@NotVerySmart BlackRock has $4.8 trillion assets under management (“AUM”) and trades/over sees $13 trillion a day (thank you Aladdin). This firm has been called by government officials from other countries–mostly China-- to help fix their markets. Obama stayed in the hotel across the street from BlackRock so that he could speak to the Larry D. Fink.
Hey @SirEdan, i’d suggest looking into SUNY schools. Idk what you want to major in, but Binghamton is known for their science and Purchase is known for their fine arts programs. Yeah, they’re not Ivies, but I know graduates of both schools (including my mom) who have very successful careers because of the preparation they did in college. Going to an Ivy League school doesn’t mean you’ll be successful, so keep that in mind.
@elenaclaire828 I need to go to a good school that has a great finance department.
Right. Do your homework. That is especially true about any safeties. Make sure you’d be happy to attend. When you apply, make sure you have thought seriously about being at your safety. Pretend you got rejected from every other school. Are you ok about your safety? Would you be happy there. If not, look for ones about which you’d say “yes”. There are literally thousands of schools out there. Pick safeties that you’d be thrilled to attend. Find ones that have features that you would welcome.
Also remember that getting into a school is not really what college is about at all. Once that small detail is done, you actually need to attend. The major activity in college is attending classes. Consider the top 5 students in your high school. Attending an Ivy would be like having every class filled with students just like those top 5 (if you attend a large high school top 1-2 if you attend a smaller one) students in your class. And they are all geared up to work harder and longer than they ever had to in high school because they know the competition is so much greater. Do you fit in there?
You might do fine but it is by no means a given. If you had a B- average but nailed an ACT of 35 I’d speculate you were an under achiever, had not bothered to do much in high school and you might pull good grades at a top school if motivated. But you don’t appear to have been slacking off. So although you might have gotten higher grades if you had done no ECs and committed yourself only to studying, that is not a very good way to live. Colleges want students who will pull good grades and who will be very involved in activities.
People mature academically at different rates. A “B or B-” student can become an A+ student in college. But not if they are left to drown in classes attended by students who have always gotten A’s. Your best bet is to go to a good college that will help you build the skills needed to be the A+ student you’d like to be. That might entail going to a community college that has an agreement with a top notch university or it might mean going to a smaller nurturing college where you can establish your competencies and then transfer to another school or remain there and work more closely with professors to nab great opportunities before getting an advanced degree at a larger better known place. There are tons of great schools out there that are not Ivy schools but that help students meet academic challenges. Don’t get caught up with getting in. College is about achieving once you get there.
elainaclair828, in terms of “but Binghamton is known for their science and Purchase is known for their fine arts programs.”. Actually Stony Brook is known for their sciences and Binghamton is known for humanities.
@SirEdan I was thinking about market valuation, which I understand is the usual measure of a company’s worth. If we’re looking at assets under management, the denominator becomes the (approximately) $250 trillion in global household wealth, making a $4.8 trillion figure (or $4.5 trillion, the figure a quick search on The Google turned up - I’d imagine that small difference is the product of a blip in the stock market) more plausible.
In any case, what does it matter. Back on the topic of this thread, @lostaccount makes some very good points.
Anyway, back to the important part getting into a good college. I agree with @lostaccount advice interms of choosing a college, as stated before it’s best to research schools you have a realistic chance of attending. It’s going to be tough to get into most “good school” with your test score which seems to be an outlier at most good schools test score range, I’m sure with enough prep you could hit at least 26-28 on the ACT which would be enough to get you where you want to go. Good luck.
@Ali1302 I’ll raise my ACT scores to like 30 (or around that). Are my EC’s good enough? Or should I do more that is related to my major?
The main reason I want to attend one of these “good schools” is because they have student-run investment funds for undergrads.
Many schools have student-run investment funds. Here’s one list, but you could probably find others.
http://thecollegeinvestor.com/4440/schools-offer-students-hedge-funds-run/
@AlbionGirl Carlson school of management has 35 million AUM in their fund…wow…
A lot of those schools don’t let you join unless your a Junior at least. I think Stern lets their freshman join their fund.
@SirEdan
You will have work experience that is out of the ordinary for the average undergraduate. They may make an exception for you. It’s worth emailing to ask.
They aren’t going to tell you if you ask in an email. Top schools are notorious for assuring every applicant that their process is holistic, and telling you to put in an application. Then rejecting 94 out of 100. They are rewarded for a low acceptance rate.
@intparent
Actually I was referring to the possibility of OP joining the investment club in one of a different set of colleges. See post #149.
@AlbionGirl I hope so. Being able to research different sectors and make recommendations on what stocks to buy to help the school/group grow its endowment as a freshman is exciting.
@intparent Should I call them instead?
You’re an intern via Year Up, not a regular employee. In itself, the internship is a win. But many kids do prestigious internships with known name big entities. Your list is now reasonable.
The colleges look at applicants in terms of the four year education challenge at their school, your ability to keep up, plus contribute to the campus in non-academic ways. You tell us you have a winning personality and some engagements, but academics still matter.
And the key will be your whole app (and supp,) every word of it, what’s there, your strengths, and what’s missing, your weaknesses. There is no one piece that can trump all the rest they look for. Overconfidence- well, to me, that is a huge risk for any kid.
So, congrats on the experience, but spend some time making sure you know the more challenging of your current targets, what they value and need to see…and don;t want to see. Polish your app. The app is your one vehicle to communicate everything from your record to your personality and back. “Show, not just tell.”
Don’t assume you hold a trump card. No kid should. Best wishes.
Does anyone know if Drexel University is worth the money?
Have you considered Penn’s College of Liberal Studies? You get a Penn degree. This program is designed for non-traditional students like you. SAT/ACT scores are not required. And you can go part-time or full-time.
@sgopal2 Hi, could you please explain to me why I’m a “non-traditional” student? Thank you for the suggestion as well. I’m going to take a look at it. To be honest, I really have my heart set on Drexel University, because of the Dragon Fund, they have a great business Co-op program, they teach you solely on your major, you can gain the chance to earn a MBA while your in their undergrad program, and so much more.
To everyone, I just came back from taking the ACT. I’m hoping for a 27-29 at least.
Nontraditional means anyone who didn’t go to college right after high school. That includes you.