ED at UPenn, Brown, or Cornell. Chance me please!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Chances please! Rising senior.</p>

<p>GPA: 4.3
Rank: 7/189...Top 5%
ACT: 33
SAT II: math I=700....us history=740 (taking again, don't worry).
Classes:
Freshman year=All honors (No AP's offered)
Sophomore year=All honors (No AP's offered)
Junior year=AP US History (5 on exam) and all honors (No more AP's offered)
Senior year=AP Gov, AP Environmental Science, AP Stats, and all honors</p>

<p>Sports:
Captain and four year member of varsity hockey team.
Member of golf team.
Member of two time State Champion lacrosse team. (4 yrs)</p>

<p>Community service:
1000+ hours in Gulf of Maine Institute environmental protection group presenting to numerous congressmen in the USA and Canada, and also featured on the Today Show. Started in 7th grade.
200+ hours as Religious Education teacher for three years.
100+ hours in numerous soup kitchens and service projects through Campus Ministry.</p>

<p>Honors/Awards:
National Honors Society
Spanish National Honors Society
Wells College Leadership Scholarship (20K/yr)
Extracurricular Award
Sophomore Class Award
Coaches Award for hockey
Varsity Letters
Campus Ministry Leadership Award
Invited to National Youth Leadership Conferences in Washington D.C.</p>

<p>Clubs/Hobbies:
Gulf of Maine Institute (mentioned above).
Political Club
Environmental Club
Spanish Club
Saints for Life Club (Pro-life club)-->President
History Club
Campus Ministry-->Leadership team
Youth Ministry (Local church)-->Leadership team
Philosophy Club</p>

<p>I have been an upperclass mentor for freshman for two years, along with being a student ambassador for my school which entails going to middle schools and recruiting/advertising the school.</p>

<p>As for connections, I'm not sure how beneficial these would be, but let me know what you think. Ironically enough these two are brothers and absolutely filthy rich. And I'm talking 10 million+/year salaries. </p>

<p>Brown: I have a cousin (Dr. Paul Donahue)that went to Brown and is now an internationally famous doctor and lecturer who has written several children's psychology books. He's gone on to be the head of Columbia and Georgetown's psychology departments, and he does tons of lectures to big shots. He is a very wealthy guy who contributes a TON of money to the school. He's not a parent or sibling, but is it still a noteworthy connection? Perhaps with a phone call or letter?</p>

<p>UPenn: I have another cousin that went to UPenn that is a mega-millionaire and contributes heavily to the school? Again, not a parent or sibling, but he has definitely made it big and kept UPenn close to his heart. Any help here?</p>

<p>I'm sure I'm forgetting some stuff, but what the hell. Probably going to apply Early Decision to Brown or UPenn, but might investigate Cornell for ED. Who knows? Any imput would be fantastic!</p>

2

<p>whats that 33 on the ACT equivalent to, in terms of an SAT score?</p>

3

<p>I'm not exactly sure but someone told me around a 2200 give or take a few.</p>

4

<p>Cornell is the easiest one to get into. 33 is equal to 2190, or so they say.</p>

5

<p>I know, that's true from what I've heard, but I don't think I like it as much as Penn or Brown, and I don't want to be binded to go there.</p>

6

<p>Did you really have to put all those clubs down? And, did you really need to write that you were invited to such and such?</p>

<p>That's quite unimportant. </p>

<p>Cousins don't count.</p>

7

<p>I understand that they don't count as legacies, I never said they did. But my cousin to date has donated over 3 million dollars to UPenn. That's got to mean something.</p>

8

<p>I don't think it matters that the big donor is your cousin. However, it probably does matter that he's donated a lot of money and supports your application. </p>

<p>He can give a call to the development office and tell them about your application. The development office may then inform the admissions office to be on the lookout for your application. (I'm not positive that this is how it works at Penn, but there's a good chance since many other schools do use this approach.)</p>

<p>The fact that you're willing to apply ED and that your qualifications are well within Penn's range should be a plus.</p>

<p>I think the situation will be similar at Brown (depending, of course, on how much Brown appreciates your relative's donations.)</p>

9

<p>Get a letter of recommendation from one of those big shots. Any more, I doubt the adcoms would read them.
2 from teachers, 1 from counselor, and 1 from big shot.</p>

