SAT (2400 scale): 2240 super score - 800M, 680 CR, 760 W
SAT subject tests: 780 Math IIC, 650 US History (going to retake)
AP scores: Human Geography (4), took Macroeconomics, Calculus AB, and US History as a junior, going to take Statistics, Calculus BC, Spanish Literature, and Microeconomics as a senior
Extracurricular Activities:
Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
Vice-President (11th), President (12th): organized fundraising events, kept track of funds, and participated in competitions
Investment Business Club Boys
Vice-President (11th), President (12th): taught club members about investments and economics, participated in competitions
Tri-M Music Honors Society
President (11th and 12th): contributed service hours to school and planned concerts for
Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble
High School Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble
First chair oboe (11th and 12th), Secretary (11th), President (12th): practiced and performed repertoire for
concerts, assemblies, and graduation
Boys Varsity Wrestling
PIAA District I AA State Qualifiers, PIAA District I 5X Championship, PIAA District I B.A.L. 5X Championship
Asian Club
Secretary (11th), President (12th): brought awareness to Asian American issues such as microaggressions, affirmative action, and media portrayal of different races
Math Club
Participated in competitions such as American Math Competition (AMC)
Awards and Honors:
Dokdo Youth Forum
Essay competition based on conflict between Korea and Japan over Dokdo Islands. Focused on racial tensions and historical submissiveness.
Tri-M Music Honors Society National Honors Society
National Honors Society
MathCON Honorable Mention Awardee
Volunteer experience:
Korean United Church Korean school
Assistant teacher: co-taught a seventh grade class in Korean history, grammar, and language.
Not for Oneself Program
Built homes for the homeless and served food in low-income neighborhoods of Philadelphia.
Summer programs/experiences
Johns Hopkins University, Center for Talented Youth (CTY)
Took a college level biology course within 4 weeks.
Church mission trip to Hungary 2015 Summer
Advanced level English teacher at a children’s English summer program in Sátoraljaújhely, Hungary designed to help bridge the social divide between native Hungarians and Gypsy communities
Summer internship with Senator Vincent Hughes
Camp Business at Drexel’s LeBow College of Business
Asian Students Promoting Identity, Reflection, and Education (ASPIRE) at University of Pennsylvania
Weekly sessions with other Philadelphia public high school students and Penn students. Provided insight about Asian Pacific American issues through discussion.
Letter of Recommendations
Math teacher: I had him 7th, 8th, 9th, and 12th grade so I think he will be able to talk about me progressing through middle school and high school. He’s also known for writing amazing recommendations. (10/10)
Music director: I’m very involved in the music program and I also play the oboe so that will be the focus of my essays and he knows me very well on a personal level non-academic related. (8/10)
Counselor Recommendation
I have a well established relationship with my counselor, so it’ll be pretty darn good. (8/10)
Essay
It will be amazing. (9/10)
Applying for Financial Aid?: Yes
State: Pennsylvania (PA)
School Type: small but very competitive school, best in the area and top 10 public school in the state
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: $25,000 - $49,999
@SATurdays I would assume it’d be business, at least Wharton. Your EC’s and standardized testing are pretty solid. GPA is a bit low, however. Also, your application would be strengthened if you’d received more state or national level awards and recognition. The rest comes down to how good your essays and recs REALLY are, and a bit of luck.
I agree, UW GPA is a little concerning but I’m sure you know that going in. Any particular reason stats and GPA don’t correlate and is there any way you can explain or justify it in your app? Good Luck!
Also, how on earth did you manage your course load? If what I’m seeing is correct, you must have taken even more weighted courses to make up for the UW defecit.
@bzhang42@SATurdays Yup! I’m going for business but I don’t think I’ll be applying directly to Wharton, just general admissions. I do know my GPA is a bit low but I don’t really know how to explain it… lol state and national awards would be nice too but my team was never able to place which sucks. I’m not sure how I “managed it” because I think I put too much on myself, hence my low unweighted GPA. But my weighted is high because of so many APs (8 total by the end of high school). Do you guys think I have an okay shot? I’m hoping to also get an outside recommendation from the Senator himself after hopefully undergoing a successful internship this summer. Thanks for the feedback!
Personally, I think doing early decision might be in your best interest if Penn is your first choice. Your UW GPA might not be the most ideal for what they are looking for. And I could be wrong, but all of those EC’s are a little overwhelming. Personally, I would decrease the list to only a few which you are deeply passionate about. Any university wants to see quality over quantity in that area. Your SAT is good, your teacher rec’s seem great, and that Senator letter seems promising as well. Good luck!!
@pastalover88 Thank you so much for your input! I am going to early decision to Cornell University since that is actually my first choice but my unweighted GPA is still going to be a tough setback for me there too. I tried to focus my extracurricular activities towards business and music because I am interested in majoring in the business field and am also an oboist and music is a passion of mine. Also, a four year sport is nice to include. But I also included Asian club because I did a program at UPenn that is included in my information and I brought that to my school’s Asian club. Math club may be unnecessary. Any additional comments or feedback?
I think you should highlight the importance of all of your individual EC’s. I think that your chances at Cornell ED are relatively good. Are you in-state? Keep in mind that throughout the college admissions process that you need to give a school something that no one else can offer. I always look at it this way, take the school’s acceptance rate (cornell ed is about 33%) and analyze it. If the acceptance rate is 33%, that means that for every 1 student that they accept they have to deny 2 others. Think about what makes you better than those other 2 students that is attractive to the school.
@pastalover88 Okay, thanks for the advice! I’ll definitely highlight the music and business passion, but also pride in Asian cultures. And no, I am not in state.
I love your extracurriculars. You seem fabulous and super impressive. Just make sure the school you pick is truly right for you. Everything about it has to be perfect. Also, lets look at your Cornell decision first. I think you have a great chance there. Good luck bud!
You have a great profile, but based on what I see here, Penn is a long shot. I believe that 93% of Penn admits are in the top 10% of their class, so the gpa is too low without some sort of hook. I would try to bring it up. SAT is about average.
Since you are low-income, apply for QuestBridge / Gates Millennium Scholarships. That boosts your chances a lot. If you don’t receive either, mention your family income on the common app. All of the ivies and equivalent schools really want low income students for socioeconomic diversity.
