How to get into management consulting, route by route
There are four routes into management consulting: an undergrad internship, an MBA, an advanced degree such as a PhD, MD or JD, or a move as an experienced hire. Every route then runs through the same steps: networking, a resume screen, an online test, and case and fit interviews.
Updated
- No business degree needed. McKinsey hires from law, medicine, engineering, the military and more.
- Undergrads apply early. McKinsey's deadline for summer 2027 interns was March 29, 2026.
- MBAs apply in the fall. BCG closes November 10 and McKinsey November 12, 2026.
- A test comes first. McKinsey Solve, BCG's career assessment, Bain's digital assessment.
- Then cases and fit. A business problem out loud, plus questions about your own experiences.
Four routes into consulting
Firms hire at each stage of a career, into different titles. Open the row that fits you.
From undergradAnalyst or associate
Bachelor's and non-MBA master's students, through a summer internship or a job after graduation.
The job
Analyst, associate or AC
McKinsey hires undergrads as business analysts, BCG as associates and Bain as associate consultants. McKinsey's internship runs 8 to 10 weeks.
Who
Any major
BCG says undergrad and non-MBA master's students from all fields of study and backgrounds are welcome to apply.
When
Sophomore spring for MBB
McKinsey's deadline for summer 2027 interns was March 29, 2026. Big 4 strategy arms take applications in junior fall.
Dates by firmBefore that
Early programs
McKinsey's Connect with McKinsey and BCG's Launch series introduce the firms to students before they apply.
Questions for a coffee chat
From an MBAAssociate or consultant
First-year MBAs apply in the fall for a summer internship.
The job
Associate or consultant
McKinsey hires MBAs as associates and summer associates. Bain's MBA internship is its Summer Associate program.
When
Fall of first year
For summer 2027, BCG closes November 10 and McKinsey November 12, 2026. Interviews mostly run in early January.
The MBA timelineThe test
An assessment and an online case
BCG's US MBA applicants take its Consultant Career Assessment and an online case of about 40 minutes.
BCG's online caseWho goes
Consulting's share of the class
At the 14 schools we read, consulting took 11% to 41% of the Class of 2025's jobs.
MBA numbers by school
From a PhD, MD or JDAssociate
At McKinsey they join as associates, the same title as MBAs, with no MBA needed.
Who
PhDs, MDs, JDs and more
McKinsey counts postdocs and PhD, MD (including residents and fellows), JD, PharmD, nursing and some non-MBA master's students. BCG counts PhD, MD and JD equivalents.
The job
Associate or consultant
McKinsey says these candidates typically join as associates, either as generalists or experts. BCG hires them as consultants from all backgrounds.
When
The year before you start
McKinsey's deadline for those finishing between December 2026 and fall 2027 was August 11, 2026. BCG's process is for people starting the year after they apply.
Your CV
No business format needed
McKinsey says it reads academic CVs as they are and doesn't require a cover letter. List teamwork, leadership and anything you started.
Consulting resume
As an experienced hireAny field
Career changers apply to open roles, not a campus calendar.
Who
From any field
McKinsey welcomes experienced professionals from every field, such as finance, engineering, the military and law.
Four years in
The associate track
McKinsey puts candidates with a bachelor's or master's and 4+ years of work experience on the same associate path as advanced degrees.
A few years in
Bain's associate consultant
Bain's associate consultant role is open to undergraduates and to professionals a few years out of college.
Interviews
Same rounds, plus expertise
You still get the case and fit interviews. McKinsey adds an expertise interview for some roles.
Consulting fit questions
From McKinsey, McKinsey MBA, McKinsey APD, McKinsey experienced hires, BCG, BCG MBA, BCG advanced degrees and Bain careers pages.
What the firms say they look for
In their own words, from their careers pages.
Problem solving
McKinsey says what matters most is your ability to think critically, tackle complex challenges and create meaningful impact.
Any background
McKinsey hires from law, medicine, engineering, military service and professional sports. BCG takes undergrads from all fields of study.
