Even with a freshman year like this, could I still get into Penn?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
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<p>C- in Honors Geometry (Honors Classes are raised one grade in terms of GPA)
C in Honors Chemistry (Honors Classes are raised one grade in terms of GPA)
A- in World History
B- in English I
B- in Spanish I
A- in Multimedia Design
A+ in Concert Band (only counts as half a course)
50+ Hours of Community Service (earning me Honors Community Service)</p>

<p>I didn't play any sports this year, but I performed in the Spring Drama Production and wrote and acted for a school drama festival (which had to be written, practiced, and performed within 24 hours). This year, I also had one successful and two unsuccessful campaigns for student government. I was elected Ninth Grade Class Alternate Representative. My two unsuccessful campaigns were for Ninth Grade Vice President and School Treasurer.</p>

<p>This summer, I am going to volunteer at the hospital where my mom works, volunteer at the local library's children's section, be involved in the school play-readings, get Algebra II tutoring before I take the course, and I'm still in the process of convincing my parents to let me start taking glider plane lessons and get a student glider pilot's certificate!</p>

<p>Even with a freshman year like this, could I still get into the University of Pennsylvania?</p>

<p>Also, here is what I plan on doing in my sophomore year:</p>

<p>My classes for next year are Algebra II, (Honors or Regular) Biology, AP World History, English II, (Honors or Regular) Spanish II, Introduction to Computer Science, and Concert Band.</p>

<p>Next year, I plan on getting Honors Community service again, joining some clubs that are of interest to me, running for the school Cross Country team, joining the Model UN team, joining the Model Congress team, joining the Euro Challenge team, wrestling for the school Wrestling team, working in the technical crew for the fall play, running for school government, perform in the spring play, and write and [act or stage manage] for the school drama festival. I may possibly join the Naval Sea Cadet Corps out of interest in the U.S. Navy. Next summer, I plan on going on a mission trip to Nicaragua, volunteering as a teen leader at my mom's hospital, hopefully attending one of the National Student Leadership Conferences, hopefully getting a Private Glider Pilot's license, possibly take a course at a community college, and hopefully attend the U.S. Naval Academy STEM Summer Program (The things for next summer are all subject to change).</p>

<p>Also, if I am lucky enough to get into Penn, I would want to do Naval Reserve Officer's Training Corps and be commissioned as a Naval Aviator after graduation.</p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

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<p>Also, I’m applying for an internship for my Congressman during the fall.</p>

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<p>Well I find your extracurriculars pretty cool! You seem passionate and involved, I’m not worried about those.</p>

<p>I dont think anyone can tell you that there’s NO CHANCE of you getting in. Is there a particular explanation for your freshman year grades? Perhaps it’s something your college counselor can discuss in his/her recommendation letter. For instance, if you had a situation at home, you got bronchitis in the middle of the year, etc. If you just realy struggled with the material, he/she maybe can also talk about it in the letter.</p>

<p>To make up for frehsman year, I highly recommend that you take the HARDEST course load at your school, make straight A’s, and keep the interesting ECs going. And be sure to have high standardized test scores. I’m assuming form your username that you’re a guy. Guys generally have higher standardized test scores, so when you stack up against those other guys, you need every advantage you can get. </p>

<p>Honestly, even if you get extra GPA points I dont think Penn looks at GPA as much as the grade, because every school does GPA a different way. Focus more on the letter grade. And find out if your school reports rank; if it does, it usually helps to be at the top of your class at the end of junior year, which is usually the final marking period before you hit “submit” on your application.</p>

<p>The fact that you already care puts you in a better position than me when I was a freshman. I didn’t start caring about college admissions till halfway junior year. Kudos for being on top of your game.</p>

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<p>Wow! You have the same grades as this kid. And believe it or not…the same birthday! What are the chances?
[College</a> Confidential - Search Results](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/search.php?searchid=31303718]College”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/search.php?searchid=31303718)
You don’t think the same kid would spam the boards twice within one week with different user IDs…do you?</p>

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<p>cut down on the giant list of EC’s and spend more time doing school work because the GPA needs to go up…a 3.0 unweighted won’t get you in to a college anywhere near as good as Penn. not even Penn State would take a 3.0 unless you’re from one of the nation’s top preps(and just because you think your school is a top prep doesn’t mean it qualifies)</p>