So I visited last week, and I kind of fell in love. Jerome Fisher ftw!

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>I'm Indian and I go to a SMALL private competitive catholic high school (I’m not catholic) in NJ; the class size is about 65.</p>

<p>• Statistics</p>

<p>Grades: 94/100 3.9 UW/4.X W
Rank: 5/65
ACT: Will take in the spring
PSAT: 149/218 (CR 69, M 80, W 69)
SAT: 730CR, 800M, 800W (1530/2330)
SAT IIs: Chem: 730, Math IC: 680, 800 Bio E, 800 Bio M; I plan on also taking Math IIc.
AMC: 102...haven yet to take the AIME</p>

<p>Classes: I've taken the most rigorous course load offered so far (I plan to keep it that way.
By the end of senior year, I would have taken these APs:</p>

<p>AP Chem, AP USH, AP Lit, AP Calc AB, AP Calc BC, AP Physics, AP Bio, AP, Macro and Micro, AP Lang, AP French.</p>

<p>Freshman and Sophomore year were all honors classes, except for AP USH in sophomore (its a two part course at my school)</p>

<p>Junior Year:
AP Calc AB
AP USH
AP Lit
AP Chem
French Hon (No AP offered)
Religion</p>

<p>• EC's/Activities (I'm assuming I'll still be in them in 12th grade):</p>

<p>Newspaper- Writer 10, Managing Editor 11, Editor-In-Chief 12
French Club- 9-12 (no positions given, not really needed)
JSA- President and Founder 11-12
Yearbook- Pictures and Writing Editor, 11-12
Bridges (we go to different areas in the nearest cities to hand out provisions to the homeless)- 9-12
Math Team- 10-12 #1 in the grade, #3 in the state, #2 in the school; Outstanding Achievement Award (10)
Chem II Team
Cross Country and Track- Varsity 10,12
Habitat for Humanity- I've worked at the main office and built houses over a few summers. 500 hrs
Boy Scouts- I'm heavily involved, have been doing it for 10 years, getting close to my Eagle.
Local Soup Kitchen- I've cooked meals and volunteered there before. 75 hrs
EnVisionSys- Work: 100 hrs
Neuropsychological Research- I'll be working with a professor at either UCSD or Queen's College next summer helping them conduct their research.
Fed Challenge Team- 11,12
National Honor Society- 11,12
Film Club-11,12</p>

<p>• Summer Programs</p>

<p>o CTY Crytography JHU
o Summer@Brown- Genetics and Philosophy</p>

<p>• Other tid bits of information:</p>

<p>Most of my teachers like me and I have a strong relationship with my guidance counselor. I am a voracious reader and writer.</p>

<p>In my spare time I collect coins</p>

<p>I am interested in brains, philosophy, psychology, synthesizers, conspiracy theories, evolution, mystics, prophets, moralizers, crazy people, chimps, cafes, writing, the cosmos, films, dessert, reislings and riojas, a good toothpick, a nice fresh red pen, sincere friends, children their follies and unintentional honesty, sunshine, silliness from profundity, photography, audiobooks, running, a solid quote, zombies, infectious diseases, introspection, the mail, hedgehogs, finding my every limit, and I love analyzing Economic Behavior, trying to comprehend String Theory, Reading, people-watching, cognitive reverie, eBay, memorizing trivial pursuit cards, sky gazing, and getting the mail.</p>

<p>• *One must remember, i go to a small catholic high school, where there are almost no ECs offered; I have done (and I'm doing) as much as I can with the opportunities presented.</p>

2

<p>So could I get in? I love how one comes out of the program with the knowledges to make things happen and make a difference in any career one chooses.</p>

3

<p>Ohhh I've always wanted to do this: mentor somebody to make sure they do everything right. My college applicant career ends a week and a half from now when I get my acceptances and rejections in the mail. With like two year's of knowledge I'm going to make some assumptions: you're a junior male interested in business. You're committed to going to the top judging by your academic record and you're on the track for a great career in business.</p>

<p>Forgive me if some of my advice is impractical. I'm an electrical engineering applicant to Penn and several other top schools so I'm not well-versed in the undergraduate business world.</p>

<p>As an attendee of a small Catholic school I understand that your resources are limited and so will Penn so don't worry about having a "limited" profile... really, I wouldn't have been able to tell that you went to a small school had you not said so.</p>

