Chances: Penn 2014

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Hey guys, I'm a junior (well, barely in the summer between junior year and senior year), and I was hoping to get chanced. I'm thinking of applying to (not necessarily applying to all of them though, hahaha) Brown, Columbia, U Penn, Cornell, Emory, Georgetown, Stanford, Brandeis, Duke, NYU, Tufts, U Chicago, and maaaaybe Harvard and Yale. </p>

<p>My (public) school doesn't have AP courses, but I've taken the most rigorous schedule possible, and my GPA is around 3.9-4.0. My school doesn't rank, either, but I'm probably in the top ten or top five out of around 400 students. For the record, I'm in Ontario, Canada, and I'm white, in case that makes any difference, haha.</p>

<p>SATs: 2260
CR 740
M 770
W 750</p>

<p>I plan to take Chem, U.S. History and French SAT Subject Tests in October.</p>

<p>ECs:
- heavily involved in Student Council since Grade 9, elected as rep then, served as independent member this year, President next year
- played French horn in our school band since Grade 9
- founded, edit and write most of school newspaper/writing club
- professional actor out of Toronto</p>

<p>I'm not worried about the application essay, as I'm a pretty good writer, and I'll have some very good recommendations. I want to apply for political science.</p>

<p>What do you think? Let me know!</p>

2

<p>Firstly I am glad you have set aside some $500 US for application fees.</p>

<p>Your EC is not at all outstanding. I would say some 90%+ applicants are “heavily involved” (i.e. president/vice-president/treasurer) in student council. And say another 90%+ are involved in band/choir. And say some 60%+ are involved in some sort of publication process. To be honest I am just throwing random percentages out there, but look around your school and you should be a good judge about how many people have the same “brag sheet” (i.e. student council, band, etc.) as you do.</p>

<p>NYU is ridiculously easy, little question about that. Stanford and Chicago are notoriously impossible. It is not so much how good a writer you are. Some of their prompts are pretty out of the blue. (Google Chicago’s prompts if you have not yet done so. They are really good. Stanford’s are completely different from Chicago’s – they focus a lot on political and current events, so you had better have some astute opinions backed with facts.) With your mediocre standarized test scores, no IB or AP, and really average ECs, I would say no more than two acceptances from the above schools.</p>

<p>Edit 1: Fixed grammar: from “…throwing random percentages out of there” to “…throwing random percentages out there” (second paragraph).</p>

3

<p>I don’t really do chances, but a 2260 SAT is most definitely NOT mediocre DSI. That is absolutely crazy if anyone thinks so.</p>

4

<p>I agree, i got your back uhs lol</p>

5

<p>To UHSdebater:
Really? I thought that the mid 2200’s would be the median for Ivy applicants, thus mediocre.</p>

6

<p>Im backing DSI. Asian median scores are probably on 2300 mark. Affirmative action or no, be prepared to compete against the 2300+ asian with Business/ science state and national awards.</p>

7

<p>The middle 50% scores of admitted students at penn are:</p>

<p>SAT: Critical Reading 650-760
SAT: Math 680-780
SAT: Writing 670-760
ACT Composite 31-34</p>

<p>the OP has scores that are almost at penn’s 75th percentile in each section of the SAT. That is good. </p>

<p>People on CC need to stop comparing themselves to several of the posters on the SAT forum that get 2300+ and are upset about it. In admissions, you are being compared to the entire group of students applying to penn, not just the ones on CC.</p>

<p>Sure we need to compete with everyone applying (and I dont want to be hypocritical since I retook the ACT with already a decent SAT & ACT score), but not nearly everyone who is admitted scores above a 2300. I would call a relatively mediocre score one that is below the 25th percentile of admitted students, not one that is almost at the 75th percentile.</p>

8

<p>Correct, not nearly every freshman has a 2300+ SAT score under their belt. I suppose I should rephrase the “relatively mediocre” to “not distinctively outstanding.”</p>

<p>Apologies.</p>

9

<p>As much as I take offense with your needlessly rude tone, I appreciate your feedback. Does anyone have any advice to offer that might make me a more appealing candidate?</p>

10

<p>I think your test scores are fine. I’m an Asian Canadian who got in with a 2150 (but 34 ACT), but the EC’s are pretty run of the mill.</p>

11

<p>lol Asian canadian… You must have had amazing EC due to your international and ORM status.</p>

<p>No one has really answered the OP’s question. So based on other people and my opinions, Ill put your chances at Reach for the Ivies (except Cornell).
Reach for Emory.</p>

<p>You dont seem to stand out from the other 20000 applicants.</p>

<p>Match and high match for everything else.</p>

12

<p>Thanks, CC’er. Good to know!</p>