My kid did a summer program on entrepreneurship with a college.

I disagree that research is not relevant. I think it might be useful to spend some time discussing what attracts your student to business. Is it the people interaction, consumer behavior / marketing, the numbers behind the business etc etc. I think trying to understand that and authentically trying to explore that will really help - whether that is through research or on the job. And it's not that the answer is going to stay the same. But the learning from that experience - whatever that might be - will help them evolve and grow and ask more questions for which they will seek answers through other experiences. This organic journey really helps clarify your student's mind about what they find interesting, understanding their strengths and weaknesses and I believe is what colleges will find attractive if you can articulate it well through your essays.

Well, at least that is what I learned through my student's journey.

Anonymous wrote:My DC is currently in 10th grade and considering plans for this summer and next year ECs. Interested in business and economics.

What ECs / summer activities are kids doing these days to become competitive at top 50 colleges, while staying true to themselves. DC has expressed interest in research, but not sure what is involved or how to get started (and if it's indeed an advantage).

While I am not suggesting only selecting ECs for college admission purposes, it would be great to see which ones yield a high return so as to inform our choices.

Please kindly share your list or ideas of great ECs that might have helped with your college admission success stories.

As another PP pointed out, does DC have the stats for T20 or are you shooting for T30-50. Look at Business school rankings in addition to school's overall ranking. Rutgers is ranked 40 but not sure how well their business school ranks. T20 required a different level of commitment/ECs. etc to be able to stand out. The rest don't.

Watch the Michigan Ross admitted student vlogs on YouTube.

They are evaluated on genuine interest in business.

You can get some ideas there.

Anonymous wrote:A regular part time job is the best if your kid doesn't have a true love for an activity. It shows business acumen, earns money and shows the about a particular business, good or bad.

No. It really doesn’t.

A regular part time job is the best if your kid doesn't have a true love for an activity. It shows business acumen, earns money and shows the about a particular business, good or bad.

Anonymous wrote:High school research is stupid. Period.

I’m not OP but lovely. Truly helpful response.

High school research is stupid. Period.

Another idea OP if your kid is into finance, fintech, ib at all
Give them 3K or whatever you can do. and have them invest it - assess companies, growth, PE ratios. Blog about the actions and decisions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, thanks for the recommendations. So, no need to consider research? How about working at an established nonprofit, vs trying to establish one?

Same idea as learning from people in an actual business vs a naive teenager who knows nothing about anything trying to start a business themselves.

Work for a nonprofit or work for a business. No need for startups. Wendy's will do.

The thing with ‘working retail, or working wendy’s’ is that you don’t actually learn the P&L, you don’t actually follow the dollar to understand how the business runs. You learn how to flip burgers, run a register, resupply stock. Which is fine. But You don’t know the costs to acquire a new customer, the impact of running a sale on the bottom line for example.

Are there other jobs available to teens where they learn that sort of thing? And what can be gleaned by being a good observer in any job?

There's a reason new hires at McDonalds, even in the general counsel's office, have long been required to do McDonalds U first.

Probably not for a 16 year old. It would take a phenomenal boss who is invested in showing a teenager the ropes.
Running a business is active. Decisions made in meeting rooms, queries and financials run and re-run. It cannot just be observed/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, thanks for the recommendations. So, no need to consider research? How about working at an established nonprofit, vs trying to establish one?

Same idea as learning from people in an actual business vs a naive teenager who knows nothing about anything trying to start a business themselves.

Work for a nonprofit or work for a business. No need for startups. Wendy's will do.

The thing with ‘working retail, or working wendy’s’ is that you don’t actually learn the P&L, you don’t actually follow the dollar to understand how the business runs. You learn how to flip burgers, run a register, resupply stock. Which is fine. But You don’t know the costs to acquire a new customer, the impact of running a sale on the bottom line for example.

Are there other jobs available to teens where they learn that sort of thing? And what can be gleaned by being a good observer in any job?

There's a reason new hires at McDonalds, even in the general counsel's office, have long been required to do McDonalds U first.

Anonymous wrote:OP, thanks for the recommendations. So, no need to consider research? How about working at an established nonprofit, vs trying to establish one?

Business schools do not value research in the same way that STEM programs do.
If the goal is to lead/be employed by non profit, that’s a good idea. Find a job at high quality non profit

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, thanks for the recommendations. So, no need to consider research? How about working at an established nonprofit, vs trying to establish one?

Same idea as learning from people in an actual business vs a naive teenager who knows nothing about anything trying to start a business themselves.

Work for a nonprofit or work for a business. No need for startups. Wendy's will do.

The thing with ‘working retail, or working wendy’s’ is that you don’t actually learn the P&L, you don’t actually follow the dollar to understand how the business runs. You learn how to flip burgers, run a register, resupply stock. Which is fine. But You don’t know the costs to acquire a new customer, the impact of running a sale on the bottom line for example.

Anonymous wrote:OP, thanks for the recommendations. So, no need to consider research? How about working at an established nonprofit, vs trying to establish one?

Why does it matter if you work at a nonprofit vs a for profit? Unless you mean volunteer?

Anonymous wrote:OP, thanks for the recommendations. So, no need to consider research? How about working at an established nonprofit, vs trying to establish one?

Same idea as learning from people in an actual business vs a naive teenager who knows nothing about anything trying to start a business themselves.

Work for a nonprofit or work for a business. No need for startups. Wendy's will do.