<p>Does anybody get in to M&T without having either performed research [and submitted an abstract with their application] or having started their own company?</p>
<p>We went to far too many Penn presentations where the on-going theme was "follow what you are passionate about". Seems they should have had a caveat that that suggestion was for non combined-program admissions only. </p>
<p>Separately, for SEAS, Wharton and any Combined Program, they should added "and do whatever you can do in order to squeeze in research time every summer - and submit your abstract(s)..." One more thing -"for a Wharton combined program applicants, please also create your own business or company based upon your talents and creativity... or create a new organization at your school that didn't exist there before..."</p>
<p>Perhaps I'm reading too much into the ED and RD responses from prior admits to Penn, but it seems Penn makes the primary decision on SAT score over unweighted GPA. It also seems that the student's school that offers more APs-earlier really makes a huge difference in one being admitted. Despite my son being bored freshman and sophomore years, his HS has a hard and fast rule that none below junior year will be able to take AP classes. As such, he could only max out on 3 junior year and 5 senior year. We live in a remote location where opting for another school that offered more was not an option. It appears having the hardest curriculum at one's HS is not enough [and this is a US News Silver HS]. Our HS has about one admitted to Penn every year, but has never had a student be admitted to Wharton and never had a student admitted to a combined program. </p>
<p>Appreciate hearing from admits who are the exception from the above...</p>
<p>Good afternoon! I was accepted Early Decision to M&T, and I have not done a single extracurricular in either business or in science. Almost all of my extracurriculars have been in music and politics. However, I have taken classes in economics and science, and I was able to write about my interest in business and engineering and how it relates to my love for politics. I will say that I’m the valedictorian of my class, I have good test scores, and I’ve taken a boatload of AP / dual enrollment classes. If you challenge yourself in high school and if you can show an interest and the potential for success in whatever program you apply to, you will gain acceptance. Best of luck.</p>
<p>I trust that “a boatload” of APs is a lot more than eight. What are dual enrollment classes?</p>
<p>My son is also valedictorian with UW 4.0. His downside is his 730 CR and his 700 W. He has the 800 in math. His SAT II’s are appropriate. He’s also an athlete, but with M&T he’s very aware that he can’t keep up the necessary time to practice while taking on the academic load that is M&T. Hopefully, he will have Penn Admissions see favor upon him RD and join you next year…</p>
<p>“It also seems that the student’s school that offers more APs-earlier really makes a huge difference in one being admitted.”
That is not true at all. My high school (a highly competitive public school) does not offer AP courses until junior year or until you have taken all of the prerequisites (which are technically) “honors” course). Only a small percentage of students take APs because the level track is very well defined and it is hard for people to move up levels. Students who take APs usually only take 2 junior year and 4-5 senior year. However, I have two classmates who are attending Penn with me this year, and on average there are about 4-6 students admitted every year.</p>
<p>I took 12 AP classes plus the AP Comparative Government exam (as a self-study) in my first three years of high school. (My scores were 11 5s, plus a 4 in AP Human Geography and a 3 in AP French Language.) Florida is wonderful thanks to Florida Virtual School, a free online program that let me take a few APs that my physical school didn’t offer. Dual enrollment classes are classes at the local community college; I took three of them. My SATs were 740 CR / 770 M / 790 W (essay 10) with three 800s and a 740 for subject tests (physics / math II / US history / molecular biology). I will say that M&T is hard to get into RD.</p>
<p>My best bit of advice, again, is for your son to absolutely kill that M&T essay. He has shown that he can handle the workload through his high school performance (assuming his AP exam scores have been excellent); now he needs to show why he deserves that spot.</p>