Chances at Wharton, Ross, and Stern?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi everyone, I am an upcoming senior (white male) from the ninth best HS in New Jersey, which mainly focuses on math and science (specially biology, ect - I know, a little different from my career goals!) I am aiming for UMich’s Ross, NYU’s Stern (legacy), and most importantly UPenn’s Wharton.

GPA (UW): 4.0 (94.8 or something similar) - my school does not weight GPAs - all of my classes are taught on an “honors level,” but are not officially honors classes. I have also taken a load of dual enrollment courses through the community college. I plan to take the only AP offered at my school (AP Lit and Comp) next year.
ACT: 34 (34, 34, 35, 31) Writing: 21 (Yikes!) - Just retook today hoping for a higher composite, expecting higher writing.
Math II Subject Test: Pending
US History Subject Test: Pending

Extracurricular / Leadership
Mock Trial for all three years - lead prosecutor and adviser to the coach: made it to county finals
High School Drama - Supporting Lead in the spring musical - plan to audition for fall drama and spring musical next year (Voted best supporting actor by my peers)
Children’s Community Theater - Supporting Lead this year, various roles over the past few years.
NHS Member - Running for VP
Attending Purdue’s STEM summer program for alternative energy (had to apply out of ~500 students for around 40 spots)
Vice President and Co-Founder of my school’s Game Club
Presented at my school’s independent research expo freshman year on the topic of which light affects the growth of plants most (again, very off topic - didnt know what I wanted to do then D:)
Solicited from businesses around the stae for my school’s gift auction (raised over $31,000) - only student to do so
Film, star in, produce, edit episodes for my school’s biweekly creative / educational news / TV program
Top 15 in the state of NJ - National Economics Challenge
Take voice lessons with a professional singing and acting coach
High Honor Roll throughout HS
Work closely with the PTSO
Volunteer periodically at the animal shelter
Volunteer with a group raising money for kids with cancer
Worked with Wolf-PAC to help get money out of politics
Volunteered with the Bernie Sanders campaign (canvassing)
Work at the boardwalk as an ice cream / candy shop server during the summer for three years
Babysit sporadically

Plan to write my Common app essay about how seriously Hurricane Sandy affected me and try to tie my love for and experience in Mock Trial to business and Wharton for my UPenn supplement.

And input would be greatly appreciated - I REALLLLLYY want to go to UPenn. My intended major is Finance btw. I would be more than happy to answer any questions.

Thanks!

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Forgot to mention - raised $200 for Relay for Life and walked the entire night for cancer research

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I also plan to apply ED to UPenn, if that helps

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All 3 are extremely difficult to get into out of HS so who knows. Stats are okay but you don’t have anything that jumps out at an adcom. I don’t think Stern cares very much about legacy like other schools

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Dr help at all that I have dual natuonalities? I’m a citizen of both England and America.

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International students have much steeper competition for spots in US college so yes have an American citizenship will help a little bit but it won’t be a deciding factor in admissions committees.

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If you string your ECs together and show passion in one area or two, then you have a chance. But Wharton is super hard to get into - like almost as tough as HYPS

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For Michigan:

They seem to be increasing the amount of Pre-Admits, which should be good news for you. Your profile seems to be in good shape for admission to Michigan and maybe even Ross Pre-Admit. I would consider Michigan a low reach and Ross Pre-Admit as a reach. Make sure you present yourself as best you can in the Common App and the Michigan Supplement.

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@yikesyikesyikes Thank you so much for your feedback! But what exactly do you mean by pre-admit? Is that just EA as opposed to RD?

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Pre-admit as in “preferred admission”

Check this out:

http://michiganross.umich.edu/programs/bba/application-requirements.

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Would it be good to write my CA essay relatively liberally? Most higher up colleges nowadays have fairly liberal leanings, and I myself am a very liberal person. I was thinking of doing the prompt about something that you have changed or something you would like to change and writing about how I would like to change income inequality / fight for 15, etc. I am extremely passionate about these issues and I feel that that would really shine through in my essay. Any thoughts?

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@pugsRus123 If you think you would do a good job with it, go for it. Be very careful though - make sure you provide support for your beliefs and show critical thinking.

And… get trusted people to read your essay.