UPenn Class of 2021 RD Results

punchedthebursar
Sun, 02 Apr 2017 23:35:12 +0000

[aB][asize=4][acolor=#008000]Decision: Accepted[/color][/size]**

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): didnt send
ACT (breakdown): 32C (31M, 34R, 34E, 27S, 22W)
SAT II: didn’t send
Weighted GPA: 101
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 15/650
AP (place score in parenthesis): World History (4), Biology (3), US History (5), English lang & comp (5)
IB (place score in parenthesis): none
Senior Year Course Load: physics honors, AP US government & politics, AP English lit & comp, AP Calc AB
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): AP Scholar w Honor, every subject honor society

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Jazz band (first chair and section leader of trombones), concert band (first chair and section leader of baritone horns), school newspaper (editor-in-chief) drama club (lead role in spring musical)
Job/Work Experience: worked in office of local pool club and camp counselor at programs at my school
Volunteer/Community service: volunteered in special needs grammar school, several Campus Ministry activities (soup kitchen, eucharistic minister, lector, retreat leader), peer tutor, volunteer at freshman orientation
Summer Activities: attended weeklong business seminar at local college, as well as summer jobs

Rate out of 10
Essays: 10/10, okay i usually hate people who give themselves 10/10 on these things but i really do think these aspects of my application were what helped me get in! everyone who proofread my essay really enjoyed it and thought it would stand out for its humor and honesty.
Teacher Recommendation: 10/10, two teachers who i’m very close with
Counselor Rec: 10/10 also knows me very well
Additional Rec:
Interview: it was okay, kind of awkward, but i think i conveyed my ambition and my goals well enough for her to give admissions some good news!
Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: yes
Intended Major: Economics
State (if domestic applicant): NY
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: private catholic
Ethnicity: white
Gender: female
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): nah

I wanted to post here because when I was scouring these message boards a few short months ago, I couldn’t find anyone with an application similar to mine (specifically no SATIIs and right at Penn’s median ACT score) who got in! So here’s proof for anyone who might be feeling discouraged about their chances; you don’t have to have perfect scores or a Nobel Prize in order to get in. You have to work really hard, step out of your comfort zone, keep good relationships with your teachers, and be honest in your essay and application. Difficult, but most definitely possible! Good luck to everyone applying in future years, and congrats to everyone who got in as well!