How was I not at least deferred (at Wharton)?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So, I got rejected at Wharton ED today, and I was ****SED!!!</p>

<p>-GA resident, male
-Ethnicity: mixed Hispanic (Spanish) and Asian (Filipino)
-UW GPA: 3.94ish
-Weighted GPA: 4.14
-school doesn't rank, but I got an award for being the junior with the highest weighted GPA, meaning I'm a would-be valedictorian.</p>

<p>SAT I's
Math: 800
CR: 730
Writing:710</p>

<p>SAT II's
Math II: 800
Chem: 720
U.S. History: 710</p>

<p>AP scores:
US Gov and Politics: 5
APUSH: 5
AP Chem: 5
AP Eng. Lang: 5</p>

<p>Senior Load
1. AP Calculus BC
2. AP Statistics
3. AP Biology
4. AP Physics C
5. H British Literature
6. Economics (I wish my school offered AP.)</p>

<p>-school doesn't offer honors classes, but mentions "due to the rigorous curriculum of the school, no classes are designated as honors" in school description.</p>

<p>My only B's have been graphic design freshman year, AP Gov last year(will a 5 on the exam atone for this), and a mandatory composition class at our school this summer? I got straight A's junior year.</p>

<p>-will mention Math, Economics, and Chemistry respectively as my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice majors. I want to be an investment banker or hedge fund manager when I grow up.</p>

<p>EC's:</p>

<p>Boy Scouts
-Eagle Scout (just did my board of review). My project was building benches, pressure-washing old ones, and putting sealant.
-Senior Patrol Leader during 10th grade, Patrol Leader during 9th
-broke a national record for hiking. I hiked the Bartram Trail (100 miles/5 days, has a lot of elevation): honored by Governor Sonny Purdue and national head of boy scouts for this feat
-LOTS of community service projects
-raised money for inner-city kids to buy scout uniforms
-Philmont Summer 2010-completed trek 34, the hardest trek Philmont has to offer (Only 5 crews this entire summer out of the 1000+ that come to Philmont did trek 34).</p>

<p>Tennis (all 4 years)
-private lesons
-varsity tennis</p>

<p>Academic Quiz Bowl team (10-12)</p>

<p>I founded and am president of our school's food critic club. We go to restaurants about once a month and write critiques about them, which are published in the school newspaper. I'm trying to see if we can get published in the Zagat Survey.</p>

<p>Trumpet
-Superior Rating (9,10,11) at Solo Ensemble Festival
-Community Jazz Band (9-12)
-GISA all-select band member (11th grade) (top band members of private schools in GA)
-played for church on Sundays
-invited to play at school's open house 10th grade</p>

<p>Piano for 11 years
-invited to play at several concerts</p>

<p>Duke TIP summer program (summers after 9th and 10th grade, I respectively studied macroecon. and robotics)</p>

<p>Academic Awards:
-Georgia Certificate of Merit
-Phi Beta Kappa Award (given to Junior with the highest weighted GPA in class)
-National Merit Semifinalist</p>

2

<p>Mate cheer up. You’ve got a great profile so it’s their loss anyway.</p>

<p>If you’re looking at a career in IB, you could look at Williams or Dartmouth :)</p>

3

<p>I am sorry you did not get better news.</p>

<p>You did leave a few points on the table re the SAT. But probably more importantly, I am not seeing depth in the ECs, particularly in areas that would be relevant to Wharton. You say you want to do math, econ, chem–do I see APs or ECs that build on that interest? How does all your work in music fit into your future in IB?</p>

<p>You are remarkable and accomplished. I certainly had not accomplished at your age what you have. But the thing I notice is the focus and alignment with Wharton. I think you will have schools fighting over you by April. All the best to you.</p>

4

<p>I would have a hard look at your essays for future applications,</p>

5

<p>Agree with 2college2college.</p>

<p>There must be a reason for deferring you</p>

6

<p>^ also sometimes there’s no good reason, i wouldn’t overreact</p>

7

<p>Actually, if you read the first line, I was REJECTED, not deferred. ■■■. I’m hoping there’s no fundamental flaw in my common app.</p>

8

<p>dang you have really good stats!
I think nowadays the schools want someone who is really <em>special</em> or mainly because it’s their “Business” school (and ED). Business schools are really hard to get into in general so…that could be it… but i think you have a really good chance of admission to other prestigious business schools regardless, so don’t feel bad…you will be fine…(really wish I had your stats lol) good luck!</p>

9

<p>My parents and I worked really hard to make sure my common app essay and Penn supplement were very strong. We also made sure it was something that sounded like the voice of a 17-year old.</p>

10

<p>actually nvm, penn is very defer-happy, so maybe something is wrong w ur app</p>

11

<p>The college counselor at my school reviewed it with me, and he thought it was strong.</p>

12

<p>unless excellent high school, most counselors dont know jack</p>

13

<p>Trust me. This counselor is REALLY good.</p>

14

<p>Does your high school send many kids to Penn?</p>

15

<p>^No. 10 char</p>

16

<p>You have some really good stats. I guess one reason you might have been rejected is because you’re achievements aren’t exactly correlated to the majors you want to pursue… the valedictorian last year at my school with loads of national debate award put down physics as her choice major and was rejected from U Penn.
Don’t let this completely ruin you–Ivies are always tossups and I think you still have a fair chance RD at many other good schools.</p>

17

<p>^The tentative major you list on your app has no bearing on your admissions, since colleges can’t honestly expect a high school senior to know with complete confidence what he wants to study in college. </p>

<p>OP, I’m sorry about your rejection, but I’m sure you will be admitted to several other schools during the RD round. You are a strong applicant, and Wharton is notoriously difficult to get into. Many great students have been denied admission there.</p>

18

<p>I’m getting over it. I probably shouldn’t be freaking out since it was WHARTON. If it were CAS, then something might be wrong.</p>

19

<p>to be honest, the scores are too one-dimensional (non-math/science is low for Wharton) and leadership isn’t too strong for a school of that caliber.</p>

20

<p>Your scores are in the deferral range, but your ECs really aren’t all that special.
The girl who got into Wharton at my school is a state officer for one chartered club and has led four other clubs, as well as student council and now president of the SGA. Did 4 years of varsity sports and had great scores. Not so many academic awards, but tons of leadership and volunteer work. Also worked for a political campaign - so I guess great recs (and no she’s not legacy/hooked beyond that maybe, she’s an ORM).
The one who got deferred from Huntsman at my school leads two or three clubs, has an extensive list of research experience, internships, and great grades, as well as a very long list of relevant extracurriculars. Tons of academic awards.</p>