UPenn or Harvard: Chance Me!?

Chance Me / Match Me
1

<p>So…I’m not the best candidate for sure, but I hope they can see I’m more than just a number.</p>

<p>Freshman: R Advanced Orchestra (Orchestra 3), R PE 1, H Literature, H World Studies, H Advanced Algebra 2, H Biology, H Spanish 1
Sophomore: AP environmental science (3) , AP US History (4), H American Literature, H Spanish 2, R PE 2/Drivers Ed, H Geometry, H Chemistry
Junior: AP US Govt, AP English Language and Comp, AP Psychology, H Precalc with Trig, H Forensic Science, H Spanish 3, H Physics
Senior: AP Calculus BC, AP English Literature and Comp, AP Computer Sci A, H Sound Engineering, H Elements of Computing Systems, H Digital Imagery, R Varsity/Marching Band (will be teaching a Flag Corps class)</p>

<p>Taken all honors classes, part of the STEM program/curriculum</p>

<p>Going to a city, public high school (selective enrollment school)</p>

<p>GPA: 5.0 weighted, 3.97 unweighted
Grades: All A’s every semester except one B freshman year
Rank: 4 out of 1,200
Ethnicity: Puerto Rican/Filipino (Hispanic/Asian)
Middle-class, need financial aid
Female</p>

<p>Possible Major: BS Ecnomics, BA or MA Public Admin/Policy</p>

<p>ACT (highest, taken twice)
Math: 30
English: 30
Writing: 11
Science: 29
Reading: 32
Composite: 29</p>

<p>SAT I (taken once)
Math: 660
Writing: 620
Reading: 590
Essay: 8
Composite: 1870</p>

<p>SAT II (taken once)
US History: 710</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Flag Corps (captain, 4 years)
Science Fair (2 years)
Youth Leader/Volunteer (Church, 2 years)
Camp Counselor (2 years)
Advanced Orchestra (4 years)
Music concerts/shows (7 years)
Hockey Manager (1 year)
Christian Club (2 years)
Aspira Dance and Leadership (2 years)
CORE (anti-bullying awareness and empowerment) (1 year, vice president)
Process to Progress (political awareness and action) (1 year, officer)
JV Wrestling (3 years)
Park District Volunteer (3.5 years)
Gospel Choir (1 year)
Snowboard and Ski (4 years)
GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science) (2 years)
Band (guitar) (3 years)
Tutoring (4 years)
Counseling (6 years)
National Society of High School Scholars (Scholar and Ambassador of Illinois 2 years)
Autism Speaks (officer, 2 years)
Volleyball (2 years)
Soccer (2 years)
Advanced Leadership Apprenticeship Mentoring Program (Modified Martial Arts and tutoring children)</p>

<p>Awards and Honors:
National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) Award for Aspirations in Computing Runner-Up
JV/Varsity Letters (Wrestling- 3 years, Flag Corps- 4 years)
Lane Scholar (4 years, Top 50 of class of 1,200)
National Society of High School Scholars (member and ambassador)
Perfect/Excellent Attendance (3 years)
Honor Roll (3 years)
Aspira Leadership: Government Project
Chicago International Salsa Congress Amateur Team Competition Champion
(Still awaiting on a few others)</p>

2

<p>Are you Puerto Rican? If so, both schools will be need blind and full need on you. Your GPA is great. UPenn probably won’t care about that B, but it does decrease your chances with Harvard by just a bit. Good thing is you seem to be a lot more than just your grades. Your SAT practically ruins your chances for Harvard, so maybe you should take it again. HOWEVER, your ECs are definitely something, and may just outshine your SATs. I was like: “what the hell? How can someone do so much and still keep perfect grades?”. Keep in mind your ecs list is what Harvard and Upenn admissions officers call a “laundry list”. You should only list those ECs in which you’ve accomplished things (like holding a leadership role), and that are a reflection of your personality and interests. (You should list all your awards though). I wouldn’t list volleyball and soccer for example, or Gospel Choir, Christian Club, science fair, snowboard and ski, Advanced Orchestra, or anything that isn’t outstanding. The other ones make you seem like such an interesting individual; you actually want to help people and change the world, and it makes it seem like you have such a good heart (Autism speaks, CORE, you should DEFINITELY list these). But seeing those generic ECs (like soccer and volleyball) is a turn-off. So be very careful when you list all those wonderful ECs. Your ECs are probably the ones to get you into one of these colleges. </p>

<p>I’m sure you’re also considering other colleges. I would say you should also apply to MIT (more difficult than UPenn, equally difficult to get in as Harvard), Columbia (easier than both), UChicago (equally as difficult to get in as UPenn). I think you’d be very happy to get in into any of these colleges as well, as they’re also the best in the world and in a similar environment as both Upenn and Harvard. </p>

3

<p>Yeah, just to reiterate saus2019, your SAT is one of the main things holding back your application…you don’t need a 2400 for example, but you do need something most likely 2100+ to indicate that you’re ready for the rigor of an “ivy” college. Also, you should try and see if the ACT is better for you.</p>

4

<p>Not unless you get your sat or act up. Colleges will just assume that you cheated your way through highschool or your high school does not prepare the students for college. Either way… your ******. </p>