Anonymous
04/21/2026 10:39
Subject: Help with a rising junior's academic profile
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Before you mentioned schools, I said this kid should be at Vanderbilt. Why not UCLA? They have Business Economics,
And an entrepreneurship minor. My DD loves-social, fun, hs sthlete, newspaper editor etc
What major dud they list for Vanderbilt? What was the theme of your daughter‘s application?
Anonymous
04/21/2026 10:30
Subject: Help with a rising junior's academic profile
Anonymous wrote:Before you mentioned schools, I said this kid should be at Vanderbilt. Why not UCLA? They have Business Economics,
And an entrepreneurship minor. My DD loves-social, fun, hs sthlete, newspaper editor etc
Anonymous
04/21/2026 10:28
Subject: Help with a rising junior's academic profile
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Corrected - and added Fordham. Every Jesuit business degree program will have "ethics" as a class, seminar or discussed throughout each class. Therefore, strongly suggest Holy Cross and Boston College at the first tier. Dropping down a tier to Fordham, Fairfield, Marquette or Gonzaga. Or another step down to Scranton or St. Joe's in Philly for access to alums in "The City".
These are just random schools - not sure why or how the OP would be interested. Why the Philly connection?
Because Jesuit schools lean heavy on service and ethics and Philly is in close proximity to DC.
The Kelley school literally has a co-major in Law, Ethics, and Decision Making (rare), they’re top 5 in marketing, and are top 8 overall for undergrad business. You can make that the core of your big ten business school matches. Then for reached you can shoot high for one of Vandy/Duke and choose one of Mccombs/Ross. You wanna be as efficient in this process as possible.
Anonymous
04/21/2026 10:26
Subject: Help with a rising junior's academic profile
Before you mentioned schools, I said this kid should be at Vanderbilt. Why not UCLA? They have Business Economics,
Anonymous
04/21/2026 10:17
Subject: Help with a rising junior's academic profile
Anonymous wrote:Corrected - and added Fordham. Every Jesuit business degree program will have "ethics" as a class, seminar or discussed throughout each class. Therefore, strongly suggest Holy Cross and Boston College at the first tier. Dropping down a tier to Fordham, Fairfield, Marquette or Gonzaga. Or another step down to Scranton or St. Joe's in Philly for access to alums in "The City".
These are just random schools - not sure why or how the OP would be interested. Why the Philly connection?
Anonymous
04/21/2026 10:16
Subject: Help with a rising junior's academic profile
Corrected - and added Fordham. Every Jesuit business degree program will have "ethics" as a class, seminar or discussed throughout each class. Therefore, strongly suggest Holy Cross and Boston College at the first tier. Dropping down a tier to Fordham, Fairfield, Marquette or Gonzaga. Or another step down to Scranton or St. Joe's in Philly for access to alums in "The City".
Anonymous
04/21/2026 10:13
Subject: Help with a rising junior's academic profile
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Story needs focus.
I'd make major marketing and ethics. or business. depends on college. lean into ethical leadership.
ECs:
- 21st Century Management. Founder of club examining building an ethical decision-making culture. x speakers, w roundtables, audience of x kids.
- Etsy handmade and upcycled jewelry business. x years x dollars.
- Upcycling busienss ?
- TO ADD - more quantifiable leadership at school, in club, even something like building social media presence across all high school women's sports. Increased followers by 300%.
- 3 sport varsity athlete
- Paid employment: camp counselor (x years), neighborhood babysitter (x years)
- Writing: literary mag writer (x years), poetry slam club member (x years), Poetry slam club winner (2025)
- Community impact: Community service youth council (x year, x accomplishment), middle school tutor (x years)
What is ethical leadership?
it's a well-known academic area of interest in management. there are majors in it at top business schools. there are certificates you can gain (I was going to suggest to OP"s kid, but I think she needs more hands on experience and documentation). you can google, but here are two at harvard and MIT
https://professional.dce.harvard.edu/blog/what-is-ethical-leadership-and-why-is-it-important/
https://thecenter.mit.edu/home/transformative-leadership-program/
Every Jesuit business Jesuit degree program will have "ethics" as a class, seminar or discussed throughout each class. Therefore, strongly suggest Holy Cross and Boston College at the first tier. Dropping down a tier to Fairfield, Marquette or Gonzaga. Or another step down to Scranton or St. Joe's in Philly for access to alums in "The City".
