I’m a junior in California and want to know, as honestly as possible, what my chances would be for these schools
Asian female, middle class, no hooks/legacy unfortunately
Stats:
SAT 1 1560(770 r/w, 790 m 8/8/8 essay)
SAT II Math Level 2 800, Biology M 800
PSAT 1510(likely national merit semifinalist in CA)
AP/ Courseload: Sophomore year course load: Ap calculus AB/ BC(5) Ap Computer science, AP Chemistry(4), AP World History(5)
Junior Year Courses: AP Biology(5), AP Physics 1, AP US History(5), AP Psychology(5), AP Environmental Science(5), AP English Language(5), AP Art History
Senior Year Schedule: AP English Literature, AP Physics II, AP Government/Econ, AP Spanish, AP Statistics, Anatomy/Physiology, Work Internship(EMT program)
GPA 4.0 unweighted, 4.8 weighted
EC’s:
Paid research internship for 2 years as part of competitive life science program
Internships in clinical research from freshman year- first author publication in peer reviewed journal
Second author publication in prominent cancer research journal with director of cancer center, third paper under review for publication
presented original research at a national conference
Science fair awards for neuroscience research
president of GWC and founded outreach programs to the middle school and teaching STEM to girls with autism
Provisional patent filed for healthcare device
women in computing awards, won an app challenge related to women empowerment
Volunteer at an arts workshop for cancer patients and a free clinic, started an arts program for other patients, founded a nonprofit to help cancer patients— probably will write my essays about this to showcase both humanities and science
Around 600 hours of volunteer service(PVSA 3 years Gold)
Founded bone marrow drive club, organized a STEM conference
Thanks!! Any advice for what to highlight would be appreciated
Why you gotta make me feel bad lmao. Not to be naive, but if you went ED to any of these schools, I’m 99% sure you’d get in…I mean you seem like the perfect candidate. The only reason you’d be rejected RD is that these schools might think you’re going to choose another (better) school, but even that is unlikely.
Your numbers look great! Unfortunately, I am also an asian female with no hooks/legacy, which means our chances of getting into Penn are much lower (ughhhh). Your EC’s also look great! I couldn’t tell you what your chances are, as I’m not an admissions rep, but your resume looks good! Make sure to focus on your essay components as those will help to humanize you and make you stand out! Good luck!
Wow! Incredible profile. One of the strongest I’ve seen.
Your scores are amazing! I would highlight whatever means most to you. Honestly, all of your EC’s are stellar so you pick the ones that have the most personal and possible professional/long-term value to you.
To me, though, the patent for the healthcare device really stands out as does the published research.
Best of luck! Make your essays unique. Your accomplishments are very strong without elaboration. You don’t need to explain or make them seem more impressive in your essays which is what some applicants do. Take that space to show who you are as a person!
I think you have a really good shot - great grades, stats on tests and accomplishments. Read up on Penn & make your application “speak to them”. My son is an incoming engineering student & I think it may have helped (not sure of course) that he had visited years before for a special robotics open house and attended a student and alum panel locally and took other steps to learn about what a Penn education is like and its philosophy of putting knowledge to work to practically solve problems that help society - interdisciplinary collaborations between engineers, med / nursing students and business to develop new or better ways of doing things - appreciating the expertise and insights that people from different fields can contribute - to make the “whole” greater than the sum of the parts. He could write about why he thought of himself as a future thriving student at Penn taking advantage of what’s offered and truly embracing the education there - and making a positive difference as a result. He also could talk about other aspects of Penn that resonated with him.
I see you are interested in other schools as well - which is great - learn as much as you can about them, their offerings, local communities and how the teaching approach/courses/research opps etc. would allow you to grow and pursue interests and what life as a student there would be like.
Visit as many schools as you think you might really be interested in and try to get a sense of them and life there. You should do well and I wish you much success!
Thank you all so much! Are there any matches/ safeties you recommend(besides the UC’s)? How many letters of recs would I be able to send? For supplemental recs would it be better to have a doctor/researcher or a volunteer director? Could I send both or would that be too much?
Thanks so much!!
