Business?

Applying to College
1

<p>After my dad died in my eighth grade year, I opened a business. I was a straight A student before then and learned a lot from my father, as he had a PhD in mathematics. I opened a company because my mother went into depression and I felt responsible. My company grew slowly, and I made some - low five figure range yearly - but I learned a lot. Now, in 2011, I'm a senior. I own the company still, which is a registered C Corp. I do my own taxes on the 1120, manage my technical company, build the brand, and I have established solid business credit to the point where I can secure 50-100K+ in credit lines if I need it. </p>

<p>BUT..(there's always that)</p>

<p>I have a bad GPA. It's only a 86.5 weighted, roughy, not including my now really good grades. I'm not skimping on courseload either, I'm taking two college science lab classes, AP Chem, AP Gov, and Physics. I also am taking Calculus II and planning to potentially take Differentials in my summer '12. </p>

<p>My SATs are decent, with a 2100. SATIIs are fine too, 750 math II, 700 Chem.</p>

<p>This company is my main EC. My grades have steadily gone up 1-2%. Other ECs include tennis, my other job (done for experience) which is tutoring and data entry for a franchise, and studying for my RHCE.</p>

<p>I sold the majority of my clients because my hosting business was taking upwards of 40 hours a week to manage. I'm fine now and money is no issue. I am working on developing a patent pending web application for my company.</p>

<p>How much does this help? I'm not aiming for Wharton, I have no chance with my grades. Looking at NYU Stern, CMU Tepper, Northwestern, and Emory as my "dream schools." What do you guys think?</p>

<p>Also, my essay describes the basic situation and what I learned as said in the beginning of this long post.</p>

<p>Sorry for the ramble, and thanks! Your opinions really matter!</p>

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<p>Up :slight_smile: ------</p>

3

<p>Bump. 10char</p>

4

<p>Wow. You have an impressive story. Please make sure you get some one to edit your essay to ensure that entrepreneur efforts shine.</p>

5

<p>I’d say they’re all substantial reaches… If you can get your SATs up 100+ points (preferably 150), then that’d help alot. Also, try to elaborate on what ECs you do have, and write excellent essays. Your story has convinced me you’ll have great essays. While you should apply to all of these schools, as it’s quite possible you’ll get into one or more, I’d definitely be sure to add some matches and safeties to my list. </p>

<p>Chance me…?(:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=1211013”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=1211013&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>Yeah, SATs can help. My SATIIs are good so I hope that covers that…any more feedback would be appreciated.</p>

<p>Also, I do have some safteies and matches: </p>

<p>UPitt
Penn State
Drexel</p>

7

<p>At this time, NYU Stern is my top choice. My SAT falls in approx. their mid 50 range. My GPA is low, but I have the situation described above. I am thinking of appyling ED. I am not sure if I should apply ED to CMU instead, I like NYU more but if I have a much better chance of ED CMU then I’ll go that route. Also, is ED 1 better than ED 2? I ask because if I do ED 2 my HS will show my updated senior grades.</p>

<p>Here are the AP/college level classes I have taken:</p>

<p>AP Statistics / 5 on exam
AP Comp Sci / 5 on exam
AP Chemistry / Currently Enrolled
AP US Government / Currently Enrolled
Biotechnology (highly selective, not AP, it is a dual enrollment college course that requires teacher recs, transcript, etc - I do have a letter from the professor, she worked at MIT and the letter states that we were highly selected for this program - about 5 students per school. It is basically AP Bio + rigorous lab activities)
Calculus I & Analytic Geometry (evening college class, finished with a 96.9 UW)
Calculus II & Analytic Geometry (currently enrolled - evening college class)</p>

<p>Less APs due to low GPA in freshman year…bad course :(</p>

<p>I have also taken the following honors classes in my school - not weighed:</p>

<p>Honors English (9th - 12th)
Honors Chemistry (11th)
Honors Biology (10th)
H Calculus (Contemporary/Economic)
Honors Earth Science
Honors US History
Honors World History
Honors European History
Honors Algebra II</p>

<p>The following academic classes:</p>

<p>Academic Pre-Calc in 10th grade - I know :frowning: - I did bad in 10th grade HAlgII but now I’m back in CalcII at a college
French (I-IV)</p>

<p>Electives:</p>

<p>Java programming
Visual basic programming
Flash Animation/programming AS
A couple more, can’t think of them. Compsci and Stat are also electives at my school.</p>

<hr>

<p>Senior grades are currently high A’s, and they’re going to stay that way, or so I am trying. So far looking very good. I had a 80% GPA in 9th grade and a 3-4% improvement per year unweighted. But I am scared to apply ED1 because they won’t show my first marking period final grades…or class rank. 2 AP and 1 college level weighting this year will help a lot. (The calc classes I take are not affiliated with my school, I cannot fit them into my schedule but I cannot stop taking math - so I am taking them evenings M/F)</p>

8

<p>^#########</p>

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<p>Bump - 10char :D</p>

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<p>Bump//////</p>

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<p>Up ^^^^^^^^</p>

12

<p>On second thought, CMU Tepper’s more of a high match, and Emory’s a low reach. Wharton’s a high reach, as it is for anyone, and Stern’s a mid reach. Pretty good chances, but still work on getting that SAT up(: I’d use my ED at Tepper and maybe apply ED 2 at Stern if you don’t get into Tepper? Well, vice versa would be optimal, but I don’t think CMU offers ED 1 and ED 2.</p>

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<p>The cost of NYU is pretty steep and they aren’t amazing with financial aid either, since most of it is comprised of loans. You should think about it for a while before you apply to Stern.</p>

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<p>I’d qualify for about 12K financial aid based on CSS. I could get a plus loan and Stafford unsubsidized. My EFC is 17K federal and 43.5K CSS. CMU seems to be about 5-6K cheaper, which isn’t that much, and I like NYC…however, I want to know what I should do to maximize my chances.</p>

<p>:)</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>Bump ^^^^^^^^^</p>

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<p>Don’t overestimate the value of GPA. There are many ways to impress admissions officers. People read the average GPA of schools and think they need that to get in. Remember that half of students fall below that average GPA, and some are far below.</p>

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<p>But, isn’t GPA 2/3 of the decision?</p>

<p>And most of NYU students fall in the 3.65+ range unweighted per collegeboard.</p>

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<p>Bump 10…</p>

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<p>Looking for more feedback :)</p>

<p>So far on my list NYU (Stern), CMU (Tepper) at the top. Also looking at Emory. I don’t think I have a shot at Wharton, although this is very interesting:</p>

<p>Relative Importance of Application Elements
** Secondary school record: Very Important **
Class rank: Considered
Talent/ability: Considered
Interview: Considered
Extracurricular activities: Important
Volunteer work: Considered
** Character/personal abilities: Very Important **
** Application essay: Very Important **
work experience: Considered
SAT/ACT scores: Important
** Recommendations: Very Important **
High school GPA: Important</p>

<p>All of which I think I have pretty well.</p>

<p>But it’s Wharton. No clue who applies there, but I’m only thinking the best of the best, so I think that’s a long shot.</p>

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<p>Bump 10 char</p>