I applied to CAS ED. I have really bad freshman year grades (all B’s and C’s) but I pulled myself together and have been getting straight A’s since then in my academic classes. I am also a Philly resident and have been taking classes at Penn since junior year. I focused my Common App essay on explaining my poor freshman year grades and how I had to work 5 days a week to support my family. My Why Penn essay was based on how Penn helped me to challenge myself and excel academically.
Stats: SAT (1950) SAT II Bio M (670)
UW GPA: 3.7
Class rank: around 35/150
EC: I work at a local diner since Freshman year. I’m in my school’s MUN and bio club. I volunteered at the library and a local hospital in the Summer. I also work and row.
I know my stats are not outstanding, but being a Philly resident and taking classes at Penn do help to a degree. Given my family situation and my strong improvement since freshman year, do you guys think i have a shot?
I personally think you have at least a chance - your testing scores and grades aren’t the best, obviously, but your financial situation and all that could possibly explain these. Your story and your commitment to Penn are where your application shines - you seem to be a student who truly cares about Penn, otherwise you wouldn’t be EDing with the stats you have. I wish you the best of luck with your application!
I think you definitely have a chance. If you explained your situation well and let your passion for Penn shine through your essays, the admission officers might overlook your grades. Also I think they would notice the significant increase in your academic performance after your financial hardship was taken care of.
Honestly I really think you have a chance if your essays were great and they can move the admission officers. Best of luck!!
I have to disagree unfortunately with the two above posters. I can understand the freshman year to an extent, but the SAT score suggests there was something wrong junior year or senior year or whenever you took it. How would you explain that? It kind of validates those freshman year grades a bit, which I know is what you were trying to avoid. I mean you don’t have 0 chance, but I don’t think you will get in.