<p>Hi, new member here. I applied to Wharton ED and I'm getting really anxious about my decision. I hear it on Friday, but I'd like to know what you guys think about my chances.</p>
<p>I have a feeling that I won't get in (the Wharton admissions process is an enigma), but here we go anyways:</p>
<p>I'm a Asian male from San Diego, CA. I go to a really good public high school in the area that sends students to the top schools annually.</p>
<p>From 9-12, I have a 3.97 UW and a 4.4 W. 10-12, I have a 4.0 UW and a 4.7 W.
I rank in the top 4.2% of my high school senior class (our school doesn't rank, but I think I'm 30 out of 700-some).</p>
<p>I got a 2260 on my SAT (800M, 750R, 710W), 33 on my ACT (36M, 33 R & W, 30 S). I have three SAT IIs: US Hist, 720; Math II, 780; Chem, 760.</p>
<p>I've taken a really hard course load since my sophomore year: a pair of APs sophomore year, four in my junior and senior years. 5s on Calc AB, Stats, and Chem; 4s on US Hist and English Language.</p>
<p>This year I'm taking AP Physics C, AP English Lit, AP Pysch, and AP Gov/AP Econ.</p>
<p>I've taken a few off-campus courses at local community colleges including C++ & Java (2003) and Calculus II (summer 2007). I plan to take Comparative Intl' Politics and Calculus III next semester.</p>
<p>I've interned at a UCSD research lab over the past two years (mostly summers), doing some biochem research (not quite published yet).</p>
<p>I was a two-year varsity water polo starter/(rotation guy when I came back from injury my senior season) on a good team. My life during fall revolved around water polo, but I've done some other community service work too.</p>
<p>I'm not for counting hours at all, and I do things because I can about what I'm doing. Nevertheless, if I had to give you a count of what I've done, I'd say I have at least 500+ hours of community service over the last four years. I have long-term volunteer/internships with a few charities such as JDRF, the local Sierra Club (their Canyon Restoration campaign), and the CF Foundation. I'm a Scout, and I've done a lot of service work with Scouts too. I'm usually into tutoring, coaching kids, IT work, environment cleanups/restorations, Soup Kitchen work (I volunteer annually on Thanksgiving, after I watch football =] ), and working with inner-city/underprivileged kids with schoolwork. I also do church work (but I'm not for putting that in my app).</p>
<p>I'm also politically active, having worked for both the local DNC and RNC (not concurrently) since 2004.</p>
<p>I'm really just into doing the right thing. I'm very idealistic and hopeful about our world, and do my best to be optimistic about things.</p>
<p>As for school awards and such, I really don't have any. I'm not for notoriety, and I'm all for sincerity, and I don't think student government is legit. I'm part of NHS and CSF, but I don't really care much for them (they're bogus). I was nominated to attend a leadership seminar by my teachers. And I'm a UT Scholar-Athlete.</p>
<p>I'm not too much into clubs, but I am participating in the ThinkQuest competition with my school team (Programming Club) as a lead web designer.</p>
<p>I have significant corporate work experience as a web designer. In middle school, I started doing some freelance work, and early in high school latched on with a fledgling web firm. I've worked with some of the best in the industry doing pretty big (& some Fortune 500) websites and such. Because of school, I've had to leave work, but I was recently hired as a web designer/developer for a small marketing firm looking for me to help them grow.</p>
<p>I have at least one stellar letter of rec (b/c that teacher, my surrogate mentor pretty much, let me see it). All of my teachers usually tell me that I'm one of the most balanced, personable, sincere, erudite students they have seen.</p>
<p>My essays (two Penn and Common App) for Penn were all good, and had the potential to be great depending on the reader. I took a different approach in writing them, trying to show the admissions officer that I am worldly and idealistic and hopeful about our future. My "Why Penn?" essay was pretty good too, as it delved into me being a student at Penn and describing how I'd think (I delved into economics and externalities relating to currents events, etc.) and such (and how well I know the area, since it's been my childhood dream to go study in Philly and watch the Iggles play every Sunday).</p>
<p>Going to Penn would be a dream; Wharton out of this world.</p>
<p>Could you guys chance me before I hear from them on Friday?</p>
<p>Also, could you guys chance me for NYU (Stern), Davidson, Virginia, and Swarthmore?</p>