The University of Pennsylvania

“I wrote an essay with a cliffhanger endingOct 13 2004Other
I wrote an essay with a cliffhanger ending. That and a 1580 on my SATs and 790s on SAT II writings didn't hurt either. I also applied ED.
SAT: 1580 Male

“Hard workOct 09 2004Math
Hard work. That's all it is. Be dedicated to what you want to do, be passionate about it, be willing to work hard at it.
SAT: 1550 Male

“When I first applied to college, I wanted toAug 06 2004Nursing
When I first applied to college, I wanted to go to an engineering school. So, for my first two years, I went to Penn State and loved it. However, I was unhappy and decided to go into nursing. I heard about Penn's Nursing program (rated 1st in the country) and decided to apply. As I was applying, I did my best in my college classes (averaged a 3.2 overall GPA--including the engineering classes), participated in two clubs, and held a research assistance job for six months during my sophomore year. Basically, I expressed interest in the nursing profession and demonstrated my enthusiasm when I was interviewed. Also, I gave honest reasons for wanting to transfer (they are personal....) I suppose the best advice I can give to students wishing to TRANSFER (especially into the nursing school) is to do the best you can, and demonstrate your seriousness toward your major. The less slacking you do, the better chance you have to get in. By this, I don't mean 4.0 GPA (although that would help), I mean getting into your career--maybe get an intership or research job--and doing well in your major classes.
SAT: 1200 Female

“Work hard in high schoolJul 05 2004Accounting
Work hard in high school. GPA is the most important thing, do well on SAT I's and II's. The thing that separated myself from everyone else, though, was extracurriculars and the leadership I demonstrated in those activities. For the most part, all the kids applying to UPenn will have the grades and the scores. Find something you're interested in and pursue it. Don't spread yourself too thin, but really focus on what you want to do and be a leader. Don't be afraid to be assertive.
SAT: 1530 Male

“My recommendation is if you know of an ECJun 30 2004Communications
My recommendation is if you know of an EC at the school you might want to join, try to contact the head of the organization. There's no guarantee they've got any clout, but it can't hurt. Plus, you can make friends even before you are accepted, and that makes the transition from freshman to human-being a lot smoother.
SAT: 1490 Female