Chances please?

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>i know i probably have no shot, but the only reason im wondering about even applying is cuz im told upenn favors legacy and my mom went here…</p>

<p>shes from thailand where like, the top 5 students in the nation each year get sent to any college they want in the world so my mom went to UPenn</p>

<p>So, im currently a male senior from CT (fairly competitive public high school in one of the rich counties) Im curious as to what you think my chances are.</p>

<p>GPA- UW – 3.4 W – 3.7 (low, I kno, but GC wrote about how junior year I missed almost a month of school whilst in 4 ap and 3 honors classes with shingles+surgery which is y my gpa isn’t as high as it could be)</p>

<p>School doesn’t rank…</p>

<p>Frosh and soph years u can only take 2 honors classes, which I did and from there on I have one of the most demanding courseloads</p>

<p>Im Asian… Thai Laotian Chinese Indian</p>

<p>SAT - 1390/2070
Math - 730
Writing - 680
CR – 660</p>

<p>SAT 2
MATH1-720
MATH2-680
USHIST-660</p>

<p>Teacher recs - i read one of them who said i was one of the best she had had in 17 years of teaching and that while i was a junior in a class meant for seniors i emerged the leader and made evereyone else around me perform better… the second one that i sent i didn’t read becuase the teacher doesnt allow it but i asked my GC if i had to send one which would i send and he said it was a tossup… so it must’ve been very good</p>

<p>My essays were actually fairly good… writing is kinda my thing</p>

<p>i got a
5 on the AP English Lang
4 on AP US Hist
4 on AP Psych (self study)
3 on AP Govt (self study)</p>

<p>the thing that im hoping to make up for my gpa are my pretty good ecs…</p>

<p>I am…
-vice president of fbla
-captain of debate (finished 5th at state finals)
-editor of the school paper
-co-founder of my own tutoring business
-One of two students on a regional board to talk about the problems teen face in my community

  • two varsity sport (wrestling and track)
  • ambassador of intramural football league in charge of arranging playing times
  • i umped baseball for a few years
  • part of youth chapter of charity organization that sends money to sponsor schools in villages in India
  • went to a third world country where mom grew up to help teach english (wrote one of my essays kinda about this)</p>
2

<p>ec's are very, very nice. I don't know if they can pull up your grades/test scores, but you have a legit shot. A girl from my school with a 29 act got into wharton because her dad started her a non profit organization and put it under her name, so anything is possible.</p>

3

<p>i have a story and my counselor says it is unlikely l would get in</p>

<p>--but mom and dad both went to Wharton, and i am not applying ED as i did not have the time to see the school this summer as i work all summer in San Fran and just dont wont to rush into this for the sake of admission to a great school, but i want the right school for me which i am researching now along with Brown (my counselor says even less chance there), some good state schools in GA, TX and lastly Florida where i live which I can go to for almost free given our educational lotto...this week i will have the on campus legacy interview and know more</p>

<p>--i have great real summer work experience working for a known software developer out in the Bay area for the last two summers, i got the job on my own merrit and the person whom i worked for is legendary known by all...this i think is my strongest hook which is unique but might not count here in college admissions...and before that, i worked for a small boutique building 10 or 12 high end custom computers each week where i learned quick, hardware is hardware but then i was only 15 so not a bad summer job</p>

<p>--i have never taken a CS course in school as felt a waste of time and am all self taught in programming, but think of myself more than just a programmer, but this area i am very very strong in many languages and protocols</p>

<p>--i still want a true college experience even though my employer has suggested i continue working for them and go to school at night in the UC system, but i dont want to be so practical as i also like literature and philosphy and there is much to learn which interests me</p>

<p>--i also row and want to row in college where i am good, but not great and not 6'4", but very strong and have a strong erg and the coach is on board but I might not be one of the 10 recrutied slots he has</p>

<p>--now the grades, 3.5 and only honors courses, no AP and they were offered, did not even take the Ap CS course as redundant even though could have been an easy A; and my junior year was a wash for some personal problems at home beyond my control, I go to a tough school, teachers like me but also know i am my own person saying i am bright but marching to my own drum</p>

<p>--SAT's 710 math, 620 verbal and am taking SAT II's this fall, another reason I did not apply ED as they were not done yet</p>

<p>and lastly, i like Penn for it has good CS, i know not the best in terms of ranking, but it is in an urban environ and has rowing, but I also like that i can take courses up at Wharton and in the College which might interest me making this a good choice...i love computers and what they can do, see myself in technology, but honestly have no idea what i will be doing years from now as things change...so unlike the Wharton people who have all the answers, or think think they do according to my dad who is one, i say, we will see as i am only 18 and let me enjoy the time</p>

<p>thank you</p>

4

<p>I hesitate to mention this but Penn is one school that ED makes a big difference in acceptance rates. Legacy counts but supposedly much more so during the ED round.</p>

5

<p>so if i applied ed i might have a chance?</p>

6

<p>you have a chance regardless if it is ED or RD. :)</p>

7

<p>i mean a good chance... lol</p>

8

<p>according to collegeboard...</p>

<p>Very important admission factors:</p>

<pre><code>* Character/Personal Qualities
* Recommendations
* Rigor of secondary school record
</code></pre>

<p>Important admission factors:</p>

<pre><code>* Application Essay
* Extracurricular Activities
* Standardized Test Scores
* Academic GPA
</code></pre>

<p>Considered:</p>

<pre><code>* Alumni Relation
* Class Rank
* Geographical Residence
* Interview
* Racial/Ethnic Status
* Talent/Ability
* Volunteer Work
* Work Experience
* First generation college student
</code></pre>

<p>erego, your GPA wont hurt you that much. especially as your recs are stellar (i wish a teacher told me i was best in 17 yrs) and your essays are supposedly good, applying ED+legacy should give you a fairly good shot</p>

<p>however, i am unfamiliar with penn admissions. other people need to verify this but these are just my thoughts</p>

9

<p>thanks crouton, i hope your right.</p>

<p>anyone else can give me help?</p>

10

<p>anyone else?</p>

11

<p>ok, i applied ED, had 2 interview (one on campus, one alumni) and both went AMAZING. both liked me a lot so interviews were probably almost as big a plus as they could be... so, chances?</p>

12

<p>bump</p>

<p>567891</p>

13

<p>SAT went up...</p>

<p>composite = 1450\2130</p>

<p>m-730
cr-720
wr-680</p>

<p>r my chances increased much</p>

14

<p>um i didn't bother reading the entire thing... but I think you have a good shot at CAS and a shot at Wharton...</p>