Huntsman Program App: Advice

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Hi guys,</p>

<p>I’m currently a sophomore who has just figured out that Huntsman is the place to be after I graduate from high school. It was not an impulsive decision; I researched a lot and understood the implications of the program. As of now, my current aim is utilize the next three years I have to work my application towards it. </p>

<p>Since the beginning of high school, I’ve remained an all-rounder. I don’t have any SAT scores as of now, but I can break down the parts of my app that I have in place or planned out.</p>

<p>FYI- I’m an American citizen who lives in India. I go to an international school that has both an IB curriculum (11th-12th) and a Cambridge IGCSE curriculum (9th-10th), which means that I’m taking my first board examinations this May.</p>

<p>Grades/Subjects</p>

<p>− I’ve gotten 9A* (on 9) in all my subjects for internals, which translates into a 4.0. I’m hoping to get all A<em>s for my board exams. I know that when applying to British colleges this could be a major plus point, but I don’t know if American colleges take it as seriously (getting 9A</em>s is like a feat itself, only an average of one person gets it a year in my school, I’d say it’s efforts would be under-rated.)
− By the end of this year I would have taken (for two high school years): All 3 sciences, Advanced Math (which basically finishes up all trig, algebra and calculus.) I’d say that as of now, I would be able to take the SAT Math 1 easily. I also take History, French, Drama, English Lit/Lang
− French: Is going to be my target language, I’ve taken it since I moved here, which means for 6 years. I’m currently at B1 level fluency in DELF. I have around 5 hours of class in school, plus two extra hours afterschool per week with a native French speaker. I hope to go for an exchange or spend the summer in France to become more fluent. I’m working on French everyday. </p>

<p>ECs</p>

<p>− Been on the soccer team (there’s no varsity here) for more than three years. I hope to continue for the rest of high school.
− I’ve been playing the violin for 5 years and piano for 3, I’ve quit piano this year to focus on violin.
− Going to appear for the Grade 7 level of Trinity College London Drama examinations. There are a total of 8 grades, so this is quite advanced. According to the website, this translates to “” I hope to complete a performer’s diploma in Grade 12, which is equivalent to an American Associate’s degree.
− I also joined the MUN club this year. I’ve noticed that a lot of Huntsman applicants have a bunch of MUN certificates/honors. I’ve signed up for my first conference and I hope that in the next few years I can excel and win a few titles.
− I take Arabic classes every week, I don’t think that this would help on my app, because French would be my target language and I can only read and write a bit of Arabic. It would be very hard to reach fluency by my senior year.
− I’ve done ballet for 8 years, but I quit this year. I was going to re-start, but I didn’t think that it would help in the long run.
− I’m going to re-launch my defunct school newspaper next year and become the editor. I love to write and English is one of my strongest subjects.
− I’m working on a non-profit project that involves publishing a book on a local government school for underprivileged kids. I hope I can raise money for a cause and possibly write another book for a different school. It has a lot of manual work involved and I’m planning on starting a blog to support it. I might divulge into how the government’s education system can be reformed to be more effective (India, after all, is the largest democracy in the world.)
− I have a personal blog, it’s not being used as of now, I’m not sure whether I should continue.
− I have been writing a few articles and I hope to contribute to HuffPost Teen.
− I might start a blog/website for local politics and empowering youth in India.
− I want to apply for a prefect/head girl position in the 12th. I have a really good reputation in my school, so I want to pursue a form of leadership. </p>

<p>Other</p>

<p>− I’ve gone for a Columbia Summer High School Program for creative writing. I was considering to go for one at UPenn, but I’m not sure if it would be a major plus point over going to France or working for a non-profit.
− Last summer I interned at a tech company to help start a non-profit foundation that provides digital libraries to underprivileged government schools.
− I consider myself a global citizen, I’ve lived in New York for most of my life and moving to India was both a culture shock and sort of revelation to what the world really was like. I’ve seen a lot of cultural diversity amongst Huntsman apps.
− My dad is a Wharton grad.
− I want to apply as an ED, so legacy would count.
− My native language is an Indian dialect, I don’t speak, but I can understand. I wasn’t considering learning it properly because it’s not a target language and I don’t know how much it will help in the long run.</p>

<p>Questions
− What are the main points of my ECs I should focus on? I’m used to doing everything, but now I think I need to minimize a bit more.
− I’m considering taking 3 APs next year while doing IB. They are self-study, so I might do Psychology, US Politics and Human Geography. Is this necessary to have besides an IB diploma? I won’t be doing AP in my senior year. My college counselor thinks that AP isn’t necessary, but I’ve read otherwise.
− I’m a bit flustered about what to do in IB because I like a lot of subjects. I would do HL Mathematics for sure (I hope it’s similar to BC Calc, worst case I’d do extra math out of school.) I might do HL French B, but most people advise me not to. I’m stuck on what would make up the AP French requirement for the app. I want to do HL History and HL Economics. I won’t be taking Business and I still have half a mind to pursue HL English. Lastly, I have a science, which would be SL Chem. I’m starting to move away from the sciences now. (I have a choice of a total 3 HL and 3 SL. That includes a Foreign Lang, Math and English.) I have to decide in a few months, so I’m trying to figure things out.</p>

