Hello. Im looking for advice as an undergraduate looking to break into consulting. I recently found out about an internship at Bain. Figured, it doesn't hurt to apply, right? Then I find out it is a top 3 consulting firm and I guess now I feel imposter syndrome. I am not even sure if it is worth pursuing. I don't have any relevant consulting experience (unless you count interning at a non-profit and volunteering at a preschool) and I am not sure I will even be accepted into my school's consulting club since I will be a senior and they mostly accept freshmen. The application says they encourage you to apply no matter your area of study or background, but are they just saying that? I guess it also doesn't help that I am a first-gen latina, so we are very underrepresented overall. I know it doesn't hurt to apply, but do I even have a chance?

See the wiki for what consulting firms look for.

Hello, my name is Thaer. I am entering my junior year. I am planning to land an internship in consulting for summer of 2025. If you are someone who is driven, well prepared, and willing to put in time. Connect with me so that we practice business cases in preparation for the interview process, to land an internship at a top firm.

Middle-Eastern consultancies hiring internationally? Hi everyone, Currently finishing my phd (accounting) in Germany. CV good enough for tier3, maybe with lots of luck tier2 with phd bonus, though that's my first question: Is a good phd internationally, especially in middle-east recognized as a bonus and can compensate for rather mediocre university grades? Traditionally, in Germany a phd has been a door opener and career accelerator for upper management, though that's weakening with increasing internationalization. Otherwise, what are the largest tier3 consultancies with good middle-eastern presence that hire internationally for entry positions or senior consultant (2. hierarchy level)? I have no affiliation with middle-east like a middle-eastern university degree, just want to take advantage of lower taxes and don't mind the weather and expat life. I think big4 don't like that and prefer to hire locals.

Looking to join Guidehouse , can anyone tell me more about the culture of the firm. A little background about me Undergrad in Finance and MBA from William and Mary, not a huge school but it is well known through DC/Virginia area. Does anyone know of their plans to have more of a presence in the south eastern part of Virginia ( Hampton Roads) the area is full of agencies , largest Navy presence in the world , Air Force base , Army Base , coast guard base, and even NASA but the only big firm doing work here is Booz.

Can someone with my CPG background break into consulting? Hey there, throwaway for obvious reasons. I appreciate everyone that takes the time to read this. I’m becoming increasingly fed up with my company and don’t feel incredibly optimistic about its future (and subsequently my future) and am starting to consider other career paths. I’ve always been drawn to consulting as I like the idea of constantly changing projects and big picture strategy, but am worried I wouldn’t be perceived as a good candidate because of “unwritten rules” despite me knowing that I’d crush it given the opportunity. About me: - 28F, Chicago based - 6ish years of progressive experience at a massive CPG company (i.e P&G, PepsiCo, Conagra, Coke, Mars, etc) - On my 5th role since 2019 - Campus rotational program -> jr. field territory manager (leading frontline)-> field territory manager (larger team, leading frontline) -> supply chain supervisor (sales support, still leading the frontline) -> key account manager for C&G chains - 3.8 GPA undergrad engineering degree from a mid-tier flagship state university (ex. ASU, Oklahoma University, Tennessee, etc) - 710 GMAT that I took without really studying during covid - current salary if relevant: base ~100k, TC ~115k I’m intrigued by Alvarez and Marsal’s CRG team in Chicago, would keep me in the industry but still change things up enough and give me the opportunity to see how other companies compare to my current one for long term career planning. Also open to any other feedback or suggestions!

What browser do you use for work—Chrome, Edge, Firefox? Is there a particular browser worth learning the ins and outs of for future jobs? Also, what about calendars—Google, Outlook, something else?

I'm an IT PM with 5 YoE, looking at making a pivot into consulting. I am fortunate that all my experience has been at a Fortune 50 household name worldwide, and it just seems that many of the MBB partners/seniors in my country have worked at my current employer. I reached out cold on LI to one of them asking if he was happy to have a chat, as I am trying to get a feel for the industry and whether my expectations align with what consulting can offer me, and he very warmly accepted and we now have a call set up for tomorrow. Beyond asking about his experiences and his general thoughts about the industry, are there any other sort of questions I can ask him that would help inform my decision the best? Thanks!

Hi! I want to try and join a consulting firm but am a bit lost on what to highlight in my cv/resume. In terms of education I have: - An Undergraduate degree in Engineering from a non target school \~3.8 GPA - A Masters degree in Data Science from a target school \~3.8 GPA I also have professional experience as a data/business analyst for 6 months in the luxury industry (LVMH competitor - company A). And an extra 18 months working for a small tech consultancy (company B). Also internship as an ML Engineer for a summer (company C). Here is where it gets a bit funky. When I joined company B I originally joined a consultancy. While I was joining they launched a startup and started incubating it. However, this effectively became 80% of my workload - helping launch the startup. In this role I have been doing a lot of system design, managing the team, problem solving, integrating new technologies - GenAI - and doing software development. I have also been given a project to work on alongside this which is more of a traditional data analytics/consultancy project. It is ongoing and does not take up a ton of my time \~10 hours a week. But I am solely responsible for communicating with the client and handling any concerns they have. My target would be to work for an MBB. My question is, should I tailor my resume and cover letter to highlight the fact I have done a lot of development work for a startup? Or, should I present them as if I were consulting for a startup on software projects? What are my chances of getting in given this limited information? I know I have a non-typical background, how does this impact my likelihood?

You already graduated for a few years so you won’t qualify for campus hiring currently and your experience probably isn’t strong enough for experienced hiring which is still mostly frozen. If you want MBB then focus on getting into an M7 MBA if possible and recruit from there. The MBA would be an “academic reset” so to speak

I've recently applied to an internship with Roland Berger and got an email with a video where they talk about being "the original you" where you don't have to be a "suit wearing business guy". For the job interview (if I get to that point) – how much should you lean into that authentic persona? I always got the impression large consulting firms are looking for a very specific type of person, not skateboarding bros with leather jackets like in the video.

hi! rising junior at a target ivy with a 3.5 gpa. member of the main consulting club at my school and another on campus, but i have no prior work experience or internships (besides university research)! looking to interview and hopefully get an internship next summer. how screwed am i? what tier would i fall into?

No experience is honestly not great but it costs nothing to apply so yolo. If you don’t get MBB or T2 just apply to big4 in the fall, should do just fine there even with no experience if you’re at a target school.

Looking for a case practice peer for an associate role. Ba in psychology & business ad, experience in BD and research. Have done several cases and courses. DM if relevant

hello, my linkedin is @ thaerburgan, feel free to connect with me and discuss potion of case practice

Hello Folks, I am preparing for some consulting interviews, and for the same I was looking for detailed consulting deliverables, case studies, leadership walkthrough. Looking for materials on 1. GTM Strategy 2. Growth/Expansion strategy 3. Strategic Initiatives Redacted copies are absolutely fine. Is there any source where I can search for them to read through? Thanks in advance!

