UPenn ED: last minute check

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hello everyone! I know it’s almost time to apply and at this point I can’t do much to change my profile but I wanted to know if it was a good idea to apply ED to UPenn (if I have a good shot). The things specifically I am a little worried about are my SATIIs, I have a 4.5 weighted GPA but I have had 2 Bs, and if my ECs are a little weak. I am really interested in the school, let me know how you feel it would go! At UPenn I would also want to apply ED to LSM, feel free to also talk about chances with that!

Here are my stats:
•Rising senior
•Asian-American - First Gen- Fluent in Hindi and English (if that helps )
•Planned major: Biology/Management double major w/ a pre-med route

Academics:
•35 ACT w/ 10 Essay
•SAT - 2220
•SAT IIs - Bio (700), MathII (720), Lit (720)
•GPA: 4.49 W/3.99 UW (Ranked 4th in a class of 375) Red flag here- I have 2 Bs (AP Calc AB/AP Chem)

Classes: (most rigorous at school with a science focus)
Freshman:
•Hon. English 9, Spanish II, Hon. Alg II, Hon. Biology, World Studies, Orchestra, Public Speaking, Sports Medicine (Alg I and Hon.Geo 7th/8th grade)
Sophomore:
•Hon. English 10, Hon. Chemistry, AP Biology (4), APUSH (4), Hon. Pre Calc, Human Anatomy, Spanish III
Junior: (very few at my school take all AP- extreme rigor)
•AP Lang (4), AP Chem, AP Calc AB (3), AP Stats (4), AP Euro (4), AP Spanish 4.
Senior: (Planned)
•AP Lit, AP Spanish 5, AP Psych, AP Calc BC, AP Physics C, AP Gov

ECs:
-4 Year Tennis
-Founder and President of JSA club
-Founder and President of Dance club
-Officer of a leadership club at my school (Jaguar Ambassadors)
-Chairperson of Pennies for Patients (raised $5,000 for cancer patients with financial needs)
-400+ Volunteer Hours at Local Hospital, Temple, Library, Nursing Home
-Research Internship at local hospital (did very well at science fairs using the research I did here; currently working on 2 papers for publication in medical journal and won state level awards)
-Raised a couple thousand dollars to help build a school in an Indian village and helped set up curriculum- big project
-Shadowing a surgeon here as well as in India (when I visited)
-Teach Sunday school classes at local temple relating to a foreign language and religion
-Tutor a lot with ACT and classes

Awards:
A few minor writing and public speaking awards (worth reporting?)
AP Scholar w/ Distinction
-Definite National Merit Semifinalist (223 in Ohio)

Other notes:
-The Dr I do my internship likes me a lot and I can probably get an amazing recommendation
Recs from teachers and counselor should be good too

Thank you so much!
I WILL TRY TO CHANCE BACK if I feel I know enough about the schools you are applying to :slight_smile:

2

You look like a pretty strong applicant, but your sat subject tests are kind of lacking, you should try to retake them to shoot for 750+. You do have strong ec’s though and a challenging overall courseload, so I would say you have a pretty strong chance, but acceptance in these schools is never guaranteed based solely on stats so make sure you have killer essays!

3

Thanks! @asdfvac

4

Bumppp

5

Are you certain that you would rather be at Penn than any other school – even HYPSM and other elites – if you got into those other schools?

If so, and if you are likely to be able to afford Penn, then go ahead and apply ED. The key is, you need to be wholly committed to a school to apply ED.

6

Have you visited penn? You should be 100% positive before you apply ED.

7

Yeah I have visited UPenn and I really like it, it has the certain opportunities I want and such, overall I really like it. I just wanted more of a “how likely I am to get in”. Even though I like Penn its just as important the Penn likes me :stuck_out_tongue:
If i’m just wasting my time applying to UPenn I want to know. I guess I just don;t know where I stand as an applicant to UPenn ED
@prezbucky @a20171

8

Whenever someone mentions interest in applying ED, I (now) make sure I ask them if they are 100% sure… because you are essentially signing a contract with that school.

Penn is a great school. I think its closest peers in the undergrad world are Columbia and Chicago – and Caltech on rep and their totally amazing STEM programs. Penn is worthy of every aspiring higher-ed student in the world. Nobody should ever feel less than ecstatic to be given an opportunity to study at Ben Franklin’s school.

Good luck!

9

I think you have a good chance! The only thing I thought was lack was you SATII scores, but even they were fine…
I wish you the best of luck!!

10

I think you have a solid chance. You have strong grades and test scores. I don’t think two B’s are a big deal. I love the ECs that relate to medicine. That may make for an excellent essay.

I do agree with the poster who suggested trying to raise your Bio subject test. If you could raise that a bit, I think it might improve your chance slightly.

Good luck!

11

Thank you @prezbucky @tbonedude2016 @Much2learn! Ill see what I can do about the SATIIs :slight_smile:

12

any other opinions?

13

bump…

14

Your ACT and GPA look amazing (3.99 UW is great, I don’t know why you’re worrying about it). Your ECs are solid so I think you have a really good shot of getting in even as an Asian. Just make sure your essays are good and demonstrate real interest in the school. Good luck!

Chance me: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1807174-chances-at-hypsm-ivy-league-for-computer-science.html#latest

15

UPenn ED: Okay chances

16

Thank you! @DyrannosaurusRex @20more :slight_smile:

17

I think you’re still pretty good, especially considering the context of your school! Your extracurriculars are outstanding. (Biased fellow JSAer here… but the fact that you did scientific research is truly impressive.)

18

Haha thanks @yaledreamer97 :slight_smile:

19

I think you have a good chance. You’re EC’s are good, grades are good, and you have a rigorous schedule. The only thing is your subject tests may be a bit low. Other than that, everything looks good.

20

Remember that 2 great subject tests trump 3 good subject tests. Focus on improving your best two instead of spreading your time across all 3 tests.