Need advice

Hi!
I had pretty bad grades freshman year of high school. One A, rest B+’s, B's, and B-‘s. (3.2 Cumulative.) As for now, I have straight A’s and A-‘s which I intend to maintain. In addition, I’m shooting for a 1490+ SAT with the amount of prep I’m planning on doing. For context, I’d like to get an analyst spot at a boutique or bulge firm - either works.
So my two questions:
1) Do my freshman grades kill my shot? I go to a top ten school, so if that helps, that’d be great.
2) What’s my pathway after high school? Should I be doing a BBA program? Working towards an MBA? Major? Undergrad? Etc…
Thanks
In addition - any suggestions on what ECs I need to make up for the freshman year?

8 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to know:

1. Impact of Freshman Grades:

  • Freshman Grades: Your freshman year grades (3.2 cumulative) won't necessarily kill your shot, especially since you have shown significant improvement with straight A's and A-'s now. Admissions committees often look favorably on an upward trend in grades.
  • Top Ten School: Attending a top ten high school can be beneficial as it may be recognized for its rigorous curriculum, which can help offset earlier lower grades.

2. Pathway After High School:

  • Undergraduate Focus: Aim to get into the best undergraduate program you can. Good grades and a high SAT score (1490+ is a strong target) will be crucial.
  • Major: Consider majoring in fields like Economics, Finance, or Business Administration. These are well-regarded for careers in finance.
  • BBA Program: A Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) can be a good start. Focus on schools with strong finance programs and good placement records in investment banking.
  • MBA: An MBA can be valuable later in your career, especially if you aim for higher positions in finance. However, it's not immediately necessary after undergrad.

Extracurricular Activities (ECs):

  • Unique and Impactful ECs: Based on previous WSO threads, having unique and impactful extracurriculars can make a significant difference. Examples include:
    • Leadership Roles: Take on leadership positions in clubs or organizations.
    • Competitions: Participate in finance-related competitions or clubs (e.g., DECA, FBLA).
    • Community Service: Engage in meaningful community service or start a project that showcases your initiative and leadership.
    • Internships: Seek internships or part-time jobs related to finance to gain practical experience.

Additional Tips:

  • Networking: Start building your network early. Attend finance-related events, join relevant clubs, and connect with professionals in the industry.
  • Holistic Application: Remember that college admissions are holistic. Strong essays, recommendations, and a compelling personal story can also significantly impact your application.

By maintaining your current academic performance, aiming for a high SAT score, and engaging in meaningful extracurricular activities, you can strengthen your profile for both college admissions and future career opportunities in finance.

Sources: High-school freshman seeking advice, A Letter To All Top 10 University Kids Complaining About Recruiting, How do I get my kids into top 5 schools?, Ask mbaMission about Business School Admissions, How do I get my kids into top 5 schools?

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Brotha why are you here as a freshman in high school. Assuming this is not a joke, I will answer you then. 

1. Get A's on every single class you are going to take from now on. Take a lot of classes and take APs.
2. Aim for a 1600 SAT. Nothing less. Don't settle for anything below 1500. 
3. Build solid extracurricular activities, from science competitions to sports to non-profit stuff to interesting things.

You are in a top high school in the greatest country in the world in an era of abundant access to information and knowledge. No excuses so get to work and good luck king; You got this. 

 

My school does not subscribe to the AP program - is it worth self-studying for the AP tests?
Also, I breathed an audible sigh of relief reading this. Your response brings me great comfort; I will absolutely fucking crush the SAT and will be getting straight As- I have been, too! We offer advanced/honors classes junior/senior year so i’ll move up to those too. Thank you, man

The Guy (TM)
 

Insofar my ECs are Vars. fb for a very very long time, 2nd chair band member 3x gold 2x silver, and a passion project; will be expanding these greatly

The Guy (TM)
 

ye man i got into a top Ivy from a third world country as a poor peasant. the world is your oyster

 
Most Helpful

ECs I'd recommend considering. I've almost always seen 1-2 from the students who achieve full-ride scholarships and the like.

Do sports of some kind, especially if you have any sort of athletic capability. I think it's a huge boost for college recruiting if you have a coach pushing for you on the inside.

Start a business / non-profit. Doesn't have to be all that big of a thing, business is harder and up to your interests / abilities, but non-profit could just be things like food drives, helping elderly in homes, etc. Colleges reward go-getters even when these ECs are honestly a bit exaggerated.

Get involved in your local / city government, such as any community councils, student councils etc. Another great way to stand out. Would also recommend joining things like Model United Nations, etc.

Interesting internships and jobs are hard as a high school student, but you can always try with local businesses and such. Even just being a paper pusher could help you stand out in the future. I've seen a few students get internships at local colleges during high school, usually in a research role supporting a professor. 

 

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The Guy (TM)

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