UPDATE- Chance for Penn CAS ED?

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
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<p>Standardized Testing:
SAT I: NEW SCORE FOR JUNE SAT
- June 2011: 2180 Composite (780 M, 780 W, 620 CR)
SAT II:
- Chem - 720
- Math II - 750
- Bio M - 650 (Retake? or not send?)</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.9
Weighted GPA: 4.332
Class Rank: 2/250ish</p>

<p>AP Classes (so far):
-AP Chemistry (predict a 4 or 5)
-AP Statistics (predict a 4 or 5)
Have taken all honors classes and a gifted english class, as well as an honors level chorus.</p>

<p>Senior Schedule:
-AP Biology
-AP Calculus
-AP Comparative Government
-AP Physics
-Honors English
-Honors Special Chorus</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
-National Honor Society (President)
-International Thespian Society (Vice President)
-Amnesty International (Vice President)
-Spanish Honor Society
-Peer Counseling
-Math League (Champions)
-Piano Lessons (10yrs)
-Drama Productions and Musicals: "Godspell" (Ensemble), "How to Succeed" (Womper), "Brighton Beach Memoirs" (Stanley), "RENT" (Paul), "The Wiz" (Lion) - extreme devotion and passion for this.
-Small Group Choir
-JV Boys Soccer (9th and 10th)
-JV Boys Tennis (10th)</p>

<p>Community Service:
-Various events/activities through NHS and SHS, including a Book Fair, Sponsoring FOOD at the Annual Cabaret, an Electronics Day, a Charity Auction.
-Tutoring thru NHS
-Teacher Assistant since 10th Grade for the same teacher, 4 hrs/wk
-Peer Counseling: Teacher Dinner, Freshman Orientation, New Teacher Tea, New Student Breakfast, Breakfast for Haiti (2010)</p>

<p>Major Awards, etc:
-Undergraduate Award (9th) - World History Honors
-Undergraduate Award (9th) - Spanish II Honors
-Undergraduate Award (9th) - English I Honors
-Undergraduate Award (9th) - Foundations of Health, Science, and Technology
-Math League Champions (10th)
-Harvard-Radcliffe Book Award (11th)</p>

<p>Summers/Work:
Summer@Brown 2010 - Neuroscience Course
CJSA Certified Soccer Referee - Discipline
Dunkin Donuts Counter Attendant
Summer Theater Productions - RENT (2010), Footloose (2011)
Private Paid Tutor (2010-2011)</p>

<p>Other:
- Major: Pre-Med Track
- State: CT
- Ethnicity: Caucasian
- Gender: Male
- Income: Approx. $100K
- Struggle with a chronic inflammatory bowel disorder (entered high school at 50-60lbs and weak) which has inspired me to want to specialize in gastroenterology and have empathy for others who have similar disorders. Passion... will write my essay about how the experience in hospitals, diagnosing, and tests has changed my view on life and what I want to do with my life in the future with my education.</p>

<p>*I am definitely considering applying ED to Penn CAS; how much would this help me? *</p>

<p>Let me know if you need more information, thanks guys.. I appreciate your opinions.</p>

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<p>Consider retaking Bio only if you want to. Penn’s policy REQUIRES you to send ALL scores. However, I believe they only take your top 2 into consideration, three if the third one is strong as well. You MUST send all your scores.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the info Hardworking. Other opinions about the possibility of getting in?</p>

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<p>@OP: Everything looks good course wise, GPA wise, etc. Now its just writing the essays and getting rec letters. Has anyone gotten into Penn from your school before?</p>

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<p>Yes about 4 people in the past 4 years. Nobody this year but 1 got in but also got into Yale and did not attend Yale. Our school does relatively well. Small Competitive Public</p>

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<p>Ok that is a good sign. If nobody from your school had gotten in before than that would be a cause for concern. But if someone has, things are looking up for you! :)</p>

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<p>Thank you so much! I hope you are correct :)</p>

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<p>Your reading score is really low for any of the Ivies, 700+ is usually preferred.</p>

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<p>I’m nervous about that shaheirunderdog… I looked up Upenn’s 25-75% range, and the lower bound is 660 i believe for CR. I am getting the ACTs back on Monday and will see how I did on that, and if it isn’t satisfactory, I plan on taking the SATs for a last time in October to attain a higher CR score (660+) to superscore 2200+. Hopefully that will be a good plan
Nonetheless, others have told me that score will not destroy my chances, as the composite is above avg for the school.</p>

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<p>As an update, I scored a 31 ACT and will be keeping that score and retaking SAT 1 to improve CR for 2200+ hopeful superscore. Keeping SAT2 scores…Is this a positive course of action? Thank you!</p>

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<p>@Levinel: I’m not sure if that is a necessarily positive course of action. A lot of the people I spoke with here got 650-720 on the CR and were accepted into Penn. Now, I’m not sure if they had some sort of hook or were URMs, but from their profiles, they just seemed like the every day Joe.</p>

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<p>I certain that is true, but I received a 620 CR 780 M and 780 W… The reading score is strikingly low. Would it be better to improve CR or retake some Subject tests, then (like Bio)?</p>

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<p>^ Improve your CR would be much more important, you already have two good SAT 2 scores.</p>

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<p>Improving your CR is more important than improving your bio subject test score.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the advice from both. I also thought that was more important than thinking about that Bio score (which, by the way, was a self-taught subject thru Barron’s). I plan on taking the SAT Reasoning Test (to focus on improving CR and get a solid superscore), keep the 31 ACT, and keep all 3 subject tests as they are.</p>

<p>Even though UPENN is an ivy league college, would this course of action be the best one and give me the best possible chance? Please note that I am certainly applying ED to CAS.</p>

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<p>@levinel: Just an interesting side note, your parent’s income won’t affect admissions decisions. Admissions are separate from financial aid results, and income is used in financial aid calculations.</p>

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<p>Haha yeah… hopefully all schools are need-blind in that respect, but I think they ask for it on the application? IDK…lol. Other opinions for chance?</p>

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<p>@levinel: Well, the Common App doesn’t ask for it. Nor does the supplement. It’s only on the financial aid forms. So, I guess most schools that are need-blind are truly need-blind in this way (it’s 2 truly separate entities).</p>

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<p>levinel: Taking the SAT again would be your best course of action for standardized testing as improving your CR score is more beneficial than improving your third subject test score.</p>

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<p>I wouldn’t send the ACT</p>