College predictions [KY resident, 3.89 GPA, top 11%, 34 superscore ACT, business]

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Male, Kentucky, rising senior

Hoping for around 10k a year off at Kelley

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 3.89
  • Weighted HS GPA:
  • Class Rank: top 11%
  • ACT/SAT Scores: 34 superscored ( IU takes it)

List your HS coursework
Completed 7 APs total, PLTW biomedical sciences courses, and dual credit English

  • English: Dual credit English, adv Eng 1,2,3
  • Math: Alg 2, Pre calc, Calc AB, Calc BC
  • Science: Ap Bio, adv bio, adv physics, adv chem, Ap Chem
  • History and social studies: Us history, World history, AP Gov
  • Language other than English: adv Spanish 1 and Spanish 2
  • Visual or performing arts: completed VPA
  • Other academic courses: PLTW through a magnet program at my school
  • Major preparation course work: wanting to do finance with co major in data analytics

1.FBLA national qualifier
2.State Champion in Fbla ( 1st place)
3.4 year first team academic all state varsity
4. Selected as top leader at my school and as a result elected to go to a NYCL conference where only 40 people went nationwide and 7 juniors.
5. 2nd in regionals for fbla/ or do you think I should put a certificate I earned about business analysis and management

  1. Vice President of Professional Development, Future Business Leaders of America ( FBLA)

State Champion in Entrepreneurship, National Qualifier, 3 yr member, 2 yr secretary, senior yr VP that helps run meetings, review budget, set agendas.
2. School Winner/ National Leadership Conference, Central Kentucky Youth Salute

Selected as top leader at my school. Awarded a trip as 1 of 40 nationwide High School Students to attend the National Youth on Leadership Conference.
3. Tennis, 4 year Varsity Tennis

4 year varsity tennis player and 4x Academic All-State honoree, balancing athletics and academics with initiative and commitment.
4.President, Future Investors of America

Provided systematic leadership by inspiring 33 members, coordinating events, and fostering engagement in financial education and stock simulations.
5. Leader and Participant in community , Junior Achievement - Leadership Youth Program

Chosen for selective civic program; explored Lexington’s commerce, volunteered locally, grew management skills, and led community-based team projects.
6. Financial Advising and Investment Research Intern, Alliance Financial Planning

Researched markets, created ETF models, assisted with financial strategy aligned with client goals, and gained valuable career insight in finance.
7. Dance Blue Fundraising Committee- Identified stagnant team fundraising; collaborated to implement targeted outreach, boosting engagement and exceeding goals, significantly increasing funds for pediatric cancer research.
8. HOBY- Recognized the importance of diverse perspectives at the HOBY seminar; actively initiated and facilitated group discussions, fostering collaboration and enriching leadership insights for all
9.clean up crew : As Co-President, I saw our campus losing its sparkle. I led the team to revamp cleanup events and boost volunteer sign-ups, making our campus visibly cleaner and fostering community pride.
10. Sales Associate-Noticed shoppers needing guidance; proactively offered expert product knowledge and personalized recommendations, boosting customer satisfaction and exceeding daily sales goals. these are activities

FBLA advisor who wrote it. Pretty good and mentioned I am in the top 1% of people he mentored and am getting it from my calc teacher who has has me for 2 years after BC

please predict:

IU KELLEY ( if not any other school do this one)
UNC chapel hill Kenan Flagler
Penn Wharton ( just for fun lmao)
UT Austin Mccombs
Florida Warrington
Ohio State Fisher
Uuic Gies
Cinci Lindner
UK Gatton

2

So you can hope for $10K and it’s possible but unlikely.

Are you then telling us your budget is about $57K for tuition, room and board? That’s today’s dollars - not with inflation. Take $10K off - so let’s say you’re telling us your budget is about $50K?? IU may be re-doing the auto admit criteria for Kelley - so stay tuned. I’d imagine you’d be good but you never know.

If your budget is $50K ish,

Then UNC is out - and don’t forget, it’s not direct admit - so you’re applying to UNC. KF will come later.

Penn - that’s a lot of work just for fun. Have you run the net price calculator to see if you can get $50K? If not, what’s the point…

UT - same - budget, I’d remove.

Florida - it works

Ohio State - could work - if you get merit.

UIUC - more than IU - so if you need $10K off IU, no. Remove.

Cincinnati - it’s always hard to figure out their COA - but a lot from Nashville go so likely ok.

