Any tips from someone who's been accepted?

Poeme
Sun, 20 Nov 2011 11:36:31 +0000

I agree that it is great to further pursue interests, but you don’t need to be the captain to do this as well as contribute to the team. Leadership is not always about having a position of power, I think that’s something people need to be more open to. You can lead through passion and involvement even if you are not the person in charge. I was never comfortable with being the head of anything, but I got the impression that people still thought I made a large contribution whether in class or in Science Olympiad. Even though I was not the captain, I pulled my weight and was noticed for it. I think I got into Penn because my essays confirmed this. I think they are truly looking for is genuine people. Professors are often complaining about people being too caught up in the rat race here, they like people who know who they are and who have new ideas. That’s how you can stand out.

Internships are great and all, but don’t feel like you absolutely need to do one. Most people I knew who did them at my high school used connections to get them. I do agree with hardworking, that if this is what you want, it could be a great experience.