10

<p>Thanks for the advice. I'll be sure to have one of them make a phone call and write a rec depending on which one I chose to do E.D.</p>

11

<p>Bump anyone? Please?</p>

12

<p>It all depends on the donations for their relative weight. 3 million is a good amount, but to have a very very serious weight it needs to be 10+ since these schools have so much cash. None the less I would say do ED to Penn or Brown, because with your stats and connections you have a good shot. Go with the one you like more....</p>

13

<p>Yeah, see thats the problem. I have no idea which one I like more. I love them both. :/</p>

14

<p>You're connections are quite strong, if they are really such donors. I think if you get them to properly lobby on your case you have a 99% chance of acceptance. You will be considered what Dartmouth College calls a "VIP Case", in which the school rewards one of its alumni who donates tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands to the school.</p>

<p>PULL ON YOUR CONNECTIONS. They are more valuable than your ACT score, EC's, ANYTHING. VIP Cases have upwards of 70%-80% acceptance rates, and you will be considered one if what you are saying is true. However, the money has to be significant and attributed to those people - above $20,000 at least preferably to be considered significant, and with a unwritten understanding that they will funnel even more money in if you are accepted. </p>

<p>If you work with your connections, you have a 99% chance of being accepted to UPenn or Brown. Combined with ED, the only reason you wouldn't be accepted is because the admission officers has developed psychosis and is just burning applications with a flamethrower randomly, in which case he would be promptly fired anyway. </p>

<p>As for rec., get one if you want too - it won't matter. The money and the fact that the person will be lobbying on your behalf to the office personally is what matters. The rec. letter will get lost and is pretty unimportant.</p>

15

<p>Wow, thanks for the input. They definitely are HUGE donors, both in the millions, so that's good to know about the VIP policy. I will be sure to give them a call this week so that they can get working with the offices. I appreciate the feedback!</p>

16

<p>Millions? That makes it even better. VIP/Development cases get prob. the biggest boost among all applicants, comparable with recruited athletes. The fact that you have competitive stats that would make you a strong applicant even without your VIP Status makes it very likely you'll get in. Most rejects in VIP Cases are George-W-Bush style people, but GWB got lucky with his run to Yale.</p>

17

<p>fyi you can only really ask somebody to go for bat for you, if it is your first choice. Trust me(I know from experience) it looks very bard and it can affect relationships if you get someone to use their connections for you and then you don't go. You need to decide what your number 1 choice is first and then do ED and use the connections. You can't really do both...fyi 20k doesn't mean much...this past year a girl I know with a distant family member who had donated upwards of 30+ million and always got kids in, was not able to get her in with decent stats. Reason? Its a whole new game now that Stetson left, so good luck, but nothings a sure deal.</p>

18

<p>Bescraze, thanks for the input. I'm aware that to ask both of them would be a big mistake. I am at the point in which I am trying to decide between Brown and UPenn, but I just can't make up my mind. They are both equal to me, and each of them has a perk that I really like; Brown=Open Curriculum, Penn=location. So it's really just a matter of trying to find negative things about them that will eventually lead me to pick one over the other. I'm so confused!!!</p>

19

<p>Mooseman976 - the only thing that I see that looks weak, is that you chose AP Environmental Science, as compared to Bio, Physics or Chem. Most people at your level choose one of the more rigorous courses. Environmental Science is is considered to be one of the easiest AP courses, suitable for weaker students who want to take an AP course. At your level, it looks like you're going for an easier Senior schedule. Perhaps you have an explanation, I don't know. Your connections will only get your application read, but you still have to qualify. And I agree with Bescraze... only use the connection at the school you are committed to attending.</p>

20

<p>Well the reason I am taking AP Environmental Science is because of the Gulf of Maine Institute EC which I mentioned, in which I have been protecting and educating the public about the environment for 5 years, meeting with Senators, House Representatives, and members of the media (The Early Show for example). So, it relates to my passions/possible major (Environmental Studies). So that is the reason that I took it, not to weasel my way out of an easier AP. Not to mention, I am taking other APs, and AP Gov and AP Stats are by no means walks in the park.</p>