Please chance an international applicant

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Hey guys, </p>

<p>I am a rising senior who attends a Canadian public school. </p>

<p>I plan on majoring in Political Science and applying to the College. </p>

<p>Here are my stats:</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 (92% high school average so far)</p>

<p>Academic Rigor: I take 4 of 6 AP courses offered at my school - Math (Adv. Functions & I plan on taking Calculus & Vectors next year), English (Literature & Composition), Biology, Economics ** All of these courses I plan on taking next year</p>

<p>SAT scores:</p>

<p>Critical Reading - 770
Math - 730
Writing - 800</p>

<p>SAT II scores:</p>

<p>Biology - 780
Math II - 800
Literature - 750</p>

<p>•Political staff writer for high school newspaper
•Mentor/Prefect – peer advising; peer leader; freshman orientation program
•Founder/president of community service club/student organization – human rights awareness for youth
•Class president on student government
•Co-President & founder of school’s Model United Nations team
•Editor-in-chief of yearbook committee
•Co-President of DECA
•School advisory council – Student Representative
•Chair/councilor of city youth council
•Special Needs children’s ministry – church community service & volunteer work
•Captain/Coordinator of provincial Model Parliament school team
•Worked as a lifeguard and taught swimming lessons to children; taught first aid & CPR (summer jobs)
•City council work; re-election campaign worker for political race
•Executive on region's Presidents’ Council
•Member of debate union
•Founder & Co-President of Politics Club </p>

<p>I'm working on my essays right now, and I have a unique passion that I believe will stand out and truly show who I am as a person. I plan on getting a recommendation letter from my history teacher who knows me personally beyond my work as a student. My other letter will probably come from my AP English teacher, as I got the highest mark in her class. In addition, I believe the LOR from my guidance counselor and principal will be nothing short of stellar.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, I do not have any significant honors/awards. I have A LOT of school awards, but no academic awards beyond school. I know this isn't an excuse, but there are very few academic extracurricular opportunities in Canada in comparison to the States.</p>

<p>As an international applicant, the competition will be more rigorous, but I would like to know how you guys think I will fare.</p>

<p>Thank you for your time!!</p>

2

<p>Please help me out!</p>

3

<p>I think you have a pretty strong chance if you apply ED.</p>

4

<p>Unfortunately I am not applying ED since Penn is not my first choice. How do my chances stand as an RD applicant?</p>

5

<p>You got a good shot. Good stats. Go for it. You’ll probably get your first choice though. Have you visited your top choices and absolutely sure Penn is not the top?</p>

6

<p>Madaboutx, my first choice is Cornell. I visited the campus, and I loved it. Part of the reason why I’ve selected Cornell to apply ED is because I think I have the best shot getting in compared to other prestigious/top tier schools. For example, Cornell admissions is a bit more lax than say UPenn, which is partly why Penn is not my first choice - more risk. It may not be the best reasoning, but as I am an international applicant, the environment/campus is not the biggest factor - the academics are. I am also applying EA to UMich due to the same reasoning. However, apparently, Michigan is very hard to get into for international students…</p>

7

<p>UC-Berkeley is also one of my top choices. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have an early admissions system. Do you know if UCB is very hard to get into for international students?</p>

8

<p>I don’t think you can apply ED and EA simultaneously. Better check the rules on that for each school.</p>

9

<p>It’s a shame we treat Canadians like international candidates. I wish there was an agreement between the nations for students to study in each other’s universities with minimal barriers.</p>

10

<p>Madaboutx, thanks for your concern, but EA at Michigan is non binding, so I can apply simultaneously. I know right! If I don’t get into an American university (always an ominous possibility), then my hard work during my high school career has been reduced to nothing - essentially.</p>