Chances of Getting into Penn

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Currently a high school junior:</p>

<p>GPA: 3.88 (uw)/ 4.76 (w)
SAT I: 760 Math/720 Reading/730 Writing (1480/2210)
SAT II: Math IIC 720; US History 710
Classes: Freshman: All honors (geometry--> double accelerated)
Sophomore: All Honors, AP US History
Junior: Honors German, Honors Physics, Honors World Lit., AP European History, AP Calculus AB, AP CHemistry II
Senior: (Havent taken these yet but my schedule is already set) AP Government, AP Calculus BC, AP Biology II, AP Statistics, AP Brit. Lit.,
AP German V</p>

<p>Region: Pennsylvania
Ethinicity: African-American (not black, just african-american) Persian</p>

<p>Extracurricular Resume</p>

<p>Science Related Activities:</p>

<p>Personal Pursuits
 50 Hours spent analyzing experiments in the lab of Temple University (2005)
 1200 Hours working as a math and reading tutor at Kumon Learning Center (2004-Present)
 Independent Research Project centered around Antacid Efficacy (25 Hours, 2005)
 Created a number of functional, interactive computer games using skills such as graphics design, skin importation, and basic scripting of triggers, events, etc
 20 Hours Spent doing Various Lab Experiments at Rohm and Haas
Mathematics
 American Mathematics Competitions Certificate of Distinction for Superior Performance on the AMC (2006)
 American Mathematics Competitions Certificate of Achievement for a score of 90 or Above on the American Mathematics Contest 12 for grades 10 and below (2006)
 Certificate of Participation and Recognition for Striving for Excellence as a AIME Participant and winner of Mathematic Awards (June 5, 2006)
Astronomy
 Host for laser shows and astronomy-related presentations through the Upper Dublin School District (2005)
 Astronomy Club (2004-2005)
 Organizer of star gazing events in areas of Upper Dublin (2004)</p>

<p>Other Activities:</p>

<p>After School Activities<br>
 Secretary of Junior Class (2006-2007)
 Member of German Club (2005-2007)
 Member of Golf Theory Club (2005-2007)
 Member of Chess Club (2005-2007)
 Member of Ultimate Frisbee Club (2006-2007)
 Member of Debate Club (2006-2007)
 Director and Planner of the Junior Prom Planning Committee (2007)
 Spirit Week Officer (2006)
 Director of Class Fundraising (2007)
Athletics
 Member of the Winter Track Team (2004-2005)
 Member of the Tennis Team (2005-2006)
 Intramural Soccer Player (2004-2007)
 Intramural Basketball Player (2006-2007)</p>

<p>International Studies
 3-time participator in selective German standardized testing (AATG)
 Award-winner for most orally advanced German II student in Montgomery County (2004)
 Attended a private school in Germany, and received certificate for completing curriculum (2006)
Literary Accomplishments
 Gold-key winner at the regional level for The Scholastic Writing Awards
 Awards and Publications of a number of writings (6) in the Creative Communications Competitions
 Award for completing the Reading Program of Kumon, and being ranked among the top 40 in the nation
 Certificate of Merit for Creating an Ad and editorial for the Intelligencer Record
 State Level Finalist for Reading and Analyzing an Article and Responding to a Prompt
Miscellaneous
 A score of a 5 on the US History AP Test
 Certificate of Achievement for the Successful Completion of JA Success Skills (12/20/05)</p>

<p>Also, Honor roll, Nat'l Merit Scholarship Letter of Com., NHS.</p>

<p>I'm also planning on attending the summer program of Penn, and doing about 200 hours of community service. I will probably apply early decision.</p>

<p>Other colleges I'm considering are Cornell, Johns Hopkins, Washington University in St. Louis, Dartmouth, and Penn State Honors (Schreyers).</p>

<p>Do I have a solid shot in getting into any of these? If not, please tell me what I can do to improve! I appreciate all feedback THANKS!!!!!!!</p>

2

<p>Another phony URM?</p>

3

<p>Class rank?</p>

4

<p>What is "Ethinicity: African-American (not black, just african-american) Persian"?</p>

<p>Are you Egyptian? Why are you putting youself as being African-American - are you simply from Africa?. This is too vague...</p>

5

<p>Ha, when suze said phony I thought of Holden Caulfield.</p>

<p>Everyone's a phonyyy.</p>

6

<p>ok, first of all, I'm not "phony" and I'm pretty insulted that that was the first thing that came to your mind, i thought this forum's purpose was to aid people, not make accusations. Anyway, my school does not have class rank. My ethnicicty is African-Amercian Persian, because I was born in Africa and my parents are Persian (we've lived in many different countries). Any helpful feedback?</p>

7

<p>That makes you Persian. Just because you wereorn in Africa, doesn't make you African. And Egptian = middel eastern.</p>

