I’m very interested in applying to a number of top undergraduate business schools. (ND, USC, UVA, UMICH, etc.)
How important is it that I demonstrate that I am truly interested in business when applying to these caliber schools???
The only thing I’ve been able to do to demonstrate my interest is intern at a hedge fund. There are no clubs for me to join as I am a rising senior and I was new to my school last year. Also, how can I show interest this summer as my applications will be due in the fall?
Would shadowing someone who is heavily involved in business (a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley for example) be helpful?
UVA doesn't have a business school to apply to. You apply to the College of Arts and Sciences and join the business school after two years.
The shadowing would be better than nothing so I say go for it. Your internship sounds great so highlight it on the Common App.
I've had similar questions like you but got them settled for the most part by my tour guide at Georgetown, who was a current student. I asked him, "What courses or extracurriculars did you do in high school to show an interest in business before applying for McDonough School of Business?"
His answer- “None.” No emotion or shame in admitting it, just a flat no.
Incredulous, I go, “Really?” and he just nods his head.
Colleges know that there are plenty of government regulations in place so that high schooler, unless they applied to one of JP Morgan’s programs that are only available internationally (such as in the UK) can’t exactly intern at a major firm such as Goldman Sachs or JP Morgan. That’s why I decided to help my dad with his hedge fund- something similar to what you’ve done. I also interned with an Indian NGO doing Excel spreadsheets, nothing really major beyond that, to help with micro-financing. Small things like that show that you’re interested. I also took AP Macroeconomics and got a 5, so hopefully that shows colleges that I’m interested in that field.
All in all, don’t really stress about it. I will admit that you could have researched this as a freshman or sophomore and learned about DECA or FBLA, but like you I didn’t know about these opportunities (I had moved from overseas, so I literally had no idea what was offered in the United States) but it’s certainly not going to kill you or even hurt you. Plenty of kids haven’t done anything substantial for the business-world, and this is because they aren’t expected to.