Hi! I’m a freshman, wanting to major in Econ and Business. I have a 4.0 GPA, and a predicted 4.0 for the current semester. I have a 34 in the ACT. I have the Dean’s list and am in the Honor Society for Emory Undergrads. My dad is currently getting his EMBA at Wharton, so I have legacy and I want to attend college with him, which is what my essay will be about. I’ve attended Wharton summer school, had ED’d to Wharton but got rejected, and have shown continuous interest in their curriculum. I am in the Consulting club at Emory, involved in Economics research with a professor for two semesters, part of the Alumni Board, and Volunteer at a Down Syndrome Centre. I also play in the A team for Emory Tennis, and have steller recommendations from the faculty, one of whom has a PHD from Wharton, infact. What are my chances of getting in? I’ve not started a business, or have done any internships in Business, but my clubs, and grades all through high school and college have stayed really high. Will my legacy help and the fact that I want to attend school with my father, because that would be an experience of a lifetime? Don’t all transfer applicants have good clubs, and a 4.0? Do you think I have a heavy chance of getting in?
Usually they’d be slim. I’d say that the fact that you want to attend college with your father is a unique essay, and you’ve got very good grades in college. Your ACT isn’t impressive, but you’re also not applying as a first-year so ACTs won’t matter as much anyways. Plus, a 34 is still average at Penn, not low at all.
I’d say you have a pretty good chance. But know that “pretty good chance” at transferring to one of the most selective business schools in the world (if not the most selective) means like 15% at best.
Thank you for replying! I was just wondering if you knew the rate of external versus internal transfers to Wharton? Do about 100 students get in as external transfers and 200 as internal? Also, don’t all students have a 4.0, amongst those who apply?
Thank you!
Your father is in the EMBA program. You would not be going to college with him. It operates on a totally different schedule.
You’re right, but my essay would be about attending the same college with my father, so does that not give a unique perspective? Or will the college see through that?
They will consider it a sign of desperation.
OP: Your father’s enrolllment in the EMBA program will not help your application; in fact, it is a very weak & very poor reason for wanting to transfer. (Would be a strong reason if your dad suffered from a serious illness or condition which required your presence.)
- EMBA does not make you legacy
- Wharton is not interested in fulfilling your happy family fantasy. They are looking for students who will add to the community and (especially) make them look good later.
IMO (which is what you asked for), you would hurt your chances more by saying “I think it would be so cool to be at the same college as my Dad so that’s why I want to come to Wharton” than help it. Your overall story is better than that.
And (unusually!) I don’t even agree with @Publisher: it wouldn’t be a strong reason even if your Dad had a serious condition which required your presence: if it’s that serious a condition, your Dad probably shouldn’t be in his program, and where would you find the time, when handling a famously rigorous course, to be doing the minding?
If you can’t find something more interesting about you to sell yourself you are going to have trouble at Wharton anyway 
Thank you for replying! Going to college with my dad would only be one aspect of my essay. I’ve also shown persistent interest with Wharton by applying ED and also going for their summer school. Additionally, I have all A’s and am involved in one business club and research. Does that make my chances of getting in high?
Yes, perfect grades in college & demonstrated interest in business are helpful.
Persistent interest in Wharton is okay, but not necessarily a plus as #1 schools such as Wharton, Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Princeton, & CalTech assume that if one is admitted that matriculation is likely.
Consider adding an academic & an employment / career aspect to your transfer application essay.
Thank you so much! Would you know roughly how many external transfers get into Wharton? Are my chances high? Or is my application very regular?
What about my recommendation from the Wharton alumni professor? does that help a lot?
Letters of recommendation can be helpful depending upon the content of the letter. Most effective if the prof knows you well & has worked with you on a project.
I do not know the answer to your question about number of external transfers.
According to online data which may or may not be reliable, last year’s admissions rate for all transfer apps was 7.64%. The number of internal transfer apps and rate of acceptance isn’t publicized. You seem well qualified for a transfer app, but probably still facing long odds. I think your best shot would be to get recruited for tennis. Have you been in touch with Penn’s coach?
OP: Based on the information contained in your original post in this thread, it seems that you have found a great school for you in Emory University.
Beyond the desire to be near your father, for what other reason do you want to transfer to Penn-Wharton ?
There is an age old saying: Be careful what you wish for.
Hi, thank you for replying! At Emory, I only play club tennis, not varsity. At High School, I played Varsity. Thus tennis seems like a long shot? I was wondering if there is something in my application that stood out? Like my business clubs, volunteer activities, perfect college GPA or a recommendation by a Penn Alumni. Given this, wouldn’t I be a really perfect choice for getting in? The only thing I don’t have is a business started by me or something as big as that. Do all Penn students have something that makes them stand apart or are clubs and college involvement enough to show leadership and interest?
I think having shown so much commitment to my passions in school and at college, and having achieved a 4.0, I deserve to be at a college like Penn. Don’t the chances seem high? Thank you!
Oh honey. It’s not the universe handing out prizes to the most deserving. Most of us ‘deserve’ things we don’t get- and some of us get things we don’t ‘deserve’.
It really doesn’t matter what any of us here estimate your odds to be- your ‘chance’ will never be 100%, and it’s the call of the AOs at UPenn / Wharton whether you will get the spot, or another committed, passionate, 4.0 student will get it. They will have plenty of choice.
And funnily enough, Emory is a college like Penn, just without the “Ivy” label.
A person who graduated from Wharton is an alumnus if he is male, or an alumna if she is female. And unless this Wharton graduate knows you well, can provide insight into your distinctive qualities which don’t show up on your applications, I’d say it’s not clear that the letter would be advantageous or not. Most of these letters (I write them myself) say something like “Julie is a hard-working, focused student who has wanted to attend Wharton for many years. She is a terrific athlete and a wonderful community member”.
Why not take all the energy and anxiety you are spending on Wharton and focus it on loving where you are???
Apply to transfer- sure. And then let it go and let the adcom’s do their job?
None of these factors make your chances high. Chances are never high for admission to Wharton. Chances are never high of transferring. You have a chance, sure, just not a high one. And as @collegemom3717 said, ‘deserving’ something doesn’t make it happen.