Chances of getting in

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Hi everyone!
I am currently a junior in high school and I was wondering how high /or how low/ the chances of me getting into UPenn are?</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.946
Weighted GPA: 4.486
Rank: 9/467</p>

<p>I have all A's right now except for a B in PreAP English freshman year and another B in AP Euro sophomore year. Both of them were received in first semester only.
This year, I am taking 3 AP classes, 3 PreAP classes, and one normal class which is Orchestra. Next year, I am planning on taking AP Calc BC, AP Government, AP Lit, AP Physics, AP Mandarin IV, and Orchestra as a senior if the class schedules work out well. </p>

<p>I have to say that my AP test score for AP Euro was ... a 1. ;__;
I know that it is better to crash and burn on my AP tests than not attempting them at all, but does the AP test scores greatly affect the acceptance rate? (The AP classes I am taking this year are not looking too well off prepared as of now too, so...) If, by chance, all my AP test scores ended up being 1's, would that completely blow my chances of ever getting into UPenn? </p>

<p>Of course, ACT and SAT are super important. However, I can't help but notice that a lot of accepted students did not have an ACT score submitted. Is ACT scores not as important as SAT scores for UPenn? Right now, my ACT score is 26, very low, I know. I will be studying hard to improve my scores for the following tests and for SAT as well.
According to my stats above, is there any chance that I will be accepted into UPenn?</p>

<p>On a side note, I have played violin for 7 years, but am not particularly great at it. I always took it as a hobby and never went into the competitive side. I am not thinking about majoring in music, so would this instrument give me an advantage at all? </p>

<p>Also, I came from China when I was in 3rd grade, so I am actually still on a Green Card Permanent Residence instead of a citizen of the US. Should I apply for citizenship to raise my chances of getting accepted if UPenn accepts non-citizens at all? </p>

<p><em>One last thing!</em> I am thinking about applying as an Early Bird for this college. I have decided to major in accounting, but I'm really not too set on that. Should I take 2 years of in-state college to complete general courses first and then try to apply to UPenn, or should I just go for it?
Oh, and I'm also a resident of Oklahoma, if that helps any with competitions between states or something LOL</p>

<p>Sorry for the ramble of questions! I really appreciate any help!</p>

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<p>If you’re applying to wharton, I’m sorry but there’s a very very very low chance of you getting in. Although I’ve never taken an AP, I believe a 1 can completely destroy your application. To any ivy league… I got deferred from Wharton this year and had all As, a 2110 SAT, and some good ECs.</p>

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<p>No school that I know of requires AP test results as a factor in admissions, so I wouldn’t even report the score.</p>

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<p>Hmm… Should I just not take the AP’s then? Or still try, but just not submit the scores? </p>

<p>Wharton is what I am thinking about right now, but I understand my chances are low ): </p>

<p>But it is a relief to hear that most colleges doesn’t require AP test scores in admission</p>

5

<p>Take the APs and forget about the one being an issue.</p>

<p>The ECs you listed sound dull and dispassionate. Your problem is there.</p>

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<p>From what you’ve shared the good GPA and class rank are a start. That “1” on the AP test hurts though! I believe AP scores are self-reported on the common app, and the colleges can/do verify. Problem is that if you don’t report your low AP score then the college will wonder why you took an AP class(es) but not the test at the end of the course for the potential free college credit. They’d deduce that you must have done poorly on the test so you’re somewhat stuck either way.</p>

<p>For your current AP courses, since you say your school doesn’t seem to teach them well, grab some test prep books and finish preparing for the AP tests additionally / on your own. A number of students on CC have shared that they’ve taken and done well on AP courses without ever taking the class but instead just studying on their own.</p>

<p>The 26 on the ACT won’t get you into UPenn either. The score better start with a “3” as the first number.</p>

<p>UPenn accepts either ACT or SAT. And you’re supposed to send them ALL your test scores for ACT / SAT / SAT2’s, even though they say they’ll only use the high scores.</p>

<p>Other comments, bullet style:
—Oklahoma: Can’t hurt, as that would likely be an underrepresented state
—Chinese: I’m assuming from your description above that you’re Asian, which unfortunately is a negative. Why? See other threads but unofficial word is that there are so many well qualified students of Asian decent that many universities “downgrade” ACT/SAT scores a bit…they allegedly don’t add/subtract for whites…they supposedly add for African American and Hispanic. Goal being that it helps equalize the apps and ensure more diversity of the overall class. I don’t agree with it, but…
—Activities: Where are they aside from violin? Need activities and volunteering, and some leadership for sure in something.
—Passion: Where is it? Might want to major in music…may major in accounting at Wharton. Those are drastically different.
—Early decision: Yes, applying ED will help at UPenn, as their admissions rate is higher then then during RD period.
—Wharton: A stretch based on what you’ve shared above. It’s supposedly the toughest of UPenn’s four schools to get into. CAS has higher acceptance rate there.
—Citizenship: Wouldn’t hurt for financial aid purposes, and could help a touch for admittance. However, become a US citizen because you want to, not for college app purposes!</p>

