<p>I am planning on applying ED to Penn. It is definitely my top choice. Do you think it would be best to do so, or wait until RD when I can submit grades from 1st semester as well, which would raise my current cum. avg. from 90 to 91. The reason it's so low is because I got all 80s in grade 9 (I think), 80s and 90s in 10, and all high 90s in grade 11 (so an upward curve). This semester will be all high 90s too I'm sure but I ED shows that I am really passionate about Penn. So I'm not sure...what do you guys think? Looking at just the cum. avg it doesn't seem like there's much of a difference...</p>
<p>And also, what do you think would be the best way to report my rank? My school doesn't rank but my GCs are open to reporting it in one way or another. I was #1 out of 200 or so last year, so we could put #1 just from 2009-2010, or should we just put the lowest percent (which on the Common App is 10%) for all of high school? My school isn't great so they might not think that would be too impressive, do you think it would be better to put top 5% for all of high school (which I am) in the additional info or just leave it at 10% and let them guess that it could possibly be even lower?</p>
<p>*In Ontario (where I live), 60-69=C, 70-79=B, 80-100=A</p>
<p>OH, and I posted this in the Canada forum because fellow Canadians can probably empathize best with this situation.</p>
<p>GC figured it out for me just for last year (had to do it manually so overall would be way too much work - he extracted all the students with averages above 90 I think and went from there).</p>
<p>I’m still not sure if it would be better to specify 5% though or leave it at 10%… (do people normally specify?)</p>
<p>And I think I agree with you two about applying ED. It does show interest and 1% is pretty small…</p>
<p>Do not care about cum avg. Grade 9 record rarely counts, and your score improvement will work ‘for’ you. Go for ED.</p>
<p>As for ranking, I had gotten my ranking from my GC last year twice, once at the end of first semester and the other at the end of second semester (for some sci opportunities). The first time it was 12/400, the other time, 7/400. I was happy and had planned to record it on common app. But then, during one recent meeting with my GC, she said that I should not submit my ranking cause, officially, my school does not rank. I was disappointed. She added, though, she would include a school’s ranking policy letter telling how competitive my school is, and also that even gpa 90 can be achieved only by a few bests. (My cum gpa is 92.1) So, I feel not as happy about this, but I cannot do anything aobut it. </p>
<p>I am not specifying my ranking on additional info. That has never occurred to me actully. If you want to, you should, though. It cannot hurt you.</p>
<p>I agree with everyone, if you have a passion for Penn then definitely apply ED. Im no expert but it looks like you could be a real competitor, so applying ED might save you a whole lot of trouble when ED decisions come out in december. Good luck with everything!</p>
<p>Yeah, I think you’re right Viggy about gr. 9… although I’m pretty sure more weight would be placed on the upper grades…it just seems to make the most sense.</p>
<p>Anyway, I’ve decided that I am definitely applying ED, unless my SAT II scores turn out to be horrendous on Thursday. Thanks for your help guys!</p>
<p>Oh, and my GC is reporting me to be in the top 5% in his rec and wants me to say that I was #1 in Grade 11 on my own additional info…Here’s to hoping they’ll believe me.</p>