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

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

Ciao Susanna,

Your profile is stronger than most people who apply to MBB Italy. Engineering-to-management, top grades, Big Four consulting experience. The hard part isn't getting noticed, it's converting that into an offer.

Get the foundation right before anything else

Before you dive into volume, get a coach or experienced mentor to set the foundation with you. A few sessions early on will save you weeks of practicing bad habits. Unlearning is harder than learning. This applies to both cases and PEI, don't treat them separately.

PEI deserves as much preparation as the case

Most people treat fit prep as an afterthought. It isn't. McKinsey's PEI is a structured deep-dive where a single story gets drilled for 10+ minutes. You need 3-4 experiences that are genuinely rich, with real complexity, real stakes, and a clear personal role. If the story is thin, they'll find out fast. Start building these in parallel with cases from day one.

On cases: learn to think, not to recognize patterns

The goal of doing many cases isn't pattern recognition, it's building the muscle of structuring under pressure. The candidates who fail aren't the ones who got the math wrong. They're the ones who froze, went circular, or couldn't hold a clear thread. Do a lot of cases, but with real intention behind each one.

Communication beats correct answers

Interviewers aren't grading your spreadsheet. They're asking: can I put this person in front of a client? Lead with your conclusion, structure your reasoning out loud, flag your assumptions early. A clear, confident wrong answer lands better than a correct one buried in hesitation.

Build a practice system, not just a practice habit

• Mix expert coaching with peer mocks. Peers are great for volume and live pressure, but they make the same mistakes you do. Without expert feedback, small errors compound and nobody catches them.
• Set recurring check-ins with a coach throughout prep, not just at the start. It's easy to drift and convince yourself you're better than you are.
• Do math drills everywhere, commuting, in the shower, before bed. Fumbling a simple calculation mid-case kills your flow even if you recover.

Use your background as a differentiator

Aerospace engineering stands out, especially for infrastructure and energy work, where all three firms are active in Italy. But translate it. Not "I worked on TPRM." Instead: "I helped clients reduce exposure across complex vendor ecosystems and made risk recommendations with incomplete data."

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 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

Here is what I actually see with candidates in your position. The conflicting advice online makes sense once you realise most of it is generic and not written for someone like you. Victor Cheng, Case in Point, they are not bad. But following them like a textbook can actually hide what makes you stand out.

You have an aerospace engineering degree, a management MSc from a top Italian school, and a year at a Big Four. Strong profile for MBB Italy. But here is what candidates with Big Four experience get wrong. They assume it automatically makes them better prepared. It does not. If your case style has become too structured and templated from Big Four training, MBB interviewers will spot that immediately.

What actually works in prep

• Forget doing 100 cases. Do 30 to 40 max, but properly. After every case, spend twice as long reviewing what you did wrong as you spent doing the case.
• Find 2 to 3 serious practice partners. Not polite ones. People who will tell you when your structure is lazy or your math is slow.
• For Italy specifically, fit interviews carry real weight. Why consulting? Why this firm? Why Italy and not London? You need clear, honest answers, not rehearsed scripts.

On resources

• Crafting Cases or CaseCoach for frameworks and drills. More current than the older books.
• Mental math: 15 minutes a day for 4 to 6 weeks. That alone puts you ahead of half the candidate pool.
• Build 5 to 6 strong experiences you can flex across different behavioural questions. Your cybersecurity and innovation strategy work gives you real material. Use it.

What will make you stand out

Your engineering background. MBB loves analytical thinkers who can also communicate clearly. The trap is leaning too hard into structure and losing the human side. Show you can break down a problem like an engineer but explain it like a storyteller.

One tip nobody tells you. Reach out to consultants in the Italian offices you are targeting. Not to ask for a referral, but to understand what that specific office values. A 20 minute coffee chat with someone on the inside tells you more than 50 hours of online research.

Hope this helps Susanna, and good luck with the process.

Susanna, with your impressive academic background from a leading Italian university and Big Four experience, you're in a very strong position. It's wise to consider the nuances for MBB in Italy as you start your preparation.

You're right about conflicting advice on resources. Case in Point and Victor Cheng can provide a decent initial introduction to basic frameworks, but they often teach a formulaic approach that won't get you an offer today. Firms are looking for genuine critical thinking, not just memorized structures. The best resources are the firms' own publications (McKinsey Quarterly, BCG Henderson Institute, Bain Insights) to understand their current thinking and language, and crucially, real-time practice with experienced consultants.

My own preparation involved three key phases. First, I focused on building a strong foundation of core business concepts – understanding drivers of profit, market dynamics, and common strategic challenges beyond just frameworks. Second, I engaged in intensive, deliberate practice, solving 50-70 cases. I started with peers but quickly transitioned to practicing with actual consultants or ex-consultants. This feedback is invaluable; don't just solve, deconstruct your performance afterward: why did you miss something, and how could you have been more structured, insightful, or client-friendly?

Finally, I focused on refining my communication (clarity, conciseness, executive presence), perfecting my fit stories (showcasing problem-solving and impact from my Big Four role), and demonstrating genuine curiosity about the Italian market. What truly stands out is not just getting the "right answer," but how you think through a problem, your ability to integrate information, and your personal fit with the office culture.

Focus on developing a structured, inquisitive mindset rather than memorizing solutions. Good luck!

Hi there,

-which resources you found most useful (books, online platforms, videos etc)

I highly recomend casecoach.com. I found the explanations in-depth and easy to understand. Good even for complete beginners.

-what your actual preparation method looked like step-by-step

I did a mix of solo and live cases. For solo cases, i practiced being my own devil's advocate to poke at my own initial framework. I also played around with my original framework to see how i could incorporate buckets that were missing but were in the solutions.

For live cases, I did a mix of peers and coaches, spacing them apart to enable improvements. I also tracked the feedback that I got to make sure I focused on key areas for improvement.

-what helped you stand out and anything you had known before starting your

I tried to be curious and focused on coming up with my best version of the potential solutions/approaches for each case, rather than focus on what was the solution they expected from me. This made me feel more comfortable and made sure every step was logical.

Hi Susanna, 

Thanks for sharing your situation. 

I'm actually now working with a couple of other Italian candidates.

What you're saying about the confusing number of materials out there (of varying quality) is something most candidates can resonate with. I hope you get some recommendations here that you will find helpful. 

Most candidates who choose to work with a coach do it exactly for these reasons. They want to know what the few things are that actually 'matter' and can make a difference in their chances of getting an offer. If you have any questions about how this works in practice, feel free to drop me a line.

Best,
Cristian