<p>I did mix up the GPAs.</p>
<p>SATs will remain very important. You’re coming from a 4th tier school, they need to know you can handle the work in their environment.</p>
<p>There is lots of business related and economic research. One of my kids is doing research right now on how the problems in banking will impact globalization. That’s the kind of thing I had in mind.</p>
<p>I have to tell you, I think the year abroad at this point will hinder making it into an ivy except perhaps Cornell. It means you won’t have higher level coursework to show, won’t be developing relationships with profs or taking on leadership on campus.</p>
<p>As a business major at SDSU, you already have problems in translation at schools with no business major. They will want to see some high level econ and math. Remember, it’s about way more than getting a 4.0 at a school that has way lower admissions standards than the ones you’re aiming for. That’s a given and the things that will get you in are the things you need to focus on–professors that will say you’re the top student they’ve seen come through in a long time, exceptional academic achievement, leadership, passions you have accomplished something significant related to.</p>
<p>Is it worth the trouble? Absolutely. Those schools are a world apart from SDSU and you will have a whole different range of options in life by attending one.</p>