Hey guys!
I’m a junior in NJ, and Wharton is my dream school. I’d appreciate any feedback on my profile, including realistic chances and advice on improvement. Thanks!!
My high school isn’t particularly well-ranked, but I attend a highly rigorous and specialized program (medicine) within the high school that has really competitive admissions. I’ve been taking advanced math courses and AP since freshman year.
My weighted GPA is 4.6 on a 4.6 scale (meh), but most of the reason it’s so low is my freshman year, where I had around 4 Bs. Depending on how they calculate GPA, I might have a better number than is indicated.
PSAT: 235 One-shot, 750 in math
SAT: 2390 One-shot, 790 in writing
SAT II: 800 Math II, 750 Bio M, 760 Chemistry
AP: Bio (4) freshman year, Chem (4), Stat (5), Psych (5) sophomore year
Took AP Physics 1, AP Calc BC, APUSH, and AP Lang this year
Taking Multivariable, AP Econ, AP Lit next year
Marching Band and Concert Band 3 years and Jass Band (select) this year- lead trumpet next year
YMCA Model UN for three years- got the Outstanding Country award sophomore year and am a Youth Secretariat this year
YMCA NJ Youth and Government freshman and junior year, am a Youth Secretariat here too
Varsity tennis since sophomore year
NHS
Treasurer of the Spanish Honor Society
NHD State Qualifier
Founder and President of the school’s Stock Market Club, starting next year
Volunteering (note: nothing SUPER consistent)
Volunteer at my local temple, and founded an SAT tutoring class there
Volunteered at the local hospital the summer after my freshman year, and since the hospital is affiliated with my high school program, I’ll be doing an externship during my senior year
Member of my town’s all-purpose volunteering group
Founder and President of an organization that coordinates efforts to send student musicians to retirement/nursery homes
Thanks in advance everybody!
As good of a chance as anyone else applying. Good luck!
You’re definitely a competitive applicant. No one on here can tell you much more than that since the acceptance is so low. Write well written essays that are true to yourself and you’re “chances” will be maximized.
Thanks for the feedback, guys! I also forgot to mention that I will be attending a program called Leadership in the Business World, run by Wharton, during the summer. I hope that will boost my chances too, especially if I can get a recommendation from a professor.
I would think a professor rec would definitely help. Just attending could boost your chances too, but I’m not completely sure. Are you planning on applying Early or Regular Decision?
I’m planning to apply early, so I guess that would help too
No hook -> Automatic reach to high reach
If you are an Asian: Automatic high reach
Nothing special
Do your best then pray
Pretty good chances with a good essay. Fantastic Scores (PSAT doesn’t really matter), and above average ECs.
Early Decision is known to have a higher acceptance rate (around 25% I believe), but some say this is due to many hooked applicants applying with very high chances. If you are sure Penn is your place and you will be able to finance it, then ED is the way to go, IMO.
@Arsene I noticed that you stated “and you will be able to finance it”, isn’t Upenn known to give a respectable amount of need-based aid, much like all other ivies.
@Dylan197 Yes, but some people fall into the area of their family’s income is too high for aid but not high enough to pay fully out of pocket. You can take on debt, but to some, 200k+ worth of debt isn’t worth it.
My family is pretty well off, and I should be doing fine in terms of paying for college. But yeah, I am Asian so there’s that working against me.
@Arsene That 25% ED admit rate is for UPenn as a whole. Wharton’s admit rate for ED is probably much lower (I’d imagine 10-15% ish counting all the hooked applicants etc.)
If you’re applying specifically for Wharton, I would suggest you brainstorm why you want to go into business. Either writing a good essay displaying how/why you want to do business and some EC’s that show your interest (stock market club is good but may need more) or both will go a long way.
Wharton wants to see that you have a genuine interest in business as it is specifically a business school.
What’s your unweighted GPA? You mentioned you had 4 B’s freshman year so that might go against you.
You’re definitely one of the more qualified applicants. I think you have a decent shot, chance back? :http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/18595778#Comment_18595778
Calculating this myself, my cumulative unweighted GPA is around a 4.0.
I just calculated my weighted GPA with junior year included, and it jumped to a 4.75.
In addition, I took the June SAT Subject tests, and I got a 730 on Physics and 770 on US History. Which SAT Subjects do you think I should submit when applying?
You need to take Math 2 subject test and probably a science. Your chances are hurt by being Asian and from NJ. Your test scores are great but going into your senior year try to focus on a few EC’s. My experience is Wharton is impressed by students who have a precise focus. Hope that helps.
Hey how did it go?