Chances @ McCombs Business School (Honors)

<p>Ok a rising Junior (know it's early, just trying to gage possibilities)</p>

<p>Male Asian from rural Kansas
ACT: 29 4/06 (Guessing lowest by senior year will be 31/32)
PSAT-179 (sophomore year)
GPA 4.0 (no weighted scale)
Class Rank 1/158
Taking toughest classes available. Only two AP courses (US History and AB Calc) offered, both by senior year.
EC's: Student Government, Foreign Language Club, service clubs, VP of FCA, a few other offices in some other clubs, HOBY, lots of volunteer hours. Cross Country all four years. Also have won two economic essays, one sponsored by the Kansas City Star and the other the Federal Reserve Bank of KC. If it helps I've had the same job for the last seven years? </p>

<p>I am particularly interested in the Honors Progam. Most likely major will be Finance. Thanks in advance</p>

<p>Regular McCombs you are in. BHP if you increase your ACT to around 32-33 you are in there as well.</p>

<p>grandpabuzz, my s is interested in honors too. He currently has a 30 ACT, but is retaking in Sept. to try to bring it up. He is #1 out of 489, so I think an auto admit to the business school. My question is, somebody told him that he should apply as soon as the apps come out in September to be sure to get in under the 75% condition. If he has already sent the 30 to UT and he scores higher (fingers crossed) on the ACT, will they factor that in for honors? When do they make the honors decisions? Also, will he hear immediately (later sept or oct) about getting into McCombs, or will he just get a letter that he has gotten into Texas? My other son didn't get his acceptance til spring, but he wasn't top 10%, so I have different questions.</p>

<p>Thanks for any information you can give.</p>

<p>Here's a link to the profile of the BHP freshman class:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/programs/bhp/admissions/freshstat.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/programs/bhp/admissions/freshstat.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>You class ranking is where it needs to be but your standardized test scores are quite a bit lower than the average for freshmen admitted to the BHP.</p>

<p>BHP looks at lot at leadership positions. they already expect high test scores, a lot of people who apply have those. historically, at my school, people who have been like ranked 2 or 3 out of 600+ students got rejected b/c they didn't have much leadership at all. but like "lower" ranking students... still top like 2-3% and slightly lower test scores, got in because of leadership positions. at the BHP reception for accepted students, i recall that they said leadership is one of the most important things they look at. they said they denied several validictorians who had 1600s b/c they were lacking in leadership positions. i'd say though, for the most part, BHP admit decisions are very unpredictable. i'd recommend going into some detail about your leadership roles and what you've done when writing that BHP resume.</p>

<p>KSAzN, you're in several clubs, but just being a member of the club might not help as much as being an officer of a majority of the clubs. (this shows not only time management but also leadership) i was officer (prez, vp, secretary) of several clubs at my high school.... student council, debate, politics, etc. i also organized guest speakers, etc. </p>

<p>ag54, i heard from the reg. business school soon after i applied (like november), but didn't hear about BHP until about early/mid april.</p>

<p>hope this helps.</p>

<p>asnrubberducky (cutename), My s should be ok with the leadership stuff, he has been elected captain of the football team for next year, has been a class representative and was elected student council executive board senior year. He won the "principal's award" last year which is given to the "outstanding male (there is a female counterpart) student based on scholastics, leadership and character" for the school. His letters of recommendation should be great. I just saw the one from his coach who really talked alot about his leadership skills and how respected he is not only by his peers, but by the faculty and administration. He is a pretty well rounded applicant, not only a good student, but a 3 sport varsity athlete (3 years), and elected to student govt. He also has close to 200 hours volunteering: by being a little league football coach for 3 years, and by volunteering at a retirement community. I think he will be a strong applicant, but I know that he needs to bring his ACT up. </p>

<p>At this point, I think the only other school he is applying to is Notre Dame and he has to bring the ACT up for that too, so has a lot of motivation to try for the 32 or better. If he can't do it, then whatever... He will be happy with being at McCombs and UT.</p>

<p>And yes, thank you for your help!! :)</p>

<p>OOps, one more thing azn, when you say slightly lower test scores, what do you mean? (equivalent to what ACT) I would sure appreciate that bit of info!!!</p>