Anonymous
04/21/2026 10:03
Subject: Help with a rising junior's academic profile
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?
It may be oversubscribed but if that is what is best for your child then support it. And yes - a BS in Marketing is a real degree. Some schools (like mine for BS) it may be a BS in Business Administration with an emphasis or major in marketing. Marketing with a foreign language can help esp. with a follow-on MS in Intnl. Business.
Anonymous
04/21/2026 10:00
Subject: Help with a rising junior's academic profile
Anonymous wrote:Story needs focus.
I'd make major marketing and ethics. or business. depends on college. lean into ethical leadership.
ECs:
- 21st Century Management. Founder of club examining building an ethical decision-making culture. x speakers, w roundtables, audience of x kids.
- Etsy handmade and upcycled jewelry business. x years x dollars.
- Upcycling busienss ?
- TO ADD - more quantifiable leadership at school, in club, even something like building social media presence across all high school women's sports. Increased followers by 300%.
- 3 sport varsity athlete
- Paid employment: camp counselor (x years), neighborhood babysitter (x years)
- Writing: literary mag writer (x years), poetry slam club member (x years), Poetry slam club winner (2025)
- Community impact: Community service youth council (x year, x accomplishment), middle school tutor (x years)
This is really good!!!
Anonymous
04/21/2026 09:50
Subject: Help with a rising junior's academic profile
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Story needs focus.
I'd make major marketing and ethics. or business. depends on college. lean into ethical leadership.
ECs:
- 21st Century Management. Founder of club examining building an ethical decision-making culture. x speakers, w roundtables, audience of x kids.
- Etsy handmade and upcycled jewelry business. x years x dollars.
- Upcycling busienss ?
- TO ADD - more quantifiable leadership at school, in club, even something like building social media presence across all high school women's sports. Increased followers by 300%.
- 3 sport varsity athlete
- Paid employment: camp counselor (x years), neighborhood babysitter (x years)
- Writing: literary mag writer (x years), poetry slam club member (x years), Poetry slam club winner (2025)
- Community impact: Community service youth council (x year, x accomplishment), middle school tutor (x years)
What is ethical leadership?
it's a well-known academic area of interest in management. there are majors in it at top business schools. there are certificates you can gain (I was going to suggest to OP"s kid, but I think she needs more hands on experience and documentation). you can google, but here are two at harvard and MIT
https://professional.dce.harvard.edu/blog/what-is-ethical-leadership-and-why-is-it-important/
https://thecenter.mit.edu/home/transformative-leadership-program/
Anonymous
04/21/2026 09:45
Subject: Help with a rising junior's academic profile
I think the activities are kind of weak and generic. Nothing about that list suggests any sort of long term passion or any sort of emerging interest in a particular area. Plus none of these things look like they require a time commitment other than an hour or two a week—other than the sports.
But, private school varsity sports are whatever unless your kid is a recruited athlete in one of them. Schools know some private schools require 2-3 sports seasons per year and that “varsity” isn’t meaningful in and of itself because the bar for making it on to the roster is low bc of small school size and the school requiring participation. Our private had uncoordinated, disinterested kids who often skipped practices who could claim to be three sport varsity athletes.
I think more focus on finding direction and worry about the school list in a year.
