Attending top business schools such as Wharton, Cornell’s SC Johnson College of Business, and Harvard Business School has become synonymous with prestige and professional success. With an average starting salary of $85,345 and a long list of renowned students such as Elon Musk and Warren Buffett, Wharton is a dream destination for high school students who aspire to become business leaders. Given the school’s steep competition and low acceptance rate, it is critical that students start building their applicant profiles early, not only to ensure a strong academic foundation, but also discover their unique interests and skills and stand out amongst other highly qualified applicants. As the Penn application website notes, admitted applicants are those that “present the most compelling cases and distinguish themselves from other applicants.” Becoming such an applicant requires time, effort, and strategy.
If you hope to join the ranks of elite graduates at Wharton and other top business schools, here are three key steps you can take to craft a standout applicant profile:
1. Find Your Niche
Business is an incredibly broad field, and applying to pursue it without a niche can signal to admissions officers that you haven’t put much thought into your skills and passions or that you simply want to pursue a lucrative career. If you have exceptional interpersonal skills, you might choose to pursue marketing; if you are skilled at creating a product, then you may thrive in an engineering-oriented program; if you are interested in data science and problem-solving, your niche is likely in analytics; if you are interested in the way in which corporations are regulated and interact with other social structures, you should consider exploring public policy. Additionally, students can combine their various disciplinary interests with their interest in business to demonstrate a creative and original approach to admissions officers. For example, if you’re interested in healthcare, think about how you can apply your business skills to the medical industry.
Freshmen and sophomores should use the early years of their high school careers to explore different areas of business and identify where their passion truly lies. Are you drawn to the fast-paced world of finance, intrigued by the art of marketing, or interested in creating socially responsible startups? The sooner you discover your niche, the better you’ll be able to craft a focused applicant profile that highlights your strengths and long-term goals. No matter your area of interest, you should focus on getting involved in jobs, internships, summer programs, and extracurricular activities that demonstrate your analytical abilities, leadership, and decision-making skills in that area. Meanwhile, juniors and seniors should evaluate the specific strengths and curricular emphases of the various schools they’re considering, then articulate their intended path with confidence and specificity on their applications.
What Our Mentors Have to Say:
Ibrahim: “Broadly speaking, I’d say avoid saying ‘business’ in general and instead present yourself as being interested in a certain niche. Even better, being passionate about a certain cause is usually a better place to start if you are interested in business, because then you can demonstrate that you have some personal motivation to go into business rather than a desire to make money.”
2. Embrace Social Impact
Wharton and other top business schools want to admit future leaders who care about more than their own bottom line—they want students who will use their knowledge of their field to create a positive impact on the world. This means that beyond academic achievements and leadership potential, you should also demonstrate a commitment to social responsibility throughout high school. Whether organizing an annual fundraiser for a local charity, partnering with a nonprofit in your small business venture, or launching a social entrepreneurship project, strive to use your business acumen to make a tangible difference in your community. When it comes time to compile your college applications, you should not only highlight the meaningful contributions you have made, but also how you intend to give back as a member of the campus community and future business leader.
What Our Mentors Have to Say:
Kelly: “The field of business doesn’t necessarily lend itself to community service or community impact very well, but students absolutely have to figure out how to incorporate social responsibility into their business interest (at least for the purposes of college applications). Whether it’s through some sort of financial education initiative, tutoring, or meeting a need in their community, there should be some aspect of volunteering involved.”
3. Articulate Your Motivations
It’s not enough to simply write, “My Dad owns a business” or “I want to make a lot of money” on your applications—these are tired cliches that admissions officers encounter repeatedly each admissions cycle. While financial success is a motivator for many business students, Wharton is interested in applicants who have a deeper, more thoughtful reason for choosing this path. Your “why” needs to be specific, personal, and well thought out. Ideally, it should mirror and provide further evidence of your passion for your aforementioned hook. If you struggle to find a deeper reason for your interest, it may be a sign that business is not the right choice for you. Consider how your lived experience exploring your unique hobbies or special interests can translate to an original approach to economics or marketing. Or perhaps the service opportunities you have engaged in have given you a passion for ethical and socially conscious business practices. Whatever your motivation, convey it in your application in a strategic and impactful way.
What Our Mentors Have to Say:
Rosy: “To truly stand out as an applicant, it’s crucial to tie your passion for business to your personal background and experiences. Think back to the first time you heard about business—whether it was a family conversation, a class, or a personal experience—and how that moment sparked your interest. Reflect on how your understanding of business has grown since then and pinpoint the specific areas within the field that truly excite you, whether it’s finance, marketing, or social entrepreneurship. Admissions officers want to see that your motivations come from a genuine place, not just a desire for success, but a drive to learn and make an impact within a specific aspect of the business world.”
If you want to know more about developing your hook in entrepreneurship, economics, or business, check out Command Education’s comprehensive guide!
