Worth taking the UPenn shot?

[Anonymous]

Maybe look at WPI which is test blind. My DC did a summer program there and enjoyed it. It is a solid tech school that is attainable.

[Anonymous]

Look at Case (good merit and Cleveland is underrated), Rose-Hulman, UIUC, Minnesota?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Totally hear everyone on the ECs. Thank you so much for all the feedback. I have no illusions at all that she is a super star. She is a normal kid and enjoys spending time with friends. She has a bit of leadership experience in her two years of robotics (ended up quitting this year, as all of her friends quit and the team sponsor was not a fan of girls) and her volunteering, which essentially involves directing young kids to play a sport and serve as scorekeeper and ref. She also has to interact with hovering parents.

Her weighted GPA should pop pretty significantly this year. Current GPA is only through sophomore year, which includes two APs. She will have a total of 10 APs and 2 DEs by the time she graduates. She attained a 1510 on her PSAT with an index of 224 so will likely be a NMSF. I’m not sure if her SAT score will be enough to qualify her for finalist. For whatever reason, the pressure of the SAT is getting to her.

She is definitely not fixated on UPenn at all and knows that it is a huge, huge reach. Just liked it and thought she would like to try. I have no experience with Ivy’s at all. My younger cousin did get accepted to Penn a few years ago with fairly normal EC’s so I guess anything is possible.She will definitely apply to Pitt, Penn State, Delaware, Virginia Tech and South Carolina among some other schools, so hopefully enough targets/safeties. Would love other ideas for schools if anyone has them. Not looking forward to this process!

If she wants to do mechanical or electrical engineering she really needs to get those test scores up. Engineering is super competitive everywhere. Perhaps consider the ACT. And make sure she gets to Calculus BC by senior year. Don't waste an ED app at Penn. It's not happening. But it can't hurt to apply RD. If she is going to apply ED somewhere, be much more strategic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Totally hear everyone on the ECs. Thank you so much for all the feedback. I have no illusions at all that she is a super star. She is a normal kid and enjoys spending time with friends. She has a bit of leadership experience in her two years of robotics (ended up quitting this year, as all of her friends quit and the team sponsor was not a fan of girls) and her volunteering, which essentially involves directing young kids to play a sport and serve as scorekeeper and ref. She also has to interact with hovering parents.

Her weighted GPA should pop pretty significantly this year. Current GPA is only through sophomore year, which includes two APs. She will have a total of 10 APs and 2 DEs by the time she graduates. She attained a 1510 on her PSAT with an index of 224 so will likely be a NMSF. I’m not sure if her SAT score will be enough to qualify her for finalist. For whatever reason, the pressure of the SAT is getting to her.

She is definitely not fixated on UPenn at all and knows that it is a huge, huge reach. Just liked it and thought she would like to try. I have no experience with Ivy’s at all. My younger cousin did get accepted to Penn a few years ago with fairly normal EC’s so I guess anything is possible.She will definitely apply to Pitt, Penn State, Delaware, Virginia Tech and South Carolina among some other schools, so hopefully enough targets/safeties. Would love other ideas for schools if anyone has them. Not looking forward to this process!

Look at Swarthmore. It is an outstanding undergrad school with a good Engineering program tour daughter might like. While selective (7% acceptance), there is definitely an ED advantage. You can look at Naviance to see previous admit scores from your school.

[Anonymous]

If engineering and don’t want sat. Just do uc. It worked this year for a lot of students with high gpa especially since they look at 10 and 11 only. Plus for engineering nothing beats ucsd, ucla or ucb

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Totally hear everyone on the ECs. Thank you so much for all the feedback. I have no illusions at all that she is a super star. She is a normal kid and enjoys spending time with friends. She has a bit of leadership experience in her two years of robotics (ended up quitting this year, as all of her friends quit and the team sponsor was not a fan of girls) and her volunteering, which essentially involves directing young kids to play a sport and serve as scorekeeper and ref. She also has to interact with hovering parents.

Her weighted GPA should pop pretty significantly this year. Current GPA is only through sophomore year, which includes two APs. She will have a total of 10 APs and 2 DEs by the time she graduates. She attained a 1510 on her PSAT with an index of 224 so will likely be a NMSF. I’m not sure if her SAT score will be enough to qualify her for finalist. For whatever reason, the pressure of the SAT is getting to her.

She is definitely not fixated on UPenn at all and knows that it is a huge, huge reach. Just liked it and thought she would like to try. I have no experience with Ivy’s at all. My younger cousin did get accepted to Penn a few years ago with fairly normal EC’s so I guess anything is possible.She will definitely apply to Pitt, Penn State, Delaware, Virginia Tech and South Carolina among some other schools, so hopefully enough targets/safeties. Would love other ideas for schools if anyone has them. Not looking forward to this process!

