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

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<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>

2

<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>

4

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

5

<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>

7

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