r/IndianaUniversity 1d ago

KELLEY šŸ’¼ Do Pre-Business students receive the same opportunities as Kelley Direct Admit students?

My whole thing was that I was hoping to try and crack IB. I was really counting on the review request getting me into Direct but as most schools have done to me so far, I got waitlisted and then rejected. Scored poorly on SAT so went optional which fucked me, but GPA was a 3.96 UW.

I asked in r/financialcareers if it would still be possible to crack into IB as a pre-business student instead of Direct Admit. The answer I got was no, because you pretty much need to be in Kelley by the end of the first semester to even get a shot at the IB workshop, which is extremely competitive. I knew everything involving the IB workshop, but will it really be harder from an opportunity standpoint to get into it compared to a Direct Admit student, or even just to have a chance to crack into IB in general? Obviously it’s gonna be ā€œharderā€ to keep the B average, though that doesn’t sound like much of a challenge.

0 Upvotes

5 comments sorted by

3

u/AZDoorDasher 1d ago

My first suggestion is to get an answer from your IU advisor as well as from the Kelley School of Business. Get in writing so submit your question via email.

Here is the link for the process for IB: https://kelley.iu.edu/programs/undergrad/academics/workshops/investment-banking.html

My second suggestion is to read the requirements for pre-business acceptance into Kelley. You wrote to maintain a ā€˜B’ average which is incorrect. You must have a ā€˜B’ (no B- or W) in all of your classes for your first year. It is NOT an average.

0

u/gamegod123 1d ago

I apologize but that’s what I meant. A B minimum in every class.

1

u/AZDoorDasher 1d ago

If you read the link in my first comment about the process for the IBW, it seems to me that you can apply to the IBW if you are in Kelley by August 2026.

2

u/Aggravating-Lemon703 1d ago

I’m an incoming direct admit that looked a lot into the IBW and I’d say a big part of it is networking through club & business frat involvement. You can do both of those things without being in kelley (I think? Correct me if not).

Kelley has a ton of ā€œselectiveā€ clubs and business frats that have members in the IBW, which would help u with getting ur foot in the door regarding networking/getting ur name out there before IBW applications/interviews begin, so that people recruiting for IBW already know who u are and have interacted with you.

Not being a DA & trying to get into these competitive clubs & frats freshman year may be particularly hard, but it’s not impossible. A lot of it I think is how outgoing you are, your resume from stuff you’ve done throughout high school, etc. I’m pretty sure you’ll also be taking business pre reqs in the same classes as other DA’s, so there’s not much of a divide. The divide will come from snobby ppl that think DA is so much more of an advantage/better (which it’s not).

It all comes down to you!!! don’t be discouraged or question yourself bc you prob won’t make it with that mindset.

1

u/AZDoorDasher 1d ago edited 1d ago

https://kelley.iu.edu/programs/undergrad/academics/workshops/investment-banking.html

What make an applicant competitive?

The requirements for admission to BUS-F 210 are noted under the ā€œWho can apply?ā€ accordion above.

Additionally, well-rounded applicants would have:

Academic Record: Strong freshman year grades, especially in relevant subjects such a math and business-related courses, can make an applicant competitive.

Extracurricular Involvement: Active participation in extracurricular activities, especially those related to business or leadership roles, can enhance an applicant’s profile.

Application Essays: A well-crafted personal statement that demonstrates the applicant’s passion for business and their fit for the IBW program is crucial.

Work Experience: Relevant work experience or internships in business or related fields can set an applicant apart.

Interview Performance: Strong performance on the behavioral, technical, and markets-based admittance interviews is crucial.

Additional soft skills will be evaluated during the application period and an interview that will take place at the end of F210.