Best preparation strategy & resources for MBB interviews Italy - looking for real experiences

Hi Susanna :)

From what I have seen with my mentees and from my own experience, the most effective approach is to keep it simple and practical rather than overloading on too many resources. I would use one solid book to understand the basics of structuring and case flow, then quickly move to live case practice PrepLounge. Real practice with different partners is what really makes the difference. Victor Cheng is fine for foundations, but do not rely on it as your only prep.

Step by step, I would first spend one to two weeks revising core concepts, typical case types and basic math drills. Then focus heavily on doing 20 to 30 live cases with increasing difficulty, always asking for very honest feedback. In parallel, prepare your fit stories extremely well, especially clear leadership, drive and conflict examples with strong reflection. Many candidates in Italy underestimate the personal fit part.

What helps you stand out is being structured from the first minute, communicating clearly and showing genuine motivation for consulting in Italy specifically. Try to think one level deeper in your insights and always link numbers to implications.

Best,
Alessa :)

Hi, super exciting that you are now starting your interview preparation.  I will try to answer as someone who landed an offer at BCG as an Associate back in 2019, and who has conducted many interviews for MBB candidates since then:
 

1. There is nothing wrong with 'standard materials' - it is more important how you use them.  I used Case in Point to understand basic frameworks applicable to different types of problems, and then jumped right into the cases at the back by asking friends/parents/sibling to play the role of the interviewer.  I did not bother to read the rest (some people prefer to read through materials fully and this is fine too.)  Note: Not everyone has access to the same people and resources - I used what was available to me at the time.
2. Yes, strategy is constantly evolving as tech / AI become increasingly important to MBB clients, and older prep materials may not capture this in their frameworks and cases; however, there is a lot that still holds true: The basics around profit and loss, market entry, cost optimization, growth etc. are still super relevant to clients today.
3. One aspect of preparation I will always stand by is never doing a full case on one's own - for me, it was much better to try and simulate a real case environment.  Based on what I had seen from YouTube videos and heard from others in MBB, I asked my 'interviewers' to be direct, objective and guide me just enough in the event that I got stuck.
4. I got stuck a lot :).  I had to keep feeling uncomfortable for the first 10 or so cases until suddenly I started improving, applied my frameworks less generically, conducted analyses with more confidence and actually enjoyed the process of solving problems.  Everyone has a different threshold - some people can crack the case after 5 cases, some require 30+.  The quality of each case experience is very important and can mean you reach your threshold quicker.
5. If you do not have someone to tell you how you are doing, self-assessment becomes key.  You need to be able to honestly rate yourself across problem definition, question asking, framework application and structuring, quant and qual. analysis, recommendations and next steps.  You can work on each part on your own and then test yourself when you do the full mock interview with someone else.

Feel free to reach out if you'd like an elaboration on any of the above!
Shri

Hi Susanna,

Great profile already — strong academics plus consulting exposure is a solid base for MBB Italy. I’ll share what I’ve seen actually work in practice.

On resources

You don’t need 10 books. The most effective combo tends to be

• A basic case book (Case in Point is fine just for structure foundations)
• PrepLounge for live cases
• GMAT-style math practice for speed
• Watching a few high-quality mock interviews to see strong synthesis

Most people who overconsume material end up confused. Depth beats variety.

What a good prep plan looks like

Phase 1 – Foundations (2–3 weeks)

• Relearn core structures: profitability, market entry, M&A, pricing
• Practice mental math daily
• Do 6–8 live cases focusing on structure only

Phase 2 – Refinement (3–4 weeks)

• 2–3 live cases per week
• Focus on synthesis and top-down communication
• Record yourself explaining frameworks

Phase 3 – Simulation (2–3 weeks)

• Do full mock interviews under time pressure
• Practice PEI seriously (especially for McKinsey)
• Get feedback from someone experienced

For Italy specifically

Italian offices value

• Clear structure
• Strong quantitative comfort
• Polished but calm communication
• Motivation for the specific office

They are rigorous but not looking for “flash.” Substance matters more.

What helps candidates stand out

• Clean synthesis after every section
• Strong business judgment not just math
• Confident but humble tone
• Clear “why consulting” story

With your background, your differentiator is combining technical rigor with strategic thinking. Frame that well.

If you want, we can structure a prep roadmap tailored to your timeline.

Happy to help you prep – feel free to reach out

Best
Evelina