Chances at Upenn

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi guys, I'm currently a junior at a pretty big public school (about 2,000) and I really really would love to go to Penn. I would appreciate it so much if you could give me a completely honest opinion on whether you think I can get in or not, and thanks a lot in advance! I'll just list my main stats and activities and feel free to ask for anything else that might help you make a more informed reply. (Also, I think I might apply ED)</p>

<p>Scores
PSAT: 217
SAT: 2300</p>

<p>Classes (all AP/honors, so I'll just list the AP's for now)
10th: World History (5)
11th: English Lang., U.S. History, Calculus AB, Biology (I think I'll make 5's on all of them except maybe Calc)
12th: Physics, Chemistry, English Lit., Art History (Pretty much for sure in my schedule next year)</p>

<p>Rank: 2 out of 501
GPA (unweighted): 4.00</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities (I'll list the awards that go with it too)</p>

<p>DECA (this is a business competition that mainly involves presentations, "role plays," in front of judges and testing in specific "events" you're in, like Business Administration and Business Services)
-Several Test and Role Play Awards at Regional and State Level
-Made it to Internationals two years in a row, and the second time I got a top 20 test score</p>

<p>Tennis
-Won State Team once, solid record this year too</p>

<p>Chess
-Won State Team Every year of high school ($4000 dollar scholarships to TTU given, just by the way)
-Several Individual Awards as well</p>

<p>Math Competitions might be a stretch for me, but I got top 25 in a couple of regional competitions, so I'll include this just in case</p>

<p>Clubs and Leadership</p>

<p>Tutoring Club
- This is huge for me, definitely going to be my essay topic since we already made a rough draft based on the common application this year in English. Here's a brief summary of its impact and what I did with it. A couple years ago on a visit to India, my mom took me to a center for the mentally retarded for about a month to help out. I definitely felt uncomfortable for the first week even, even somewhat scared, as I had never really come into this kind of close contact with mentally retarded people before. But after a while I really got to understand them, really got to know them. I treated them like friends; most of them really weren't that different from me at all. When I came back to the U.S. I decided to help out more of the underprivileged. I tutored at a couple disadvantaged schools, and eventually started this club. We provide free tutoring to anyone at our school and drive to a nearby school to help out there too several times a week. I have about a 100 hours total right now for tutoring altogether (not including India, that was 8th grade summer), and the club has about 20 members.</p>

<p>Spanish Club
- I'm the Treasurer; it's not really a big role though and I don't spend too much time with it. Also I was Secretary last year, so I'm not really sure if this is a step up? </p>

<p>Table Tennis Club
- VP. This is really something more for fun but we have a pretty impressive membership - about 40. </p>

<p>My other clubs include
- Green Team (40 hours volunteering)
- Community Service (maybe about 20 hours)
- Knowledge Bowl (good shot at making top 4 our of 30 trying out next year, already made top ten spring cut, and $7,500 scholarships for regional winners)
- International Club
- Dance Dance Revolution Club</p>

<p>Enrichment Activities
- I went to Governor's School for International Studies last summer, and it was a great experience, a TON of fun.
- applied to (so I don't know for sure yet) a Boston U Research Internship for 6 weeks and I get to make a whole project and present and everything if I get in. Otherwise I'll probably do some research at local hospitals. </p>

<p>Final Stuff
- I'm bilingual (Know Telugu, an Indian language)
- I held a job for a couple years at a private school tutoring. I sent all the money I made (about $750 since I only went once a week for a couple hours) back to Lekhadeep, the center for the mentally retarded in India.</p>

<p>I'm really sorry if I left out anything but I'd be glad to update! Feel free to make any comments/ suggestions!</p>

2

<p>You have a great SAT score, perfect GPA, and rigorous enough schedule, especially as a senior. Academics seem to be in order.<br>
Your extracurriculars are definitely unique as far as the DDR club, that’s pretty funny too. The rest of them are fairly generic though, except the story about the mentally ■■■■■■■■ was touching. Definitely mention that, and, although I can tell you have some passion for it, it doesn’t come across in your activities. I have a passion for neuroscience due to an unfortunate happening in my life, so I started a non profit for hospitals in India especially rural areas to be better prepared to handle these situations. It also encourages students in India to delve deep into the area of neuroscience. I also love to program so I’m working on an iPhone app. These are unique activities that reveal my passion, do the same for what interests you. The volunteering and donating of profits is great. Also, what type of research are you planning on doing? If it’s based on mental health, that’ll be a great activity to show to top colleges and I think you’ll enjoy. </p>

