I go to competitive high school in Washington and I do quite well. I moved from India in my sophomore year. Currently I’m trying to figure out where to ED since I think that’s an option that I like. I don’t have a dream school but I do have a list of schools that I’d be extremely happy going to.
I’d just like some advice on where I should apply, I’ve been thinking of WashU because I have the best shot of getting in, but some part of me wonders if I could perhaps even get into Cornell or UPenn since their business programs are slightly better and more companies hire from there. I do like WashU’s environment and will visit later this summer.
For ED, I’m considering:
WashU (My brother goes there)
Cornell
UPenn
Duke
Note: I’m planning on studying business
Here are my stats:
Unweighted GPA: 3.98
Rank: don’t know
SAT: 2260 (retaking)
(reading/math/writing: 730/800/730)
ACT:
SAT II: Math II 780, Chem 770
AP Classes: Calc AB: 5, Lang: 5, Chem: 4, MicroEcon: 4.
Will take Calc BC, Phyiscs, Bio and Gov senior year
ECs:
President of School DECA Chapter
International Finalist for DECA event in Orlando, 2015
Placed 4th internationally in a business competition in June, 2015 and have worked on started the company
President of Multicultural Club
Chem Club treasurer
National Honor Society Member
Volunteer at Venture Capital Firm (50+ hours)
Volunteer at Library (100+hours)
Intern at 3 companies this summer - worked about 5 hours a day for this tech startup and part time for the other 2. Mainly did marketing and business development work.
Started a company in freshman year with my brother
Varsity Basketball Captain in freshman year (in India)
Volunteer at an organization that helps the mentally challenged (in India)
VP of Toastmasters Club (in India)
Member of the Prefecture (in India)
Very solid stats and the four schools you are considering for ED are appropriate. For business, Penn is probably the best of the four. Overall I think Duke is the best of these schools. Next to impossible to get in anv REA not ED but Stanford seems like it might be appropriate for RD. Also, Babson as a pure business / entrepreneurial school
Please recognize when you apply to bumper sticker schools they have many applicants similar to you. Early decision is primarily for legacy, athletes and other special admits which it doesn’t sound like you are.
So your odds are 5:1 - 10:1 wherever you select within the schools you listed. Now if you apply ED to Wharton School of Business at Penn your odds are probably much longer …
You are competitive but you don't have anything that really stands out. Your essays and recs will be key to give a sense of yourself as a person. Think about the "Why Penn?" and "Why Duke?" essays (I'm not sure Duke still has this, but it's a good exercise). What specific resources or programs at these schools would appeal to you?
Why are you retaking the SAT with a single score of 2260? That's perfectly fine. It's above the 75th % for Cornel (2230 in 2011) and close to it for Duke, Penn and WashU (2300). There's no real benefit to raising that score. Penn and Duke (I think) require that all scores be sent, so if you re-took it and didn't do as well on a section it would possibly hurt more than help. Spend the time working on your application or on doing something that you love instead.
If you want to "study" business then Wharton seems like the best bet by far, though a difficult challenge for you. If you want to get a great education to prepare you for a career in business, then all 4 schools are great. I personally agree with Wje9164be about Duke, though Penn would be close behind. Either of those would be a great option for you. Stanford is an extreme long shot, as they get tons of kids applying with your interests with extremely strong EC experience, and I think you might be better off in a different environment.
I’m retaking because I know at least 10 people in my own school who’ve done better. To give myself a competitive edge I feel that I need a better score.
Wharton is ranked the best but also the most difficult to get into. So I just wanted to know that which of these schools matches my credentials the best. I do have sibling legacy at WashU.
Siblings aren’t generally considered a legacy, though they are often considered. And I don’t think that raising your SAT relative to your peers matters at all - as long as you have checked off that box, you’re good. There is no score choice at Duke or Penn.
I would personally consider Penn and Duke roughly equal.
I agree with others that you are definitely targeting schools that are appropriate…you could be denied at all of them, but you are a worthy candidate to all of them. Of the ones listed, WashU has the biggest reputation for denying those students they believe will choose anther school over it, so if you do ED there, you should be crystal clear how passionate you are about attending there. In my opinion, that school more so than the others (unless you are an athlete or have some other special circumstance) cares more about ED. Good luck.
That’s what I really don’t know about. Like they’re all great schools, and I do have the best shot at WashU since my brother goes there and they take that into consideration. Also, I’ve demonstrated a lot of interest and they have the highest ED acceptance rate amongst these schools.
But I want an opinion about whether I could make it to Cornell or Duke, without the legacy factor. Is it worth applying early to these schools instead of WashU? Even if I have a higher chance of getting in to WashU?
One outcome I’m quite afraid of is that I get rejected from Duke/Cornell early and then WashU regular too, which would suck.
My dad was an entrepreneur and I’ve grown up having had discussions about business and world issues. As for English, since I’m in AP English classes, I felt that that was enough to prove I’m proficient.
I forgot to add that I’m also interning for a medical imaging company based in Singapore and do mostly market/industry analysis work. I also mentor incoming freshman and have been tutoring elementary school kids over the summer.
Do you think it would be worth applying to Wharton ED? Do I even have a chance? Or should I stick with the comparatively safer route and ED at WashU Olin?
I’d be happy to go to both, though Wharton may be a bit better. I’m just afraid that by doing ED Wharton and getting rejected, I won’t get in WashU regular either.