<p>one of the most ridiculous schools to get into? Not to disrespect anyone who was accepted (or not accepted), but my friends give me this impression that Penn is entirely unpredictable. More so than the other elite schools. At least with the HYP’s of the world, you know that if you’re not of absolute top academic caliber, you probably aren’t going to get in.</p>
<p>I’ve heard numerous stories about kids who had partied themselves drunk in high school, gotten less than stellar numbers, and still got into Penn. They were still pretty smart kids, of course, but just, you know, compared to the kids you hear about who get into the likes of Harvard?</p>
<p>It’s not a good or bad thing; I just want some input because it might factor into my decision of joining the top-level choir at my school (no vocal experience at all, somehow got accepted) vs. AP Biology for next year. Classic interest vs. rank dilemma, I know. :-)</p>
<p>I know a senior at my school who partied regularly and even had drunken sex with a girl once. The girl considered making a big deal out of it later on but realized she couldn't do anything because it was consensual. It was a pretty hot topic for a while.</p>
<p>The guy got into Harvard. His numbers weren't "stellar" by any standards, though he took challenging classes.</p>
<p>There are all kinds of people everywhere...</p>
<p>You hear people of all walks of life getting into all types of schools. Plenty of academic juggernauts get the shaft by HYP and get into Penn and vice-versa. Sometimes slackers slip into HYP, sometimes they slip into Penn.</p>
<p>lol. I almost wish drunken sex happened more often. It would make HS loads more interesting. I was trying to show the OP that her assumption that "partied themselves drunk = no HYP" is so wrong</p>
<p>lol okay okay I promise I'm no sheltered psuedo-saint. But in my head only the perfect get to HYP- at least that's the way it's been at my school.</p>
<p>(I just reread my post and realized I typed partied themselves drunk when I think I meant something less synonymous. This is what happens when you think four words at once and try to pick one to put down.)</p>
<p>I actually want to know that Penn does in fact, look favorably on those who, as nodnard so kindly put it (towards me, I think) "get a life". That would make me feel a lot better about being far from perfect! :-)</p>
<p>-under-represented minorities
-from an under-represented state like North Dakota
-legacies
-sharing their surname with a new dorm on campus...
-extraordinarily good at BSing on the essays and/or interviews
-sleeping with the admissions officer
-holding the admissions officer's daughter hostage</p>