Transfer to UPenn

ThatScottishGuy
Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:26:26 +0000

Firstly I was wondering whether or not you can transfer to Pennsylvania? If not disregard the following.

I am currently in my first year at a university in Scotland studying Accounting with Business, and was hoping to study in America preferably Pennsylvania, but if not, it’s not the end of the world.

In school, I feel my GPA was good but I don’t know if it is at a level suitable for Harvard. It was roughly a 3.9, the reason it wasn’t higher was in my final years in school, I started to have a very difficult time, my mum ( single parent, to an only child ) was admitted to hospital after a serious injury. She was in hospital just a little under 3 years ( basically half the time of my secondary school) and I feel this impacted my grade as I had to take control of our families financial situation and still participate in school, which was very difficult for me to do. Anyway fast forward to university. I am in my second semester of my first year and currently hold a 4.0 GPA for both terms, putting me in the top 10 pupils on my course. over the past few months I sat my SAT I and SAT II. In my SATI i received 2380 (800M 790 CR and 790W) and my SATII i received 2360 (800M2 770Literature 790 Physics)
I know academics alone are not enough to be considered for such a prestigious school. My EC’s may not be up to par with you americans, this is purely because where i’m from we are offered very few activities in the form of EC’s, but I have a list none the less.

I was elected head boy in my final year of school (I know this isn’t an EC I just forgot to put it in earlier)
I have been a lifeguard for the past three years at my local swimming pool.
Competed at regional level in athletics (hold the under 16 record for 200m)
Competed at regional level in swimming (placed 1st one year, then 2nd two years running)
Competed at regional and national level in judo
Won numerous golf opens around Scotland
Captain of the university basketball team (managed to get to the national championships in my first year)
Captain of the university badminton team (singles and doubles regional champion in high school)
President of the university Amnesty International Club
Co-founder of the university chess club
Founder of the university swimming team
Founder of the university banking and finance team.

I know these EC’s aren’t much but it’s all I could do from where I am. If anyone could tell me if i’m capable/not capable it would greatly appreciated.
Thanks.