<p>this was years ago but people might find this interesting</p>
<p>as an international student I had no sense of what American history or politics was really like in specific terms. And a Wharton application question asked “What in your opinion was the most important event in world history?” To that I answered “Roosevelt’s New Deal Plan.”</p>
<p>like people who probably know why this is half nuts is probably better suited than me for applying to Wharton. </p>
<p>I went to another Ivy League institution though. So not many hard feelings. But they don’t teach things like accounting or management here, which I really wanted to study (but vaguely).</p>
<p>The specific reasons why this is stupid though is now that I’ve learned :</p>
<ol>
<li>Jefferson, who established the University of Pennsylvania was a real antifederalist (and Roosevelt was one hell of a federalist or nationalist)</li>
<li>Most people at Wharton probably hate any sort of concept of “regulation” since their asses are so conservative and libertarian free-market oriented. But the New Deal is sort of the beginning of any regulation in democratic human history.</li>
</ol>
<p>i doubt your choice of Roosevelt’s new deal as the most important event in world history had any bearing whatsoever on your rejection to Wharton. typical mindset of college applicants writing about what they think admissions officers want to hear.</p>
<p>i have to agree with qwerty—writing about something you’re actually passionate about and believe in is a lot more impressive to an admissions officer than what you think they want hear. and there were probably other factors besides your essay that played into your rejection as well.</p>
<p>how could you be sure? That wasn’t part of the main essay, though. It was in the form of a short answer response question. I’m not saying this was decisive, but when your chances aren’t spectacular, you need to at least show that you know what the school is about. but if not, then that’s settled.</p>
<p>I’m playing you a funeral song on the world’s tiniest violin. </p>
<p>On the bright side, I hear Benjamin Franklin–who, might I add, totally did not found the University of Pennsylvania–was a really accomplished violinist, unlike Thomas Jefferson, who did not play the violin but founded Penn. I hear they actually call Penn “Mr. Jefferson’s University” and rub his butt on the statue in the Quad for good luck. Or something.</p>