Given my experience so far, am I competitive for Big 4 consulting internships or aiming too high?

Short answer: yes, you are competitive; you’re not aiming too high.

You already have a solid profile (UT Austin, ~3.65 GPA, early consulting exposure, leadership, relevant internships) and Big 4 consulting internships are realistic from where you stand. That said, you’re not a lock yet so you should apply broadly across Big 4 and boutiques.

The main areas of improvement in my opinion are:

• Consulting signal  still a bit light; student consulting orgs, case competitions, nonprofit projects would strengthen your story
• Brand name exposure is limited; not a dealbreaker, but it increases the importance of networking
• GPA is solid but not standout; you’ll need to differentiate through impact and narrative

From a practical standpoint I would recommend you to:

• Build a clear “why consulting” story
• Network consistently with UT Austin alumni in consulting
• Start case interview prep early as performance there is decisive

Best,
Franco

Hi,

Short answer: you’re absolutely competitive for Big 4 consulting internships — you’re not aiming too high.

From what you described, you already have most of the signals they look for at that stage:

• solid GPA (3.6+ is typically fine for screening)
• relevant exposure (you already did a consulting internship — that’s a big plus)
• leadership + extracurriculars
• another internship lined up (even if not pure consulting, still valuable)

That’s already a strong sophomore profile.

Where I think you should be careful is not “whether you’re competitive,” but how you play the recruiting strategy.

I wouldn’t choose between Big 4 or boutiques. I’d apply to both.

Reason is simple:

• Big 4 → structured pipelines, more roles, but more competitive
• boutiques → fewer applicants, often more flexible profiles

So it’s not either/or — it’s a portfolio approach.

A couple of things that will make the biggest difference for you:

First, how you position your experience.
Your freshman consulting internship is very valuable — make sure it’s impact-focused (what you actually did + results), not just tasks.

Second, your upcoming internship.
Even if it’s finance/startup, you can position it in a consulting way:
problem-solving, analysis, ownership, working with ambiguity.

Third, networking.
For Big 4 especially, talking to a few people before applying can help you stand out more than just submitting online.

Fourth, basic case prep.
You don’t need to be perfect for Big 4, but you do need to be comfortable with structure and communication. Starting early will give you an edge.

If I had to be direct:

• your profile is already in range for Big 4
• boutiques are a good parallel option, not a fallback
• execution (CV + networking + basic casing) will matter more than adding more activities

You’re on a good track — just make sure you convert what you already have into a strong story.

Best,

Soheil

Hi, yes, it’s realistic. You’re not aiming too high.

For your stage, your profile is solid. UT Austin is a strong school, your GPA is good, and having already done a consulting internship as a freshman is a big plus. Leadership roles and another internship lined up also help. You’re definitely in range for Big 4.

Two things to keep in mind.

First, don’t treat this as an either/or decision. Apply to Big 4, but also to boutiques. They’re not a downgrade at all and can actually be a very strong entry point.

Second, from now on it’s less about adding more to your CV and more about how you position what you already have. What will matter most is:

* how clearly you explain your story

* why consulting makes sense for you

* how well you perform in interviews

If you can add a small consulting-related experience this summer (like a non-profit project), great — but it’s not critical. You already have a solid base.

Overall: yes, Big 4 is a realistic target. Keep your options open and focus on preparation.

If you want, feel free to DM — happy to help with positioning or prep.