<p>A 3.7/4.2 W is not a low GPA. It's competitive for Penn, and I understand what Eckie means when she's saying that she's part of the most competitive class ever to graduate. I was also part of a very competitive graduating class--about 75% of our grade was on the honour roll, compared to about 33-50% for every other grade. If her class is truly that competitive, her GPA/rank are not too low to be in the ballpark. The test scores are though, but great essays and recs can compensate.</p>
<p>Dont listen to suze, she has a rep for being discouraging to most qualified students.</p>
<p>Oh boy, don't mean to be harsh. Just realistic. For general information, I applied to UPenn Ed with 2210 SATs (1450 M+CR), 3.8 unweighted average, top 12% of my class in one of the most competitve HS in the US, lots of nifty ECs. I visited twice, talked to dep't head, etc. Loved the place. Got rejected. I knew, with my stats, that Penn was a reach. Eckie, you have to realize that with your stats, Penn is a big reach. Sure, you may get in, but your chances are slim.</p>
<p>^^ People with lower stats got accepted, so idk what you're talking about.</p>
<p>Yes, people with lower stats get accepted, but most, if you look closely, have hooks - athletics, URM, special talent, truly remarkable EC, legacy status, national recognition. If the median M+V SAT score at Penn is 1430 - and it is - you can bet that many of the people below the median - especially well below the median - had some kind of hook. So again, if your SAT score is well below the median, and you don't have a hook, you are unlikely to get into a school like Penn.</p>
<p>Just being honest, do you guys not get how tough this year is going to be? As for competitive class, any class with 75% on the honor roll is simply experiencing grade inflation.</p>
<p>I don't think anyone is here to be mean, just to help adjust reality so the landing is softer.</p>
<p>No. Considering the same teachers were grading the graduating class previous to ours as well as the other grades in the school, and the fact that from my class' freshman year we always had more kids on the honour roll than any other grade in the school, I don't know how you can call that grade inflation. It was specific to my grade, despite every other grade having had the same classes and teachers.</p>
<p>Some people love to write others off without paying any real attention. Also note that the school was a private school.</p>
<p>For what its worth, I had an interview today and it went amazingly. </p>
<p>And my interviewer said her GC said she had a snowball's chance in hell at Penn and she graduated 10 years ago. Granted, the admissions standards have gotten harder, but still.</p>
<p>She also told me my extensive job experience is a pretty decent hook.</p>
<p>tisk tisk tisk</p>
<p>Don't count on Penn, as a combination of a relatively low GPA and relatively low testing makes admission very very difficult. Give it a shot though! :)</p>
<p>Its funny that those who are having doubts are the ones you got rejected.</p>
<p>yikes, I just scanned back and checked out jpps' chances thread back in the day. Some CC'ers can be HARSH.</p>
<p>I forgive 'em now though. ;)</p>
<p>Hey Eckie,
We have some pretty similar stats (unfortunately I was deferred ED), but although there are similarities, I can definitely see some reasons why you would get accepted--your ECs are pretty interesting and I remember reading your personal statement and I thought it was well written both grammatically and artistically.</p>
<p>By the way, do you happen to know how often students from your school are accepted to Penn? Although it does not necessarily mean you have a greater or smaller chance of admittance (since you are ultimately compared to your region and not specifically your school), it would be a good sign if more students are admitted each year.</p>
<p>Good luck! Have fun with the fat envelopes in April! :)</p>