<p>I'm curious to this question: "Does Wharton value business ECs and classes over strong academic classes and various other ECs?"</p>
<p>Example 1: Case Study A took mostly all AP classes with a broad spectrum, ranging from all three sciences to languages and histories. He has a solid understanding of mathematics and will be taking Diffy Equ and Multivariable Calculus senior year at local college. He has a broad range of ECs, but no real business focus anywhere in his application, besides some mentioning of it in his essay.</p>
<p>Example 2: Case Study B took mostly classes with business related topics, such as micro/macro, business calculus/statistics and finance courses. Of course he still has taken a range of the required history/literature/sicence APs, but just not as many as Case Study A. His ECs are centered around business internships, building business networks, and just about anything you can imagine about business. So are his essays.</p>
<p>Assume both candidates score around same SAT/on equally good letters of recommendation. Which one would seem more "attractable to Wharton." Before you answer, I know that these generalizations aren't definite and it really is a case by case analysis. But if you had to chose, which one would you pick?</p>
<p>If I had to pick one, I would choose example 1. I feel like the kid in case 2 is trying too hard and Wharton is supposedly a liberal art business education; I don't think they expect all their students to be learned in "business" since grade school.</p>
<p>Attractable does not mean "attractive" which is what you meant to say. There are also grammatical problems with what you wrote. Make sure a native English speaker reads your essays carefully so you don't make other stupid mistakes like that - those are sure app. killers 'cause they make you sound dumb or as if you have problems speaking English if it is a 2nd language for you.</p>
<p>^^ WOW, what a lame post. Sure, go ahead and attack me for my English in an internet forum. You are really cool man, maybe I should listen to your advice? Did I ask you to comment on my essays or how to write an application? Go **** off.</p>
<p>I'm just trying to help you, man. If you're so blinded by pride that you can't recognize your weaknesses (and your weakness in English is very obvious, trust me) and seek out and accept constructive criticism wherever it comes from, you'll end up on the reject pile. Ask Chanman. I'm just hoping that you're not a native speaker or else you really have problems. </p>
<p>BTW, your original hypothetical is basically worthless - they might accept or reject (more likely reject since they reject 91% of all applicants) either one depending on how much they liked their whole "package" - they take people who have a lot of business focus in HS and people who have NO business focus in HS, (as long as they show "leadership" in some other way). </p>
<p>They do give weight to taking the hardest courses available at your HS so they would usually prefer "Honors/AP math" to "Business math" which in most HS is a euphemism for training you to be a cashier at McDonalds. But if "business calculus" was an elective above and beyond AP Calc they wouldn't mind. But I don't think they care that you have advanced calc either - they don't expect you to arrive w. anything beyond the 1st year level. Maybe they would be a little impressed that you had a college math course under your belt but they wouldn't care hugely - this is Wharton, not the nuclear physics department - you need a certain level of math to do the curriculum but not more (or to they extent you need more they expect to teach it to you later). Nor do they expect you to come to Wharton already knowing finance - they expect to teach it to you their way. For the same reason, it's not a good idea to take a lot of undergrad law courses if you plan on going to law school.</p>
<p>I was a #1. I stressed my leadership roles in my essays, none of which were directly business-related, and how it tied into my interest in management. Plus I had a lot of math and science to emphasize my quantitative skill. Everyone else from my school who got into Wharton has been the same way, so I'd say example 1 is a stronger candidate as long as they have significant leadership experience.</p>
<p>In response to the comment about not needing to take higher level math courses... I think the reason why high achievement in math is a huge plus is because lots of skills in business (and in particular, finance) are very quantitative. So while you won't be solving triple integrals in Accounting 101, the fact that you have really strong quantitative skills means you're more likely to be successful in a quantitative field. Banks and hedge funds recruit engineers for the same reason. It's not about utility, but about what their degree implies about their capacity to deal with numbers all day.</p>