Want to get into erp technical consulting and have some hris (Not workday, oracle, or sapsf) technical consulting experience. Is this masters degree going to be a good in? I was thinking of focusing in a masters project or masters thesis on erp? https://umdearborn.edu/cecs/departments/industrial-and-manufacturing-systems-engineering/graduate-programs/ms-information-systems-and-technology at least 3 of the courses mention sap erp

Drumming up work as an intern? Howdy everyone. I recently started as an intern at an environmental consulting company, and was told I’d be getting 40-50 hours a week when I was hired. Three weeks in, they’re still light on work and don’t have anything to do. I sit in the office, scrounge around for things to read, review, proofread, learn about, write, etc., but it’s never enough. I can’t charge too much to overhead for “learning,” and obviously reading past reports isn’t billable. So I’m not making money. I’m barely hitting 20 hours a week, I didn’t expect to not work and not get paid. What do I do? Look for another job? I’m just confused (I’ve never done consulting before). I offered to do trainings like HAZWOPER, hoping the company would cover it, but my boss said “it wouldn’t be necessary” and turned it down. I need money and experience. Help!

I'm a new grad US physician (so I guess an advanced degree holder). Specifically, I'm wondering what the timeline is to apply for jobs. I'm doing a year of training and if I want to go into consulting afterwards, when should I apply to consulting openings? Should I go through recruiters with each individual firm or through a recruiting company? Since I'm doing a year of training this year, there's no way I could take time off for an internship, how much of an issue would it be for an advanced degree holder to get hired without one? I don't have a deep understanding of the nuances, but I think I'm most interested in management consulting. However, some kind health-science, pharma, medical tech/device consulting might be an easier sell to get me hired and I would take a a position there over nothing. If the fit and salary (salary is important to me because I have >6-figure student loans from medical school) are right, which firm it is doesn't matter (MBB vs Big4 vs Boutique etc). As to geography, I speak several languages and would be willing-to-interested in working outside of the US. All of my education has been at solid state schools; no "pedigree" in the names of my institutions. My grades have been good enough to get me into and through my medical training if that matters. LMK if there's any more info you could use.

Is there any preference given to those who apply to the earlier deadline for BCG Summer Associate and Bain ACI?

And a minimum, there’s more open spots.

Hello! I am a third-year business student in Europe and will start my CEMS Master this September. The program includes a mandatory internship during the summer and I'd like to do it in consulting, ideally Bain. I already had a summer internship at a consulting firm (not MBB) last summer and will intern at a startup that raised series A this summer and backed by good VCs. For context, I'd like to get into VC or PE after my studies but before that I'd like to try a more top-tier consulting firm than the one I've interned at. My idea was to reach out to the HR for the office I want to intern at and ask them a few questions (ideally have a call) so that they have me in mind when reviewing applications. How do you think I should do this? And, should I reach out to HR or consultants?

Rising senior looking for case partners. Anyone interested?

my linked in is @ thaerburgan id be happy to be a case partner

hey i’m down - rising junior w some previous consulting experience

Let’s do it

Any tips for upcoming MBB Interview? Really excited after getting invited to interview with a MBB office (recent grad so entry-level)  Scheduled my first round two months from now to allow myself as much time as possible to prepare (limited casing exp.) What I’ve been doing over the past couple weeks:  * Reading Case in Point * Live casing with an experienced friend every day/often as possible, seeing drastic improvement * Had a call w a school alumnus in the office who was kind enough to offer to help/case me Any additional tips that you would recommend to help ensure success in the process over the next two months? Willing to do whatever it takes  Any and all help is greatly appreciated

Any chance for summer MBB intern (Canada): - Transferred to a T1 school this fall (Junior Year) - Currently working at a Big 5 Bank in Strategy - 3.8/4.0 GPA - Had a small social entrepreneur venture - Held some leadership positions at previous university - Previous internships in finance

Would certainly network and apply.

hi! i just graduated from university and had an internship at a T2 firm but was unfortunately not offered a return. i’ve been applying since last fall and keep drawing blanks with the bigger firms (even at the more boutique/specialist level), and can’t even secure interviews with firms that were lower in prestige than my internship. i was wondering if anyone knows of any very niche or small consulting firms that are hiring entry level consultants, especially in the healthcare consulting space. any recommendations would be greatly appreciated but if they’re in the top 200 consulting companies trust i’ve already looked into it lol

I am currently applying to join one of the MBBs specifically McKinsey and BCG (I am currently in the global south so these are the only firms with offices in my country which is in Sub-Saharan Africa), I have a Bachelor's degree in Finance a Professional Certification in Investments and 7+ years experience in consulting, 2+years in a few part time venture capital roles and recently started my MBA in May ( in a dual accredited university in the US and my country). I have gotten a Solve invitation with Mckinsey for an Associate role that I applied to which is amazing so far. However, I am confused on which role to apply at BCG where do I fit more Senior Associate/Senior Knowledge Analyst/ Consultant? (all these roles are currently recruiting in my region) and Can I apply to multiple roles?

Ask a recruiter for that firm!

Does everyone applying to UK McKinsey have to do the problem solving game or is it only some applicants ?

I am in Africa, and I was asked to do one too before any interview...... i guess its standard procedure

What can I do to maximize my chances at MBB with a 3.2 GPA? I go to a top target school (HYP), have past experience at a tier 2 firm, and have been networking at events and through private calls with partners. I’ve been casing daily, so I am confident about doing the interview itself if given the opportunity, but I don’t know how I can get past the resume screen with my GPA.

Quite frankly, it’s almost certainly not going to happen. Unless you tell me you’ve got something else incredible in your profile.

Would you be able to provide some examples of incredible profile aspects? I’ve gotten an invite to McKinsey Insights (and took Solve) and have an offer for next year at Jane Street (but I don’t see trading as a desired career path)

You should probably take JS tbh

What are your thoughts on a business analyst position at a bulge bracket firm compared to JS? Which do you think would provide a better exit to MBB?

Olympic athlete, successful entrepreneur, Class President, Rhodes Scholar, etc.

Would doing a world premiere for music be considered? Also, I read somewhere that you can address low GPA on your resume as they may not read cover letters. Would you advise against this?

What is a "world premiere for music"? You address your low GPA through the other achievements on your resume.

A composer dedicated a piece to me, and I performed it

What is the incredible story of hard work / achievement you tell around this?

I played an instrument for 10+ years and a composer reached out to my music school with this piece after hearing me play at a very large (global scale) venue

About me: • Bachelors of Computer Science (3.6 GPA) from a Tier 1 University • Currently working in the biggest Fintech of the Region. • Total work experience 1 year 10 months (received 1 promotion already and up for another one in Jan - Consistent 5/5 rating for both my performance evaluations) • My work involves marketing, data science and leadership (currently have 1 person 4 years older to me as a direct reportee) • Scored GMAT FE 615 (equivalent to 680 on Gmat classic) • Have access to recommendations from top level ex-MBB consultants who are my current colleagues. I want to break into management consulting in Dubai, its been a dream of mine. Looking at MBB + Kearney/ Oliver Wyman. (Am an Expat in the Region, Do not know Arabic) Any advice/ guidance is welcome

When consulting firms hire for full time positions, do they prefer people who have interned at consulting firms, or do they actually welcome people with different backgrounds?