UK - yes

So if you want to be in that midwest area, you might add UMN Carlson, Miami of Ohio to name two. When/if you have a budget, you pick schools based on that…not based on name which appears is what you did.

What is your goal major wise? Do you have one?

That might spur a few more thoughts if you’re open to more (I mean, you have UF, so you might consider FSU, UGA and Bama - which for you would be low 20s…cheaper than UK (unless UK has merit).

Please fortify your budget - which i’m taking to be $50K-ish or so based on the first comment but perhaps it’s not.

3

I can’t chance you, nor predict merit at IU…especially with their new Kelley admission process. Not being in the top 10% of the class could be a disadvantage at the reaches.

Penn/Wharton requires two LoRs from academic teachers, so you will need to request another LoR ideally from a junior year teacher. Do that ASAP.

You need at least one affordable safety. Will Lindner be affordable for you?

4

Ok fwiw budget isn’t huge. I would like around 10k but it’s not the end of the world if I get less.

5

Yeah I need to. If you had to predict Kelley what would you say tho?

6

They re did it. Not direct auto admit no more unfortunately

7

by budget isn’t huge - you mean $60K is ok for tuition, room and board? I’m not sure what you mean to say by that.

How about $85K and moving up (Penn)?

Are you saying no matter what it costs you can attend?

Does UNC not being a direct admit school matter - meaning, if you get in and attend, you won’t be assured business - you’ll find out a few years later. Is that an issue?

8

I don’t think Direct Admit is out - and it likely won’t be far different than before but they are sort of giving them an out due to the over-crowdedness. After all, they were easy to get into…for a top school. I imagine with the new rules, they’ll have less apps and who knows, maybe it’s an easier in.

What they say;

Fall 2026: Kelley direct admission comprehensive review process

Beginning in Fall 2026, the Kelley School of Business will use a comprehensive review process to consider students for direct admission. This approach looks beyond test scores and GPAs—placing greater emphasis on the rigor of high school coursework and a student’s overall potential for success in business. At the center of this process is the Kelley Prospect Inventory (KPI), which allows students to share their academic journey and interest in business with the Kelley Admissions team. Students must complete this form—available in the IU Portal—to be considered for direct admission. This change reflects Kelley’s commitment to fairness, academic excellence, and expanding opportunity, ensuring high-achieving students from all backgrounds are considered for direct admission.

9

Im gonna get some sorta scholarship money. I mean 60k is if I get 0 dollars. I think it will end up being in the 50s which I think I could manage. Yes any price I’d probably pay for Penn. Yes, I’m aware UNC is not a direct admit but I would just do Econ there probably if I didn’t get into KF

10

That is their direct admit. There is just no auto direct admit. GPA, test scores, KPI, course rigor, and Ec alignment with business all in a holistic review makes them decide who gets a DA.

11

I sure hope you speak to your parents about budget and don’t just assume.

You can go as low as low 20s - Bama and probably similar at UK.

Budget is the #1 thing b4 choosing colleges. I’d pay anything for Penn - unless you have the $$ or demonstrated need, how will you pay? You can borrow $5500 your first year before you get into high interest rate and fee loans.

Be careful - anyway, I gave you suggestions up front.

But you really need to pinpoint a budget so you’re not yet another admittee whose parents, when faced with writing that big check 2x a year, either crumble and put themselves into financial distress or tell their kids - no.

I do think Miami Ohio fits, UMN if you’re ok with the big city, and the given you have UF, why not UGA, FSU and Bama (for low cost, solid name). I’m still not sure of your major interests - but U of SC might be another solid name to consider.

But talk to your folks about budget - please don’t assume.

Good luck.

1 Like
12

You may get scholarship money. It’s not assured. What if you don’t - then is IU out? Anyway, that’s why UIUC and UT need to be gone.

What is your major of interest - if you have one.

As for UNC, I’ll just do Econ - look at curriculum for econ (a social science) and business.

They are not really related - Econ is a whole different game of theory and more - so I wouldn’t want a direct admit, unless I truly wanted to study econ. You should take a look at what that entails.

13

Appreciate the good luck. IU is my top choice so that’s hopefully where I can end up

1 Like
14

Well if you’re willing to go to KF non-direct admit, then you can do the same at IU with Econ. UNC is a reach but IU itself a safety.

But IU still has Direct Admit and I’m guessing it can/will happen for you. But - just make sure it’s affordable.

15

Yeah. I hope it can too. Appreciate your input. Lots of good stuff you said.