On the Track to University of Pennsylvania

Applying to College
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<p>Hi, I'm a junior this year in NJ (white female) and I have been in love with the University of Pennsylvania since this time last year. Many of you out there are already going there, and I would love to get some advice. I want to be a systems or materials engineer, so I hope to apply to SEAS ED this time next year. Here are some of my stats as of now:
GPA: 4.0/4.0 (unweighted)
Rank: 5/364
SAT I: Have not taken, have a tutor and just took a full practice test and got 2050. Taking it in March.
SAT 11: 700 in Chem last year. Taking Bio and Math II this year.
ACT: have not taken
APs: Chem (5), taking Bio, Calculus AB, Language and Composition, and World History. This is very competitive for my school. Plan on taking four my senior year (Macroecon, Calc BC, Physics C, Stat)
Awards: None really besides sports awards
Extracurriculars: Mock Trial (1 year), Swimming (2 years), Crew in fall, winter, and spring (3 years), Science League (1 year), International Culture Club (1 year), Class Government (2 years), National Honor Society
Volunteer: Vacation Bible School, Program for reading to children, Food Bank, Volunteering at Church, Christmas Tree Sales (adds up to about 175 hours. Joining a phone call program next weekend, which will be about 3 hours a week)
Job: Babysitting
Summer Activities: Volunteering, Recreational Swimming, spending time with my autistic brother and neighbor with downs syndrome. Plan on going to a summer program at Penn or the governors school this year.</p>

<p>Is there any advice as to where I could boost my application? Thanks!</p>

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<p>yeah first off, this should go under “college chances”. you’re asking about your chances, work on your reading skills. what’s your weighted gpa? your rank is solid. However, your SAT score and SAT II scores are GG’s.</p>

<p>To be honest with you, you want some advice?
Well here are some general trends of the successful college confidential members:</p>

<ol>
<li>Be Native American</li>
<li>Find the cure for cancer</li>
<li>If you’re not native american, you know what race is next.</li>
<li>Be an athlete, while finding the cure for cancer while playing that sport.</li>
<li>Be native american</li>
<li>Have service hours that usually measures to about 28 hours a day, 9 days a week. You do the math, the sum is “incredible”.</li>
<li>Be native american.</li>
<li>Did i mention this? Find the cure for cancer</li>
</ol>

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<p>^someone give this man a cookie because he speaks the truth
No one on CC and I repeat NO ONE can help you with chances. You’re still a junior, save yourself and avoid the abyss that is CC</p>

<p>As Ackbar once said: IT’S A TRAP!</p>

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<p>Thanks. Theres no way to guarantee someones way into an Ivy without building a well in Africa, doing thousands of hours of research and volunteer service, and perfect grades and SAT scores on top of that.</p>

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<p>Just ignore this thread then since you cant delete it. Sorry everyone!</p>

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<p>BTW: the summer at Penn doesn’t increase your eventual stock in a Penn application. Do what’s best for you in terms of interest and enjoyment. Summer programs on college campuses are nice but are of no special advantage per se.</p>

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<p>Obviously you’re a strong student who could succeed at UPenn. Problem is the school is going to be deluged with applications from far more capable students than they can accept.</p>

<p>So, for advice. Colleges look at more than just scores and grades, as you are well aware. Recs are important, so be sure there are a few teachers that you have impressed and that will write a strong rec for you (when the time comes you have to ASK them if they’d be willing to write a strong rec, BTW. Your intuition about what they think about you might be wrong, won’t know unless you ask).</p>

<p>ECs are another important area. The question about impressive EC’s comes up regularly on the forum. There is a thread with several posts by Northstarmom, a Ivy alum interviewer, about what constitutes impressive ECs from the point of view of the most selective colleges. The post is at <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-what-s-good.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-what-s-good.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>As you will see from that link, at the most selective colleges they are looking for depth more than just participation. Stanford, for example, says

</p>

<p>So that phone call program – unless you don’t have a better use for those 3 hours a week, unless its for a cause you really believe in, don’t do it. It is not going to help your chances of college admission at selective colleges, if that’s why you’re adding it.</p>

<p>2 very interesting articles about ECs that stand out and how to get them (same author, different examples) are at [How</a> to Be Impressive](<a href=“http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/05/28/the-art-of-activity-innovation-how-to-be-impressive-without-an-impressive-amount-of-work/]How”>The Art of Activity Innovation: How to Be Impressive Without an Impressive Amount of Work - Cal Newport) and [Save</a> This Grind?](<a href=“http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/09/12/case-study-how-could-we-save-this-ridiculously-overloaded-grind/]Save”>Case Study: How Could We Save This Ridiculously Overloaded Grind? - Cal Newport) I don’t buy into his underlying explanation of why they are impressive, but take a look at these 2 articles and I think you’ll get some original ideas.</p>

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<p>mikemac Amazing post!! I’m bookmarking this one.</p>

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<p>mikemac Thank you! Those are some of the best tips I’ve ever gotten. I want to get more involved in some of these clubs, but the leaders of these clubs were determined freshman year, and I was not interested at the time unfortunately. I hope to run for office in National Honor Society, but that’s about as much as I can get. I also have to do hours for National Honor Society, and the phone call program is the only one that lets me volunteer on days I don’t have practice (which is rare). Again, thanks so much!</p>

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<p>In looking over your credentials, what struck me almost immediately was crew. Does Penn still have a crew team?</p>

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<p>SlackerMomMD Yes. That’s definitely something I’ve been working towards. Being recruited might be my best option. I have a 7:35 2k erg score (I don’t know if you’re in any way involved with crew) but I have been contacted by MIT, Cornell, and a few others about interest. I got 2nd in Stotesburies last year with my boat as well. I also have a varsity letter for crew, if that helps any.</p>

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<p>Now you tell us about the crew? LOL. Girl, that’s a great in! If MIT and Cornell have already contacted you, then there’s a great indicator of how UPenn will feel too…go all out on that…combined with your scores, that would rock.</p>