Applying ED to Wharton... what's my weakness?

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>white, russian, jewish, male, immigrant</p>

<p>Proficient in:
English, Russian, French</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.93
Weighted GPA: 4.26</p>

<p>PSAT Score (should I even both listing them???)
710 Writing
710 Critical Reading
700 Math</p>

<p>SAT Score: 2280
730 Critical Reading
750 Writing (10 essay)
800 Math</p>

<p>SATII
Math IC 750
Biology-Molecular 760
Chemistry 800</p>

<p>AP Tests
Biology 5
Chemistry 5
US History 5
French Language 4</p>

<p>Clubs
Founder and President of Graphics Club, 10, 11, 12
School Newspaper: Contributor 9,10,11,<br>
School Newspaper: Staff (Computer Graphics Editor) 12
Renaissance Magazine Graphics Editor 11,12
9th Grade Class Representative
Member of Stock Market Club 11, 12 </p>

<p>Community Service<br>
Volunteer for Mentoring underclassmen 11,12
Helping Senior Citizens at Babushka Adult Day Care Center 2000-2004
Connecticut Special Olympics 10,11,12
March of Dimes 11, 12 </p>

<p>Work Experience<br>
-Working part time for Parsons Health Company, Inc. 10-20 hours per week 2000-2006 doing Insurance billing (not bullsh1t job)
-Soccer Referee 1999-2006 (Fall, Spring, Summer)
-Graphics/Web Designer for Dreamteam Entertainment and D Rock Records 2001-2006
-Developed quantitative models for trading currency in the global market, summer before senior year </p>

<p>Awards
Hartford Courant Connecticut All-Academic, 11
1st place at State Chemistry Team Competition, 11
Nominated/selected for Annual Connecticut Chemistry Symposium, 11
Princeton Book Club Award, 11
Connecticut Mock Trial State Championship Team, 10th grade
National Merit Scholarship - Commended</p>

<p>Academic
National AMC-10, AMC-12 Participant (9,10,11)
National AIME Qualifier (11)
USAMTS, 12
Chemistry Club 11
Connecticut State Chemistry Olympiad Participant
National Honors Society 11,12
French National Honors Society Cabinet Member 11,12 (in charge of planning Junior activities)
French National Honors Society 10,11,12</p>

<p>Sports
Cross Country 9,10,11,12-Varsity, All-Conference, Memeber of State Team
Tennis Indoor Tennis 11 for local club
Tennis 9,10-JV
Track (Indoors) 9,10,12- 9th grade CCC West Championship Team
Track (Outdoors) 11,12</p>

<p>I plan to use my strong graphics skills as a hook for a possible marketing and communications concentration… I don’t know if I want to write an essay on it, but I enjoy doing graphics and communicating ideas, thoughts, products to people in the best way that I can (as well as through web design). I plan on writing my why Penn essay with some info on the conentrations Wharton offers and how the graphics stuff I do now will help me succeed in marketing/communications. In addition this whole summer I’ve been developing quantitative models for trading currency and hope to pursue a possible trading career. My other essay will probably be about my parents immigrating to the US and growing up as an immigrant and how a school like Penn offers me the ability to pursue the Ameircan Dream. Some people don’t believe in the American Dream, but I sure do.</p>

<p>What do you guys think of my resume? leadership positions? ECs? work experience?</p>

<p>Thanks guys</p>

2

<p>I think you have as good a shot as any, but be sure to have a back up plan.</p>

3

<p>I think that essays about immigration and the American Dream might be overused. Maybe it's just that phrasing. And if you do say that "a school like Penn" can help out, you should make sure to talk about Penn specifically, otherwise any place can help you succeed.</p>

4

<p>One weakness I see is that you've taken the SAT. Now while the SAT is a fine test, everyone takes it, and admissions officers see it as far too commonplace nowadays. Try the ACT; it's much more unique.</p>

5

<p>I think you should take the Math IIC; the IC seems like a cop-out, especially because of your solid SAT I scores.</p>

6

<p>I probably should've posted:</p>

<p>Junior schedule:
AP Chemistry
AP US History
Honors French (really AP Language but not that way on transcript)
Honors Precalc
Graphics
World Literature</p>

<p>Senior year schedule:
AP Economics
AP Physics B (the Algebra based one)
AP Calculus BC
AP French Literature
Graphics 7,8
Modern American Literature</p>

<p>I plan on taking Math IIC in October, I wasn't able to take it last year because of the SATs and an earlier date for Math IIC was not possible because I wasn't done with precalc yet.</p>

<p>whartonalum: I feel like its something I can passionately write about, but I'm afraid that my American Dream essay will be a big run on with my why Penn essay. The opportunities, concentrations available, and wealth of information that Penn has is unrivaled. I really really love the concentrations</p>

<p>do you guys think I should remove things that I haven't pursued for all of high school: stock market club (dind't exist until junior year), 9th grade class representative???</p>

7

<p>Weakness: White Jewish Male</p>

8

<p>hahahaha....good one WoI....</p>

<p>skierdude1000, not to brag about anything, but i don't know how impressive AIME Qualifier and AMC Participant are going to be when there are applicants who got Honourable Mention on APMO and USAMO....:D</p>

<p>don't get me wrong, i think ur a tough tough competitor as far as wharton is concerned, so i don't know how much those "awards" could help you, perhaps you could relate more to business/chemistry? plz don't take this the wrong way...:)</p>

9

<p>My, my, are the ego's palpable or what?</p>

<p>Anyway, I don't see and glaring weaknesses looking at you're stats, but I agree that the American Dream thing is more than a little overused; I think it'll be hard to write an essay like that and not have it come off as hackneyed. Writing about your parents coming to this country also does little to speak to your qualities as an individual, I think your second essay is best spent writing about a significant work or Wharton-related experience you've had, you can certainly throw some of the American Dream stuff (in moderation) into the ever-present 'why penn?' essay.</p>

<p>Also definately take Math 2c, 1c is a crock.</p>

10

<p>me.mv, I think qualifying for the AIME and me doing USAMTS this year is pretty good... your lack of confidence seeps through in your post.</p>

<p>and don't worry, I didn't take it the wrong way it's just 4 AM and I got practice at 9 and I can't fall asleep. :)</p>

11

<p>hahaha, okay, i may lack some confidence (not in math, prob in wharton), so yeah, now that i read my post again, it was pretty nonsensical. heck, we may study together for 4 years, so i'd take my comments back. No hard feelings, man, it was my bad. :D</p>

<p>p.s. feel free to critique my stats at (scroll down to midway) <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=89693%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=89693&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

12

<p>PSAT Score (should I even both listing them???)
no.</p>

13

<p>I don't know, but to me there doesnt seem to be any apperant "weakness" ... your chance at Penn seems pretty high</p>

14

<p>Although your chance at Penn is high
i believe getting in Wharton is whole another level
being one of 400 all over the world is not that easy
make sure to have a back up plan</p>