Ohhh I've always wanted to do this: mentor somebody to make sure they do everything right. My college applicant career ends a week and a half from now when I get my acceptances and rejections in the mail. With like two year's of knowledge I'm going to make some assumptions: you're a junior male interested in business. You're committed to going to the top judging by your academic record and you're on the track for a great career in business.
Forgive me if some of my advice is impractical. I'm an electrical engineering applicant to Penn and several other top schools so I'm not well-versed in the undergraduate business world.
As an attendee of a small Catholic school I understand that your resources are limited and so will Penn so don't worry about having a "limited" profile... really, I wouldn't have been able to tell that you went to a small school had you not said so.
Here's what you've been doing right so far:
1. High grades. You're class rank is good, slightly better than mine. Keep these up!
2. Great course load. I don't have nearly as many AP's, but I'm also in the IB program so it balances out.
3. You're very involved around your school. You said that there weren't many clubs at your school? You look highly involved to me! More so than I am... maybe
4. Hooray for scouting. Get that Eagle done and get those palms! I'm a Silver Palm guy and believe me - it turns heads with admissions people. I mention advanced robotics activities: little response. I mention 7 weeks of semiconductor research: nothing. I'm an Eagle Scout: "Oh really? What was your project? How many merit badges?" etc.
These are some things that I would keep in mind and/or improve on:
1. As an Indian male, you will be shafted by affirmative action just as much as white males do now. For the two of us, getting into Penn in the first place is hard, let alone the Jerome Fisher program :|
2. You're going to want an 800 on the Math IIC. If you review for it a few weeks in advance (get a few practice tests and review trig), with your Calculus BC knowledge next year you will certainly get at least a 750
For a competitive management program, high math scores are a must. I'd also reccommend retaking Math IC. I know it sounds dumb to take both, but a higher IC score will write over your current one. It's not bad overall, but it's a sore spot for Penn.
3. Try to get a research deal or a summer program in economics like taking a college course at least. Your record suggests a great career in mathematics with your AMC12 score and your math achievements. If you could land some sort of advanced economics experience at UCSD or another school in your area, you'd vastly improve your economics background. Penn, like every other top school, wants to make sure that you're dedicated to your field. Make it look that way
4. ESSAYS ESSAYS ESSAYS. I'll say it again: ESSAYS!!! It's your ticket in. You belong to the second largest demographic group applying to college. Making yourself stand out with two excellent essays will greatly improve your chances of getting in. Sounds dumb, and people told me to do it and I didn't, but start writing them now. Take a look at the prompts from this year's admissions cycle and develop the essay. Even if the prompt changes, you'll still have a good set of ideas. There's a TON of advice out there on how to write essays, but the consensus is that if your essay is imbued with your personality and character, if it shows a genuine interest in whatever program you're applying to, and it sets you up as a good fit, it's a great essay.
5. Visit campus. They keep track of who has shown interest. If at all possible, sign up for a faculty visit in the economics department. I talked to the department chair for electrical engineering and learned a lot about the curriculum.
6. If you're just signing up for the name, don't do it. At these schools and their workload, if your heart isn't in it, don't do it.
7. Take AP Physics C if possible. If you're up for the mental beating from E&M, a physics C score looks MUCH better than a B score. Then again, an A in physics B looks better than a C in physics C
You be the judge, but push your physics as far as you can.
So here are my goals for you. Modify them as you wish and remember that it's just my two cents here (very large two cents :P)
1. Get your Eagle! Even if it didn't make a single difference for college admissions, I'd get it anyway. I know far too many people who were too lazy, busy, w/e and will now regret it for the rest of their lives.
2. Keep your grades up. Don't stress about your class rank; if you keep up your grades then it might go up but it isn't anything you have direct control over.
3. Shoot for the AP Scholar with Distinction award. With those 9 or 10 AP tests (ignoring calc AB since you'll have a BC score instead) and your academic performance thus far it should be pretty straightforward.
4. Get that business experience.
5. Don't panic
You're on a great track for success here. You have lots of community service, your recs will be good, good sports and a strong academic background. Keep it up, and even though you might not get into Jerome Fisher or X dream school and program, you're going places: I'm sure of it.
College Confidential is dedicated to providing the best free college admissions information available on the Web, through our many articles and this discussion forum.
