Stats:
GPA: 3.92 UW
SAT: 1520/1600
College Courses: Number Theory, Multivariable Differential Calculus, Linear Algebra, Diff Eq (A in all of these and submitting transcripts)
ECs:
Working on a research paper as a hired research contributor for UC Davis's graduate school. I am devising a methodology to quantify the social impact generated by investment in private equity funds and creating dollar for dollar social entrepreneurship metric for investors. The professor is writing a rec for me as well.
Volunteered with an NGO in Nepal for two months. I designed sustainable agriculture farms and microfinance loans to fund the NGO's social entrepreneurship projects (various schools and welfare programs). It was some practical experience relating to my research.
Interned at a mutual fund over the summer where I publish ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reports to ESG integrate the entire funds' portfolio. I also built this analytical model (a bit too complex to explain here) which saves hours of data collection and quickly quantifies these factors.
Captain of the squash team and coach.
Data research assistant to this professor at Carnegie Mellon and compiled a national database for his working paper on market externalities.
Let me know how my chances are and what I can do to improve
Are you a junior thinking of applying or a senior whose applications are pending? I assume you are in state for California schools and out of state for UT. UT is a very hard admit from out of state because by law it has to give most of its seats to in state applicants. Look at the UT threads on CC to see the stats of applicants from out of state that are just hearing back. Penn is very hard to get into if you did not ED. Are you recruited for your sport?
congrats on all your achievements! i think you definitely have a good chance for Rice, they place a lot of emphasis on sincere and unique students which is what you seem like from your EC’s. as they said above^ you would probably be a shoo in for UT if the balance of out of state to in state admittance wasn’t so skewed. Can’t tell you much about the UC schools but good luck in all your endeavors!
Hi Dev5, I am also a junior looking to ED at Penn next year… but I was wondering how you got to intern at a mutual fund??? Seems like something I should have thought about and should still think about because I want to go into finance. I am probably doing economic research with a professor, but I would’ve loved to do the things you did lol. Also how did you do so many things with professors from Pennsylvania and California lol.
Your ECs and SAT scores look fine. What is your class rank? Are you applying for any of the combined programs at Penn (Huntsman, MT?)
Are you competitive enough squash player to be recruited? Have you spoken to Gilly?