Chances for UPenn and Other Schools?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm going to college for engineering, so I have a bunch of colleges in mind right now. UPenn is my top pick, and I'm applying ED for it, even though I know it's a big reach (There wasn't any other school that I knew I wanted to go to enough to sign a binding contract). I know my EC's are pretty weak, though everyone I tend to ask says I still have a good chance at UPenn, but I'm skeptical. Other non-safe schools that I'm interested in: Carnegie Mellon, Lehigh, Cornell, UMich, Northwestern.</p>

<p>Academics:
-GPA: 4.53 weighted (as of Junior year, scale of 4) / 3.96 unweighted
-ACT: 31 comp (34 E, 31 M, 28 R, 32 S, 10 W) [Just retook, expecting around 34 E, 34 M, 29 R, 33 S]
-SAT: Math - 730, CR - 660, Writing - 690 (Retaking October, expecting 50-150 increase)
-SAT II: Math II - 790 Chem - 700
-AP: Calculus BC - 5, Computer Science A - 5, Chemistry - 5</p>

<p>Senior Schedule:</p>

<p>AP Lit and Comp
AP Physics B
AP Biology
AP Statistics
Digital Electronics
Robotics Engineering
Computer Integrated Design
Gym</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>-Science Olympiad (Junior - Senior years)
-Future Medical Leaders of America (Junior - Senior years, Student-run club, possible Vice Coordinator position Senior year)
-FIRST Robotics (Senior only)</p>

<p>Other:</p>

<p>-Part time job at Dunkin Donuts (since summer before Sophomore year, average 7 hrs/week)
-40 to 50 hours community service (mostly at Red Cross)
-May become after school tutor this year for community service.</p>

<p>Honors:</p>

<p>-AP Scholar
-TRIGstar Local Winner
-Principal's Honor Roll (1 year)
-Honor Roll (2 years)</p>

<p>What do you guys think? Also, do you think I should retake the Chem subject test in November? Or maybe take an additional SAT II? I know it will be too late for ED, but is it worth doing for the others?</p>

2

<p>Your GPA is great, but your ACT, for now, is a bit low. The thing that’ll hurt you the most though are your ECs: they’re really weak for UPenn. </p>

<p>Sent from my HTC VLE_U using CC</p>

3

<p>What about the rest of the schools? I’m assuming Lehigh should be pretty safe, but what about Carnegie? Northwestern?</p>

4

<p>Get those SAT scores up and you will do fine! Good luck.</p>

5

<p>Bump for more opinions.</p>

6

<p>Almost 500 views and only 2 replies? I’m not asking for a long analysis of why I would or would not get in to these school, but just several honest opinions.</p>

<p>Thanks for the responses so far.</p>

7

<p>Buuuummmppp</p>

8

<p>Hmm I’d definitely recommend that you have many backup safety colleges as well… With regards to your credentials, I think your standardized test scores are pretty low for UPenn and none of your extracurriculars scream that you absolutely want to study engineering. Focus on making your passion for the school and the program really stand out both in your credentials and your essays/supplements.</p>

9

<p>I don’t see UPenn in your future unless you have hooks.
Sorry but honest opinion.</p>

10

<p>Thanks for the response. I understand that I have a fairly low chance for getting into UPenn (even if I do raise my SAT and ACT by like 100 and 2 points respectively). But what do you think about the other schools I’m looking at, mainly Carnegie Mellon, Northwestern, Lehigh, and Cornell (also a big reach, I know, but I’ve heard that it’s easier to get into than other Ivy’s)?</p>

11

<p>You need higher scores for NW, Cornell and CMU.
Numbers are not everything but you need to get into the final table first.</p>

<p>As of right now, they are all reach schools.</p>