STATS & ECS THAT GOT ME INTO UPENN WHARTON, DARTMOUTH, BERKELEY + MORE! *act, gpa, aps, awards, ecs*

Summary

In this video, Dia shares the academic and extracurricular achievements that helped her gain admission to an Ivy League university. She discusses her GPA, rank, and rigorous course load throughout high school, including AP courses and standardized test scores. Dia highlights her prestigious awards, such as being a Morgan Stanley Jumpstart Scholar and a Coca-Cola Scholar semifinalist, and emphasizes the importance of extracurriculars, including leading a nonprofit and conducting research. She also reflects on her major selection process, explaining how her interests evolved and the diverse fields she applied to across different schools.

Takeaways

• 😀 High school GPA and rank were crucial in the application process, with a weighted GPA of 5.61 and an unweighted GPA of 4.0.
• 😀 The applicant took a rigorous course load throughout high school, including multiple AP courses across various subjects like AP Biology, AP Calculus, and AP French.
• 😀 The applicant's ACT score was 35, with strong sub-scores in Math (36), Writing (36), Reading (34), and Science (32).
• 😀 The applicant submitted multiple AP exam scores, although they did not take the AP French exam despite studying French for four years.
• 😀 Honors included a Morgan Stanley Jumpstart Scholar award, Coke Scholar Semifinalist status, and top 5 placement in international competitions like HOSA and BPA.
• 😀 Extracurricular activities (ECs) were diverse, including starting a nonprofit, doing independent research, and excelling in creative competitions like Destination Imagination.
• 😀 The applicant held leadership roles in multiple ECs, including president of Destination Imagination and involvement in a business competition (BPA).
• 😀 Several ECs were related to STEM and healthcare, including a research internship and coding instruction at Code Ninjas.
• 😀 The applicant strategically applied to a variety of college majors, including computer science, quantitative social science, and pre-medical tracks.
• 😀 The applicant's college applications were tailored to each university, focusing on specific programs and showcasing a combination of academic rigor, extracurricular involvement, and research.

Q & A

What was Dia's high school GPA and class rank?

Dia's weighted GPA was 5.614 after graduation, and her unweighted GPA was 4.0. She ranked 1st out of 567 students in her high school.

What AP courses did Dia take throughout high school?

Dia took a variety of AP courses, including AP Human Geography in her freshman year, and multiple AP courses like AP Biology, AP Computer Science, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, and AP Statistics during her sophomore, junior, and senior years.

How did Dia approach standardized testing, and what were her ACT scores?

Dia took the ACT once and scored a 35. Her sub-scores were 36 in Math, 36 in Writing, 34 in Reading, and 32 in Science. She did not feel the need to retake the test.

What was the significance of Dia's AP exam scores?

Dia reported almost all of her AP exam scores, though she did not take the AP French exam due to feeling unprepared, despite taking French for four years.

What were some of the key awards and honors Dia received?

Dia received several awards, including being a Morgan Stanley Jumpstart Scholar, a Coke Scholar Semifinalist, and receiving recognition in HOSA's International Leadership Conference and BPA National Leadership Conference.

Can you describe one of Dia's most significant extracurricular activities?

Dia's most significant extracurricular was starting a nonprofit, Care for Kiddos, with three friends in her sophomore year, which grew significantly over time.

What role did independent research play in Dia's college application?

Dia conducted independent research projects, one of which was mentored by a professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz. This project was significant to her application, demonstrating her ability to engage in meaningful research.

How did Dia’s extracurriculars reflect her interests and leadership skills?

Dia's extracurriculars showcased her leadership and interest in various fields, including her roles as president and global champion in Destination Imagination, national competitor in Business Professionals of America, and her dance involvement, including organizing charity events.

Why did Dia apply to a wide range of majors at different colleges?

Dia applied to a variety of majors, including computer science, economics, and healthcare-related fields. This was due to her change in career aspirations from medicine to computer science, as well as her interest in combining statistics, economics, and healthcare.

How did Dia handle her college applications and interviews?

Dia tailored her college applications by researching each school’s majors and selecting those that matched her evolving interests. She also participated in numerous interviews, where she took detailed notes about the questions asked and her responses.