<p>Hey everyone! So my dream school is UPenn. I plan on applying ED there this fall. I just wanted to know if having disabled parents a hook for admissions? My mom has polio and she has to walk with a leg brace. My dad has numerous spinal cord complications. He can barely walk. Safe to say, neither of them work and we have survived on about $8,000 a year for my entire life. (Other hooks? I am a Female, Indian, first generation college)</p>
<p>I don’t have great SAT scores…I got a 1930 my first time (620CR 670M 640W) but i plan on taking them again either in June or October…</p>
<p>My GPA is a 3.8 (unweighted) I have all A’s. I’m in 2 AP’s now and will take 4 next year.
I volunteer countless hours for school related events and I volunteer at Ann’s Choice, a nursing home as well as the local library. (total about 100, maybe more hours)</p>
<p>I am in NHS, FBLA, Student Government. I was in Key Club for one year. I played freshman basketball. I am FBLA parliamentarian and have gone to FBLA State Conferance 2 years in a row. I will be vice president of FBLA next year as well as an NHS officer. I also was asked to represent my school on an online blog by the administration.</p>
<p>Do I have a shot at getting into UPENN?
THANKS SO MUCH!</p>
<p>In a word, NO, for the physically disabled parents. It can be a factor among many, but in itself means nothing. And the physically disabled parents I know would be insulted at the question. </p>
<p>However, you live in an economically challenged household, American Indian, first generation for college. Those things will be taken into consideration. But bear in mind that there are kids who fit those categories AND have top test scores and other qualifications. There are programs like Questbridge that can help you with the college process for which you may qualify.</p>
<p>The most important thing in your college app process is to cover your bases. You want a school will accept you that you can afford. COnfirm that you are PELL eligible and look for some safeties.</p>
<p>Once you do that, you can apply any and everywhere as long as you can give each application due process and consideration. Yes, you do have a shot a UPENN, give it a whirl. </p>
<p>The thing that is missing from your app is paying jobs. If your family needs funds, it is natural to expect the kids to be working. A lot of top schools feel that the job and support component is important. They have no problem with kids without ECs who are working due to family finances. Shows a lot of gumption. Also from all of your activities, it doesn’t look like you spend a lot of time dealing with your family’s disabilities. I’ve known many kids who spend a lot of their time, compromising their school activities to care for a needy member of a family. That is far more impressive than community, school stuff. Charity starts at home.</p>
<p>PayalTP - Why do you have a 3.8 GPA with all A’s? As cptofthehouse mentioned, UPenn does nt seem possible with your SAT scores since even people with hooks are at 2200 or more based on past record. The only hook you have is that you have a really low income which only helps with financing matching with Questbridge or Gates but not with getting you an admission.</p>
<p>Thanks for your advice!
I do help around my parents at home but my grandfather (who is very healthy) lives with us so I never really had to compromise my EC’s. As for getting a job, I plan on getting one this summer. I did not get one before because my parents thought that it would be too much for me to handle and they wanted me to focus on school. </p>
<p>I know my SAT scores are very low, but i have heard that many students get in with low scores…? </p>
<p>(I don’t know if this helps but i am number 10 out of 460 students in my school).</p>
<p>A lot depends on the reputation of your school with these colleges. Have you looked at who has been recruited in the past and what their numbers are? Have you approached questbridge yet to see where you can get placed?</p>
<p>It is not a hook to be female or Indian. It is not a hook to have disabled parents. Your rank is terrific, but your SATs are quite low in comparison. You might want to try the ACTs. Being first gen is a hook and so is your family’s income. I suggest you also apply to QuestBridge. If you are accepted, your chance of getting into a school like UPenn is much higher.</p>
<p>American Indian can put a candidate into the URM pool. Not Asian Indian. JHU and UPenn are both colleges that made the top 20 schools this year in the USNWR rankings. Drexel and Penn State are a whole different level in terms of selectivity, and yes you are very much in the running with your stats for acceptance to those schools. However neither school guarantees to meet 100% of need and with your stats a big scholarshp to them is unlikely. Neither of those schools meet the criteria for being the foundation of your college list. </p>
<p>If you live in the city of Pittsburgh, you might get some of the low income grant that is offered to city residents. That plus the PELL plus Staffords gets you to the tuition of a state school to which you can commute. Any local state schools should be on that list. Then if you want to start looking at Drexel, Penn state , UPenn, JHU, go right on ahead. Yes, you do have a shot at those schools, but ANYONE with your stats and even higher are not shoo ins to them especially needing full cost met. Really no school is a safety with that provision because getting $50-60K in money per year–close to $250K is tough to get. </p>
<p>A cousin with academic stats close to yours and in PA did not get full need met at some of those schools though some did give him some aid. With loans, work, savings and parental help, he’ll make it just fine, but it’s going to be tight.</p>
<p>I’m hearing a lot about QuestBridge…how does that work? Am I guaranteed a college admission? If i don’t make it as a finalist for QuestBridge, can I still do early decision to Penn or will it be too late?
