Hey everyone I’m really anxious about college and need to hear some advice. I’m open to any feedback and please be honest!
I am a Sophmore in High School in Illinois. I want to major in finance and eventually get my MBA. I’m realistic enough to know I’m not going to the Ivies but I am looking into top tier schools such as but not limited to:
UMich (top choice)
Emory
UNC
UVA
Northwestern
NYU
Boston College
Florida
UT-Austin
Stats:
GPA: After this year I’m just going to assume my GPA since I’m still in semester 2.
Weighted:4.2 Unweighted 3.7
Scored 99% on PSAT but I can’t remember my exact score (sorry!)
Class Load:
In max AP/ Honors possible. Scored 5 on APHG test. Only AP test I’ve taken so far
Extracurriculars:
Really into sports.
2 years football, 1 year varsity
Track last year
Varsity tennis this year
Plyometrics this year (basically a club for agility and speed work)
Advanced Weightlifting
DECA state qualifier (came in 4th in business finance long story not going to state)
JV Scholastic Bowl
Volunteering/ Extras
Volunteer once a week for Special Olympic football
Volunteered 10 hours over summer at my church doing various chores
Assistant coach for youth girls basketball last 2 years for 80+ hours
Kind of light here I plan on doing a lot more this summer
Work experience
Youth Basketball ref/ over 40 hours worked
Sneaker Resale/ made over 2000 dollars, could use this to my advantage in financial background
Writer for PSF, a sports website that has over 10,000 viewers a month
Associate for DFF, a large fantasy football website, I maintain viewer rates and work on brand name as well as a little writing.
Please please please tell me what I need to do and if I’m close to those schools. Thanks!
If I was to make an inference from what you have written, you sound like a sports guy and a finance guy. That’s awesome that you are both well rounded and have clear interests/passions! Just keep going with them and write essays that sound like you when it’s time to fill out the app. Your OOS status will disadvantage you at some places, but I think you are on the right track. Add a few more safeties that you will no doubt get into, and you will definitely be okay. Best of luck! 
Like @anxiouswreck I think that you will want to add some safeties. When the time comes to apply to universities you will also want to add some in-state choices. You have some very good in-state public universities in Illinois which rival or exceed some of the out of state schools that you have listed. If you want to major in finance you should be well aware of the value of money, the power of compounding (whether for investments or for debt), and the value of avoiding debt.
Definitely keep an open mind wrt universities, find out your budget and run the NPCs, and in the mean time keep ahead in your classes and participate in the ECs that you personally find interesting.
I think that you are doing well and you are in good shape.
I really appreciate the feedback. Honestly, without coming off as arrogant money isn’t a big issue for me. I’m not rich by any means but my parents can pay a large sum of my tuition and I’ll loan the rest. I view it as a worthy investment.
As for safeties I have a few in mind but no need to list. Indiana is my top safety and I am a legacy at WVU so that’s another option. The schools I listed weren’t necessarily my targets, just a broad category that I’m aiming for.
Even if you can pay, I don’t know if shelling out thousands of dollars for UMich is worth it if you’re in-state for Illinois. No matter your income, from a financial point of view it doesn’t make much sense because you also need to pay for grad school. Maybe go to UMich for your MBA? Also not sure how your parents would feel about footing the bill. I don’t know about anyone else, but I know where my parents would prefer me to go if I was in your situation!
What does UMich have the University of Illinois doesn’t? I’m not as familiar with the latter so I’m not sure, but I think that if you can’t answer the question, it’s not worth it.
At the same time, you are a sophomore. I’ve finished applying to college but my first choice still fluctuates every day!
Maybe I am reacting like this because I wish that my in-state school was as fabulous as the Illinois campuses… Well, I hope that even if I’m wrong or my logic is poor, I at least gave you something to think about.
That’s a good point, but UMich has much more prestige and is a target school for the Wall Street banks. U of I isn’t known as much for business as it’s much more science oriented. Either way still plenty of time and options!