If your student has his or her heart set on attending business school as an undergraduate, careful course and activity planning are essential. Here’s our advice for students preparing to apply to undergraduate business programs. 

Are you taking and excelling in the most rigorous math courses offered at your school?

For the most selective business programs, AP Calculus BC has become the expectation. AP Calculus AB is the minimum requirement for these programs. If you’re currently not on the calculus track, look into supplementing your coursework with summer school to fulfill the expectation of calculus. Additionally, AP Statistics is nice to have but should never take the place of AP Calculus. 

Do you have meaningful business experience?

We recommend students pursue experiences outside the classroom to supplement their desire to study business and to demonstrate fit-to-major to admissions officers. Internships, jobs, and independent research projects are all excellent ways to demonstrate your commitment to the study of business. 

Are you excelling in your academic core areas? 

While classes like accounting, intro to investing, and virtual business are all terrific ways to “learn the ropes,” making room for these electives in your academic schedule should never be at the sacrifice of rigorous coursework in your core academic areas: English, Math, History, and Science. For prospective business students, success in core academic areas should always be the first priority. 

Are your test scores in math your best scores? 

While many schools are still rolling with test-optional policies, a strong standardized test score never goes out of style. If you are planning on submitting your test scores to business programs, it is imperative that your math score be as high or higher than other subjects. 

Can you articulate why you want to study business? 

Given the rise of popularity in business, competition for spots in business programs is stiff. Students should be able to clearly and specifically state “the why” behind their pursuit of business (and wanting to be rich, for the sake of college applications, is not enough!). After all, students will have to write essays on these topics while relating their business interests to a particular university’s values, needs, and offerings