SEAS ED Class of 2023

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

I am a junior in high school, and I’m beginning to stress about the college process. I knew awhile ago that I wanted to apply ED to Penn, but I’m starting to wonder if I have any actual chance.

Stats:

My UW GPA when I apply will be maybe a 3.71 or 3.72. I’ve taken nearly all honors classes which is the highest level at my school.

I haven’t taken the ACT yet but I’ve got a 34 and 36 on old tests, so I’m guessing I’ll be around a 33-35.

My ECs are probably going to be the strongest part of my application.

Debate Team (3 years, captain next year)
Engineering Club (2 years, founder this year)
Science Olympiad (4 years, no leadership :/)
Varsity Golf Team (4 years, will most likely be captain next year)
DECA (4 years, have made it to states but no further, might be school president of the club next year but no guarantees)

The other good thing is that I’m a legacy and I also did a summer engineering course at Penn and did well.

I know that this is probably a good application and I have a chance, but I just feel like with all of the seemingly “perfect” applications every year that get rejected ED I can’t stack up.

2

The GPA is a little low, as you already know. Do you go to a competitive school? I.e., Does your school send a large contingent to ivies each year?

3

@aoeuidhtns Thank you for the reply. My school sends 4-5 kids (out of 100-110/class) to Penn per year, sometimes even more. And more than that are usually admitted. I go to a school in the Philadelphia suburbs, so they tend to admit a lot of kids from my school.

4

@aoeuidhtns The other thing that I will say that I did not mention is that my GPA is low mainly due to poor grades in freshman year. That year I had all A-'s and B+'s, whereas last year I had an A+, three A’s and one B+ (English, a course that I have always struggled in). I have always been successful in math and science oriented courses and that is what I love.

5

Gotcha, sounds like a local feeder school, which might be in your favor. I would really strive to hit straight As this year to get your GPA within that 3.75 sweet spot. It’ll definitely be tough otherwise.