PhillyGrace
PhillyGrace,
UPenn
B.A., Chemistry
Hey! I'm a UPenn '20 Environmental Science Major- Fine Arts and Chemistry minor?. What I lack in test scores, I make up for in personality- see how I went Ivy.
Features Included
4
Essays
13
Schools
11
Scores
6
Advice
7
ECs
3
Sports

Background

Hometown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
GenderFemale
EthnicityWhite Non-Hispanic
Class of2020
First Gen College StudentNo

Results, Essays, and Advice

Accepted
Waitlisted or Withdrew
Denied
  • University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)
  • Dickinson College (Carlisle, PA)
  • Tulane University (New Orleans, LA)
  • Temple University (Philadelphia, PA)
  • Boston College (Chestnut Hill, MA)
  • Carleton College (Northfield, MN)
  • Grinnell College (Grinnell, IA)
  • Fordham University (New York, NY)
  • College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, MA)
  • Saint Joseph’s University (Philadelphia, PA)
  • Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH)
  • Kenyon College (Gambier, OH)
  • Tufts University (Medford, MA)
Tap/click a school logo above to view essays and advice specific to that school.

University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)

Applied for a B.A. in Chemistry

Accepted and Enrolled Legacy: Sibling

School Specific Essays

Prompt: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. The drawn-out hiss, much like the sound a wind-up toy makes, is likely to cause a small heart palpitation upon first encounter, be warned. All too familiar, the sound no longer startles me. Soil and stale air are the smells that permeate the enclosure and seep out...
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
962 Words
For me, the more important question is, "Why do I want to go to college?" This may seem obvious to most with the answer of getting a job. Although this is wonderfully practical, I would answer differently. Yes, I place large value on financial security for when I'm older, with a good job because of an impressive degree from a well-known college. Our society has made this specific path almost a necessity. I cannot resent it for doing so, because...
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
667 Words
In eighth grade, I accomplished insurmountable greatness. I made it a personal mission to choose the cheesiest yearbook quote I could find. (Disclaimer: This might be a lie and I’m shrouding my innate cheesiness and love for rain.) My quote from none other than Bob Marley read, “Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet.” Despite it’s gouda-level quality, I now appreciate this quote in a new light four years later. Suppose you are assigned a three-paged...
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Supplemental Essay: Scholarship application
779 Words
I remember it vividly. I was walking home from school through historic Philadelphia as a seven year old girl, curious. I watched my feet step and step and step. “What makes my legs move?”, I wondered. And then, a frozen particle of water dropped onto my shoe. With a smile, I remarked, “Mom, look, it’s a snowflake!” I peered in closer, only to discover a perfectly symmetrical, intricate pattern on this tiny piece of ice. What caused these patterns?...
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School Specific Advice

How to increase chances at my school
170 Words
I got denied from Tulane. However, I pretty much know why I did not get in. My scores and extracurricular life fit well within their range of acceptance. I spent a lot of time on my supplemental essay. I researched the school to know what I was getting into. However, I...
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5 adjectives that describe a typical student at my school (Feel free to elaborate!)
248 Words
(1) I would say the first adjective that comes to mind is independent. You have to be willing to take your life into your own hands. There really isn't anything to rest onto while you're here and your experience is entirely what you make of it. There are countless opportunities here but you have to go out of your way to find them. (2) The second is open. In order to embrace the liberal arts education...
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Post-college plans
222 Words
My biggest tip for applying to college is to make sense as an applicant. I respect that many people leaving high school are not sure of what they want to do with their lives and I think that is perfectly fine. However, I went out of my way to experience as much as could when I had the time and freedom to explore my interests in high...
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More Essays

These essays haven't been tagged by school. Click school logos above to see tagged essays.

General Admissions Advice

Why I ultimately chose my school
193 Words
This is going to seem like a weird answer but I never wanted to go to Penn. I wanted to be far away from Philadelphia, where I grew up, and see new peoples and places. Out of the 12 schools I applied to, I got into 10. Only 2 were financial options for me- St. Joseph's University (on a full scholarship...
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List of schools I interviewed with and my interview experience
288 Words
I interviewed with SJU (Alumni), Carleton (Alumni), Dickinson (Student/Admissions), Grinnell (School Rep), UPenn (Alumni), and Kenyon (Alumni). All went extremely well and I have really good memories of my conversations. Some were in admissions offices while others were in coffee shops (these make the interview feel more like a conversation which was really nice.) If you feel like getting to know people and keeping conversations going, interviews should be a breeze. Personally, in my interviews there was rarely a moment of silence and instead of...
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What I’d change about my application process
188 Words
Ok, 13 schools is a lot. Too much. And I attribute this to a few factors but mostly to my own ignorance of the process. I was not given an incredible amount of guidance and just did what I thought was a good idea at the time. I realize that this is why my school list is...
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High School Performance

GPA
4.00
(no specification of weighting)
Rank
Top 1%
 
College Classes In High School
Academic Performance in High School Steady

Test Scores

Highest ACT
31
 
ACT Score Details
 
Other ACT Scores
ACT Prep
Highest SAT
1450
on 1600 scale
Highest SAT
2080
 
SAT Score Details
 
Original SAT Score2080
Other SAT Scores
SAT Prep
PSAT Scores

AP / IB Classes and Scores

Details6 classes and scores

Sports

SportsVolleyball, Bowling, Softball

Extracurriculars

ActivitiesStudent Council / Government, Model Congress / Model UN, After School Program Coordinator, Math Team, National Honor Society, Tutoring/Mentoring, School Newspaper/Magazine/Journalism
Elaborate on Extracurriculars or Work

Experience & Awards

Volunteer Experiences
Awards Received
Application Additional Materials

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