<p>First off I am completely aware that having a high gpa, rigorous courseload, and great test scores is important for admissions. However I've heard that Penn as a whole including Wharton attracts some of the most well-rounded students in the ivy league, and that Wharton is not looking for those academic powerhouse types who just study, and rather for future leaders who have made an impact. How true is this? Will grades and scores really matter if I have a 3.75+ GPA, top 10% (school only ranks decile) with the highest possible courseload, 2300+ SATs and 3 800 SAT 2s? i.e. is wharton more likely to choose a 4.0 2350+ valedictorian applicant without very significant ECs, or an applicant with similar stats to mine who has very strong leadership (state and national level), ECs, and national awards? I've also heard that Wharton cares about 2 main things: leadership, and math, is that true?</p>
<p>Thanks! :)
- A person worried about college applications ;)</p>
<p>I don’t have any direct information, but I would think with so many top numbers students applying, they would look to something beyond numbers to make a decision. It just makes sense. I am guessing that once you are above a certain number profile, you are then looked at for other things. So a person who scored ten points higher on their SATs than you but with little else to show for it might not get the nod over you if you have a strong application in other areas in addition to your very acceptable numbers. Just my guess though. </p>
<p>thanks for the links guys! The thing is my GPA is just a little higher than 3.75 which puts me in like the 12th percentile for GPA :(. However according to the naviance from my school, the average admitted GPA for Upenn is 3.72 (all unhooked, nobody above a 3.75 has ever been rejected, but you never know i guess), so Upenn will judge my GPA in the context of my school, right? and @parentofpeople, you mentioned that once you have a certain numbers profile, the subjective factors come into play. Do you happen to know what the minimum numbers profile would be? Would it be pretty close to the data in the common data set? Thanks!</p>
<p>What matters most when driving a car on the highway, steering or brakes?</p>
<p>You really want both to be there when you need them. I think it’s what all those things come together to create in you as a unique, exceptional person and your self-awareness to be able to present a compelling case for yourself.</p>
<p>I mentioned that that was my guess. Again, I don’t work in admissions and don’t have any special information other than comments made here on CC in the past. But if I were throwing a guess out there, I believe your numbers are in the range of others that have been accepted. Of course there are many others within that range too, which is why I say have a strong application in addition to your numbers. </p>