The University of Pennsylvania

“Definitely make an effort to present yourself as uniqueMar 10 2008Neuroscience/Cognitive Science
Definitely make an effort to present yourself as unique. Clearly we are all "unique in our own way", but a few of my friends who had excellent GPAs and boards didn't get in because they basically blew off the essay and application—do not do this. Like other extremely competitive schools, Penn receives tens of thousands of applications, including thousands boasting perfect GPAs, SATs, or valedictorianship. These stats alone will likely not garner to admission; complete your application with care.
SAT: 1400 Male

“Be yourselfJul 20 2007Anthropology
Be yourself. I know all the programs and admissions officers say that, but it's true. Don't bolster your resume or exaggerate thinking that it's the only way to make it into an Ivy League school. Just be yourself. Write about things that you care about in the essays. Strive for originality. Now, we're not talking Joyce "Ulysses" originality here. Just write about something that speaks to you and your abilities. Stay away from mission trip stories, and stories that over-emphasize "personal growth." Keep it small. What's something strange or interesting that happened to you? How did it affect you? Don't talk about how Mother Theresa is your idol. And don't write about all your community service hours unless that's REALLY who you are. Admissions officers are experts at seeing through BS. That's why it's best to be yourself. Write in your own voice, your own style. Another thing - SAT scores and the like are NOT, I repeat, are NOT as important as you think. Standardized tests only measure ONE kind of intelligence - there are many. And educators realize this. Your SAT score does not need to be 2300 for you to get in. I know people who, back in the day of 1600, had 1200s, but were smarter than people with 1600s. What matters most is whether or not you can THINK. That's what you should demonstrate in your essays. Test scores - moderately important. GPA - important, but it's not the nail in the coffin. Essays - the best guide to your personality and intellectual capacities. If you're weak in one area - that's okay. Still go for it. But if you're weak in several, it's time to face the facts. A bad SAT score and GPA does mean something. Or if you can't write, forget it. College is WRITING. But if one area is weak - that's okay. Believe me, these people are human. They understand that some BRILLIANT people aren't good test takers, etc. Overall, just be yourself. You want to match with the university. It's not about prestige - it's about finding a home. Honesty is the best policy.

“Getting in is not about scoresMay 06 2007English
Getting in is not about scores. It's more about the essay. You have to distinguish yourself in your essay. Do not write the conventional application essay. Write the alternate one, the one answering the question: what would the 202nd page of your autobiography say?
SAT: 1310 Male

“I visited the campus and attended recruitment events asDec 12 2006Communications
I visited the campus and attended recruitment events as often as possible-- and made sure the admissions office knew it. I put a LOT of effort into my admissions essays. I worked hard in high school: got great grades, took difficult and interesting courses, won awards, held leadership roles in extracurricular activities.
ACT: 34 SAT: 1540 Female

“Honestly, I don't think there is any magic formulaOct 08 2006Undecided
Honestly, I don't think there is any magic formula. Obviously you need to be within the SAT and GPA range. I was below the average and still got in. Take the application seriously; spend the time to write a good essay. A good essay should show the admissions board that you are VERY different and would contribute to the diversity of the class. If you are part of the majority, this can be difficult... so be creative. Try to put yourself in the admission board's shoes; they receive thousands and thousands of applications from people with essentially the same GPA and SATs. You have to do SOMETHING to stand out.

Besides that, it really appears to be almost a role of the dice, so don't be too bummed if you don't get in somewhere. Some of the process is likely to just be if get lucky enough to catch a board reader's eye.
SAT: 1380 Male