<p>Overall, I’d say you have as good a shot as the next Indian. We are so unlucky. Best of luck!</p>

3

<p>I definitely see what you mean about how my activities don’t really reflect the experience, and honestly, I kinda knew that would be an issue ever since I drafted my essay. When I got back to America I never really helped out the mentally ■■■■■■■■ specifically just because there were no centers my mom could take me to and I didn’t know what to do, but there were several disadvantaged schools at least. So I decided just to help out in the only way I THOUGHT I could, you know? Almost like Lekhadeep just showed me a different world, made me realize not everyone is as lucky as I am, and proved to me that I can make a difference. That realization did not have to pertain specifically to mentally ■■■■■■■■ people, but to anyone who needed help. But I mean, seriously, what you’ve done with your circumstances is inspiring. It’s the kind of thing I wish I had done, just so much bigger picture than what I’m doing. I guess I still have a chance to try something though, huh.
As for the research thing, I drafted something on viruses for my bio teacher but now that you mention it, doing something on mental health sounds SO much better to me. If I get in, I’ll definitely do something with that.
Hahaha yeah life is tough for browns. But thanks a lot for your post!</p>

4

<p>I would say it is a low reach. I like that you have random fun clubs too in addition to the academic ones.</p>

5

<p>The people are mentally disabled, not mentally ■■■■■■■■. Make sure to use that in your essays. ;-; Mentally ■■■■■■■■ isn’t PC, and it is offensive.</p>

<p>(Sorry, this is just a soft spot for me.)</p>

6

<p>Haha great, I was definitely a little unsure about including Dance Dance Revolution in my resume.
And sorry dengeo, I’ll make sure not to use that anymore. I’m glad you actually told me now so I don’t keep using it.</p>

7

<p>Congrats on all your accomplishments. As a fellow Indian, I can say, get ready for the slaughter of the college process. As Indians, you also need to know that we are disadvantaged in this process. Rest assured though, you have a strong-ish portfolio. I recommend applying ED because Penn tries to fill its class with ED. I think you have a good shot. Good Luck!</p>

8

<p>Your response to my post about showing your passion in helping the mentally disabled was beautiful. I would suggest keeping tabs on it for when you write your essays; It would definitely get your passion across.<br>
Good luck, I’m a junior too, my cousin is a freshman. We are all in the same boat.</p>

9

<p>I think your chances are definitely going to be 75%+, but with very selective schools like Penn even kids with perfect credentials like you may not get in. Your SAT score is perfect for Penn. Also your extracurricular activities are good enough to get you into Penn. Do you want to go to Wharton? If not, odds are that DECA won’t help you that much. Good Luck!</p>

<p>Please chance me back! <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1144211-chance-cornell.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1144211-chance-cornell.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

10

<p>Thanks jengajenga! Yeah lol that’s kinda why I did this, just for some measure of reassurance. So many brilliant kids from my school didn’t get into where they wanted to go but I feel like it was really more extracurricular because some of them have like 2350 SATs and all 5s on like 8-10 aps. Regardless I’m really glad I’m getting honest responses and legit feedback! Hopefully after a while I’ll have a really good idea of how good my chances are!
Wow addyminthas, first collegeconfidential friend? That made me feel really good, I’ll definitely save that somewhere! Yeah fosho, is Penn your number 1 too?
75%?!? seriously!! that’s really good news! yeah sure i’ll chance you too</p>

<p>Also guys, there’s another thing I think I might be interested, a 7 year med program. It’s the Boston U one, and apparently they only take 30-40 people after the interview process and everything. It’s supposed to be raelly competitive, but any comments on it? Maybe compare it to Penn? I’m almost certainly on the med school route with Penn as well by the way</p>