<p>Hi. I was wondering what the applicant is looking for besides high grades and test scores specifically for Wharton--for a student applying as a transfer or freshman.</p>
<p>they’re looking for mexicans and blacks, apparently</p>
<p>your parents to be in the 5M+ income / year earning bracket, international athletic recognition, your last name on a building. Otherwise, luck of the draw.</p>
<p>Please disregard the last two posts because as an Asian admit who is not going to have to pay anything to go to Penn I can tell you that you don’t need any of those things to be a competitive candidate. I have talked to admissions reps and I feel like they are really looking to see if you have a passion for business, a strong quantitative background, leadership skills in groups, and if Wharton is the place that will help you to achieve your goals. Having all of these things- along with objective data that is in Penn’s range- and making them clear in your application will help you to stand out.</p>
<p>Quantifier, hindsight vision is 20-20. Give it a little time, look at some of the admission results, and it’ll become less clear to you who should get in.</p>
<p>I’m in the same boat as Quantifier- not a URM, not a legacy, not a development prospect. I do have to say, though, that it does seem that those factors generally play a role in Wharton admissions. </p>
<p>I think admissions really is looking to shape a class, so there’s no one particular thing that they want each and every applicant to have done. I know you’ve gotten that generic response hundreds of times, so let me clarify: I indicated in my application that I was not at all interested in finance, but rather wanted to pursue another sector of business. I have a feeling that this interest, since it is divergent from that of most of the Wharton undergrad body, probably got my foot in the door. The best advice I can give is that you should show both how you’ll fit in at the school and how you’ll stand out, be that with a unique academic/career interest or in an extracurricular. Best of luck!</p>
<p>@necrophiliac- Yea I totally get what you’re saying. If I remember to come on this site after a few years at Penn it will be interesting to see if and how my answers/views have changed.</p>