Curiosity and drive
Bain wants people who are intellectually curious, entrepreneurial and excited by challenges, and who can explain why they want Bain specifically.
The firm's values
BCG reviews answers against its values and core competencies. PwC interviews for the behaviors in its PwC Professional framework.
The recruiting steps, in order
The same seven steps at McKinsey, BCG, Bain and the Big 4. Each links to our guide for that step.
Show the seven steps
Months ahead
Know your dates
Deadlines differ by route and by firm, and MBB's come early. Put each firm's date in your calendar first.
Before you apply
Meet people at the firm
Go to firm events and have short coffee chats with consultants. They give you reasons for one firm over another.
The application
Resume and cover letter
Bain asks for a resume, education, work experience and test scores. McKinsey's cover letter is optional.
Hours to days later
The online test
McKinsey Solve for most consulting roles. BCG's assessment arrives 30 to 90 minutes after you apply. Bain uses Sova or TestGorilla, about 30 to 40 minutes.
Interview rounds
Case interviews
You solve a client's problem out loud: structure it, do the math, then recommend. Bain says it looks at how you think, not for one right answer.
Every round
Fit and experience questions
Why consulting, why this firm, and stories from your past. McKinsey's personal experience interview goes deep on one story at a time.
The offer
Weigh it up
School rules often give you weeks to decide. Strategy& aims to give MBA candidates a decision within three weeks of the interview day.
10 questions every route gets
Cases and fit questions come up whichever way you come in. Each case links to a worked answer.
Cases4 questions
Four common case types.
An airline's profits are falling even though it is carrying more passengers. What is going on?
What a strong answer does
Split profit into revenue per passenger and cost per passenger, then test which moved. Example answer
Estimate the annual market for electric scooters in the United States.
What a strong answer does
State your approach, size it in a few clean steps and sanity-check the result. Example answer
A streaming service's monthly churn has doubled in a year. How would you find out why?
What a strong answer does
Segment who is leaving and when, then match the timing to changes in price, content or competition. Example answer
A leading shampoo brand has lost five points of market share in two years. What would you look at?
What a strong answer does
Customers, competitors and the brand's own moves, ending on a hypothesis you would test first. Example answer
Fit4 questions
Asked in almost every round.
Why consulting?
What a strong answer does
Two specific reasons tied to your own experience, not the job description. Example answer
Why this firm?
What a strong answer does
Something you learned from its people, not its website. Example answer
Give me a quick overview of your background and what brought you to consulting.
What a strong answer does
Two minutes, in order, ending on why you're in the room. Example answer
Tell me about a time you failed.
What a strong answer does
A real miss, your part in it and what you do differently now. Example answer
If you're changing careers2 questions
Asked of PhDs, doctors, lawyers and experienced hires.
Why leave your field for consulting now?
What a strong answer does
What you want to do more of, with one example from your work. Not what you're running from.
How would your background help our clients?
What a strong answer does
One skill from your field, such as research, analysis or managing people, and a client problem where it would matter.
Mistakes and MBA numbers
Mistakes that cost offers
Waiting for junior fall
McKinsey, Bain and Oliver Wyman closed their summer 2027 internships in March 2026. Check dates in your sophomore year.
Reciting a framework
McKinsey asks candidates to listen and give tailored answers instead of standard frameworks. Bain says it never asks you to memorize material.
Leaving things off
McKinsey says it has no knockout factors and that you are better off giving all the information it asks for, even low scores.
Using AI in the interview
McKinsey encourages AI for prep but bans real-time answers in an interview, and AI in its assessments unless allowed.
How many MBAs go into consulting
From each school's own employment report. Schools count on different bases, so compare within a row. Listed A to Z, not ranked.
Berkeley Haas
Chicago Booth
36.7% into consulting
172 of 469 full-time hires, 36.7%, went into consulting, Booth's top industry.
Columbia
33.2% into consulting
33.2% of offers were in consulting. Columbia counts sponsored students too.