8

<p>oh ok thanks for clarifying that, i'm still completely new to the process as u can tell. can anyone actually give me a straight up answer of whether or not i have a shot at penn, and how great of a chance?</p>

9

<p>Depends on whichschool you are applying to. I think you got a great shot at the college or engineering.</p>

10

<p>People are not trying to bug you...it's just that the term "African-American" in the scholarship and college admission sense holds a lot more weight than you may think, so this is not any form of insult, but a need for clarification on your part (which you did do).</p>

<p>I think you have good chances of getting into all of your listed colleges with Cornell and Dartmouth as reachs.</p>

<p>Ethnicity as you list on your application may play a major role into which colleges you will be accepted to.</p>

<p>If you are Persian, It would be good to clarify that on the application form that you are so (ethnically) because the term African-American (sadly) has become a term that colleges observe as being ETHNICITY rather than the place or origin.</p>

<p>You still have a good chance regardless because of your academic merits.</p>

11

<p>You're not African-American: you're Persian-African. Does that make sense? "African-American" and "Asian-American" refer to people of those ethnicities who've lived in the U.S. for many many generations. (I'm "Asian," for example, because I was born in China... if I'd descended from '49 gold miners, on the other hand, I might be able to argue "repressed minority" status... maybe. Probably not.)</p>

<p>Oh, and on your stats: I think you have a great chance. Wharton will be harder, but for the college, you look pretty solid.</p>

12

<p>Sorry, but a lot of non African Americans born in N. Africa pretend to be AA. You have a reasonable shot at Penn, Wharton would be hard though.</p>

13

<p>thanks everyone and thanks a ton for clarifying the whole ethnicity issue, id hate to look like a fool on my application =P</p>

14

<p>any other feedback/improvements?</p>

15

<p>bump !</p>

16

<p>Hi sandy, </p>

<p>For college admissions purposes, the colleges are very specific as what consitutes being african american (black). You would not be considered african american (you could simply check other and explain your case). Keep in mind that blatant misrepresentation would be grounds for having your admission rescinded.</p>

<p>adofficer (who is an admissions officer at a selective school) writes the following in reference to another student's similar post:</p>

<p>
[quote]
if a student identifies as a member of a certain racial or ethnic group but has no real connection to it, we aren't going to think of that student as able to contribute anything special to our community, at least with respect to racial or cultural diversity. although this is only one facet of their application, they aren't going to have any kind of "advantage" in admissions if they identify as belonging to a specific racial group unless they show a connection to that community and evidence it has shaped their perspective on things and will be shared in college. and even then, this is just one consideration... </p>

<p>this post has made me think a lot about several students who have applied to my school this year. i just read one student who identified as "hispanic" because their grandmother was born in spain. she is applying from a high school that sends us about 30 applications a year (we usually admit 3-4). disingenuous. another student whose family immigrated to south america during world war two to escape the nazis - white austrian parents born in south america, the student and their siblings in the us. this student identified as "hispanic". disingenuous. yet another student has parents who are white but born in south africa. identified as african-american. disingenuous. and other student who has her "enrollment pending" for a native-american tribe - she indicated she is "native american" - not white and native american, not white and 1/8 native american, but just native american. interesting that there was absolutely nothing about her "heritage" in her application whatsoever; I looked at her siblings' applications (who both came to my school a few years ago and were far superior to her academically) and both indicated they are white only. disingenuous.</p>

<p>indicating something you are not on your college applications is wrong ethically; essentially, if you are identifying with a race or culture you have no connection to, you're lying to us. not cool, and not going to get you any supporters in the admissions office.[/quot]</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=292731&page=3%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=292731&page=3&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>in another post s/he states:</p>

<p>
[quote]
FYI to everyone...on the Common Application, the box reads: "African American, African, Black"...I think this is pretty clear. </p>

<p>I read a student this weekend who checked off that she was Hispanic because her grandmother is Spanish (from Spain); however, she (grandma) was born in the Philippines (her familiy was there running a trade company according to the student's essay about her grandmother...millionth grandma essay i've read already this year...) and so this student also checked the "Asian" box and listed the Philippines as the country of her family's origin. I think this is clearly an example of someone claiming to be something they are not...regardless of her race, this student is being denied, but I was struck by her audacity to identify not only as hispanic, but also as filipino...</p>

<p>

[/quote]
</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=292731&page=3%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=292731&page=3&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

17

<p>yea thanks for clarifying that ive decided to simply write that I'm persian on my application.</p>

18

<p>anyone???? i guess its also important to add that im from an unranked public high school, and will have taken 9 AP , 10 honors, and 2 regular (language) classes by the end of senior year.</p>

19

<p>bump !</p>

20

<p>dude u have nooooo shot at gettin into penn. unless u can bring up ur SAT to a 1550+</p>