International Student Chances

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Hi there,</p>

<p>I was just wondering if some body could please give me approximation of my chances at UPenn as I have to decide in the next week whether or not to accept a local uni offer (which would involve me moving and renting an apartment) so I'm hesitant to make this decision until I have a rough idea of whether or not I will get accepted in the US.</p>

<p>Ethnicity: Caucasian/Australian
Gender: Female
Major: Biology
School: Brisbane Girls Grammar School (best school in my state)
GPA: 95.55/100 (unweighted, my school doesn't do weighting but I took the hardest subjects available to me)
SAT I: 2090 (CR: 730, M: 680, W: 680)
SAT II: Biology M: 710, Math I: 710, Lit: 720
ECs: Crew, Debate, Community Service (Kid's Hospital and Nursing Home), Flute, Study Abroad Program and Enhanced Studies Program
Essay: Well-written but not engaging at all (I didn't really grasp the concept of an essay for US admissions because we don't do it at home - I just wrote about my extended science research/study abroad program/doing university course while in high school)
Recommendations: Absolutely amazing (almost all categories were 'one of the top few I've encountered', gave lots of personal anecdotes and my counselor wrote 'she is, without question, a candidate of the highest order and I recommend her to you without reservation or hesitation' at the end of his lovely letter.
Interview: Was fairly good, not spectacular but not horrible, he didn't seem too interested in talking about 'interview stuff' and was more interested in a social chat</p>

<p>Thank you in advance for any help</p>

2

<p>Did you apply for financial aid? </p>

<p>As far as grades go, you’re at the lower end of the spectrum. I don’t really see any clear strengths in your academics. In other words, your academics are generic and don’t present a strong picture of you intellectual abilities. Your ECs are decent, but also are run-of-the-mill for a top school. Not to make you panic, but I’d accept the offer at the local university. I’m not saying you’ll definitely get rejected, but I’m not exactly optimistic about your chances. Actually, you should accept the offer at the local university either way. There’s no real reason to risk wasting a year just because you don’t feel like moving.</p>

3

<p>Hi Cardgames,</p>

<p>Thank you for your response. I am not applying for financial aid. My hesitation with accepting the local offer is that, if I get any offers from US schools (I’ve applied to 6), I will be going regardless if I have accepted the local offer or not. If I get accepted, it will merely be a question of whether I will have to pay out my apartment lease or not… Losing a year isn’t my biggest concern - I’m only 17 and I graduated in November of 2011 so, I have time to kill! Thanks</p>