Target Schools Application List (pls help)

Can someone give me a rundown on all of the schools on my list please, like not only IB but also social factors and stuff like that. I’m starting college apps this month so I need to come up with a final list. Also need recommendations on schools to add.

About me: I’m from the Northeast, prefer smaller school environments (so I might cut the state schools), not into partying, want to pursue a career in IB/PE.

Reaches:

Harvard University

Stanford University

University of Pennsylvania

Duke University

Columbia University

University of Chicago

Northwestern University

Princeton University

Dartmouth College

Cornell University
 

Targets:

University of Michigan

University of Virginia

Washington University in St. Louis

Georgetown University

Safeties:

UConn

Rutgers

41 Comments
 

Here’s a tip. Move Cornell down to target instead of reach and apply to SHA in Cornell (Nolan School). It has over a 20% acceptance rate in regular decision round. 

 

Nolan isn’t 20% RD, co 26 which is the latest published data was 17% and has a huge ED boost and a good number of athletes also go into Nolan. Most of the leftover kids end up being kids who worked in the hospitality/resteraunt industry in high school. I’d suggest picking one of CALS/Nolan/ILR based heavily on ECs since they’re all pretty specific programs but if you perfectly hit what they’re looking for you’re golden.

 

Here’s a tip. Move Cornell down to target instead of reach and apply to SHA in Cornell (Nolan School). It has over a 20% acceptance rate in regular decision round. 

But for Nolan you need insane fit for hospitality/guest mgmt (same goes to ILR); you can't just apply there hoping for an easy acceptance when your entire activities list is accounting and trading ECs lol. 

 

Stats? Given that you like small schools, I’d recommend adding some schools with no supps to reduce application time (Williams and Middlebury have no supps). I’d recommend ED to dart and ED2 to Chicago if that doesn’t work. Chicago is fairly easy to get into if you do ED and are full pay. Best of luck 

 

My stats are:

1550 SAT

NYC Private School (HM, Trinity, etc) but no legacy and not an athlete

Strong GPA and decent extracurriculars

Full pay

I'll add Middlebury and Williams, didn't know that they didn't have supps so thanks for that. Dartmouth is probably my last choice on my reaches because of its party culture and remote location. Also I mentioned small school in my post, but I mean small school in proximity to a big city, so like Boston (Harvard/MIT), NYC (Columbia), Chicago (Northwestern/UChicago), and other hubs like Philly, SF, etc. I think going ED2 Chicago is a good move but I'm still deciding on how to fill my ED1 spot. 

 

Honestly given ur HS id just do Columbia ED. Presumably you guys are a feeder to them (like most NYC prep schools) so you’d have a good shot and it’s a strong target. With your stats and the fact that you go to HM or trinity a chicago ED2 acceptance seems like a given. You’re definitely getting at least one target provided that you don’t totally drop the ball with essays and interviews. Im envious as a guy with a 4.0/1600 from a shitty little midwestern HS who ended up having to choose between Berkeley Vanderbilt and Williams lmao. Good luck with everything 

 

A bit biased but I would REA Yale (if thats still a thing) Yale and ED UMich. The idea is REA top school that offers it and ED a top public

 

I checked and UMich doesn't have ED but Yale has REA. I don't know if my stats are good enough to get into Yale REA though.

 
Funniest

If I send my kid to NYC private school, likely for 12-13 years, and they ended up at Penn State I think I’d cry

 

Your list should basically be your reaches plus Brown, your targets minus WashU and plus NYU and Williams, and that's it. Don't overcomplicate it.

 

I'll throw my hat in the ring: 
Seems like you are a smart kid getting ahead of the game. Your stats def seem good enough to apply to a top ivy, so i wouldn't bother with a school like ross, uchi, nyu, etc, for ed1, esp since they'll have other options down the road. presumably you have done college tours etc, I would just choose the school that you liked the most and send an ed1 there. 

Just went through this process in the past few years, pm if you need any help, would be happy to throw some ideas your way. (at hywp now with very similar stats). 

 

You have all the good schools on your list. Based on your criteria you could probably add Emory and Notre Dame. Based on a broad overview of your profile UChicago/Duke might be considerations for ED if you're trying to optimize for probability and prestige

 

I'd say add some more safeties, no matter how good your application are you might not get into any of the other schools you listed. Sometimes it's just bad luck. Not a knock on your stats/ECs. 

If you like Cornell enough, ED there. Their ED is a very high acceptance rate. If you don't get in, ED2 UChicago, they also accept a crazy amount from ED/ED2. 

Or if you are very confident (or your HS feeds a decent amount), REA to a Harvard or Stanford. It doesn't raise your chances TOO much but it won't tie you down to a Cornell or something if you got in early. 

 
Most Helpful

Iure similique aliquam ea facere. Sunt dolorem qui repellendus sed et nesciunt laudantium molestiae. Modi sit suscipit autem praesentium. Quas porro totam sed eius consectetur et occaecati. Corrupti accusantium unde blanditiis illo non repudiandae quasi. Eius totam et soluta repellat ex.

Vero quidem qui non quia eos voluptatem. Sunt alias ullam est. Ipsum nesciunt inventore earum soluta eligendi omnis temporibus. Voluptas quia sunt minima ipsam et minus dolor autem. Explicabo consequatur non non magni corrupti. Dolorum deserunt suscipit maxime cumque qui quia.

Commodi dolorem quaerat laboriosam ut rem deleniti qui. Provident assumenda vel quas. Doloremque laudantium officia consequatur dolores veniam.

Sequi vel molestiae nostrum doloremque magni fuga occaecati. Repellat numquam dolor est doloribus. Sunt nisi odio est amet eaque quas. Porro impedit et eos non commodi illo.

 

Exercitationem repellat reiciendis ut et velit error. Quia molestiae ratione dolores cumque. Laudantium sed nemo unde officia neque vel nostrum. Aspernatur dolores veritatis possimus adipisci.

Suscipit vel enim blanditiis quae. Officia accusamus et dolore facere rerum.

Ut eius beatae adipisci eveniet. Consequatur rerum debitis vitae. Quo excepturi aut ut commodi beatae. Similique qui sunt et voluptas recusandae esse. Harum et sunt iusto aut ipsa.

Velit commodi accusamus hic iusto et temporibus dolorem ipsa. Aspernatur similique optio hic optio modi. Ut qui repellat non quaerat unde et.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $101
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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”