What it takes to go Ivy?
I'm still in high school now, but I have big ambitions to someday become a monkey. I have looked at hundreds of posts here and it seems that most of you are Ivy Leaguers. Wharton would be a first-choice, but any of them would do. I just need a little help with my resume...here's a very brief summary:
I attend a pretty tough private school, and my GPA is above a 100 which would put me in the top 5% of my class. I will be the Investment Club president for two years, and I will play at least two varsity sports. I understand test scores are very important, and a 32-34 on the ACT is what you have to have. Correct me if I'm wrong. My community service/work experience is solid, but I am just wondering what other little eye-catching thing that I could put onto my resume?
Since you guys have been there and done that, I figured you would know some other "flashy" things that would make my resume stand out. Thanks in advance.
not to talk down to you, but you are from 14-17 years old.
there is not much. just write a good essay and get a good recommendation letter from a teacher you are friendly with. you seem on track.
it's pure luck. tons of kids have great scores/great recs/etc. As an alumni interview for my school, i interviewed 15 kids from my area for early decision and regular decision. One got in early, one was waitlisted, and one got in. All crazily qualified.
Helps if you have a "hook", which usually are: 1) Legacy 2) Varsity athlete (recruited) 3) Some ridiculous accolades (Siemens finalist, intel finalist, national merit scholar, blah blah blah) 4) Under-represented minority 5) Some sort of unique skill that puts you at the top and that no one else has
that's what i have heard. so many good applicants that it almost seems like it's just up to a hope and a prayer. i have a hunch that the essay is pretty important.
Bro, if you have over a 100 avg you don't attend a very difficult private school.
But it looks like you have a decent shot at going somewhere good (not necessarily Ivy). It really is a crapshoot unless you have one or more of the assets mentioned by herserendipity.
if finance is your end goal, there are plenty of other schools that are not ivies but are targets for recruiting. Off the top of my head, NYU Stern, UVA, Georgetown, duke, northwestern, uchicago, stanford, etc.
Not that any of those schools are any easier to get into.
In order, ranking of school by # of interns, assume true for FT too. Wharton Harvard MIT Princeton Cornell Duke Columbia Yale NYU Stanford
FYI that's not investment banking. now tell me were you taking notes during the presentation or did you flip through and count?
If you want to go BB (it would be hard to know now...), the East coast is a great bet for the alumni network. Herserendipity's suggestions on the east coast would be a good shot.
I went to a school in the midwest. it was good for a regional ibank and only 1-2 interviews at BB's.
Also, you probably going to change your mind at some point in your college career if you're like most students and end up at culinary school (or something equally different from your current interests). Good luck!
you're in high school and worried about being an investment banking analyst. go out and have some fun
I think HerSerendipity is pretty spot on. Just to add: essays are pretty important, put a lot of work into them (best advice here: show, don't tell). Awards are important too, so if you can get recognized in something at the state level or better, definitely go for it. Another thing: less is more. If you did a hundred things, don't write them all down on your application/resume because it looks as if you're spreading yourself out too thin. Pick the most important things you have done and include only those. This gives the adcom a more powerful and memorable image of you as a candidate. Try to come off as a unique person and excited about learning for learning's sake. Otherwise I think you're right on track. Good luck
if the tough school you are referring to is Philips andover/exeter, or hotchkiss, horace mann, dalton or one of those other schools in NY or New England area then don't worry about it because if you are really in the top 5% of one of those schools, then you'd easily get into an ivy.
This kid is not at any of those schools just mentioned if he has an over 100 avg and is asking this question.
If you have the means, talk with your counselors about volunteering abroad. Good chance to get a hook. Just because everyone is telling you your competitors for the Ivy spots have close to the same credentials as you (they do), it doesn't mean they aren't praiseworthy nonetheless. You've got ambition, man. You'll figure it out. Till then, keep making the right moves, and you'll find yourself at a nice school, where outlets to banking and anything else you want to do will become available.
Also, don't dream up delusions of grandeur. How much do you really know about investment banking? Make sure you know the ins and outs from whatever you can read. Good luck.
Flashy things to make your resume stand out? Coloured paper, sequins, etc...all worked for me. Just don't overdo it.
Haha, he might get accepted to McDonald University, but that is about it, lol.
I believe its called Hamburger University.
Speaking of colored resumes, this is coming from personal experience;never use a resume color other than white. I once used a light blue hard paper with a golden bordering in my freshman year because I thought it would stand out and it actually did for the wrong reasons. But the recruiters I gave it to were from retarded firms anyways, so not much damage done to me.
"Ms. Woods, I hope you are applying for my internship. Do you have a resume?" "Oh, of course." "It's pink." "And it's scented. I think it gives it a little something extra...don't ya think?"
Are you from the Midwest?
I also agree with HerSerendipity. Getting into college is tough these days.
I'd say have a damn excellent GPA and test scores, a hook, and great essays. It obviously helps if you're a URM. If you're an Asian male though, good luck, the odds are against you by a huge margin no matter what you do.
by "hook" something really has to be standout. I'd honestly recommend that instead of wasting your time climbing up the political ladder at clubs, just start a nonprofit or two, I wish I'd done that instead of doing any clubs in high school, and I've advised my little brother the same. Varsity athlete obviously helps, but you want to be good at it, not just another "benchwarmer". Even though I flatly rejected them, I think the fact that I excelled at a sport enough to be given recruiting offers helped my application.
In General, there are two types of people who are trying to get into Ivies:
1) The genuinely, good human being who has educational interests, cares about people, naturally philosophical and gifted and able to express it.......
2) Those of us who are not as naturally blessed in terms of our reasons for wanting to go to an Ivy(a.k.a. money, power, undue influence over others, world domination, etc.)
If you're in the latter set, BSing skills will take you far
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