Will SAT I scores cause UPENN to reject me?

davezhan · 07-11-2008, 03:50 PM

I will be applying for the class of 2013. My parents and friends say I have a good shot at the ivy league excluding HYP. I really don't know right now because my SAT I score 2260 was far below that of other students of my caliber (2330). I would like to retake but I don't know if that's the best thing to do. I have a free summer that I could spend writing essays (are the essay questions for 2013 out yet and where can I get them if they are?) or studying for the SATs for a retake. Which should I do and if I don't choose to retake, will I have a shot at this school? Should I even apply at all?

Ethnicity-East Asian
Grade-11, Gender-Male, State-Oregon

PSAT -- 210 CR 55, WR 80, M 75

SAT I -- CR 680 WR-780 (11 Essay) M-800

AP English Lang 5
AP Biology 5
AP Calculus BC/AB Subscore 5/5
AP Physics C: Mechanics 5
AP Physics C: E & M 4--very surprising because I studied for this one :P

btw, my SAT score percentiles are as follows for CR/M/W --> 93%/99%/99%

SAT II World History -- 780 -- 94 percentile

SAT IIs to be taken -- Math 2, Chemistry, Biology, and Physics
ACTs will be taken

GPA--3.99, top 5% in competitive public school of 256 per class, most likely Salutatorian

Extracurriculars--Eagle Scout, Cross Country, Track, Piano (6 yrs), Alto Saxophonist, a bunch of clubs...

Leadership positions-- chess club president for 3 years, math team treasurer, student council representative for 2 years

Work & Volunteer Experience--internship at prestigious medical research institution for work-study, red cross blood drive volunteer, math tutor at school

Awards--local and regional competitions in academics and performing arts usually 3rd place state, 1st place district

emyo · 07-19-2008, 12:46 PM

We all know that SAT is not the most important factor in college admissions, especially for schools that are highly competitive, as there are so many applicants with freaky scores like 2390 or whatever. Having said that, 2260 is pretty high--It's not 2300+, but I believe you wouldn't be rejected BECAUSE of that "low" score. Jeez, paranoid much? :P

laurgirl220 · 07-20-2008, 12:54 PM

Wow, calm down. A 2260 is obviously higher than many people who apply.

I got a 2230 and was completely fine.

dlesk · 07-20-2008, 02:24 PM

i got 2150 and got in

KQI · 07-22-2008, 01:18 PM

I WISH I HAD UR SATS! I feel like I'm the stupidest guy to be admitted at Penn..

i have CR 590 W 630 M 700...

NO HOOKS... SATs are not the most important thing to Penn

davezhan · 07-22-2008, 06:02 PM

but ethnicity surely plays a role too right?

If you're Asian, you should have a lesser chance of getting in versus, say, an African American.

KQI · 07-23-2008, 03:24 PM

I doubt that very much... I am asian. Just relax. Take it easy (just like the song goes :P). I never thought I'd get accepted to Penn. The best advice I can give, give all you've got. Tell Penn who you are and only who you are.

What you believe in... what makes you different... what are you willing to die for. These are the kind of questions (real tough yet simple) that will get you in. I feel like that got me in. Maybe my SATs were terrible... and my GPA just like anybodyelse... but I think I convinced them that I am well rounded (through all the different types of APs I've done) and they really got to know me through my essay and letters of recommendations.

That's right... Essays and Recommendations. They are both personal. I think that's the most important for Penn. My teachers and counselor were more than my teachers, they were my friends. They really wrote down who I was... and my essay... well I shared my passion.

Anyway, good luck. Cheers.

PS: you know how the limit letters of recommendation? I sent 4. If you've got really close teachers, send all their letters.

CrystalPineapple · 07-24-2008, 09:29 PM

are you KIDDING me?

taking standardized tests is not an extracurricular activity, and i'm so ashamed of my people (Asians!) who make it seem that way!

you're FINE FINE FINE.
colleges don't JUST look at numbers (that department you're fine in. you'll get into penn with those numbers). they look at you as a person. wouldn't you hate it if you were just judged by numbers? i know i would. i'm not a number (er..numbers). i'm a human being, and colleges that i want should treat me like one.

p.s. i got a 2160, and i'm pretty content with my score. it doesn't say anything about me as a person. can they tell that i can do really good cartwheels from my score? NOOOOO.
point proven?

G3N3515 · 09-03-2008, 09:21 AM

dude dont worry about those "horrible" scores

cuz for one thing they're not, although I cant say you'll for sure get in (they reject like 55% of all valedictorians that apply), you have a good chance man.i know some people with 1600's who got in here based on extracurriculars and grades.
testing is not everything haha

alexzhan · 11-08-2009, 10:16 PM

dude..if anything, they will probably reject you just for being an eagle scout/chess club president/math team treasurer.

Grisam · 11-16-2009, 07:46 PM

2260 on the SAT?

Forget Penn, that isn't even county college worthy. Trust me, you're LUCKY if you get a job at Burger King.
=====

You look fine. Don't worry about it. Relax, take a chill pill. A 2260 is good like those admitted at Penn stated. Besides, SAT scores are an *important* but not DECIDING factor of admissions. If you're so worried, give the ACT a shot or retake the SATs.