Just got SAT scores! Chance me for top business undergrad schools?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I’m finishing up my junior year, and now that I’ve got my SAT scores there aren’t many components of my app subject to change. My passion is business, and I’m hoping to attend some top schools, but not sure if my ec’s are anywhere near stellar enough.

Schools:
Penn (Wharton) Ed
Cornell (Dyson)
MIT (Sloan)
Boston College
Michigan (Ross)
Villanova

Stats:
GPA: 4.0 uw, we use a weird weighted system so mine is like 6.4
Rank: 1/~400ish
Course load: Most rigorous, will have taken 9 AP’s when I graduate. So far Stat (5), Euro (5) and currently in Calc BC, Lang, USH, and US Gov. Next year taking AP Macro/Micro, Lit, and Physics
SAT: 1570- M800 R/W770, essay 6/6/6 (low, wrote it like the AP Lang analyses I usually do well on but whatever)
SAT II: Yet to take- US History and Math Two, I expect to do well but these don’t really count for much anyway from what I’ve heard
Major Awards: Nothing on a national scale :frowning:
Minor Awards: Won several local speech contests through my Rotary Club, Won 1st at my FBLA regional competitions twice, just won 6th in the state for FBLA in Global Business Test + Presentation (top 4 went to nationals), think I’m only going to be National Merit commended

EC’s:
FBLA (9th-present)- ~30 hours of community service through FBLA, secretary for my local chapter in 11th and will be 12th, see awards above, ran for state officer in 10th grade but narrowly lost (potential essay topic if on failure)
NHS member
Soccer (jv 9-11, v 12)- huge time commitment, 3 practices a day 6 days a week over summer, plus every day after school in fall
Track (10)- injured in tenth grade so I didn’t do it again, switched to more recreational basketball instead, probably won’t mention in app
Junior Achievement (10th-present)- President in 11th, probably will be if I run again senior year. Outside of school group that includes 20ish students from several schools in the area. With supervision by advisers in the business field we create and run a company. As President I am representing us at a regional (pretty much state-wide) competition, and top 2 go to nationals. Skeptical about our shot at winning though lol.
Economics + Investment Club (11th-present)- Founder and President, we meet every couple weeks and compete in virtual stock market games. Also bring in several speakers from the business realm. Take a trip to Wall Street at the end of the year.
Math Club (10th-present)- President Senior Year (we don’t really have elections, adviser pretty much confirmed I’ll be President), nothing too special here. Took the AMC and didn’t do too hot, participate in several online competitions, Moody’s Mega Math Challenge is a big event.

Work:
Soccer Referee (9th-present): Certified ref, referee several games pretty much every week during spring and fall.
Library Page (11th-Present): Work at my local library about 12 hours a week. Assist patrons and return books to the shelf. Much more work than anyone could imagine, but nothing too special.

Community Service: I only really have about 50-75 hours, because most of it came from the library where I was always helping out. When I was offered a job, I stopped volunteering there. I hope in my essays I can convey how active I am in my community still through reffing locally and still working at the library.

Summer Activities: Soccer mainly during August, nothing much freshman or sophomore year, interning at a local banking firm this summer, attending a leadership camp through my rotary this summer as well.

Applying for Financial Aid? Yep
Intended Major: Finance
State: Pennsylvania
School Type: Public, relatively large
Ethnicity/Race: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: <75k a year
Hooks: Not much, low income (family of 7) but not crazy low

Final Notes: I know I don’t have any national awards or any crazy ec’s, but I feel like I do have leadership and my ec’s are all centered around business. My stats seem up there, but I’m still really skeptical of my chances at the top schools. Hoping to try and convey my passion for business in the essays but for now I’d appreciate it if you chanced me for the schools I listed at the top. Thanks!

2

I’d say good for the schools like Michigan, Villanova, and Boston College. Ivy leaguse are really random and there are so many factors, there is no way to tell. In essays don’t mention community service because it doesn’t really seem like something you did. Talk about why you’re passionate about economics/investments and leadership. Also if you’re just interested in undergrad Buissness, the Kelly school at IU is really good (also ranked 4th by Bloomberg) and the plus side about going to a less prestigious college is that you will be able to stand out from your peers and more likely to finish at the top of your class or with honors. Also another plus is lower ranked schools will be thirsty for you so they often will include larger scholarships in their admissions offers.

