One of the most common phrases that the Career Team here in CSOM is “I’m interested in consulting.” No doubt that consulting offers a lot of appeal to bright college students but it's important to realize that it has become a “default” career of sorts for a large percentage of students both in CSOM and MCAS. So it is also important to take a hard look at the likelihood of getting hired into the field before you commit the time to prepare.  

Current Market Realities: Fall of 23

You may be aware, as it's been featured in many publications including this WSJ article that the consulting firms, MBB, Deloitte, and Big4 have all pushed the full-time start dates until later in 2024 for the class of 23 grads.   They are still recruiting for interns but the reality of full-time hiring this year is looking very bleak.  

Additional factors that will make your chances of getting hired in consulting very low:

• You might be too late.  Most applications have opened in summer and students have been prepping all summer.   You should have 30-50 hours of case preparation under your belt for strategy.  

• You are focused on the Elite 3, and we are not a target school for all 3 of them.  Lats year was the first time McKinsey actually assigned a recruiter to BC .  

• Your GPA is below a 3.5 -- Of all the 2nd round interviews given in the class of '22 for Deloitte and L.E.K.  consulting  the lowest GPA was a 3.5.  The average was 3.7 which is consistent with prior years. Take a look at our class of 22 data on consulting hires for some perspective.  

• You don't recognize that you are competing against not only CSOM but also MCAS. Many strategy firms like students with liberal arts focus and math and science in particular. Economic consulting firms will want you to have completed the full major in e. 

Given the competitive nature of getting hired into consulting and the time needed to successfully prepare, you should be realistic about your chances and cast a wider net.  Often students cite their interest in problem-solving and exposure to different industries as the main reasons. Here are some examples of other career options to consider that will provide you with much of that: 

•  Corporate Strategy group within a large company

•  Management rotation program within a company (like J&J)

• Business development group within a company, great way to help strategize a company’s growth.  More info here as well.  

• Sales, if you want to rely on your ability to successfully build and maintain relationships with a wide range of people and you are motivated by money and goals.  Sales opportunities are varied and every type of organization needs a strong sales force, financial services, enterprise software, startups.  A strong foundation is sales is great training for anything you want to pursue.   It is also lucrative and offers a more balanced lifestyle than other high paying jobs for college graduates.  Examples of programs that recruit for sales training programs include : Dell, Oracle, GE (CLP).

• Business Analyst: Business analysts work in various industries and organizations, helping them identify opportunities for improvement, analyze data, and develop strategies. This role often involves collaborating with cross-functional teams, conducting market research, and working closely with clients to understand their needs.

• Market Research Analyst: Market research analysts gather and analyze data to help organizations make informed business decisions. They conduct market studies, analyze customer behavior, identify trends, and provide insights to guide strategy development. This role may involve working with clients, conducting surveys or interviews, and presenting findings.

• Project Coordinator: Project coordinators support project teams in planning, executing, and monitoring projects. They facilitate communication among team members, track project progress, and assist with problem-solving. This role allows exposure to various industries and teamwork while developing organizational and problem-solving skills.

• Business Development Associate: Business development associates work to identify and pursue growth opportunities for organizations. They research potential clients, assist in developing proposals, and engage in client relationship management. This role involves strategic thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork to help organizations expand into new markets or industries.

• Strategy Analyst: Strategy analysts work within organizations to assist in developing and implementing business strategies. They conduct research, perform financial analysis, evaluate market trends, and help identify areas for improvement. This role often requires collaboration with cross-functional teams and exposure to different aspects of the business.

• Financial Analyst: Financial analysts assess investment opportunities, perform financial modeling, analyze market trends, and provide recommendations to organizations. This role requires problem-solving skills, teamwork, and exposure to different industries and clients.

So what exactly is a virtual experience program? It is the perfect opportunity to take on practical tasks similar to what our very own BCGers would work on and get a true feel of what it is like to work at BCG as a strategy consultant, a technology consultant, and a designer which will give you deeper understanding on what BCG does and help set you up for success when you decide to apply with us.

In this virtual experience program, you will gain enviable insight into what it’s like to solve meaningful challenges with our diverse and forward-thinking team. What’s great about our virtual experience program is the flexibility of it. You’ll get to choose the module or modules that you would like to take and complete all of these tasks and modules anywhere and anytime in the world, allowing you to upskill yourself in your own time and pace.

After finishing each module, you’ll be provided with real work sample answers from our leaders and you can see how top-tier consultants and our designers would have tackled each task, so that you can learn from their approach.

Register here!