<p>Here's what you've been doing right so far:</p>

<ol>
<li>High grades. You're class rank is good, slightly better than mine. Keep these up!</li>
<li>Great course load. I don't have nearly as many AP's, but I'm also in the IB program so it balances out.</li>
<li>You're very involved around your school. You said that there weren't many clubs at your school? You look highly involved to me! More so than I am... maybe :)</li>
<li>Hooray for scouting. Get that Eagle done and get those palms! I'm a Silver Palm guy and believe me - it turns heads with admissions people. I mention advanced robotics activities: little response. I mention 7 weeks of semiconductor research: nothing. I'm an Eagle Scout: "Oh really? What was your project? How many merit badges?" etc. :D</li>
</ol>

<p>These are some things that I would keep in mind and/or improve on:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>As an Indian male, you will be shafted by affirmative action just as much as white males do now. For the two of us, getting into Penn in the first place is hard, let alone the Jerome Fisher program :|</p></li>
<li><p>You're going to want an 800 on the Math IIC. If you review for it a few weeks in advance (get a few practice tests and review trig), with your Calculus BC knowledge next year you will certainly get at least a 750 :) For a competitive management program, high math scores are a must. I'd also reccommend retaking Math IC. I know it sounds dumb to take both, but a higher IC score will write over your current one. It's not bad overall, but it's a sore spot for Penn.</p></li>
<li><p>Try to get a research deal or a summer program in economics like taking a college course at least. Your record suggests a great career in mathematics with your AMC12 score and your math achievements. If you could land some sort of advanced economics experience at UCSD or another school in your area, you'd vastly improve your economics background. Penn, like every other top school, wants to make sure that you're dedicated to your field. Make it look that way :)</p></li>
<li><p>ESSAYS ESSAYS ESSAYS. I'll say it again: ESSAYS!!! It's your ticket in. You belong to the second largest demographic group applying to college. Making yourself stand out with two excellent essays will greatly improve your chances of getting in. Sounds dumb, and people told me to do it and I didn't, but start writing them now. Take a look at the prompts from this year's admissions cycle and develop the essay. Even if the prompt changes, you'll still have a good set of ideas. There's a TON of advice out there on how to write essays, but the consensus is that if your essay is imbued with your personality and character, if it shows a genuine interest in whatever program you're applying to, and it sets you up as a good fit, it's a great essay.</p></li>
<li><p>Visit campus. They keep track of who has shown interest. If at all possible, sign up for a faculty visit in the economics department. I talked to the department chair for electrical engineering and learned a lot about the curriculum.</p></li>
<li><p>If you're just signing up for the name, don't do it. At these schools and their workload, if your heart isn't in it, don't do it.</p></li>
<li><p>Take AP Physics C if possible. If you're up for the mental beating from E&M, a physics C score looks MUCH better than a B score. Then again, an A in physics B looks better than a C in physics C :) You be the judge, but push your physics as far as you can.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>So here are my goals for you. Modify them as you wish and remember that it's just my two cents here (very large two cents :P)</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Get your Eagle! Even if it didn't make a single difference for college admissions, I'd get it anyway. I know far too many people who were too lazy, busy, w/e and will now regret it for the rest of their lives.</p></li>
<li><p>Keep your grades up. Don't stress about your class rank; if you keep up your grades then it might go up but it isn't anything you have direct control over.</p></li>
<li><p>Shoot for the AP Scholar with Distinction award. With those 9 or 10 AP tests (ignoring calc AB since you'll have a BC score instead) and your academic performance thus far it should be pretty straightforward.</p></li>
<li><p>Get that business experience.</p></li>
<li><p>Don't panic :)</p></li>
</ol>

<p>You're on a great track for success here. You have lots of community service, your recs will be good, good sports and a strong academic background. Keep it up, and even though you might not get into Jerome Fisher or X dream school and program, you're going places: I'm sure of it.</p>

4

<p>Wow, I love you. I feel a very unusual sensation - if it is not indigestion, I think it must be gratitude. Good luck, I'm sure you'll get into Penn Engineering. The fact that you took the time out to write such a long response, makes me want to give you a big hug. You just about hit every point that needs to be addressed. I applied to M&T summer program and I am praying I get in. Oh, I got a 102 on the AMC and a 9 on the AIME. I will surely take your advice to heart, and start making movements to find some economic research (which I'm hoping won't be too hard!).</p>

<p>Thanks again!</p>