Help with a rising junior's academic profile

[Anonymous]

Private HS.
Girl.
3.95uw, with max math rigor (no APs).
1480 on 1st try, retaking with tutoring this summer.

Interested in marketing, business, women in business, entrepreneurialism, and social impact activities

ECs:
Started a school club focused on business + social innovation, mostly bringing in speakers and roundtables
3-sport varsity athlete
Comm service youth council board member
Upcycling business
Etsy business with jewelry
French club (officer)
Literary mag writer
Poetry slam club and winner (1x)
Middle school tutor
Summer job (camp counselor)

So far, she wants to major in "marketing" - is that even a real major? We are trying to convince her that business will require a TON more than this type of activity, and to lean more into the English lit types of things, but not interested. Are there other ideas anyone has, or where to look for majors that might speak to her? She did say comparative lit was interesting, including Russian Lit (based on school assignments), but how would one even go about doing any of that?

Are there any last-minute things to apply for (in person or online) for this summer to strengthen the profile?

Interested in Vanderbilt ED, but that seems like a long shot? Wants social fun, sports-heavy campus experience:

Vanderbilt
Duke
UTexas
USC
Michigan
BC
Wake
Maryland
Ohio State
Indiana
Wisconsin
UMiami
Tulane
SMU
Pitt
Elon

[Anonymous]

Marketing is a "business" major - it is the toughest major to be admitted to other than STEM/CS. Beware.

Look at these profiles - pivot fast from business/marketing if you can.

https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1lf88w0/rejectionfilled_applicant_clutches_a_solid/

https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1slnoki/white_girl_majoring_in_finance_targetmaxxes/

https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1co64cf/conflicted_business_major_lowkey_disappointing/

[Anonymous]

I'd look into poetry and literary magazine. And using french in an EC or internship.

[Anonymous]

No APs? Even for math?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No APs? Even for math?

OP here: No APs offered at our private. Advanced classes are offered, and DD in all advanced math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd look into poetry and literary magazine. And using french in an EC or internship.

Is poetry slam and writing for the lit magazine enough to show interest in an English or Lit major? I wouldn't think so for these schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Marketing is a "business" major - it is the toughest major to be admitted to other than STEM/CS. Beware.

Look at these profiles - pivot fast from business/marketing if you can.

https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1lf88w0/rejectionfilled_applicant_clutches_a_solid/

https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1slnoki/white_girl_majoring_in_finance_targetmaxxes/

https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1co64cf/conflicted_business_major_lowkey_disappointing/

This information is incorrect. When you apply to most of these schools, especially the business school, you apply generally — not by major. So OP’s daughter should apply to the business schools, get a look at direct admit status and aid, then figure out major from there.

[Anonymous]

The student here is definitely on the right track.

The school list is too big — pick 2 of the top privates, 2 of the Big Ten business schools, 2 of the Southern schools, and 2 schools that will provide strong aid. Even with the Common App, there shouldn’t be more than 8-10 schools.

Activities are good but I’m not really seeing the depth and leadership.

Also, they can lead off with marketing/entrepreneurship in essays for the business schools and speak to the woman in business angle for the smaller LACs/selective schools, while tying it back to how the school specifically helps them. If they do a selective school, they can major in really anything and go onto business, so that’s a way they can differentiate. Would recommend an actual business school with direct admit if possible to make the career placement, major, networking process easier as it’s all in one roof.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Marketing is a "business" major - it is the toughest major to be admitted to other than STEM/CS. Beware.

Look at these profiles - pivot fast from business/marketing if you can.

https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1lf88w0/rejectionfilled_applicant_clutches_a_solid/

https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1slnoki/white_girl_majoring_in_finance_targetmaxxes/

https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1co64cf/conflicted_business_major_lowkey_disappointing/

This information is incorrect. When you apply to most of these schools, especially the business school, you apply generally — not by major. So OP’s daughter should apply to the business schools, get a look at direct admit status and aid, then figure out major from there.

But you'd apply to the business school, right?
Isn't "business" an oversubscribed major?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The student here is definitely on the right track.

The school list is too big — pick 2 of the top privates, 2 of the Big Ten business schools, 2 of the Southern schools, and 2 schools that will provide strong aid. Even with the Common App, there shouldn’t be more than 8-10 schools.

Activities are good but I’m not really seeing the depth and leadership.

Also, they can lead off with marketing/entrepreneurship in essays for the business schools and speak to the woman in business angle for the smaller LACs/selective schools, while tying it back to how the school specifically helps them. If they do a selective school, they can major in really anything and go onto business, so that’s a way they can differentiate. Would recommend an actual business school with direct admit if possible to make the career placement, major, networking process easier as it’s all in one roof.

