Official University of Pennsylvania Class of 2015 ED Decisions Thread

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
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<p>@ people who think Penn is now “easier” to get into, not so fast. [Early</a> decision admit rate falls to 26 percent | The Daily Pennsylvanian](<a href=“http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/article/early-decision-admit-rate-falls-26-percent]Early”>http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/article/early-decision-admit-rate-falls-26-percent)</p>

<p>4500 People applied this year, and 1190 got accepted, that’s 26%, as opposed to last year’s 31%. In fact, this year’s ED acceptance rate is an all-time low for the past 4 years. Not to mention after RD, Penn usually has an overall admittance rate of 14%. I’m certainly not trying to discourage anyone, but please don’t’ suddenly think that Penn is now “easy”. The only reason CCers have such a high admit rate is pure self-selectivity and perhaps coincidence.</p>

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<p>^^^Well that’s because more people applied ED.</p>

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<p>@Silence, lol exactly. More people apply for the same number of spots = lower admission rate. </p>

<p>Anyways, does anyone know when the acceptance letters are going to be mailed out? And when exactly should we submit mid-year reports (my school is non-semestered so it’s a little confusing).</p>

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<p>@Winkiee: Acceptance letters for ED have already been mailed out - I received mine today, though it’s nothing much, just the acceptance letter and the to-do list, both of which are viewable online. As for the midyear report, I don’t know…if your school is nonsemestered, ask your school?</p>

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<p>@blorgit, thanks :)</p>

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<p>to all accepted students: make sure to friend penn squirrels on facebook.</p>

<p>And reading over some of the results, I think I can model admission decisions with a random number generator :D</p>

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<p>First thank you to everyone for sharing their insights and stats. It is truly helpful. My son was deferred and was very disappointed by fortunately had sent seven applications in October to other schools. He will not here anything now until April/late March.</p>

<p>Anyone have success stories to share for getting admitted after being deferred from past years?</p>

208

<p>If anyone here has not read “The Gatekeepers,” I strongly recommend it. It is a very fascinating book about the admission cycle at Wesleyan University a decade ago, but gives amazing insight into the admission officers’ decision making. There were plenty of success stories. One included a “mediocre” kid with amazing character, coming from one of the nation’s top private schools, getting deferred from Wesleyan and going on to Cornell!!! It sounds like being sad for a little bit is healthy, but then the best thing to do is to make the most out of the experience and to be productive.</p>

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<p>Decision: Accepted
School applied to: College of Arts and Sciences </p>

