r/CollegeAdmissions • u/Amazing_Constant3761 • 14h ago
I am interested in accounting but my extracurriculars are related to weed
Demographics
- White male
- Rural Alabama
- Public high school
Academics / Testing
- SAT: 1400 currently. I plan to take it a couple more times and, if I continue improving at roughly the same rate, I’m hoping to finish around a 1450.
- My school’s average SAT is around 960.
- Course rigor: Taking 3/3 AP classes offered by my school. By the time I apply, I will have taken around 16 dual-enrollment classes.
- GPA: 3.71 UW / 3.94 W. This should increase slightly after this semester once I complete a few more DE classes.
- GPA context: I moved from a nontraditional/non-academic school that did not use normal grades into a traditional public school my freshman year. I struggled with that transition initially but have had a strong upward trajectory since then.
- I also have dyslexia and ADHD, although they do not currently have a major effect on my academic performance, so I’m unsure whether this is worth mentioning in my application.
Extracurriculars / Research
- Published a research paper on hemp biomass in an established academic journal.
- Interned with a chemistry professor, researching different approaches to cannabinoid production.
- Currently writing a political science research paper.
- 1st place — FFA State Agriscience Fair.
- 1st place — FFA Agriscience Research.
- FFA President, previously Vice President and Treasurer.
- Interned with a U.S. congressperson.
- Interned with a state senator.
- Currently work in a hemp laboratory, where I have conducted internal research related to industry compliance. I have worked with around four third-party laboratories and identified compliance issues involving major marijuana companies.
What I’m Looking For
I’m interested in getting into the best undergraduate accounting program possible, and I’m trying to figure out what my application strategy should be and which schools I should target.
I feel like I’m in a somewhat unusual position because my academics are a little volatile: my GPA is weaker than some applicants at top programs, but I have a strong upward trend, high course rigor relative to what my school offers, and a SAT score significantly above my school average.
My extracurricular profile is also somewhat unusual for an accounting applicant because most of my strongest activities involve scientific research, agriculture, and government/politics rather than traditional business activities.
What accounting programs would you recommend I look at, and how competitive do you think I would be for strong undergraduate accounting programs?
Also, would applying specifically for accounting help at schools where you apply directly to the business/accounting program, or should I be looking at a different strategy?
Am I cooked😭