USC – Marshall (Applying Early Decision It Is Their First Year Doing It)
UVA – McIntire
Academics:
GPA: 3.7 UW / 4.0 W
Junior year dip due to time spent managing my business (daily travel for order fulfillment), but strong rebound:
3.35 UW (1st sem) → 3.875 UW (2nd sem)
AP Courses:
Ap Calc AB ,AP Calc BC, AP Stats, AP CSA, AP CSP, APES, AP Psychology, AP Physics, AP Macro, AP Micro, AP Stats, AP Gov
Also took a college-level business course
SAT: 1370 (Retaking in August — aiming for 1450+)
Extracurriculars & Achievements:
Founder & CEO – E-commerce Business:
Built and scaled an online business generating 5-figure revenue. Personally handled fulfillment, marketing, product sourcing, and growth strategy. Planning to hit six figures by application time.
Founder & President – E-Commerce Club:
Created a school club to help local small businesses launch websites and boost revenue. Worked with 8+ businesses so far, driving tangible local economic impact.
Founder & Captain – School Badminton Team:
Started the team from scratch. Won team MVP and led school to top tournament finishes. Recognized as a scholar-athlete.
Crypto Investor & Portfolio Manager:
Built and actively manage a diversified 5-figure cryptocurrency portfolio. Gained hands-on experience with DeFi, tokenomics, and market analysis. Use it as a learning platform for high-risk asset management.
NFT Project Founder:
Created 3,000+ NFTs; proceeds used to donate clothing to kids in need. Oversaw blockchain integration, design, marketing, and community building.
Marketing Intern – Tutoring Startup:
Worked on digital marketing strategy, SEO, and user acquisition campaigns for a math tutoring company.
Chess Player & Coach:
Reached 1200+ rating, earned 15+ trophies. Coached elementary school students in fundamental strategy and sportsmanship.
Author – Business Case Study(In Progress):
Writing a case study based on lessons learned from my business — focused on scalability, cost-efficiency, and youth entrepreneurship.
Volunteering:
Regular involvement (not standout, but consistent).
To answer your question “is that enough for top business schools?”, my honest opinion:
I think your 6-figure (or 5-figures as you mentioned in the body of your post) adds an interesting element to your application but I don’t think it compensates for a 3.7 GPA and a 1370 SAT at your reach schools. UIUC, BC and Fordham should also be considered reaches for you, IMO.
Just want to note that before you consider BYU be sure you read and understand the college’s honor code. Church Educational System Honor Code BYU is a fine university but it would be a different experience as compared to the other schools on your list.
To be blunt, I also think it is unlikely your business will do much to change where you are competitive. That is primarily a function of your transcript evaluated in context (where test scores are a type of context), and if you don’t have what they consider a competitive academic profile, I am skeptical this business will change their mind.
On the plus side, I think it could help in cases where your numbers are in the competitive range, but admissions is not at all guaranteed at those numbers. So I would focus on picking good colleges in that sort of range, and hope your business helps convince some of those colleges to give you an actual offer.
For the past number of years, the auto admit criteria had been a 3.8 GPA (whether weighted or unweighted, must be on the transcript) and a 1370 SAT or 30 ACT. BUT, IU Kelley AOs are saying that the Direct admit criteria are going to be increased for this cycle…so stay tuned. The prior DA criteria are no longer posted on the website:
OP, I would pay attention to the schools on your list with direct admit and those that have a secondary admission process. Then, understand what that secondary admission process.
Schools on your list that are not direct admit are PSU Smeal, UVA McIntire, and most UNC KF students (there are a few direct admits, but I don’t think you will be competitive for those.)
ASU is a safety. BYU may be if you are Mormon (a very low percentage of BYU students are not Mormon.) SMU and PSU are targets, best case. BC, UIUC are reaches.
PSU Smeal is moving to direct admit for Fall 2026.
Right now, it’d be a target at best.
Rigor is good (do you have a foreign language through level 3 or 4?) and if you check “summer” (look up PSU LEAP) it moves to a likely.
You should apply to Babson, Bentley, Bryant, since they really value youth entrepreneurship.
My mind went to Babson as well - definitely a reach, but more holistic and entrepreneurship-oriented than other similarly-competitive schools on your list. Bentley is less reachy and Bryant even less so.
I agree with NiceUnparticularMan that at most schools, grades and scores tend to be the first filter, and the “holistic” factors like strong EC’s tend more to distinguish among candidates who pass that first filter, rather than add candidates to the “maybe” category who wouldn’t otherwise be there.
You might check out UMiami. They have a BBA in Entrepreneurship. And club badminton.
You have great course rigor and obviously strong EC’s. Raising your test score could help at the more competitive schools on your list that consider standardized tests. Solidifying your grade-rebound will help too. You may be at a disadvantage in terms of securing ED/EA offers, as schools may want to see your senior fall grades before deciding; I wouldn’t be surprised to see deferrals for this reason. Try to get as much of your essay-writing for applications done this summer as you can, so that juggling applications as well as your business won’t compromise your fall grades. Good luck!
Similar to the impression that others are sharing, the business will not be enough. I do think you get into all of your safeties, but that does not mean they are safe. You will not get into BC, but will go 2 or 3 for 4 among your targets. You will not get into any of your reaches.
Agree, but Babson will be a reach. Note they see lots of businesses that sound like yours. You would not submit the scores unless you get the 1450 IMO.
