How do i show leadership to an admissions officer?

Question

I have my mind set on applying to Wharton ED but from what i have heard i don't like my chances. I am currently 1/300 at my high school class and have taken all the hardest classes but my SAT's are mediocre (math 710, CR 680, Reading 600) and I no activities that really stand out. (I am an officer of a club and play sports but so does everyone else). I guess it also doesn't help that i am a middle class, white boy from the suburbs in Ohio.

I guess what I'm asking is for advice on how to showcase my leadership qualities. I believe I am a leader in the classroom where i get good grades and go beyond what is required of me every day. My senior year i am not even able to have a lunch so i can fit both AP Physics BC and Choir, both of which i am very dedicated to. I am willing to do anything to improve my chances before November 1st but I have run out of ideas. If anyone has any suggestions of what i could do or even what helped them get in it would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Being a middle-class white is only a "disadvantage" because that is what most of the people attending are--I hope you don't think that all sorts of "others" get in before you.  A top school wants a very diverse freshman class--geographic (more of an issue than race), interests, SAT scores (can you retake? and take others?), (yes) ethnicity for balance, and individual experiences.  Many people who apply to Wharton and other top schools are "qualified," but they can only take so many.  Make a list of your activities, and develop essays that show how you have contributed to the activity, what you have learned, and how you have changed your worldview based on that experience.  The fact that you are valedictorian in your class is very much IN your favor, BTW, as I'm sure your school is very good.  

Work on your essays and develop reasons why you want to go to Wharton--show knowledge of the school and its programs, although don't just list things in which you have an interest.  Hone your interests and weave those through all your essays, and you will have better essays.  Don't stretch the truth, but say what IS true about your interests and what you want to accomplish in college.  Also, what can YOU offer Wharton??  Students often forget that they need to contribute, not just take.  

Answer 2

My advice is to really spotlight a specific leadership experience in one of your essays.  Do they still have the essay question regarding your autobiography?  That's your opportunity to illustrate your leadership experience beyond just a title in a list of accomplishments.  Make it clear within the narrative the situation or challenge you faced and then the path you took to tackle it with emphasis on the characteristics that make you unique.  For example, some lead by example, others lead by acting as a mediator, etc.  I recommend featuring Choir as all Penn admits are leaders in the classroom and its a good example of working in a team (business folks LOVE teamwork).  Perhaps you've taken initiative with a particularly difficult piece or made some extra sacrifices to support the group.  

Echoing other posts, if possible, you may want to retake the SAT.  While a low SAT school won't keep you out of Wharton, the pool is a competitive one.  If you don't have the time, I wouldn't sweat it. A good friend of mine throughout college had a SAT score in the 1300 range (pre-new SAT system) and still managed to kick my 1500+ butt in all of our finance classes.  Good luck with your app!  

Answer 3

I remember reading or hearing a story one time of a kid that got into college by "standing out" to his admission officer.  They had a question on the application asking if they were a leader or a follower.  The person checked "follower".  

Their acceptance letter read something like:  

Congratulations, you have been accepted to join the class of XX at Ivy University.  You will be attending with 2000 leaders and yourself - the one follower.  Welcome on board.  We'd love to have you. The world needs followers too.

Seriously:

You'd do better by working your butts off to increase your SAT scores before Nov if you can take it again.  

Some ideas are to contact all your friends and all the little old ladies in your (church?) and gather school supplies for the local school, gather food for thanksgiving dinner for the kids at the local school or welfare office, volunteer labor work for an elderly or disabled neighbor or Church member that has a yard that needs cleaned up.  Call the local newspaper and tell them what you did.  Maybe they will write a story about who you helped out.  Include this in your admission application, perhaps?

THE KEY FOR YOUR SUCCESS IS :

Find a problem,

ask for and come up with solutions,

realize you can't do it alone and

fix the problem with help 'cause noone can do it alone.

This is what leaders do.  Some of the best learders are great followers too.

GOOD LUCK

Answer 4

You could join more clubs and try to get a leadership position in one of those (Pres., Vice Pres, etc).

OR

Start some kind of small non-profit thing in your community... when you start something, you are automatically the leader :)  You'd have to find a group of people, of course, but perhaps there's something that you care about that you and others could do? Something for the environment? Charity work? I don't know you, so think of something like that. Starting something like that will look much better on a college ap if you're putting something back into the community or the scoll than just being a leader of a school group or the like. But, the hardest part about it is getting people to follow you. But that's what a leader is, right?