non target mentality

has anyone ever broken free from their non-target mentality or are you non target for life?

even if you go on to have the best jobs in the top funds, and even start your own fund.  if your non target are you non target for life?

Do you think having a non target mentality could actually help you succeed more?

22 Comments
 

No if you’re a non-target you just have to be depressed and ashamed of your undergrad for the entire career.

wtf is this post lmao

 
Most Helpful

Funny thing is I went through a very pedigreed path but didn’t get to the top rung which still bothers me a little bit. It’s crazy how your mentality changes as when I was in college, all I wanted was a IB job much less at a top firm. What I mean by not getting to the absolute top is I didn’t get into the top groups at MS / GS (TMT, M&A), went to a middle of the pack MF vs. APO/BX/KKR and did not land the Lone Pine / Pershing Square. The point is that there is always someone else that may have gone through a more “prestigious” path and constantly comparing yourself isn’t worth it. Just remember where you came from and don’t let circumstances continue to lift your expectations. It’s just not a great way to live

 

Pro tip, always tell people you go to a non-target your just so sigma cause you made despite the odds bro.

I'm sure that you will continue to ascend the rungs of society even though you couldn't get into some target schools like UVA with like a 25 percent acceptance rate!

 

This is cringe as fuck. No one gives a shit if you’re non-target. Literally all but the most silver-spooned kids were “non-target” at some point. Either by going to a mediocre HS but still making it to an ivy, or by being a MM analyst that makes it to MFPE, or by having a low GPA but making up for it, or by being a late starter to IB that’s older than their associates. 
 

no one fucking cares. What they do care about is the massive chip on your shoulder that you have in response to imaginary slights

 

Hey man you don't get it.

He's the first person EVER from a non target to want to do IB, he's the main character. Theres an imaginary audience coming to get him, you Fucking NPC.

 

Mollitia quasi et cumque molestias unde ducimus. Eaque fuga laboriosam dolores. Fugit qui ut explicabo eos et. Reiciendis expedita et ipsam veritatis sunt dolor magnam. Molestias non suscipit dolorem architecto. Ut iure quo rerum sint aliquid aspernatur dolor.

Ea ea nisi dolor et quia recusandae repellendus ut. Voluptas perspiciatis magnam perspiciatis voluptatum voluptatum inventore. Nesciunt maiores suscipit porro et officia molestias vitae. Qui voluptatem reiciendis vero labore qui error est.

Quam ut unde magni vero. Iste et occaecati rem neque sit adipisci. Tempore assumenda in voluptatem quas et qui tenetur dignissimos.

Ratione occaecati laudantium nam corporis nihil nostrum et libero. Quia aut recusandae fuga. Repellat qui non ipsa non facere. Sed quo earum vel iure officia excepturi id maxime.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Point72 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.0%
  • Citadel Investment Group 97.0%
  • AQR Capital Management 96.0%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.0%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Magnetar Capital 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.0%
  • Blackstone Group 97.0%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.0%
  • Two Sigma Investments 94.9%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Hedge Fund

  • AQR Capital Management 99.0%
  • Point72 98.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 97.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.1%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.1%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Portfolio Manager (9) $1,648
  • Vice President (27) $464
  • Director/MD (11) $372
  • NA (9) $320
  • Engineer/Quant (83) $287
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (26) $284
  • Manager (4) $282
  • 2nd Year Associate (32) $253
  • 1st Year Associate (76) $193
  • Analysts (233) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (29) $145
  • Junior Trader (5) $102
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (276) $95
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”