Chances to top tier business schools (Wharton, McIntire, etc.)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>What are my chances of getting into a top tier undergraduate business school, specifically UPenn - Wharton, UVa - McIntire, UT - McCombs, and UNC - Kenan-Flagler? I'm looking into majoring in Finance and Accounting. I live in Mississippi, and if you have any other schools, you can suggest them. I am a rising senior. Also, what are some special scholarships that I may be qualified for, and what is my potential scholarship money? Here are my credentials:</p>

<p>ACT: 33 (retaking it tomorrow)
GPA: 4.0 (my school does not weigh it)
Class Rank: 1 out of 55</p>

<p>I have taken or will take every honors and AP class at my school except for AP Biology. The AP classes include AP US History, AP Chemistry, AP Physics (senior year), and AP Calculus (senior year). I will also take dual-enrollment Comp 1 and Comp 2 my senior year. I've gotten numerous subject awards which are given to the students with the highest average in the class. These awards include AP US History, AP Chemistry, Honors Physics, Honors Advanced Math (Pre-Cal), etc. I also received the Daughters of the American Revolution Citizenship Award and Woodman of the World Life Insurance Society Award. I won my local Chamber of Commerce Award, and I have had perfect attendance during tenth and eleventh grade. I have received Who's Who among All-American Scholars. I won my district's soccer referee of the year award. I have also placed in district and state in Academic Betterment Competition tests in numerous subjects.</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities:
Student Council President, Mu Alpha Theta, Writer for school newspaper (Editor senior year), Math and Science Club, Green and Gold Ambassadors Club, National Honors Society (President senior year), Quiz Bowl Team (1st Place in District II in Mathematics and Science Tournament and 2nd Place in District II East/West), Foreign Language Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Junior Engineering Technical Society, Basketball player, and Soccer player.</p>

<p>Work Experience/Volunteer:
Community Kitchen, Church youth group, local museum, soccer referee, lawn work, tutoring, and electronic support. </p>

<p>Computer Skills:
Operating Systems - Windows
Software - MS Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Photoshop, Mozilla Firefox, Adobe Dreamweaver
anguages - HTML, XHTML, XML</p>

2

<p>You need the Math II SAT Subject Test for Wharton. Even with that, it will still be a reach for you.</p>

<p>You’re competitive at the others.</p>

3

<p>What makes Wharton a reach? Is there anything I can improve on?</p>

4

<p>You have a shot at Wharton, Mississippi will help a lot. You will need strong math scores, both ACT and SATII math 2. If you were frpm NYC, Boston or LA you would need a higher score, but kids here underestimate the importance of where you’re applying from.</p>

5

<p>I’m applying to Wharton ED, and I’m from MS, too. I wish you the best of luck! What high school do you attend?</p>

6

<p>Pillow Academy. You?</p>

7

<p>St. Andrew’s (just outside of Jackson). </p>

<p>Now I can give you a much more thorough review.</p>

<p>It’s going to hurt you that your school isn’t an established feeder into Penn. They only accept a few kids out of MS every year, and they always seem to come from Oak Grove (in Hattiesburg) or St. Andrew’s. But that shouldn’t deter you; I just think it’s noteworthy.</p>

<p>As hmom5 pointed out, you need strong math scores. To reiterate, you really need to take the SAT II Math IIC. It tests concepts through precalculus.</p>

<p>Concerning your ECs, they seem quite scattered. I can’t detect any passion for a subject by looking at them, and nothing on your app seems to indicate that you want to pursue finance/accounting. Why do you want to go to Wharton? You need a good answer to that question.</p>

<p>Overall, though, you’re competitive. As hmom5 aptly noted, coming from MS does indeed help a lot, but you need to apply ED if you want a legitimate shot.</p>

<p>P.S. Are you an underrepresented minority (i.e., black, Hispanic, Native American)? Are you a first generation college student? If you’re either of these two things, I retract the aforementioned conclusion. You would have an excellent shot.</p>

8

<p>I currently have a 34 on math on the ACT. I’m hoping it gets higher.</p>

<p>I was planning on interning at Viking this summer, but with the economy, they are firing people, and they aren’t even accepting intern applicants in the accounting/finance area at the moment. </p>

<p>I’m Indian, so I’m assuming that hurts me? I’m not sure if I want to apply ED yet because I want to visit there first to see if I really like it. I’m not a first generation college student, either.</p>

9

<p>Yes, being Indian is not good, but it’s counterbalanced by the fact you’re from MS. It’s pretty much ED or bust for Wharton, but don’t apply ED unless you’re 100% sure you want to attend.</p>

10

<p>What about UVa, UT, and UNC or any other schools for that matter?</p>

11

<p>You’re competitive. That’s all that can be said.</p>

12

<p>Yeah, you have a good shot.</p>

13

<p>Bump… Anyone else?</p>

14

<p>I believe Penn has the best undergrad business program in the country so definitely go there if you can. The rest of the best schools are Ivys and other big name places, but there are 2 exceptions. U Texas & Indiana U are very good schools for business too so you might consider one of them as a safety.</p>

15

<p>to answer an earlier question… Wharton’s a reach because Wharton’s a reach for every kid. You could have a 4.0 and a 2400 and a 36 and Wharton would still be a reach. it’s just how it is</p>

<p>(not to sound cynical or anything) =P</p>

16

<p>Gordon, of the other Ivys, I thought Columbia was the only one that had an undergraduate business program. Would U Texas really be considered a safety for me?</p>

<p>Chocolate, you make a good point. I hadn’t thought of that, and it makes complete sense.</p>

17

<p>you don’t apply to the unc business school from high school, it’s only a 2-year program (junior + senior year). so, you apply to the business school at the end of your sophmore year</p>

18

<p>Are there any other opinions?</p>

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<p>It will not hurt you that you do not go to a ‘feeder’ school. It will help. Penn probably only sees applications from a few MS schools but would like to see new schools. Colleges very much want representation from different schools.</p>

<p>ED makes a big difference at Penn, so visit, and if it’s your first choice and aid is not an issue apply ED.</p>

20

<p>Awesome. Besides Penn, are the schools I listed matches or reaches?</p>