<p>Summary: Apply, but only as your stretch school. Not to dissuade you, but I’d guess maybe 5% chance of acceptance to CAS, and less to Wharton for you. And yes, if you go to a public university like Oklahoma you can always transfer. That’s not easy either though.</p>

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<p>Thank you so much!
I meant that I am not thinking about majoring in music at all! Accounting is my only priority at the moment, but I will be exploring different kind of majors with my couselor soon. </p>

<p>EC as in extra curriculum?
I have been in Key Club for 3 years and counting; now I am the treasurer. I’m also in NHS and our specific groups in our school like Big Bro Big Sis and Panther Pals (our school mascot is the panther) and those clubs help the freshmens and middle schoolers.
I’m also a part of anime club if that helps any LOL…</p>

<p>I’ve volunteered for more than at least around 75 hours freshman year to now and I’m looking to volunteer a lot this summer. </p>

<p>However, I do not have any work experience :\ my mom believes that if I work, then I won’t be able to keep up with my homework anymore, but I’ve heard that work experience is important for UPenn? </p>

<p>And thanks again! Really appreciate all help :)</p>

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<p>How about some part-time work in the summer, something that you could relate to either yourself or UPenn in your apps somehow? Or taking a college course or two during the summer and making sure you get an “A”?</p>

<p>Also, check out the threads on CC for those accepted to UPenn…threads where they list their stats. That should also give you a good idea of what sort of general categories that UPenn admiss reps may focus on.</p>

<p>Ultimately present your true self to UPenn and other universities though, and choose a school that’s a good fit for you. Don’t be tempted to try to “put a round peg in a square hole” (ie, you into X university) on the app just to get into an ivy if it’s not a great fit for you.</p>

<p>P.S. As you’re from Oklahoma, keep in mind that two top notch schools near you are U of Texas (great biz program) and Rice.</p>

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<p>Thank you for the suggestions! I will surely look into them :)</p>

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<p>Your GPA looks nice, a good shot for any college. What concerns me is your testing; you cant be sending mixed messages to the college. You seem smart on transcript but when I get to the testing page I would go Woah! *** happened? Is this kid legit or not? That being said, forget about your euro score, dont report it. However, make sure you crush the ACT like 34+ to show that you are the all round caliber of an IVY. Also from what you have told me it seems that you lack in ECs I know that for penn and Wharton in specific, ECs are critical, they are what got me in other than my grades and score. Im asian (indian) like you, had a 35 act, 4.35 weighted/4.0 UW, 800x3 on my subject tests, the standard for a kid coming out of the bay area, but what put me over the top were the essays where I talked about my unique perspective I have built over my internships and my internships themselves, these were not your average summer camp stuff, these were legit change people’s lives stuff. If you are serious about Penn you gotta go out there and find out a good internship that shows that you are a leader and can make a difference in your community. If that is the violin, show off that you can raise a symphony to play for people who are depressed at clincs to cheer them up, stuff like that. That’s leadership (in a nutshell) and that is what will get you in even if you have a little bit less than the average marks and grades.</p>

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<p>^^^^^Good feedback Wharton17, and congrats on your ED acceptance to UPenn. My son got into Wharton/Huntsman via ED recently too. Stats number-wise he was a bit under yours but very strong EC’s and essays to go along with them (which I agree are extremely important).</p>

<p>Moldybanana — In many, but not all, cases these are the type of stats / ranks that you’ll be up against to get into any ivy league or sister ivy school. I agree with Wharton17 that you’ll need to ideally (1) hit home run on the EC / leadership category, (2) way improve that ACT score, (3) do very well on SAT2’s and future AP’s. Also, make sure you stand out as unique and likely to add something to the school you want to attend when you write those essays.</p>

<p>Looks like you have two responders who can comment on what they (Wharton17 and my son) likely did correctly on their apps to get into UPenn, so ask away if you’d like.</p>

<p>Also, do you have any hooks? (items that put you in a “different in a good way versus typical applicant” category in the college’s mind). Good-for-you hooks for college app purposes would be low income family, first generation college, athletic prowess in a sport you’ll continue in college, family made big donations to the university, etc…</p>

