Struggling with target superiority mindset
I’m a student from a super target school that has been in the news a lot recently. I'm doing a summer internship at a smaller firm. It’s not a huge bank. The intern class is pretty big, but I’m one of the few from a target.
I’ve realized I have a mindset problem. I don’t really engage with the non-target interns unless I have to. I talk to them, but I don’t really take them seriously. Same with some of the employees/full-timers. If they didn’t go to a top school, I have a hard time respecting them. I know this sounds arrogant. But it happens automatically.
I also already know I’m not coming back to this firm full-time. I’ve made some solid connections since signing this offer, including someone is a global head at a BB and offered to help me in FT recruiting. So I’m focused on that. If anyone other target alums have dealt with this before, I’d appreciate advice. How do you break this kind of thinking?
If you didn’t go to H/S you should humble yourself lol.
Even if they do this is still cringe
"super target school that has been in the news a lot recently"
100% HBS. Wouldn’t expect “super target” and basically giving it away from anywhere else
A few years ago some kid got into Stanford for writing Black Lives Matter 100x for his essay.
University standards have plummeted across the board. It would take a focused effort not to graduate with a degree.
The only difference between you and the non-target kids in your internship class is the size and prestige of network you’re leaving uni with.
LMAO I know that kid, he went to my high school.
I dont want to speak too much about it, as I am not from the US. From what I read here and on Reddit, like r/applyingtocollege or similar, I have no idea how that whole target concept is supposed to hold up into the future.
Admissions seem like a literal lottery, where your luck is more important than your profile when applying. So how will this concept work in the future? These schools can hardly market themselves for bringing up the smartest, when half is DEI & Nepotism... Their networks will also become weaker... DEI people or similar might be able to get a good entry job, but you wont become a rainmaker MD if you arent performing well.
So how are these schools planning to keep their status?
Honestly, outside of the current job market for the past few years (which isn't great), I've seen many non-target / state school kids end up in solid IB / consulting / tech post college. Elite colleges outside of a few outlier employers isn't as much of a leg up career wise as it was in lets say the early 2010s.
bruh
Just stop being an asshole lol. Once you leave school and are surrounded by other people who went to target schools, you learn that 1. You are not special just for going to a good school 2. Outside of recruiting no one cares about your school
When you get to FT the state school kids are going to steal your lunch and put you in a locker.
As someone who attended a top 20 school, I used to hold Harvard and Stanford students in especially high regard. However, after working with two of them during my junior summer internship, I realized that not all of them are particularly sharp or socially adept. A lot of it just comes from your parents putting you in the right activities and high schools that foster a desire to pursue attending these universities. You are no better than anyone because you went to one of these schools, and you will do yourself a favor by internalizing this.
This is spot on. Very one-dimensional individuals who could optimize for the world of academia, but lack multi-dimensional cross-functional intelligence success in the real world requires.
so real, going to a top school just means you learned how to play the game when you were 15, but doesn't mean much now when we are in your 20s. I know so many people who only figured their shit a few years later in college, and they are so much smarter than me now.
The hilarious part of this is that AI is going to decimate white collar work. It is actually a disadvantage to be smart and involved in the services economy going forward in a rising interest rate, low growth, and inflationary world.
They said that 15 years ago too.
No they didn’t, alphasense and rogo didn’t exist back then
Everything equal, if a nontarget and a target are in the same position post graduation, the resume of the nontarget should be more impressive
Lol if this is your junior summer, then you used your "super target" education to land in exactly the same spot as all the non target around in your class. So lose the ego because by your own metrics you vastly underperformed at university (this is your level lil bro)
your assessment is correct except OP is not a bro in my book. he is lil tho.
Target school but at a smaller firm? Sounds like you wasted your time bro, I bet the non-targets think less of you too. Waste of tuition lol
How do you still have that superiority mindset when you struck out for rising senior summer BB/EB recruiting?
If you haven't been humbled yet, you probably won't be.
Thanks for the update intern
Achievement does not equal ability. Innumerable instances of well-credentialed people being absolutely useless on the job. Maybe try reading some Ayn Rand before you get totally cooked by a hungry analyst from Penn State.
Cringe. You should stop acting like you’re 17 years old and realize that your bank hired those kids for a reason. You should respect everyone’s potential contribution to the team. I promise you that the easiest way to leave alpha on the table is to lazily rely on false heuristics such as name-brand schools instead of evaluating an individual’s personality and achievements. Not to mention your analyst classmates are potentially great friends to have for the future. You’re all going to be at different firms in 10-15 years. Don’t miss out on a helpful network by acting like an asshole.
Well said sir
You sound like a fun person *sarcasm*
Someone I used to work with clearly had this attitude about me because they went to Harvard and I went to a semi/non-target. They would constantly reject my opinions (sometimes to their detriment) and were difficult to work with. Eventually though, the cream rises to the top regardless of where they came from and these people are forced to address their attitudes.
To fix your problem, I would start by defining what success looks like for your career and measure yourself against those criteria, not the name on your diploma. Yes, our industry often places weight on academic pedigree, but real value comes from consistent performance, work ethic, and interpersonal skills. If you had the choice between a lazy, socially awkward Harvard grad and a driven, sharp guy from some no-name state school, you’d hire the latter every time.
I love this. I’ve been lapping pompous target school kids like you for the last 5 years. This is why everyone would rather work with a Big Ten grad than a Wharton grad. Good luck! Congrats on your “super target” school 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Just a thought - don't be an arrogant asshole. Take my advice or not. If the former, your career might just last.
You’re in the exact same spot as them and you think you’re better lol
Lmao you’d be surprised how many socially challenged Ivy leaguers don’t make it past 2 years
You should work on your social skills if you want a career in the deal space, it’s clear you’re limited there.
Super dildo school you mean? Bc thats where you sound like you came from
It’s funny your mindset works that way.
Mine is the opposite.
Meaning if I was in your shoes, id be super depressed I wasted my Ivy education by only getting an internship are a crappy firm and wasted my summer working at a place kids from crappy schools went to.
In my opinion, you’re kind of wasted potential. Going to a super target and getting a crappy internship.
You should feel bitterness and shame, not arrogance.
Kids from SEC schools are getting Goldman internships for junior summer and this guy thinks he’s got it made by being at a small no-name shop with non-target kids he looks down on lol
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