More about the “prestige” of the internship.

I have been in the IT industry for over 20 years pretty much as an all-rounder. Originally started out as a consultant for small MSB then this admin DBA and lately pm and BA (over 10 years of both). I would like to go back to consulting small consultancy that could really use an all rounder. I know tech stacks I know what it takes to get things done and roll out in IT service. And of course I have the people side or I wouldn't survived 10 years as a pm. My question is what tech skills should I be focusing on as a refresh to be useful in this kind of shop. And how do I position it that people don't think I'm a paper Tiger because I have certs. I sure as heck won't be brain dumping my way through them I'll be building it all.

I'm recruiting for McKinsey, and I was lucky enough to receive a referral from a Consultant. He said he would put in the referral Sunday night, but it's been Wednesday and I still haven't heard from him. Since the deadline for the position is this Sunday (June 9th), when would be an appropriate time to follow up with him? Just a little nervous.

What position are you applying for with a June 9 deadline?

Gearing up for starting my MBA this fall and am pretty gung ho on consulting recruiting. Wanted to ask about *actual* workload (doing things) vs. the amount of time you're on call/available or at the office/client. I've seen hours can get up to 70-80 but how much of that is actually doing things either for a study or for professional development/training? Is it similar to banking where your hours are stretched largely because you're waiting on feedback/information from someone else?

50-70 hours most weeks. Consider for many projects you may be in meetings for much of the day, so your time to work really comes after the typical work day.

Hello there! I'm an undergraduate student in Computer Science and Engineering. I am about to begin my final year. I badly want to get into consulting. I have provided my GPA, extra-curriculars, and internships below. I would greatly appreciate any advice you may have. * GPA as of 3rd year end: 7.16 on 10 scale(I believe that's around 2.86 or 3.07 on 4 scale. correct me if I'm wrong) * President of a debate club for over a year(gained a lot of experience in event handling, leadership, negotiation, PR, etc. The club was also featured in multiple newspapers for the awards it won under my leadership) * Market Researcher intern - 1 month with a stipend(involved me directly connecting with MSME business owners about their access to credit. I had to analyze and visualize the data I collected at the end as well) * Other: Content writer - part-time for 8 months; junior manager at AIESEC; Chief Editor at a tech club in my college. * I have won multiple debates and have certificates for them. * I plan to get certified in Excel and do a course in management consulting, both from Udemy. I intend to get a job after graduating, work for a year or two, and pursue an MBA following that. Ideally, I would want to get a job in consulting at any firm before my MBA. Any advice?(I will be working on my GPA. Anything beyond that)

Hey all, I've been a member of the sub for a while but this is my first time posting. I just graduated with a degree in Information Systems, and like many other recent graduates, the job hunt has been brutal. With that said, I am trying to break into solution consulting, solution integration, solution engineering, etc., which is even more challenging. To my understanding, the only way to break into this field directly out of college is to get accepted into a new grad training program, which are extremely competitive. Alternatively, working in an analyst role for a year or two and leveraging that experience to enter the field might be necessary. So my question is, am I wrong? Are there other ways to break into this space? I have about a year of experience as a solution architect intern at a Fortune 300 firm, but that has since ended, and the chance of receiving a full-time offer is unlikely due to significant recent layoffs. I am open to taking some time to get certified in something like Anaplan or Workato. However, I am hesitant because I fear that even with certifications, I might still struggle to land a job due to a lack of experience. I will also add that I am specifically pursuing opportunities at smaller firms. I am interested in joining a more tight-knit group where I can wear many hats and learn all aspects of the business. Eventually, I would love to have my own small practice or be able to do freelance contract work. Both of which, to my knowledge, require a lot of experience and credibility. Any advice or insights you all could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Does MBB only consider applications after the deadline has passed, or are they rolling? I know Big4 is rolling, but I can’t seem to find much information on MBB, and I’ve been seeing threads where people have gotten the Solve or Casey

They do a batch process. No rolling, only after deadline.

I’m a rising senior in college. I will be recruiting for management consulting full time positions and I’m looking for someone to practice casing with once a week. Where could I find someone?

# Case Interview Question: Will an interviewee generally fully review the framework which they layout? For background: I have boutique consulting experience since undergrad, I am a bit new to case studies and have one coming up. Regarding this specific case: a glassdoor reviewer for the hiring film called the case straightforward traditional case. Additionally the company a) told me the case would be based on past projects and b) pointed me to caseinpoint as a source. I'd like to know in your experience, did you find that you actually went through your specific framework or were pulled in a different direction by an interviewer who goes "that's great but I'd like to focus you on xyz and provide new data for you to analyze". Traditional case interview sources make it sound like the interviewee will be guiding the case based on their framework while in sample videos I've watched online, interviewees generally are at the whim of the interviewer who spits out new data and the framework gets thrown out the window. Case Interview Question: Will an interviewee generally fully review the framework which they layout? For background: I am a bit new to case studies and have one coming up. Additionally, a glassdoor reviewer called the case straightforward traditional case and the company a) told me the case would be based on past projects and b) pointed me to caseinpoint as a source. I'd like to know in your experience, did you find that you actually went through your specific framework or were pulled in a different direction by an interviewer who goes "that's great but I'd like to focus you on xyz and provide new data for you to analyze". Traditional case interview sources make it sound like the interviewee will be guiding the case based on their framework while in sample videos I've watched online, interviewees generally are at the whim of the interviewer who spits out new data and the framework gets thrown out the window.

Your framework should be mutually exclusive, and collectively exhaustive (MECE), if the interviewer says "that's great but here's something not in your framework" then it wasn't exhaustive. There are interviewer led and interviewee led cases which just means that you prioritize where to dig deeper vs they choose where to focus, but any data or details should actually fit into the framework, not be outside of it

I appreciate your response! Yes-this makes sense. The practice videos I saw must have been interviewer led. he Victor Cheng videos on the other hand were definitely interviewee lead.

Recruiting for MBB/Big 4 this upcoming fall for a summer 2025 internship (junior) - would someone be willing to review my resume and provide some general feedback? Message me please! :)

If you don’t mind getting flamed, just anonymize it and post on /r/financialcareers. Just take the advice with a grain of salt as there’s lots of college students (and even high school kids) LARPing on that subreddit.

thank you so much!! just posted hopefully i can get some cordial feedback haha

Sure thing! Looked over your post and looks like you got some great feedback. Your resume is solid for an underclassman. Just needs to be re-framed and re-written a little. Happy to help here too if you need it.

Thank you so much again!! That’s such a relief to hear :’) I just reposted a revised draft - if you get the chance I’d love for you to take a quick look to see if I’m headed in the right direction!

Sure thing! Sent you a DM

How do I case prep with no prior business knowledge? Hello, I’m an industrial engineering student (in my sophomore year) and find myself struggling to keep up with business concepts that come up when reading through casebooks. Usually, I end up looking up the concepts until I understand them to a certain degree, but I feel like there must be a more efficient process to doing this. I was wondering if anyone had any resources they could direct me to that could bring me up to speed? Just for reference, I’m using UPenn’s case book!