<p>Objective:[ul]
[<em>] SAT I (breakdown): 2260 (740 math, 740 critical reading, 780 writing)
[</em>] ACT: N/A
[<em>] SAT II: 770 Literature, 720 Biology M, 690 US History
[</em>] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 95.3 (out of 100)
[<em>] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 10%
[</em>] AP (place score in parenthesis): US History (4), Biology (4), Taking Environmental Science, European History and Spanish this year
[<em>] IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
[</em>] Senior Year Course Load: AP European History, AP Spanish, SUPA English (Syracuse University Project Advance), AP Environmental Science, Calculus, Economics, Chorus, Peer Leadership
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit Commended Student, National Spanish Exam Premio Award, Metropolitan HS Theatre Award (Best Supporting Actor), High Honor Roll</p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[<em>] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): School Newspaper (Editor in Chief (12), Arts & Entertainment Editor (11), Staff Writer (9-10)), National Honor Society, Student Union Secretary (12), Junior Class VP (11), Sophomore Class Treasurer (10), Freshman Class Secretary (9), Model UN (Undersecretary (12), Chair (11), Intelligence Staff (10), Delegate (9)), Theatre (9-12), Chamber Singers (11-12), Academic Challenge (9-12)
[</em>] Job/Work Experience: Teacher Assistant at Hebrew School (9-12), Babysitting
[<em>] Volunteer/Community service: Elementary School Weekly Tutoring, Elementary School Improv Mentoring Program, Thanksgiving Dinners/Midnight Runs for Homeless, Soup Kitchen Volunteer
[</em>] Summer Activities: Volunteer Camp Counselor (LIT 2009, Junior Counselor 2010), Summer@Brown Intro to Directing Class (2010), Internship at NYC Charity Foundation (2010)
[<em>] Essays: Strong. CommonApp about celeb gossip predilection, Why Penn was 800 words about specific programs and experiences that inspired me, including conversations with Penn professors
[</em>] Teacher Recommendation: Strong I think. From my 11th grade APUSH teacher and 12th grade English teacher/Newspaper Advisor.
[<em>] Counselor Rec: I know her well, so I imagine strong.
[</em>] Additional Rec: None
[li] Interview: Went well, even though my interviewer had a very different Penn experience (Wharton). Approx. 45 mins of friendly conversation in a hotel lobby.</p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]Other[ul]
[<em>] State (if domestic applicant): NY
[</em>] Country (if international applicant): USA
[<em>] School Type: Prestigious, small public school.
[</em>] Ethnicity: White
[<em>] Gender: Male
[</em>] Income Bracket: High
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Legacy</p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]Reflection[ul]
[<em>] Strengths: Grades and SATs were in range, so I think my legacy, extracurriculars and essays put me over the edge. I’m so grateful.
[</em>] Weaknesses: There are tons of applicants with higher grades/scores. I didn’t like having to send the 690 SAT II and 4s on the APs.
[<em>] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I would like to think I came off as a very ambitious and passionate applicant, as evidenced by my extensive resume and essays. My interview and legacy only helped, I guess. I was a strong applicant but it really could have gone either way.
[</em>] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Nowhere (ED)</p>

<p>[/ul]General Comments: Congratulations to all new members of the Penn Class of 2015. Can’t wait to meet you! To those who were rejected or deferred, I’m confident you’ll end up somewhere you’ll love (or at Penn if you were deferred!). There are many great schools out there.</p>

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<p>@dlag1958
my friend got deferred ED, waitlisted RD, and then accepted (class of 2013)</p>

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<p>I’ve actually heard of that happening to at least 2 kids. One applied to a top liberal arts college ED the other SCEA to Yale, they were deferred, then wait listed, then ultimately admitted in May.</p>

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<p>what were your friends’ stats, necrophiliac? i got deferred and i’m wondering if i really have a chance or if i should just give up…</p>

213

<p>Although this was two years ago, a sal from my school was waitlisted RD to UPENN and then finally accepted. He now attends there.</p>

<p>He had 2200 superscored SATs, 750+ both SAT IIs, regional winner in DECA, 1st place winner in science fairs, captain of academic team (he won quarterfinalist at a competition in stuyvesant high school and others), just showed passion overall. HE went above and beyond at our school, which by the way is TERRIBLE. I am sure what give him the edge was the fact that he accomplished so much and overcame so many obstacles. Contextually, adcoms were amazed with his EC’s.</p>

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<p>Decision: Accepted</p>

<p>School applied to: Penn</p>

<p>Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): N/A
ACT: 35
SAT II: Math II - 800, Chemistry - 750
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.92
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1
AP (place score in parenthesis): Chemistry (5), Modern Euro (5), AP US History (5), AP US Gov (5), AP Comparative Gov (5), AP English Language (5), AP Calculus AB (4),
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: AP Physics C, AP English Literature, AP Statistics, AP Latin, AP Psychology, Anatomy, Honors Organic Chemistry
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Harvard Book Award
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Debate team (Captain), High School Swimming (Captain), Club Team Swimming (Co-Captain), ACE (Architecture, Construction, Engineering),
Job/Work Experience: Full Time Research assistant at Vanderbilt University Chemical Engineering Department. Worked with Graduate students on fuel cells (worked summers only, 9-5, paid)
Volunteer/Community service: Habitat for Humanity, various others
Summer Activities: Working in the lab, as stated above, Medical Program hosted by Vanderbilt
Essays: Both were good, reviewed by my english teacher
Teacher Recommendation: English 11th grade, Science 10-11, Latin 10-12
Counselor Rec: I’m sure it was fine
Additional Rec: NONE
Interview: Interview with an alumni, all fine and good
Other:
State (if domestic applicant): Tennessee
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Private, 79 in graduating class
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: Upper
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Father went to Penn
Reflection
Strengths: Born Leader
Weaknesses:
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Hard academics, Summer research
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
General Comments:</p>

