The “target school” culture is extremely toxic

[Anonymous]

Plain and simple: The “target/non-target” school culture is extremely harmful to youth, arbitrary, and counterintuitive to the American dream. For those unfamiliar, “target” is the name given to the most popular schools among the wealthiest Americans, mainly HYPMS+ private schools. Then there are schools like Umich Ross, UVA commerce, which are supposedly the “best” business schools that will also place, but you must major in business while the Harvard people major in philosophy ( what makes a business school the “best” seems to be controlled by acceptance rate, which is in turn controlled by yield and popularity so it’s superficial in that sense). Lastly, the “target/non target” distinction is supposedly based on academics; however, strong academic schools are disregarded despite strong academic reputation if they never had a reputation for sending people into finance. U of Texas and U of Wisconsin are two of the strongest examples. By academic reputation, both of these schools are peers to UVa and Umich ( not necessarily exactly as good but they are in the same orbit). Nevertheless, a strong student from Wisconsin could get their resume ignored just by going to Wisconsin, while a student from UVa who didn’t work as hard could still get the job. Does that seem meritocratic? In conclusion, the “target/non target” distinction is one of the obstacles to the American dream. Prep kids who go to Harvard are the main beneficiaries of this system. It’s sad to see because there likely are qualified students from genuinely good academics institutions like Maryland, Wisconsin, or Purdue who will never break in because they didn’t come from money/connections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plain and simple: The “target/non-target” school culture is extremely harmful to youth, arbitrary, and counterintuitive to the American dream. For those unfamiliar, “target” is the name given to the most popular schools among the wealthiest Americans, mainly HYPMS+ private schools. Then there are schools like Umich Ross, UVA commerce, which are supposedly the “best” business schools that will also place, but you must major in business while the Harvard people major in philosophy ( what makes a business school the “best” seems to be controlled by acceptance rate, which is in turn controlled by yield and popularity so it’s superficial in that sense). Lastly, the “target/non target” distinction is supposedly based on academics; however, strong academic schools are disregarded despite strong academic reputation if they never had a reputation for sending people into finance. U of Texas and U of Wisconsin are two of the strongest examples. By academic reputation, both of these schools are peers to UVa and Umich ( not necessarily exactly as good but they are in the same orbit). Nevertheless, a strong student from Wisconsin could get their resume ignored just by going to Wisconsin, while a student from UVa who didn’t work as hard could still get the job. Does that seem meritocratic? In conclusion, the “target/non target” distinction is one of the obstacles to the American dream. Prep kids who go to Harvard are the main beneficiaries of this system. It’s sad to see because there likely are qualified students from genuinely good academics institutions like Maryland, Wisconsin, or Purdue who will never break in because they didn’t come from money/connections.

I mean, I guess this is true if your dream is to be in 'finance'. People who make it to the top in finance are largely sociopaths anyway.

So, whatever.

[Anonymous]

You seem entirely confused about what target schools are. Safety/liklies, targets, and reaches have to do with how difficult it will be for a specific individual to be accepted. One person’s target is another person’s likely. HYPSM might be called targets by the most stellar students, but even for them those schools are actually crapshoots. They are almost always reaches. Target typically means a place you have a 30-70% chance of acceptance.

[Anonymous]

That’s not what target school means. Also learn to use paragraphs.

[Anonymous]

Since when HYP become target schools? These are super reaches....

[Anonymous]

Uh, this isn’t how our school uses the “target” label, nor most people we know. A target school is one that your student has a decent shot at admission based on their stats and the school’s profile. A reach school is one that would be harder to get into, and a safety/likely is an easier more guaranteed admit based on your student’s stats and the school profile. It’s about setting realistic expectations, not an obstacle to the American Dream.

[Anonymous]

you sound drunk

[Anonymous]

I understand your point but think the framing is a bit off. I don't think it is "target/non- target" that is more college counselor speech for the application process.
What I think you are noting is the difference between the "elite" private schools, i.e. the Ivy+ and the rest of the slightly more accessible, like UVA, UMich, Cal and the generally accessible like WI, Purdue, etc.
It is the network value of the elite schools that lead to career opportunities, the more elite the school, the more elite the network.
No question it is a class system with less and less mobility.

That is why parents are so rabid about what college their kid gets into and why everyone is so hypocritical about whatever advantage might favor their kid.

[Anonymous]

Most of "the best" nonsense for business schools relates to the higher salaries paid to grads by a relatively small set of elite employers.

Some of it relates to opinions about faculty research and curriculum design.

At many non-elite employers, there will be little to no premium for Michigan vs. Purdue vs. Wisconsin vs. Maryland. Except maybe for first job out of school where school-specific job market factors need to be considered.

[Anonymous]

Does the OP mean target in terms of which college is a target for finance / consulting recruitment?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s not what target school means. Also learn to use paragraphs.

Agree about OP should learn to use paragraphs when writing. However, OP's use of the term "target schools" for IB recruiting is correct.

[Anonymous]

Pretty sure no T10 is a target for anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does the OP mean target in terms of which college is a target for finance / consulting recruitment?

Yes, I think they are referring to schools the coveted companies target and come to campus for, not the safety/target/reach connection, but I didn’t read it all as I don’t care about finance or whatever it was about.

[Anonymous]

*connotation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure no T10 is a target for anyone.

Clearly, you misunderstand the thread topic.

Almost all Top 10 National Universities are targets for IB recruiting.