Also, when do I have to apply to the QuestBridge program?</p>
<p>And I thought that schools can’t deny you admission based on your financial need? </p>
<p>A few kids from my school get accepted into UPenn each year. One year ( i think 2 years ago) we had 8 kids apply and 5 or 6 of them got in. I know this year we have at least one, maybe 2. </p>
<p>I live in Philadelphia suburbs, not Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>Read through the above. It does nt stop ED except people doing ED wont have a chance at other schools whereas if you rank several schools at once, one of them can match you. The second thread talks you through the various scenarios whereas the first link connects you to QB.</p>
<p>Have people gotten in from your school with your score? what about SAT IIs?</p>
<p>Where did you hear/read that schools “CAN’T” deny you due to financial need? Of course they can. Most don’t. They just accept you if you meet their qualification but give you what they think you deserve from them in terms of financial aid and merit money, which rarely meets need, and even more rarely meets what the family and student thinks is their need. </p>
<p>UPenn is need blind and meets 100% of need as they define it. Take a look at your school’s Naviance points, and see what qualifications those kids from your school had. Look where you would fall on the UPENN chart. Talk to your GC about your chances. By all means apply there. Just be aware that it is one of the most selective schools in the country and should be the crowning touch to your college list, after you find good schools you can afford and are likely to accept you. That is the crux of the college search. Anyone can cherry pick the top schools at the top prices. It’s finding the bargains in offerings, price and amenities that is the true challenge in college search. </p>
<p>And that is a good point about SAT2s. What many kids do not know is that many of the most selective schools do not look at the 3 test SAT number but at the 5 SAT1 and 2 combined number. That sometimes explains why high SAT1 scoring kids do not get into the most selective schools.</p>
<p>Anecdotally, it doesn’t work. How many kids with what stats have applied to UPENN from your school and been accepted, WL and denied? that is the reality check. </p>
<p>Yes, you have a chance. Doesn’t say what the chance is. So “better” with the interview is not saying much. Most kids I know who applied to UPENN internviewed. Be aware that Ivanka Trump was not accepted to UPENN with legacy and higher stats than yours and with an interview, when she applied straight out of high school. This is a truly selective school. </p>
<p>Again, do not fixate on it, though I feel you definitely should apply there. Start focusing on getting some realistic chances on your list. UPENN admissions office does not particularly care how much interest you show them, but some other school might and it could make a difference in acceptance and money from them.</p>
<p>Penn considers living in the Philly suburbs a good thing, and will give your application some leeway for that reason. It’s a toss-up. I don’t think RD JHU is all that realistic, with those scores. Just my opinion though.</p>
<p>Hi cptofthehouse, I was wondering what you meant by “the 5 SAT1 and 2 combined number”? Does that mean they add your SAT composite to the other two scores on the subject tests? How would you know that? And does it make taking more than 2 SAT2s no worth it?</p>
<p>When you say “Indian,” do you mean “American Indian” (Native American) or “Asian Indian”?</p>
<p>Also, I’m curious to why a leg brace and post-polio or even maybe spinal cord problems would necessarily mean that your parents “obviously” can’t work? Severe chronic pain or similar issues?</p>
<p>(Yes, I know this is an old-ish thread, but the OP is still around, so maybe he’ll see it.)</p>
<p>Yes my dad has severe chronic pain, cannot stand for very long ( like no more than 10-15 mins) and is on heavy pain medication all day. He also has severe kidney and prostate problems. He uses catheters daily. Since he is paralyzed the left side of his body is mostly numb and he has severe muscle spasms. My mom also cant stand for very long and since her polio went untreated for a long time her back and nerves are also suffering and she in constant pain.</p>