215

<p>Decision: Rejected
School applied to: Wharton</p>

<p>Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 780CR 8000M 720W 2300
ACT:no
SAT II: 800Math 2 800Chem
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): no
AP (place score in parenthesis): calc bc(5) chem(5) USH(5) Chinese(5)
IB (place score in parenthesis):no
Senior Year Course Load:All AP
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): HSK scholarship
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):a whole load. eg pres of 3 clubs and student council
Job/Work Experience: lab assistant at NYU
Volunteer/Community service: over 300 hours
Summer Activities: yeah
Essays: perhaps they made me seem too pretentious although I was being honest…-_-
Teacher Recommendation: excellent
Counselor Rec:excellent
Additional Rec:no
Interview:excellent
Other
State (if domestic applicant):MA
Country (if international applicant):
School Type:public
Ethnicity:asian
Gender:M
Income Bracket:200K+
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):naw
Reflection
Strengths: test scores/ EC/
Weaknesses: essay? I don’t think they believe a 17 year old has read “Security Analysis” by Benjamin Graham…
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: phillip’s academy along with a whole lot of good schools is right next to my school. Penn probably met their quota in my region =(
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:none yet
General Comments:</p>

<p>Oh well, kinda happy I didn’t get in considering I forgot to apply for financial aid. Every cloud has a silver lining…Other than that, congrats to everyone who will be going to Penn!</p>

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<p>Decision: Rejected
School applied to: Wharton</p>

<p>Objective:</p>

<p>SAT I (breakdown): n/a
ACT: 34, 35 superscore (36 m, 34 r, 35 s, 33 e)
SAT II: n/a
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.92, well over 4.0 weighted
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): school doesn’t do it but definitely top 10% of class of 700+
AP (place score in parenthesis): not great 5 3 3 3 3
IB (place score in parenthesis): none offered
Senior Year Course Load: AP Bio, AP CHem, AP stats, Dual enrol math at Georgia Tech, Dual enroll eng at GPC, directed study on stock market
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Not sure, AP award</p>

<p>Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): NHS, SNHS, Beta Club, Change Corp, tons of tutoring, varsity soccer two years, captain of club soccer, club BB, golf, tennis team,<br>
Job/Work Experience: Referee on weekends
Volunteer/Community service: Tutoring, volunteer youth basketball coach during winters, soccer training
Summer Activities: Counselor at biggest summer camp in Southeast all summer long with awards and promotions from it
Essays: Very sincere, insight on me on both, but guess not what they were looking for
Teacher Recommendation: one very good, one not sure
Counselor Rec: generic
Additional Rec: from camp, i’d assume it was good
Interview: couldn’t do it</p>

<p>Other
State (if domestic applicant): GA
Country (if international applicant): US
School Type: Large public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: Enough
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): grandfather alum but contributed nothing to school, so basically no</p>

<p>Reflection
Strengths: ACT, GPA/rigor, extracurriculars
Weaknesses: Essays, AP scores, reccomendations
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I’m guessing weaknesses but honestly don’t know/ want to know!!
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: into GaTech and UGA, so waiting on honors programs and presidential scholarship semifinalist at Tech, so I’m fine off
General Comments: I was upset at first about not getting in, but im gonna save a ton of money and not feel obligated to work as hard as I can to succeed. I’m gonna change my major now, which kind of annoys me, but you gotta go with the flow…</p>

