UPenn Reject; Harvard Hopeful?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p>Hey everyone! This is my first post ever. So today UPenn Wharton said they flat out rejected me :/ But I haven't written my Harvard essays yet. I thought I liked business, but now im looking more at public policy and law (maybe combined with business because I have some stats). </p>

<p>Anyway, here's a portion of my stats:</p>

<ul>
<li>3.962 unweighted GPA, top 10% in 2nd best public school in nation</li>
<li>DECA State Finalist (One place away from Internationals), numerous small awards like exam proficiency, etc. </li>
<li>Economics Challenge winner (leader of 2010 team)</li>
<li>Fed Challenge, Euro Challenge participant</li>
<li>Student Council Rep 10th, 12th</li>
<li>National Merit Semifinalist (Finalist status pending?)</li>
<li>Volunteer Work (A children's sanctuary where I tutor kids, + Fundraising for food banks, wellness centers to cure disease, etc.)</li>
<li><p>Asian guy</p></li>
<li><p>I like following politics, but although I signed up for Obama 2012, I haven't really begun doing anything for that yet</p></li>
<li><p>I'm passionate about the state of our education system, our men and women in uniform, and economic wellness. I haven't done much with military stuff, I tutor (but only a bit compared with many other people), and my background in economics is weak on paper. </p></li>
<li><p>I don't have a strong background in law; I was aiming at business (until Wharton shot me down) </p></li>
</ul>

<p>As I hope you see, they're pretty normal for a guy like me, and probably expected as well. Ultimately, I think the strongest part of me is my personality. I know plenty of failure in the past, but I don't easily give up. I have a strong belief in my values (truth, strength, loyalty, initiative, mercy, diligence, humilty) that I think exude themselves pretty forcefully. I do not consider myself cultured, nor do I consider myself aggressively competitive. </p>

<p>What I want to know is 1) what Harvard wants to see in its applicants, and 2) how I can make Harvard see I'm different from every other person whos applying, and why it should want what I can offer</p>

<p>Anyone out there? I can send you my essays and resume if you can teach me how to PM. Thanks :)</p>

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<p>I don’t do chances, but the above poster is far too pessimistic. Results for elite colleges are independent events and do not correlate so clearly. My D is a junior at Harvard and yet she was wait listed at Columbia which was the only other Ivy that she applied to.</p>

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<p>Hey, thanks for the info :slight_smile: Yeah, people do say that about me sometimes :|</p>

<p>I’m working on several apps right now, I’ll let you guys know where I got in next April. Happy holidays :)</p>