But, private school varsity sports are whatever unless your kid is a recruited athlete in one of them. Schools know some private schools require 2-3 sports seasons per year and that “varsity” isn’t meaningful in and of itself because the bar for making it on to the roster is low bc of small school size and the school requiring participation. Our private had uncoordinated, disinterested kids who often skipped practices who could claim to be three sport varsity athletes.
I think more focus on finding direction and worry about the school list in a year.
Anonymous
04/21/2026 09:43
Subject: Help with a rising junior's academic profile
Anonymous wrote:Story needs focus.
I'd make major marketing and ethics. or business. depends on college. lean into ethical leadership.
ECs:
- 21st Century Management. Founder of club examining building an ethical decision-making culture. x speakers, w roundtables, audience of x kids.
- Etsy handmade and upcycled jewelry business. x years x dollars.
- Upcycling busienss ?
- TO ADD - more quantifiable leadership at school, in club, even something like building social media presence across all high school women's sports. Increased followers by 300%.
- 3 sport varsity athlete
- Paid employment: camp counselor (x years), neighborhood babysitter (x years)
- Writing: literary mag writer (x years), poetry slam club member (x years), Poetry slam club winner (2025)
- Community impact: Community service youth council (x year, x accomplishment), middle school tutor (x years)
What is ethical leadership?
Anonymous
04/21/2026 09:27
Subject: Help with a rising junior's academic profile
Story needs focus.
I'd make major marketing and ethics. or business. depends on college. lean into ethical leadership.
ECs:
- 21st Century Management. Founder of club examining building an ethical decision-making culture. x speakers, w roundtables, audience of x kids.
- Etsy handmade and upcycled jewelry business. x years x dollars.
- Upcycling busienss ?
- TO ADD - more quantifiable leadership at school, in club, even something like building social media presence across all high school women's sports. Increased followers by 300%.
- 3 sport varsity athlete
- Paid employment: camp counselor (x years), neighborhood babysitter (x years)
- Writing: literary mag writer (x years), poetry slam club member (x years), Poetry slam club winner (2025)
- Community impact: Community service youth council (x year, x accomplishment), middle school tutor (x years)
I'd make major marketing and ethics. or business. depends on college. lean into ethical leadership.
ECs:
- 21st Century Management. Founder of club examining building an ethical decision-making culture. x speakers, w roundtables, audience of x kids.
- Etsy handmade and upcycled jewelry business. x years x dollars.
- Upcycling busienss ?
- TO ADD - more quantifiable leadership at school, in club, even something like building social media presence across all high school women's sports. Increased followers by 300%.
- 3 sport varsity athlete
- Paid employment: camp counselor (x years), neighborhood babysitter (x years)
- Writing: literary mag writer (x years), poetry slam club member (x years), Poetry slam club winner (2025)
- Community impact: Community service youth council (x year, x accomplishment), middle school tutor (x years)
Anonymous
04/21/2026 09:01
Subject: Help with a rising junior's academic profile
OP: here.
Wow everyone. Thank you. A lot of good stuff here that I have to read through. Really appreciate everyone’s feedback.
We will examine the list but again but more focused on picking the right major and having the best shot at her early decision school.
Wow everyone. Thank you. A lot of good stuff here that I have to read through. Really appreciate everyone’s feedback.
We will examine the list but again but more focused on picking the right major and having the best shot at her early decision school.
Anonymous
04/21/2026 01:58
Subject: Re:Help with a rising junior's academic profile
Your list is great as is. I see smart reaches, targets and some safeties. I’d take off Elon, assuming your child won’t want to attend.
I just finished the process with my DD who had a 1490. In retrospect she applied to too many schools and not enough reaches. Don’t over apply to safeties. I think your list is excellent and she’s only a rising junior! So I imagine her ECs will have more depth and her score will increase.
I just finished the process with my DD who had a 1490. In retrospect she applied to too many schools and not enough reaches. Don’t over apply to safeties. I think your list is excellent and she’s only a rising junior! So I imagine her ECs will have more depth and her score will increase.