I started case prep 6 weeks ago; 1 week of theory, then 3 peer cases per week since. I've done 16 mock cases total. I also had two coaching sessions with an ex-MBB coach: a diagnostic after week 2, and a second session focused on structuring drills. I'm from a PhD life sciences background with no business training.
My main gaps are:
- Communication: I ramble and struggle to be top-down
- Structure: not yet customised to the specific case
- Prompt misreading: recently mistook a product launch case for a market entry
- Math: occasional arithmetic errors and sometimes struggle to set up the right equations (though overall math is decent)
- Exhibits still stressed by complex charts or intensive math (e.g. filling a 4×3 table)
What's improving: idea generation in structures and brainstorming, and knowing what to calculate when shown exhibits.
I originally aimed to be ready by end of March and start applying in April; that's clearly not happening. I'm thinking of giving myself 2 more months (ready by end of May, networking and applying from June). I'm deliberately holding off on networking until I'm case-ready, since I don't want to be pushed into interviews before I feel confident.
Given my current gaps, when should I realistically expect to see improvement in each area over the next 2 months and at roughly how many cases will I actually start to feel solid? I suspect communication and structure will be the hardest to fix and math the easiest with drilling.
