Help - McKinsey Solve; JA or BA?

Hi,

I will take your questions one by one.

1) The Solve is an integral part of the selection process and does not really have a validity of its own, so I would not think about it as a score that expires and has to be refreshed. What matters in practice is the cool off period, which runs somewhere between 12 and 18 months; if an interview does not go your way and you apply again later on, you will sit the Solve again at that point.

2) You are inside the Junior Associate parameters as the posting describes them, so I would apply there and not overthink it. If your profile is attractive but not in line with what they are looking for on that track, they will redirect the application themselves, and it happens often enough that I would not worry about it.

3) A referral is the most valuable thing you can work on before you reapply, and for the rest the recruiting approach does not change with the role, so you should expect a fairly standard process, in the UK as in any other country.

If you want a pair of external eyes on your specific situation and more tailor made suggestions, feel free to write to me.

Best,

Franco

Hi there,

To be honest it depends…

But, ultimately, no answer here will really provide what you're looking for (i.e. whether you'll get an interview or not). This is based off of overall profile, strength of resume, referral strength, office dynamics, etc.

One important clarification: if you literally mean the seventh percentile, I have to be honest and say that is probably eliminatory. If you mean the seventh decile, as written, that is closer to the 60th–70th percentile and is a very different result. Double-check the report before drawing conclusions.

Your Solve result is still valid, so you should expect McKinsey to use it. At this stage, this is out of your hands. Expect to have the interview and case prep accordingly, but also prepare mentally for no interview.

In terms of the role, you would be either BA or Junior Associate (the “in between” of BA + Associate). Given that the position explicitly asks for candidates with over two years of experience, Junior Associate sounds appropriate for you.

Ultimately, networking as well as interview performance will drive this outcome! If McKinsey believes BA is more appropriate, they can redirect you. You can also reach out to recruiting and have an open and frank conversation about where they see you fitting.

Remember, McKinsey has historically had an offer rate of around 1%. The odds were always low, even before considering your Solve result. This is exactly why we network extensively and apply to dozens of firms rather than betting everything on one application.

Finally, learn the lesson here. Next time, invest in a proper McKinsey Solve/Imbellus simulation online and practise before taking the real assessment. Message me when you are preparing to reapply next year and I’ll send you a discount code.

Sit tight. Hope for the best (case prep) and plan for the worst (apply to other firms).

We're literally just covering the surface now. I highly recommend my Applications Course, which dives into resume positioning, role selection, networking, referrals, and building a strong consulting application.

Hey there :)

514 shouldn’t be a dealbreaker. Solve is only one part of the application, and your MBB experience and Cambridge Master’s will also matter.

JA sounds reasonable with 2.5+ years of experience, even if that experience is from Asia. I’d keep the application as it is and, if needed, ask recruiting whether they would consider you for BA instead.

For the application, focus on making your MBB experience and impact very clear. I wouldn’t restart the application just because of the Solve score.

Best, Alessa :)

Hi there,

One thing I'd do that addresses all your questions is to try and get in touch with the London recruiter and discuss your situation. 

They'll be able to guide you through all your points. 

That aside, I can give you my opinion on each of them:

Q1 - Solve is important but they consider the other elements of your application as well (CV, CL, referral). These other elements can help strengthen your application. You should also ask whether you can retake Solve.

Q2 - This differs from market to market, so the recruiter will be able to tell you for sure. Follow their guidance. 

Q3 - The process for JAsc is similar as for the other generalist roles - typically two rounds of two interviews, each with a personal fit and case component. Validate this though with the recruiter since there can be variations from office to office. There is also lots of information here on the website about how to prep for the interview. If you need help, feel free to drop me a line. 

Best,
Cristian

First, confirm the score language. Seventh decile means roughly the 70th percentile. Solve is one part of the application, alongside the CV, role fit, office demand and any referral. You cannot reliably calculate your interview odds from the score alone.

Based on the wording you quoted, Junior Associate is a reasonable application because you have more than two years of experience. The fact that the experience was in Asia does not automatically make it irrelevant. Still, ask the London recruiter whether they would prefer JA or BA before the application is finalized. Do not assume the system will redirect you automatically.

For the application, make the impact of your MBB capabilities work clear: the problem, your ownership, the decision influenced and the result. Explain why London and why the target role. Then prepare as though you will interview while continuing other applications. Your remaining leverage is stronger positioning, relevant networking and interview readiness, not trying to reinterpret an assessment you cannot retake now.