<p>Pulling my hair out here! Business programs are some of the most competitive to get into. Any other kids applying for business programs/people who know kids who have - what were some of your relevant extracurriculars?</p>
<p>I’m applying to a bunch of business programs and I did a prop-trading internship in the summer and participated in a summer program (NSLC Business and Entrepreneurship, although this doesn’t really count)</p>
<p>As a prospective business major do one or more of the following EC’s:</p>
<p>(a) Teach financial literacy to “at risk kids” – there are tons of organizations that try to teach business skills to undeserved youth.
(b) Find a group of local CPA’s that do tax returns pro bono for economically disadvantaged folks. Participate in that in a support capacity.
(c) Volunteer in a non-profit that retrains workers laid off in the recession for jobs in the new economy.
(d) Do an overseas stint with an organization that teaches self reliance such as NGO’s that offer microcredit to local women and villagers in developing nations. Here is some info that will help you understand what it is: [Microcredit</a> - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia<a href=“e”>/url</a> Do an UNPAID internship at a cool company like this: [url=<a href=“http://www.toms.com/our-movement]One”>http://www.toms.com/our-movement]One</a> For One Movement - A Pair Of New Shoes Is Given To A Child In Need With Every Pair Purchased | TOMS.com<a href=“f”>/url</a> Again, do an UNPAID internship with a company that offers solutions to a global crisis that has negative economic impact such as renewable energy, homelessness, water and food shortages or war, etc. Work in their fund raising and/or business departments in addition to work in the field.</p>
<p>Generally, business schools are looking for ethical people now. Stung by Enron, the dotcom bust in the early 2000’s, and the economic debacle of 2008 and the housing crisis, many business schools were blamed for not emphasizing ethics in their programs. Now, some schools have their students sign ethics pledges much like physicians do.</p>
<p>I’ve taught business at UCLA, USC and Cal State Fullerton and own an international financial and insurance consultancy. I have an MBA from the top ranked international MBA program in the country and my school (here are the rankings: <a href=“http://www.thunderbird.edu/wwwfiles/pdf/about_thunderbird/rankings/rankings.pdf[/url]”>http://www.thunderbird.edu/wwwfiles/pdf/about_thunderbird/rankings/rankings.pdf](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcredit]Microcredit”>Microcredit - Wikipedia)</a> ) requires its graduates to sign an Oath of Honor ([Oath</a> of Honor - Thunderbird School of Global Management](<a href=“http://www.thunderbird.edu/about_thunderbird/inside_tbird/oath_of_honor.htm]Oath”>http://www.thunderbird.edu/about_thunderbird/inside_tbird/oath_of_honor.htm) ).</p>
<p>Here is the school’s website: [Thunderbird</a> School of Global Management](<a href=“http://www.thunderbird.edu/]Thunderbird”>http://www.thunderbird.edu/)
Again, this is an MBA program, so you must go to undergrad school first. Hope this helps.</p>
<p>^
Paid internships are harder to get than unpaid internships. Take whatever internships you can get, and if they’re offering money, take it. A paid internship will indirectly demonstrate that you were clearly considered to be quite qualified, as high school students with paid internships on their resume are few and far between.</p>
<p>Also, your entire list is ridiculous. The OP should do whatever he/she is most interested in, not some list of activities provided by someone lacking any relevant credentials (i.e., in admissions).</p>
<p>It will probably serve you to do business-related things, but don’t limit yourself to that. They’ll want to see that you have other interests, too. And definitely don’t do anything business-related that you don’t enjoy.</p>
<p>I agree with RedSeven. No offense, but they’re not all looking for people who want to bring blankets to 3rd world countries or whatever. Ethics is certainly nice, but can be demonstrated through other areas and business EC’s don’t need to be just what you described.
Applying to business schools requires an aptitude for business, but that doesn’t require that you did business EC’s. They certainly help though… here’s what I did:</p>
<p>-internship at a large nonprofit
-paid internship at Microsoft doing Marketing, 15h/week (this is really legit)
-DECA Internationals qualifying awards in different categories (top-5 in the state)
-general interest in business shown through other hobbies that relate back to business.</p>
<p>Beyond EC’s most business schools will ask you to write an essay about why you want to study business. You need to know that, and not just say it’ll make you money.</p>
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<p>Definitely. Your essays are important no matter what, and even though “Why X?” essays may seem routine, they’re often among the most important.</p>
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<p>That’s amazing. And even more amazing because it was paid. Your ECs are definitely good examples of strong ECs for business.</p>
<p>But of course, since they’re strong, they’re on the higher end. OP, these are the types of things you might want to shoot for (if they interest you) but can still be accepted without. (And that’s not to say Seahawks implied otherwise.)</p>
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<p>Except this one. Without showing a general interest in business, you’re probably at a disadvantage in applying to business schools. You don’t need to have done anything amazing, but it always helps to show an interest in the programs you’re applying to.</p>
<p>I applied to UC system schools with these business ECs:</p>
<p>-Realty World Regency (Real Estate) paid internship
-Realty World Regency Marketing Analyst
-Camp Venture Business Skills Development Program (taught by Haas Berkeley professor)
-Founder and CEO of an international business. One man business. Increased revenue from 2k to 4k within a year. 5 figures.</p>
<p>Sadly people keep telling me these ECs will never get me anywhere with my 3.3 W GPA and 1700/26 SAT/ACT xP</p>
<p>^I genuinely think that you don’t need to get into a top business school. You should have considered Babson College, top school for Entrepreneurship, if you didn’t apply there- I think the undergrad business degree (BBA) is not right for you. But I say that in a good way, because people use the BBA to get into the business world while your EC’s speak for themselves.</p>
<p>How impressive is starting your own non-profit in the college process?</p>
<p>Here are some I have done, see if you can do them locally or have them available:</p>
<p>Internship at a CPA Firm (unpaid)
Internship at a Hotel (Office and Front Desk Work…unpaid)
Co-Manager at a Gas Station (My Current Job)
Treasurer of School Volunteer Club
DECA (or FBLA) Competitor - I have been an international finalist, and I will be in this club for 2 more years</p>
<p>But some people have done SO MUCH…I don’t like to spread myself thin though</p>
<p>Some popular options are DECA or FBLA in school. Another option people do is create their own small business. If you are serious about it, it is not all that difficult. </p>
<p>Honestly, though, many business schools admit many kids who never did business ECs. Even the top schools. And as someone who applied to multiple B schools this year, I only came across one that asked me why I wanted to do business.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks. I’m actually in the process of submitting my last few applications so it’s too late to stack my ECs but oh well! We’ll see how it goes! Good luck to everyone here who is applying!</p>