80 pages already, and more than 2 weeks left until D-Day
@thewaffleman149 Not 80 yet.
@toffys I was rounding, but by the end of today, it will be
almost there
Indeed
Boom 80
quick question, in your opinion how helpful is it to have someone who has a building at Penn named after his family sending in a letter on my behalf (he’s a family friend)? He works at Platinum Equity and is pretty successful himself. He says he only does maximum one recommendation per year, and he’s been pretty effective in the past for others (based on what he’s told me).
My stats and ECs are pretty good, too. I can post if that’s helpful
@lalakers418 He’s not a direct family member so it won’t help as “legacy/donor”. Also you’re not applying ED, so that won’t help either. The recommendation will only work if you’ve worked with him before, and he can write about something that isn’t in the teacher recommendations or your personal statement.
Hi guys,
I applied to CAS ED. I don’t have the grades or class rank but I live in Philly have taken classes at Penn since junior year. Do you think this will help my low GPA/low SAT (1950)? I screwed up my freshman year and got B’s and C’s and was absent a lot, but I got myself in order and has been getting straight A’s since. For my common app essay I explained about my poor freshman grades: I had to work 5 days a week. As for EC’s, I am in 2 clubs and do volunteer work at the library and local hospital. My UW GPA is a 3.7 I know this isn’t a lot but Penn loves locals. They admit around 170 each year from the city. Given my situation and upward trend in school, do you think I have at least a shot?
@toffys I am applying ED. I’ve talked and met with him, and again, he’s a family friend so he knows me. It isn’t a traditional recommendation (honestly idk how he does it), but I think it’s really just taking advantage his family’s position at the school. Wouldn’t you think that a family with a bldg named after them would have pull? He said he has helped students get into Penn and Princeton a few times before.
Just had my interview, very chill. Kind of awkward because it happened over hangouts and I had to phone her so it was like video from one source and then audio from another. Not too long though, 30 minutes only, hope that doesn’t affect the quality of her review.
My school doesn’t have many AP classes (only two) and they’re a math and science class, but I’m not a math or science person so I didn’t take them. However, I did take two AP classes online in my area of interest. If I have good grades, tests, essays, and EC’s to back up my lopsidedness do you guys think I still have a decent shot at getting in ED?
Good to know I am not the only one freaking out! I think that is the reason that I keep checking CC… to tell myself that I’m not the only one!
just had my interview over the phone… it was 30 minutes – is that pretty normal as far as interviews go? had time to ask him questions at the end
@lalakers418 from what I’ve heard around such recommendations only really matter in situations where ur on the border and might serve as a small push. Usually such prestigious universities don’t particularly owe obligations to admit whoever donors recommend unless it is direct family, etc. I’ve heard before what really helps is if a donor actually meets with the endowment office/ admissions office while donating to make some sort of “deal.” Again just from what I’ve heard.
@successonsuccess oh that’s interesting. Good to have that extra push on top of the rest of the app though either way. Thank you
I think that teacher recs are much more important than you would think. Colleges use the recs to verify that the voice in a student’s essay is authentic, and they use the recs to check for discrepancies in a student’s application.
I’m basically counting down the days until my painful rejection email. Ugh
the admissions officer who came to our school really emphasized the why penn app and recommendations. he only talked about grades and sats for like 2 minutes and then spent like 10 minutes talking about the essays… so i imagine it’s very important
@tjgirl123 - May I ask which state you are in?
Got the same info - that essays, teacher recos are very important - essays carry the message supported by the recos. I am also banking on them.