ED UPenn or Regular Decision? And do I have a chance??

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Please help!! Any thoughts/advice/questions are welcome!</p>

<p>Grades/Test Scores:</p>

<p>UW GPA: 4.00
W GPA: 4.85
Class Rank: Top 1% of a class of 453
SAT: 2150 (Reading: 640, Math: 770, Writing: 740)
SATII: Math II: 780, Biology: 700
ACT: 33 (Reading: 32, Math: 35, English: 34, Science: 29, Writing: 9, English/Writing: 32)
AP scores: Computer Science I: 5, World History: 5, US History: 5, Stats: 5, Computer Science II: 5, Calculus BC : 5, Calc AB subscore: 5, English Language and Composition: 5</p>

<p>Awards/Honors: All-State orchestra, AP Scholar with Distinction, National Merit Semifinalist (I'm predicting this, since my PSAT of 211 is over the last year's KY cutoff of 209), Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program, 1st place junior varsity in state at TEAMS(Tests of Engineering Aptitude in Math and Science), accepted to 2010 Cornell University Summer College</p>

<p>Activities/ECs:</p>

<p>As a student in the Math, Science, and Technology Center, I have been involved in my own research project with a professor at the University of Kentucky since my junior year. Currently I am working on the design and synthesis of aluminum and tantalum acutated microstructures to function as artificial cardiomyocytes. I will have completed 360 hours of research (without pay) by December.</p>

<p>-Black Belt in Kenpo Karate
-Starting pitcher in my community's babe ruth baseball team. We have won the regular season championship the past two years.
-I went to the Philippines this summer to volunteer at the Quezon City Health Department. I interacted with patients and took vital signs, for 2 weeks (80 hours). Also, I'm half filipino.
-I also volunteered at a local hospital for two summers, 45 hours each summer.
-Leadership Lexington Youth Program: I met monthly with my classmates and interacted with and shadowed business and government leaders in my city.
-I also volunteer once every other Saturday morning at a local middle school. A small groups of high school students and I teach students (classified as at risk for developing drug/violence problems due to their family/community background) chemistry and physics concepts through hands-on activities. The goal is to get them interested in school and academics.</p>

<p>Do I have a shot at UPenn? Would you recommend Early Decision or Regular Decision? Thanks!</p>

2

<p>damn i’m jealous of you right now. i’m applying to upenn too and you have a waaay better shot than me</p>

<p>good luck!</p>

3

<p>Very, very impressive! Your research will stand out especially :slight_smile: DEFINITELY apply ED if you want UPenn!
I would be surprised if you didn’t get in!</p>

4

<p>Yup, you have an amazing shot. Plus, since you are filipino, I believe you will receive some benefits from AA. I would prbly improve your CR score, though. Its not an absolutely huge deal, but I would try to raise it. Plus, the 780 on Math II, while it superficially looks like a great score, is actually in like the 70th or 80th percentile. If you have time, you should raise that too. However, I got into Penn with a 790, so it probably isnt a big deal. Both things are minor. I bet you get in either way!</p>

5

<p>Really, the only weakness of your application is your test scores, but maybe you can do something about that?</p>

6

<p>wait, he’s taken the ACT…so ignore my comment about the SAT.</p>

7

<p>I’ve heard that Penn prefers the SAT over the ACT… Should I send them both my SAT and ACT? Or just the ACT?</p>

8

<p>^ You’re required to send all of your scores, be it SAT or ACT, to Penn under their current policy. You don’t really have a choice here.</p>

9

<p>you stand a great shot on paper. absolutely go ED, Penn loves to see a commitment out of its applicants. just make sure you write a fantastic essay - they value it a lot and use it to see past the numbers</p>

10

<p>@mathematicism really? So if i did significantly better on my ACTs over my SATs, i’ll have to submit both scores and possibly be judged by my poor SAT score?</p>

11

<p>^ You’ll have to send both scores, although I’m sure they’ll judge you from the better one. On a side note, though, there’s no way they can really verify whether you sent them all your scores or not.</p>