Look at Swarthmore. It is an outstanding undergrad school with a good Engineering program tour daughter might like. While selective (7% acceptance), there is definitely an ED advantage. You can look at Naviance to see previous admit scores from your school.

Misleading. No advantage ED Swarthmore!
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/60/1260414.page#29607569

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My spouse and I both graduated from Penn, our older kid (hs class 2023) had a 4.75 gpa in mcps, 1590 SAT, 15 APs of all 5s with a few 4s, top rigor incl APs in all 5 core subjects and math thru MV calc, was captain of varsity sports team along with other ECs, strong writer, I believe strong recs, and was not accepted (applied ED). Other equally qualified kids his year had same results, only kid accepted was an ED app and had a hook. We won’t even have younger sib apply.

So no legacy brownie points? Or you+ didn't donate as alums?

[Anonymous]

Smith has an engineering program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Totally hear everyone on the ECs. Thank you so much for all the feedback. I have no illusions at all that she is a super star. She is a normal kid and enjoys spending time with friends. She has a bit of leadership experience in her two years of robotics (ended up quitting this year, as all of her friends quit and the team sponsor was not a fan of girls) and her volunteering, which essentially involves directing young kids to play a sport and serve as scorekeeper and ref. She also has to interact with hovering parents.

Her weighted GPA should pop pretty significantly this year. Current GPA is only through sophomore year, which includes two APs. She will have a total of 10 APs and 2 DEs by the time she graduates. She attained a 1510 on her PSAT with an index of 224 so will likely be a NMSF. I’m not sure if her SAT score will be enough to qualify her for finalist. For whatever reason, the pressure of the SAT is getting to her.

She is definitely not fixated on UPenn at all and knows that it is a huge, huge reach. Just liked it and thought she would like to try. I have no experience with Ivy’s at all. My younger cousin did get accepted to Penn a few years ago with fairly normal EC’s so I guess anything is possible.She will definitely apply to Pitt, Penn State, Delaware, Virginia Tech and South Carolina among some other schools, so hopefully enough targets/safeties. Would love other ideas for schools if anyone has them. Not looking forward to this process!

Look at Swarthmore. It is an outstanding undergrad school with a good Engineering program tour daughter might like. While selective (7% acceptance), there is definitely an ED advantage. You can look at Naviance to see previous admit scores from your school.

Def look, because you may not like the school location size etc...

[Anonymous]

My kid went to Princeton, and I advise sixth graders about devising paths to have a shot at Ivies. With the stats you mentioned OP, your child is unlikely to be admitted to an Ivies.

I would argue that state schools are often better for engineering majors, so I would not stress if I were you. Have her go to a state school wherever you live. Once there, have her focus on getting the best internships and Co-Ops possible. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid went to Princeton, and I advise sixth graders about devising paths to have a shot at Ivies. With the stats you mentioned OP, your child is unlikely to be admitted to an Ivies.

I would argue that state schools are often better for engineering majors, so I would not stress if I were you. Have her go to a state school wherever you live. Once there, have her focus on getting the best internships and Co-Ops possible. Good luck!

+1000

[Anonymous]

Upenn is test required so pre covid sat score range should be good reference. And what does “pointy” kid mean?

[Anonymous]

Maybe look at Cornell too, especially if she can get the SAT score higher. Our school had a student admitted ED1 with similar ECs and NMSF.

I think it is important to stress to DD that all these schools are universally unlikely for everyone. My DH is an alumni interviewer and every year it is carnage. If she does decide to apply make sure she has a strong option lined up for ED2 and also some safeties that she loves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My spouse and I both graduated from Penn, our older kid (hs class 2023) had a 4.75 gpa in mcps, 1590 SAT, 15 APs of all 5s with a few 4s, top rigor incl APs in all 5 core subjects and math thru MV calc, was captain of varsity sports team along with other ECs, strong writer, I believe strong recs, and was not accepted (applied ED). Other equally qualified kids his year had same results, only kid accepted was an ED app and had a hook. We won’t even have younger sib apply.

Strong:
Number of APs and mostly 5s
SAT
Legacy

Neutral (assume most have this)
Good writer
Letters of rec

Not:
-MV math is good but not what I wld think is ivy great (lots of kids have a year beyond that)
- captain of a varsity sports is meaningless (over saturated)
- legacy - counterintuitive but: http://www.thedp.com/article/2023/03/penn-legacy-admissions-policy-changes-university

[Anonymous]

My DC is at ivy engineering. 5 on calc bc and 5 on the ab sub is what is needed. And only 5 counts. MV is good but not necessary.