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Hi!!! Passed to the second round of interviews with McKinsey. How much time should i take now to prepare? I felt like i was not fully prepare even if i passed. I have already schedule my 2nd interview but iam thinking about changing it. Is changing the meeting bad?

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Evelina
Coach
21 hrs ago
EY-Parthenon (7 years) l BCG offer holder l 7+ years coaching l 10% off first session l free 15' intro call l LBS

Hi there,

Congrats on making it to Round 2 with McKinsey!

If you felt underprepared in Round 1, it’s absolutely valid to reschedule your second-round interview if doing so would give you meaningful extra prep time (e.g., another 5–7 days). Just frame it professionally—e.g., a scheduling conflict or needing to accommodate another obligation.

How much prep time do you need? That depends on where you’re starting from, but ideally:

  • 5–7 mock cases with a partner or coach
  • Drill your PEI (fit) stories until they’re sharp, impactful, and structured
  • Review your weak areas from Round 1 (e.g., math, structuring, synthesis)
  • Build confidence in fast, clear communication—Round 2 often feels more conversational but still expects rigorous thinking

Happy to help you prep – feel free to reach out.
 

Best, Evelina

Anonymous A
19 hrs ago
Thank you, Evelina, how much time do you think that someone might need? 2hrs per day for 20 days or more?
Evelina
Coach
17 hrs ago
EY-Parthenon (7 years) l BCG offer holder l 7+ years coaching l 10% off first session l free 15' intro call l LBS
I would say that sounds reasonable as self-prep per day and then within that 5–7 mock cases with a coach ideally so you get targeted feedback - happy to help you
Julia
Coach
21 hrs ago
Ex-McKinsey Engagement Manager in US and Europe | 3 Years+ Interviewer | Columbia MBA | Strategy & Fit Coach

Hello!! First of all, huge congrats on making it to second round, that’s already a big win!! And yes, you can reschedule. It’s not bad at all and I actually recommend it. I was also on the insecure side when I was prepping, and having a couple of extra weeks made a big difference, especially at this stage when things start to feel more real!!

Now it’s all about connecting with the partner. You’ve already passed the hard checks and they know you’ve got what it takes. This round is more about showing that you’d be a great fit and can bring your full self into the room. So if taking a bit more time helps you do that, go for it!

In terms of prep, I’d focus on practicing your best PEI stories out loud with a coach or an interview partner. If you can, try not to repeat the same story you told in first round.

The case is just as important, but as long as you don’t have any critical misses, you’ll be fine. I’d recommend focusing your prep on your weaker areas asking yourself: Am I confident in structuring the problem clearly? Is my math solid and quick under pressure? Am I asking the right questions and being hypothesis-driven? Can I pull insights from charts and data quickly? Do I synthesize well at checkpoints and at the end?

Once you know where you tend to struggle, you can prep more intentionally. You’re almost there, just polish the edges and go in with confidence :)

19 hrs ago
#1 Rated McKinsey Coach | Top MBB Coach | Verifiable success rates

Congrats!

That's already an amazing achievement and a confirmation that you have what it takes. 

Basically, in the second round, you need to perform at least as well, and to show progress on the feedback you were provided with. 

Are you clear about the feedback from the first round? If not, follow-up with the recruiter. 

Depending on the scope of the feedback, you should then have an idea of how long it would take to work on it. If in doubt, feel free to reach out and I can give you my perspective.

And no, if you do need more time and you want to move your interview, it's totally fine, no worries. Just tell them as early as possible. 

All the best,

Cristian

Lukas
Coach
21 hrs ago
~10yrs experience in consulting | ex-BCG Project Leader | Personalized prep & coaching | INSEAD MBA

Hi, 

congratulations on passing the first round! Super great achievement!

Given that you felt like you were not fully prepared and depending on how much time you will be able to dedicate to prep between now and the 2nd round, I would aim for around 4 weeks. This should give you enough time to polish your case interview skills and focus on addressing the feedback you got from McK after round 1.

Changing interviews is not a problem. In fact I have also changed my interview date back when I was in the process in 2013.

Feel free to reach out in case you have further questions!

Best,
Lukas

Anonymous A
19 hrs ago
Thank you Lukas! And in terms for hours how many hours per day should i plan to spend for those 4 weeks?
Emily
Coach
21 hrs ago
Bain Associate Partner, BCG Project Leader | 9 years in MBB SEA & China, with 8 years as interviewer | Free intro call

Hi there, 

Well done passing to the 2nd round! 

It is usually okay to ask for a postponement for one time, the recruiting team can understand. Just ask nicely, and make sure you buffer enough time. It would be hard to go back again to change after 1 rescheduling. 

Good luck!

Emily

Mihir
Coach
19 hrs ago
McKinsey Associate Partner and interviewer | Bulletproof MBB prep

Congrats!

As other coaches have said, if you don’t feel ready it’s not uncommon to request a postponement.

Make sure to show that you’d addressed your R1 feedback.

Anonymous B
6 hrs ago

quick question, did you do the first two rounds virtually? 

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