BCG "Under Review", how long is too long, and what should I do next?

Question

I applied to BCG Associate EH back in February, and its been to 8-9 Weeks, my status changed from Processing to "Under Review" somewhere along this, what does it mean?

I applied to North East offices, but changed my office selection 2 days ago.

Answer 1

Hi,

8–9 weeks isn’t the norm, but it doesn’t signal a rejection either. If they had decided to pass, you would’ve heard by now. More likely, something internal (capacity, timing, office needs) or external slowed things down and your application is still being processed.

Best move now: send a short, gentle email to recruiting asking for an update.

Hope it helps
Best,
Franco

Answer 2

hey there :)

8–9 weeks is definitely on the longer side, but not unusual for BCG. “Under Review” usually just means your application passed an initial screening and is sitting with recruiters or consultants for evaluation, it’s a positive signal but not yet a guarantee for interviews. Timelines can stretch a lot depending on office demand, hiring waves, and how busy the team is, especially for multiple North East offices.

Changing your office preference 2 days ago likely reset some internal routing, so that can add a bit more delay. It won’t hurt your chances, but it may slow things slightly.

At this point, the best move is to send a short, polite follow-up to recruiting, expressing continued interest and confirming your preferred office. That often helps bring your application back to the top of the pile. In parallel, I’d keep applying to other firms and preparing as if interviews could come anytime.

If you want, I can help you draft a quick follow-up message or think through timelines more specifically.

best,
Alessa :)

Answer 3

It's completely normal to feel a bit antsy when an application sits in "Under Review" for weeks, especially with a firm like BCG. The reality is, that status often means your application is in a holding pattern. It could have been scanned by an AI, or had an initial pass by an HR generalist, and is now awaiting a more thorough review by a dedicated recruiter or a hiring manager, often in batches.

The 8-9 week timeframe, while long, isn't entirely unheard of, especially if they're processing a huge volume of applications or waiting for specific hiring windows to open up. However, changing your office preference just two days ago likely sent your application back to the 'bottom of the pile' for that new office. It essentially re-triggers the screening process for the new location, which might have its own separate headcount, timelines, and screening team.

My advice is to manage your expectations on this specific application. Don't read too much into the status updates, as they can be quite clunky and not always reflect real-time progress. While it's always possible it eventually moves forward, your best bet now is to continue applying to other firms and roles you're interested in. Treat this BCG application as a long shot and focus your energy elsewhere.

Hope this sheds some light. All the best!