3

Good chance at Penn since you applying ED.

4

I think you’ve got a pretty good shot at all of these; your GPA and testing is strong. (I don’t understand what the SAT essay score means) The internship this summer will certainly be a boost especially as it’s focused towards your intended major. I konw for a fact that these schools look for leadership qualities in students, in fact, some schools’ essays ask for you to write about a time where you exhibited leadership skills or problem-solved.
Keep in mind that many of these schools are total luck-of-the-draw type admissions, even for people with stellar GPAs, testing, and ECs. You may be an incredible bassoonist, but if they’ve already admitted another bassoon player, there might not be room for you when they fill out their class. It’s all very random.

If you really want Penn (and/or other school(s)), I highly recommend getting into contact with faculty members and admissions representatives who you can start to form relationships with (and get your name out there), and perhaps even ask them to advocate for you in the future. Be sure to be polite with these interactions, and let them know that Penn is your top choice, and if you get in (I know you said you’d apply ED, but this is also in the case of deferral and/or waitlist) that you WILL attend.

I hope this advice helps, and good luck with admissions!

5

Thanks so much for the insight! Definitely will try and get in contact with Penn. Visited already as it is relatively close, but I will try and attend some information panels where I can potentially meet with admissions officers or something of the like.

6

I was considering Indiana, but my parents really were opposed to it as its quite far away. I’m probably going to also apply to Penn State as more of a fallback, as its close, in-state tuition, and Smeal is still respectable as an undergrad business school.

7

@kdkhfe You received a great sat score. How did you study for it? Can you give me some tips? I am currently a sophomore who really wants to go to top tier undergrad business schools too.

8

@apattie123 PM me. Don’t really want to distract from the chance me aspect of the thread. I’d be glad to give my tw0 cents though!

9

@kdkhfe Great chances I would say. ED at Penn will help a bit further as well.

10

Update: Just found out a team dropped out and I’ve qualified for FBLA nationals! Planning on studying a bit and should hopefully place top 15 on test. How much does this bolster my chances, especially if I place top ten? I appreciate any feedback, would especially prefer if reasoning is provided. Thanks!

11

Your ECs show you’re passionate about business and your stats are great. I knew two people with higher income and similar stats/ECs who got in to Wharton ED at my school this year - so ED should definitely up your chances at Penn. MIT and Cornell are both up in the air, because of their general selectivity. UMich/BC/Villanova are good fits. Do you have safeties?

Chance back?: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1985653-chances-so-far-at-umich-some-other-schools-will-chance-back.html#latest

12

Your stats are great. Just make sure you get 750+ on the subject tests.

Wharton ED is extremely competitive. As of now, you don’t seem to have anything that really stands out (relative to others who will be applying to Wharton). My suggestion? Create a business. Whether that be an app, a tutoring business, a lawn mowing company, or something else doesn’t really matter.

Also, you need to convey WHY you’d want to study business in your essays. Your “Why Penn?” essay needs to show that you want to use business to bridge the poverty gap, improve environmental legislation, etc, etc, etc. Basically show that you want to use a business education to improve the world

13

You have really great stats and your ECs really reflect your interest in business. With that being said, ivy admissions are crapshoots and are overall pretty unpredictable. In an ideal world, you’d definitely have a good chance at top schools like Wharton, Ross, and Sloan. I’d also recommend looking at Tepper @CMU: great business program in Pittsburgh.

14

Chance me back? http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1986243-chance-me-where-to-ed.html#latest

15

Your stat put you at around the 75th percentile for UMich. You do have a decent chance there. Ross usually looks beyond GPA and test score, so your EC will play important role there.

16

MIT doesn’t really accept by major, and Sloan only has 30 students! (im in business at Ross and when I found this out, it seemed ridiculous because of how hyped they are yet have so few students, undergrad almost inconsequential). I think you’ll be accepted at UMich Ross, BC, Villanova. You have a chance as good as anyone else with Wharton ED. It might help that you’re from Pennsylvania.

17

@doorrealthe Thanks for the feedback and the tips! I was contemplating starting a business but I have neither the time nor the money. I hope that colleges will be able to see that, and I feel like starting a business at this point would just come off as me trying to throw in something for an app, not reflecting true passion. Nonetheless, thanks for the advice and I will definitely consider what you pointed out when crafting my essays

18

bump