<p>As an fyi our son had no hooks, and it sounds like Wharton17 likely had only the ORM anti-hook going.</p>

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<p>Really thankful to have you guys here Ivyparent43 and Wharton17!</p>

<p>Wow after all this I’m starting to think I really have no chance at all cause of my lack of EC’s :&lt;/p>

<p>Our income is pretty average and both my parents went to college… both parents came from china and my dad was in the military but that’s pretty much like a majority of Asians :\ so I guess I don’t really have any hooks either…</p>

<p>Are there any good leadership camps or internships you guys would recommend for me to do that’s not too late for me?</p>

<p>Also, would following a business firm as a job be more beneficial than if I just got a job at any restaurant or shop? </p>

<p>And for sure I will be studying hard to raise up my scores.</p>

13

<p>Oh!! And I have a critical question about ACT’s and SAT’s!</p>

<p>I’m sorta confused about the whole ordeal now…
So, UPenn takes just one or all?</p>

<p>It’s either ACT w/ + SAT
or
SAT + 2 subjects on SAT II’s right? </p>

<p>And although I am Chinese and am planning to take the AP Chinese test, would the Chinese SAT also somewhat help me with the scores? Or would colleges just think “oh of course she’d do good since she’s Chinese” and just not take the score into consideration?</p>

14

<p>Oh goodness sorry for the spam now aaah!!</p>

<p>One more question! Is UPenn one of the schools that require all freshmans to take all the same general courses when they first get accepted so choosing a specific major is not necessarily required right away?</p>

15

<p>I think you’ll be deferred at UPenn. Sorry, hon.</p>

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<p>Aww ): are there specific reasons for that? It’s never too late to improve when I’ve still got time :)</p>

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<p>Moldy, 26 is a good sign, if you did not do any substantial prep. getting a 32 on the ACT or 2140 on the SAT is in the realm of possibility.</p>

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<p>Thankyou for the encouragement! :)</p>

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<p>26 & 31.5 are the lower and upper limit of the same 1st SD interval. So, it should be doable. Just work on it over the summer. My son was about the same as you on the PSAT (1730) in sophomore year. Then scored 2190 on the PSAT n jr year, even higher on a verifying SAT score.</p>

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<p>Answers to your above questions moldybanana:</p>

<p>—Frosh courses: My S will be incoming frosh at UPenn next fall so I can’t speak specifically about the courses yet. But during the tour they did say that they don’t expect students to pick a major until at least soph year, and I think that’s the case at all universities whether ivy or not.</p>

<p>—ACT / SAT / Subject2 tests: UPenn takes either ACT or SAT (or both if you want I suppose) as do all other colleges now, but Upenn requires that you send all test results so if you take the SAT 10X then they’ll see all 10. Can’t recall re: SAT2’s, but a fair amount of the higher end universities require them; here’s link you can search: [Compass:</a> Admissions Requirements](<a href=“SAT Subject Test Requirements and Recommendations - Compass Education Group”>SAT Subject Test Requirements and Recommendations - Compass Education Group)</p>

<p>—For each potential ivy “tests + other items required” just go to their website for admissions and check out their requirements.</p>

<p>—Leadership/internship camps: Skip the “pay for it” camps. It’s become a racket and they accept anyone who can pay for it. These mean nothing to admissions now. Instead, become a club leader at your school, or start a new club and you can make yourself President for the first time-period of X until you have elections.</p>

<p>—Job?: A job related to what you might choose as your major or field might be good, but any job is better than no job from admiss reps eyes. And I’m sure your parents wouldn’t mind you banking some “spending $ for college time” either!</p>

<p>—SAT2 for Mandarin (Cantonese?): Take it if you’d like and if you think you’ll do well in it. Admiss reps may discount it because of your ethnic background though.</p>

<p>—Oh, and here’s a great site that compares all the ivies by numerous categories, including ACT and SAT results for 25/75th percentile admitted (listed a bit over halfway down the overall chart / doc): [Ivy</a> League Comparison: Yale, Harvard, MIT, Brown, Princeton, Dartmouth, Columbia, UPenn, Cornell](<a href=“http://colleges.findthebest.com/saved_compare/Ivy-League-Comparison-Yale-Harvard-MIT-Brown-Princeton-Dartmouth-Columbia-UPenn-Cornell]Ivy”>http://colleges.findthebest.com/saved_compare/Ivy-League-Comparison-Yale-Harvard-MIT-Brown-Princeton-Dartmouth-Columbia-UPenn-Cornell)</p>