<p>Early</a> College High School - High School (CA Dept of Education)</p>
<p>How much would going to an early college hs affect chances of getting into top tier universities?</p>
<p>At my hs I take AP and honors courses in addition to college classes at a local community college. When I graduate I will have approx. 60 transferable units. My dream school is Wharton and I want to pursue a career in finance. </p>
<p>However, this fall I will be a junior and I have realized that I do not have any impressive ECs. I make mostly As but so do most of the students who get into elite schools. Im hoping to find an internship this summer or get involved with something that will help me stand out.</p>
<p>You need to realize that probably zero of those credits would transfer to Wharton or a similar school. You may be best off attending a state school which will accept the credits and not be as concerned with ECs for undergad and saving Wharton for grad school.</p>
<p>Even if the credit does not transfer, would it still put me at a competitive advantage? I would rather enter as a freshman at penn than a junior at san jose state. It just doesnt seem like the right educational path for me because I am aiming for a career in investment banking, private equity, or hedge funds and companies like Goldman Sachs seem to focus on a few target schools. </p>
<p>Also, Im not sure if it helps but I am a first generation college student and a Croatian minority (slavic, only 0.14 percent of US population)</p>
<p>If you want to work for GS, then yes, you need a Wharton. Whether college classes will be an advantage or not will depend on what college and what the classes were. You also don’t mention scores. Any top colleges will want strong scores and accomplishments outside of the classroom. This could be work in addition to ECs.</p>
<p>It is a small unknown community college and the classes are general ed/major reqs. For example this semester I took AP world history, H english and H geom, and biology and japanese at the college. Its not entirely clear to me, but I believe that the college classes also count as college prep hs classes.</p>
<p>I assume you are talking about sat and act scores? I just finished soph year and dont believe I have taken either yet. And I assume the work you are talking about would be more like a marketing internship rather than flipping burgers. Ive been trying to find some kind of business related work, but I have yet to land any job at all. The economy certainly isnt helping that or my chances of getting into college.</p>
<p>Realistically, if I start doing great ECs and score high on standardized tests, could I get into Wharton/ ivy league/ any top school? Ive been stressing about it because applying to these schools with perfect grades and perfect ECs is the minimum.</p>
<p>Flipping burgers is a fine job. You do need to develop some signs of academic passion beyond the classroom for a shot at top schools. It sounds like you’re just taking average high school classes at a CC. Why not be at a high school where you could develop leadership and participate in competitions? Geometry in soph year might not get you to calc in senior year which is a must for Wharton. Can you use the CC to get ahead?</p>
<p>The classes are college level, alongside college students. My town is impoverished and the local hs are full of drug and gang problems so going there doesnt excite me, but there is a severe lack of clubs/sports/competitions at the hs I go to. Junior year I will be taking H alg II, and I hope I can take calc senior year (summer classes are available at hs and college level, and I will talk to my counselor about the reqs for wharton)</p>
<p>To be blunt, you’re among “college” kids taking high school classes, these are not college level classes as Wharton will see it.</p>
<p>You still have 2 years. There’s lots you can do. Read up on what top colleges want. This site is really all you need. Post on the parent’s board for the best advice.</p>
<p>Thank you for your help. Where and how should I start with ECs and leadership? I have read that wharton looks for international experience, and one of my passions is east asia, so perhaps I could find some EC that relates to that?</p>