Congratulations! You’ve decided that a business major is the right path for you! This rewarding career path will never cease to challenge you and provide you with growth opportunities. Whether you’re just starting on your academic journey or looking to stand out above the crowd of your university peers, Opus is ready to provide you with tips and tricks as you take these crucial next steps.
Join us as we highlight some great methods for you to use as an upcoming or current business major!
In this post, we will cover two major topics for the business-geared individual:
- 4 tips for standing out as a Business Major Applicant at top schools
- 4 tips for standing out as a Current Business Major
Standing Out as a Business Major Applicant
It all happened so fast. One minute, you’re taking pictures for your first day of grade school, and the next, you find yourself researching career goals for the rest of your life. If you’re reading this, you’ve probably been thinking about the best way to show the college admissions office at your top choice schools that you are a prime candidate for a business-related degree. It seems daunting, maybe a little overwhelming even, but fear not as Opus College Prep is here to lend you a hand as you wade through a seemingly endless sea of information.
As you gear up to take the next big leap in your academic career, please consider these tips to help you get accepted into the school of your dreams!
- Extracurricular Activities – Top schools seek students with niche skills and interests to diversify their incoming class. They want to see students who have shown a commitment to activities outside of academics. Does your high school host any business clubs? Yes? Check them out and see if they would fit you well! No? Start one! What better way to show admissions that you are business-oriented than to start a specialized club for your academic peers. In the words of the late, great Dr. Seuss, “Why fit in when you were born to stand out!”
- Academically Challenge Yourself! – This is a great opportunity to consider how to cater your electives to your future goals! Does your school offer extra classes in mathematics, computers, economics, or accounting? Does your school offer DECA or FBLA programs? These are all wonderful opportunities to pursue that will help you stand out to admissions offices. Not only will these classes look great on your transcript, but they will also be the informational foundation that will help you as you proceed.
- Manage Your Summer Breaks – University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton, University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, University of California-Berkeley, University of Notre Dame, and Emory University offer competitive summer enrichment programs for students interested in a degree in business. These programs allow students to hone their leadership, communication, and marketing skills. Take advantage of these programs prior to applying and begin aligning with the programs that you hope to apply to. Some schools will prefer students who have been accepted into these programs before the application process. Another benefit to these programs is that even if they aren’t at your school of choice, they can make you a strong applicant for many top universities regardless! These experiences can help students stand out from peers during admissions reviews!
- Build Your Experiences – Those internships we mentioned above? That experience is priceless! Schools love to see someone building their business experience beforehand. Internships are excellent, but thinking even further, starting your own business is a terrific show of entrepreneurial spirit. Experiences like these show not only a deeper interest in your future academic and professional career, but also that you have the initiative to take the first step into new experiences and opportunities. Not only would you stand out, but you would surely be a step ahead of the rest after starting and managing all the key aspects of your own business!
Excelling as a Current Business Major
Phew! It feels like just yesterday that you were lugging your suitcase into your freshman dorm, having accomplished the feat of getting accepted into a competitive business degree program. As you’ve gotten into the swing of life as a higher education student, you’re probably starting to realize that the real world is just around the corner and you’re not sure if you stand out from the crowd as much as you’d like.
Worry not, we have just the thing for you! Below, we go over four points that will help you further prove yourself as the star you are.
Building and Strengthening
Your Soft Skills Are you asking yourself, “Do I even have soft skills?” Soft skills include leadership, communication, problem-solving, and team-building, just to name a few. During school, you’ve been building your skills during every group activity, project, or club.
Maybe you took the lead on a vital group assignment, delegated the roles and responsibilities of a school club, or even assisted in a conflict resolution seminar held by a professor. Did you ever participate in a mentorship program? Mentoring is another soft skill to add to your repertoire.
Why Do Soft Skills Matter?
A quote from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School answers this question perfectly:
“Soft skills, in some instances, can supersede hard skills when you convey that you fit in well with an organization’s culture. Most employers are looking for a solid combination of both hard and soft business skills, so you will surely set yourself apart by putting your energy into the development of both.”
These skills can only help you as you consider where you want to take your education and career. Ask yourself questions such as:
- What is the culture like at my dream company?
- Which of my skills would allow me to really contribute to their organizational goals?
As you learn the answers to these questions, challenge yourself to strengthen and utilize your soft skills at any opportunity.
Creating a Resume That Reflects Your Value
As mentioned in our last point, the skills you’ve been learning as an undergraduate have been priceless and will only serve you well in your goal to make you stand out as a business major and business professional (one day). Your next step is to decide how best to present these skills to your prospective employers and potential professional colleagues.
Your resume is an opportunity to make a glowing first impression and give insight into why you are best suited for the role to which you are applying. Get creative! Your resume is more than words on paper; it is every experience that has helped mold you into the person you are today. Present this person as an asset to the company—someone who can fit in well with the company culture and will be an invaluable resource in continuing to bring momentum to any organizational goals.
Next, think even further beyond the words you are writing. You may have been given a resume format to follow, and while these are often helpful, they may not be the best option when trying to present yourself as an individual. You may even find adding a summary to your resume helpful, giving insight into your career accomplishments and future goals.
Building a Personal Brand
Do you have a business card? A LinkedIn? An online portfolio? If not, this is a great opportunity to start considering the best methods to market yourself to future employers.
Keep your LinkedIn profile active and updated, share articles relevant to your professional interests, and be sure to include any skills and experiences as you grow.
Building your professional presence is critical in your endeavor to stand out and get noticed. Keep your content professional and appropriate—you don’t want to stand out for the wrong reasons!
Making and Maintaining Your Connections
Make sure you’re attending major-specific meet-and-greets hosted by the career development department or university career fairs. Update your calendar and attend them whenever possible.
Developing connections with active alums, professors, or even fellow classmates will only serve to open doors as you proceed forward in your business career. Build and cultivate these relationships as a part of your day-to-day routine by maintaining our network of professional connections.
Personalized Support for Business Majors
Do you need help with any of these points? Opus has consultants ready to assist you at all stages of your Business Major journey.
Feel free to reach out for a free consultation and additional information regarding our services. Allow us to utilize our decades of Ivy League admissions experience to help you make the best of your academic and post-graduate career.
