I know it’s probably waayyyyy to early (please don’t criticize me for being on CC right now, as I am in 8th grade), but I was just wondering what kind of a student is Wharton or the College looking for? I know for ECs “pursuing what I’m interested in and being good at it” and being in leadership roles, along with high test scores and GPA is good, but many students with exactly that are turned down. Selective schools like these turn down highly qualified applicants all the time.
As of now, I don’t feel like I have enough ECs. I am only seriously participating in one EC, Science Olympiad, which I am extremely good at (tons of national, state, and regional level awards), but that is besides the point. I have made several goals for myself for my 8th grade year, and high school. If I achieve all of them, what would my chances be, and does UPenn even care? There are many applicants with excellent GPA, test scores, ECs, etc. and I’m very worried I won’t stand out from the crowd.
Also, I plan on joining my school’s tennis, yearbook, and newspaper this year.
Side-Note: I live in Montgomery County, around a 20 minute drive to UPenn), I should also probably mention that I’m an Asian girl, since this’ll probably affect my chances.
My Goals:
Become valedictorian (or salutatorian if I can’t) in a class of 320 people.
Become captain of my high school’s Science Olympiad team (this is difficult since my high school is EXTREMELY competitive in Science Olympiad, regularly placing top 3 in the nation every year)
Win at least 2 first places at nationals for Science Olympiad during high school.
Become part of my high school’s Science Olympiad team (this should happen before I even think of winning or becoming captain).
Have 4.0 unweighted GPA in freshmen year, and preferably all years, (which translates to 5.0 in weighted GPA)
Have high test scores in AP exams, SATs, ACTs, etc. (Haven’t decided on a number yet, haven’t thought that far)
You’re right in believing you are too young to be worried about what a specific school wants from it’s applicants. Here is my advice:
Get 8 hours of sleep per night.
Eat healthy foods.
Exercise regularly.
Make time for friends and family.
Do the best you can in the most rigorous curriculum available at your high school while still ensuring that steps 1-4 are NEVER compromised.
Do the best you can on the SATs while still ensuring that steps 1-4 are NEVER compromised.
Join as many clubs as you ENJOY and seek out leadership roles within those clubs while ensuring that your involvement in these clubs NEVER compromises steps 1-6.
As far as there is a formula, that’s it. Penn doesn’t care if you are the president of everything or the best Saxophone player in your school if you don’t have good grades. They also don’t care if you have good grades but you got them at the sacrifice of your health or friendships (that will come across during your interview and in your essays when it becomes glaringly apparent that you didn’t spend time cultivating meaningful relationships with your peers or you are doing everything at the expense of your own personal wellbeing). The only thing you need to do is your best while being as healthy and happy with your life as possible. If that puts you in a position to be competitive for admission to Penn at the end of high school then great! With an acceptance rate of about 10%, great applicants who do everything right will still be rejected. So don’t try to create the perfect application because it doesn’t exist. Instead, focus on being the best you that you can possibly be and let that come across in your applications to Penn and all of the other wonderful schools that exist in this country.
I completely agree with the above post! Also I want to add to think about utilizing your summers while in HS in pursuit of your interests. You mention Science Olympiad- so perhaps think about using summers to work on inventing, doing research or getting an internship in a scientific pursuit or maybe getting more involved with the Million Women Mentors program that Science Olympiad has recently joined up with https://www.soinc.org/MWM. Using your time in the summer to become more involved in the things that truly interest you IMO is a good strategy and can create memorable experiences.
Please get off this site until you are a junior in HS. There are a million more productive things you can do with your time and energy. And please don’t set nearly impossible goals for yourself. Work hard, do your bes, when the time comes study for standardized testst and see how things play out.
There is no magic formula for guaranteeing admission to Penn. With under a 10% acceptance rate Penn has to turn away many highly qualified applicants. Even if you reach every single one of your “goals” it is absolutely no guarantee that you will b accepted into Penn.
Find ECs you love and feel passionate about. That passion is what will shine through. it doesn’t especially matter what activities you choose to do.
the above poster who indicated that Wharton and science olympiads don’t mesh is wrong. Wharton and Science Olympiads do mesh. Quite well in fact. Everything from the natural sciences and tech to the health sciences are all deeply valued at Wharton and interests in those areas can translate into a career in business related to each of them if that’s what you want.
@raventhemage while it is admirable you have clear goals in 8th grade and while I believe you will probably ignore this advice you’ve been given because you are so determined and gunning for a spot at Penn
Don’t do this to yourself. Be the best you can be and that may not be someone else’s best
Get the best grades in the best classes maybe you’ll be Val/sal maybe not
Winning nationals 2x is no easy feat either
Not to discourage you but all these ambitions and the fact that you are in this website in 8th grade shows you’re more committed to appearing as a viable candidate for Penn than being what you want
like others I suggest you don’t work yourself into the ground in HS and enjoy what you do
When you enjoy it success will come naturally
Take this advice to heart as coming from peers not randos who don’t have the same ambitions and goals
Obviously most people who join CC are driven and many experience success
Basically don’t crash and burn