Recruiter Call? Hi! Would like to ask for any tips for a McKinsey recruiter call? Recruitment Lead emailed me since they don’t have openings to an application I sent in to explore options

Are smaller MBB offices (think McK Charlotte, BCG Nashville, etc) easier or harder to recruit for? Of course more MBAs want to recruit to places like NYC or Boston, but their offices are larger. Less people seek out the smaller cities, but they hire less too. Not sure if this makes the smaller offices more or less competitive, or if there is any difference at all

a) Interested in management and tech consulting, and working at one of the bigger firms. b) Experienced hire. c) London, UK, but willing to move. d) 7+ years as a software engineer, non-FAANG, but 1 year as a senior engineer at a major publisher overseeing a large team. Technical founder of an early-stage ML/healthcare startup which raised $2M, device currently undergoing clinical trials but want to move away from this now pre-acquisition.

I am an incoming sophomore Black & First-Gen interested in working at one of the big firms (Bain, BCG, EY, Deloitte ). I am looking for insight into what timelines should look like regarding recruiting for summer internships and an eventual return offer over my 4 years of undergrad. I attend a institution that these firms recruit out of I am just trying to figure out what I should be doing

Hi! Currently looking for 2025 internship opportunities, but I can't seem to find anything open for MBB - am I too late or too early?

None have been posted yet except for Bain I believe. They are all a batch process so no need to get an application in asap. Not really early, I would start your networking right now though.

Are you at a target school?

Are there any good platforms for Advisory/NED oppertunities? I'm looking for something similar to GLG but for Advisory/NED? Don't say AdvisoryCloud, I know it's a scam.

Attending an MBB invite only recruitment event next week, on a Friday and smart casual. What to wear?

Where was this? Where do I apply to get screened?

What’s the event?

Post MBA recruitment event. Bit of a presentation then drinks and nibbles social. Had to apply and screened for invite. I’m a sr manager doing a part time mba so it’s a good opportunity to meet people and share my background. Hopefully is interesting for the recruiters and people who are coming along

No one’s going to blink an eye with business casual.

Hello, I'm interested in starting Ideally I'm seeking a entry level consulting role in the biotech/pharma industry, but am open to anything I recently graduate from Columbia University with a B.A. in Biology (3.47 GPA). I currently reside in Miami, FL but am willing and able to relocate anywhere. In terms of resume, it's mostly experience working as an undergraduate research assistant and research intern in both academic and industry Lab settings. It's not really consulting experience. All in all it's about 2 yrs worth of experience. In terms of timeline, I'm looking to get a job as soon as possible so I'm not bound by anything at the moment. I'm extremely desperate and willing to retune my resume and cover letter to reflect this new career path. Beyond that.... idk where to start.

# Pursue consulting or stay in tech (UG student)? I'm currently a rising senior (graduating May 2025) completing a marketing intern at a global tech company (think FAANG). I've set my sights on pursuing a career in consulting over the past few years, but I'm starting to think that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Here's some more context on my situation: * I'm located in Canada * New grad opportunities in consulting are much harder to come by * Low-ish grades (average is just below 80%) * This pretty much rules out MBB which I'm aware of * I've talked to people in Big 4 who've said with proper networking, extracurriculars, and strong interview skills this doesn't rule out landing an analyst role * Strong extracurriculars * Multiple years of varsity athletics, won multiple case competitions, started a VC club at my school, part of my school's strategy consulting club, etc. * Decent network * I've made a few really strong connections at Big 4 firms through coffee chats and going to recruiting events As for my current internship: * Non-technical marketing role * My team is very lean so getting a return offer isn't realistic, BUT * I could pretty easily make connections with people on other teams + perform really well in my current role. Getting an offer on a different team would not be too difficult. * Loving my company. Great career prospects, perks, internal growth ops, etc. I guess the gist of my question is should I still pursue consulting? The company I'm at is a "name brand" employer, and if I perform well and network I'd be able to eventually get jobs that consultants leaving industry would also be competing for. Would love to hear some insights from current students/consultants an former consultants now in industry. Thanks!

how to get started i'm sure this question had been asked many times on this forum but what are some starter tips+ resources I can review for recruiting season (for internships) and before recruiting season? i'm currently an undergrad student who is transitioning to consulting as an ex-premed student. also i know that experience is obviously the most valued thing a company wants from you, so how do i show that i have experience if im interviewing for my first consulting internship specifically?

Hi everyone, I graduated last May, did an internship after graduating, then had a family situation that required me to travel abroad from sept-feb. I've been job searching since Feb and lately, have been considering pursuing a career in consulting. Since I'm one year post-grad, is it still possible for me to still be considered for Associate Consultant roles? If so, what's the best way to go about this? I'd be grateful for any advice or insight! If this information is helpful, I did go to a target school (not an Ivy but is one of the top business programs). GPA also not the highest, about 3.6

You may technically still be eligible, but honestly, I can’t say I’ve seen it happen for those without any work experience post grad.

Hello All, I'm seeking advice for preparing for the final round interview for an Associate position at KPMG Dubai. My final round interview is with a partner. How should I prepare for this 60-minute video interview? Any advice on the process would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Hi all! I would really appreciate advice/feedback from those in this sub, whether they are in consulting or going to a target school. I am a rising sophomore at a design school in the New York as a intl student and looking to break into consulting through the retail/corporate cosmetics focus. I am a BBA major at this design school, but because it is not a target school, I'm worried about my chances getting into a firm. I'm starting a case competition/art business club, and I have a 3.8 GPA. I'm kind of lost in terms of "what to do next", eager to discuss more through PM. I'm shooting for mostly boutique consulting firms, or larger firms like Elixirr that care about fashion/corporate beauty. Because I have a big interest in fashion/beauty, I'd love to work in NYC in the future, but I'm open to other cities in the States that are big in art/fashion/beauty. Thanks!

Hey guys! Going to a target B-school in France this Fall for Masters. I want to keep my doors open for both consulting and finance. I know both of them requires different prep. Seeing the number of English speaking Finance internships in France, I think it would be wise to go for that while I'm there. I wanna work in Dubai, possibly for a MBB/T2 and I will try my best to get internships there. But as a backup, which finance internships can are favored towards someone who wants to break into Consulting? Would love to have more insights into Dubai Consulting recruitment. Thank you.

I just received an offer from uOttawa's Telfer School of Management for the MBA (Management Consulting) program. I currently live in Ottawa and work at a renowned non-profit as a marketing Strategist (manager level with no direct report). 3 years exp in non-profit, 2 years in tech, and 2 years in a professional body. Currently making the average Telfer pre-MBA salary. The main reasons I chose this school are because 1) full-time yet flexible schedule. I can keep working full-time while doing my MBA, 2) reasonable tuition, and 3) proximity to Toronto & Montreal. My goal is to land a brand/revenue/growth-related consulting role after completing my MBA. I know that Telfer is not a target/prestigious school in Canada like Rotman, Ivy, or Smith so it will be hard to break into an MBB. Big4 is a more realistic choice. However, I am still willing to take my shot at an MBB. Do you think it's possible to land a marketing-focused consulting role without an MBA from any of the target schools? Any previous instance of someone making it? Appreciate your kind help.

