Coolgirlte

School: Public school (with IB) I transferred in so I was unable to do IB. My school district is terrible one of the worst in my state. Not many kids apply Ivy league!

Race: African American

Academics:
GPA: 4.10/5.0 (weighted) 3.2/4.0(unweighted) Class rank: 56/218 (forced to be placed after the IB kids)
Honors: English and History (9th/10th)

AP: Literature

SAT: Nov 3rd 2012 (taking a practice SAT tomorrow will tell you all the section scores)
ACT: Oct 27th 2012
SATII: Literature, Biology M or E (can't remember)

Senior year schedule: AP Lit, Physics, Economics, 2 art classes, health, Trig, Spanish (classes i need to graduate do to me transferring from a catholic for senior year... I transferred to catholic school for my junior year)

Classes I've taken(9th-11th)
Honors English and history, Psychology, College Computer class, Chemistry, Spanish 1,2,3, Geometry, Algebra 1, US History( couldn't get any AP classes junior, I transferred)

EC's: Varsity Volleyball(6 years), Varsity Bowling(6 years), Student Congress, LGBTQ( Vice President) Volunteering at a local hospital

Member of: Black Scholars, Hillside Work Scholarship, Urban League, Standard Bearer, Rochester Scholarship fund

Essays: Common app: Amazing
Ben Franklin: pretty good/decent
Engage @ Penn: Great!

Recs: Teachers: Fabulous
Counselor: Good!
Job: phenomenal!
I'll be graduating with an Advanced Regents Diploma and more credits than I need.

Thanks a lot guys!

drac313

If you can, apply, you never know. Don't hold your breath though. Your GPA is very low for Penn and you didn't take very hard classes on top of it. Also, you haven't taken the SAT once yet.
My question is:
You seem very interested going to an academically rigorous school like penn...why is that?
Penn will be very tough and everyone academically driven, but it does not seem like you want to go down that route judging from your high school history.

Coolgirlte

The district for area isn't the best, so they don't offer many classes for those that actually want to take challenging classes etc. During my first two years of high school, I went to the absolute worst high school in my area and I had the highest GPA in my school, but I decided to transfer because I was being bullied non stop. I transferred to a Catholic school for my junior year of high school and I wasn't able to take any AP courses since i was a late transfer and all of the classes were full. Unfortunately, my family couldn't afford to send me back for my senior year so, I have to take the classes I need to graduate from the public district. My new school is supposedly the best for my district but because i transferred in I wasn't able to join IB. Since my school offers IB the GPA scale is higher than a 4.0 it's a 5.0. I haven't taken my SAT/ACT etc because my parents are "special" and wanted me to want til my senior to take everything because they feel that I'll do great on everything...

If I would have had a better opportunity as far as high school, my classes would have been more rigorous. But since I didn't have the chance there's nothing I can do about it unfortunately. I want to go to Penn because I want to challenge myself and show my community that just because I haven't had the opportunities that a lot of students applying to ivy league or equally prestigious schools have had doesn't mean I can't get in. Also Penn has has everything I want college wise and then some. Being smart in the district where I attend school, you don't get a much attention and you don't get the things that you need to really show your intelligence because of the other kids who could care less about there education. I know I'm smart and I haven't really had a chance to show that...so if I'm not accepted it's not the end of the world for me. Thank you btw!

Jlaine10125

If Penn is your number one like me, apply Early Decision. For the SAT dont just take one practice test take several before Nov 3(Im on track to finish the blue book). But yea if you love a school nothing should hold you back and if you get denied it wasnt meant to be. Make sure you do everything in your control to make it the best app possible the rest is out of your hands

Coolgirlte

Penn is definitely my number one school! I plan to take more than one, I just planned to take one today but since I was called into work it did happen. I been working on my application for weeks now... So when I do send it in I can be confident about it!

Jlaine10125

Yup same here! Im glad it got extended my application has to be good before i send it

Coolgirlte

Exactly me too! Do you wanna switch essays as I finish them up!

Jlaine10125

sounds good send yours in my private message and I'll do the same!

rfav32

Follow your dreams! =) Be passionate and let yourself shine through.

Coolgirlte

check your email!

D3NT4L

Never say never. Don't listen to anyone who tells you shouldn't apply. I can tell you that my older brother was thinking about not evening applying to Harvard because of his SAT scores but he got in RD and is very happy there. If you like the school, I don't see why you shouldn't apply.

Jlaine10125

yup Im reading it now