Hey everyone, I am a Penn/Wharton undergrad and I am here to answer any questions high school students might have about college, the application process, application tips and anything else in-between.
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Does Wharton emphasize on business related ECs? I’m taking ap econ+ business management next year, but I don’t really have any business ECs. I know it’s important to show your interest in finance, but i go to a very “bad” school, and we literally have 2 clubs lol (none relating to business). Even if I were to make a finance/econ club, I doubt anyone would join.
Also other than clubs, what are some ECs relating to wharton. I mean I could always start my own business, but tbh I don’t have the experience/knowledge for that. I also plan to apply to LBW and other Penn summer programs
Are you in LSM? If so, what are your career plans after graduation?
@deezenuts - You don’t need a business background (Wharton wants diversity, of course). I met kids with all sorts of different experiences, many who don’t have finance or business-related experience at all (nada, zip, 0%). However, you do need to have a really solid story about how whatever you’ve done so far makes you a good fit for Wharton. Now what’s a good fit for Wharton? Someone who has shown leadership, someone who has built something from the ground up, someone who has shown initiative. These are the themes Wharton looks for, and they don’t have to be related to business at all. Your school has only two clubs? Submit a proposal to start a third club (again, doesn’t have to be business related – can be Science Olympaids, etc). Show initiative. Show how you liased with “better” high schools to get an understanding of the different clubs they ran, and how you used this to bring more clubs to your school. Boom – leadership, initiative, doing something relatively revolutionary (at least for your school)
@Slytherclaw12 - I’m not in LSM. Instead, I’ve decided to do my own triple major (Wharton – Finance, Math, and a full Economics major). I interned last summer at an investment bank and got a return offer, so I’ll be returning there to work full time.
Thanks for the advice. And damn!!! Triple majoring! Congrats with the offer btw
haha thanks, much appreciated. What are you guys’ current situations? Soph/ Junior? Any ideas where you’re applying / what type of program?
I’m a sophomore, whartons definitely my top choice. I may apply to Huntsman, but tbh I like what you did in double/triple majoring by yourself . I’m gonna have strong GPA/ test scores, just worried about having elite ECs
Is there a GPA cutoff? Would u say there is a certain GPA that is required to have? Would a 3.8 UW with a very very rigorous courseload be good?
In terms of the why Penn? essay, what would you say are good ways to give yourself a story and make yourself unique?
@ivywin “Is there a GPA cutoff?” No
“Would u say there is a certain GPA that is required to have?” No, but the average is about 3.9, so higher is better. It is very important.
“Would a 3.8 UW with a very very rigorous courseload be good?” Possibly. Very very rigorous is good. Only the adcom knows if it is enough in your case.
Thank you so much for your reply @Much2learn Does Penn also care abut higher test scores the way it does with GPA or does it just have a cutoff? Since I have pretty good test scores and I was wondering if those could perhaps offset my GPA.
“Does Penn also care abut higher test scores the way it does with GPA or does it just have a cutoff?”
I would say the answer is neither if true.
They do tend to give significant weight gpa and rigor over other criteria (this the primary reason why the SAT averages for Penn are not even higher than they are). However, your grades are only slightly below average for Penn. I would think that if you are still in the top 10% of your class, it is not a significant minus. Especially if you challenged yourself with a high level of rigor.
Yes, High test scores should help offset that as would a high level of rigor in you curriculum, strong ECs, and strong essays. I am not aware of any cutoff.
Regarding cutoff: For most schools there isn’t really a cutoff level above which a better gpa or test score does not help you. That is just something people with low gpas and test scores say. There may be a point where the aggregate of your academics (gpa, rigor, test scores, subject tests) receives the schools top academic ranking, however. Then the fate of your application hangs on your ECs and essays. For students in this pool, the question becomes, what will this student contribute to the college community.
Regarding next steps: With that gpa, high rigor and high test scores, I think that you are a good candidate, but you need something in your ECs or essay that makes and Adcom member want to push for you. There will be many students in your position that will be admitted, and many who will be rejected. Ask yourself, if there were 3 or 4 students with similar grades, what about my ECs and essays would make my application stand out. Was my “Why Penn?” essay more compelling, detailed, and specific than other students? Do I know the school, and my reasons for wanting to attend, better than others? If I were an Adcom, why would I pick myself? For schools at this level, those details can matter.
is it a deal-breaker for admissions to Wharton if I opt to take AP AB Calculus rather than AB/BC? Both are available to me. Also, does Wharton like to see certain subject tests? I took USH and Literature and got a 780 on both. Should I take math or physics to be more competitive?
http://www.admissions.upenn.edu/apply/application-tips
• Applicants to the Wharton School are recommended to take the Math Level 2 subject test
I think to be competitive to all selective schools, you would want to submit Math level2, a science subject test and a humanities test.
You should try to take the Math Level 2 if you can. Especially if you are not taking BC Calc.
For most students, I would only prepare to take two subject tests. Preferably, Math 2 and one other.
I see people recommending 3 subject tests, but I think putting the effort into scoring higher on 2 is a better approach. 2 with great scores trumps 3 with good scores.
I am a rising junior and interested in the LSM program. If I was to get into Wharton but not LSM can I still do a major in the college of life sciences? My goal would to get a chemistry or bio degree and business degree so I can go to med school. Or are there other people that just get a Wharton degree and then take their pre med requirements with the Wharton degree? Thanks
@franciscogab146 Related to all these questions about ECs: if you’ve consistently done an EC throughout all of high school and you’ve risen up to multiple leadership positions and made changes that made your EC more productive/efficient, does that count as initiative? I’m not obsessed with Penn or anything, but I haven’t done something like started a new club at my school (that being said there are over 200 clubs at my school and my school is massive).
Hi!
What are the people like at Penn?
Is it a very elite school? Will a first generation student from a working class family fit it at Penn?
Are the people very intense compared to other students at other ivies?
Thanks!