@ShaunakK98 - you said it all but there is a key difference - validation and authenticity of the ECs. It is interesting how the admissions office validates and authenticates all the stuff that one claims they have achieved.
In the US, there is a standard procedure to keep the checks and balances (mostly). The schools and counselors and teachers would be very hesitant to write BS or exaggerate ECs, achievements and recommendations (I am sure). You know it well how it is in other regions of the world :))
@VaishS I’m not totally sure, but if Penn sees that you are slacking, you can bet that it will have a big impact. If it isn’t much worse than usual, then I don’t think it will have much of an impact.
I was accepted into Wharton and my opinion is that it is true that they want a diverse class. So your ECs have to show a passion for something or at least a common interest, I truly believe it’s quality over a quantity, one of my friends literally broke down every club and activity down so that v her ECs were bullet pointed in 2 columns in 1 and a half page, but it didn’t really help her. SAT/ACT scores I think u only need to pass the threshold, generally speaking.
I actually chose accounting and finance as my top 2 interests but I don’t know if that is of real importance since I can change my mind whenever.
About the deferral process you have to wait until u get accepted and pay your deposit and everything . Then the due date is towards the end of July and they are really helpful with the whole process.
@kat101 - Thank you. Wondering if you may be able to explain how does Penn choose applicants with this “HOLISTIC” approach?
For example: if someone has marked Statistics as their concentration vs someone has marked Finance, does Penn look at this while selecting (even one can change concentration later)?
Honestly I’m only a year older than you sooo… idk if im any wiser. I do think the holistic approach is in effect but I’m sure I’m also probably helping meet a quota or something. Its never just black or white.
Personaly I’m a minority female, first generation to go to college since I was born in another country. My scores were alright but nor super good or anything, I did pretty bad in the math portion of the sat, but I’m not normally bad at math and I think that showed through the rigour of my classes and grades.
That sounded bad, sorta sounded like I just got lucKY or something. But I had good grades and an UW GPA of 3.9 plus I took mostly ap classes. Another thing that helped were my essays which I made personal and I used to show how my experiences have shaped the way I think and see the world and how I interact. I also had most of my ECs directly related to business and I showed growth and a deep level of involvement.
@Kat101 - Thank you for your honest answers. If you have any view of how Holistic is Penn admissions, which of the following would you say that Penn gives most importance to? Maybe suggest some percentages:-).
Between my falling grades, the pile of supplements to write, the fact that I still haven’t gotten an interview, and boy problems, I’m surprised that I haven’t cracked yet. Although I did wander around today assuming it was Friday :-?
Im not 100% sure exactly on how they weight the importance. In my head all of your stats make up the foundation or building blocks, that way they can group us and compare us to each other I guess. But that is just the general outline, in order to try to picture us they then have to look at our backgrounds and interests. So i honestly cant say I know exactly how they break it down but I know what makes sense to me, bc really there is no way for us to quantify so many different experiences and outcomes.
About my EC’s I slowly built on them, it wasn’t like I just woke up one day and founded my own start up or something, I was stressed about that when I was applying about how I would compare to others, but now I realize that what matters is that what we do is organic.
I was in DECA for 4 years, this club was honestly the best thing I could have done. Freshmen year I competed at my district, totally sucked. Sophomore year I made it to states but was unable to attend. Made it to state again junior year and qualified for ICDC (nationals/international) but again was unable to actually go. Then senior year I made it all the way to top 10 at ICDC. I was a reporter my junior year for the club and then senior year I was the senior vp. So I can say that I devoted time to the club and I was involved and showed leadership.
I was in NTHS senior year and I was the VP of Finances, I was in the french honor society(11th and 12th), i was in national english and the national science societies, and I was in a mentoring club. I was involved in them but I only listed NTHS and the mentoring club in my application .
I also completed an internship at a credit union and went on to manage a student run branch plus started a student cafe. I was really excited about these projects and i made sure that showed.
So no sports or anything bc im just really not a physical person lol. Also my ECs weren’t anything out of this world but they were things I did bc they helped me be a better person and i truly enjoyed doing them.
@Kat101 - Again, thank you for your honest answers. I am able to make some notes here.
As a 1st gen, that is definitely a big boost factor. Just wondering what you think the interview may have contributed in the overall assessment? Did your interviewer know that you were a 1st gen to college?
