What are my chances for Upenn Wharton?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Hi! I'm new to this site, I joined today!
I found out about Upenn this year and I really want to get in because I think it is the best school for me and it has the best business school. I live in Canada and I want to know what my chances are in getting in for next year. I am in this enriched/honours program, and there are other people interested in applying but I know that only one can make it.
My stats (summarized):</p>

<p>education:
honours program at high school in Canada (taking accounting, economics, business web communication courses)
--> 4.0 grade point average since grade 8, around 93% average and top 5% of grade</p>

<p>Awards:
*Duke of Edinburgh Award
-->bronze, silver and gold (its a very illustrious award first started in Europe, one would need to do specific hours in *volunteering, sports, skills and adventurous journey)
*school's Silver and Gold pin
--> awarded at school for being involved in sports, fine arts and service (specific hours)
*Bronze Cross and Bronze Medallion
--> swimming certificate, awarded in ability to swim and intense first aid on land+water
--> getting teacher's degree to teach other kids
*Black belt in TaeKwon Do (4 years)
-->1st place in sparring and 2nd place in poomsae in 2004 competition</p>

<p>Volunteer and work experience (shortened):
*We Can Campaign to end all violence against women
--> I'm really passionate about this, and it originated from asia and currently moved to Canada
-->I'm in the Education Committee, Change Makers Leadership Institution and workshop facilitator
--> (pioneer) organized assembly at school about it and starting a club on it
--> Can get great recommendation letter (im the youngest in the campaign)
*I do crapload at school for three different teachers, at local Community centre (Tae Kwon Do instructor) and nearby elementary schools
*Catching the Spirit – stewardship in Regional Parks
--> Environmental stewardship program to volunteer one’s time for the betterment of Regional Parks in our communities (100+ hours)
*Junior Achievement program (nation wide VERY well known entrepreneur program in Canada)
--> President of own student company
--> in the process, I got 5 recommendation letters from 5 diverse and high up business ppl
*My teacher from honours, who is administrator for a children's program at school during the weekends personally asked me to work for him in grade 9
--> i was his student worker for 4 years and more than 300 hours (get paid $12 and by the school board) can get a great recommendation from him
*I have worked in 3 different accounting firms (over 100 hours)</p>

<p>Extracurricular
*Treasurer at school
*track and field, ultimate, cross country (athletics award)
*Youth Parliament for two years
*Flute and in symphonic band for 4 years</p>

<p>Didn't do tests yet, but I've studied for them and can get atleast
*SAT I: 2250
*SAT II: Math II= 750+, Korean near 800</p>

<p>Other:
born in canada, speak fluent english and korean</p>

<p>Please tell me what your opinions are (from those who have experience), I still have half a year so give me suggestions as well! I am only applying to Upenn wharton, University of Washington and some Canadian school (and MAYBE Berkeley and NYU cause they have good business schools).</p>

2

<p>If you want to do business and Wharton is your top choice, I would recommend applying ED. Your chances look pretty good but it’s certainly no guarantee. Be sure to write some good essays about why you want to study business.</p>

3

<p>astonmartin… just out of curiosity, if you plan to apply to wharton does your common app essay have to relate to business? what about the why penn? should it be a why wharton… or a why penn essay?</p>

4

<p>Your common app essay can be about business, but it certainly doesn’t have to be. I think there was also a why Penn and a why Wharton essay.</p>

5

<p>my why penn essay had details about why i liked penn and wharton</p>

6

<p>Thanks AstonMartin for your feedback!</p>

7

<p>$AT is wayyyy to low. Qualified applicants score above 2300. Some random URMs, low scoring kids, athletes, and rich kids get in too, but as I said they are either special (in an cheap way) or random acceptances.</p>

8

<p>okay…
so if I get a higher SAT score, above 2300 like you said, where would I be at?</p>

9

<p>Don’t listen to him, your SAT is excellent. At this point, all you have to do is write good essays and make your application stand out among the thousands of similar applications!</p>

