Just One More Girl Asking, "Chance Me?"

Colleges & Universities University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Let’s see…</p>

<p>Caucasian, Female, Midwest, Public HS, Very few students go to top universities. My mother has no college degree.</p>

<p>Applied ED to Arts and Sciences, Visual Studies Major</p>

<p>GPA Unweighted: 3.988 Weighted: 4.15</p>

<p>ACT: 33</p>

<p>Many honors and accelerated classes, member of gifted program, taking AP Calc and Adv. Physics this year, have done independent studies and a summer internship. I am taking Design I next semester at the community college (dual enrollment).</p>

<p>Awards: Cornell Book Award (involvement/extracurric.), qualified for state DECA competition (student marketing association), attended state FBLA competition (first place in my district), National Merit Commended Student</p>

<p>Activities: Semi-private art lessons (9-10), choir (10-11, in and out of state competitions, member of an ensemble, got highest rating at districts), cast member in 2 musicals (10&12), cast member in One Act plays (10,11), private voice lessons (10-12), youth leadership st. louis (11)(2 field trips per month, poverty simulation, learned from mayor, leadership retreat), DECA member (11,12), DECA officer (12), private Italian lessons (12)</p>

<p>Summer: 30-day trip to Thailand (summer 09), 50 hours of community service, cultural classes, outdoor activities, taught English to schoolchildren and orphans, improved hill tribe buildings</p>

<p>Service: 5 hours making meals for homeless, 2 hours assisting with a 5K run for Lou Gehrig’s Disease, 15 hours at a local performing arts center (ushering at family theatre shows), plus the 50 hours from the Thailand trip</p>

<p>Work: Summer job at a gelato shop, worked private events as well as in-store</p>

<p>I also mentioned some of my hobbies on my resume; they include kayaking, rock climbing, surfing (attended week-long surf camp), culinary pursuits (took lessons locally and in Thailand), music (vocal, guitar, piano, alto sax.), and various dance classes.</p>

<p>My common app essay focused on my trip to Thailand–the experience changed me immensely and the people there gave me a new perspective on relationships. I matured a lot as I was halfway around the world with all new people, living out of a backpack, etc.</p>

<p>My Penn essay <em>hopefully</em> demonstrated my knowledge of the school… :\ people who read it said that I sure know a lot about Penn, but who knows what they’re looking for. I also talked about Visual Studies: how I am fascinated with seeing, excited at the thought of finding like-minded students/professors, anxious to combine many of my interests through the curriculum.</p>

<p>My autobio essay talked candidly about my strange relationship with my dad and how it has helped as well as hurt me. He has been away from home for at least 80% of my childhood and I only see him 2 of every 9 weeks. I have never been so gritty and honest in an essay, so I hope whoever reads it percieves my emotion. And I put a quote from a Paul Simon song at the end. Hope they know Paul Simon! ;)</p>

<p>Okay, sorry that was so long. I’ll let you JUDGE ME NOW!</p>

2

<p>Somewhere about 6-7/10 i think.<br>
Your essays seem strong, your activities clearly show a passion for the arts (tho it seems like you’d be more music/drama than visual art. tho that may just be how I’m interpreting it lol) You also have good service stuff.
Grades wise, you’re right where everyone seems to be, pretty much perfect GPA. Your weighted may be a bit low compared to some other ppl’s, but that may because your school doesn’t offer as many AP courses? So long as the curriculum you’re taking at school is close to being rigorous, you should be fine, esp with dual degree.</p>

<p>Good Luck on Friday!</p>

3

<p>I think you have a really good chance. Seeing as you are a first generation student, your ACT is above average, and judging by your grades/awards etc., it is obvious that you have really excelled and made the most of the opportunities in your community. Your essays sound really interesting, too. It would be good if there was a little more evidence of a focus or passion in your ECs, but you definitely come off as an artistic person which is cool.</p>

