Like the user name buddy, but the Dean of Admissions doesn't do anything without buy in of his buddy Rick Singer

 

That forum brings up bad memories. It reminds me of WSO but for getting into college. It might literally just be that.

 
Most Helpful

GPA and test scores are only a small fraction of what colleges consider, especially more competitive target schools. These schools are looking for an interesting applicant with a passion represented by a good essay that reflects why you want to go to this school specifically as well as quality ECs (quality > quantity).

But I'm sure you know that already.

The real trick to getting into target schools is: applying to a shit ton of them. Yeah I know this is unpopular and will probably get MSed, but hedging your bets is the only way to get an advantage. I applied to 16 schools (including Ivies and other top 20 schools), and I was going to apply for more, but I got incredibly lazy after writing so many different essays. At a certain point you start repeating yourself and I straight up copied many essays. Just make sure you change the school name! I know this seems obvious but after writing and editing so many essays, I ended up misplacing ONE reference to ONE school for another school, so it can happen.

Also, apply to a variety of acceptance rates. Don't think of it as applying to colleges, think of it as a huge statistical lottery where you apply to acceptance rates. Apply to a bunch of ultra competitives (40-50%). Note that these brackets are a rough sketch for me, your stats will definitely skew your chances one way or the other. The only way to really know what a school is to you is a combination of average SAT/GPA the school takes and College Confidential posts outlining ECs and essays. Note, however, that all this evidence is anecdotal. Kids with mediocre ECs and good scores get into Ivies all the time, and kids with great ECs and great scores get rejected a lot of the time. Your chances correlate with your stats/EC quality, but there's a HUGE amount of competition. As such, with so many qualified applicants you get so many rejections. Again, it's a lottery. Hedge your bets.

If you get free applies or have scholarship opportunities, take them. I applied to over 20 scholarships (local and state level) and got rejected from them all. Applying to this many schools can get expensive (I spent $1000 on apps alone, would've been more too if I kept applying). It did pay off. I got into two targets (UVA and Georgetown) and a number of semi-targets.

Just make sure when you're applying you have several (5 or more) schools in each category of competitiveness. Ultra competitives (

 

The real answer to the question is a) go to a private high school b) donate to the school c) know someone d) have a dad that’s a senator

That’s how you “tip the scales”

Anyone that falls under these categories is lying to themselves if they think their privilege didn’t play a role in getting in to a top school.

 

I go to a target, and I would just stress what above commenters have said. It's disheartening, but you do have to realize that there are many, many more qualified students than there are spots at "prestigious" schools. So much of it is luck, and a lot of it is also privilege. A large portion of my class comes from top-name private schools from all over the world, and just as many come from other smaller private schools across the country. The barrier to entry for public school students seems much, much harder to me (4.0, valedictorian, first-gen, local leader, plays multiple sports and is student body president, nationally ranked for something, etc). The admissions process is not fair at all.

Being admitted or denied from some of these places really, really doesn't say as much about your personal achievement or greatness as you think it does in high school. I went into the process secretly feeling like I deserved admission to a top school. Now that I'm at one, I've realized that I'm not special, I'm just really damn lucky (in many, many respects). I do think that prestige can help you get ahead in life, and if you happen to get your foot in the door, that's a great opportunity. But, there are successful and smart people everywhere.

In high school, a great friend of mine turned down an offer from a top school to go to a no-name, local six-year med program. I thought he was nuts, and I gave him an earful for it. Now, I have more respect for his choice than almost anyone else. He's happy, has no debt, and will be a doctor before most of our peers even apply to med school. Sure, if you know you want to go into IB or something, maybe the name of your school matters, but even that- who knows. I'm going to a top BB next summer, and even though there are hundreds of alumni from my school on the street, the two people who helped me most were both people I happened to cold email from non-targets- no tie to me at all.

Make a list of schools that only has places you would genuinely be happy to attend (safety or reach). Be realistic with your expectations, and no matter where you end up, keep working hard and be proud of (and excited for) the doors that do open for you.

