<p>Okay, current/accepted students preferably, what do you think got you in? I know Penn looks holistically at your application but don't the different parts weigh differently in their decision. I have seen what princeton review has, like important factors considered and such but I am not sure how accurate they are (and to tell the truth they don't look very).</p>
<p>So my question to you is, can you rank these parts of the application from most "important" and holding the much weight, to least. (1 being the most important)</p>
<p>-GPA
-Class Rank
-Standardized Test Scores
-AP Scores
-Rigor of Classes
-Interview
-Teacher Recommendations
-Essays
-Extra Curricular (if you want you can separate this into: leadership positions, activities, and awards) </p>
<p>And if you can think of any i missed, feel free to add them!</p>
<p>Hmm. I'll give it a shot. I don't go to Penn though.</p>
<p>GPA/Class Rank (imo if one is good the other is too so they are the same thing pretty much)
Rigor (one of the few things that could get you accepted)
Extra Curricular (biggest supplement possible)
Essays (show personality and uniqueness)
Standardized test scores/ AP scores (won't get you in for sure but confirm that gpa isn't inflated)
Teacher Rec (shows personality)
Interview(this is so subjective I can't see it being that big of a deal- unless you try to murder someone during it or something)</p>
<p>This is just my personal opinion. I'm a prospective student. The way I see it the biggest things are gpa/class rank and rigor. Test scores just confirm or refute the impression they get from your gpa/rank and rigor.
EC's are the biggest supplement you have- they show what you like to do and your personality. Teacher recommendations, I think, back up the impression given from ec's and show how you act. Essays show uniqueness and personality and interviews are just kinda... There.</p>
<p>This might be totally off but it's what I would guess.</p>
<p>I'm not a current student, but essays are ranked higher than you really think. A few years back, someone got into UPenn with his essay. I think the admissions told him that it was either one of the best or was the best for that year. So, don't screw up on your essays, thinking it's not worth anything.</p>
<p>not a current student either, but on the collegeboard website it has a list of factors and importance, not sure whether its entirely accurate though....</p>
<p>Very important admission factors:</p>
<pre><code>* Character/Personal Qualities
* Recommendations
* Rigor of secondary school record
</code></pre>
<p>Important admission factors:</p>
<pre><code>* Class Rank
* Application Essay
* Extracurricular Activities
* Standardized Test Scores
* Work Experience
* Academic GPA
</code></pre>
<p>Considered:</p>
<pre><code>* Alumni Relation
* Geographical Residence
* Interview
* Racial/Ethnic Status
* Talent/Ability
* Volunteer Work
* First generation college student
</code></pre>
<ol>
<li>GPA/Class Rank/Rigor of classes</li>
<li>Extracurriculars</li>
<li>ACTs/SATs</li>
<li>Essay</li>
<li>Recs (they may have both been very sloppy)</li>
<li>Interview</li>
<li>AP Scores (i got a 2, 3, and 4... only told them about the 4)</li>
</ol>
<p>my important ECs:</p>
<ol>
<li>very active in inner city things, teaching, covering up graffiti with art, working in schools around here</li>
<li>captain of tennis and golf</li>
</ol>
<p>EDIT: really dont know whether 3 and 4 should be switched, it could probably be either or im thinking</p>
<p>Here's a tip that someone gave me on this website. Go on upenn.edu and type in Common Data Set. Choose the most recent one and look in section C.. I believe... and it'll show you how much weight is placed on each part of the app.</p>
<p>Forget the Princeton Review - you're smart to be asking people instead of a textbook. I was accepted into Huntsman ED, and I am fairly confident that this is the breakdown in terms of importance.</p>
<p>1) Rigor/Taking the hardest class load and succeeding
2) Essays
3) Recs
*) Legacy if applying ED, otherwise this falls to the bottom of the list
4) EC's (but the key here is that you will mention them in your essays so your most important EC's are on the same level as #2)
5) Ethnicity/Diversity - what do you bring to the table?
6) Standardized test scores (perhaps one of the most overrated measures in this entire college process. That does not mean that they are pointless, obviously but be sure that you are within the range that Penn is looking for)
7) Interview
8) AP Scores - this will ultimately help you more once accepted.</p>
<p>Going through this has made me re-realize how much work I've done and how much I love this school. Love it! Thanks for that. Best of luck.</p>
<p>Good question. Yes, GPA and class rank (if applicable to your school) are byproducts of succeeding with a tough curriculum so they are implicitly part of #1.</p>
<p>essays are number one. thats why you see so many ppl. defered or rejected who have amazing SAT scores and all that other good stuff. the essays can make you or break you for sure.
[imo]</p>
<p>GPA/Class rank-u need pass certain threshold for them to seriously consider the app
Rigor of classes-this adds to GPA/Class Rank
Standardized test scores-that lets u pass the basic requirements to be considered for further reading
Essays-shows interest in the school
Extracricullar-shows interest in intended major or shows commitment
Teachers Recs-they go to this when other stuff doesn't really put the person anywhere-grey area..
Interview-some ppl don't even get one..as long as u don't screw up if u do get one, it's good
-AP Scores carries like little to no weight at all</p>
<p>Most important i think is interest in the school....and it's good to have some connections lol...i personally have been around the Penn campus since age of 8...my parents work there....that helped in the essays alot</p>
<p>-GPA --- 1
-Class Rank ----2
-Standardized Test Scores --4
-AP Scores --9
-Rigor of Classes ---3
-Interview ----7 (if you get one)
-Teacher Recommendations --8
-Essays ---6
-Extra Curricular ---5(if you want you can separate this into: leadership positions, activities, and awards) </p>
<p>Personally, I think GPA + Class Rank + Rigor + EC are the most important. If Test Scores were more important, I wouldn't have gotten in (I have less than a 2100/1400). =]</p>
<p>This is just my view, though, because my rank and gpa was definitely not what got me in and I got a likely letter. So to each his own, i assume.</p>