10

<p>Thanks sirpasta,
so my resume is similar to many others?</p>

11

<p>Fellow Canadian URM here (admitted):</p>

<p>gabby, I’m not sure how rigorous economics, etc courses are at your school but I’m fairly sure most high school business courses are a load of BS. Try taking some APs by self-studying (that you’re interested in, don’t do it for the sake of doing it) to show initiative. Honours courses are nice but hard to measure against other schools. Have you taken any of the CEMC math contests? They might be nice and don’t require too much effort (hard to study for). </p>

<p>Btw, AP Calc/IB math is a very good idea. Calc is extremely important for business schools like Wharton. Really awkward moment when my friend asked an admissions officer about his chances without IB Math higher level. </p>

<p>Try bringing up your SAT II Math score a bit. Its not entirely necessary but its a pretty easy test so shouldn’t take you too much effort. </p>

<p>. Btw, how big is the JA Ventures program at your school? Ours was around 70 people at peak and I found it a very good way to demonstrate leadership/interest in business. </p>

<p>Basically, try to show that you’re taking a very rigorous course load and show off your leadership skills. Interest in business is a big plus as well. Essays will help you with this too. START ON YOUR ESSAYS EARLY</p>

<p>With regards to ED: good idea if you’re prepared by that time but otherwise, its NOT worth the extra time spent on the essays, etc if they aren’t polished off yet.</p>

12

<p>I am a junior in high school… with high prospects for getting into an Ivy League. I’m from the bay area in California and attend the #1 Public School in CA and one of the top 20 or so in the nation. I was wondering you could all assess my situation with some general details I will provide below (I can provide extreme specifics if you want). Just a heads up: my school’s class rank system is unorthodox. The, let’s say 34 (graduating class of 2009 count) 4.0 students at the end of senior year receive the class rank 1, then the students with the next highest unweighted GPA receive the class rank of 35, so on so forth. It is purely based on GPA and NO other factors are considered. It seems like this will be extremely detrimental in my application… My school also does not allow students to take weighted classes during sophomore year.</p>

<p>GPA: Unweighted - 3.8 Weighted - 4.15 for UC system (could raise to 4.3 depending on the college/university)
SAT: 2200
Class Rank: ~ 100 but will go down as the top ranked students start taking the hardest courses (class of 600 people)</p>

<p>5 AP’s by the time I graduate
I have taken all Honors courses possible at my school</p>

<p>Extra Curriculars:
-Eagle Scout
-300 hours + community service
-President of New Global Citizens (youth philanthropy club I started) - raised over $10,000
-President and founder of the Magic Club
-Spanish Honors Society member
-M.O.F.O. member (Mission Outdoor Focus Organization co-founder; group of boy scouts)
-MASH (Math and Science Help tutor; our school’s student-run tutor program)
-I started my own free tutor program where I tutor students on SAT writing and Essay
-Special Youth member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians

  • 4 Year Starter player on Varsity Soccer Team (team captain)
  • 3 Years of track (2 Varsity)
  • 3 years of Cross country (1 varsity)
  • 10 years of competitive Premier Level Soccer
  • made it to Olympic Development Program State Soccer team reserve
  • made it to National Olympic Development Program team selection in Florida
  • Played piano for 6 years and taught myself guitar
  • I am a semi-professional, hired magician for events (ie. cocktails, anniversaries, birthdays, street magic venues, gambling demonstrations)
  • Will be attending Upenn Summer Biomedical Research Academy OR Stanford Biotechnology Academy OR Stanford Business academy (over the summer; final decision to be made soon)</p>

<p>I will be getting some very strong letters of recommendation from teachers I have had for honors and AP level courses, as well as a rare opportunity for the vice principal of my school to write a letter for me (which he rarely does for students)</p>

<p>Thanks for reading all of this, and I am completely welcome to Anything you have to say.</p>

13

<p>this is probably the 10,000th Wharton chance thread posted on this website. stop torturing yourself and just give it your best shot.</p>

<p>and to the post above me, you’ll have a chance if you get recruited for soccer. but your class rank is extremely bad, penn generally doesn’t take people outside of the top 10%.</p>

14

<p>sigh… that’s from like 2-3 B+'s or something</p>

15

<p>Thanks disgradius for your feedback!
sorry, what does URM stand for? The JA
i was involved with had 20 ppl and it was
outside of school (extracurricular) and I
was really involved in it. I was one among,
where all the prominent business ppl of
the province gather.</p>