I have a small app and website development business and I was wondering if that is worth adding to college applications next year. I say next year because I am currently a junior. I currently have 2 chrome extensions and one app. I am currently working on another app and a chrome extension. Would it make up for things like not being in any sports or not having “high enough SAT score”… top 75th percentile range score?
Yes, I think you should highlight it in your ECs. It shows your passion & interests. Think about how you can present it. I’m guessing you have a website for it? Be sure to provide that too, in the appropriate place depending on the university/college (some have supplement process specifically geared towards stuff like this)
Of you are a junior, you still have time to study for the best SAT or ACT score you can achieve. Keep your grades up too.
I guess the answer to that is “It depends”.
It depends on how much of yourself you put into it. If it’s something you did on your own and it is a part of who you are in terms of how much time you spend on it, then, yes.
However, I’ve seen situations where Dad can call up the family attorney and have junior his own “business” by next morning. That wouldn’t be too impressive. In fact, if I saw this in an interview, I will drill down to find out how much you really know about it or whether it is just another thing to pop onto your application.
Are your apps “recognized”? How many people actually use them? Do you have any success stories with them? Any newspaper or trade journal articles?
If you can’t talk about it with a potential interviewer in depth and what the challenges and rewards of it are for you, then, no, it’s not worth adding.
As far as “making up” for other things, it depends on exactly what you are talking about and where the application is.
@scholarme Thank you for the information. I have a facebook page for it. I think I will ask some of the college admissions officers of the schools that I plan on applying to.
@JustOneDad This is my life. I work up until at least 2:00 every morning coding. I hope to build my small business up to enough so I can have substantial revenue so that I can save it for college and the summer programs I am applying to. My parents can not afford an attorney haha. We have friends who work in the law field. These people have assisted me in the process of making my business “official” and I have been doing my own research by myself. My parents were able to work their way up from nearly nothing and expect my brothers and myself to do the same, so I have been doing most of the work by myself. Then again… who does not when starting a small business.
I have several questions I would like to ask you:
- If I were to go to an interview and bring evidence saying that i actually built the apps (copy of my Apple and Google account information) would that be substantial information to prove that I actually did this?
- I want to double major in computer science and economics or computer science and physics so does this add to or devalue the strength of my application?
- I am on a track to graduate high school with an associates in IT and a business track. Does this look good that I am applying what I learned in school to my business that I am starting up?
- I don’t think you need to provide that level of material proof. It would be enough for me as an interviewer to hear the way you talk about it.
- Prospective college students can consider double majors, dream about them, research them and do everything else, but there is usually no utility in talking about it during admissions.
- I think the business shows that you are goal oriented, directed and practical. You should definitely feature it.
Please remember, however, that as a student, your primary job is to demonstrate your work (grades) up to whatever level you are shooting for. The Bill and The Zuck are some of the very few allowed to let their studies slip.
@JustOneDad Thank you for this insight and information.
Definitely yes, and unlike @JustOneDad, I don’t think that your primary focus should be being a student. It should be what you are willing to work hard at. That would set you up for life. Colleges understand that as well. Applying what you learned in school to your business is great.
BTW, where are you in-state, what can you pay, etc.
@PurpleTitan I am from Georgia so I will, most likely, utilize HOPE. My parents will not be assisting me in paying for college so I will be looking for scholarships. If I can get enough scholarships then I may consider going to an out of state school such as San Jose State Univ., UM-Ann Arbor, University of Maryland, etc…
GTech seems like a good option. Your app business likely would be seen favorably there.