<p>Hi,
I am currently a rising sophomore in high school, and UPenn SEAS is my dream school, particularly bioengineering. Also, there is BME at Cornell Engingeering, Johns Hopkins Engineering, or Duke Engineering. My question is: How can I prove my math and science strengths? Which clubs should I join? Are there any special summer opportunities? Would volunteering at a hospital help? Which SAT IIs should I take? Lastly, if I get all A+'s in math/science-related classes, but some B+'s and A's in the others, is that better than getting all A+'s (Showing strengths and desire in math + science)?
Thanks for your time.</p>
<p>well, I’m not in SEAS but my high school feeds into Cornell, Upenn and JH so I feel that my input might be worth something.</p>
<p>courses: AP bio, AP chem, AP physics C (both of them), Calc BC, Multivariable Calc (if applicable), AP Computer Science AB (if applicable/optional)</p>
<p>–this has been the guaranteed admission setup into any of those programs you mentioned. Our school doesn’t recognize +/- but you really want A’s in all those subjects. A couple of B’s in other subjects won’t hurt you.</p>
<p>SAT II’s: Chem/Physics, Math IIc, <humanities: history,=“” language=“”>
For SSL, the only time where you earned em is if you discuss them on your application. If not, doesn’t matter.</humanities:></p>
<p>EC’s: Focus on Math Team, Physics Bowl, Chemathon and equivalent subjects.</p>
<p>If you follow what I told you verbatim, you are guaranteed acceptance to at least one of your designated programs based on my school’s track record. Good luck.</p>
<p>Excellent response! Two thumbs up! Seriously, thank you so much!</p>
<p>Also, what high school do you go to? Is it nationally ranked? And lastly, will colleges see what you get on AP Physics C for example if you take the AP test in May? Aren’t college applications earlier?</p>
<p>I want to Thomas Sprigg Wootton High School. We used to be 17th in nation a couple of years back but now we’re 53 or something.</p>
<p>Colleges will not see what you got on your AP exams senior year but they are definitely looking for a rigorous senior schedule. In fact, if you apply ED to upenn (or cornell), they will only see your schedule and no grades. That way, you can show a full AP schedule, struggle through it with B’s and have top schools think you are the bomb ;)</p>
<p>Good call…Thanks for all the info! I really appreciate it! Thanks again…</p>
<p>Bump…Still need answers, guys. Necrophiliac was very helpful, but are there any other informative members? Please…</p>
<p>Bump…!</p>
<p>If you can get A+s in everything, go for it. Penn likes well rounded students. You want to have a strength in math+science, which A+s in everything achieves, not necessarily a (relative) weakness in everything else.</p>
<p>Bump!!!</p>
<p>christ, calm down. firstly are you interested in M&T or only SEAS bioengineering? you have threads about both. it would help to know more about you, such as how highly your school is ranked. i attended an elite private school and i know someone who was accepted to M&T this year, someone who was accepted to bioengineering, and i myself was accepted to SEAS undecided - meaning i can easily opt to major in bioengineering if i want to. also keep in mind that you can change your major within your school after getting in.</p>
<p>my stats? i took AP chem, AP microecon, AP macroecon, AP computer science AB, AP physics C, and AP calc BC. my school only offers APs for juniors and seniors and even then, we can only take three a year. </p>
<p>i took the following SAT 2s: biology E, chemistry, and math IIC.
my SAT was a 2340 superscored.</p>
<p>ECs: school paper, varsity tennis, asian awareness club, a few competitions and some music involvement, worked in a bioengineering lab in CUNY one summer, some web design work</p>
<p>here’s where the prestige of my school came in - i didn’t get an A in a single class my junior year, and for my senior year i only had one A on the transcript i sent into penn for my regular decision application (i didn’t apply early).</p>
<p>So what i’m trying to say is, you might be better off asking people who went to your school what their stats were to get into penn. high schools can vary tremendously and while im sure necrophiliac’s recipe for admission isn’t incorrect it would also be overkill for my school and some others i know in many ways.</p>
<p>nan0552, I’m from Thomas S. Wootton. In the past decade, we varied between 17 to 53ish nationally. The point is, my recipe is almost a guarantee of admission into any program OP named.</p>
<p>lol what? so you’re prepared to purposely get b’s to make it look like you are strong in math and science?</p>
<p>Not prepared, but simply wondering if that’s okay to get into SEAS (more specifically, M&T)</p>
<p>well the answer is no. no offense but that question was ■■■■■■■■. if you can get a+'s in everything than go for it…having b’s wont look better than having straight a’s.</p>
<p>I’m more of a math/science guy, rather than Soc./English (although I aspire to be editor-in-chief some day). Here is some stuff about me…</p>
<p>School: Roslyn High School (probably around 250 in the nation among publics, but 22 grads attending ivy this year - 38 total got in, 6 to upenn, 21 to cornell)</p>
<p>ECs: Volunteer @ Hospital (likely about 100 hours going into soph year)
Secretary-Medical Explorers Club
Columbia Model Congress (competition - possibly awards next year)
School Newspaper (columnist freshman, senior asst. editor - soph)
Global Awareness Club (running for/probably getting - Treasurer or VP)</p>
<p>Awards:
Long Island Math Fair (silver medal, likely silvers/golds for next 3 yrs)
Starting ‘Math Research Seminar’ next yr, Independent Math Study senior yr, so probably INTEL/Siements/New York Science and Engineering Fair, LISEF (same thing, but for Long Island)</p>
<p>GPA: Our school doesn’t rank, and doesn’t have weighted
All honors classes (2 APs next yr - soph - AP Euro, AP Psych) - around 95 to 96</p>
<p>Tests:
Retaking SAT II Bio this Oct. (cancelled 1st time), likely 750+, taking PSAT soph year, likely</p>
<p>Summer Stuff: Volunteer, hopefully Johns Hopkins Programs next summer, or math research somewhere</p>
<p>Sports: Fresh- 2 JV (soccer, baseball), likely 2 yrs JV, 2 yrs Varsity (thinking about joining winter track to be a 11 season athlete (out of 12 seasons total)</p>
<p>** Scholar-Athlete each sports season (most likely ) - you need 90+ gpa throughout the entire season</p>
<p>Rec’s: No clue yet (should I be ‘getting to know’ my teachers yet?)</p>
<p>No legacy/recruits stuff</p>
<p>*****btw, I’m in my school’s Research Honors Math Program, which is one step above Honors, so all my classes are like ‘Trig RH’ and ‘Precalc RH’ (im planning on doing AP Calc BC and Stat at some point, likely Econ for the M&T Program @ UPenn)</p>
<p>I know it’s early, but am I on track at least?</p>
<p>you are definitely on track. And stop worrying; you shouldn’t even begin application thoughts until like summer between junior and senior years. Just do your best and stay active.</p>
<p>Just wondering:</p>
<p>1) When should I begin ‘knowing my teachers’ for recommendations?</p>
<p>2) How long should you work on the essay?</p>
<p>3) How many SAT IIs should you apply with?</p>
<p>4) Is there a special M&T Supplement or SEAS Supplement, or just the generic UPenn Supplement?</p>
<p>5) Where can I find the essay for M&T or SEAS?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>guys stop answering his questions. You’re provoking a very sick kid -,-</p>
<p>I wouldn’t call myself a ‘sick kid’, but rather a student very much concerned with his future.</p>