my junior year in highschool I founded and became the president of my school’s student managed investment fund where we invest actual money into the stock market (so far we have had a 5% increase in our portfolio’s value). I’m interested in business and plan on applying to wharton ED. So do you think that this particular “club” would make me stand out both in the sense that I founded and lead it and in the sense that I think a club like this is unique, especially for highschool students. Furthermore, is this club unique? Thanks!
An EC in which you have a strong interest is always positive. Is it unique? No.
@skieurope are you saying that having in EC in which you have a strong interest isn’t unique or the specific club I’m talking about isn’t unique?
Not speaking for skieurope but I’d say neither are unique in the typical Penn applicant pool.
@T26E4 that makes sense especially for wharton
@mat324 I was speaking specifically that the club is not unique, but @T26E4 is correct - neither is unique. Nor is that a bad thing. A club with little relevance to anything, but is unique, is not a game-changer either. Focus on doing what you love; don’t focus on what Wharton will think.
Agree that it’s great to follow your interests but be aware that your stock market club may make you seem overprivileged. See, e.g., thread about the kid who plans to open a grocery store.
I would disagree with @GnocchiB. I think an investment fund EC is perfectly fine, and shows that you take what opportunities you get to create something new. It also shows a commitment to a specific interest. Even if your fund doesn’t make extraordinary gains, it’s still something from which you can draw lessons, and it’s business-related, which can’t hurt. It may not be necessarily unique per se, but as long as it means something to you, you put effort into it and learn from the experience, it’s good to have.