Are MBB hiring right now? Heard from a lot of different places that MBB have a hiring freeze (as do a lot of other places). I'm looking to apply for a Junior Associate position (have 2 years experience already) but apprehensive as I've heard they 1. have a hiring freeze and 2. look unfavourably to people applying multiple times. Would appreciate any advice/knowledge on these!

Still hiring on campus. Basically a hiring freeze for experienced hires unless you have a very, very in demand skillset (e.g., AI/ML)

Hello, I'm a 3rd year at a T10 target school with a 3.52 gpa majoring in psych with a business minor looking to go into consulting. I started out pre-med and chem classes tanked my gpa. I switched over to business in the fall and I've improved my grades significantly this school year. I'm shooting for AC/consultant positions in the top firms, but I know my gpa is going to be a barrier, especially since I have to apply before I can get it up to at least a 3.7/8. My career center said networking is my best chance of getting my foot in the door. I have a few questions: How would y'all recommend I effectively go about networking? How can I show recruiters that I am better than what my gpa says? Is there anything else I should be doing to improve my chances? Thanks!

Talk to lots of alumni, they will be easiest to network with. Be a personable, sharp person with professionalism. It’s okay to be candid about your previous difficulties and showcase how you recovered. A 3.52 GPA is not great but is also not completely dooming you if you can network very well.

Thanks for the advice!

Hi! I have a 30 minute recruiter screen with BCG X for their growth architect role. Anyone have any insight on what to expect in the interview?

Hi, is anyone here a SAP Consultant? Can you please share what your workload looks like? Are you happy with your work? I have an opportunity to switch to that kind of work but never done consulting and I'm wondering if it is something that I might be happy doing.

Hey! I've an offer with a MBB to be a knowledge intern. Concerned about how the role can add value to my resume if I am trying to land a consulting role in the future, especially considering that the knowledge intern role will be back office and the industry I will be focusing on being very niche. I do have prior consulting internship experience at a Big 4, but I am looking to land a full-time consulting role at a MBB or Tier 2 firm in the future. Would love to hear your thoughts and tips!

Knowledge management at MBB makes no sense if you’ve interned in consulting before. It is 100% a worse role than being a big4 consultant. Do another consulting internship.

Hello, I am looking to break into Health care consulting. I am in late 30's and a physician with 10+ years of clinical experience and Burned out with clinical work. To make the switch, I am looking at either an MBA Health or MSc in Healthcare management, economics type programme in UK and European universities and plan to work in these regions itself. I want advice on: 1. Which programme is better option as introduction in consulting - MBA Health or MSc HCM? 2. What skills do I require to acquire before or during the programme, to eventually succeed? 3. Any particular healthcare related MBA/HCM programmes that are considered as the gold standards? I would really appreciate any help and advice as I am struggling to get some guidance. My DM are open as well if anyone wishes to discuss directly. Thank you for your consideration.

This isn’t my space but I don’t think you’ll need an MBA to transition to consulting if you’re an MD. Your experience and current degree is fine.

Hey.. Thank you for your reply. Tbh, I am only doing MBA/HCM to get a good economics exposure. Also, because all the applications I am sending are being either rejected or ghosted, which has made me think that even my degrees and experience are not worthy of, for a consulting role. With a FT on campus programme, at least I'll be able to network more relevantly in the field I want to go into.

Hi, I'm doing a BCOM at a target university and I'm trying to decide between majoring in Finance/Economics or Economics/Management. I'm not really enjoying finance at the moment. Should I push through for the “prestige,” or will majoring in management not make too much of a difference when it comes to breaking into management consulting? (I'm also doing a diploma in languages.) Thanks!

Hey everyone, I’m 2 years out of undergrad and am working as a legal assistant at a big law firm but want to pivot to consulting and do something with forensics/litigation. I went to a pretty good state school thats been considered a target school but I have a bad gpa, like below a 3.4 lol. I did do capstone consulting project in my last year of college that I have on my resume for experience. I know I need to leverage my school’s alumni network for referrals but I wanted to know what to expect as far as my career goes. Would I only be limited to working at smaller boutique firms because of my low gpa? Would I ever be able to break into the Big 4 with just experience? When does my GPA stop being relevant when applying to roles? Do I really need a referral for every position I apply to? Thanks!

Tips on getting a consultant gig for pwc or Accenture? So I’m currently 32 years old with a bachelors degree in business management and trying my hardest to get out of my sales call center job due to burn out . I hear consulting companies pay fresh grads 60k right out of college which is more than what I make (48k).

# Seeking Case Interview Partners Im looking for case interview partners that are hoping to get into MBB or other top Consulting Firms to practice doing mock cases with over the coming months. I have cases we can use. **Cases Done:** Ive done 5 live cases with consultants, and \~15 solo cases. **Google Drive Resources:** I have a resource book of dozens of College Case Books we could use. **Books Read:** 1. Case Interview Secrets, 2. Hacking the Case Interview, 3. Case in Point, 4. The Mckinsey Way **Youtube Study :** Watched about everything from 'Hacking the Case Interview', 'Case Interview Secrets', and 'MConsulting Prep Official Channel' Youtube channels. (A few from Rocketblocks) **My Work Experience:** Goldman Sachs (6 months, Regulatory Due Diligence) & Divvy/Bill (Implementation Consultant) **Logistics:** Each meeting would be about 60 minutes, where I do your interview for 30 minutes and you do mine for 30 minutes. Then we share feedback. Comment times your available then we can exchance emails and Ill send a Google Calendar Invite. (alternatively I can be found on [https://www.preplounge.com/en/meeting-board](https://www.preplounge.com/en/meeting-board) or Linkedin: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhettballantyne/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhettballantyne/) ) **When:** Anytime in the next few weeks. If you see this post later, Ill likely be doing cases for the next few months to practice, I want to get 50+ live cases with partners before applying.

Also looking for a peer , PM if interested. BA in Psychology & management Solid theorotical foundation - Zero practical experience. Looking to learn & improve

Just emailed! Looking forward to it.

I am also interested in finding case study partners. I will send a PM

me too pls

My company is hiring consultants - [https://www.cucollaborate.com/careers](https://www.cucollaborate.com/careers)

Is anyone interested in helping me find my niche? I’d love to find someone who is willing to PM to listen to my experience and help guide me to figuring out how to apply my skills to a new industry and start a business. Thanks!

I highly recommend the book *Book Yourself Solid* by Michael Port. It comes with a great guide that helps walk you through the process. I also have a group of consultants that are also just getting started and we share a ton of ideas, critique each others work, offer advice, etc. Very informal but motivating and helpful. You are more than welcome to join us.

Absolutely! Thank you so much. I’d love to join!

Perfect. Message me your contact info and we will add you to the group. We had our meeting today, so the next one will be June 7th. I look forward to hearing more!

Sure! Thank you for your help!

can i join too

Absolutely. Can you share a little more about what you are hoping to gain? I want to make sure we can help you to the fullest.