<p>Anyways, if I had to put my money on whether you’ll be accepted, deferred, or rejected, I’d say that you’ll be accepted. Could you provide your rank though? I’m assuming your really up there, but if not, this could change things. At worst, I assume you’ll be deferred… but I have a strong feeling that you’ll be IN!!! :slight_smile: :slight_smile: :)</p>

<p>I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you! Good luck!</p>

4

<p>Thanks, Ninjaboi :smiley:
Same to you… fingers crossed…</p>

<p>I’ll also mention for anyone else reading this:</p>

<p>I sent 3 letters of rec–one from my Gifted English teacher, one from my Marketing teacher, and the 3rd from my Honors US History teacher.
I think they were all strong. I chose these teachers not because the subjects were my favorite but because I had/have really good relationships with them and did creative projects in their classes.
English- analytical projects (ie. connecting architecture and short stories, which ties in with analyzing images and their effects, i.e. visual studies)
History- made a movie as a creative representation of communism and democracy
Marketing- designed advertisements, displays, etc.</p>

<p>I think my counselor also mentioned my passion for seeing/analyzing because I filled out an extensive survey that she used to write the letter (and I talked a lot about design)</p>

5

<p>Ugh, honestly don’t know my rank because it’s not on the transcript I have. Don’t know if it is on the one that Penn recieved either. Last time I saw it (last yr) it was like 12/360 or something.</p>

<p>Yeah, I wish my EC’s were a little more concentrated in one area, too, but what can you do… Visual Studies is pretty broad so that gives me hope. And I have taken Architectural Drafting, Marketing, and Psychology in HS, which all relate to the major.</p>

<p>I sent in my portfolio to my regional admissions director (hope she got it). It had photography, paintings, drawings, and a pic of a 3d model. I’m nowhere near a mini Picasso but it was just a little tidbit of how I see the world :)</p>

6

<p>I still think your okay! And I think recommendations are really important and it sounds like yours were pretty strong. So yeah, I think your looking great! If I were you, I’d be feeling fairly confident. :slight_smile: Which state are you from? Are you from an “underrepresented” state?</p>

7

<p>Hmm… doubt it (Missouri). I think it’s about midway, so that’s kind of neutral ground.</p>

<p>I’m assuming you’re applying to Penn? What major?</p>

8

<p>I put undecided. I don’t know what I want to do with my life. :)</p>

<p>… but I’m leaning towards something in the humanities… I love, love, love history and I find psych really interesting. On the other hand, I find economics really interesting and while math isn’t my best subject, I’ve always enjoyed math as well… I also love writing but I don’t think I’d be an English major. As you can see, my interests are really scattered. One of the things I love about Penn is that the distribution requirements (or whatever they’re called) will allow me to keep exploring different interests before settling on anything… and I love that I can take classes across colleges.</p>

9

<p>Hopeful_Underog: we have really similar interests! I’m majoring in IR/econ and minoring in creativewriting/literature (not sure what combo). and if you like writing you should check my website: [url=<a href=“http://www.ivwriting.com%5DIntravenous%5B/url”>http://www.ivwriting.com]Intravenous[/url</a>]</p>

10

<p>Don’t worry, you’ll find your niche sooner or later! Yeah, I love math too, and I’m not sure how I’ll work that into visual studies. But if I do decide to double-major in architecture (I’ve always thought I’d be in college for 5 yrs anyways because I originally looked at B.Arch programs) then I’ll get some beloved math :D</p>

<p>Good luck for Friday! Gahhh it is so hard to try and prepare to look at the decision…</p>

11

<p>What’s your GPA out of?</p>

<p>Everything else seems fantastic. Good luck and let us know what happened!</p>

12

<p>4.0, although we have a strange system that I don’t even begin to understand. All I know is the ‘highest’ is 4.0</p>

13

<p>…nudge :]</p>

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<p>IMO, there’s nothing here that would make you stick out in the pool of Penn applicants (this is both a good an a bad thing). So basically, if you’re confident in your essays, you probably have at least a decent shot at getting in. Does your mother not going to college qualify you as a first generation student (did your dad go to college?)? If so, that’s a hook and will increase your chances a bit.</p>