Chances of landing an interview for MBB/T2 Firms

Hello there and thank you for providing lots of key insights into your background.

First of all, i think it is important to call out that Consulting is open to all, it is a rigorous process to get in, but if one can prove the skills, network properly and smash the interviews you're likely to land an opportunity!

From my experience (Middle East MBB) the scoring from university does play in but I don't think it is as major as we think it might be. It is a part of the application not the whole profile of you.

Considering you also have leadership roles, extremely strong and relevant corporate experience and strong communication skills - you seem like you could be a competitive candidate.

I do think:
-Referrals are always important! So get networking
-Cast a wide net of firms that you apply for (You can start with firms that you would be happy to join but are not the top priority and then once you have some interviews under your belt you apply to MBB)
-Make sure that your whole story makes sense (from CV - to cover letter - to fit interview stories)
-Ensure you are really ready for casing and show your strong capability.

Happy to speak further on more detailed aspects about your candidature but overall don't count yourself out !
 

Happy to share some honest thoughts based on my time at BCG.

A 70 WAM is definitely below the typical benchmark (most sources suggest MBB targets 80+ in Australia), but it's not an automatic dealbreaker, especially with your strong extracurriculars and Big 4 experience. Your profile has some real strengths that could offset the grades.

My recommendation: Apply to MBB this cycle (you've got nothing to lose and the prep will be valuable regardless), but definitely also pursue Big 4 strategy/Tier 2 roles as your primary targets. If you land at a strong firm and crush it for 18-24 months, you'll have a much stronger MBB case than you do now. Good luck!

This is a very common concern, and you are right to be realistic about the WAM cutoff—it is absolutely the biggest headwind for you in this process.

Here is the reality of how the screening process works, especially in the competitive Australian market: a 70 WAM places you in the bottom quartile of the MBB applicant pool, which usually means the automated applicant tracking system (ATS) filters you out before a human even sees your exceptional leadership and internship record. The firms rely on GPA/WAM for volume screening because they get thousands of applications from candidates who also have strong extracurriculars.

The good news is that your extensive leadership and diverse corporate experience (Big 4, PE, startup) are truly outstanding and exactly what MBB looks for. These qualities are your golden ticket, but you need to strategically ensure they are reviewed by a person, not an algorithm.

This is where referrals become crucial. Do not hesitate—reach out to your connections immediately. A strong partner or senior Associate referral bypasses the automated metric filter and pulls your resume out of the 'No' stack, placing it directly in front of a recruiting manager for a qualitative review. This is not a guarantee, but it is the single best way to offset a WAM below the typical threshold.

If you are committed to the long game, the most reliable path is to prioritize Tier 2/Big 4 strategy groups (like Strategy&, LEK, or Monitor Deloitte). Your profile is extremely competitive for those firms. Secure a top role there, perform exceptionally well for 18–24 months, and then lateral. You will apply as an experienced hire, your WAM becomes a non-factor, and your recent project experience becomes the primary metric for entry. This strategy offers a much higher probability of reaching MBB.

Hope it helps!

See response from Annika. Very comprehensive

Hi there,

on your questions:

• Is a ~70 WAM essentially a hard barrier for MBB in Australia at the graduate level? --> might be on the lower end but should not immediately cancel you out. Your other elements of your profile can compensate for that
• Are referrals meaningfully able to offset this? (I know a few people who are working at the firms right now - would it be worthwhile to reach out to them?) --> referrals are your friend especially and might make it easier to overcome the initial filtering. So definitely reach out to the contacts you have
• Would you recommend prioritising Tier 2 / Big 4 pathways with a view to lateral entry instead? --> apply to both MBB and Tier2 / Big 4. If not successfully landing invites for MBB now you can join Tier2 / Big4 and try to lateral later on

Best,
Lukas

You have a great profile. 

Honestly, you can never tell what is 'enough', only what is 'typically enough' to pass screening. 

Lots of candidates pass screening with McK, for instance, but fail with BCG - or the other way around. So reaching a certain 'level' with your CV doesn't automatically mean it will be the right one for every office at every point in time. 

Which is why, what I typically recommend candidates to do is to approach this process as if they are handling a portofolio. You want to maximise the quality of each individual application, but you also want to ensure you have multiple applications going out (most candidates overemphasize one and virtually ignore the other). 

You might find this guide useful:

• Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Re how to improve the quality of each app:

1. your CV should be excellently written (only 2-5% of the CVs I see are ready to be sent out)

2. a referral - that will increase your chances of passing screening

3. a well written cover letter, if they accept them

4. a pre-screening call with the recruiter to ensure that the role is a good fit and that they are actively recruiting. 

If you have any specific questions, feel free to reach out directly. 

Best,

Cristian