-Boost
your financial IQ and get the attention of admissions committees-
GPA is still the
King
Your
GPA is a good indicator for undergraduate business schools to determine whether
or not you can handle the challenging curriculum the school offers. Most admissions committees will put strong
emphasis on your performance in mathematics courses. Since many business
courses are heavily math based (Accounting, Finance, to name a few), having a
strong math background is necessary. They also seek applicants who are competent in
reading comprehension which demonstrates analytical and critical thinking
skills. In addition, achieving
proficiency in written English is crucial.
Top schools want applicants who can write well and concisely.
Good Standardized Test Scores
Even
though a high test score does not guarantee admission, it can definitely make
an application more competitive. Scores
are used to determine an applicant’s ability to problem solve in math, read
critically, and communicate effectively through writing. SAT scores for business and engineering
applicants tend to be slightly higher than they are among other program
applicants. Thus, it is important for you
to put in time and effort to prepare for your SAT.
Leadership Potential
Top
undergraduate business schools seek applicants who demonstrate leadership
potential. Many high school students tend
to include everything they have done in leadership roles on their
applications. However, it is crucial to
know that admission committees not only focus on experience, but also want to
see that an applicant has the potential to lead a group and help others
accomplish a goal. The areas that show
your leadership potential are your extracurricular activities, essay and
interview.
The ability to Communicate
In
the business world, the ability to communicate is essential. Admission committees judge your ability to effectively
communicate by looking at your essay and interview.
·
The
Essay:
Besides being an indicator of writing proficiency,
the application essay is a tool students must use to bring their applications
to life. The essays give the applicants
a chance to showcase their strengths (leadership ability, intelligence,
professionalism, confidence, critical reasoning) beyond simply their GPA and
scores. Good essays can humanize an application
and give you an edge in the competition for acceptance at the school of your
choice.
·
The
Interview:
Through an interview, a school can assess your ability
to communicate verbally and effectively.
Also, it is a chance for you to demonstrate your ambition to excel in an
undergraduate business program. To
prepare for an interview, you further need to enrich your familiarity with
business concepts by becoming familiar with current events in the business
world. A good way to accumulate such
knowledge is to read magazines such as Forbes, Bloomberg, Business week, and
Fortune on preferably a weekly basis, familiarizing yourself with current
events in business so as to be able to incorporate such concepts and
information into your answers to interview questions.
-Ms. Jean Tseng, ACI San Marino Director
