My Chances at Penn/App Suggestions?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

Hi guys! Just wondering what you all think of my chances at Penn with my current stats. I know my GPA is a bit low due to a bump sophomore year, but other than that, my grades are pretty good. Do I have a realistic shot at UPenn with these stats or not? Also, if anyone has any suggestions about how to boost the viability of my profile before ED application time this fall, I’d GREATLY appreciate it! (Should I take SAT II? retake SAT I? Retake ACT?, etc.) Let me know!

SAT: 1540 (740R/800M)
SAT II: I’m thinking about taking Math II, US History, Literature, Bio? (Thoughts?)
UW GPA: 3.66 [3.89 excluding sophomore year, Sophomore Year ~3.3]
GPA w/ Bonus Points (+.018 per Honors.AP Class): 4.1 [Would be 4.4 excluding sophomore year]
Class Rank: 33 out 165 (Top 20%) [Excluding Sophomore Year would be Top 10%]
ACT: 34 [Not sure if I will/should submit this or not]
Awards: Will be a NMSF, AP Scholar, Finishing AP Capstone Diploma
Curriculum: 100% Most Rigorous available at my school, 6 Years of Chinese Study

of APs Taken by End of Senior Year: 11 (Remainder are all Honors Classes where AP is unavailable)

Senior Year Course Load: Varsity Choir, Capella Choir, Religion://, AP Lit, AP Research, AP Gov, AP Stats, AP Biology

Extracurriculars:
Viola - (10 Years, Private Lessons for 10 Years, City-Wide Advanced Philharmonic Symphony, 3 Years Section Leader, Founder of Only Stringed Ensemble/Orchestra at School)
Tennis - (10 Years [4 Years School Team] 3 Years Varsity, Team Captain, #2 Singles, 2x State-Qualifier, Regionally-Ranked USTA Player, Several Local Tournament Championships/Placements, Team Top 5 in State)
Musical Theatre - (7 Years, Summer Camps, Civic Theatre Acting/Singing/Dancing Classes, Leading Role in School Production(s))
Model UN - (10, 11, 12; Won Outstanding/Best Delegate Award)
Math Team - (11, 12; Team Captain, State Math Competitions, 2nd Place Individual Event, Team 1st Place Overall)
School’s Stringed Ensemble - (11, 12; Leading Violist, Founder/President)
Varsity Choir/Vocal Performance - (12, Previously only Did Musical Theatre but a newly discovered passion, Leading Bass In School’s Exclusive Audition-Only Capella Group, Private Vocal Lessons)
Quiz Bowl - (11, 12; Co-Captain, State-Qualifying Team)
Chinese Club - (9, 10, 11, 12) [I’m totally dedicated to learning Chinese, should I make that clear on my App?]

Job/Volunteering: Brief Private/Paid ACT Tutor, no Volunteering (should I change that?)

Essay(s): 9/10
Why Penn: Probably like an 8/10 (Talk about interest in specfic interdisciplinary major)
Teach Recs: 8-10/10 (Will be good for sure but unsure about the passion in them, both could definitely write me a great one but they could both also write me a generic one, haven’t read either)
Counselor Recommendation: 10/10 [Super Close to her, definitely great]

Intended Major: PPE (Philosophy, Politics, Economics), Minor in Mandarin Chinese
Gender: Male
State: MI
Race: White
Income: 130k-180k
School Type: Private Catholic
Hooks: (LGBT?, Essay about my struggling gay identity/orientation in a conservative environment at my high school)

2

Hi! Both of your SAT & ACT scores are totally fine for Penn and retesting will likely only hurt you. A 34 is almost exactly equivalent to 1540, according to all conversion charts I’ve seen, so there would be no reason to withhold your ACT and submit your SAT. Talking about your interest in PPE is good, but it’d probably be best to emphasize how your current passions make you a good fit for this – emphasizing Model UN, perhaps, and/or joining organizations that show similar interests. Penn & its peer schools value extracurricular depth, especially pertaining to your major, so that’s what I would focus on! Literature is a very tough test, but I think US/Math/Bio are good options, particularly if you’re enrolled in corresponding classes this year!

Best of luck! :slight_smile: Chance me back? http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1966406-chance-me-upenn-ed-yale-brown-princeton-etc-will-chance-back-p1.html

3

@writergirl0316 what about my GPA/Rank? Considering the bad scores are entirely concentrated in sophomore year, do you think the Penn admissions committee would be willing to overlook them?

4

You are going to have a difficult time with that GPA…

5

95% of Penn Students are among top 10% of their class.

6

Your essay might not help too much (not as you probably expect).

7

bump