Time to change the dream! Be happy where you are. Where you spend four years for undergrad will not define you. I know it seems like a big deal now, but in the grad scheme of things, it isn’t. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and focus on excelling at your current school. Focus on your grades and landing internships so you can get a great job our of undergrad and improve your chances of getting into a great grad school if that appeals to you in the future.
Guess OP’s question is whether he/she can send in an appeal even though the school clearly says they don’t accept appeals. My take - send it in - the worst outcome is they respond saying “sorry - no appeals” or just silence. If you plan on trying a third time next year - suggest keeping your letter nicer than the post here (conceal your anger, but show your passion instead). IMHO - it may not do any good, but can do no harm!
One of these is a quote from you, OP…and the other is a quote for you.
If you applied for transfer during your first year, then no, you haven’t really tried to get over Wharton- you were busy working on your application, getting a reference, waiting for a decision, etc.
I am sorry: it is hard to really want something and not get it. But whatever your reasons for wanting Wharton (which presumably have to do with where you will go after the 4 years there, not just the short term satisfaction of getting the prize), you can get to those same places other ways.
Don’t ask for advice and tell us what not to say. You have to understand that what is for you will be for you. That school was not for you. Now for grad school you might reapply and get in or get into a better school.
I think you have a few options here. IMO, you either wait one more year and apply to transfer as a junior and also look at some other colleges where you would be happy it, or you do the letter of appeal and take a rejection if that’s what they say again.
The problem is, you don’t have a case for an appeal. You just really want to go there, and you feel that the AC made a mistake. You could write a letter to admissions asking what you could improve on and if there is a shot for you to transfer next year. If they say no, then you’ll have to give it up.
We are talking about UPenn, not a state school. They are selective with tons of kids. I am sure someone else had their dreams crushed like you, but even if you have the passion, the school has to love you too. It’s like a relationship, both parties have to be crazy about each other, or it’s not going to work out.
If it were me, I would compose myself now and look at some other schools. Perform great next semester and send in another application if you still feel inclined to.
“Why do we fall? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up.” A quote from Alfred, from a Batman movie that I’ve used on an occasion.
Rejection hurts. There’s no doubt about it. We’ve all dealt with it in some way or another. Mourn a little and then get back into the game of life.
Agree with the others. You need to get over Penn and embrace the school that embraced you.
What would be the basis of your appeal? It can’t be that they haven’t given your app careful consideration because they’ve read two of them. There doesn’t seem to have been an error in your grade reports or test scores either. You want to appeal, against their written policies, for what reason? You have to base it on something. Generally, appeals are based on incomplete or inaccurate information, not the desire to attend a particular school.
I think you’re wasting whatever opportunity you currently have. The longer you pine for what you don’t have, the more difficult it is to focus on what’s in front of you. I read a thread not too long ago by a student who wanted to transfer to what turned out to be an unaffordable school. Because they believed they’d be able to transfer they didn’t mentally commit to their current school, so while grades were good their social life was lacking. Focus your energy where you are and apply to Penn for grad school.
You can’t appeal.
Not only do they not take appeals, but you made the mistake of applying freshman year after being rejected in high school. Appealing would NOT look good (especially since you know you can’t do it - it’ll be understood as “can’t follow directions” / hubris “directions don’t apply to me”)… and I assume you don’t want to shoot all your chances there.
A 3.7 is good but at that point you were still 4 years of high school, 1 semester of college, in short the reasons that led to a rejection last year were still overwhelming.
It’s typically harder to get in as a transfer than as a freshman, and if you were denied as a HS senior, you best bet is to take the full two years, get involved on your campus, and have an incredible impact. This is impossible as a freshman who only has a few months on campus, unless you had a research project about to be published that now is, a project about to come to fruition or be sold, etc. In short, I don’t think you gave your current university a chance, you focused on transferring, and thought they had somehow made a mistake by not admitting you, which they’d realize if you reapplied a couple months later with a 3.7 GPA from an honors college and not much else.
Time to let go.
You can transfer elsewhere or stay at your college. Wherever you go, keep your grades up and make an impact - something that can be measured and something that’s altruistic or shows your concern for others.
Have an internship next summer, be as accomplished as you can academically and professionally, work for 3 years, then apply for a Wharton MBA.
At the top schools it’s harder to get in as a transfer than a high schooler. I don’t know why so many people think that after getting rejected as a HS senior they will be able to get in as a transfer.
I also completely agree that trying to transfer out is a major reason why you were unhappy this year at your current school.
Get over it. Now.
Unfortunately, this is no longer about what YOU want. It’s about which students this school wants to be part of their student body and is their decision, not yours. That doesn’t mean they don’t think you’re a worthy student. For whatever reason, they believe they have other students they think are a better fit for their school.
Btw, telling people not to tell you want you don’t want to hear makes it appear you’re not really interested in the answer to your question.
It’s not personal; it’s just excessive demand. If a school has 20 spots and 200 very qualified applicants want them, then 90% of QUALIFIED applicants will be denied. It’s not a judgment on you or your chances of future success. Don’t worry about fractions of a point. I’m sure you are at a great school, keep working hard, and move forward there. Your college education is what you make it, what you decide it will be. Good luck!
I agree there are many ways to get a business degree and Wharton isn’t the only game in town. That said, I’m a dreamer and I appreciate dreamers and those who dream large and don’t like to take no for an answer. I do believe where there’s a will there’s a way. Is your dream to get some type of MBA at Wharton? Can you start by taking a summer semester or a class? Can you network once there? Can you get your degree at current school, then get some work experience and apply for the MBA? Can you set your sights further ahead and try to get an executive MBA at some point including at the San Francisco site? I’d do some research and figure out another way if that is your goal. Hearing other people say just move on would only serve to make me more determined. I love naysayers.
I know many students who went to Penn/Wharton, and I highly doubt that any of them would say, looking back, they absolutely had to go to Penn/Wharton. I think the OP is going to look back years from now and wonder why they were so fixated on this particular school. Sometimes the high selectivity of these schools is what gets students hooked.
Remember that classic junior year Wharton transfer named Donald Trump? Maybe daddy can write a check?
@preppedparent I have no intention of going to graduate school and there is no point of going to Wharton for an MBA. The whole reason I want to go is for the undergraduate experience and I would not consider going to Penn for the graduate school I never even intend on going to.
Put that “dream school” in the rear view mirror and drive on. There is a life out there for you to live.
“I have no intention of going to graduate school and there is no point of going to Wharton for an MBA.”
Huh? Why not?
“The whole reason I want to go is for the undergraduate experience.”
What’s so special about the Wharton undergraduate experience? You get to be considered annoying by Wharton MBAs? Is that the experience you yearn for?
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
There is just nothing left to say that has not been said. Closing thread.