Two VERY similar applications (seriously), yet one rejected and one accepted

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
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<p>Thought this was interesting...
This is chink182's rejected application with my comparable stats in parenthesis
Rejected (Accepted)
* School applied to: Wharton (same)
* SAT Verbal:700 (750)
* SAT Math:790 (800)
* SAT Writing:750 (640)
* SAT Total: 2240 only 1 time (2190 also only 1 time)
* SAT II: 800 math 2, 790 us hist (800/770 Math2/USH)
* ACT: is a joke (didn't take)
* AP/IB taken/scores: 5 Calc BC, 4 Eng lang, 5 US hist, 2 Spanish, 4 bio, 4 world hist, 5 environ, 4 stats. (his 3 5s, 4 4s, and 1 2 vs my 5 5s, 2 4s, and 1 3)
* GPA weighted: 3.96 (3.90)
* GPA unweighted:4.51 (4.48)
* Rank or % estimate: this was probably what hurt me 94.7% out of +500 (unweighted I'm probably 20/1000 ish; weighted probably 2/1000 ish)</p>

<p>Subjective:
* Essays: Common app one was about breaking high school clique barriers but a bit storylike and not enough analysis i guess...Why penn- i thought it was my best- genuine and i related myself to penn... (My CommonApp essay was good while my Why Penn essay was BSed in 45 minutes and a first draft)
* Optional Essay?(Y/N):no (same)
* Teacher Recs: math teacher for 4 yrs-great but not the best. english- showed my personality. (one rub here; I think mine were very good)
* Counselor Rec: prob the best- we got along very well (very good also)
* Supplemental Rec(s)?: 4 yr entreprenership program teach- decent (no)
* Hook (if any): no (same)
* Interview?: no (same)</p>

<p>Location/Person:
* State or Country: FL (CA)
* School Type: Public (same)
* Ethnicity: Chinese (technically Taiwanese... but same)
* Gender: M (same)
* Financial Aid?(Y/N): Y (same)
* Legacy Yes/No: N (same)
* Recruited Yes/No: N (same)
* Important ECs: I really dont feel like listing everything but big ones were
VP of Key Club- i was really passionate bout it
4 yr acad. of entrep. program- screwd over my weighted GPA+ rank
DECA- awards in local state and nationals
Chief Marketing officer of school store
#1 Mu Alpha Theta school- i guess its a south thing
unpaid marketing internship-summer/fall not too long
...etc
(mine: 2nd place in state for Investwrite essay contest, PSAT commended, Save Me a Spot in College scholarship winner, drum corp, marching band drum major, econ team, math team captain, some work experience, etc.)</p>

<p>I find the similarities between our applications uncanny (SAT stuff was ridiculous). But I was flat out accepted while he was flat out rejected. I'm not trying to be haughty; I just think its worth comparing our applications to try and better understand the adcom's ways (emphasis on subjectives?)... or at least have a near indisputable example of erratic college admissions, since our applications are so similar in so many ways.</p>

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<p>This is pointless.</p>

3

<p>If the numbers are largely the same, then the difference was in your recommendations as well as your essays--none of which are available to us so we can't really offer much in the way of input. </p>

<p>Congratulations to you for getting into Wharton, and congratulations to the other kid for not getting into Wharton (he'll be much happier in the long run)</p>

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<p>it always comes down to the essays thats a MAJOR component</p>

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<p>oh snap...could be the essays or perhaps diff. admissions officers with different tastes.</p>

6

<p>Demopgraphics and geographic diversity.......every school wants to mold a class; especially top 20...they wanted a male from California, not from Florida. and there may have been subtle to significant differences in the quality of your high schools.....my two sense worth....</p>

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<p>they look for diversity. why would they want two similar persons??</p>