So I noticed BCG only offer two location selections. Is it bad to select NYC and Brooklyn as the choices if I only want to go to New York. I read somewhere saying that selecting Brooklyn (since it's less competitive than NYC) might be showing that you are trying to play with the system and you still only will be considered for NYC. Looking for advices.
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hi!
If you only want to be in New York, selecting NYC and Brooklyn is completely fine. From what I heard from a friend in the NYC office, they do not interpret this as trying to game the system. Both offices are in the same metro area and often collaborate closely, so it does not send a negative signal.
That said, you should only list Brooklyn if you would genuinely accept an offer there. If you would decline it anyway, better to be transparent and just choose NYC.
best,
Alessa :)
Hi there,
There's no issue with only selecting these two locations if it's your honest answer.
If you only want New York, just select NYC as your first choice and be honest about your second choice. Picking Brooklyn as a backup when you really only want NYC is not a great strategy for a few reasons.
Why this can backfire
BCG recruiters are not naive. They see thousands of applications and know when people are trying to game location preferences. If it looks like you are picking Brooklyn just because it seems less competitive, that can raise a flag.
Also, what if Brooklyn actually takes you? You might end up with an offer for an office you don't genuinely want. Then you are in an awkward spot.
What I would do instead
If NYC is your only real preference, select NYC first and pick a second location you would genuinely consider. Maybe Boston, DC, or another office that actually interests you. If there is truly no other office you would want, some people just put NYC for both or leave the second choice blank if allowed.
The better approach is to be honest. If you only want NYC, own that. Focus your energy on making your application as strong as possible rather than trying to find a side door.
One more thing
Location preference matters less than your overall performance. A strong candidate who picks NYC will beat a weak candidate who picked a "less competitive" office. The screening is about whether you are good enough, not about which office you picked.
Focus on what you can control. Nail your resume, your case prep, and your story. That matters way more than location strategy.
Feel free to reach out if you have other questions about the process.
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