Wharton ED 2024 Chance Me

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

Alright haven’t really looked into this and didn’t even think I’d do this but might as well have my dreams crushed one way or another LMAO so yeah please don’t roast me too hard I swear I’ve tried hard plus my school doesn’t really offer much

Demographics: upcoming senior Male, Korean, MI, Public (small and not very smart school) I’m poor asf like 30k and we have 5 kids in the house with 2 in college atm (still living in the house because they’re going to regional college)

ACT/SAT/SAT II:
ACT: 35 (33 M, 36 R, 35 E, 35 S)
SAT: 1530 (790 M, 740 ER)
about to take SAT 2 soon probably Math 2: 800; US Hist: 770-800

UW/W GPA and Rank:
School doesn’t weigh, 3.98 UW
rank 5/120? (the other people ahead of me are all 4.0)

Coursework:
-School doesn’t offer AP, but I’m in a selective program that works with our school called
Math and Science Center
-AP Calc AB and BC soph and junior year, but didn’t have time or money to take the test
-AH Biology Chemistry and Physics (still with the program)
-took all of the most rigorous (if you could call it that) courses at my regular high school
-Going to take statistics, public relations, accounting, and macroeconomics next year with a neighboring university

Extracurriculars: (including senior year)
2 years in NHS, vice president this year
-80+ service hours
4 years in student council, president this year
3 years in Business Professionals of America, vice president this year
-Multitude of regional awards
-1st place at state for financial analyst team
-Bronze medalist in Math Concepts at state
-3rd place at nationals for financial analyst team
-Head of recruitment junior year and was recognized at state for excelled recruitment
(went from 4 to 40+ members this year)

4 years in Science Olympiad, captain
-Most medals in school history
-State qualifying team

4 years in Choir:
-did after-school program for 9th and 10th grade
-won a couple regional rewards
-Part of a select honors chorus

4 years in Drama:
-stage manager for senior year
-part of the play with major parts 9th 10th and 11th grade years
-Helped out with set building/lights/mics for middle school plays

4 years in Varsity Tennis: captain
-State Qualifier
-Regional and conference champions all 4 years
-Academic all state

4 years in Quizbowl
-couple of regional awards

Paid internship as financial analyst at Whirlpool Corporations
Tutor for middle/high school students who are preparing for SAT/ACT
100+ Total volunteer hours
Volunteer work at church that I’m involved in

Essays/LORs/Other: am going to get a recommendation from student council adviser (civics/econ teacher) who’s gotten to known me for a while, and my science olympiad coach (biology) who’s got the most personal connection with me, and I usually have really good essays as well as help from others

Schools: Wharton ED, UMich EA, UChicago EA, and if i’m rejected from all those then the typical T20s

2

Is a 1530 on the SAT equivalent to a 35 on the ACT? I also got a 1530, and I’m applying to wharton ED

3

it’s in the range but a 35 could mean 1530-1560, but I would say a 35 looks better than a 1530

4

Hi! I won’t comment on your chances because I’m pretty sure I’m younger than you, but if you really are “poor asf,” I hope you’re applying to be a Questbridge finalist. I think those three schools you listed are all partner schools of Questbridge, and I know their application recently opened. Also, what do you mean by typical T20s? I hope you have some safety and match schools that you’d be happy with (and I don’t think there is such thing as a match school in the T20s).

5

I think you are a strong candidate

6

Well I was going to but now I’m kind of conflicted because I’m not sure if it’s better to apply through QB or just Common App, I just don’t want my chances to go down if being part of the QB program does that. I know I qualify for finalist since my brother was a finalist 2 years ago, but as of the schools I meant like just applying to those and ofc I have safeties like MSU and a small college near me and targets like U of M

7

100% apply through QB, especially if you’re confident you can be a finalist - if you become a finalist, chances of admission are much better with QB than with just applying ED/EA, as partner schools (Harvard, Penn, UChicago, etc) want to take a certain number of QB applicants and usually evaluate the apps in a different pool than ordinary ED/EA apps. You’d just have to consider the match program and make sure you’re only applying to the schools you’d be ok with attending if you matched with them.

8

I was reading up on something similar to this and it seemed like they were saying that the best way to get into a school that I really want like Wharton, it’d be best to become a finalist and don’t go through with the matching and just apply ED to that school, they say it’s statistically the highest way of getting in, what are your thoughts on that?

9

QB is designed to help students who are incredibly smart but haven’t been given as many opportunities as wealthier students. It essentially amounts to giving you a leg to stand on, which is a very good thing in a process this competitive, and a leg that you don’t have if you apply normal ED.

Your application will be read in comparison with other QB applications who have ranked the school rather than the general admission pool. As a result you will be more likely to get into one of the top schools that you have ranked; especially with your stats and experiences, you will be a very solid applicant in QB. The caveat is, if you have your heart set on Wharton but you match with Brown, you’d have to attend Brown.

As a former admissions counselor, I’d say that your chances of matching with a Top 10 school through QB are very high. On the other hand, unfortunately, low-income Asian males statistically do not have great chances in normal rounds of admission at any top school. Especially with the activities you have and the types of students Wharton tends to favor (wealthy, connected, lots of entrepreneurship and business experience, etc), your chances at Wharton would be lower, and the entire admissions process harder, if you applied ED without QB.

Overall, if you have your heart set on Wharton and wouldn’t attend any other top school, apply ED and see what happens. If you’re even slightly open to other options, apply through QB, and don’t forget that you’ll still be in the running for Wharton.

Would be happy to chat more - feel free to PM me.