Do i have a chance of getting into a good b-school (wharton, columbia, etc.)?

Question

ok so im going to apply regular decision. my grade 12 average is expected to be around 90%,3.8 or 3.9 GPA.(its my goal). if on my SAT i ger around the 2200 mark. i have 346 community service hours. ive also been on many teams and in clubs. i only have a few leadership experiences.

with this and a strong essay will i have a chance? even though last year (grade 11) i only got a 80% average?

im also canadian so does it affect my chances?

i do feel i need to say that if anyone has connection to these universities, if they could help me in any way. I have heard that a school like wharton only accepts 8 or 9%. if i know someone form admissions there they could put a face to my application, if that makes sense.

again, i dont expect to get in but im really trying to get the best chance i can get.

Answer 1

The previous poster is right--are you talking about an undergraduate business program, or an MBA?  90% is NOT a 3.8 GPA, so I would make a list of schools you are more likely to get into and add Wharton as a stretch school (and they are not very generous with the financial aid, just so you know, and they take leadership achievements very seriously).

If you are thinking of an MBA, you get an undergraduate degree, work for 2-4 years, then apply for an MBA program.  You need 3.6 or above to be considered for top schools, plus 90% and above percentile on the GMAT,  

Answer 2

Columbia des not have an undergrad B School.

That said, for the best of students, these schools are incredibly hard to get into. They want top grades, top scores and impressive activities. They both take less than 10% and very much expect you to be top of class and to have taken the most rigorous course load available to you. Most accepted students have gone above and beyond offerings at their high schools. They have done summer academic programs and research or taken college classes.

If your grades went down in grade 11 that won't help.

Neither is need blind for internationals, so if you can pay the full $50,000 per year, that will help a lot.

You never know so apply.