217

<p>How many ED nursing students were admittred for 2015?</p>

218

<p>Anyone M&T, please post stats here.</p>

219

<p>Decision: Accepted</p>

<p>School applied to: The College of Arts and Science</p>

<p>Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): Didn’t take it
ACT: 34
SAT II: -
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.99
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 5th
AP (place score in parenthesis): Not to be cocky, but too many to say…
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: University of Utah Calculus 1210, University of Utah Writing 1010, Debate, Theatre, Mandarin Chinese 2, Honors Physics
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):</p>

<p>Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Debate (Impromptu Captain), Theatre, Glee Club (President), Utah Arts Festival (Volunteer Captain), American Red Cross, singing, aikido (teacher)
Job/Work Experience:
Volunteer/Community service: Humane Society of Utah, Utah Arts Festival, American Red Cross
Summer Activities: College Classes, Biotechology Summer Academy
Essays: I worked on them for a few weeks
Teacher Recommendation: I think they were both great
Counselor Rec: Very nice
Additional Rec:
Interview: Really nice lady. I thought I did well</p>

<p>Other
State (if domestic applicant): Utah
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public Charter Early College High school
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: 60,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):</p>

<p>Reflection
Strengths: Hardworking, nice, motivated, I know what I want, etc.
Weaknesses: I’m impatient and I can be intolerant when with others.
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I think I was accepted because of many reasons. My essays, my grades, my ACT score, and my location (Utah) has very few applicants.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:I was also accepted to Westminster College in Utah.</p>

<p>General Comments:</p>

<p>Congratulations Class of 2015! Now all we have to do is survive Senior year! I’m very excited to meet all of you.</p>

220

<p>Decision: Accepted
School applied to: M&T </p>

<p>Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): Math (800) / CR (700) / Writing (720)
ACT: 35 (36 M, 36 S, 34 CR, 32 R, 8 E)
SAT II: 800 Math IIC, 770 Physics
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.5 ish at Phillips Exeter/ 3.86 at International School in Italy
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): N/A (high honors at PEA/ highest honors in Italy)
AP (place score in parenthesis): Calculus AB 5, Physics C 5, Microeconomics 5, English Lit 5
IB (place score in parenthesis): HL Calculus, HL Physics, HL Economics, HL Chemistry, SL Spanish B, SL English A1 (predicted 43-44 out of 45)
Senior Year Course Load: HL Calculus, HL Physics, HL Economics, HL Chemistry, SL Spanish B, SL English A1, Theory of Knowledge, Basketball
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit Semifinalist, AP Scholar with Honor, Belin-Blank Award, 2x AIME qualifier, UN international World Food Day essay contest winner
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): HIV/AIDS club (pres.), Math club (pres.), Poverty Alleviation efforts , Recycling club (VP), Student Rep, blah blah blah
Job/Work Experience: Penn Medical School (40 hours /6week)
Volunteer/Community service: about 200-300 hours volunteering on various projects
Summer Activities: Unique activities in environmental science (worked in labs at Penn and did some other stuff)
Essays: Pretty good
Teacher Recommendation: One Brilliant, one bloody good
Counselor Rec: Alright (¿) – I visited the counselor like 2-3 times each month, did all the CC homework way early.
Additional Rec: Bloody Brilliant (from Penn Professor)
Interview: NA
Other
State (if domestic applicant):NA<br>
Country (if international applicant): Italy
School Type: International
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: 60-100 thousand
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None
Reflection
Strengths: Extracurriculars, talked to a Penn counselor for like an entire year before admissions process
Weaknesses: GPA, SAT
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: ¿?
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Accepted – MIT, Michigan, Tulane
Accepted/Rejected – Oxford EEM (I have a strong prediction but a meh interview since I already got into my first choice uni by then)</p>