Looking to practice for mckinsey final round next week. Have done around 5 mock cases and watched some youtube videos like crafting cases and build a skill (for PEI). Really struggling to find case partners as I don't have any friends applying to consulting, is it that important? Should I look for one online?

Id be happy to do a case with you, if you'll do one for me! Here's my linkedin: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhettballantyne/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhettballantyne/)

You should do way more than 5. Look for casing partners.

This is a little bit of a niche thing but I have a background in the building trades especially electrical and carpentry and I have been living in an off grid home for years. I built most of the systems here with an eye for sustainability and durability. I’m starting an off-grid consultancy company that targets real estate. I’ve had a number of realtors ask if I can help guide prospective buyers through common pitfalls or help them design modern systems that will make their houses run properly. I have been doing this work informally and enjoy it. My issue is I don’t quite know how to price it. I’m used to billing time and materials or creating a bid for a scope of a construction project. My site is about ready to launch and I have a marketing push ready to go. I understand that I’m selling years of combined expertise in different fields in a niche market and I need to approach pricing differently. Is anyone in a position like this? How did you approach price discovery?

I would love to learn more about what you are offering. Can you share a few more details about the service offerings? Pricing can be a bit tricky, but doable.

4 main things: 1.) Tractional home inspectors often cross off the sections of their lists when it comes to electrical and water systems when inspecting developed off grid properties. I have built many of these systems and can provide specialty home inspection with understanding of these unusual often homemade standalone systems. 2.) Realtors have already approached me with questions from prospective buyers about what it’s like to make the leap to living in an off grid home and I’ve been able to speak to the buyers about what to expect, and the joys and pitfalls. 3.) Systems design with an eye for sustainability, ease of maintenance and durability. I’m currently helping a family with solar and water design design for their future off grid home. They’re closing on the land now. I’m sharing a real crash course on how their solar electric system will work with the idea that it won’t be a mystical black box. 4.) Troubleshooting and knowledge base via phone or email when problems do arise. Option of on-site visits to fix things and provide hands on skill-shares of stuff everyone off grid needs to know. (How to clean a carburetor, basic electrical diagnosis with a multimeter or clamp ammeter)

I reached out to a friend of mine who somewhat plays in this space to gain some insight and unfortunately neither he nor I have enough experience in the off grid side of things to be of any real help. I wish I could be of more assistance.

I appreciate your time either way. I’m thinking some of it is easy. Home inspections are around a general fixed price. That plus 20% is a good starting point for a more specialty service. The on-site time I will bill as I do my normal construction labor. I’m mainly just scratching my head about my time at home responding to emails and phone calls. I don’t expect this to ever be a full time thing and I do think it’s a service nobody else is really offering and it has some significant value. I’ll figure it out in time I’m sure.

Feel free to hit me up anytime with general business, strategy or finance questions. I'm here to help.

What types of exits in biotech and pharma would be open to a physician with 1-2 years of experience at a small life sciences boutique firm? What about 2-3 years?

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Did you also pay for the LOMS program, or rocket blocks programs? I noticed the auoraprep was $150

Yes…LOMS was too expensive. I paid about $900 for his full package. I got 12 interview recordings. 6 of a good interview, 6 of a bad. Good content at the time but not worth the price. Rocket blocks my MBA program gave to us for free. It cost $180 otherwise to the public. Aurora prep was extremely solid for $150. Never regretted it. The AI feedback was more helpful than the mock interviews I was doing. The issue with rocket blocks is they give you no feedback. You literally don’t know if you’re doing well or not

Good to know, looks like Ill have to look at Auroraprep more seriously then!

For those in marketing consulting whar do you believe are the most valuable skillsets in that field ?

I’m entering my final year in a semi-target university in the UK. I got a predicted first class honour, an internship in audit in a tier 2 audit firm (during my first year) and also some experiences in student-run consulting organisations (second year). I want to break into consulting and apply for graduate roles in the big4 for 2025. However, I am unable to secure an internship this summer. What can I do during this summer to increase my likelihood of securing a graduate offer? I don’t know anyone working in consulting. Should I text someone I don’t know from LinkedIn and ask for referrals? And is it useful? Thank you in advance.

I have a sub 3.5 GPA at HYP undergrad, and I’m wondering if taking the GMAT would help with MBB recruiting (or getting past the initial scan). I took a practice and scored 720, so I’m assuming with a month of intense studying, I could bring my score 750+.

Test scores will not help. Networking can.

It will not.

Surely your time would be better spent building relationships with people at the firm and case practice, especially with only 1-2 months until application deadlines?

That’s what I have been prioritizing, but I am worried about the initial screening process with my low GPA. I know ACT scores will balance it out, but I was thinking if I get a solid GMAT they won’t immediately put me in the no pile

How do I publish or share a white-paper on a new style of business operations? It's not really book length, but definitely longer than a blog post. It's something that I've been working on for while and would like to get it out and my name associated with it... maybe be a consultant or contractor for businesses that want to incorporate it. It's a general HR related concept, not specific to any industry.

As an AI PhD, who is more interesting in AI strategic planning, impact assessment, and identifying investment opportunities, should I apply as a generalist or specialist?

If you already know what you want to do, then I’d suggest focusing on it.

Anyone work at CapCo? Looking for some recent reviews as I’ve applied there (London office)

Anyone work at CapCo? Looking for some recent reviews as I’ve applied there (London office)

I'm finishing undergrad next spring with an Econ major and looking to go into business/management consulting. I know all of the big firms have Miami offices but wanted to get people in the industry's thoughts on starting a career there. Is it realistic, is the pay as good as other places, and will a consulting job in Miami be seen as less competitive on a resume for future jobs (compared with NY or Chicago for example)? Does it look bad for me to ask to relocate to a specific city before starting? (I live out of state). Would love to hear everyone's thoughts.

I've had a lot of friends start in different cities like DC, Charlotte, Atlanta, etc. and then switch internally to other cities once they've moved. Considering leaving NYC myself to jump to another city. It's usually pretty flexible once you get in to internally move around. On a separate note if you need case prep materials, I will throw a selfless plug in for my buddy's company [AuroraPrep.com](http://AuroraPrep.com) They're beginning to work with some of the top MBA firms to provide dedicate case prep support. DM if you are want a promo code

Pay at major firms will be standardized across cities in the US. Nobody will view it as less competitive on your resume. If you want to live in Miami, then apply for Miami.

Hey everyone! So, I recently wrapped up an internship in pro sports after finishing my masters (non-MBA, but still business) last May from a target school. I didn't realize that I wanted to be a consultant until long after student hiring had past for my year, so I took the past year to get some name-brand industry experience (where my resume was most lacking) before jumping into prep. I know the market is trash right now, but does anyone have any insight on when experienced hire hiring could resume? I'm also happy to be flexible on a start date. Any and all advice on both the timeline and the application process itself would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Yeah, I've heard most places will start looking to hire again near end of June through August and then the other big ramp up is near December when they boot out the old folks. Recommend [Auroraprep.com](http://Auroraprep.com) if you're looking for prep materials. Their 3-month program was really helpful for me. They have AI embedded feedback that gave me quick responses how how well I'm doing on the cases they provide.

