I am worried about my choice of AP Classes…
I am interested in pursuing finance ( I want to be an M&A Investment Banker )
Let me give you the basic rundown.
I have work experience at a small law firm… filed papers, worked long nights and early mornings. I am trying to prepare myself for the investment banking stress with 80-130 hour weeks.
I trade stocks. I have a position on HSY, AAPL, NKE, and Chipotle Mexican Grill ( I follow Bill Ackman; I think he will rebound on this one. I believe he has an upside on this one, although he lost huge).
I am an FBLA Member: Treasurer, both for my chapter and my region. Parliamentarian for my chapter and VP for my chapter.
Awards related to finance: Securities and Investments - 2nd place regional, Business Math, 2nd place regional.
Classes related to finance: Accounting I, Accounting II, AP Micro and Macro online.
However, I am not particularly good at Math. I took APUSH AND AP GOV, which are not really related to finance. I can vouch for gov as I know that gov choices affect the markets everyday, but other than that, it isnt finance related. I am in Pre-AP Precal. I will not have the chance to take AP Stats or AP Calc AB or BC.
Also, I am in MU Alpha Theta.
Do you think that my odd AP choice and lack of math classes will hurt me?
I really want to be a Banker. It has been my dream since middle school.
I am puzzled by your interest in investment banking, when you feel that you are “not particularly good at math.” Rest assured that your high school course choices will not limit you, but a lack of math strength might.
Once you get to college, visit the career center. They can help you with assessing your interests and exploring internship and career options.
There’s consulting, too.
Anyway… What are your test scores, GPA (w and uw), colleges colleges you’re aiming for?
@MYOS1634
ACT Score - 32
GPA: Unweighted 3.72, Weighted 4.13 ( the 3.96 or 3.98 was from the second semester of my sophomore year, I made a mistake there. )
Colleges: UT Austin-Mccombs School of Business
NYU-Stern School of Business
UMICH- Ross School of Business
Vanderbilt University
Carnegie Mellon-Tepper School of Business
Georgetown University- Mcdonough School of Business.
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Brown University
University of Pennsylvania- Wharton School of Business.
Duke University
University of Chicago
Where is your safety?
@“Erin’s Dad” I know my safeties, but I do not focus on them because they are not good for a career in IBD.
Well, I am not gonna say I am bad at math. I did get like a 30 on the math section of the ACT. However, I am not scoring 5’s on AP Cal BC and AB and AP Stats.
Everything you do in high school doesn’t have to be directly related to your goal, so I wouldn’t worry about that. But some of those schools seem awfully reachy for your stats and number of AP classes. For example, Wharton does say they like to see strong math particularly calculus. I hope you’ll go over your list and make sure you include some good matches.
Wharton is almost impossible with your math background.
Look into 'fit’more - understand the college 's culture to increase our odds by choosing those you match best, and making a case for it. Think of Wharton vs. uchic, Dartmouth vs. Brown.
Mc Combs will depend on whether you’re in-state (in which case ou’re a match assuming you’re top 7%) or oos (don’t count on it but you have a shot.)
Vanderbilt likes high test scores and while 32 is top 2%, it’s average for them.
Another issue is budget. Have you shown the NPC results for each of those to your parents?
Have you taken the Math level II - SAT subj test? Many of these business programs strongly recommend that you take it.
@mathyone Which schools are “reachy?” Be specific. Also, my school offers 11 AP classes ( we got rid of AP Physics ). As the end of my hs career approaches, I have taken 7 out of those 11 AP classes. That means that there are only 4 classes that I have not taken. In addition, I am also taking AP Micro and Macro online, so add 7+2 and you have 9/11 classes.
Sorry, you previously mentioned 4 AP classes, 3 of which are considered “easy” and offered as semester courses in many high schools. I felt that top schools would be looking for more than that if offered at your school. Kids with that schedule at our school wouldn’t get into our state flagship.
You can look up the stats as well as I can. Your ACT and GPA are below average for the more selective schools and you have to realize that your stats probably don’t place you out of the zone where most of their hooked applicants fall. Plus as I mentioned you are right to be concerned about calculus. Wharton asks for it. Go ahead and apply if you like, but saying your safety isn’t very good for what you want makes me concerned because I think you could easily be shut out of these reaches.
“I am trying to prepare myself for the investment banking stress with 80-130 hour weeks.” This could be part of the problem. It’s hard to be at your best when you are exhausted.
Frankly all of the schools you’ve listed are reachy. That’s why I asked about safeties.
OK, here’s some info from Brown’s website.
ACT scores of applicants
36 464 132 28% 53 6%
33-35 6,714 769 11% 414 50%
29-32 6,132 421 7% 267 32%
26-28 1,833 87 5% 72 9%
< 26 1,181 21 2% 19 2%
class rank of applicants
Valedictorian 1,603 306 19% 118
Salutatorian 738 100 14.% 39
Top 10% 7,938 812 10% 382
2nd Tenth and below 2,426 46 2% 34
Number attending schools that do not provide class rank 22,026 2,157 10% 1,275
Does that GPA put you in the top 10% of your class? Admissions for second tenth is only 2%, only 46 of these students were accepted, and combined with the ACT on the low side, I just don’t see it happening. Again, keep in mind that these statistics include recruited athletes and URM’s both of which have significantly lower stats on average than the bulk of the rest of admitted students.
@mathyone I am in the top 10%.
@“Erin’s Dad” how is ut austin a reach?
@mathyone 3 AP classes my junior year, 4 my senior year as with 2 online. I am taking 6 this year. 6+3=9 classes overall.
My son has similar stats and interests and he has virtually no chance of being accepted to any of the schools you have listed. I would look into a different tier of schools that focus on business and then look to go to a decent grad school afterwards. Good luck. Success isn’t always determined by what you school you attend.
Duke’s ACT middle 50% for admitted students is 32-35, so you’re at the 25th percentile.
Look, I’m not saying it’s impossible for you to get into these schools, but I don’t see anything in your activities that will wow them and with lowish stats, I think it’s likely you won’t get in. I think you should go through the list carefully and make sure you have some match or safety schools that are good options for you. There are always posts on this site from devastated students in the spring saying, I didn’t get in anywhere except my safety and I hate that school. Don’t be one of them.
I agree with RightCoaster (and others) - all of your schools seem like high reaches unless I’m missing something.
UT is a reach for everyone who isn’t Top 7% in Texas, and McCombs is a reach even for them. So, if you’re top 7% and instate, with your curriculum rigor and scores, you have a good shot at McCombs, but if you’re OOS it’s a big reach.
At this point, you need to find two safeties and at least 3 matches that you like and are affordable. Treat the “reach for everyone” schools as cherry on the cake, once you’re done with the other apps.