dead meat at Wharton–sorta everything you want to know about his HORRID category, it means you are a ding walking into the interview no matter what happens
Hey Sandy,
Im a reapplicant for Wharton this year and just got an interview invitation. Im not very excited this time since I was invited last year as well but I was denied admission afterwards. I guess I was “dead meat” last year, but do you know if my chances are any better this year since I am a reapplicant? I mean, do they ask “dead meat” for interview twice? I would reallly appreciate any input.
HMMMMMM, good luck, and just go w. it, dude, as to whether as a matter of theory you are dead meat: well, dead meat is just ANYONE who will be dinged at Wharton no matter how well they interview, and since W. dings about 60 percent of ALL kids interviewed [versus ~45 percent at H] well, there are more dings, and more dead meat. The fact that is 2nd time around dont mean anything, the mindset of busy student reader who pushes your app. into Interview batch is what creates dead meat to begin w. because the bar is soooooo low (compared to H and S0 for getting invite, the kid reading is just rushing to do his 20 apps that day (or whatever) and not thinking much beyond that –if there is nothing driving you in, no compelling reason to take you, if you are in middle of super  competitive cohort, etc. all that could result in invite but NO CHANCE of getting in, despite great interview. As noted, interviews are more powerful on the down side, as reasons to ding people, they rarely turn dings into accpets, altho there is some middle zone obviously. But the fantasy that you are going to hit a home run at interview and turn your marginal app into accept, that just dont happen. All that dont mean you are dead meat, but you could be. Sorry, just giving it to your straight. Dont argue w. me, argue w. Wharton for only having a post interview accept rate of 40 percent.
