<p>Hey, before I go on about my credentials, my name's Matt and I've been wanting to get into UPenn for years now. I'm applying to the college of A&S (for international relations/business) and would really appreciate if you guys would give me an idea about my chances. </p>
<p>Testing
-SAT1: 2340 (m 790/cr 800/w 750)
-SAT2 physics: 780
-SAT2 Math 2: 800
-SAT 2 Chemistry: 740</p>
<p>Honors
-National Merit Scholar
-President's Volunteer Service Award-Gold (250+ hours)
-Commendation from Congressman Scott Garrett & Bill Pascrell-for community service
-National AP Scholar
-National Economic Challenge Winner
-Stock Market Game-State level winner</p>
<p>Academics
-GPA: 4.1 weighted/ 3.94 unweighted
-High Honor Roll all four years</p>
<p>Sports
-Cross country: 3 years varsity
-Lacrosse: 4 years varsity
-Basketball: 2 years JV</p>
<p>Extracurriculars
-DATA movement founder: Driving and texting awareness. (everybody in my school signed a pledge not to drive and text)
-Interact club
-Student Council
-National Honor Society
-Guitar Club</p>
<p>Internship
-KACE (korean american Civic Empowerment): a non profit organization that encourages people in our community to vote and participate in elections. I personally created a website that serves as an local and state election guide. We've interviewed congressmen, state legislators, and county freeholder candidates.
-Law Firm internship (paid)</p>
<p>Phew, that was a mouthful to type up! Please tell me my chances! I applied EARLY DECISION and i feel so helpless knowing now that I can't change anything and it's all done.</p>
<p>Currents APs: Environmental & stats, Also i’m taking syracuse university college level course for financial accounting</p>
<p>Past:
-AP physics: 4
-AP Lang: 5
-AP Micro: 4
-AP macro: 5
-AP Calculus AB: 5
-AP Calculus BC: 5 and 5 subscore</p>
<p>How are you a National AP Scholar? I thought you needed 8 APs with scores of 4 or higher? You only posted 6</p>
<p>I meant with distinction, but i will get the national this year.</p>
<p>Pretty good. Pretty good.</p>
<p>Imagine Larry David on curb your enthusiasm saying that.</p>
<p>Sorry but I don’t watch that show…so is that a good thing? I’ve also co-created a website for the 2013 congressional election, where do I send that to, because I’d like them to know of it…</p>
<p>It’s good. You’re too accomplished for inane tv shows. I understand. Lol.</p>
<p>You have a great shot. I would indicate that in additional info section but since you have already submitted, I think an email will do.</p>
<p>Thank you guys! Well i emailed them asking to consider my additional resume with the application. Should I also give them a call? I’m so nervous just waiting…</p>
<p>Guys, I got a call from UPenn and they would like for me to interview with one of their alumnis. What does this mean? Does everybody do this?</p>
<p>Interviews occur with maybe 50% of the applicants, but not because your app has already been vetted / partially approved. It’s a “student is in area A and alumni club/alum is in area A too” situation. Primarily, IMO, it’s a way for Penn and other universities to keep their alums involved + active. Keeping them involved and feeling like they’re helping their former school leads to…donations and support being more likely from those alums!!! </p>
<p>It’s not just Penn that does this, but a lot of universities. So it’s actually more marketing than anything else — helps keep the school’s name out there, and makes for a higher % possibility of incoming alumni donations.</p>
<p>Re: the interview, it’s not likely to affect you one way or the other. Yes, you could crush it and get a glowing report from the alum, or you could bomb it and get the thumbs down from the alum in their report, but neither is very likely. Oh, and the admissions office says that the interview (1) isn’t a significant factor, and (2) having one or not having one doesn’t make/break you. Who knows if they even read the report in full?</p>
<p>That said, show up reasonably dressed (no suit, but no jeans / t-shirt either), and have a few questions pre-thought out that you can’t easily locate on Penn’s web site. Our DS got an interview last year, wore khakis and a button down dress shirt, and they met at the local Starbucks.</p>
<p>Thank you for that, it was very informative. So is there any way before mid december to know if I’m most likely getting accepted (hints, certain things to look for)?</p>
<p>Nope, no hints from admissions dept. Eventually they’ll announce a date/time that you’ll receive an email in your Penn portal. </p>
<p>If you’re like DS, you’ll lock yourself in your bedroom after school on that day as the time nears, and not let anyone in while waiting for the clock to hit the proper time. Then continually hit “refresh” until the email shows up. Then say a quick prayer and click “open”. Then ideally you’ll scream for joy.</p>
<p>Your depiction is way too realistic it makes me sad 
I can’t even imagine the tension/excitement/fear
Do you know how heavily they weight the SAT2’s by any chance?</p>
<p>You seem like a shoe in to me! A lot of your EC’s are geared towards international relations/business (I’m surprised you didn’t apply to Huntsman!?!) and you seem really active in your community. I’ve had a friend of mine get in with low SAT II’s so I think they don’t weight them too highly.</p>
<p>Haha thanks! Yeah I’m really passionate about the political aspect of international relations, but I’m even more passionate about economics and business. Well, it’s too late now i’m just hoping for the best! I’ve been interested in the think tank program they have at Penn and i wrote that on my essay. Attending the CoAS would be an honor.</p>
<p>I’ve spoken with the board of directors for interviews in my state, the assistant dean of admissions and also with numerous Penn alum that are on the interview committee; I’ve heard the opposite of what IvyParent has said. Since the interviews for Penn are school-specific (Wharton applicants are interviews by Wharton alum) it may be different, but I’m applying to Wharton and all of these people have said that the interview and essays are two very very important aspects of your application to Penn. Again I may be in a different state with a very active alumni network and applying to a different program, but this is just what I heard through the grapevine.</p>
<p>Just a caution before your interview.</p>
<p>A single male graduate is an alumnus. If female, she’s an alumna.</p>
<p>Two or more males or a mixed group are alumni. Two or more females are alumnae.</p>
<p>Alumnis don’t exist.</p>
<p>Well, I just had the interview. Everything went well. He said he got a clear picture of my passions and interests. We laughed, talked about personal lives, and other casual things. Right off the bat I answered the three questions he had for me and he said I answered them thoroughly. It was overall pretty fun!</p>
<p>How long ago did you send your application in? You got an interview incredibly early! Hmm…now I will be nervous if I don’t get an interview. Well good luck!</p>