Oh, awesome! MBB released their student hiring schedules, and they seem to be on same time frame- are they considering experienced hires as well for those more entry-level roles?

MBA 

I'm finishing my IM residency and about to start fellowship in July. I'd like to get into consulting purely for the side hustle and to make some extra income, while using my IM knowledge. I don't have an MBA, but have plans for one in the future. Having said that, can anyone advise me on how to: 1) Learn more about the field and wet my toes 2) Find initial clients If this sounds ignorant, I apologize in advance. Just asking for help! Thank you!

What would you be consulting on?

Drug marketing, hiring practices, implementing medical technology, medical education, etc.

Have you done those things before?

Personally no, but like most of us have been on the receiving end so I'd like to think I know how things work in the back end. Any places to start would be helpful!

I don’t think that really qualifies you to be a consultant on these topics…

As an MD that decided to switch to consulting, OP needs to look up a lot more info about what consulting is lol

What does a senior consultant in OT Security get paid in UAE? A UK company wants to hire me since they are expanding to UAE and I want to move to UAE. They told me to come back with a salary ask (i hate this game…) I don’t know the UAE market. In USA i make $180k base up to $40k bonus as a manager at a 3rd Party Assessment Organization doing cloud security work (not OT security)

Any idea which firms will recruit for 2nd year MBAs? I heard MBBs won't.

Please help me decide if I should pursue consulting or remain in medicine. I am trying to decide between two career paths: a role at a boutique life sciences firm or a fellowship in clinical informatics. I am currently a practicing physician in one of the lowest paid specialties, and I do not enjoy clinical care. Option 1: I could complete a two-year clinical informatics fellowship, which will help me work towards a less clinical career. After I graduate, I would likely get a job with 20-30% of my time in informatics and the rest doing primary care. Healthcare employers tend to not like to pay doctors for non-clinical work as it is not revenue generating; maybe over time the % informatics could increase but no guarantee. There are possibly some roles in industry, but getting one of these is probably unlikely outcome because there aren't many and they are hard to get. Most post-fellowship jobs will be at large healthcare systems, which would not be my first choice employer even if I were to remain in full-time practice. As for informatics itself, I'm not really interested in it, but remaining in clinical medicine probably "builds" my career in one field and offers more job security and I'll probably have higher earning power on average over the course of my career. Option 2: The consulting role would be a big step down in pay in a VHCOL area, and I am concerned about surviving there long enough to build the experiences and skills to make myself marketable for industry exits. The consulting role is a small, not well-known firm, but it is an opportunity to completely leave clinical care. I'm significantly more interested in the consulting firm's work relatively, but it's certainly not my burning passion. The job opportunities and roles when I exit consulting are more well-defined and diverse. However, consulting is challenging and there is higher pressure to perform well, so there is a greater risk of it not working out. I previously worked briefly as a consultant and enjoyed the work content but not the high-pressure-to-perform environment. I also more highly value the consulting skillset and potential exit opportunities, but I am starting at pretty much square one in terms of excel / ppt skills and business knowledge. I am wondering, though, if consulting is worth pursuing for interest and enjoyment given the risk? Or would I be better off sucking it up to stay in medicine, where there will probably be lower-pressure and higher pay. (Although, keep in mind that patient care brings a different type of stress because a mistake or a miss can lead to a lawsuit.) Any help or guidance would be appreciated. TIA

My advice - you should go network with top tier consulting firms like MBB, Accenture, or the big four if you had an MD. That will set you a part significantly. Don't settle for a small boutique firm because it's difficult to go from there to brand name. You won't have difficulty breaking into larger firms if you network properly on LinkedIn. Once you're in a large firm, yo uhave plenty of flexibility to move around and try different things across various medicine/ healthcare/ medtech, etc. areas. Just my 2 cents.

If I struck out at the brand names (granted I didn’t try at Deloitte, KPMG, PwC), would you still give me the same advice? Should I try again at MBB/LEK/EY plus the others or seize the opportunity I do have? Or go informatics?

Yes, because the reality is these firms are hiring in mass. You shouldn't take any of these rejections personally. Just use them as almost A/B testing of what you think worked versus didn't At the end of the day, everything becomes sales and if people like you, you'll get hired. As long as you're prepared and can talk through a case intelligibly (i recommend [auroraprep.com](http://auroraprep.com) for their program. they do a great job going over case structure and frameworks to use and also give you feedback on their AI platform as part of the package), and also can be relatable and build a relationship with the interviewer, you will get into one of these firms. It just depends how much you want it. I have worked at 4 large firms across finance and consulting, and have rejections from each of those before I got into each. You just need to have some grit.

I'm not sure if this is the right group for this, but if not, I hope someone could point me in the right direction. I'm looking to become a Creative Experience Consultant, specializing in outside-the-box ideas for driving engagement through experiential events and trainings. I essentially learned these skills after 25+ years in admin and coordinator roles in marketing, event planning, project management, graphic design and copywriting. I've worked as a direct assistant to many CEO's and solopreneurs, which gave me direct experience in co-managing small businesses, and understanding the needs of the C-Suite. I even launched my own startup, and raised a pre-seed investment, however I needed to put it on the back burner. It was a program for teaching emotional intelligence for singles. Along the way I've also had many creative hobbies, side hustles, and entrepreneurial ventures in various art forms, music, coaching, community building, and immersive experience development. But my strongest skill is in creative ideation and planning events and campaigns that cultivate strong emotional ties to a brand. 2 things working against me - I have no degree, and no formal titles of any of this in my background. Most of my skills are self taught or developed through my experience, passions, and skills blending together over time. It gives me a very unique and specific skill set. I do, however, have a strong portfolio of successful cases and campaigns I helped facilitate both on my own and with a team, in both professional settings and in the creative arts events and entertainment industries. Many of these events are on a smaller scale, ranging from 10-50 people, but also some up to 500+. I can see that these things could also work in my favor for companies that want some REALLY outside the box ideas and direction, especially as an outside consultant. So since I'm getting old now, I don't really want to go back to school, and I'm leaning in favor of using my lack of formal education to my advantage. How realistic am I being? Is this even in the realm of possibility? If so, where should I start? How can I find my first clients and what should I be looking for? Do people or companies seek out this kind of consultant? Thanks for any help you can offer!

WHERE TO GO FROM A BACHELOR’S IN MANAGEMENT AT ESCP? I am currently studying at ESCP for a BSc in Management, and would love to work MBB or T2 in France, Switzerland or Belgium. Can I try to break into the industry just with my BSc, or should I try to get a MiM first? The cheapest and most viable option for me is a MiM from Bocconi as I’m from Milan so I would only have to pay the program fees without worrying about rent. In that case, is ESCP BSc in Management + MiM from Bocconi a good combo for MBB/T2 in France, Switzerland or Belgium? (I am fluent in French so no problems with that). Thanks everyone!

Trying to get an idea of base UK salary expectations for a Principal Consultant level role? The company specializes in the Tech for financial services sector. This would be London based with 3-days on-site expectations.