<p>to those interested, i think yall are definitely doing the right thing by trying to get into BHP. McCombs is a great school, but I believe BHP is more along the lines of Ross/Haas and just under Wharton. The average SAT score for the school is amazingly high for a public school. If you are a Texas resident interested in business, BHP is honestly the best deal available without a doubt. Good luck to those of you applying - I honestly think a 30 ACT will be immediately cut but will be accepted by the general business school.</p>

<p>brand, how high does the act have to be? He is shooting for 32, would that do it?</p>

<p>Thanks for the help so far. I think I'll clarify the EC's section, I was rather vague.</p>

<p>EC's</p>

<p>Student Government (10, 11)- Class Represenative (Elected Position)
Kansas Future Educators of America (10, 11) (Service Organization) Officer (11)
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (9, 10, 11) Vice Presdient (11) Also the VP is automatically President senior year Very involved, plan huddle meetings, bring in speakers etc. etc.
Foreign Language Club (9, 10, 11)- Helped plan fundraisers for Spain trip Sophomore year
Afterschool volunteer work @ a youth center for two years. Avg. 2-3 hrs a week.
Have volunteered @ Vacation Bible School, church etc. etc.
National Honor Society is different @ our school, can only get in final two years of high school.
HOBY-Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership- was chosen out of my class for this honor, given to the person w/ the most leadership potential.
Debate, Scholar's Bowl, PSU Math Relays, National History Day competitions, etc. I am very into academic competitions.
Cross Country (9, 10, 11)
Track (9, 10) not doing this year
As I stated before, won two economic essays w/ the KC Star and the Fed Reserve Bank of KC.
I have won academic awards @ my school, Accounting Student of the Year, Math Student of the Year.
Also worked @ the same job for the last seven years.</p>

<p>Ag54- your son's applying to ND? I will, but of course not to '08, as I am just going to be a Junior. My sister is @ ND, she loves it. We aren't a Catholic family though, she chose because of the "family" atmosphere that is highly renowed @ ND. ND is one of my "top" choices, as with UPenn, UT-Austin, Emory, WuSTL, Princeton, Cornell, and Stanford.</p>

<p>Ksazn, we aren't Catholic either, but my S has loved Notre Dame since he was a kid. I guess he saw Rudy too many times ;). We took him up there to a football game when he was a freshman (vrs. Stanford) and he was hooked. He and my h just went up two weeks ago for an admissions session and they both came away wowed by the atmosphere there. It is an awesome school! He went to UT for a visit last Friday and spent the night with a guy who is in the business school (acctg. ppa program). He showed him around the campus and talked about what his experiences have been. It was really informative and my s came away very impressed by UT also. I think he will be happy either place and with Notre Dame being such a reach, it is nice to have UT as a safety.</p>

<p>My name is Simon Haidamous, and I am the Recruiting Coordinator of the Business Honors Program at The University of Texas at Austin. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions concerning the program.</p>

<p>I've read several postings concerning BHP, and there seems to be a lot of miscommunication as to what we are looking for in the admissions process. If you would like to learn more, please visit <a href="http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/bhp%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.mccombs.utexas.edu/bhp&lt;/a> or email me at <a href="mailto:simon.haidamous@bba04.mccombs.utexas.edu">simon.haidamous@bba04.mccombs.utexas.edu</a>. </p>

<p>I've also made myself readily available via AOL Instant Messenger at "blottedcow." I know the screenname is unprofessional; however, I am also a student enrolled in the program and maintain a life outside of the classroom. </p>

<p>Also, this fall, I will be planning several recruiting receptions across Texas. Please let me know if you will be in the state and would like to attend. </p>

<p>Best,
Simon Haidamous</p>

<p>Simon, thanks for jumping on board! I have sent your email address to my son who is at home. He was extremely impressed last week with the facilities at the business school, and the guy who showed him around (a guy who graduated from his hs a couple of years ago) should be a recruiter for UT too ;) because he did a heck of a job making my son feel at home, and that UT would be a great place to be!! </p>

<p>I don't know if my son can get up there again for one of the scheduled business school and honors tours, the dates will conflict with school or football, so if he could speak with you to get some things cleared up, it would sure be helpful.</p>