What should be done to get into a good undergrad?
Alright, I’ll make this simple. I already know that it is somewhat cringe to ask this kind of question, but here we go. I’m a current freshman in hs. What kind of ECs and awards should I be going for? Currently, I’m on my school’s debate team and plan to excel in that for my whole hs career. I’m also gunning for a research analysis project/presentation to do over the summer at a local college, along with continuing working (teaching kids how to code). What should I do / what can I improve on? Should I have more finance relevant ECs?
As a side note, is UT still an adequate school for placements? I get the feeling that my parents may not want me to leave the state.
Start reading Moyer and talk about it in your college essays
Who’s Moyer? Bill Moyer?
I’m just joking. In all seriousness though, try to pick up a sport or a hobby of some kind. I personally did distance running in HS but if I had to start over again I’d probably do rowing. Much easier to recruit for top schools and you get jacked
UT Austin is still a great target/semi target school, esp for O&G in Houston but also throughout the Street. Obviously get as high of a GPA and ACT/SAT as possible. In terms of EC, try to accel at one or two things, could be speech and debate or others. Choose stuff you're actually passionate about. Gaining some sort of national/international recognition for it is a plus.
The whole well rounded stuff people say is kind of bs, that'll get average kids into decent schools, not good kids into target schools. If your family is in the position to, would also definitely recommend you get a college counselor - I went to a competitive public high school and so many kids went to Top20 colleges with alright EC bc their families paid for 4 years of planning from the moment they entered hs
Yeah, definitely gonna keep a general focus on a few ECs. My main concern is whether or not they will be relevant. I love debate and can become v good in it; however, I’m not sure how relevant it would be to finance, and I’ve heard that UT is big on relevant ECs for ur major. Not gonna do the counseling thing, too expensive. I mean we do have college counselors at school, but eh.
I am a UT student. McCombs sends many people to NY every year, and for those who want to stay in Texas, the opportunities are endless.
As for admissions, I would focus on being in the top 6 percent if possible. If you are not, the acceptance rate is about 7% (going down every year), I think, for anyone who isn't in the top 6 percent. If you can, find a summer job or internship that helps you learn more about business. This would be very helpful for your application. In your case, you can create an actual company for teaching code.
Ultimately, if you're from Texas, I don't think there is a better school than UT in the South, considering the cost of tuition, opportunities, nightlife, and sports. It's the perfect combination. Feel free to shoot me any questions.
Thank you for the advice! What about admissions into BHP? Any advice regarding that?
From my friends in BHP, you must have a good amount of college credit through AP tests, etc., since BHP is its own major, which you take with a finance major.
They are usually within the top 1-2% of their school with 1500+ SAT or 35+ ACT. They usually have a really great story about their lives and why they want to end up at UT, even though they can generally get into the Ivy League. Most have previous work experience or internships or started a company or nonprofit.
If you get in, you can interview with any bank, consulting firm, or other company you want. I don't know the chances of getting in, but you definitely have to be at the top of your class.
What grade are you in, and how big is your class?
I would try and make sure you actually have a hobby. I do not need to talk to you and hear that you build this algorithm that detects object displacement from 100 yards(would be cool tho) or that you have made a 35% return on your stock portfolio, but rather make sure you are a human with interests and personality. Could be as simple as baking, reading disney comics, and/or dancing, but have a personality. I am not saying do not do EC's, but rather to not miss the important reason behind why you are doing it which is building character, interests, gaining experience, and most importantly having fun.
I would also maintain a good GPA and get a good SAT/ACT score. I personally never had the resources to do any of the previous due to circumstances, but if you can kudos to you trying to utilize your resources and prep early, but if not there are still options to go to a target and break in from UG.
Also do not do the HS stupid crap of drinking then driving(especially if you do not have a license.) Once you hit college recruiting will be moving fast so I will start making healthy habits early on when it comes to diet and physical exercise(No need to be a gym rat, just healthy).
Read, read, read! be a well rounded person about different topics. Learn how to present yourself and hold yourself in-front of people. Ex. do not be the kid that send his teacher an email on canvas with emojis.
Otherwise have fun and relax. People will tell you need to go to Harvard or Stanford to break in, but I promise you there are lots of schools will get you there. I would also learn more about the industry. It is not IB/PE/HF only. There are a million ways to make your cheese in finance and i'd rather see you in something that you like instead of being a miserable person in his/her 20s who derive their self-worth from a bank/job that he/she hates.
Hm. My hobbies are honestly just going to the gym, hanging w friends, grilling, and debate. I might be boring 💀.
Again my point. Take advantage of your high school years. I had a friend who was a watch enthusiast and another who was a car enthusiast. Both started during high school. Your existing hobbies are fine. Just know them in and out. Good luck!
UT student here. UT will serve you just fine if you put in the work.
In regards of getting into a good college, you'll want a high GPA in the most difficult classes you can take while earning a high GPA. This should be APs or International Baccalaureate or Dual Enrollment type classes. Or honors level courses. Should really aim to be as high as possible, but I'm not sure you should be (figuratively) killing yourself to get a 100 on every assignment, quiz, or exam. IMO if you grind hard enough and do practice exams (which are free online), you should be able to get 99% ACT/SAT scores. They're relevant in finance recruiting too.
EC's are more important now than ever before. The main things I would focus on are experiences in the field in which you want to major, leadership activities, and genuine hobbies/pursuits of what you're actually interested in. First category would be things like internships, summer camps in colleges, online courses in business, etc. Second category would be things like student council, club leadership, volunteerism efforts, sports team captain. Third category is where anything goes as long as you actually like doing it. Sports are great, I saw you said you like grilling (maybe you could compete in some local BBQ competition). Again, anything goes here, but what's important throughout all of your EC's is that you demonstrate initiative.
Essays are the great differentiator. I wouldn't bother with these until AT EARLIEST the spring of your junior year. Definitely think about ideas for essays and have them in the back of your mind. What I would be sure to work on are your writing abilities- being able to tell a good story and getting the AOs to like you is a huge leg up. Individual prompts can be unique, but there is usually an essay for the CommonApp that is going to address an overarching story about you as a student. In this essay, I would try to talk about your experiences in high school/life in the context of what you did and how your experiences have shaped your interests. Also great to talk about long term goals, but I wouldn't necessarily make that the core of the essay. The individual essays can vary greatly, but I think some good things to consider while writing college essays is why this school, what makes you want to pursue your major at this specific school, and why you deserve a spot (be subtle about this part, nobody likes a showboat).
If you're already considering what to do for college this early, you're WAYYYY ahead of the curve. You are in a great spot right now, and you definitely can maximize your chances at getting into a great school if you do the right things. This level of preparation is amazing to see, and it will pay dividends indefinitely for you. Best of luck!
I found volunteering in my community really enriched my application. Internships or job shadowing can also give you valuable insights and experiences. Finance-related ECs could be interesting if that's your thing, but don't overcommit. As for UT, it's worth checking their placement rates and alumni success stories.
Another Longhorn checking in here - UT continues to place more people in "better" spots each year. Between the amount of relevant undergrad groups (USIT, TUIT, etc.), official programs (WSFM, UTNY, FAP), and alumni network, you can go almost anywhere you'd like. Plus, you get to live it up in Austin for some of the best years of your life. If you're in state, its arguably one of, if not the best bang for your buck school out there.
Yeah, it’s honestly where I want to go. OOS schools can offer great opportunities, but I don’t want to put that financial burden on my parents, and austin is pretty cool anyways. What I’m really focused on is BHP/CSB. How does one get into those programs/what are they looking for? Thank you, and hook ‘em!
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