Fact check: How did Donald Trump gain admission to the University of Pennsylvania?

1. Summary of the results

Donald Trump gained admission to the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School through a connection facilitated by his older brother, Fred Trump Jr., who was friends with admissions officer James A. Nolan ^[1]. The process involved:

• Nolan interviewed Trump at Fred's request ^[1]
• While Nolan supported Trump's candidacy, the application was also reviewed by both the head of transfer student admissions and the vice dean ^[1]
• Trump transferred from Fordham University ^[2]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial contextual elements provide a more complete picture:

• The admission process at Penn in the 1960s was significantly less competitive than today, with:
• Approximately 40% acceptance rate compared to today's 7% ^[1]
• Transfer acceptance rates were even higher, over 50% ^[3]
• Nolan himself stated he was "not impressed" by Trump and found "no evidence" of Trump's later claims of being a "super genius" ^[1]
• Trump's academic performance at Wharton was reportedly unremarkable:
• He rarely participated in study groups ^[4]
• Was not listed among top honors at graduation ^[4]
• According to a 1985 biography, attended classes mainly to satisfy his father ^[4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The simple question about gaining admission requires important context to prevent misconceptions:

• Trump has previously portrayed his admission to Wharton as evidence of exceptional academic ability, but this narrative is contradicted by:
• The relatively high acceptance rates of the era ^[5]
• Direct testimony from the admissions officer who interviewed him ^[5]
• His actual academic performance while at the school ^[4]
• The narrative benefits Trump's public image of being a "super genius," but contemporary accounts from multiple sources, including the admissions officer himself, contradict this characterization ^{[1] [3]}
• While family connections played a role in securing the interview, it's important to note that Trump was not accepted solely on Nolan's recommendation ^[1]