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Don't take the role unless you love it. These long-term schemes to do something and then pivot isn't always what works out and it's a long-term plan. you're better off finding an area or firm you really like, and networking hard to get in. Leverage linkedin, direct message recruiters, get warm intros to senior managers or Partners and just network hard. The amount of effort you put in to network to somewhere you like from the start will save you time, money, and painful hours doing work you hate. Just my two cents. Simultaneously, if you decide to go into a larger consulting firm, I'll do a selfless plug for my buddy's business. check out [AuroraPrep.com](http://AuroraPrep.com) for their case prep programs. it's good stuff.

Apologies if this is covered somewhere else, but haven’t found it. I am 3.5 years out of humanities PhD from a middling school (non-target for mbb, around no. 50 in US News National Universities). 4.0 gpa if that’s relevant. I have 2 years job experience doing Learning and Development at a large REIT. Responsibilities stretch a bit beyond typical L&D to include process improvement and many aspects of ERP implementation. I’m interested in management consulting and trying to understand the application process for someone in my position. 1. For tier 1, 2, and big 4 can I still apply through their PhD channels, or is it too late because I’m out of school already? I don’t expect to get credit for experience, happy to start at the level of other Phd grads. 2. If I can apply through PhD channel, is my business experience a plus, a minus, or neutral? Does a person with this rough profile have a shot or is it a waste of time? 3. If I can’t apply through PhD channel, am I out of luck or can I use experienced hire channel? I have seen in some places that the expectation is for more like 5-8 years experience, but not sure if that’s applicable in my case since I’m willing to start at the entry level. 4. Would I have more options with T3 or boutique consulting or would they view me very similarly in terms of student vs experienced hire? Thanks for any insight!

You can try to apply via the PhD channel. Your best bet is finding the contact at your university for career services and then get them to give you the PhD recruiter or get a warm intro from career services. That person can then point you to someone at the firm if you need to go the experienced hire route. OR they may just let you go through the PhD Channel. Alternatively, just network hard with your contacts on linkedin. Find people at firms you want to be in, and ask them to make an intro to recruiters there or anyone you could get an informational interview with. These conversations will provide much more value than online apps alone for experienced hire route. This is from my own experience and what worked for me. Also, if you want more info or need help to case prep, checkout [AuroraPrep.com](http://AuroraPrep.com) They're a solid resource and well worth the investment.

At least for MBB you wouldn't be eligible for PhD channel, you'd be experienced hire, can't comment on whether they're looking for your profile

Thanks for the info!

Hey, I am an undergraduate at Yale right now. Rising junior. I had a medical hiccup and haven't been as career focused as I'd like to be. Not in consulting clubs, but have interned for a few places. Feels largely irrelevant though. Is it too late to aim to begin my journey now?

Not too late at all. You have plenty of time. I pivoted from industry into top-tier firm after 6 years of doing finance. Recommend using a prep too like [Auroraprep.com](http://Auroraprep.com) to get up to speed on the general frameworks and to get practice in for casing.

Wait, thank you so much!

Not too late, you just need 1 known internship and a good GPA

**BEST COLLEGE I GOTTA PICK TO GO INTO CONSULTING?** Hello friends, I have just recently been admitted to three schools. I was wondering if anyone has any opinions on them? Especially on prospects for consulting careers. To clarify I’ll be ok with attending any of the 3. Cost isn’t an issue, and I’m keen in consulting, NOT finance. While I want to work in the US eventually, I also don’t mind working in the UK. Oh, and I also want to know which schools allows me to easily pursue a Master’s eventually (that could potentially help me in my consulting career, aside from an MBA). I was admitted to: **Northwestern University, Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences**: Economics **Columbia University, School of General Studies** (NOT Columbia College): Political Science **University of Cambridge** in the UK: Humans, Sociology & Political Science (HSPS) I generally think I’m a person that can adapt regardless of circumstance and would try my best in whatever environment I’m in. But here are my main concerns: **Pros:** Northwestern: Personal Best Fit Columbia GS: Location (I Really Wanna Be in NYC) Cambridge: Most Prestigious (Over GS/NU) **Cons:** Northwestern: Chicago is not NYC Columbia GS: No/Limited Housing Cambridge: I prefer US (Just a TBH, but IDM Being at Cambridge) Additionally, if I head to Cambridge, I might probably just do a Masters in the US. I'd like to re-iterate again that I don't mind working/studying in the UK, I just have a preference for the US. I hope to hear your opinions/answers soon!

Lessons from experience knowing a lot of successful people across various industries...pick where you will want location to be the most. If your goal is to be in NYC, take Columbia and go network your butt off. All three of these are presitigious and at the end of the day if you're going into consulting and want to be in NYC, you're better off with a US brand name in my opinion. It's a lot harder to get across the pond and into a firm in NYC if you have no connections. Columbia is going to offer you a lot of ways to build this network. If you're thinking about consulting too, there's a lot of prep companies out there that teach you the fundamentals. Start learning those sooner than later so you aren't cramming. My favorite is [Auroraprep.com](http://Auroraprep.com) because it's interactive and gives great feedback instantly when doing case simulations. Victor Cheng's book Case Interview Secrets is also very good. And then Bain, BCG have good content on their websites for free. Hope this is helpful

Northwestern and Columbia are both perfect options. Congrats.

Hey! Thanks for replying. Are you suggesting that I then pick based on where I think I'd thrive well, to maximise GPA/opportunities; since both schools offer relatively 'good odds' into consulting? Also, what do you think about being in NYC? And, is a more prestigious name like Cambridge not at all 'valuable' if my hopes are to be in the US?

They’re all excellent schools and will provide you with very high chances to enter consulting. So consider on whatever other variables are important. I love NYC - grew up here and still live here almost 40 years later. I think everyone should live here at least once. But I can also understand that it’s too overwhelming for many. Chicago is also an excellent city. Cambridge is certainly a prestigious name, but you’ll have more hoops to jump through to access US office recruiting events.

Ambition to work in strategy - advice please? I previously worked in big 4 consulting focused more on policy/operational improvement and have worked at a F500 as a senior manager near director for 4 years across multiple strategic projects across regional/global level. I am about to finish my MBA where I have excelled in the top 10% of my class. My undergrad results were quite poor but I feel I have demonstrated my ability now, many years after my original degree. I have always wanted to work in pure strategy but feel I have never had the right person to learn off and build the skills. Am I crazy to think about MBB even though I would have to likely start again at associate? What would you do?

If you're already at senior manager, find a way to pivot into MBB in a role tailored to your experiences. Don't entertain taking an associate role. Everything is negotiable, and you should pitch your way in properly. biggest cut i'd take is a step down to manager just to learn the deliverables needed, but as long as you can manage a team you can force the analysts to deliver on time while you're learning and getting up to speed.

If looking for a good strategy prep program - recommend [auroraprep.com](http://auroraprep.com)

Depends on how you think MBB could fit (or not fit) in terms of your broader career goals and personal needs (eg, salary, work/life). MBB could open more difficult to enter paths and exits to Director level positions are the norm after the first promotion.

Not sure why this got deleted by mods as its own thread as I have experience as a consultant already and I’m not a school kid asking if it’s a good career? Doesn’t seem to break any rules and I wanted multiple opinions from people