Chance Me for UPenn Please

ESheahan
Fri, 08 May 2009 01:20:24 +0000

Hello,

I’m from Canada, currently attending (in the 11th grade) one of the top schools in my province and was wondering if you wouldn’t mind quickly giving my application a look and telling me what shot I have applying to UPenn ED in International Relations.

Thanks in advance.

GPA: 4.0 UW or around a 93% average (Was at around a 3.6 from grade 9-10, but has jumped up as I entered the more rigorous and therefore interesting courses of the IB program)
Class Rank: Around 5th or 6th of 85
Nationality: Asian-Canadian
SAT: 2140 (CR: 750 W: 750 M: 640)
ACT: Not taken yet, but predicted at approximately 32 or 33
SAT II’s: Not taken yet (advice on which ones to take considering International Relations, would be appreciated)

EC’s:
Philanthropic

Won the NAIS challenge 20/20 (internationally) for 2005-2006

Have accrued over 300 community service hours

Helped in planning and organizing a model UN at my school for the freshman class
Debate

Placed 2nd citywide at the beginner level (2007-2008)

Placed 10th individually at the regional level in the Senior Open Category (2008-2009)

Placed 5th individually at the provincial level in the Senior Open Category (2008-2009)

Captain of the senior high debate team for two years
Model UN

Attended the Harvard MUN (2007-2008)

Attended Berkley MUN, won an award for outstanding research and achieved 3rd place in committee (2007-2008)

Attended Harvard MUN and won the “best delegate” (1st place) award for my committee (2008-2009)

Attended Berkley MUN and won one of 2 awards for outstanding research
Speech

Selected to represent school at the NAIS (Association of Independent Schools) International speech and debate competition at Deerfield Massachusetts

School champion of extemporaneous speaking for two years running
Sport
-Play golf competitively
Music

Achieved Grade 6 Piano (Royal Conservatory of Music)

Competed in two music festivals and won award of excellence at both for Piano

Have been playing jazz guitar for 7 years (with professional instruction)
Academia

Competed at the 2009 Alberta Science Olympics and won Silver Medal in applied chemistry event

Won both the Science and Language awards in my Freshman year

Won the award for English at my school in sophomore year

References:

Reference letter from headmaster will be extremely shining

Reference from teachers will be excellent

“Other” reference from a volunteer employer at “Outward Bound” will be outstanding

Other:
I’m concerned that my less that lustrous transcript from both grades 9 and 10 will really hurt my application, but a common theme (and this will be in my essays), is the huge maturity many of my teachers have seen me gain in the past year. I’m enrolled in all of the most difficult courses (Full IB and 4 of 7 are the higher level) at my school, and the program has actually inspired me to work harder, thus the drastic improvement in my grades. What do you guys think? will these earlier marks hurt my chances significantly?

Thanks again.