<p>I am applying to Wharton and wanted to see what you guys thought as for how much a business background helps. I am the co-founder of an online social retailer and the co-founder of a not for profit foundation that is dedicated to promoting youth entrepreneurship. How much do you think this will help my chances of getting in?
P.S. the business is amicusproducts.com if you want to check it out</p>
<p>I think a lot of people believe that you need a business background for wharton but thats not true at all. I’ve met people who have had very little exposure to business and have made it to wharton. However, I had a lot of finance/social impact focused activities and I think my perspective that I built in that field is what got me in. The way I see it, they look for people who have unique perspectives and are true leaders. I think what you have done can help your chances but unless you show true leadership, innovation and set yourself apart from all the other kid-started businesses it won’t help you. The question you should ask yourself is: is my business/activity similar to everyone else’s or is it different and unique? and how have I personally made a difference at that company? What have I gained?</p>
<p>The way I see it Wharton just looks for people who are competent and know will succeed when given the business education. They look for potential based on scores, math abilities, leadership, etc. Starting a business itself shows a lot of initiative and as far as I know puts you ahead of most of the kids here, so of course it’ll help a fair amount but wouldn’t makeup for bad scores or anything. I got in through the LSM program and had virtually no business-related experience (only had science stuff), so it’s clear they don’t put too much emphasis on business experience.</p>
<p>I own a business, had average stats, and was deferred.</p>
<p>Well, if you gave the adcoms your business website, they would not be impressed, as it looks as though you made that website for colleges and didn’t put much thought into it.</p>
<p>the site is sketchy, I would not buy stuff from there.</p>
<p>The website seems clean but pretty empty. Unless you are really making a good deal of money from it (maybe 5 figures per year? idk) then I wouldn’t focus too much on it because, quite frankly, it doesn’t look all that great. The nonprofit seems sketchy as well.</p>
<p>Whartoniite you caught me. I obviously spent hundreds of hours of my time to impress one admissions officer who probably won’t spend more than 15 minutes viewing my application and probably won’t even visit the site.</p>
<p>Some of the cases look really cool and the pricing looks good to me . I think the experience is what counts, as I’m assuming you didn’t make millions off of this venture.</p>
<p>Cchsmccann thanks! I’m not making anything near millions. I am more in it because I love business and it’s a great learning experience. Also I am extremely dedicated to the cause of youth entrepreneurship so I continue to work on that aspect quite a bit</p>
<p>@gbaby91: Have you actually had any sales/profits or been able to hand out a single grant/microloan? I’m not saying you didn’t put any hours/work into making the site, but unless you can back up your “great learning experience” and your sketchy site with actual outputs and something you have truly gotten out of it (a meeting with a CEO to discuss how you can work together or how to better improve your business, perhaps), I would have to agree with Whartoniite. I’m just saying; even I can open up a brand new site, get a couple of wordpress themes, and set up an online store. The only differencemaker here would be proof of either real results or a unique experience IMO.</p>
<p>As a current Wharton student, I am forced to agree with Wharton17, as Wharton rejects many many people with business experience, unless that experience is a major one ie. major corporation grossing over 100k a year or a serious nonprofit that has made many loans, is registered as a nonprofit, and files taxes. What are your stats?</p>
<p>I just had a meeting with a serial investor last month who is seriously considering investing in us. We do about $2,000 in sales a month but are still trying to get our marketing program fine tuned. Once we do we expect about $10,000/month. And we are in the process of filing our 501c(3) now and hope to have that side up and running soon. We also intend to start our entrepreneurship lecture series about the same time. We are planning on having the CEO of the Timken company and someone from the family who owns shears speak.</p>
<p>I actually thought the website looked pretty nice</p>
<p>Thank you very much withtheflow.</p>
<p>Do you literally just resell cases from other companies? Are your profits/margins actually decent, because all I’m seeing is an empty company that resells other company’s cases at higher values. Congrats on the lecture CEO though, but was he contacted through family connections or through the work of your own company?</p>
<p>Work of my own company. In fact he wrote me a letter for Georgetown. And we actually do have high margins. You won’t believe the cost if some of these phone cases wholesale. You’ll refuse to buy them at places like best buy ever again</p>
<p>So you do resell cases? What are your stats, because your business will not save you.</p>
<p>Gotta put stats on the board unless your business is making enough to break ground on a building with your name on it.</p>
<p>Think well rounded, complete package.</p>
<p>32 ACT 34 Math 30 English 32 Science 33 Reading
750 SAT II US History 780 SAT II Chem 660 SAT II Math 2
4.0 unweighted GPA top 5% of my class
Involved in a big variety of EC’s
Speech and Debate, Football, Lacrosse, Choir, Musical Theatre, World Politics Club, and Freshman Mentoring amongst others
Interned at Stark County GOP as Grass Roots Intern
Selected as alternate to American Legion Boys Nation (one of four selected out if 1,200)
Awarded Government Excellence Award at American Legion Buckeye Boys State (one of 6 of 1200)</p>