<p>My dream for college is the BPE Program at NYU but I am equally interested in Upenn Wharton. If I got into both, I don't know what i would do at all. But from what I understand is that Wharton is so astronomically hard to get into, I might not have to worry about it. But I think I have a few advantages on my resume but I'm not sure if they make any difference. </p>
<p>So here are a couple of things i think i have that many applicants to Wharton might not have that i am hoping are to my advantage. A simple yes or no or explanation will help</p>
<p>1 - I live in Pennsylvania
2 - I don't have to apply for financial aid if it hurts my chances.
3 - Through my father, I know some very affluent alumni of Upenn and Wharton along with some very affluent people in general that can write letters of recommendation.
4 - Along with entering my senior year 2nd in my class, pending no injuries i will graduate with 12 varsity letters, 4 years of job experience, Class treasurer, and officer in clubs like FBLA, Key Club, TARS (which i founded), Student Council, and Foreign Language. Also years in various community service programs and have attended educational programs such as People to people and Future Leaders of America.</p>
<p>(I don't plan to get into my academics and such because, I'm not asking you to chance me. I would just like to know if these 4 things improve my application and if they are at all out of the ordinary.</p>
<p>No, your chances are lower being from PA. Penn has a ton of legacies that live there, staff kids and kids of the locally connected to accommodate. That does not leave much room for the unhooked from PA.</p>
<p>Knowing the connected will help if they are very large donors and they call development on your behalf. This is unusual because such people are usually just willing to do this for their own kids and close relatives, they only get a few passes. A letter to admissions is pretty much meaningless.</p>
<p>Being sal is a big plus if you have the scores to match.</p>
<p>Oh wow. Bummer. Hopefully my connections make up for living in state. I know 3 people that went to Upenn. Only 1 went to Wharton. IDK if they donate a lot of money to their former school but considering their wealth, i wouldn’t put it out of the picture. Another connection i’ve talked about with my family is one of my dad’s close friends & financial partners is very good friends with some state representative. If i could get a letter from him that would help greatly wouldn’t it?</p>
<p>There are lots of wealthy Penn alum walking the streets. When I worked in admissions there we got lots of letters people were sure would help. They don’t. Again, unless someone is a major donor and writes the development office on your behalf, a letter from an alum won’t help. Don’t waste your time or theirs. As a Penn and Wharton grad I’m constantly asked for such letters. I tell people they’re useless. While I give nice donations, I have not given millions and don’t have name recognition in the development office.</p>
<p>A letter from Obama won’t help either unless it says he knows you well and knows your work.</p>
<p>Unless you go to one of the top publics/privates in the state, in which simply being top 10% with decent ECs pretty much guarantees admission, regardless of how white, asian, or “unconnected” you are.</p>
<p>However after reading this:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Then you probably aren’t at the schools I’m of thinking of. Good luck in any case; Pennsylvania is still the biggest state for Penn students, and even if every single legacy were from Pennsylvania, there’d still be more non-legacy acceptances from Pennsylvania than… Ohio. :)</p>