Cornell Johnson
Darden
37.3% into consulting
109 graduates, 37.3% of those accepting new jobs, went into consulting.
Duke Fuqua
Harvard Business School
21% into consulting
21% of graduates who sought and accepted jobs after graduation went into consulting.
Kellogg
38% into consulting
38% of the two-year class went into consulting. BCG hired 41, McKinsey 23 and Bain 22.
Michigan Ross
MIT Sloan
32.3% into consulting
Consulting was the top industry at 32.3%. BCG hired 26, McKinsey 20 and Bain 12.
Stanford GSB
11% into consulting
11% of graduates accepting jobs went into consulting.
Tuck
41% into consulting
Consulting hired 41% of the class, Tuck's top industry.
Wharton
Yale SOM
Firm by firm
Who each firm hires and how, from its own careers pages, read October 13 to 15, 2026.
McKinseyAnalyst, associate
Undergrads join as business analysts, MBAs and advanced degrees as associates. Most consulting roles include Solve, then personal experience and problem-solving interviews.
McKinsey: interviewingOur McKinsey case interview guide
BCGAssociate, consultant
Undergrads apply as associates and take the Consultant Career Assessment within 48 hours. MBAs also take an online case. Interviews cover your skills and experience, cases and a team interview.
BCG: interview processOur BCG case interview guide
BainAC, consultant
Associate consultants are undergrads or a few years out of college. Consulting roles usually mean a digital assessment, then case interviews, and every candidate gets the same questions for a role.
Bain: interviewingOur Bain case examples
Deloitte3.3 GPA required
Its strategy analyst and summer scholar postings ask for a bachelor's degree or higher, a 3.3 GPA with 3.5 preferred, and a home within commuting distance of the office.
Deloitte: strategy analyst postingOur Deloitte case interview guide
PwC and Strategy&Test, then interviews
Most entry-level roles start with an assessment emailed within a few hours. Then two live virtual interviews, and most Advisory roles add a case.
PwC: recruiting processOur PwC interview guide
EY-ParthenonTest within a day
A skills assessment invitation arrives within one business day of applying. Interviews may be prerecorded video, live video and case study interviews.
EY: application guidanceOur EY-Parthenon case guide
KPMGTwo video interviews
Soon after the application deadline, selected applicants get two live video interviews with business leaders.
KPMG: early careersOur KPMG interview guide
Practice the case interview, out loud
Soreno's AI interviewer runs a full case one question at a time, checks your math and scores your structure, any time you have 30 minutes. Free for 7 days.
Questions people ask
Can you get into consulting without an MBA?
Yes. Undergrads join as analysts or associates, PhDs, MDs and JDs join McKinsey as associates, and experienced hires come in from other fields. At McKinsey, a bachelor's with 4+ years of work experience puts you on the associate track.
Do you need a business degree to get into consulting?
No. McKinsey hires from law, medicine, engineering and the military, and BCG welcomes undergrads from all fields of study. What the firms test is how you solve problems.
What GPA do you need for consulting?
Deloitte's strategy postings ask for a 3.3 and prefer a 3.5. McKinsey says it has no knockout factors and wants your scores even if they are low.
Can you get into consulting from a non-target school?
Yes. McKinsey says it recruits from many schools and sends students whose school has no page to its country careers page. Coffee chats and an early application do what a campus visit would.
How many MBA graduates go into consulting?
At the 14 schools we read, consulting took between 11% (Stanford GSB) and 41% (Tuck) of the Class of 2025's jobs. It was 38% at Kellogg, 28.2% at Wharton and 21% at HBS.
How long does consulting recruiting take?
Weeks once you apply. Tests arrive within hours or a day, then interview rounds follow. Strategy& aims to decide on MBA candidates within three weeks of the interview day.
Can you get into consulting after a few years of work?
Yes. Bain's associate consultant role is open to people a few years out of college, and McKinsey hires experienced professionals from every field. Apply to open roles on each firm's job site.