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What can I do now as a sophomore to get into an undergrad business program.

T1inthehouseT1inthehouse 16 replies7 threadsRegistered User Junior Member
in College Admissions
My dream is to go to Haas, Stern, Wharton, Marshall, Kellogg’s, and Ross. After comparing myself to other applicants I can safely say my ECs are greatly lacking. Right now I’m only apart of 3 ECs: National Honor Society, Cullinary, and a science club where we show elementary students science projects. And I guess also my churches youth. I’m currently not involved in sports or an instrument. Not to mention I haven’t done any ECs my freshman year.

If I want to be a competitive applicant, besides tests scores and GPA, what can bolster my application. I was thinking of joining speech and debate either this spring or the next. Yet I’ve also seen a lot of applicants state how they started a business or how they had a jobs.

What are some clubs I can join in my school to make me a better applicant and what should I do now? Before you say I shouldn’t join a club just to make my application look better some of the clubs I actually do care about joining like speech and debate as I believe it will make me become a better debater.

Additionally what are some things I can do over the summer to make me a strong applicant. Are the pre business programs worth it. The ones I have in mind are the ones offered by Wharton and NYU yet they are really pricey. I’ve also heard of launchX at MIT. I have one near me called Berkely Buisness Academy for Youth. Is this worth joining or should I just look for a summer job. Also would summer research at a lab or hospital be good for my major since I’m also interested in biology.

Sorry for the mess of a post.
15 replies
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Replies to: What can I do now as a sophomore to get into an undergrad business program.

  • RiversiderRiversider 782 replies88 threadsRegistered User Member
    It’s not about what you do but how well you do it.
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  • T1inthehouseT1inthehouse 16 replies7 threadsRegistered User Junior Member
    Yeah I know leadership positions are important but I can concur that leading 3 clubs is not enough.
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  • havenoideahavenoidea 255 replies13 threadsRegistered User Junior Member
    Like most high schoolers, you don’t really know your career direction yet. You’re wanting to go to business school but you also like biology. I have 3 kids, one is at a liberal arts college in his first year and is learning that what he thought he wanted to do is probably not what he wants to do. The other 2 are your age and what I’m suggesting for them is to try programs over the summer in areas they have an interest in. This will hopefully help steer them in some direction before college. I’d suggest the same for you. If you like biology, try a biology-related summer activity. See if you still have an interest, and if so, continue pursuing that interest through an EC. You shouldn’t be concerned so much with building a resume as with discovering what you like and want to pursue, and then pursuing it. While it does seem like everyone is starting non-profits these days, if you find something you are passionate about and pursue it at a deeper level, that will help you for college admissions and life.
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  • evergreen5evergreen5 1455 replies31 threadsRegistered User Senior Member
    Look for a summer job. Do well in your math classes. Note that some undergrad business programs look for students to have calc in high school.

    Kellogg is a graduate program only. However, Northwestern may offer some interesting minors and certificates.
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  • happy1happy1 22754 replies2239 threadsVerified Member Senior Member
    In another post you ask about being an engineering major. https://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/2115038-how-hard-is-it-to-get-into-an-engineering-major-at-a-top-school-as-a-biology-focused-student.html#latest

    I'd suggest you follow your varied interests and wait until later to determine if you want to apply to a business school, an engineering program,, or anything else.
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  • T1inthehouseT1inthehouse 16 replies7 threadsRegistered User Junior Member
    Yeah yeah I’m still conflicted between doing buisness, biology, or engineering.
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  • havenoideahavenoidea 255 replies13 threadsRegistered User Junior Member
    Use your summers to explore! I don’t know what’s offered in your school, but ours offers the standard core classes, a few extra APs, and the expected ECs. Without some exposure to different fields, it is difficult to know when applying to college which path to take, and many schools require that you know that to apply. That’s what happened with our older S, so I’m suggesting exploring for our kids who are your age. There a lots of less expensive camps that have, say, one week of engineering, one week of CS, etc. Or, if your parents have connections, see if you can shadow people in potential areas of interest. Then, delve deep in what does interest you.
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  • lkg4answerslkg4answers 1589 replies189 threadsRegistered User Senior Member
    happy1 wrote: »
    In another post you ask about being an engineering major. https://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/2115038-how-hard-is-it-to-get-into-an-engineering-major-at-a-top-school-as-a-biology-focused-student.html#latest

    In the other post you stated that you were in AP Calc AB and that you had good grades and test scores. Are you taking Calc AB as a sophomore and do you already have your test scores?

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  • ProfessorPlum168ProfessorPlum168 3978 replies86 threadsRegistered User Senior Member
    FWIW, for Haas you apply as a sophomore in college.
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  • T1inthehouseT1inthehouse 16 replies7 threadsRegistered User Junior Member
    lkg4answers wrote: »
    happy1 wrote: »
    In another post you ask about being an engineering major. https://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/2115038-how-hard-is-it-to-get-into-an-engineering-major-at-a-top-school-as-a-biology-focused-student.html#latest

    In the other post you stated that you were in AP Calc AB and that you had good grades and test scores. Are you taking Calc AB as a sophomore and do you already have your test scores?

    No I just said AP Calc AB was the highest for my school. My test scores were just the pSAT.
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  • lookingforwardlookingforward 33430 replies363 threadsRegistered User Senior Member
    No, culinary club and teaching little kids won't show much. And NHS standards vary so much from one hs to the next, that they have little impact. (And if you're in NHS as a soph, that doesn't say your hs looks at a longer term record or has strigent requirements.) Nor is it about "titles" or paying for some summer program.

    Of course, so young, you "dream" about top programs. Now get activated.
    Get a Fiske Guide to Colleges and learn about various colleges, haunt their websites.
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  • lookingforwardlookingforward 33430 replies363 threadsRegistered User Senior Member
    edited July 21
    Get some activities related to business, business thinking, get some experience with "stretch," creative problem solving, etc. Have some real responsibilities, build some impact on those around you. In and out of thehigh school comfort zone.

    For engineering, you need collaborative math-sci ECs.

    But most of all, you need to: get out of the dream stage, become informed, and be competitive with all those kids who are already more focused, gaining the right experiences, taking on the right challenges.
    edited July 21
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  • T1inthehouseT1inthehouse 16 replies7 threadsRegistered User Junior Member
    edited July 21
    My school doesn’t have many clubs mainly just sports. Not really sure what else I can do besides getting a job.

    As for engineering I’m currently doing a research internship with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
    edited July 21
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  • lookingforwardlookingforward 33430 replies363 threadsRegistered User Senior Member
    edited July 21
    One of the things top colleges look for is an awarenss of what IS possible around you. Not just whether the high school hands you things to do when the afternoon bell rings. Kids in all sorts of truly remote areas find ways to be engaged. If you're close enough for an internship at LBNL, surely there are other opportunities around.
    edited July 21
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  • T1inthehouseT1inthehouse 16 replies7 threadsRegistered User Junior Member
    At this point I will probably have to settle for an economics major, or hope I get into Berkeley so I can transfer to Haas.
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