What should I be doing for my application?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I’ve just started my junior year of high school. I took the SAT in August, so my results haven’t come out yet.

My GPA is quite low, due to a rough first two years (I’d say it’s between a 3.2 and 3.4)

However, I have been doing very well on my SAT practice tests, and I expect a score of around 1490 or above.

I plan on studying business management and economics, but I’m not sure what I should be doing for my application. I know I’ll have to bring up my GPA, but I need some good extra-curriculars to balance out my low GPA.

When it comes to studying medicine, I know there are research and shadowing opportunities, however, with business, I’m not sure what I can do outside of school to make my application stand out. Are there internships that I can try to apply for, or should I look for jobs? I’m very clueless on all of this.

My current extra-curriculars are:
Marching band
Jazz band
Key Club (a volunteering/community service club in my school)
Writing for the school newspaper
Volunteering at a local elderly home
Volunteering at a local hospital

I’ve taken the AP US history test, and plan on taking more AP classes and tests in the coming years.
I just need some guidance, because I really don’t know what I should be doing. I’m just blindly going though high school without thinking of how I can really make my application for undergrad business stand out.

Thanks!

2

What level of colleges are you planning on?

3

An increasing GPA over time will help some. A strong SAT will help some.

The past is over. You need to focus on what you can do now. There are two things that you can do: Work very hard this year, keep ahead on your work and get strong grades for this year of high school. Also, come up with a realistic list of match and safety schools. I do know people who started off a lot worse and ended up pulling it together and doing very well.

It is probably too late for you to consider Ivy League or equivalent schools for undergrad. However, there are a lot of very good universities that you can still get accepted to if you have a strong year this year.

4

I already know that Ivy Leagues and top schools are out of reach for me. I know that NYU Stern is a great school, and from what I’ve read online, not extremely selective. I haven’t done a whole lot of research on schools yet, as this year has just started. If possible, could you list some colleges that could be a good match for me?