Critical decision to make.. HELP! (Chance?)

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>I'm applying ED but I'm extremely confused as to which college and everything else. Yes, it is pretty late, so I was hoping for some advice! I'm mainly interested in biology, chemistry, or anything med-related. I attend an extremely competitive school in California where many of the students get accepted to Ivies and other top schools, and I am involved in all of the top programs at my school (IB and a tech program). I am concerned that my progress in high school shows a negative trend, which I'm sure will hurt me when I apply.</p>

<p>Asian female
1st generation, low-income (~$40k), parents did not get college degrees, divorced
IB diploma candidate
Legacy: older brother (if that counts)
Rank: 2nd decile
Avg. GPA (9-12): 4.36 (weighted); 3.59 (unweighted)
GPA Breakdown: (1st sem, 2nd sem)
o 9th: 4.67, 4.67
o 10th: 4.83, 4.50
o 11th: 3.86, 4.00</p>

<p>ACT: 34 (forgot the specifics.. 8 on the essay)
PSAT: 231 (CR - 80; M - 71; W - 80)
SAT: 2280 (CR - 740; M - 750; W - 790)
SAT II:
o Bio E - 800
o Math IIC - 800
o Spanish (w/o listening) - 710
o US History - 700</p>

<p>AP Tests
o Biology – 5
o Computer Science A – 5
o European History – 4
o Computer Science AB – 5
o Calculus BC – 3 (Calculus AB subscore - 4)
o English Language & Composition – 3
o US History – 4
o Statistics – 5
Upcoming Tests: English Lit & Comp, Microecon, Gov, Spanish, Chem</p>

<p>IB Tests
o Math SL – 6
o Physics SL - 5
Upcoming Tests: Philosophy SL, Spanish HL, Chem HL, English HL</p>

<p>Senior Courses
AP English Literature & Composition
AP Economics (2nd sem: AP Government)
AP Spanish 4
AP Chemistry
IB Philosophy
Vocal Ensemble</p>

<p>Leadership & Club Involvement
+ Origami Club - founder and co-president
+ Peer Tutoring Club - tutor for biology and Spanish
+ Programming Club - committee member
+ assistant vice president of group of traditional Chinese opera singers
+ sectional leader (soprano 2) for vocal ensemble</p>

<p>Educational Awards
+ National Honor Society (11th-12th)
+ Candidate for the California Scholarship Federation (9th-12th)
+ Semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program (12th)
+ Semifinalist in the 2008 USA Biology Olympiad (11th)
+ AP Scholar Award (10th)
+ AP Scholar with Distinction Award (11th)
+ Sunrise Rotary “Top 100” (10th) – one of the top 100 students
+ High Honor Roll (11th)
+ Principal Honor Roll (9th-10th)
+ Academic Honors at Entrance (9th)
+ World Language Award for Spanish 3 (11th)
+ Certificate of Merit for Spanish I (9th)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars
+ Certificate of Merit for Level Six (piano; 7th)
+ Certificate of Merit for Advanced Level (level ten; piano; 9th)
+ MTAC (Music Teachers' Association of California) Branch Honors Recital (piano; 9th)
+ various certificates of recognition for traditional Chinese opera performances (10th-11th)
+ article on front page of entertainment section of foreign newspaper for traditional Chinese opera performance in China (11th)
+ Emergency Department volunteer with >140 hours (10th-12th)</p>

<p>I also interned at a music school over the summer.</p>

<p>Problems
+ I'm not taking a math class this year (but I took 2 last year).
+ There is a negative trend in my GPA, but that was related to family issues and a divorce. (It's going back up now.)
+ I'm only in the top 20% out of ~600 students.
+ I'm weak in leadership areas.
+ There isn't much time left!!</p>

<p>I'm just really confused and extremely stressed out by the problems addressed up above. Help would be greatly appreciated! What are my chances of attending any of the colleges at UPenn? If I want to go on to graduate school for medicine (probably, though unsure at this point), what do you advise that I do? Where should I apply? ><</p>

2

<p>I would advise the college of arts and sciences especially since you are undecided about what you want to do with your life, as most people are. And even if you did continue with medicine I would still suggest the college unless you had some other passion that I have not read. The 3 on Calc BC is not great for Wharton because they really care about Calc and Math II subject test but the 800 on that may help boost that. As for engineering, only you can decide if you want to do that. You are in the tech program at your school and I'm sure you can still do pre-med from engineering (but your studies do not include broad subjects like if you were in the college) so it may be harder to explore more topics. Nursing... idk. Hope this helps. I'd say College than Engineering but again, just an opinion on what I see.</p>

3

<p>What do you mean by broad subjects? Also, if I submit an art supplement, would it help only if I decide to go to the College of Arts and Sciences or would it help equally no matter the college? (I hope that made some sense.)</p>

4

<p>If you feel that you really want to enter the medical field as a doctor, then I suggest you look at some 7 year medical programs as well. As a doctor, the medical school doesn't really matter. Its not like business where coming from Harvard will give you a significant boost. Prestige isn't as huge of a factor in medicine unless you plan on doing research. And if you look at previous threads on the topic, its been said over and over again that the undergraduate school doesn't matter - its the GPA, MCATs, and recommendations that really count. </p>

<p>With that in mind, I suggest you look at the 7 year programs which are
a) cheaper
b) take less time
c) more personalized because of small incoming class
d) you don't have to take the MCATs</p>

<p>But if you're not sure, the Arts and Sciences school at Penn would be ideal for someone like you.</p>

5

<p>as for the art supplement i have no idea lol</p>

6

<p>I did consider researching some of those 7-year programs but they are highly competitive, and a student of my caliber just doesn't seem to cut it. ><</p>

<p>If the school doesn't matter (on the road to becoming a doctor), what about my major?</p>

7

<p>umm technically your major doesnt matter as long as you fulfill the requirements for med school (hence pre-med) but normally these majors are probably ones such as bio and chem (not sure because I'm not pre-med)</p>

8

<p>Thanks for the advice! I still don't know what the chances are for me getting into these colleges though.. (taking into consideration the problems that I have).</p>

9

<p>Just write a good letter explaining your situation. As for chances, obviously, its a lot lower for Wharton and probably similar chances for engineering and the college of arts and sciences. Just apply to the school that you'd want to be in. And btw, i would say pretty good chances for the college.</p>

10

<p>If you think you can get into Penn, you can get into most of the accelerated med programs minus a few super-selective ones (PLME, HPME come to mind)</p>