<p>Yeah I guess chances is pointless, so can you guys give me advice? Aka what I'm lacking and such so I can make up for it on essays, maybe? </p>
<p>After much consideration, I've decided to apply to Wharton even though I don't want to do the typical kind of "business." I want to go into non-profit management.
* SAT: 680 CR, 780 Math, 760 Writing
* SAT IIs:770 Math II, 650 Lit.
* ACT: 33 (36E, 34R, 32M, 29S)--I have no clue whether they'll use my ACTs or my SATs
* GPA: 3.8ish GPA (no APs though at my school), 4.6 GPA weighted.
* Rank: N/A--only 50 kids in my senior class, so I'm not submitting it.
* Other stats: Hmmm well I don't feel smart enough. I guess I really don't know what it takes. We've only had 2 people ever apply to Penn. And only 1 got in three or more years ago. The one from last year got rejected with probably a much higher GPA but not too many ECs. 1 more person is applying to Penn besides me this year. We tend to get more kids accepted into U Chicago (like me hehe), the local honors colleges at state schools, and then lots and lots of LAC's.
Subjective:</p>
<ul>
<li>Essays: I never really like the essays I write. They might be alright though. I'm trying to emphasize how Wharton will lead me to instigate social change through environmental and public policy reform (see ECs, please). My page 217 is a speech I am making to a group of children interested in social reform at a convention thing. The entire page is a speech. It's weird. </li>
<li>Teacher Recs: I love one of my teachers who wrote them...but I don't actually knows if he loves me back lol.</li>
<li>Counselor Rec: probably good enough</li>
<li>Hook (if any): If only...</li>
</ul>
<p>Location/Person:</p>
<ul>
<li>State or Country: the SW</li>
<li>School Type: </li>
<li>Ethnicity: Asian Indian (Is that a hook? Lol.)</li>
<li>Gender:</li>
</ul>
<p>ECs:
Lots of leadership I guess...but in three things. No extra spots on the App for "other activities." I do four things; three of which colleges will care about. The other one is just religious.
Debate 2x State Champion (12 hours per week, 30 weeks per year, 4 years)
I won a lot of national and awards for public policy changes that I put in place in my legislature. I'm the founder and president of a group that works to make changes in state policy. I have a letter of rec from my policy mentor/advisor (2 hours per week, 40 weeks per year, 4 years.)
I've lead a non-profit for more than 4 years, and we've raised over $18,000 for orphanages (4 hours, 30 weeks, 4 years)</p>
<p>What do you think I should emphasize? I want to play to my strengths--so just general app tips would be cool.</p>
<p>To be honest, you’re definitely in contention with other Penn applicants. 33 on the ACT and a 2220 (correct me if I added wrong) are very decent standardized test scores. What is your class rank? I know you said there are 50, but as long as you’re 1st, then it shows that you took the most out of what’s offered to you. Same goes with AP classes, they don’t offer it at your school but did you take all the weighted/honors classes?</p>
<p>I honestly don’t know about the Indian part but being Asian in general is a big disadvantage. Yes, i hate the fact, cause im’ asian too. </p>
<p>just a question to consider, for your penn 217, you said the entire page is a speech right? do you think it’d be wise to put a speech on your autobiography? im not saying what you’re doing is wrong, i just thought it’s peculiar to devote an entire page to a speech, rather than an account of your life’s events. if it really is important to you, i would keep it.</p>
<p>Your Ec’s are stellar, particularly the fact you’ve been in continuity. Definitely mention the legisltaure national awards and if the religious EC is a big part of you, be sure to add that to your app as well.</p>
<p>To be honest, you really are a great applicant in my opinion. Don’t be so hard on yourself! Even though you have great EC’s and academics, I would say your best bet now is to a. write outstanding essays that show more about you or b. something similar to a, but you illustrate your passions. Colleges love passionate people. Just do your best and hope to see you on Locust Walk next year! :)</p>
<p>Just to let you know – there is no “non profit management” at Wharton. It is one of Wharton’s failures as a business school. I might not use that as a hook, since it doesn’t exist.</p>
<p>There’s a fixed curriculum. And the reason I’m not reporting my rank is cause I’m 10/50. 2/50 without freshman year and then 10/50 otherwise. My lowest grades are in classes like art and music. Hello fixed curriculum…
And that rank is unweighted. My weighted GPA is better I think</p>
<p>[Environmental</a> Policy & Management](<a href=“http://spike.wharton.upenn.edu/ugrprogram/advising/concentrations/environmental.cfm]Environmental”>http://spike.wharton.upenn.edu/ugrprogram/advising/concentrations/environmental.cfm)
says that “The concentration in environmental policy and management examines the relationship between business and the natural environment, including human health and safety as well as addressing a range of policy issues. This concentration provides an in-depth foundation for those interested in pursuing careers in the growing environmental sector of the economy, whether in private business, government or environmental consulting.”</p>
<p>Uh-oh. Yeah people don’t include speeches in their autobiographies, but it sounds like a gimmick if I try to present myself as a “leader” otherwise. What do you think?</p>
<p>Well, your GPA and extracurriculars make me feel bad about myself–you’re in great shape! (especially extracurricular-wise, you have some pretty outstanding and interesting accomplishments)</p>
<p>As long as your essays are at least good (amazing would be better, of course) you have a decent shot IMO. You make me feel like I have no chance. Good luck</p>
<p>That’s not true! Lol I got lucky with ECs but my GPA isn’t stellar I guess.
