Chances of getting into UPenn UTEP & Lynch

[CQE]

I posted the following in another thread and it got me thinking about my chances:

I just took the GRE on Monday and scored a disappointing 154 V and 154 QR. I mean, my score is OK, but I was hoping for more along the lines of 160/160. Fortunately, I know I did very well on the AWA, so I'm expecting around a 5-5.5 on it based off of essays I've read in the past.

I have a 3.93 overall GPA (4.0 major) and decent experience. I've tutored/mentored student-athletes at my school, been a self-employed ACT tutor, and tutored rising high school juniors this summer for their upcoming year of AP English. This fall, I plan on volunteering to help low-income parents on how to rear their child(ren) from an educational standpoint while also helping a low-income/urban high school with their football program.

I'm a business major that realized teaching was what I wanted to do relatively late into my college career, so my experience/resume is probably not as extensive or impressive from an educational standpoint relative to students who always knew they wanted to teach.

Hopefully my "OK" experience, "OK" GRE score, and solid GPA prove to be enough to get into UPenn.

If I get in, I'm going to pull a Mia Hamm in my front yard.

...no, really.

I am.

With that being said, does anyone have an idea of my chances at UPenn or Lynch?

FWIW, I attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and am in the Business Honors Program and University Honors Program. I know UPenn aims for a diverse student body, so hopefully the fact I'm from Alabama helps me in that respect.

Edited August 17, 2012 by BlazerFalcon

[CQE]

For those that are interested in knowing their chances, I got into Penn on Tuesday. I applied on Halloween night. So, it took about 3.5 business days and 5 total days for me to receive a decision.

My BC application is almost ready to be sent off, but they told me on the phone that I probably wouldn't receive word until March or so.

Kinda lame, but oh well, lol.

[Guest HEPhD13]

Congratulations! I'll be applying to Penn GSE for Fall '13 Ph.D. admission.

[DeltaK]

Oh wow that's a quick turnaround! Congrats!

Though I do have to admit hearing this makes me nervous..I applied to UPenn too but my app was sent for faculty review October 24th and I haven't received anything. What program did you apply to?

[CQE]

Oh wow that's a quick turnaround! Congrats!

Though I do have to admit hearing this makes me nervous..I applied to UPenn too but my app was sent for faculty review October 24th and I haven't received anything. What program did you apply to?

I'm sure you're fine. Looking at your sig, you have a very impressive resume. I feel inferior, to be honest.

I applied to their Teacher Education Program.

I forgot to note that I received a scholarship of $13,500, which is the most they award an applicant according to an email I was sent from the woman I've been in contact with at Penn. She actually notified me personally before I saw the online acceptance letter.

That was what surprised me more than anything. I felt I was a decent candidate that had a solid chance of getting in, but to receive what's supposedly their highest scholarship award blew me away.

I know I have a very strong GPA, but I didn't feel like the rest of my application was anything to write home about. My statement of purpose must've played a huge part, and perhaps my LORs were better than I anticipated.

Who knows.

Still very surprised.

Edited November 9, 2012 by BlazerFalcon

[DeltaK]

I'm sure you're fine. Looking at your sig, you have a very impressive resume. I feel inferior, to be honest.

I applied to their Teacher Education Program.

I forgot to note that I received a scholarship of $13,500, which is the most they award an applicant according to an email I was sent from the woman I've been in contact with at Penn. She actually notified me personally before I saw the online acceptance letter.

That was what surprised me more than anything. I felt I was a decent candidate that had a solid chance of getting in, but to receive what's supposedly their highest scholarship award blew me away.

I know I have a very strong GPA, but I didn't feel like the rest of my application was anything to write home about. My statement of purpose must've played a huge part, and perhaps my LORs were better than I anticipated.

Who knows.

Still very surprised.

Yeah we are applying to completely different programs so that could a reason for the different response times--I'm applying to the Reading, Writing, Literacy program. But congratulations on that scholarship!

[CQE]

Thanks!

Good luck going forward. Provide an update when that time comes.

[DeltaK]

Well I finally heard back from UPenn. I got in and they offered me a scholarship and graduate assistantship (10k). Now I just have to wait until March to hear from the other schools...

[CQE]

Well I finally heard back from UPenn. I got in and they offered me a scholarship and graduate assistantship (10k). Now I just have to wait until March to hear from the other schools...

Excellent news! Congrats!

It's pretty much down to BC and Penn for me. I keep flopping back and forth between the two. One day I'm leaning towards Penn, the next I'm favoring BC.

I won't really know until I take a visit to both schools/cities. Hopefully I'll be able to do so in January, but I might have to wait 'til March.

Edited November 21, 2012 by BlazerFalcon

[ay761]

I just realized that some of the faculty interests of the professors at UPenn are really good matches with my interests, so I am thinking about adding another application on kind of last minute (I know, very irresponsible). But I'm really confused about how the admissions process for this school works. Can I apply now (for the PhD program in comparative education)... is it rolling admissions? Is there an online application?

[CQE]

I just realized that some of the faculty interests of the professors at UPenn are really good matches with my interests, so I am thinking about adding another application on kind of last minute (I know, very irresponsible). But I'm really confused about how the admissions process for this school works. Can I apply now (for the PhD program in comparative education)... is it rolling admissions? Is there an online application?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=penn+gse+deadlines

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=penn+gse+application+instructions

[ay761]

Um... ha, sorry, I guess I was on Penn state's website... it was telling me that I had to contact the department for more information on deadlines (which is why I posted here asking if someone had the info). Running on too little sleep here. Anyway now I know I have no faculty matches at Upenn, so thanks!