HS'er Choosing Schools

My little bro is applying this year for schools and wants to do IB: he's applying to Michigan, Claremont McKenna/Harvey Mudd, Tufts, Duke, and my school (UT Austin). He's a smart kid: killed his test scores, great rugby player, International Baccalaureate, 3.9 unweighted, funniest kid I know, not to many extra circular or awards so I think that might be his only set back. I know none of these schools are "super targets", maybe except for Duke, but they're on the map & he's pretty dead set on not wanting to go to an Ivy for some reason, whatever kid has principals ha. His HS guidance counselors are pretty much worthless so he asked me if I would ask around. So no better place than the ultimate scholastic dick measuring resource. I know if he came here and got into the b-school there's pretty descent placement if you make the right moves/grades, but I'm not quite sure about the other schools, I'm sure Duke's pretty good. Thanks guys. Oh and I have no affiliation with any of the schools so be as asshole like as possible.

10 Comments
 

it depends on what your brother prioritys are. Duke might give him the best probability of getting into banking, but he will meet zero hot girls during his college years unless they are visiting from another school.

 
pedaltodafloit depends on what your brother prioritys are. Duke might give him the best probability of getting into banking, but he will meet zero hot girls during his college years unless they are visiting from another school.

Truth. There are maybe 2-3 hot girls per class at Duke. Unless you've got a thing for asians, you're going to be spending a lot of time driving to Chapel Hill.

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Duke is clearly the top choice, then if he is a beast UT Austin (they are notorious for difficult grading, but still a target for most Texas offices). After that, Claremont (Henry Kravis, George Roberts and Peter Weinberg are all alumni, and it is a target at a decent number of firms). Michigan is very overrated IMO. Definitely not Tufts. Harvey Mudd only if he is too socially awkward to pick up a third grader.

Devils AdvocateHigh schoolers prepping for investment banking already? This is funny and sad at the same time. Anyway, tell him to go to Duke, if he gets in.

There was a middle schooler on a couple of months ago

 

duke and mich are both targets. UT austin kinda a semi but mostly for offices in texas. tufts and claremont suck.

would your brother consider cornell, unc, uva, nyu, columbia. all targets (unc not so much) and in a similar league as some of the others mentioned in terms of academics

 

I don't know anyone who went there personally, but I've heard awesome things about Harvey Mudd. I think some ridiculous percentage like half the class ends up getting a PhD... Claremont seems like the best of everything, great location, campus, resources from the other consortium schools... only thing is finance recruiting from Claremont and UCLA is not that great. Well, who knows how finance careers are going to be viewed in four years, and whether under Obama, bright kids will remain interested in the Street if the quality of life remains poor (i.e. job security) and the pay outlook is limited (at least compared to tradional science and engineering careers, law or medicine).

Otherwise, Duke is a great choice obviously. UT, UMich- excellent academics but the large class size will make it tough to stand out when looking for a job.

 

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