Okay, Now I'm Thinking About Jerome Fisher M&T...

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>Up until now, I had only been considering applying to the School of Engineering and Applied Science. I thought some more, and now I'm considering applying to the Jerome Fisher M&T program. </p>

<p>I have a few questions. First, what would you estimate is the acceptance rate to the M&T program? How qualified are the applicants? Am I required to apply ED? Is there an advantage to applying to M&T ED?</p>

<p>Also, I would appreciate it very much if you would take a look at my credentials below, and answer this question: Am I qualified for the M&T program? Are my stats/ECs good enough? I don't have any major national science/math/business awards, but is that really important?</p>

<p>Graduation Year: 2010
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Asian (Indian)
State: Oregon</p>

<p>School: Small international school
GPA: 4.0 (unweighted)
Class rank: 1 out of 20
SAT: 2400, 12 essay
ACT: 35 composite, 8 essay (I think most schools will disregard this in favor of the SAT score?)
SAT Subject Tests: Math 2, Chemistry, Biology (I plan to take these soon)
Courses: IB diploma candidate</p>

<ul>
<li>IB English HL</li>
<li>IB History HL</li>
<li>IB Biology HL</li>
<li>IB Math HL</li>
<li>IB Chemistry SL</li>
<li>IB Mandarin SL (I've heard that this makes my application unique... does it?)</li>
<li>(IB) Theory of Knowledge</li>
</ul>

<p>Recommendations: At least good, probably pretty good.</p>

<p>Extracurricular activities:</p>

<ul>
<li>Model United Nations - 4 years - Founder, President/Ambassador all four years</li>
<li>Student Government - 3 years - Founder, Public Relations Officer</li>
<li>Boy Scouts - 7 years - Eagle Scout</li>
<li>Jazz Band - 3 years</li>
<li>School Newspaper - 2 years - Founder, Editor-in-Chief</li>
<li>Interact Club - 1 year - Founder, President</li>
</ul>

<p>Awards:</p>

<ul>
<li>National Honor Society</li>
<li>Eagle Scout</li>
<li>AMC 10/12 school winner - 3 years running</li>
<li>National Merit Semifinalist (projected - PSAT 223)</li>
</ul>

<p>This summer, I will be working at a renewable energy company. I will also be working as an intern at Portland State University, assisting with a renewable energy research project. In addition, I will be attending a week-long student entrepreneurship/business program at Oregon State University (Young</a> Entrepreneurs Business Week).</p>

<p>Please give me your honest appraisal for my chances for admission to the Jerome Fisher M&T program. If you have any additional advice, I would welcome it. Thank you very much!</p>

2

<p>Does anyone have any advice? Please?</p>

3

<p>I can’t really assess your chances, but out of curiosity, why didn’t you take physics?</p>

4

<p>you look similar to a kid who was accepted to the Vagelos life sciences and management program from my school this year. He wrote some great essays and is just a really interesting guy in general. I think you have a good shot, just let your personality shine through. Show them you’re more than a perfect SAT!</p>

5

<p>definitely good enough, but just focus on your essays. i got into the vagelos program this year and i didnt have the most outstanding resume, but my essays were really strong and im sure that those are what got me in. good luck!</p>

6

<p>@illuminar - I definitely would have chosen IB Physics, if I had been given the choice. I would have liked to take IB Chemistry and IB Physics together. However, given that my school is very small, we don’t have an IB Physics course. IB Biology is required, and I chose IB Chemistry instead of an art course. </p>

<p>Everyone - one of my friends, who is going to attend M&T this fall, is an amazing student in addition to winning loads of national awards. He won first place in his division at ISEF this year, and he’s won numerous other awards. I just got a little intimidated, because I thought all students who are accepted to M&T are like him XD</p>

7

<p>Acceptance into M&T is Penn’s most competitive, and wharton’s is allegedly < 10%, and so that for M&T is < <10%…so its pretty tough, and based a lot on fit…</p>

<p>i applied ED and got in. i dont know whether applying as such increased my chances </p>

<p>i think you have a very good chance, i had kinda similar stats (your EC’s sound more impressive) …
your M&T specific essay should demonstrate a keen/genuine interest in BOTH business and engineering</p>

8

<p>@bat - Thanks for your advice. Since you’ve been accepted, I’m assuming you know a decent amount about the program. Could you just describe a little about M&T’s philosophy on combining business and engineering? What’s their goal? What’s their take on how business and engineering intersect?</p>

9

<p>@WhartonKing - So I should really focus on getting good recommendations? I’ve heard that I should be sure to get a recommendation from my research professor at Portland State University. I know that UPenn uses the Common App… so is it possible for me to submit an extra non-teacher recommendation?</p>

10

<p>You can send in extra recommendations. I got a recommendation from a UCSD professor and sent it in separate from the commonapp.</p>

11

<p>soadquake essentially asked us how to answer the M&T essay question…</p>

12

<p>@Millhouse - I’m sorry my question made it sound like I’m asking how to answer the essay question, but I’m really more interested in learning about the program’s philosophy. I’m still not entirely sure if it’s right for me.</p>

13

<p>the program really want to create entrepreneurs that can use business skill and innovation to create companies. From what I understand, most of the graduates can’t resist the money and go into a finance/securities based job because Fisher graduates are so highly sought after in the job market. This is just what I managed to deduce from the admitted students session they held. As for your chances, I think being an Eagle Scout will help. Your SAT will add to your application, but I doubt it is the most important part because I got in with a 2040. I would be pretty surprised if you didn’t get in though.</p>

14

<p>@pahka0709 - Thanks for your explanation!</p>

<p>I have a follow-up question, then: I want an education with an equal (if not greater) emphasis on Chemical Engineering. I’ve heard that UPenn’s engineering program isn’t as strong as that of other schools, such as MIT or Cornell. How would this factor into my decision to apply to M&T?</p>