Hello everyone,
I’m a highschool student genuinely passionate and interested about business; my dream school is UPenn/Wharton. What would I need to do to further increase my chances of admission? I’m a highschool freshman.
Thanks!
Start your own successful business.
Take part in the AMC math competition, show you are good at math.
As a high school freshman, your best bet right now is to maintain a high GPA while taking rigorous courses and to get involved in extracurriculars you are passionate about. To demonstrate interest in business, look at taking courses like AP Calc, AP Stats, AP Macro & Micro Econ, and electives if your school offers it. Look for internships open to high school students with businesses- perhaps utilize personal connections. Participate in math competitions. Summer programs like MIT’s or Penn’s offer courses in math.
Thanks for the responses.
Everything that you guys have listed are in my plans for the future. I’ve been recommended by a teacher and am going to take AP Calc next year, but can’t take Econ until junior year (2 years from now). I’ve looked at summer courses and programs at Wharton and HBS and want to attend a few soon. Also, I’ll be founding a club at my school, Entrepreneurship Club, and I’ll be the president. I have yet to score high in math competitions though.
Currently in he process of planning and cofounding a nonprofit to help my local area (Philadelphia) and plan to start a business before finishing high school. Also hope to succeed in DECA; unfortunately, my school only keeps one business competition and refrains from allowing other business competition clubs compete with the current one (DECA); before this I was planning on founding another club. Also doing a marketing job for a SF startup to help fund another local cause.
Regarding coursework, I’m only taking 1 of the 2 AP courses freshmen are allowed to take. There are only 4 business-related electives at my school, and I can take them all each year of high school.
In following years, you should aim to take as many AP courses as you will do well in. You want to be able to have your counselor mark down “most rigorous schedule” when you apply to college.
Right, I’ll take as much as I can. What can you recommend I do outside of school?
Do things that interest and excite you outside of school.
That’s what I’m doing now, happy1. I’m pursuing things that I am passionate about.
Does anyone know what the minimum uw GPA and SAT scores should be? Does my freshman year GPA count as much?
It’s thoroughly difficult to find any business-related internships when I’m only a freshman, but I still want to intern ASAP. Where can I find someone to take me in? Or should I wait till later to look for internships?
Most companies won’t take young interns. The way a lot of high school students obtain them is through personal connections.
I would participate in activities that demonstrate leadership, commitment, and initiative. Read Cal Newport’s “How to be a High School Superstar” for some great tips. It isn’t about spreading yourself thin- it’s about demonstrating a superstar quality in a few small areas that make you interesting.
Yep, of course. Thanks.
Should I apply ED to Wharton?
It is way too early to think about specific colleges (especially hyper-competitive ones like Wharton) and way too early to think about ED. You don’t even have one full year’s GPA and you have no standardized testing. You also need to recognize that HS should be an experience in and of itself – a time of learning and growth and not just a 4 year college application prep experience.
It is good to take school seriously and know that college will be on your horizon and it is fine that you are interested in business, but it is too early to start planning for specific colleges. I would highly recommend that you get off of CC until your junior year.
For now you should focus on:
–Working hard, learning, and doing as well as you can in the most challenging curriculum you can manage.
–When the time comes study for standardized tests.
–Continue your involvement in activities you care about and work towards making meaningful contributions to those activities.
–Enjoying spending time with your family and friends.
And this is coming from a Wharton alum.
You’re right, thanks for the advice & tips. I’ve just had my heart set on Wharton more than any other business school. How was Wharton?
Wharton was great. But keep in mind that my S went to another b-school and also had a great experience. In general the kids I see hurt by the college process are the ones who set their sights on one super-competitive school and then are heartbroken if it doesn’t work out. Work hard and do your best – but also keep your options open. There are many wonderful choices for b-schools out there.
Yeah, of course. I’ve had my eye on Kellog, Booth, Stern, Haas, Owen, Tepper, but those are also pretty competitive. I’d be happy to get into any one of them. I don’t doubt that there are many other schools I’d have just as good of an experience in, but Wharton is simply my favorite and its a 20 minute drive from where I live… I loved Penn’s campuses. Glad to hear you enjoyed Wharton.
You are talking about attending research universities. Kellogg and Booth are both graduate programs. Do some research before you hurt your ethos and general appearance.
I know some are grad. I listed schools I simply liked, that’s all.