<p>I think leadership positions are more important then businesses courses. I focus more on well-roundedness and succeed in all courses rather than succeeding in business and math.</p>
<p>kyzan: Percy Skivins has a point. It does not matter whether or not this is an internet forum. You should use perfect English at all time. Just by judging by your attitude and upbrining, I can assure you that you will not get in U of Penn.</p>
<p>LOL @ Percy. This is an internet forum, not an ongoing college app. Grammar nazis aren't always appreciated. If the best advice you can offer him is to improve his grammar, then I wouldn't exactly call your criticism "constructive."</p>
<p>"Just by judging by your attitude and upbrining, I can assure you that you will not get in U of Penn."</p>
<p>Right...so now you can judge whether people get into college just by a couple of internet posts? You should really become a college consultant. And before you criticize me for my syntax, maybe you should learn how to spell "UPBRINGING" you little hypocrite. **** and get a life.</p>
<p>Rence, I thank you for your understanding. Why does it matter if I do not use perfect English when typing internet posts? I have some questions and I'm looking for answers. If you can't provide them, then don't response with $hit like "Your English sucks...but I can't help you with your original question." Percy, I seriously doubt that my writing abilities are what you say; in fact I am a native English speaker and I am VERY confident in my essays.</p>
<p>Wow, if you are a native speaker then you really have deeper problems than you think. Your confidence is misplaced. No well educated native speaker, even in a informal setting would say:</p>
<p>I'm curious TO this question:</p>
<p>There are other examples like this. Are your parents native speakers? I would swear that you grew up in a non-English environment, or else you have some kind of learning disability.</p>
<p>There's no need to get crazy over internet grammar, Percy, but it is fine to say that one should ensure everything on his or her app is spelled correctly. On the other hand, there's no need to overreact, kyzan.</p>
<p>Random question for the OP: Are you an '07 TASPer? I thought I saw your name in the thread at some point in time.</p>
<p>As for the case studies: It really depends on how you present yourself; both types of applicants have been accepted. However, from what I've seen, Wharton does not prefer those who are arrogant or naive about their business experience. Wharton is looking for the qualities of a leader; often, those who bury themselves in "business"-related pursuits don't have any real experience. Moreover, it's difficult to re-teach students who think they already know everything about business. I believe that Wharton looks for students who are willing to grow and learn through their experiences at Penn. </p>
<p>*It's more impressive to demonstrate your leadership, intelligence, and open-mindedness; these qualities show that you can both contribute to and benefit from the school's resources. *</p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that there are no Wharton-specific admissions officers; the same regional admissions officer reads applications for all four undergraduate schools. However, there are Wharton advisors who make recommendations during the admissions process.</p>
<p>Finally, if an applicant is very business-oriented in terms of extracurriculars and courseload, he should write about another aspect of his life in the essay portion of the application. To be honest, I have yet to read a good "business"-themed essay. Most of them crashed and burned. But hey, that's just my experience.</p>
<p>
[quote]
LOL @ Percy. This is an internet forum, not an ongoing college app. Grammar nazis aren't always appreciated. If the best advice you can offer him is to improve his grammar, then I wouldn't exactly call your criticism "constructive."
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Haha! But I love Percy! He's so pro-Wharton!</p>
<p>Are you guys kidding me? Admission into Wharton isn't based on Grammar.</p>
<p>Case A: An idiot who goes around correcting people's grammar on internet discussion forums and tells them that they won't get into a school because of the grammar and upbringing.</p>
<p>Case B: Someone who can't speak polished English but excels at school, athletics, extracurriculars.</p>
<p>You pick. If upbringing was an issue, everyone in elite schools would be rich, white, and male. Obviously, universities are bringing to bring diversity to their schools.</p>
<p>they also apparently value very much good, good math skills. you might take note of that. i think the wharton admissions guy, im not sure but i remember reading somewhere that excellent math skills is almost a prerequsiite to go to Wharton. something i read, not sure but guess buisness, finance, numbers, math.. fits.</p>