RUPERT Kang is following in the footsteps of some of the biggest business names in the world.
The Murdoch resident and Wesley College graduate (18) has been accepted to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, known for its alumni such as United States president Donald Trump, entrepreneur Elon Musk and businessman Warren Buffett.
The business school at the Ivy League university is regarded as one of the best in the world and Mr Kang was one of 3345 out of 44,960 accepted.
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The family believe Mr Kang is the only WA person to have been accepted to the school as an undergraduate as part of the class of 2023.
“Wharton is the best of the best, it will be great to meet like-minded people,” he said.
“Some of the CEOs of the biggest companies in the world have gone there so it’s a chance to network.
“I didn’t know anything about Ivy League schools until I took a trip with my dad (Nicholas) to the US in 2016 and we visited Harvard, Yale, Columbia and then I looked into the criteria.”
Mr Kang completed both the Suite of Assessments (SAT) American university entrance exams and the United Kingdom’s Universities and Colleges Admissions Service exams, while also completing Year 12 studies at Wesley College and recording an ATAR of 99.7.
The other fields that the university looked into were his extra-curricular activities and community service, which has included volunteering with Vinnies and Mission Australia’s Christmas Lunch in the Park.
“The SAT entrance exams were completely different from the WA curriculum, it was an extra layer of studying during Year 12 but my ATAR results also played a big role in my application,” he said.
“I found out on March 29 that I was successful, it was a big relief after all the work and stress.
“I head over in mid August and I’m excited because it will be a new adventure.
“It’s like if you are playing for Perth Glory and you have the opportunity to play in the English Premier League, few people would pass up that opportunity.”
Mr Kang will come out of the course with a Bachelor of Science and Economics but he is unsure what he will major in.
“I’ve always been strong at science and the arts and medicine has been on the cards and the next step would be to get into a top five medical school in the world,” he said.
“Being an undergrad will give me the chance to explore, medicine is a massive field.
“In the meantime I’m doing some work at Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research as a research assistant.”
The family is looking for help with the costs of the course.