UPenn Chances/Which Top 20 Is Most Likely to Overlook my GPA??

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

Hey guys! I’m currently finishing up my Junior Year and have a unique situation in that my grades dropped during my sophomore year due to a medically-diagnosed severe concussion. My counselor is going to vouch for this fact on my application so there should be no worries about the legitimacy of my situation, just the university’s willingness to overlook/consider it. Overall, my question is: Should I apply to UPenn ED with my listed stats below? And if the answer is no–due to my GPA/Class Rank–which high-end university would be most willing to consider my special circumstances and take a chance on me. I really believe I can be successful in an advanced academic environment and want to look towards my options for reach schools this coming fall. Thanks, and let me know!!!

SAT: 1590 (790R/800M)
SAT II: Math II 800
UW GPA: 3.67 [3.89 If you exclude my sophomore year {Sophomore Year Alone: ~3.3} in which I would suffered from a severe medically diagnosed concussion which made school extremely difficult for a period of time. Sophomore year semesters are the only period dragging my GPA down).
GPA w/ Bonus Points (+.018 per Honors.AP Class): 4.1 [Would be 4.4 excluding sophomore year]
Class Rank: 33 out 165 (Top 20%) [Excluding Sophomore Year would be Top 10%]
ACT: 34 [Not sure if I will/should submit this or not]
Awards: Will be a NMSF (222 Selection Index), AP Scholar, Currently Finishing on AP Capstone Diploma
Curriculum: 100% Most Rigorous available at my school, Math Classes at Local College, 6 Years of Chinese Study

of APs Taken: 11 (Remainder are all Honors Classes where AP is unavailable)

Extracurriculars:
Viola - (10 Years, City-Wide Advanced Philharmonic Symphony, 3 Years Section Leader, Founder of Only Stringed Ensemble/Orchestra at School)
Tennis - (10 Years [4 Years School Team] 3 Years Varsity, Team Captain, #2 Singles, 2x State-Qualifier, State-Ranked USTA Player, Several Local Tournament Championships/Placements, Team Top 5 in State)
Musical Theatre (7 Years, Summer Camps, Civic Theatre Acting/Musical Theatre Classes, Leading Role in School Production(s))
Math Team - (11, 12; Team Captain, State Math Competitions, 2nd Place Individual Event, Team 1st Place Overall)
School’s Stringed Ensemble - Leading Violist, Founder/President)
Varsity Choir/Vocal Performance - (12, Previously only Did Musical Theatre but a newly discovered passion, Leading Bass In School’s Advanced Exclusive Audition-Only Capella Group)
Quiz Bowl - (11, 12; Co-Captain, State-Qualifying Team)
Chinese Club - (9, 10, 11, 12)
Model UN - (10, 11, 12)

Essay(s): 10/10
Why Penn: Probably like an 8/10
Teach Recs: 8-10/10 (Will be good for sure but unsure about the passion in them, both could definitely write me a great one but they could both also write me a generic one, haven’t read either)
Counselor Recommendation: 10/10 [Super Close to her, definitely great]
Additional Rec - 10/10 From Capella Group Director and Musical Director of School Musical Productions, After hearing me audition for the musical my junior year he literally begged me to join the Capella group, definitely a great rec.)

Gender: Male
State: MI
Race: White
Income: 100-150k
School Type: Private Catholic
Hooks: (LGBT?, Essay about my struggling gay identity/orientation in a conservative environment at my high school)

2

I can’t answer your question…but as an aside, I would ask your guidance counselor to address the medical issue that impacted your sophomore year GPA in his/her recommendation.

3

If your GC talks about your sophomere year circumstances, I don’t think your GPA should be any sort of problem with the schools you’re looking at.

4

I agree. If the schools are informed about your situation, it will work to your advantage. It will show that you overcome adversary and still excel.

5

Also LGBT is not a hook. A hook is a reason why a college would want you above other similar candidates (ex. recruited athlete, legacy etc.). Most students do not have hooks.

6

I’m rooting for you

7

Cornell is known for being incredibly holistic. Vanderbilt will most def take you with a 1590 SAT (They base almost everything on scores.) You overcame adversity and persisted. Your GPA won’t be a problem at all if your GC explains in the rec. Good luck and I’m rooting hard for you!

8

Apply to Penn ED, you have an excellent chance with a letter from the counselor explaining your GPA.

9

I think your test scores definitely qualify you for Penn, and if your GPA is on an uphill trend, then I think Penn will be willing to overlook your sophomore year grades. I’m not familiar with your EC’s but they sound impressive - definitely consider applying ED to Penn!

10

Not sure if it’ll help much but I just won a Model Union Award for Oustanding Delegate (1st Place at particular Conference), would that improve my chances at all??

11

Model UN**** Not Model Union

12

Again, it’s not gpa alone, they’ll look at your transcript. Not only for rigor, but in what. And the grades in the relevant cores. (Looks like you didn’t get all As the other years?) Stem major? They’ll look for math/sci ECs, good you did well with the math team. But from how you’ve written this, it looks like you kept up with music, MT, and tennis, despite the concussion. ?

They’ll understand. But the question is still how you overcame, the choices you made, what you add to their communities, as shown by what you’ve done. Then how you compare with the thousands of others who didn’t have a blip. This isn’t just about you, unfortunately.

Plus, do you really know these colleges, what matters? Anyone looking at tippy tops should.