Rank, GPA, ACT, E-C's...early action or regular?

Colleges & Universities University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Year: Junior (class of 2011)
Class rank: 12/286 (top 5%)
GPA: 3.9
ACT: Eng-33, Math-34, Reading-33, Science-28, Comp-32</p>

<p><em>I have only taken the ACT once as a preliminary guide for what I’ll have to work on. Retaking in June.</em></p>

<p>Junior Year Schedule (and grades) - all are highest level unless noted AP:
Precalculus (A)
Spanish III (A)
Chemistry (A)
Creative Writing (A)
AP United States History (A)
English III (A)</p>

<p>Senior Year Schedule (planned):
AP Calculus AB/BC
AP Chemistry II
AP English IV
AP Spanish IV
AP Art History
AP Physics
SMART Program (biomedical research program)</p>

<p>(If I do not gain acceptance into the SMART program, I will be taking AP Psychology and GT Philosophy)</p>

<p>Extra-Curricular Activities
Championship Tennis Team Member, Continued Study in Biomedical Research, Junior Science and Health Symposium, First Place in Regional Science Fair, Fifth in Louisiana Men’s Archery, ACDA National Honor Choir Member, Theatre, Class President (running for School President this year), Founder and President of Gainful (Get Involved, Louisiana), etc.</p>

<p>Awards, Nominations, and Recognition
2010 Presidential Volunteer Service Award Recipient
2010 Prudential Spirit of Community Service Distinguished Finalist
2009 Congressional Student Leadership Conference of Medicine & Healthcare Nominee
2009 Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) National Representative Nominee
2009 People to People International (PTPI) Nominee
2009 Ranked 5th in Louisiana Men’s Archery
2008 National Youth Leaders State Conference (NYLSC) Nominee
2008 People to People International (PTPI) Nominee
2008 Louisville, Kentucky, Youth Performing Arts School, Most Outstanding Student
2008 Member of the Kentucky State Championship Tennis Team</p>

<p>Leadership Positions
2009 Gainful (Get Involved, Louisiana) Founder and President
2009 Caddo Magnet High School: Junior Class President (Class of 2011)
2009 Student Government Association Member
2009 National Honor Society Member
2009 United Way Advisory Council Member
2009 Caddo Magnet High School Recruitment Coordinator
2009 Academic Success Tutor – Group Leader / Tutor
2009 Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) Seminar Regional Representative
2009 Pro Bono Publico – 11th Grade Volunteer
2008 National Honor Society Member
2008 Academic Success Tour – Group Leader / Tutor
2008 Pro Bono Publico – 10th Grade Volunteer</p>

<p>Community Service
2010 United Way Volunteer Center Coordinator
2009 United Way “Make a Difference Day” Coordinator
2009 LA Center for the Blind – 3rd Annual Reading Carnival
2009 Soldier DVD Collection Drive Coordinator
2009 Red Cross Club Disaster Relief Collector
2009 Salvation Army Volunteer
2008 Christmas in the Sky Benefit Volunteer
2008 Jefferson County Soup Kitchen and Food Bank Volunteer
2008 Salvation Army Volunteer
2008 Hurricane Relief Effort – CenturyTel Center Volunteer and Sponsor
2008 South Highlands Elementary School Volunteer
2007 Metro Animal Services Volunteer
2007 Metro United Way Sponsor and Volunteer
2007 Salvation Army Volunteer
2007 Soup Kitchen and Food Bank Volunteer</p>

<p>Clubs and Societies
2009-2010 Student Government Association
2009-2010 Red Cross Club
2009-2010 INTERACT Club
2009-2010 GaINfuL: Get INvolved, Louisiana!
2009-2010 Spanish Club
2008-2010 National Honor Society
2008-2010 International Thespian Society
2005-2010 Tennis Team
2005-2007 BETA Club</p>

<p>–</p>

<p>I want to apply to the LSM Program (Life Sciences Management) at UPenn, but would choose the College as my secondary. </p>

<p>My questions:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Do you think that I have a chance at gaining acceptance to the University of Pennsylvania? </p></li>
<li><p>Would it be advantageous for me to apply early decision or regular decision? I am ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that the University of Pennsylvania is where I need to be (just returned from a visit). </p></li>
<li><p>Any comments about my resume or application that you would like to add would be very helpful. I would like to specifically know what I would be able to improve. I am currently improving my class rank by keeping all A’s for junior year.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Thank you so very much! Any and all help is greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>Sincerely,</p>

<p>skaggs
Louisiana, USA</p>

2

<p>Also, a reason that my class rank is so low is because I attend the top public school in Louisiana and it is very competitive. In addition, when I transferred from my old high school and moved states, my current high school lowered the phase levels of my classes (from advanced to general) just because my new school didn’t offer the same course. This lowered my class rank.</p>

3

<p>You have a very good chance. No guarantees on LSM. If you applied ED, would you be disappointed to be locked into the College?</p>

4

<p>Thank you! In my mind, the College is where I want and need to be. There would be nothing but relief if I were to apply ED and be accepted!</p>

5

<p>Then do it. Especially coming from Louisiana, I think you have a great shot. Scores and grades are all on the money.</p>

6

<p>I can’t think of a downside to you applying ED, it can only help.</p>

7

<p>Please condense your list. If the colleges can’t see the majority of that stuff, then we shouldn’t either.</p>

8

<p>I think you have a decent shot…a lot of that list is superfluous and adcoms will see right through it. Condense the list, focus on what’s most important, and work to improve that score. I don’t see why you wouldn’t have a good shot of getting in if you do those things…good luck!</p>

9

<p>Big thanks to each of you for your words of advice! I plan on condensing based on two factors: what’s most important to me and what I have been most committed to. I just found out a few hours ago that I was chosen to be in the SMART program, so hopefully this will start my career in research and ultimately help my application to the LSM interdisciplinary program!</p>

10

<p>I have reviewed my list, and I feel that it was highly unfocused and was just a group of items written consecutively. I have revised each category, and I feel that these are the things that have been most important to me and that I have been most involved in.</p>

<p>Awards, Nominations, and Recognition
Presidential Volunteer Service Award Recipient, Prudential Spirit of Community Service Distinguished Finalist, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) National Representative Nominee, 5th in Louisiana Men’s Archery, Kentucky State Championship Tennis Team (2007) </p>

<p>Leadership Positions
Gainful (Get Involved, Louisiana) Founder and President, Junior Class President (Class of 2011), United Way Advisory Board Member, High School Recruitment Coordinator, HOBY Regional Representative</p>

<p>Community Service
United Way Volunteer Center Coordinator, LA Center for the Blind, Red Cross Disaster Relief, “Make a Difference Day” project</p>

<p>Academic, Community, and Student Organizations
Student Government Association, Gainful, Red Cross Club, INTERACT Club, NHS</p>

11

<p>Much, much better :slight_smile: Good luck!</p>

12

<p>Thanks! :)</p>

13

<p>bump! anyone interested in chancing?</p>

14

<p>i don’t think your GPA is that low? what’s your course?
i have a question, what percentage should you be in to have a good chance at like wharton, or any one of the d-degree programs. or what GPA?</p>

15

<p>class percentage*</p>

16

<p>I wouldn’t say that my GPA is extremely low, just that it could definitely be higher than it currently is. I don’t think that I’m qualified to say what class percentage would be best, but in my eyes, it would be top five or ten percent.</p>