Okay. My top reach school that I would love to get into is UPenn. I just really am unsure of where I stand because I am below the average as far as GPA, but I think that I have a lot of other really good components of the application that could potentially help me out. I will be applying early decision next year hopefully through the questbridge college match program. I know that actually getting a college match is incredibly hard, but I have also heard that once a questbridge scholar resubmits their application, they have a very good chance of getting accepted to a very good school that participates with the program.
Currently I am an IB junior taking 9 classes this semester. I know. It is a lot, but I am managing. By the end of this year my GPA should be a 3.6 unweighted and 4.0 weighted. Yeah, I know those are pretty bad for getting into Penn, but some people do get in with those, so I really don’t know. Currently my SAT’s are 2280 and my ACT is 34. Those are above average, I think, so I’m hoping that will alleviate the downside of my GPA.
For my extracurriculars I am in madrigals (this is my number 1 EC that I am deeply passionate about), spring musical, church choir, NHS, English honor society, rho kappa, Spanish honor society, youth group, and boy scouts ( I should be getting my eagle this summer). I have also done district chorus for the past 2 years and think I have a strong chance at all state chorus.
I have already started developing my essays and feel that I can pull off an incredible set of personal statements. If I do this and have excellent teacher recommendations, do you thing that I have a chance at getting in to Penn?
I don’t know if my passion about music is enough to set me apart from most people. I am also very passionate about cooking and it is a hobby I very much enjoy. Do you thing that would help distinguish me more than my love of music? Also, does anyone know how common eagle scouts are for Penn? I know that some people kind of push it off to the side nowadays, but I guess it can really depend on the school.
Music and eagle scouts are common in general. I recommend submitting a music supplement if you want to distinguish yourself in that way with music.
I actually am considering that. Should I elaborate on my cooking passion or just stick with the music?
Write about whichever has more meaning to you.
Probably music then. Is it worth mentioning that for my IB personal project I made my own original cookbook and gave the proceeds to the Virginia Children’s Chorus? Or does it sound like my passions are conflicting with each other?
How many other applicants published their own cookbook?? It’s at least worth mentioning and may make you stick out.
I never actually published it, but I guess I wouldn’t matter how I word it in my apps.