<p>I’d like to know if I have ANY shot at all at Penn with these ECs, assuming ED+good essays+great scores+asian male.</p>
<p>-Piano (I love it…some pretty decent awards here, really involved in school musical, chamber music as well)</p>
<p>-Orchestra (again some decent awards but not as good as piano)</p>
<p>-Math Team (AIME Qualifier, Regional Champs, State in 3 weeks?)</p>
<p>-Golf (nothing much here)</p>
<p>-Volunteer Work (400+ hours: church + tutoring in piano + working with mentally disabled chidren)</p>
<p>-Chess Club, School Newspaper (these are really superficial 1 hr per week deals)</p>
<p>Don’t know if lack of leadership + multiple sports will hurt at a place like Wharton. And of course, that math/music/asian thing. So whaddya think? No shot? Pretty bad? Average? (for Wharton ED, no legacy though)</p>
<p>well it is wharton...you need to have some leadership I would think. But other than that, you show passion with your piano and music (orchestra, etc.). Try to get some more significant awards in this. If leadership is a problem, maybe start some music club or something.</p>
<p>Have you asked yourself why you want to go to Wharton?</p>
<p>Consider getting a leadership position in the newspaper (if possible) because you already spend time on it and instead of having it be superficial, have it be meaningful. If you can't get a leadership position, take charge of something (create an advertising committee since most high school newspapers don't have one) and go for it. Don't have empty ec's. It's fluff and the adcoms will definitely see through it immediately and make their decision accordingly.</p>
<p>y do u want to go to wharton?
ya just wondering cuz ur EC looks more like a math/science person =)</p>
<p>haha. I'm actually not that science-y... I love physics but hate chem/bio, don't want to be an engineer though. </p>
<p>Why Penn/Wharton....it's very academically flexible and there are so many things you can explore outside your major. I also like it better than most of the top schools like Harvard (perceived lack of school spirit), Yale (new haven), Princeton (eating clubs).</p>
<p>I want to go into something business/consulting related after graduation, just not sure if I want to move to NYC permanently and sell my soul for ibanking. Does this make me not a good fit at Wharton?</p>
<p>
[quote]
I want to go into something business/consulting related after graduation, just not sure if I want to move to NYC permanently and sell my soul for ibanking.
[/quote]
Go to Columbia's Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences if you want to go into IBanking. I respect engineers more than business majors, and you sell your soul after graduation instead of your first day on campus.</p>
<p>well pennfan im just saying your ECs don't look as if you are interested in business, and wharton has a specialization in business</p>
<p>i think you look more like CAS =P</p>
<p>FYI, Yihan, I've never done anything business-oriented throughout high school, but through participating in my extracurriculars, I knew that I wanted to work in an dynamic, meritocratic atmosphere that emphasizes initiative. That's why I applied to Wharton ED.</p>
<p>However, I did take IB Economics during high school, so I had an idea of what the major would concern. I'd recommend that you register for an Econ course next year.</p>
<p>Note to the OP: Being good at math certainly won't hurt you; it's a plus for Wharton. Not participating in multiple sports won't hurt, either; in fact, I had no sports on my resume. However, lack of leadership is a detriment in the Wharton admissions process. Wharton is specifically looking for the next generation of business leaders, and frankly, I've never met a successful Wharton applicant who didn't have at least one or two significant leadership positions on their resume. Now, these did not include "President of the Bird-Watching Club". Their leadership positions were very action-oriented and required communication, organization, and coordination. </p>
<p>The terms that you use to describe your extracurriculars (e.g. "nothing much here", "really superficial") demonstrate a lack of passion, as well. Take one of your current activities and expand it; apply your dedication and turn it into something of your own. For example, if your interest lies in working with mentally disabled children, try expanding your influence in that field by volunteering as a grant writer or youth representative on the board of a non-profit children's organization. Or partner with your school's Key Club to create a long-term community service project centered around that social interest. </p>
<p>Finally, change your previous assumption of "good essays" to "amazing essays". You have to convince the admissions officer that you're passionate about attending this school; after all, passionate students are more likely to take advantage of the university's resources.</p>
<p>I totally agree with chaotic. I didn't have anything business-related in my application. ANYTHING. Not even economics. My activities included debate and MUN, but the closest I'd been to business was being in the Economic and Financial Committee in MUN and I absolutely hated it (and didn't even mention it on my application). But I was in a leadership position in all my activities I listed on my app, and used them (in particular, my experiences from being in those positions) to explain how I've developed an interest in management in my essays. Really, that's where you have to stand out, in your essays. In your application you have an entire page to explain "Why Penn?". You don't have to write a dramatic story or write about your first visit or even be very creative with it. Just honestly explain why you want to go to Wharton, and relate past experiences if you can. You can't like Penn just because it's not Harvard, Yale, or Princeton. And academic freedom is found throughout the university, so that can be a reason for going to Penn, but it's not enough for Wharton. So, honestly, why do you want to go Wharton? Why do you want to go into business/consulting?</p>
<p>And yes, advanced math definitely helps.</p>
<p>Thanks so much, all of you who responded. There's so much great and helpful info here.</p>
<p>Why business/consulting? I like problem solving. There's nothing more fun than sitting down with a complicated physics/math problem and tackling it until I crack it. I'm especially interested in stats and math modeling because it's so darn useful. I could go on, but let's just say I would like to problem solve in a competitive, stimulating and socially relevant arena. </p>
<p>Lack of leadership is going to be tough. But I can honestly say that I had a genuine interest in all of my ECs. I might not have been very committed in some of them but that just varies according to interest. Not much room for "leadership" in piano. I wonder what would constitute "leadership" in orchestra - concertmaster? I'm not talented enough in violin, sorry. There are no positions in golf. I think they do that to try to discourage sucking up/backstabbing just for resume padding. Volunteer work - I actually like chaotic's suggestion very much. The chess and newspaper stuff is sort of fluffy but it's just something I do for fun. </p>
<p>I pursued what I enjoyed. I didn't join NHS and other such clubs because those are shams in my school. People volunteer just so they can get service hours. And the "honor" component in NHS is somewhat lacking too. If I get screwed over by Wharton for doing stuff I liked then so be it. I just think that Wharton's emphasis on leadership in meaningless high school clubs will attract people who are in it for the committe positions rather than for love of what they are actually doing. (I don't mean that all such clubs are meaningless but it's just the way it is in my school.)</p>
<p>well PennFan</p>
<p>Good luck with it =)</p>
<p>wharton is an awesome school but it might not just fit you right =)</p>
<p>i think w/e school we end up with will make us happy b/c we chose them and they chose us as well =)</p>
<p>PennFan... go for Penn College instead. Wharton turns down many people who do show a strong interest in business, so it would be against the odds for you to get in w/o business credentials.</p>