Activity prioritization for recruiting Master's student

Hi,

MBB recruiting is very competitive, and you will be competing with people who have top grades, international exposure and strong internships on top of extracurricular activities like clubs. So the short answer is to try your best to combine all of these. If you are constrained and have to decide where to put the effort, this is how I would prioritize:

1) Top marks. That is the strongest signal of excellence you can provide.

2) Big brand names on your internships.

3) Depending on your specific location, the consulting club or international exposure such as an Erasmus program.

Hope it helps, and good luck.

Best,

Franco

Hi there,

You're thinking about this the right way, but don't treat it as a choice between grades and doing every extracurricular activity you can find.

I would maintain strong grades, but I wouldn't obsess over finishing in the top 10% if doing so means sacrificing everything else. Graduating with distinction is already a strong signal.

You've also already completed real consulting internships, so simply becoming a member of another consulting club probably doesn't add much. The exception is if you can lead something or complete pro bono consulting work where you own a workstream, work with a real client, and demonstrate tangible impact.

A membership line does very little. Leadership, ownership, and results do.

My priority order would be:

1. Strong grades and graduating with distinction
2. One substantive leadership or pro bono consulting experience
3. Networking with the CEE, Nordic, and Middle Eastern offices you are targeting
4. Starting case preparation well before recruiting begins

Hi there,

It's great to be targeted, but (and this is more of a personal rather than professional opinion) don't take the joy out of life by being too targeted. Meaning, once you start your program, let yourself also be guided naturally by your interests and pursue the things that genuinely interest you rather than the things you might think you need to pursue. 

If I were to choose between the two options you laid out, actual experience tends to be more valuable than grades. Grades are more important for the academic track. Consulting firms tend to care more about your actual skills and you showing proof of having consulting or consulting like experiences in the past. There are differences though between markets with certain countries paying special attention to grades, so it would be worth having some chats with people who are specifically operating in your respective market. 

Good luck!
Cristian

Given your F500 BizOps and F100 in-house consulting experience, I’d prioritize academic performance over another consulting club. Aiming for the top 10% gives you a clear, measurable target and keeps your profile strong for Associate Consultant recruiting. Use extracurriculars selectively, especially if you can take ownership of a project or leadership role rather than collecting memberships. For CEE, Nordics, and Middle East offices, language skills and relevant regional experience might also have more value than another generic consulting activity. I’d map your semester around recruiting deadlines, exams, and case prep so you don’t sacrifice grades during peak periods. An attendance calculator could help you see how much class time you have available for those commitments.

Protect strong grades, then add one experience that creates new evidence. You already have credible consulting-related internships, so simple membership in another consulting club will add little. A leadership role or pro bono project is useful only if you own a real problem, lead people and can show a measurable result.

I would use this order: graduate with distinction, secure one substantive leadership or client-facing experience, build relationships in the offices you are targeting, and start case and fit preparation before applications open. Top 10% is helpful, but not if chasing it removes every opportunity to demonstrate leadership and impact.

Choose activities by the bullet they could produce on your CV. “Member of consulting club” is weak. “Led five students to redesign a charity's donor funnel and increased recurring donations” is evidence. One strong example is better than several low-commitment memberships.

Hey there :)

Given your existing F500 BizOps and F100 consulting experience, I wouldn’t prioritize another consulting club just for the CV. I’d focus on getting excellent grades while adding one activity where you can genuinely demonstrate leadership and measurable impact.

Top 10% can be useful as a clear academic signal, particularly for MBB recruiting, so I wouldn’t sacrifice your academics heavily for extracurriculars. If you can combine strong grades with one meaningful leadership role, that’s a very solid profile.

For CEE, Nordics and the Middle East, I’d also spend time networking with consultants in your target offices and understanding their recruiting timelines. Your existing experience is already more relevant than another generic consulting club.

Best, Alessa :)