Semifinalist</p>

<p>Activities:
Internship at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics
Math Team (All four years of high school)
Literary Magazine (11th & 12th)
Robotics Team (11th & 12th)
Track & Field (9th, 11th, 12th)
Computer Club (10th)</p>

<p>Other:
I've been in mostly honors classes throughout high school. I was accelerated in math in 7th grade, so I ended up taking AB freshman year and BC sophomore year. In junior year, I took a Calc III course that my high school offered and passed with flying colors. My two recommendations come from my Physics teacher, who knows and likes me, and English teacher, who has expressed a fondness for my creative writing pieces. I transferred after 9th grade, which rather affected my extracurriculars, as you can probably see above.</p>

<p>That's pretty much all. Any insight you have would be very helpful. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Have you gotten B’s in classes leading to a 3.8 instead of a 4.0 – which ones? Also what’s your class rank and how big of a school is it. Have you taken the hardest possible classes you could in every grade or were there years you had AP/accelerated options that you chose not to take? These are some of the questions the adcom will ask. Your ECs look light to me for Penn – any leadership or significant roles in any of those clubs/teams or were you just a participant?</p>

<p>Why Penn? This is a school that cares about if/why you want to be there.</p>

3

<p>Okay. So, firstly, I guess I should clarify something. My school actually does GPA out 100 – mine is 92.7. I used a chart on the Princeton Review website to convert it.</p>

<p>My school district has about 2,000 students and is actually one of the higher rated public school districts in the country. As for class rank – we don’t have any.</p>

<p>The classes I have gotten B’s in: Honors Biology (9th grade), French 3 Honors (10th grade), AP US History (11th grade), and French 4 Honors (11th grade). Generally, I scored in the high 80’s in these classes (i.e. 87 - 89), except for French 4H, where I finished the year with an 83. This year, my grades for AP Gov and AP Chem have dipped below 90, at 85 and 89, respectively. However, my grades for classes like Calc III, AP Physics, AP Econ, and AP Stat have been in the high 90’s range.</p>

<p>I believe that I have taken pretty challenging course-loads every year. I’ve taken all the coursework associated with every AP exam I’ve taken. Perhaps I let up slightly in tenth grade, when I took the Global History Regents course instead of AP European History.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars is where I fall short. In Math Team, I’m one of the senior varsity members – although I’m not sure if that counts for anything. I’m co-captain of the Programming team at Robotics. I feel like my glowing extracurricular might be my internship, though. This was actually a really competitive high school research internship program and the Laboratory for Laser Energetics is a premier institute for laser fusion and optics research. This is the website if you want to read past project reports: [url=&lt;a href=“http://www.lle.rochester.edu/about/education/high_school_program.php]High”&gt;http://www.lle.rochester.edu/about/education/high_school_program.php]High</a> School Program - Laboratory for Laser Energetics<a href=“Ours%20aren’t%20up%20yet.”>/url</a></p>

<p>Why UPenn? Well, firstly, it’s because their academics are top-notch. Secondly, it’s because, as a research university, UPenn could afford many opportunities for research – something I want to get into as early as possible. On that note, the internship opportunities seem great. I think the College of Arts and Sciences already has a wide network of contacts in that vein. Practically, I think that I could fit in pretty well at UPenn. I’m friends with several people who go to and have gotten into UPenn and, for the most part, I feel like I’m a similar caliber of student as they are. Finally, UPenn is in Philadelphia, which is actually really close to where I grew up. Philadelphia, itself, has a number of family friends and I don’t think that I would feel quite so alone there as I would somewhere else.</p>

<p>Anyway, thanks!</p>

4

<p>Ah, sorry to double-post, but I thought I should mention that I intend to major in Mathematics.</p>

5

<p>Honestly, your SATs are kind of low and nothing stands out. What else can you bring to your application?</p>

6

<p>How are the SAT’s low? Low score was 2140; superscoring is what, 2290? That’s not going to keep this kid out. Though math SAT scores may be on the low side for a math major. I’d be a bit more concerned about the average and lack of EC’s, though maybe that internship is a big deal–I know nothing about the field. I’d be focusing really specifically on the kinds of research you could do at Penn, like courses and professors. Just saying that Penn is a premier research institute is not going to impress them–everyone knows it’s a good school. Good luck!</p>

7

<p>^I agree. What will hold you back are your ECs and your essay. Since theres not ,uch we can do about ECs at this point, you should make your essay as strong as possible if you want to be admitted.</p>

<p>When I wrote about the essay I was really specific about the courses I was going to take at Penn, the professors whose projects/research I would be interested in and how I plan to use what I learn in the future. The stuff about having friends who go there, being friendly, being close to where you grow up, etc. is stuff I think you should share during your interview, but at the same time don’t let it be the main selling point. I can’t really talk about CAS programs since I applied SEAS, but what I found was that 650 words is not a lot. Use things at Penn to convey personal characteristics. For example:</p>

<p>Works well with other people- my interest in the electric car club
Independent/creative- Senior year design project
Interested in the world around me- talked about local initiatives for ‘green engineering’</p>

<p>You simply don’t have the words to say stuff like ‘I fit into Penn because I’m friendly, outgoing, etc.’ </p>

<p>Hope this helped and best of luck to you!</p>

8

<p>As someone who was recently accepted into UPenn. I can tell you that grades are NOT everything. Like you, I also received a few B’s throughout high school. </p>

<p>It is obvious that you have taken the most challenging classes which is a key admissions factor. One thing that I think helped me past a not so stellar GPA is that I had an upward grade trend (all A’s junior year). 2 B’s junior year will definitely not help you but if you work hard and receive all A’s for your first semester of senior year (esp. with all those APs) it will certainly be beneficial.</p>

<p>If you read the ED results page it is obvious that test scores were not a huge factor so retaking your SATs might not be super important since they are pretty high already. What I suggest is focusing on your essays, especially your supplemental one which seems too scattered and superficial from your summation. It is all about packaging yourself and expressing your interest in Penn. Do you have an EC or volunteer experience that you are especially passionate about? If yes, focus on incorporating that into your essay. Write about how that passion can contribute to the Penn community, how Penn’s education can nurture that passion. Remember this essay is about why you want to go to Penn BUT ALSO why Penn would want you as a student. Spend time doing the research and revision required to write a stellar essay and your chances can significantly improve!</p>

<p>Hope my advice helps and best of luck!</p>

9

<p>Ah, thanks for all your replies and support!</p>

<p>SPQR, you were right – once I got really into my writing my essay, I passed the word limit really quickly.</p>

<p>And vballchick, congratulations on your admission!</p>

10

<p>All the best bud :)</p>

11

<p>Chance: Match.</p>

<p>Some awards in Math would be fantastic. But don’t worry, math is not really the most competitive major at Penn and your app obviously has the math theme on it.
Show your passion to math in your essay and go for it.</p>

12

<p>If you write a solid, detailed essay than you’re as strong as any applicant I know who got in.</p>