Advice from an admitted student

neuron39
Sat, 01 Jan 2011 16:04:30 +0000

I beg to differ with you, Hope Full; it’s not that simple. Of course, it’s important to carefully craft each application; of course it’s important to write informative, grammatically correct essays that reveal aspects of the applicant not otherwise evident elsewhere in the application. However, there is an aspect of luck in every application cycle. There is no way for Penn to accept every qualified applicant; there were 30,000 applications last year! You have to accept that the outcome may be capricious and not feel it’s a referendum on your self-worth.

The essays are a very important way to stand out, but they are not the sole determinant of the decision; so is how one spends his or her free time; i.e. EC’s. A laundry list of clubs isn’t very impressive; doing one or two things well is. My son-an MIT junior-plays multiple instruments, composes, conducts, mentors, and performs (BTW he had tremendous essays vetted by multiple people, and SAT 1600, and still was waitlisted by three schools). My daughter-just accepted ED to Penn-dances, choreographs, and captains her Dance Team. My point is not just to make the EC’s a focus; the activity should truly be loved and be an outlet, a stress-reducer. It’ll be a part of your life wherever you go to school.