I am taking all honors classes and have a 3.7 unweighted GPA. I do varsity rowing on a team that consistently goes to nationals. I am a 3rd degree black belt in MMA. I also play the viola and have gone to many events for the best in my state [NY] . I also have 100 service hours and in the summer I work at a summer camp. Do you think I could get in?
What’s your act/SAT score?
1460 for SAT and 32 for ACT
and I dont know if this changes anything but I am upper middle class, white and a guy. I also did MUN
Although your GPA is slightly low (it would help if you could share the classes you are taking and your grades in each of them), your test scores are good and your EC’s are incredibly strong. I’d suggest looking into getting recruited for rowing or for your instrument (I don’t know if you would call this recruiting, but if you are the best in the state then you certainly stand a good chance). That is a much more direct way of getting admitted, but if you can’t get recruited, you still have a strong chance of getting in. I wish you the best of luck and would appreciate it if you could also chance me back.
Thank you! The classes I am taking are: AP World History, AP Comparative Politics, Honors ELA, Algebra 2, Latin 3 Honors, and Symphony Orchestra (honors orchestra). I am a sophomore. Also I am looking into getting recruited for rowing. @cc8912
Ah a sophomore! To be honest, you are pretty much set then (but don’t take my word on this lol). Don’t worry too much now – you are going to go a great school whether it is UPenn or not.
Also, if you are intending to be a history major or something of the sort, then definitely keep taking rigorous courses in those areas. I’d suggest not taking honors/AP for classes that you are struggling in as your overall GPA is more important – although you need to take hard classes, grades typically come first, and while you have a good GPA this is really the only “weak” point of your application (but again, not something to worry about).
Uhhhh MMA doesn’t have belts so I’ll just assume that you mean 3rd degree black belt in BJJ.
Penn is ridiculously selective and a 3.7 GPA with a 1460 SAT/32 ACT aren’t great, but seeing as that you are still a sophomore, you still have time to improve that. Additionally, you are taking hard classes. With Ivy’s, it’s more or less of a toss-up so don’t put all of you hope into it, simply do better than your best and don’t worry too much about Penn until your senior year.
Although @jasonwang7517 is definitely right about grades and scores, I’d suggest that you find out what your chances of getting recruited are first. Talk to your coach as he definitely would know about this, and also ask your music teacher (or someone similar) how significant your skills will be when you apply.
If you are close to the right times in rowing for getting recruited, then I’d say focus on that while trying to earn around a 3.8 GPA your junior year with slightly easier classes. If you realize you can’t get recruited, then obviously continue rowing but also focus more on your GPA. As for the test scores, you are completely set – a 32 is pretty strong in general, and as a sophomore, you are almost guaranteed to get at least a 34 next year.
Like I said, don’t worry about this at all. Your EC’s are strong enough to get you in.
You are right about the MMA thing where I go its like a mix of karate, krav maga, jiu jitsu and kempo. @jasonwang7517
The reason I am taking such hard classes to some what sacrifice my Gpa is because we have a weighted GPA too I just havent gotten that yet but I presume it will be around a 4.5ish. Once again thank you for the feed back! @cc8912
I think the average GPA from my school of students accepted to Penn is a 4.2 out of 4.33, so just acknowledge how ridiculously competitive Penn is apply to safety schools.
Hm, I think your GPA nd SAT are a bit low… but I heard PENN cares the least about stats (meaning they often accept students who have better EC’s than GPA’s… not reliable but just what some students say!!) I’d say its not impossible but kinda tough.