Hi,
I’m a junior Asian male from Ontario, Canada planning to apply ED to the Wharton class of 2025. My school is in a mid-sized city, and I’m not aware of anyone that has gone to the Ivies or other T20 schools from my school.
GPA: 92/100 (unweighted)
Class Rank: Top 5%
SAT: 1550
SAT Subject Tests: not taken; planning to take Math II and get perfect or a very high score
My school offers IB, but I did not take it. I’ve only taken the highest level classes under the Ontario curriculum instead. Also, I stopped taking physical science classes after the required ones in grades 9 and 10. Since then, I’ve been mostly taking math and business classes for my electives. Will this negatively affect me?
Extracurricular Activities:
- DECA for two years (going to be President of my chapter next year)
- I’m managing a personal stock portfolio and portfolios for family members (3 years)
- I interned as a financial analyst for a few weeks, but this was cancelled after the pandemic
- I’ve taken the CFA Investment Foundations course online and earned the certificate
- Model UN (this year and planned for next year)
- HOSA (joined this year and I’m going to be a member of the executive team next year)
- Chess Club since grade 9
- I mentor grade 9s in a high school transition program
Awards:
- DECA Provincial Finalist
- Regional DECA competion awards
- Awards from local business-related competitions
- some minor school merit awards
How I’m planning to improve (please provide feedback on how effective this will be):
- I’m in the process of writing a financial research paper
- I’m going to explore finance/economics research opportunities with local professors
- I’m going to apply to Penn’s fly-in program
- I will resume my internship if the coronavirus situation improves this summer
Thanks!
Since you have no replies so far, I will try my best to be helpful. If you are interested in economics, penn economics consistently ranks in the top 10 among other economics programs in the country. It might be a good idea to apply CAS econ and then either internal transfer or pursue a dual degree between CAS and Wharton at the end of your freshman year. The job placement statistics for CAS econ and Wharton are very similar, so that should not effect your decision. Finally, it is easier to get into penn economics than Wharton, so applying CAS would give you a higher chance of being a part of penn 2025.
Not to come off as rude, but many of these activities are quite common, especially for your demographic (Asian male). DECA President is very fitting to Wharton’s eye, especially since Canada is underrepresented. Consider starting something you’re passionate about that makes you different from the rest.
[quote="kappak;d-2188242"My school offers IB, but I did not take it. I’ve only taken the highest level classes under the Ontario curriculum instead. Also, I stopped taking physical science classes after the required ones in grades 9 and 10. Since then, I’ve been mostly taking math and business classes for my electives. Will this negatively affect?
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It might. Wharton does not need or expect you to load up on high school business classes. High school is for getting a solid education foundation in science , math, History, humanities, writing and language. Wharton will each you all the business you’ll need to know.
As an incoming freshman at Wharton and after talking to various upperclassmen at Penn, no one recommends going the backdoor route to Wharton. If you desire to be a Wharton (business) student, apply directly to Wharton.
That said, I think you should focus on pursuing a personal project that you’re passionate about to help differentiate you from other applicants as your ECs are currently fairly common.
TBH, (IMO), Your GPA is slightly problematic for Wharton - shoot for a 95+. The DECA is big! As is the model UN, the financial research and Penn’s fly in program! My advice would be to somehow tie in your financial research to your historically underrepresented background… Good Luck!!
I agree with @runswimyoga, not to say that you have no chance (you def have a good chance and have a strong profile), but in trying to help your overall chance of admissions to a top b-school the two pieces of advice I would offer would be to 1. increase that GPA as much as possible (don’t drive yourself crazy, i know Canadian schools are a bit harder) and 2. branch out in your business acumen a bit. every kid that applies to Wharton is finance, finance, finance (slight exaggeration ofc but you get my point)…showing you have interests in other facets of business can help set you apart. Good luck!