From Freshman Year to Freshman Dorm: A Step-by-Step High School Plan for Future Business Majors

Essential College Coaches has created a 4-year high school plan to prepare you. This plan will show you how to build a strong academic record, participate in meaningful extracurriculars, find real-world shadowing/internships, and enriching summer programs to build a strong college application for acceptance to competitive undergraduate business programs.

Freshman Year (9th Grade) – Foundation Year

Academics 

• Take honors or advanced courses in:

  • Math: Algebra I or Geometry (aim to be in Calculus+ by 12th grade)

  • English: Honors English if available

  • Science: Honors Biology

  • Social Studies: Honors World History or Geography

  • Electives: Intro to Business or Financial Literacy, Foreign Language (Honors Spanish, French, German,Mandarin)

Extracurriculars

• Join DECA, FBLA, or Junior Achievement.

• Run for Student Government.

• Join a math club or speech and debate team.

• Participate in a sports team, marching band, music, or theater.

Shadowing/Exposure

• Interview a local entrepreneur, small business owner or family friend in an area of business that interests you.

• Attend Pittsburgh Entrepreneurial Education Council for Youth (PEECY) or find a similar organization or local Chamber of Commerce youth event in your city.

Summer Activities

• Attend a business or entrepreneurship camp (local or online)

• Start a summer job (paid) or project (volunteer): tutoring, music lessons, reselling items online, lawn services, babysitting, etc.

• Read business books:

  • The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

  • Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

  • The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham A timeless guide to value investing and financial principles.

  • The Ascent of Money by Niall Ferguson

  • The Network State by Balaji Srinivasan

  • I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi (Updated edition)

  • Winners Take All by Anand Giridharadas

  • Principles: Life & Work by Ray Dalio 

  • The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

  • Thinking, Fast and Slow

    
    

Sophomore Year (10th Grade) – Exploration & Early Involvement

Academics 

• Take honors or advanced courses in:

  • Math: Geometry or Algebra II

  • English: Honors English

  • Science: Honors Chemistry

  • Social Studies: Hon or AP if available

  • Foreign Language: Year 2

  • Electives:Accounting or Marketing (if offered)Computer Applications or Intro to Data Analysis

Extracurriculars

• Take on a leadership role in a club (e.g., secretary of DECA or FBLA)

• Compete in business competitions (FBLA, DECA, local pitch contests)

• Join or start an Investment or Stock Market Club.

• Volunteer for a local nonprofit – help with fundraising or event planning

Shadowing/Internship

• Shadow a business professional (marketing manager, accountant, analyst)

• Reach out to a family member or mentor in business for a short-term mentorship.

• Offer your data analysis, website management, or computing skills in exchange for shadowing opportunities.

Summer Activities

• Attend a business summer program (examples: Wharton Essentials of Finance, Babson Summer Study, NYU Precollege)

• Intern or volunteer with a local startup or small business

• Launch a micro-business (reselling, tutoring, digital services, etc.)

• Continue reading the Book List above.

  
  

Junior Year (11th Grade) – Peak Academics & Focus on Pursuing your Interest in Business

Academics

• Take AP/Honors courses in:

  • Math: Pre-Calculus or AP Pre-Calc / AP Statistics 

  • English: AP English Language & Composition

  • Science: Honors or AP Physics

  • Social Studies: AP US History or AP Gov

  • Foreign Language: Year 3

  • Electives: Business Law, Entrepreneurship, AP Computer Science, AP Economics

Extracurriculars

• Run for President/Vice President of DECA/FBLA

• Continue in student government or organize a school business fair.

• Lead a community service initiative (e.g., financial literacy workshops)

• Start a YouTube channel, blog, or podcast on business topics that fascinate you and your friends.

Shadowing/Internship

• Apply for an internship with a local business, startup, or bank or investment firm (use your parents and friends' contacts)

• Create a professional resume to share and learn how to write business emails.

• Reach out to local college professors for research assistant opportunities

Summer Activities

• Attend a prestigious business program like:

  • LEAD Math: Pre-Calculus or AP Pre-Calc / AP Statistics 

  • Business Scholars Program – UChicago

  • U Penn Leadership in the Business World (LBW)

  • Wharton Pre‑Baccalaureate Program

  • Stanford Pre‑Collegiate Summer Institutes

  • NYU Precollege / Summer@Stern

• Intern at a corporate office, marketing firm, or nonprofit

• Visit business schools during college tours ( like Wharton, NYU Stern, UMich Ross, Notre Dame Mendoza, IU Kelly)

  
  

 Senior Year (12th Grade) – College Applications & Consistency

Academics

• Take AP courses in:

  • Math: AP Calculus AB/BC or AP Statistics

  • English: AP English Literature

  • Science: AP Economics (Micro + Macro) if not taken before

  • Social Studies: Government or Business Ethics

• Electives: Capstone Business Project if offered, Personal Finance

Extracurriculars

• Final year of leadership roles: club president, event lead, etc.

• Launch a capstone project (e.g., nonprofit, e-commerce store, school campaign)

• Compete in national-level competitions (e.g., National DECA)

Shadowing/Internship

• Do a senior internship for credit (if school allows)

• Get a letter of recommendation from a business mentor or internship supervisor.

Summer (Before College)

• Find an Internship or a job in finance, consulting, marketing, or customer service.

• Continue reading business strategy and leadership books.

• Prepare for business school with online courses in:

  • Excel (LinkedIn Learning, Coursera)

  • Intro to Business, Accounting, or Entrepreneurship (edX, Khan Academy, etc)