The Class of 2025 has worked hard at getting into the university of their choice. Here's Dishan's story. 

What is your Tanglin story?
I joined Tanglin in Year 5 after a few years at Bangkok Patana School in Thailand and a short stint at CIS. Being at Tanglin for almost a decade has been an incredible experience. Beyond strong academics, I discovered opportunities that pushed me out of my comfort zone. From launching a nationwide Youth Finance Conference and picking up the French Horn to digging through soil for my HL Theatre performance, I’ve been fortunate to explore a wide range of interests - all while being supported by teachers who have also been true mentors.

What did you think scored you the opportunity at UPenn Wharton and why did you decide to do your NS before attending university?
I think what helped me most was being in an environment that encouraged me to take initiative and turn my ideas into something tangible. At Tanglin, I was lucky to have many teachers who provided platforms that helped me explore them - whether in sustainability, finance, or the arts. I’m especially grateful to Mrs Aluthge-Donna, Mrs Sprague, Mr Hyland, and Mr Hall, whose guidance shaped much of my Tanglin journey. This gave me the confidence to build things with real-world impact that served the community, not just tick boxes for a college application. Whether it was raising funds for sustainability projects in Bangalore or using revenue from my small gardening business to support environmental charities, I tried to combine my passions in a way that contributed to something bigger than myself.

As for NS, it wasn’t really a question for me - I’ve grown up in Singapore and am a citizen, so I chose to defer my university acceptance. Wharton was incredibly supportive of the deferral, and I’m excited to know that after NS, I’ll be joining Penn’s Class of 2031 - even if that sounds like it’s miles away!

Is this your first choice? What were your other choices and why?
Definitely - Wharton has been my dream for years! I love that its curriculum is so forward-looking, combining world-class business education with the freedom to explore other disciplines. I’m especially excited to explore sustainable finance and impact investing, which are areas I’m deeply passionate about. I’ve always been drawn to a career in finance, particularly investment banking, so the strong recruiting and networking opportunities at Wharton are a huge plus. The culture at Penn really resonated with me, and after visiting the campus last year, I knew I wanted to apply for Early Decision.

Is there anything you wished you could have done differently?
I’ve been really fortunate to have had such a positive experience, so there’s not much I would change. That said, when you’re buried under what feels like a never-ending pile of IAs, college essays, and deadlines, it’s easy to sacrifice your wellbeing just to get everything done - and I definitely fell into that trap at times. But I eventually realised that maintaining a healthy work-life balance actually makes you more productive and helps you avoid burning out too early. It also allows you to enjoy the last year or two of secondary school better!