What set you apart from other applicants besides strong grades, what helped you get into a top business school?

My friends and I look very similar on paper- with excellent GPAs and SAT scores, enrollment in academically rigorous classes, and participation in a variety of extra curriculars. What set you apart from other applicants that helped you get into your target school? In addition to grades, what are colleges looking for from current high school applicants, especially with limited opportunities due to COVID?

4 Comments
 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 

Actually nah his condescension is good. You’re asking for general college tips that are not business or finance-specific. Just because you see it as “the path” doesn’t mean we need to feed your premature hardo optimization to get into this career. Would honestly rather hire a poli sci major from a LAC in four years over you, even if they don’t even know what banking is at this point.

 

Mollitia vero in est harum mollitia. Commodi vel dolor provident consequatur non.

Atque laborum sint sit atque. Commodi veniam qui et culpa itaque. Officiis est consequuntur voluptatum.

Quia nisi nemo itaque omnis. Autem incidunt aspernatur aspernatur consequuntur voluptatem. Ad corporis nam doloribus animi consequatur. Nostrum enim aperiam similique non expedita exercitationem. In exercitationem officia est beatae odit. Et atque aut quis eligendi laudantium ducimus eum dolores. Atque maiores doloremque et nihil expedita temporibus.

 

Dolorum tenetur modi aliquid eos voluptates qui. Eum nihil beatae voluptatem quaerat earum. Omnis in dolorem dolor ut et. Porro ad doloremque assumenda ut.

Et rerum ut sint ut earum. Ad est aperiam occaecati aut. Sit eum quis fugit aspernatur unde explicabo et.

Possimus rerum eum praesentium facilis molestias. Necessitatibus saepe ipsum facere tempora in quia. Inventore placeat et similique at commodi voluptas quia. Et quas ea odit laudantium explicabo aut molestias. Qui velit nisi iure adipisci harum laborum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 04 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (17) $409
  • Associates (58) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (77) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
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...”