Forgot to add: good thing you’re retaking the SAT, try to aim for the mid-1500s. These business schools will be ready to give women strong aid to balance out the class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The student here is definitely on the right track.

The school list is too big — pick 2 of the top privates, 2 of the Big Ten business schools, 2 of the Southern schools, and 2 schools that will provide strong aid. Even with the Common App, there shouldn’t be more than 8-10 schools.

Activities are good but I’m not really seeing the depth and leadership.

Also, they can lead off with marketing/entrepreneurship in essays for the business schools and speak to the woman in business angle for the smaller LACs/selective schools, while tying it back to how the school specifically helps them. If they do a selective school, they can major in really anything and go onto business, so that’s a way they can differentiate. Would recommend an actual business school with direct admit if possible to make the career placement, major, networking process easier as it’s all in one roof.

Thanks!
No aid needed. Full pay here. Our private (not in DMV) recommends 12-15 schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Marketing is a "business" major - it is the toughest major to be admitted to other than STEM/CS. Beware.

Look at these profiles - pivot fast from business/marketing if you can.

https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1lf88w0/rejectionfilled_applicant_clutches_a_solid/

https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1slnoki/white_girl_majoring_in_finance_targetmaxxes/

https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1co64cf/conflicted_business_major_lowkey_disappointing/

This information is incorrect. When you apply to most of these schools, especially the business school, you apply generally — not by major. So OP’s daughter should apply to the business schools, get a look at direct admit status and aid, then figure out major from there.

But you'd apply to the business school, right?
Isn't "business" an oversubscribed major?

When they’re applying to the business school at many of these places, it’s not oversubscribed per se. There’s a difference between being oversubscribed (many of the engineering programs) and being limited enrollment (UMD Smith, IU Kelley). The business schools she’s looking at lean towards the latter than the former. She’d apply to the schools generally and pick the major from there. She isn’t applying directly to the marketing major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The student here is definitely on the right track.

The school list is too big — pick 2 of the top privates, 2 of the Big Ten business schools, 2 of the Southern schools, and 2 schools that will provide strong aid. Even with the Common App, there shouldn’t be more than 8-10 schools.

Activities are good but I’m not really seeing the depth and leadership.

Also, they can lead off with marketing/entrepreneurship in essays for the business schools and speak to the woman in business angle for the smaller LACs/selective schools, while tying it back to how the school specifically helps them. If they do a selective school, they can major in really anything and go onto business, so that’s a way they can differentiate. Would recommend an actual business school with direct admit if possible to make the career placement, major, networking process easier as it’s all in one roof.

Thanks!
No aid needed. Full pay here. Our private (not in DMV) recommends 12-15 schools.

Thanks for the clarification. A college admissions counselor (like an agency not a school) would suggest 8-10. The point I’m trying to make — as a Kelley alum who earned a named merit scholarship and has sat on admissions interview committees for the school — is to limit the number of apps to really focus on the quality. Full pay status isn’t going to do much for many of these schools so it’s about showing depth beyond just numbers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The student here is definitely on the right track.

The school list is too big — pick 2 of the top privates, 2 of the Big Ten business schools, 2 of the Southern schools, and 2 schools that will provide strong aid. Even with the Common App, there shouldn’t be more than 8-10 schools.

Activities are good but I’m not really seeing the depth and leadership.

Also, they can lead off with marketing/entrepreneurship in essays for the business schools and speak to the woman in business angle for the smaller LACs/selective schools, while tying it back to how the school specifically helps them. If they do a selective school, they can major in really anything and go onto business, so that’s a way they can differentiate. Would recommend an actual business school with direct admit if possible to make the career placement, major, networking process easier as it’s all in one roof.

8 to 10 is too few.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The student here is definitely on the right track.

The school list is too big — pick 2 of the top privates, 2 of the Big Ten business schools, 2 of the Southern schools, and 2 schools that will provide strong aid. Even with the Common App, there shouldn’t be more than 8-10 schools.

Activities are good but I’m not really seeing the depth and leadership.

Also, they can lead off with marketing/entrepreneurship in essays for the business schools and speak to the woman in business angle for the smaller LACs/selective schools, while tying it back to how the school specifically helps them. If they do a selective school, they can major in really anything and go onto business, so that’s a way they can differentiate. Would recommend an actual business school with direct admit if possible to make the career placement, major, networking process easier as it’s all in one roof.

Thanks!
No aid needed. Full pay here. Our private (not in DMV) recommends 12-15 schools.

12-15 sounds right, with more reaches, I’d go even higher.