<p>I was wondering how restrictive a low GPA would be as far as getting into Penn (hopefully Wharton).</p>
<p>To be completely honest, I was lazy during my first two years of high school and never really learned how to study for when my IB schedule got tougher.</p>
<p>My general stats are:</p>
<p>SAT: 2310 (740R 790M 780W)
GPA: 3.43 at end of junior year. Will increase over senior, but not in time for app. obviously)</p>
<p>EC's: </p>
<p>Various club leaderships, such as vice pres of statewide award-winning club that does mock govt. and debate. Others- president of both FBLA school chapter and Rho Kappa (history competition) chapter.
Main attraction: Formed a 'business' that designed websites and sold hosting to local businesses for a charitable cause, as well as a fundraiser that sold items for others on eBay where 50% went back to the item's owner and the rest went to my charitable idea.
That 'charitable cause' is something my guidance counselor suggested and I acted upon; raising money to buy cheaper-end computers with internet access for underprivileged students in our district. I raised over $10,000 for this cause and was featured on the local news, newspaper, etc. by myself; no parental help.</p>
<p>Personal background:
White male.
South Florida.
Income is enough that we'll almost definitely be paying in full.
Large yet average (read: redneck) high school. No Ivies at all last year, probably not this year either.
One parent went to UF for masters, other did not go to college.</p>
<p>Only recently have I really begun to stress over being accepted to one of my goal colleges, this being my #1.</p>
<p>I know this is chancing, but I'm more concerned with Penn (and Wharton)s specific requirements for GPA rather than in general, so I posted in here.</p>
<p>If you mean predict, I will get a 3.87 this semester and I’ve heard the next year is easier, so either the same or a 4.00. </p>
<p>Brings it to 3.56-3.58 UW with the most rigorous of the rigorous at my school. I know it’s no excuse. There are people more qualified than I am. However, I certainly would love it nonetheless. Thanks, I appreciate it</p>
<p>To put it into perspective, I applied to Penn CAS with a 2220 SAT and a 3.6 GPA (I was also a terrible student my first 2 years of high school), plus great ECs and two outstanding essays, and I received a flat-out rejection for ED. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but from my point of view it seems unlikely.</p>
<p>^ My twin sister has a 3.5 UW 2250 SAT, great EC and two superb essays and she got deferred Harvard EA. So… not impossible.
(also, I doubt people’s opinion of their own essays or EC’s as “great”.)</p>
<p>^You realize that Harvard only rejected about 10% of their EA applicants? Penn rejects about 50%. It’s two totally different scenarios. She’s going to be rejected when the RD decisions are released. I guarantee it…</p>
<p>Also, my essays received much praise from every person that read it (it was a lot of people). Also, I’ve won national awards and I’m one of the best percussionists in my state. That along with being leader of two of the most active clubs in my school. So, yea…</p>
<p>But even if you don’t get in as an incoming freshman, remember you can always transfer once you’re in college. So if it doesn’t work out the first time, don’t just give up.</p>
<p>Samonuh does make a good point, though. Penn rejects around 50% of its ED applicants, accepts 20-25%, and defers the rest. Harvard deferred over two-thirds of its EA applicants, rejecting a slim percentage of them. So, I would say that you can’t cross compare Harvard and Penn early admissions----their philosophies on how many they defer vs. reject in the early round are very different.</p>
<p>hey im sure you will do fine someone at my school got accepted into princeton with a 3.69(weighted) because he did five years of high school but he also got recruited. just make sure that you have something to make up for the low gpa</p>
<p>The honest truth is that, when it comes to any of the Ivies, the only thing that boosts a borderline GPA is athletics. There are so many people with so many “passions” at such a high level that the Ivies actually are very traditional and cut through all that bs: they want athletes. Everyone is president of something; everyone is a state medalist in something academic. But the best Ivy bait has been sports, pure and simple. The great musician doesn’t get the “boost” for her borderline GPA; the softball pitcher – absolutely.</p>
<p>Wow, this little forum is really negative.
But, anyway:</p>
<p>I’m a class of 2016 ED kid and I know someone else who got in with a 3.49 and a 2230,
and she was 26th in her class.
So I really think it’s not one single thing that can make or break you, but rather, an aggregate and holistic approach to the application.
So work on the actual things you have control over, and don’t harp on what is past.</p>