I really like Penn, and know that its a reach. I’m worried that if I apply ED and don’t get in, I’ll screw up my (relatively higher) chances of getting into my other top schools if I pick one to apply ED (Colorado College, Emory, Wake Forrest, Hamilton)
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Demographics: White male from Alabama, attending a competitive college prep school
Intended Major: Political Science
GPA: UW: 89 W: 4.01 (strong upward trend from freshman year on)
Rank: School doesn’t rank
Recs: From teachers that know me very well and like me. They should be strong (9-10/10)
Testing:
ACT: C: 32 E: 36 M: 26 R: 36 S: 28 (first time taking, will retake in September) APs 4s on Psych, APUSH, and Lit and Comp
Course Rigor: All honors classes throughout highschool, 3 APs Junior year, Senior year I’m taking AP AB Cal, AP Micro /Macro, APES
Leadership: Eagle Scout, SGA President, Secretary, then VP of High School Democrats, Debate Team Captain (3 years)
ECs: Speech and Debate, Academic Bowl, JV Soccer, Varsity Golf, 7 years of orchestra / jazz band, competitive gaming
Distinctions: Top 30 at NSDA Nationals in Public Forum Debate, won several tournaments, 2nd at State, 3rd at State in Extemporaneous Speaking, qualified to TOC Nationals in Extemp, Academic Bowl Nationals
Academic Involvement
Debate: I ran and taught a free summer debate camp for novice debaters who couldn’t afford to attend other debate camps. I’m taking two sections of debate senior year and teaching both classes because our school doesn’t have a coach.
Independent Study: An Analysis and History of the LGBT Rights Movement and Culture in Birmingham This will be a 40 or so page paper that I will write the first semester of Senior year and submit to the Concord Review
Work: Intern for a Birmingham Mayoral Candidate, worked roughly 200 hours canvassing, phonebanking, and assisting with the candidate’s debate / public speaking preparation