Tips for the only non-target in the intern group

It’s the same. You’re non target so clearly you’ve grinded hard and come this far. Just don’t let it get to your head that you are non target and feel any worse than the rest of them.

Stop referring to yourself as a non-target.

Other interns in my group were all Ivy/duke type schools. If anything it was a huge confidence booster for me. Non-target BSD lol. Anyway, it doesn’t matter at all, just do good work and get the return

Just work hard and ask for feedback/questions if you have any.

I was in a similar situation this summer, I would not sweat it. No one on my team cared. In fact, most people had not heard of my university before so it was a good ice-breaker conversation topic. 

Agree with guy above. 
 

And honestly, as much as people say it doesn’t matter, it matters in the beginning when people are trying to see who’s good and who’s not. You should start stronger than the rest of your peers. Baldwin and Blair from Wharton can be kind of slow or even suck in the beginning and people will assume “well, they’ll probably eventually learn, they went to Wharton” - and usually that’s what happens. You on the other hand, if you start slow, people just assume you’re stupid, even if that’s not the case 

you’re in, therefore it’s a level playing field. so act like you deserve to be there just like everyone else and stop calling yourself a non-target

Dont walk in with a mega chip on ur shoulder. Had one of those in my group and he was insufferable

…

No one cares, just be personable and do your job properly 

I wouldn’t focus on it. My intern class had people from Wharton and people from private schools I had never heard of. Aside from the first day we never talked about what college we went to. You’re all in the same position right now.

Just do you. I came from a Non target as well, u have nothing to worry about. You worked just as hard if not harder than everyone else who is there.

I found it surprising that during my training I actually seemed to be ahead of many target kids due to the amount of prep I had to do just to get an interview while these people are seemingly handed them.

Keep ur head up, u earned your spot so just keep grinding

Cheers

I was in the same boat recently (and had a good outcome). 

I worked with people from target and ivy-league schools, and I can say that those schools by no means guaranteed the quality of the candidate. Some were better than me, some worse. 

Just follow standard guidelines for interns, some of which include the following: 

• Ask for whatever work you could possibly get on your deal team. Do NOT overextend yourself by asking more than one other deal team for things to do. Your primary duty is to your immediate deal team. 
• Complete your tasks with rigor, double check your work, understand what it is being used for, and attempt to field tasks before they are assigned to you. 
• Ask questions and be curious, about the project you are working on and the industry you are working in. 
• Be courteous and attentive, but not obsequious. (be like a good butler) No one likes an ass-kisser (especially analysts and associates, who will determine whether or not you get an offer). 
• Have a good attitude at all costs, even if you have to lie through your teeth. Being a jackass is not forgivable at 2:00am and is the last thing your team will want to deal with.
• Plan your schedule ahead of time. Sunday night, check meetings and calls you have and make an effort to help with efforts related to the call, if it be taking notes, checking decks etc. 
• Eat a full breakfast and a light lunch, caffeinate sparingly, hydrate often, and try to be active for at least thirty minutes per day (ideally in the AM). Eat whole foods as often as possible. 

I hope this helps. Best of luck.