Chance me for Life Sciences Consulting

Hi there!

I think that's a pretty good start (assuming 4/7 of the applications moved on to initial chats/ interviews since only 3/7 was rejected). 

I wouldn't worry too much on "how well" the reformatting of your CV went, recruiters don't spend too much time on reading into every detail anyway. Also, without looking at the CV myself, it'll be hard for me to say if it is ready, but you can always leverage ChatGPT to provide some feedback, with the right prompts. 

Regarding whether the transition is possible for you or not, this depends more on what you're looking for in the next step, and whether life science consulting role will provide what you're looking for, not so much in whether firms will accept your CV or not. 

To increase your chances to get invited for interviews, I'd suggest to start networking with the firms you're interested in, starting with people you know, or otherwise drop messages to connections via LinkedIn or join the company's recruitment events. The goal is to ask for a referral into the company - referrals get much better chances get to the interview stage. And from the interview stage onwards, that'll depend on how well prepared you are for the case interview. 

Hope this helps!

I assume you're anonymizing to de-identify yourself. That said it's hard to call good chances as-is. 

Let's say MIT laboratory if I'm reading your lines correctly. 

It is very different from a MIT graduate - 3.3 GPA aside. If it's your post-doc employer after PhD, maybe helpful

Consulting has many segments, some may be the "outsourced researchers", others may be functional in nature e.g., strategy, or tech, or operations etc. 

Sounds like it's not a bad idea to have a confidential call to discuss - up to you. 

Your profile is decent but has some challenges.

The 3.3 GPA will be a hurdle for MBB and top tier firms. It's below their typical cutoff. That doesn't mean impossible, but it makes getting past the resume screen harder. For boutique life sciences firms, it matters less.

Your strengths are real though. Research at a top institution shows analytical thinking. The leadership role with 700+ students shows impact and communication skills. These are exactly what consulting firms want to see.

Here's what I'd suggest:

Target life sciences boutiques first. They value science expertise and are more flexible on GPA than MBB.

For Big 4 life sciences practices, you also have a shot. Deloitte, EY, PwC, and KPMG have healthcare and life sciences teams that hire from non-traditional backgrounds.

On your resume, make sure you're quantifying impact. Don't just say research experience. Say what you found, what it led to, how it mattered. Same with the leadership role. What changed because of you?

Network aggressively. With a 3.3 GPA, your resume might get filtered out automatically. A referral can get you past that. Reach out to people at your target firms on LinkedIn. Ask for coffee chats. This matters more for you than for someone with a 3.8.

Consider the GRE or GMAT. A strong score can offset a lower GPA and show you can handle quantitative work.

3 rejections out of 7 isn't bad this early. Keep applying. Cast a wider net. And focus your energy on firms where your science background is a real advantage.

You can make this switch. Just be strategic about where you aim.

Hi there,

A transition into life sciences consulting is definitely possible with your background, but it may take persistence and careful positioning. Your research experience at a well known institution is a strong signal for analytical thinking and problem solving, and your leadership role impacting a large student body is very relevant for consulting when framed around influence, decision making, and outcomes.

The main constraint in your profile is the 3.3 GPA, which can make screening tougher at some firms, especially for generalist roles. That said, life sciences focused consultancies and healthcare or pharma practices at larger firms tend to place more weight on domain expertise and experience than GPA alone. Rejections early in the cycle are common and don’t necessarily indicate that your transition isn’t viable, especially if you’re applying broadly and roles are competitive.

To improve your chances, continue emphasizing impact and business relevance in your research, target life sciences and healthcare specific roles rather than pure generalist consulting, and invest heavily in networking to complement online applications. Strong referrals often make a meaningful difference for candidates with non traditional paths.

Happy to help you think through positioning or next steps if useful.

Best,
Evelina

Overall, you have a good profile for a transition into consulting.

(FYI I've worked with multiple candidates applying in life sciences, several of them making a lateral move from working as doctors, or in pharma research, etc.). 

What you'll need to nail down well are two things

1. Your CV. You need a professional review on this to make sure that you make clear what are the skills that you've developed in your previous roles and how they will make you a great consultant. This is the element that most candidates get wrong in the process.

2. Your application strategy. Don't aim for a single firm only. Aim to join the life science consulting industry and then optimise for your ideal firm once you're inside. That means, have a broader application strategy. You might find the following guide attached:

• • Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Best,
Cristian 

It’s completely understandable to feel discouraged when you put in the effort to restructure your narrative and still hit early rejections. You are not just a strong candidate; your presidency role impacting 700+ students and curriculum policies is genuinely top-tier leadership experience that would normally place you on the shortlist.

Here is the tough reality of the generalist firms: Your 3.3 GPA, while respectable, means you are getting blind-filtered by automated systems or junior screeners. For high-volume intake, firms often set very rigid GPA thresholds (frequently 3.7+ or 3.8+) for candidates who are not coming directly from an MBA program or an advanced degree. Your incredible research and leadership experience simply aren't being seen because you didn't pass that initial, impersonal quantitative hurdle. The good news is that your profile confirms the switch is absolutely possible, you just need a better entry point.

Your strategy now must be to bypass the resume black hole. You need to leverage your current affiliation—that famous tech university environment is a massive asset. Pivot immediately to aggressive networking for informational interviews, focusing on specialized, Life Sciences-heavy firms like L.E.K., ClearView, or Trinity. These specialized firms are far more interested in the depth of your analytical research and leadership narrative than the generalist giants are, and their screening filters are often more flexible when a candidate is strongly advocated for internally. Your goal is to secure a referral that puts your resume directly in front of a consultant, not the HR portal.

All the best!

Hi there,

First glance it seems like you have a good start to get into life sciences consulting. Some other things that you may consider would be trying to demonstrate your interest in consulting, through case competitions or joining the consulting club, or even pro-bono volunteer work.

Without actually taking a look at your resume, it's harder to advise anything that is not generic. I suggest you work with a coach for the CV review.

Hey there

You have a solid base, strong research, leadership experience, and a well-tailored resume help. GPA is a bit below typical target for top firms, but strong interviews and demonstrating structured problem-solving can offset it. Keep applying, network where possible, and emphasize impact and business relevance of your research and leadership. Transition is definitely possible, just competitive.

Best, Alessa