<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I was just wondering how harshly Penn checks GPA. My GPA is not superb (3.8 ish) but it is okay. I am planning to market myself as a Science and Math asian backed with Prestigious awards but im just worried about my GPA.</p>
<p>thanks.</p>
<p>I think your class rank (if you school ranks) would be more important since it’s a better indicator of your performance within your context.
The rigor of classes is extremely important too.</p>
<p>School absolutely does not rank. It is a magnet school in Illinois for Science and Math; Class ranking, class standing (deciles) are not reported. I have seen previous Counselor Common Application Recommendation letters. On the GPA/ Class standing part, the counselor writes “No class rank or standing is provided.”</p>
<p>imsa?</p>
<p>and your transcript will be evaluated against your peers’ transcripts, so the lack of provided rank doesn’t make a ton of difference</p>
<p>lol, don’t worry, my GPA is unspeakable. Yes it’s that low. But I think it’s ok cuz my class rank is high in a pretty competitive school? So class rank is probably more indicative of your situation.</p>
<p>Tho, that kind of sucks cuz you can’t change your class rank very much…</p>
<p>class rank may not be a huge deal and i only know this from talking to someone whose ranked really high in my class who has friends in different college admission offices. he said that they told him how most students who are #1 in their class, who apply to upenn, are turned away simply for the fact that they knew how to “beat the system”. so as long as you have a good gpa, SAT scores, and challenging courses, youll be in good shape!</p>
<p>^ agreed. The #1 ranked person at my school is only number one because she didn’t have to take P.E. classes.</p>
<p>I don’t understand your problem… 3.8 is a good GPA…</p>
<p>not at my school. I know many many many people with 3.8+s. Another faulty issue with my school is that it doesnt not weight GPA for ranks.</p>
<p>So it is indeed possible for kids who take wood craft or mechanical creations to have higher GPA than me, who takes many many AP’s and honors.</p>
<p>jerseyT, what exactly do you mean by "beating the system?'</p>
<p>They do not only look at the GPA, they also look at courses you take. Every schools we visited including Penn stressed this fact. I doubt that the wood craft taking higher GPA will be viewed as better candidate than transcript full of APs with slightly lower GPA.</p>
<p>Yeah, at their info session they said the first thing they look at is transcript and probably just look at your gpa for a few seconds.</p>
<p>the only thing i got REALLY going for me is my test scores and maybe my EC, depending on this friday.</p>
<p>oh ok. i was confused because in my school, ap classes are weighted, so there is no way to get a high rank without taking aps.</p>
<p>^ siemen’s comp?</p>
<p>yep. 10 chars.</p>
<p>Siemens is a TREMONDOUS advantage in this application right? Regional finalist is like auto admit to MIT.</p>
<p>Bumper cars.</p>
<p>^ Ha, Regional Finalist= Auto-admit to MIT.</p>
<p><em>Insert Reality Check</em></p>
<p>Weighted GPA and class rank do matter more, but I know more 4.0s than not here. That said, it won’t make you or break you.</p>
<p>Just remember, top schools are not only looking for top GPA’s and test scores. They really want well rounded students that are going to be successful in the real world and be models for the entire Penn community. Things like how you have challenged yourself at your school with what was offered, your extra curriculars OUTSIDE of the academic area and the progression in that interest, community service, leadership qualities, etc. Math and Science awards and recognition only says how you competed in one academic area. Ask yourself … what extracurricular have I done consistantly since I was in elementary school and how have my responsibilities increased over that time? what leadership positions have I achieved on my sports teams, religious community, etc. </p>
<p>College admissions is not as quantitative as everyone believes. There is a huge subjective component that looks at all of the things outside of the academic world.</p>