Early Decision to Penn?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
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<p>Academics:</p>

<p>GPA: UW:4.0 W: 4.8 ish
Class rank: 3/around 400 students
Took all honors classes as a freshman.
Sophomore year: AP Psychology, 5
Junior: AP Calculus AB/BC (5/4), AP Biology (5)
As a senior, i'm signed up for AP Chemistry, AP Lang and Comp and AP Environmental</p>

<p>SAT
CR:730 W:680 W:680 (2090)</p>

<p>SAT II:
Math II: 650, Biology (Molecular): 700 Math I: 740</p>

<p>Plan on retaking math II. Is bio good or should i increase it? I'm planning on majoring in Biochemistry or Molecular Biology</p>

<p>EC:</p>

<p>National Honors Society
Volunteered at local hospital for 100+ hours
Freshman Club
Sophomore Club
Junior Club</p>

<p>Sports:</p>

<p>Varsity Tennis (9, 10, 11)
Varsity Swimming (10, 11. JV for 9th grade)
Maryland distinguished scholar award and varsity letters awarded</p>

<p>My teacher recommendations should be good.</p>

<p>I have an internship program with the National Cancer Institute where I'm assigned my own project with determining viral load in certain lions infected with Feline AIDS. I've learned how to run gels, run PCR's, extract DNA, clone cells, sequencing, etc</p>

<p>I'm from India and moved here when i was 10. I was thinking about using this as my hook for essays</p>

<p>Yes, I've pasted before in a general thread. But i want to know if it's worth it to go for Early Decision to Penn or to use it on Johns Hopkins where the ED rates are up to 51% (something like that i don't know the exact number).</p>

<p>My preference is to go to UPenn but if it's not worth it...i'll use it on JHU. </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>wow posted not pasted. Sorry for the typo.</p>

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<p>low sats, low SATIIs. take math2 over and try taking another one. u have time and it might help good luck! i would try for penn. being from india is not a hook</p>

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<p>Thanks Mychica. I was thinking about retaking the SAT already, but thank you for the wishes. Should i apply ED here or to Johns Hopkins then?</p>

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<p>yeah it’s going to be tough for Penn ED- you generally have to have a few SAT2s or sections of the SAT1 in the high 700s. Johns Hopkins is excellent obviously and while you’re not assured of getting in, I think the odds are definitely better.</p>

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<p>Honestly, your SATs aren’t that bad, and if you improve through practice, your great GPA and good ECs can definately help.</p>

<p>Oh, and though your being from India may not be a hook, it could easily be a fine essay topic if you work it well.</p>

<p>I say work on your SATs, and even if you don’t improve them, other parts of your application could easily help get you in, just spend time on your essays, and make sure your counselor and teachers who are giving recs like you.</p>

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<p>Too many Indians for it to be a pure hook but you can definitely make a nice essay out of it. Bump up the SATs and then to ED for Penn.</p>

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<p>Thanks for all the input. What do you mean by a good SAT score though? Something in the mid-700’s?</p>

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<p>Get either reading or writing above 700 and try to see if you can take MathIIC and get above 750 (pref. 800). Stats aren’t anything special and if you are applying from Montgomery County, MD where competition is rough. Lots of legacies in the area with similar stats, if not better.</p>

<p>

Tons of Indians at Penn. Lots of my Indian friends moved from India when they were kids too. Nothing special at Penn.</p>

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</p>

<p>Now doing it the other way around, THAT’S special! ;)</p>

<p></p>

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<p>I meant that I would use it for my essays, for diversity and all</p>

<p>Got it, i’ll have to bump up the SAT’s then…</p>

<p>Thank you, all</p>