Chances at UPenn

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Please either just chance me or don't make comments. I'm sure you remember what it was like applying to colleges.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.43 UW
Projected for Time of Application GPA: 3.54 uw
This GPA was because of only one year that brought it down due to family issues which will be the heart of my essay. Following that one semester, my grades shot back up. You can see from the grades below.</p>

<p>I took the SAT two days ago, and im fairly certain i got a 2250+.
If not ill be disappointed. If i get lower than a 2150 ill take it again.
Math IIC, French, and Bio SAT II's next year. Should be good.</p>

<p>I went to a large public school in 9th and 10th grade.</p>

<p>I go to a private school (11th and 12th) which i think helps because of the competitive curriculum. It sends one or two (out of a graduating class of 40) to one of the best schools each year. This year was JHU, people have been sent to MIT etc...</p>

<p>Sports :
Freshman Basketball Team (9th)
JV Basketball Team (10th)
JV Soccer (9th,10th)
Snowboarding through a school program (11th,12th)
Varsity Baseball (11th,12th)
Varsity Soccer (11th, 12th)</p>

<p>Other Extracurriculars :
Math Team (9th,10th)
Quiz Team (9th, 10th)
Speech and Debate (9th)
HMMT Harvard-MIT Math Competition (11th,12th)
High Scorer from the Darrow School team
Math Prefect (12th)
Science Prefect (12th)</p>

<p>Volunteer Work :
Hands to Work (Volunteer Work) - 125 Hours
An additional 200 hours will be done this summer at a local animal shelter (SPCA) and a local hospital.</p>

<p>AP Tests :
Calculus AB - Projected 4
AP European History 3</p>

<p>Any classes that offered honors i took.
My current private school does not offer any honors or AP classes, but is a "college preparatory" school.</p>

<p>Getting a job this summer as well...40 hours a week.</p>

<p>On my regents finals for New York
Biology - 94
French I - 97
French III - 99
Math II - 98</p>

<p>Ive taken 5 years of French and will have taken 2 years of calculus by the time i graduate.</p>

<p>There might be other stuff that I missed.</p>

<p>8th Grade
French I - A+
Math I - A+</p>

<p>9th
Money Management - A+
Biology - A+
English 9H - A+
French II - A+
Global Studies 9H - A+
Math II - A+
Studio in Art - A+</p>

<p>Summer 9th grade - Field Biology - A</p>

<p>10th
Chemisty - WF (Withdrawn Fail)
Physics - D
AP European History - C
French III - A-
Math III - B
English 10H - B+
Health - A+</p>

<p>11th
Philosophy - A-
American Literature -B+/A-
Calculus I - A-
Chemistry - A/A+
US History - B+/A-
French IV - A</p>

<p>First semester senior year :</p>

<p>Economics
Astronomy
Environmental History
Russian Literature
Women's Literature
Physics
Dual - Independent Study in Advanced French</p>

<p>Second Semester</p>

<p>Advanced Environmental Science
Ornithology
Geology
Photography I
Photography : Traditional & Digital
Physics
Dual Independent Study in Advanced French</p>

<p>Also this summer, the Washington and Lee Summer Scholars program in Science and Medicine is looking like something I will be doing. As well I'm applying to Northwestern University Summer College Prep/Credit Course. Hopefully I'll be doing oen of the two.</p>

<p>I was suspended for 3 days for being behind a closed door with a girl. (Private school rule)</p>

<p>Oh and I'm a lower class white male.</p>

<p>My sister graduated from Cornell
My brother currently goes to Cornell
My mom was a high school drop out
My father is a Russian Orthodox Priest</p>

<p>What do my chances look like?</p>

<p>Applying for Pre-Med</p>

<p>I feel like I have no chance.
Any opinions...about my chances that is...</p>

2

<p>How'd your grades slip so far during 10th grade? You'll have to explain this or get your GC to talk about it</p>

3

<p>Explaining your grade drop is a difficult thing to do. You don't want to spend a whole essay explaining it because you want to use that time to show why you're great and not focusing on the blemish on your application. Talk to your GC and ask the parents on CC for help writing an essay on your hardships. Your chances probably hinge on how you word your family issues.</p>

4

<p>I recommend you not to explain your grades drop in your essay. Rather, attach an extra sheet with regards to your family circumstances.</p>

5

<p>yeah thats what i planned to do
and then my essay would be an experience showing how it made me stronger, but never talking about it specifically.</p>

<p>It was issues with my mom. She suffers from paranoia, psychosis, and depression, all stemming from her horrible childhood and when she was raped at 11. It severely effected me because she got very violent and paranoid towards me when my brother went off to college, leaving me home alone with my mom. My dad works two jobs (priest and postal worker), so hes never home. I ended out missing 30 days of school that year, and when i was at school, i hadnt slept or had come from the police station the day after an incident where my mom tried to kill me. it was tough. its an actual reason. and even so my grades werent...TOO..bad :P</p>

6

<p>I understand how you feel because my mom also suffers depression. She changes a lot, like in one or two seconds.</p>

<p>My grades suffered a lot in my freshman year. Fortunately, my school (I live in B.C., Canada) does not consider grade 9 grades when calculating percentile and GPA (my school has percentile but not rank -.-... weird...), and I am getting straight As this year (my mom insists that she is trying to improve).</p>

7

<p>Yeah mine resulted in me independently finding a boarding school , filling out the financial aid, getting accepted, and being awarded the money to go, so i could get away from her. It was not a good year. But now I'm at a private school that I love!</p>

8

<p>I am a senior in a well thought of public high school in California. I am applying to get into Wharton for undergrad business.</p>

<p>The 12 extracurriculars that I am going to put on the common app:

  1. Founded/ CEO of a non-profit organization
  2. Co-founded/ CEO of a 501(c)3 titled charity
  3. One month teaching internship in Africa
  4. Captain of mens varsity lacrosse team
  5. Chair member of my towns Youth Advisory Board
  6. Founded/ President of a school club raising money for UNICEF
  7. Founded Charter/ President of United Nations Student Alliance
  8. Summer internship with a state senator
  9. 2-year internship with a music management company
  10. 503 hours volunteering at a local shelter for women and children with abusive fathers
  11. made and run an investment of the week blog
  12. sales associate for two yearly seasonal job
    GPA: 3.75
    My essays are solid, they deal with my mission trip to Africa, my non-profit organization, and why I would like to go to UPenn. </p>

<p>If anyone can size me up to other applicants that would be great!</p>

9

<p>Coolgirl 2.0</p>

10

<p>^ LOL Exactly</p>

11

<p>Colsen… Best of luck to you. You will do great no matter where you end up. You over came many obstacles so even if you don’t get into Penn for some reason , hold your head up high and enjoy where you land. Good things are ahead for you. Keep up the good work!</p>