Useful PENN application information

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
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<p>I went to a meeting at my school where the admissions guy came in and talked about Penn. If by chance you did not go to the meeting at your school.... here's some information I remember.</p>

<p>I remember him saying that if you submit SAT I you HAVE to submits SAT IIs, but if you submit ACT only you DONT have to submit SAT II's (least this is what he said).</p>

<p>The ACT essay is HELPFUL if you do GOOD on it. Otherwise, if you do bad it won't be the deciding factor between two students.</p>

<p>The people at PENN look at everyone individually and are grouped according to their schools. Thus, this means that if everyone gets a B in that one unfair teacher, PENN will be able to realize that this was either a HARD class or some unfair teacher. Also, it means that they won't care if you are an asian or a hispanic or a white. They all do it individually.</p>

<p>In your essays talk about WHY you want to go to PENN. Be specific. Its helpful to actually GO to PENN and specifically mention what parts you like about it. They CAN TELL if its just a generic essay in which you just replace the name of the college. Don't mention retarded stuff like "My mom made me apply". CC, think about what other people are likely to say. They are going to say, penn is the best college in the world. WHY?? THINK ABOUT IT. That's just an opinion. Create facts with specific information.</p>

<p>Penn is looking for people that want to go there (duh). Their strengths lie in Wharton's Business school (the best business undergrad. school) and in their nursing school (I believe). </p>

<p>Everyone needs to take classes in what PENN calls a "general college of arts". This is basically chemistry/math/art/english, all the subjects that most majors require. Furthermore, PENN allows you to (pretty sure this applies everywhere else) take any classes you want. You can major in medical, but still minor in art (or just take classes in art). They have diversity.</p>

<p>The SATs dont matter as much as people think. They are a factor in the application, but not as the way most people in college confidential sees it. </p>

<p>EC's are probably more important than sats (imo). Unless you have some horrible score x < 2000 then SATs won't be too effective. The admissions guy said he liked well-roundness. He also said people who have a specific passion are good too, but it seems to me that well-roundness < specific passion (very slightly). IF it was on a number scale it would be something like... 7<8-9</p>

<p>The admissions office WILL NOT i repeat WILL NOT (WILL NOT) look at financial aid. Only the people in the main office (dunno what this is) will look at it. Thus, financial aid WILL NOT affect the application process. </p>

<p>APPLYING EARLY WILL GIVE YOU AN ADVANTAGE IN APPLYING TO PENN</p>

<p>I think I left out some parts... but hopefully this helps. Didn't see a thread like this...</p>

2

<p>Thanks for the summary, but there are a few things that are incorrect or need to be clarified.</p>

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<p>False. URMs receive a tremendous boost.</p>

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<p>I know what you’re saying, but for others that aren’t familiar with Penn, do know that chem, math, english, etc. are not all required.</p>

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<p>That’s just utterly false. Penn’s middle 50% for the ACT is 30 - 35. That’s not an accident. Stats matter–and they matter a lot.</p>

<p>Overall, though, thanks for the summary. It’s most appreciated, and I’m confident that it will help many prospective applicant surfing this forum.</p>

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<p>I meant for the ec’s that due to the fact that most people WILL have an sat/act score around 30-35 or 2000-2400 the sats wont be the deciding factor. The guy said it himself that SATs aren’t as important as you think. Yes, in the application hierarchy it goes from A-G classes/GPA/SAT/ECS/ESSAY/Interview etc… But because of the fact that GPA and SAT is something that is already a staple in the IVY world… ECS/ESSAYS will be the deciding factor. So technically, ECS > SATS UNLESS u ahve some horrible score like sats are below 2000 (like I said).</p>

<p>Something to add, I just recalled this. They said interviews are OPTIONAL. Interviews simply help bring some light out. The guy said about 50% of the people applying get interviewed. Some are bad, some are good, but there are some that TRULY stand out. And this is why the interview is sometimes good and sometimes bad :D. Basically, in the application process, there are a variety of “extra” boosts. ACT essays INTERVIEWS ECS etc. </p>

<p>The staples are the GPA/SAT/class
The supporting evidence/passion are the ECS/Essays
The light or the information about you in reality is the interviews and the recommendations.</p>

<p>He also said not to send more than 3 recommendations. There isn’t a limit. 1 is okay, 2 is good, 3 is meh, 4 is pushing it. He said he had a total of 27 recommnendations and was forced to read it.</p>

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<p>Question: Are we supposed to submit ALL ACT scores? Because in general you just send in one. </p>

<p>Also, on the Common App. should we put down all of our scores, even the low ones that we retook and improved?</p>

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<p>You talked about a “Why Penn” essay. Are you talking about the essay that wants us to specify what clubs and activities we want to participate in at Penn?</p>

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<p>i feel like they tweaked the essay topic enough that it would be difficult to just swap in and out school names so easily…</p>

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<p>The admissions officer for Penn that came to Atlanta mentioned that they read the common app essay first and then the why penn essay after everything checks out.</p>

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<p>^Good, because that essay has like a 100% chance of sounding like generic bs. </p>

<p>Anyone want to answer my questions above about score reporting on the Common App?</p>

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<p>lol what?</p>

<p>Just saying, the supplemental essay question is pretty standard question.</p>

<p>You guys reporting all ACT and SAT scores? I’ve retaken the ACT quite a bit and I’d rather not report and pay for sending all my scores individually. But if it has to be done…</p>

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<p>I thought you were being sarcastic in your remark, I know the common app essay is going to be generic but it’s still good to know they look at that first… maybe it’ll alleviate some stress in regards to writing supplemental essays</p>

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<p>Oh no. I meant the supplemental essay! The one about how can you contribute to Penn… like how do you respond to that in a totally innovative and original way?</p>

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<p>yes, you have to send everything.</p>

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<p>I wonder why the admission guy of upenn said “APPLYING EARLY WILL GIVE YOU AN ADVANTAGE IN APPLYING TO PENN”. No collge is doing that, which is unfair.</p>

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<p>I went to a college fair where a UPenn rep said the same thing. I said, “I hear the higher acceptance rate for ED is because of athletes and legacies,” to which she agreed bt she insisted that the ED rate is still twice as high as RD.</p>

<p>I have my doubts. Legacies and atheletes eat up too many spaces.</p>

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<p>Yeah!! If penn says that"APPLYING EARLY WILL GIVE YOU AN ADVANTAGE IN APPLYING TO PENN". It is unfair!!!</p>

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<p>It’s not just Upenn. Supposedly ED acceptance rates are higher at most universities (again that could be because of athletes and legacies).</p>

<p>[Early</a> decision - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_decision]Early”>Early decision - Wikipedia)</p>

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<p>“The admissions officer for Penn that came to Atlanta mentioned that they read the common app essay first and then the why penn essay after everything checks out.”</p>

<p>Does this mean that the common app essay is a greater influence of the admission decisions than the why penn essay?</p>

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<p>Yeah, I caught up with one of the presenters after they were done and asked her this myself. She said they look at the common app first then the supplemental to make sure everything checks out.</p>

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<p>How much do AP classes matter? Also, how much do they look at your transcript from grade 12?</p>

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<p>what do you mean by they wait to see if everything “checks out”?</p>