Seriously, it might look okay here, but I’m sure there’s flaws. Everybody has flaws. The key is to hide them, which is what I’m still trying to do =D</p>
<p>oh and also if I get a B in Calculus BC will it make me look super bad? </p>
<p>I did get As/A-s in 2 Calculus A</p>
<p>Environmental policy and management is different from non profits. Just make sure you clarify that on your application. Good luck! 
Your scores look great.</p>
<p>Thanks!
Any more advice? I’m always open for criticism. </p>
<p>Did the page 217 thing still sound weird as a speech instead of a story. I hate telling stories.</p>
<p>The fact that your essay is a speech is unique. All that matters is that it should be well written and reveal who you are.</p>
<p>Oh cool! Any more advice?</p>
<p>Bump!
And what happens A) if I get my rank as 10/50 on my transcript? I guess that means I’m done for, right?
and B) will a B in Calc BC kill me? I think it’s possible I will get it, cause I had a 97% in the class until a HORRID final</p>
<p>No, neither the 10/50 or the B will kill you. A B in Calc BC is not bad, especially if it’s not a grade trend. You’ll be fine.</p>
<p>doesn’t Penn have 99% of kids in the top 10% of their classes? being outside of the top 10% really sounds bad…</p>
<p>That is a fact. But it is also misleading. Lots of schools don’t rank - and it works in their favor. I was not in the top 10% of my class, but I went to a prep school that didn’t rank. Your leadership in nonprofits and being from the southwest will help you. You have a chance - though given that statistic, don’t count on it.</p>
<p>Yeah. You know a school has a dumb administration when they try to rank 50 kids when everyone tells them not to.
Also, my rank is unweighted. My weighted rank is 3/50 but our school doesn’t submit that.</p>
<p>fyi I go to a prep school too. 100% of kids go to college</p>
<p>I don’t know what Biomajor5 is talking about because Wharton does have courses that could be applied to non-profit business. They have the Social Impact and Responsibilty Minor. The description says:
The four-credit Social Impact & Responsibility (SI&R) concentration seeks to examine the question: “How should business enterprises and business thinking be engaged to improve society in areas not always associated with business?” SI&R is an inter-disciplinary field that encourages students to approach their core courses and primary concentration courses from a socially oriented perspective.
[Legal</a> Studies & Business Ethics](<a href=“http://spike.wharton.upenn.edu/ugrprogram/advising/concentrations/socialimpact.cfm]Legal”>http://spike.wharton.upenn.edu/ugrprogram/advising/concentrations/socialimpact.cfm)</p>
<p>You could combine that with the Business and Public Policy Major which you’ve seen to have done some work in. [Business</a> & Public Policy](<a href=“http://spike.wharton.upenn.edu/ugrprogram/advising/concentrations/businesspublicpolicy.cfm]Business”>http://spike.wharton.upenn.edu/ugrprogram/advising/concentrations/businesspublicpolicy.cfm)</p>
<p>There may not be a course that is directly called “Non-Profit Management” but I think it is definately something you can pursue at Wharton.</p>
<p>Cool! thanks!
How do I show that I’m good at math?
Is it just like…
I got a 32 on the math part of the sat
780 SAT 1 and 770 SAT II
with an A in 2 semesters of calc and possibly a B for senior year? </p>
<p>Or do I need to talk about math?</p>
<p>Those scores and grades are generally good enough to show you’re capable in math.</p>
<p>Ahh okay. People on CC talk like you need to be PERFECT at math to get into wharton. </p>
<p>And yes. I make mistakes.
With the academic communities essay, would it be bad if I gave myself a focus and just talked about volunteer/service things I would do?
Or do I need to show myself as someone who would do a wide range of things?</p>
<p>And are academic communities things like CAS and Wharton? Or are they things like “Physics club”?</p>