<p>If possible, please be as brutal as possible. I want to know the truth, and nothing but the truth.
I AM APPLYING RD to arts and sciences.
(I realize this is a upenn forum, but chance me for yale as well if possible)</p>
<p>ECs:
400+ hours of volunteering at a radiology clinic
1 publication as first author in a dosimetry medical journal
1 publication as second author.
A bunch of school clubs. (No leadership, and no NHS)
Shadowed a radiology oncologist
Shadowed a medical physicst
Shadowed a dosimetrist</p>
<p>Awards:
Honors award throughout all of high school
AP scholar with distinction, and soon to be AP national scholar and possibly AP state scholar.</p>
<p>Recs:
1 from AP biology teacher (5)
1 from counselor
1 from radiology oncologist
All decent</p>
<p>Hopefully pretty good essays. Have already thought of what to write about. </p>
<p>So what are my chances?
I realize my GPA isn’t the usual 4.0, but I hope that my dedication to a specific area clearly illustrates my interests.</p>
<p>Thats where I see my disadvantage as well. I just don’t want to take any SAT IIs since they aren’t required by either.
Does it matter that much? They say there isn’t a preference for either of them. Is that colleges trying to get more people to apply or what?</p>
<p>13 APs? C’mon now that’s just a little ridiculous… The College Board says five…yes, FIVE is plenty. I’ll have seven by the time I graduate. But yet again, my school only offers like what… nine? But anyway, good job on being able to handle 13 AP classes.</p>
<p>Your academic track is perfect as is. The only exception to that is, as shaheira said, is a lack of SAT Subject Tests. They might not be required, but you should look at it as a bare minimum thing. Sure, you can submit your Common App with 0 SAT IIs, but the difference just making an attempt to study for 1 or 2 and taking them will make on your application is huge. I know for Wharton, they pretty much require them, with at least 1 being in Math, and from what I’ve been hearing nowadays, the admissions rigor between all the Penn schools has been closing. So don’t avoid it just because you “don’t want to take any SAT IIs since they aren’t required by either.” </p>
<p>About your extracurriculars, they’re okay, but leadership turns out to be big at almost any selective institution. If it’s too late to improve on that, I would suggest trying to start thinking of other ways you can make your ECs/Volunteer work stand out without a reference to pure leadership, whether it be through your essays or additional recs.</p>
<p>@soulfu No, they are not. @upennvetgirl727 Thanks ^_^. I try to push myself. Imagine students in California with 20+ APs, now that is insane. @Limdelbarton I guess its time I start studying for some SAT IIs. </p>
<p>Thank you all for the advice, I appreciate it.</p>
<p>Well it’s very good that you try to push yourself. I do too, haha. I read off my comment and I realised that it sounded a bit rude; sorry about that. I secretly wish I could take 13 APs lol</p>
<p>@All: SAT-IIs are only required for certain programs and/or if you submit the SAT route. Ex. If you plan on submitting the ACT, then you wouldn’t have to submit SAT-IIs (unless you’re applying to Huntsman, etc.).</p>
<p>Congrats on all your academic achievements!! That takes a ton of work and a unique person with a heck of a lot of drive and passion. 3.85 UW is amazing with all those APs! But you said to be brutal… however it’s kind of hard to do with what your resume is. hahaha seriously! Good job!</p>
<p>hmmm… I’d say your only disadvantage is a lack of leadership in your ECs. But I’m pretty sure leadership is much more important for… say… a Business Major than for a Science Major. Best of luck!! :)</p>
lol</p>