<p>How do people go about standing out in Wharton admissions? </p>
<p>I mean, OBVIOUSLY, just follow your passions right? Its that 'simple'...</p>
<p>The people on the UPenn results threads that I see get accepted into Wharton usually have some defining item on their laundry list that NO ONE else can fully offer. For example: someone founded a non-profit, another started a LLC, another interned at a hedge fund (not to mention the standards: high SAT/ACT, leadership, high GPA....etc.)</p>
<p>I'm very interested in finance/economics. How do I channel this interest into a tangible activity? Anyone have any advice? </p>
<p>Note: I am aware that merely trying to do something to 'look good' to college admissions is the WRONG ideology. I am curious how people discover the unique EC that can lead to admission. Maybe I can still discover mine as a junior.</p>
<p>I am a student worker in Vance Hall which is the MBA admissions office. Many of the admissions officers were former undergraduate admissions officers.</p>
<p>They are looking for “leadership”
They want to see that you can hit the ground running, as in you have a plan of what to do once you get here. As in you want to take classes with Jeremy Siegel or something like that.
They want to see signs that you will succeed at Wharton (high math grades, and SAT scores, extracurricular activities that Relate to business.</p>
<p>Okay, so the verification that I would “hit the ground running” would be contained within my “Why Penn” essay? I will surely do some extensive research beforehand so that I can have a decisive vision of myself at the school, and effectively convey that.</p>
<p>I am great at math and plan on 750+'s (maybe 800 in Math II) on my subject tests. My SAT is already 2240 (with 750 in math) and my ACT (score next week) will likely have a 35 in math. I have straight A’s in school, and will be in AP Calc BC next year. My math background is very strong (mainly because I’ve been interested in engineering up until about a year ago. I joined a FIRST Robotics Team, but instead of working more heavily with the robot, I became involved with the ‘business end’ of things. That’s how I’ve switched over from Engi to more business).</p>
<p>Leadership is also very good (Golf Captain, Robotics Business lead, Founder/Pres. of clubs, Bronze Palm Eagle Scout…etc).</p>
<p>As far as extracurricular activities that relate to business…that’s where I’m kinda stuck. My area is fairly liberal, and activities like FBLA and banks willing to give internships to high schoolers are quite rare. I already cold-called the closest Morgan Stanley and Citi and they both declined giving me any kind of internship/job exploration there. Knowing that I will competing in Wharton admissions with people who likely have numerous awards in FBLA…how could I try and stack up against that?? </p>
<p>Do not mistake these trends such as Morgan Stanley asset management internships as a benefit. Admissions officers know that Wharton students are competing for Morgan Stanley IB internships and there is no way in hell any reputable office would give out legitimate (paid) internships to high schoolers. The high schoolers interning at Morgan Stanley are not in the New York Office, nor are they doing anything meaningful. Likely, daddy has a friend in asset management who let them file documents for a summer, hardly business related at all. </p>
<p>It is merely survivors bias that you see these people try to impress college confidential with their “stats” and “brand name” ■■■■■ work. </p>
<p>FBLA on the other hand is available to high schoolers and can help you stand out. It is not necessary.</p>
<p>There is no formula for getting in, so don’t compare yourself to the peeps on CC.</p>
<p>I am a coordinated dual degree student and I have none of the stuff you mentioned above when I got in, although I will be interning at Morgan Stanley this summer :)</p>
<p>I see! I always take the “results” at CC with a grain of salt. Its worth noting that the people who utilize CC as a resource are already generally more involved with the admissions process as whole, and therefore will likely have better ‘credentials’ on these threads. </p>
<p>What did you do that you think made the difference of getting accepted? The only real reason why I’m kinda concerned at this point is that I’ve realized that I’m not too unique in terms of what I’ve devoted my time to. I don’t have that unique “wow” factor, you know? The thing that makes these admissions officers curious…</p>
<p>I guess it might just be a toss up for acceptance for me.</p>
<p>On the other hand, how are you enjoying it there so far?? </p>
<p>My D got into Wharton. The only thing I can see that maybe made her stand out was her willingness to lead and do new things. She had stuff in her app that she did all 4 years of H.S., she had stuff she excelled at that she had been doing since 2nd grade but there was new stuff she started doing in her Junior year plus stuff she planned on doing her senior year and beyond. She’s a leader, very intellectually curious, ambitious, unafraid of failing and moves on to the next adventure quickly. </p>
<p>The result was a mixed bag of big success, just plain success, failures and huge failures. It was very entrepreneurial with a trend showing lessons learned from failures and successes.</p>