I started an online company at 16 we did over 1 million in revenue. How much will this help with uni

These statements will appear incompatible to AOs. If your dream is really to go to Columbia, then you need to do whatever it takes to increase your GPA and get that ACT up above 33. My son was similar to you in that he had extensive and impressive outside achievements with a lowish GPA, but he was very successful in his college apps because his GPA showed strong upward trend (showing the GPA dip was temporary) and he had very high test scores that showed he had the potential and brain power. If you want a shot at a college like Columbia then you need to shore up the grades and test scores so you will be considered, or the AOs will suspect you’re going to be a mediocre, uninvolved college student just like you were a mediocre, uninvolved high school student and pass on your app.

Before you settle on Columbia, though, do some research on various colleges because given your description I’m not convinced Columbia is the place for you. There might be others that are a better fit and if you can find them, you will have an even better chance at admissions. Your weak GPA and test scores are already going to be a big mark against your app, but if a college can see that you are an absolute fit for what they are looking for, you will still have a good chance. Wanting to live in NY and having a friend who graduated from Columbia are not “fit” items Columbia is looking for, so you’d struggle in the very important metric of demonstrating how you’d be a fit for them.

I would once again say to look at Babson. They may find your story intriguing enough to take chance on you. And the core of the school is in close alignment with your yours it would seem. In the New England area, Babson was always considered the royalty of stand alone business schools.

So one idea is to hire a banker and get an 8 or 10x on your company. Take the 10mm. Pay your takes and invest the 7mm with some professionals. Go to school and do some interesting things and learn the world.

By the time you are 39, if you are 18 you will have about $56mm on the initial investment at simple historical market returns.

Plus everything you’ve done I the time since them.

You’ll be the VC at 40.