The University of Pennsylvania

“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

“It all depends on which division/school of the UniversitySep 14 2003Business - Management and Administration
It all depends on which division/school of the University you're applying to. I can speak for Wharton and say that you need a mid-1400 SAT or above (usually with a near-perfect math score). In addition, have diverse interests and a kick-ass GPA. I had a 1590 SAT, 4.0 GPA, played lacrosse in high school and was president of my class, so something along those lines will surely get you in.
SAT: 1590 Male

“Make sure to visit and interview whether or notMay 03 2003Business - Management and Administration
Make sure to visit and interview whether or not its optional. Make your essay stand out, its one of the few things that can since most people applying here have the 4.0 GPA or great SAT scores. Make your resume interesting, put down EVERYTHING you did and make sure you can talk about it.
SAT: 1310 Female

“You need to appear passionate about your prospective majorMay 01 2003Business - Management and Administration
You need to appear passionate about your prospective major through your past activities and academic pursuits. Being anything different than someone from the Northeast or someone who is white or asian will definitely be a plus. You should be really driven and competitive and not afraid to admit that you enjoy a fast paced urban setting. Pretty much if you're anal, ruthless, and see yourself as the mistaken reject at Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and Stanford, then come to Penn to reassert your status over the world at the Ivy league institution with no name recognition.
SAT: 1360 Male

“You need goodOct 01 2002Biology
You need good grades and SATs, but those alone won't get you very far. Rather than going for sheer volume of activities in high school, find something either really interesting or something that you're really good at, and concentrate on that... it will make you stand out more than the person who was in every club at your school.
SAT: 1570 Male