“My friend told me….”

You want to read this post if you’re thinking of applying to the Kelley School this semester. On a campus like IU, there are a lot of myths and legends. Some of these have developed over the years from bad information, like the one about the Wells Library sinking.

The Kelley Admissions Committee hears a lot of myths in the application process for the Kelley School. Let’s clear a few of those up…

“If I wait to apply, my application will look better.”
MYTH. The Kelley School sees all grades at the time that the application is reviewed. You won’t help your case by waiting another semester, because the committee will still see your earlier grades. If you are a freshman, you should apply in the spring of your freshman year so that you can receive a decision about your Kelley application by the summer before your sophomore year. This will help you continue to make progress towards a four year degree.

“Kelley only looks at the grades in business courses.”
MYTH. The Kelley degree is a liberal arts business degree. The Admissions Committee will look at ALL grades, in ALL courses.

“My extracurricular are so strong, I’ll get in even if my grades aren’t that great.” or “If I get one B- (or W), I’ll still get in.”
MYTH. The only way to be guaranteed admission is to make all A’s and B’s in all courses, with no W’s. There is a risk of being denied admission or deferred if you have a single B- or W on your academic record. While extracurricular involvement is considered, the greatest weight is put on academic performance. Excellent student organization involvement will not make up for poor academic work.

“A100 is a required class to apply to the business school.”
MYTH. The required classes for admission are ENG-W131 English Composition, MATH-M118 Finite Math, MATH-M119 Calculus, and BUS-K201 The Computer in Business. BUS-X100 Introduction to Business Administration can substitute for M118, M119 or K201. BUS-A100 Basic Accounting Skills is not required to apply; however, it is a good idea to take the course during your freshman year, because it is a prerequisite for BUS-A201 Financial Accounting and BUS-A202 Managerial Accounting. If you do not take A100 during your freshman year, you will delay your degree progress, and you may compromise your ability to graduate in four years.

How to Get Into the Business School Through University Division

There can be a lot of pressure from your parents, counselors and classmates about direct admission to the Kelley School of Business. If you missed the requirements, it can be disappointing. It can feel like your goals are slipping away. But that’s not true. Your goals and dreams are all still within your reach, but the path you take to meet them might be a little different than you envisioned.

Below, you will find some descriptions of what life will be like your freshmen year, and what you will do to claim your place in the business school.

What it means to be in University Division:

• If you meet the requirements listed below, you are guaranteed admission to the business school at the beginning of your sophomore year. 90% of the students at IU enter through the University Division. You are not alone.
• Currently, slightly more than 50% of the students in Kelley are University Division students.
• University Division has approximately 60 advisors located around campus to help you when you need assistance. The UD advisors receive the same training as business advisors, and they are experts at helping you navigate your first year of college.

The classes you take freshman year:

• You will take all of the same classes as the direct admit students.
• Over the two semesters, you will take four admissions courses: English Composition, The Computer in Business, Finite Mathematics and Calculus.
• You will also take a number of business classes such as Microeconomics, Basic Accounting Skills, and Business Presentations.
• Finally, you will take two or three general education classes each semester.

The requirements for admission:

• If you earn B’s or better with no withdrawals (W's), you will be automatically admitted to the business school. B-‘s do not meet this requirement.
• If you do receive a B- or lower, you may still gain admission. The admissions committee wants to see a positive grade trend (2nd semester is better than your 1st semester) and strong performance in your business classes.
• The more A’s you receive, the better your application will be.

How to earn B’s or better:

• You are smart. By virtue of getting admitted to IU, you have demonstrated that you can be successful acdemically.
• The secret to earning B’s is motivation and work ethic.
• If you attend all the classes, do all of the homework and do all of the reading, you should earn B’s or better.
• If you take the steps listed above, and you are still struggling, there are peer tutors in the classes, group tutors in the academic centers and private tutors available through the business school.
• Your professor will have office hours every week. It will be useful if you meet with him or her regularly.
• Finally, college is a series of choices. In your residence hall, you will be surrounded by hundreds of interesting people, doing hundreds of interesting things. Though there is value in the 3AM conversation, your grades need to come first. If you stay focused on the B standard, there is no reason why you won’t be successful.

Once you earn your B’s and above, you will be automatically admitted to the business school, and your dreams will begin to feel more tangible.

Launch of a new newsletter

The staff of Kelley's Office of Diversity Initiatives (KODI) published their first newsletter this week, with a focus on introducing their exciting work with three student organizations: Kelley School Diversity Council, National Association of Black Accountants, and Undergraduate Black MBA Association. While the staff provide support to current students at Kelley, they also do outreach and recruitment efforts with prospective students still in high school.

Over the past few months, the staff have been traveling throughout the state to meet with students via college fairs and workshops. The goal is to establish a relationship with students who might be interested in studying business in college, to let those students know Kelley might be a possibility in their future plans.

In addition, the application for the Junior Executive Institute, the office's summer program for high school students from historically underrepresented groups, will open on March 1. Information about the program has been sent to local high schools and to selected schools across the country. Interested students can also find more details online at http://www.kelley.iu.edu/ugrad/precollege/jei.cfm.

Planning for Direct Admit Day 2009

We're gearing up for this year's Direct Admit Day. Invitations to this amazing event will soon be mailed out to all students offered direct admission.

Students and their families come to the IU campus for this event, filled with a variety of activities and presentations about the breadth of opportunities here.

This year we'll be holding a pre-event networking social on Friday, March 27, from 7:00-9:00 pm at the Tudor Room in the Indiana Memorial Union. Dozens of current students and faculty members from Kelley will float around the room to answer questions and get to know students better.

Then on Saturday, March 28, attendees will convene at the IU Auditorium from 9:00 am-12:00 pm. After a brief introduction to Kelley by Dean Dan Smith, students will get a chance to separate away from their parents, meet with current students, and learn more about the student life side of the Kelley experince. While their student is doing this, parents will attend sessions on career services, special academic opportunities for students, and what it means to be a parent of a Kelley student.

Spring 2009 Standard Admission

Earlier this month before Spring classes resumed, approximately 280 applicants got the great news that they had been admitted to Kelley through the standard admission process. The acceptance rate dropped slightly this semester to 53%, as fewer students met the minimum requirements for admission. A few dozen deferrals were granted to students whose performance was only slightly below the minimum requirements; these students will be invited to reapply if they make improvements in the area(s) specified by the Admissions Committee.

While any student denied admission can speak to an admissions counselor at Kelley, appealing the decision will most likely be futile if you have not met the minimum requirements and do not have a reasonable argument for why one or more grades were below B. An admissions counselor can, however, help you determine alternate plans that may include pursuing a minor or certificate in business. The latter do not require admission to Kelley and are open to all students at IU pursing majors elsewhere on campus.

All future applicants are encouraged to verify that they meet the admissions requirements and to consult with Kelley's standard admit counselors if they have any questions. Grades of B or above are required for a successful admission decision. Any course grade below B (and this includes B-) put an applicant at very high risk for denial.