<p>I’m doing the UPenn Summer Science Program, and I’m wondering if that helps with admissions. Don’t get me wrong; I didn’t do this because of a transcript, but because I want to and I like physics a lot. However, if I really like UPenn when I go there (though I’m commuting from 45 minutes away, so I won’t get all of campus life), I would probably apply. Would this look significantly good on my application? Now I’m finally starting to think seriously about where I want to go to college (sophomore) and I’m getting pretty stressed out, so I just want to know what will help me. I think that for later I would have a decent shot at UPenn, as I have good grades, an 800 on an SAT2, and an okay PSAT (190, very good, but I hope to get my scores higher next time, but I won’t say much, as I don’t want to be cocky and jinx it), and I just started really studying for the actual SATs (I started vocab study, and right now the most useful and accommodating study guide for it is sparknotes flashcards, which I’ve been studying whenever I have free time and am just relaxing and watching TV). My only real concern is extracurricular activities. I do them because I like them, but they just take so much time. When you add that to school work and time needed for myself so that I don’t go nuts, there literally isn’t enough time in the day to do more extracurricular. Right now I’m basically in several music clubs (leadership possible), Model U.N.(possible youth secretariat), Latin Club, and Latin Honors Society. I wouldn’t be doing these clubs if I didn’t enjoy them, but there is barely anymore time for other clubs, though I may do newspaper and start one next year (I was thinking of some sort of political publication).</p>
<p>Wow, that was a long tangent. Anyway, how will the summer science program affect an application to UPenn, or any other college? Also, if I keep up the track that I’m doing now, should I have a decent shot at getting in? Sorry if this type of worry-wart post seems trite. I’m just starting to finally get very stressful over colleges, and UPenn is a good school and is in a good location for me.</p>
<p>I have heard that is doesn't help too much, but I think if you have a professor who really likes you & writes you a good recommendation i'm sure that can help.</p>
<p>You sound like you're in good shape, but don't focus so much on the future that you forget to enjoy your life now!
Doing a summer program can be helpful in a lot of ways. Not in the sense that doing a Penn summer program dramatically increases your chances of getting into Penn later, but in more oblique ways. Like Stambliark41 says, you can work on building relationships with professors. It's also a fantastic way to demonstrate interest, and would really help you out when you come to write your "Why Penn?" essay. It's also a good way to figure out if Penn is somewhere that you really want to go, and even if you decide that Penn isn't really for you, it should give you some insight into what kind of college would be a good fit for you.
And you'll get more experience with physics :).</p>
<p>There might not be concrete advantages associated with doing this (or many other) pre-college programs, but it's definitely something to try just for the experiece.
And more than anything...don't stress too much about colleges, it's really not going to help you a lot (not that it ever stops anyone!)</p>
<p>I almost did the penn summer biomed program, but then didn't because it was 6 weeks long. I definitly regret this though because I ended up not doing anything in the summer anyway, and it might have helped me get into joint degree (i was accepted to seas, but didnt get into m&t). I would originally have thought that doing a summer program would really help with admission, but I know two really qualified people who both did programs and didn't get in. Since these two people didnt get in, it made me think that doing a summer program really doesn't help with admissions at all. So, even though it will look good on your application, I wouldn't count on the summer science program to help you wtih getting in all that much. Nevertheless, it seems like you have a good chance of getting into penn anyway. an 800 on your sat2 for a sophomore is pretty damn impressive, and thatll definitly make your application stand out. Study for the sat and do well on that, boost your ranking, get involved with community service and more extracurriculars (camps and such, esp leadership things), and write a good essay, and you should be just fine ;)</p>
<p>thanks for all the advice! I was also thinking that it may not directly help, but it could be good indirectly, not to mention that I like physics. The thing I'm having trouble with the most is actually finding time to do community service; there literally isn't enough hours in the day, not to mention the time I spend doing homework and studying. Right now, I think I just need some time to relax so I don't go crazy from all this work, but it'll pay off in the end.</p>