Chances...coming from a paranoid freak!

Colleges & Universities University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>I am currently a junior at a pretty good high school…public, but ranked pretty high for competition. They don’t really rank my GPA and prefer numbers. Basically anything from a 90-100 is a 4.0 which I think is ridiculous.</p>

<p>I want to apply ED to the College of Arts and Sciences</p>

<p>GPA–95 unweighted but weighted it’s 96.8
PSAT–210
AP’s—not a lot is offered </p>

<p>All of HS, I have had the most rigorous courseload</p>

<p>Senior year I plan to take 6 AP’s (3 this year)</p>

<p>Merits----not a lot…math fair being big, got medals every year, a publication into a science journal, two publications into school journal, awards in English and Chemistry. Music is through NYSSMA</p>

<p>NYSSMA is a prestigious program where you perform a piece in front of a judge and get graded</p>

<p>EC’s (I just put in Junior year, b/c its the same as 9th and 10th)</p>

<p>Have a lot of extracurriculars, but have leadership in almost all of them. Have Music competitions and I have gotten a medal in the annual math fairs</p>

<p>LEADERSHIP POSITIONS</p>

<p>10th Grade

  1. Attorney on the Varsity Mock Trial Team
  2. Chairperson of Pennies for Patients (Raising Money for Leukemia Patients) for SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions)
  3. Member of the SADD Executive Board</p>

<p>11th Grade

  1. Lead Defense Attorney on the Varsity Mock Trial Team
  2. Member of the SADD Executive Board
  3. Chairperson for the Annual Benefit Walk (Raising money for unfortunate family in Bellmore, NY) for SADD
  4. Assistant Editor of Fragments (Literary Art Journal)
  5. Member of the Peer Tutoring Executive Board
  6. Faculty Editor of the Yearbook</p>

<p>I’ll have more in Senior Year…basically editor jobs and keeping executive posts…</p>

<p>Summer of 2004- Internship at the Center of Immigration Health at Bellevue Hospital
Worked for six hours (10-4) on Tuesdays and Thursdays for six weeks </p>

<p>Summer of 2006- Accepted into the New York Academy of Sciences: Summer Research Training Program. Internship at Columbia University: School of Nursing under Dr. Patricia Stone Ph.D.</p>

<p>PUBLICATIONS</p>

<p>At Columbia University: School of Nursing, I was mentioned as a co-author in an article that is to be published in Nursing Economics called “Effects of Hand Hygiene on Hospital Costs” (Scientific Journal)</p>

<p>I have been writing plays and screenplays for a while. I wrote a screenplay but haven’t sent it to any contests. Should I send my plays to contests? Would that be a “unique quality?” Its just hard to set yourself apart from the other applicants. </p>

<p>Please help with the chances…the whole thing has been driving me crazy. Also, what else can I do to improve my chances…thank you so much</p>

2

<p>You look good, but where are you located? I see Columbia on there so I’m going to assume suburban New Jersey or New York and this is the 2nd toughest applicant pool, after the Philadelphia Main line.</p>

<p>Penn does accept a lot of New York area students, of course, but it still is tough.</p>

3

<p>Yes, send your plays to contests! No doubt about it. You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain (possibly even scholarship money).</p>

4

<p>I am from Long Island…is that a big issue? I figured they would have some sort of quota for certain states that have tons of applicants, but will it really sway their decision against me?</p>

5

<p>Is leadership ok? My GPA is pretty much set in stone because I get ranked according to my 9-11th grade grades. Where does the SAT score need to be?</p>

6

<p>long island is one of the most competitive areas for college admissions.</p>

7

<p>How do I distinguish myself? Can’t really control where I live. I appreciate all of this help…thanks guys</p>

8

<p>Distinguish yourself through national recognition and amazing essays. Start with the play contests.</p>

9

<p>I think your ECs look pretty strong, but yeah, winning a play contest would make you stand out…</p>