<p>I know this was long, but I really didn’t know how to explain things without including everything. I’d appreciate any feedback- I’m quite flexible for the next year to work around particular parameters. It may seem very early to decide what I want to pursue, but I love everything I’ve read about Huntsman and I think it’s worth trying before it’s too late. </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Sorry I forgot to add in my ECs that the Grade 7-8 Trinity College Drama exam I will be taking translates to “Equivalent up to 6 to 10 Undergraduate college credits in the examined subject. Completing Grade 8 represents achievement equivalent to substantial progress towards an undergraduate diploma or degree.”</p>

3

<p>How about you accomplish all of that first and then ask when you’re a junior/senior? Right now, no one can “chance” you based on unconfirmed accomplishments and stats.</p>

4

<p>Oh no, I didn’t want anyone to “chance” me. I wanted some advice on what to work on and what maybe a highlight in my app in the future. There are a few areas (as I had written at the end) that I’m in a dilemma about, so I wanted someone to sort of re-affirm my efforts. I’m only doing this because I know that Huntsman, there are a lot of aspects you’d want to work on earlier than your junior/senior year. </p>

5

<p>Looks like you’re headed in the right direction with your accomplishments so far, but keep in mind that whatever responses you get here should be taken with a grain of salt as there are no hard/fast rules for getting into Huntsman.</p>

<p>My comments would be:</p>

<p>—Chance of acceptance is a dice roll at best (well, not even that as a standard dice roll is 1 in 6 chance): Huntsman accepts appx 35-40 students per year. Appx 1/2 are international and 1/2 US. Appx 1/2 are male and 1/2 female. It doesn’t matter which of these 4 categories you land in, as they’ll accept 9-10 of you total that year (say female/US). Strictly rumor, but supposedly there were 8-900-ish total apps a few years back.</p>

<p>—Yes, apply in the ED round with Huntsman as your first choice. Also, reminder when applying to specialty programs like this at Penn you’re also allowed to choose a non-specialty program (Wharton? CAS? Nursing? Engineering?) as a secondary choice in the ED round too. You can also either not choose a second selection in the ED round and ask to take that 2nd choice into the RA round…or can state no 2nd choice at all (Huntsman or none). That said, IMO ED round gives you a better chance, as I recall appx a bit more than half of the Huntsman students were accepted in the ED round during DS application year.</p>

<p>—Activities: Stick with a reasonable number that you love, and eventually end up getting leadership positions in some of them. You want your passion for those activities/clubs to show through. Don’t just have a huge list of things you’re doing. Quality over quantity IMO.</p>

<p>—AP’s: Got me. If you’re self-studying for them and can afford the test cost then take them. If you feel that you’ll score well then it can’t hurt you. And I’d think it would show ambition that you took the time to do it on your own, especially if you can note that in your application or essay.</p>

<p>—Languages = good things. 3 is better than 1, even if you’re not completely fluent in 2 of them. Just note all 3 and explain how far along you are in each. I’m aware of at least one Huntsman student that switched their declared language after acceptance because they wanted to develop an additional language.</p>

<p>—“Worldliness”: It seems like the Huntsman students I’ve met weren’t of the “I’ve lived in a small US town and never left it” mode. They’ve traveled some, or been involved in internationally focused events or clubs or non-profits. Basically, even if they’re stuck in their town and haven’t traveled much, they’ve shown that their interests lie outside of that small circle.</p>

<p>—Summary: Get great grades and standardized test scores, show leadership, passion / clear interest in your activities, have a second (or more) language that you’re relatively decent at, absolutely crush the essays, apply ED to increase chances, cross your fingers. Oh, and have a back-up plan that you’ll be happy with too…there are over 2,500 4-year universities just here in the US, so even if only 2% of them would be a wonderful fit for you that’s still 50-ish schools that you’d love! </p>

6

<p>Thank you so much! I really appreciate that you mentioned to take things from this thread lightly… I think it makes a lot of sense. As for the dice roll analogy- I totally understand the chances (I’ve kept repeating the stats to myself as well) and I guess I’ll just have to wait and see how things turn out for me. I’ve not decided whether I’d want to pursue a non-speciality program if I don’t get in, I have some time to think about it (and when it’s time to send in my app I would have to weigh out my chances for other schools too.)</p>

<p>As for ECs, I only realized that I had a lot when I sat down to type it all out. Most of the points at the end aren’t really decided (and probably won’t make it.) I’m sticking to the things I love and hoping to go far in them. I’m still undecided about creating those blogs and websites, but I think I’ll just have to play things out.</p>

<p>And for APs- I hope IB won’t kill me in the 11th, so I that I’d be able to juggle the extra three. And I think I’ll make the effort to speak one of the languages (not Arabic though, it may be best to focus on only two.) Right now, my priority is to ace French and be ready for the SAT subject test. I also hope that my legacy counts for the ED- even if my chances are only boosted minutely, it’s that small difference that gets you in or out when it comes to a scale of 40 students. </p>