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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!