 

Something really nice about going to a school on a big merit scholarship like UF (as someone who chose that over a top-20) graduating without any debt is a huge boost. Additionally, if you plan on going to grad school, the name of your undergrad doesn't matter that much. But by far the biggest benefit i've seen is that big selective state schools (UNC, UF, UGA, etc.) have a ton of resources available, and you are a big fish at the school. Most of these resources are only utilized by the top ~10% of the students and if you associate in those circles, you are just as competitive as a kid at a top 20.

 

Haha I’m the same way man. In high school I was top of the class and so cocky. “I’ll walk right into Harvard” I said. And now I realize I’m average at best in college.

 

1 You need to tell a story in application. If you ain't an amazing person who can be pres of class, valedictorian, and t100 in a sport, you gotta have a passion and follow it.

2 There are ALOT of things highschoolers can do. A TON. Look far far beyond high school.

Get an internship at a finance company, any finance company. Maybe not in finance company, just the department. OR get an internship with an econ professor. Email ALOT and don't aim for just the amazing schools (chances are you won't get these.... econ researchers don't rlly need uneducated interns). Try to start a business (an online one... its possible) or just a simple etsy store that can turn into a business. Shows leadership and courage.

Say you like helping people. Learn personal finance. Compete in the national personal finance competition. Create a club that educates on personal finance. Find an organization you can volunteer with that helps people with their taxes and/ or money management. Create a club/ non profit that goes to a local low-income high school and teach them personal finance or how to invest.

Say you made your passion finance and technology. Learn how to code. Learn financial coding. Attempt to create an app that teaches people financial coding. Create a financial coding club at your school.

Overall, if you want an edge and you aren't the #1 best instrument player in your district or state champions in a sport where you are caption or nationally ranked in debate...... you gotta go and pursue a passion and tell a story.... not to say that you don't need achievements in at least some of those activities.

 

There is one piece of very good advice in here that cannot be underestimated. Honestly the "internship" or long-term research/shadowing of an econ or finance professor is lowkey the hookup. I did that at my school (not a major target but top-25 nonetheless) for a different area of study and the dude introduced me to a board member who ended up doing my interview, and both of them vouched for me come decision time. I was by no means an exceptional candidate, but that was 100% what tipped the scales for me getting in.

Dayman?
 

I am part of a fellowship/prestigious scholarship program at a semi-target SEC. I had below avg test scores out of those that applied, but the big thing that pushed my application to the top was national accolades in speech & debate.

Whatever you can use as a tool for differentiation, use it. If you received something or did something that most people tried to and didn't, that's a differentiator.

Also, kids on forums like Reddit and College Confidential have a terrible mindset regarding ECs; they quantify leadership roles and number of commitments as if that's a way to show their worth. If you do more than 3-4 extracurriculars, you are doing it wrong. Cut the flak and focus on what you actually enjoy and BE GOOD at that thing. Colleges can smell when you're being disingenuous or are chasing quantity over quality.

 

In nam odio occaecati porro expedita sed ut. Dolorem voluptas aliquid quam eaque et. Esse et voluptatum quas officiis iure accusantium. Reprehenderit omnis beatae repellat minima similique. Qui non minima dicta nesciunt.

Adipisci expedita laborum quae et iusto fugiat. Cupiditate voluptas et magnam aperiam quas reiciendis tenetur. Quibusdam placeat deserunt explicabo commodi dolore et et. Ad voluptatibus unde officiis qui quae qui aspernatur. Culpa placeat placeat libero non dolorem natus. Deserunt blanditiis consectetur doloribus rem illum odio est dolorem.

Et voluptas voluptate tempore voluptatem sunt illum. Quas possimus et ipsa in facilis ut. Natus dignissimos sint natus alias qui quia ut at. Omnis perspiciatis est aperiam tempora et illum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
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...”