How to prepare for consulting in 6 months?

6 months is plenty if you're focused. Here's how I'd structure it.

Months 1-2: Build your foundation

Learn what consulting interviews actually test. Watch case videos online. Read a popular case interview prep book to learn the basics. Practice easy cases. Don't worry about speed. Focus on thinking out loud and staying organized. Also read business news for 15 minutes a day to build business intuition.

Months 3-4: Build skills

Do 2-3 cases per week. Mix solo and partner practice. Record yourself and review mistakes. Work on mental math daily. Percentages, fractions, basic calculations. This needs to be automatic by interview time.

Prepare 3-4 fit stories covering leadership, teamwork, conflict, and impact. Practice them out loud until they feel natural.

Months 5-6: Sharpen and simulate

Do harder cases in unfamiliar industries. Practice with people who push you. Simulate real conditions: back-to-back cases, time pressure, tough feedback.

For pre-screening tests, practice the specific format for each firm. Each test is different. Use online prep platforms and practice under timed conditions.

On your PhD:

Don't see it as a weakness. Firms like PhDs. You can solve complex problems and think analytically. Just explain your research simply and show you understand business too.

Resources:

Look for case prep books, online case platforms, mental math apps, business publications, and official practice tests on firm websites. There's plenty of free and paid material out there.

Stay consistent and you'll be ready.

Six months is enough if you prepare the right way. The main risk is practicing alone for too long and learning bad habits. 

Month 1 - Get the basics right

• Learn how consultants structure problems and answers
• Understand the recruiting steps: CV - tests - interviews
• Rewrite your CV for consulting early
• Start daily mental math (10-15 minutes)

Important to work with a coach once a week at the beginning - This helps you learn the right structure from day one

Months 2-3 - Practice a lot

• Do 3-4 cases per week with peers
• Focus on structure and clear thinking, not speed
• Learn common case types: profitability, market entry, growth, ops

Coaching - Reduce coaching here - One session every 2-3 weeks to recalibrate

Month 4 - Tests and math

• Practice mental math and charts daily
• Do timed online test practice
• Learn shortcuts, not formulas

Coaching - One focused session if math or tests are weak

Month 5 - Fit and stories

• Prepare 4-5 strong personal stories
• Answer in 60-90 seconds, top-down

Coaching - One or two sessions to sharpen delivery

Month 6 - Final prep

• Full mock interviews under pressure
• Case + fit back-to-back
• Fix synthesis, confidence, pacing

Coaching - Go back to weekly or bi-weekly sessions

What I saw many PhDs underestimate in this process and at the interview

• Being clear matters more than being smart
• Structure matters more than details
• Interviewers ask: “Would I put this person in front of a client?”

Hi there,

Six months is a very reasonable runway. I’d break it into phases. 

• First 1 to 2 months focus on foundations and fit. Learn what consulting actually looks like, tighten your story for why consulting, and get comfortable with basic case structures and brush up on your mental math and quantitative drills for the screening tests.
• Months 3 to 4 go heavier on casing. Aim for consistent live practice with peers, not just reading. Do 2 to 3 cases a week, review deeply, and start timing yourself. Keep building business intuition since that’s usually the biggest gap for PhDs. I suggest to do an initial session with a coach so you can get guidance on which areas you should focus on most.
• Final 1 to 2 months are about polish. Refine communication, synthesis, and exhibit reading, and do mock interviews under pressure. At this point you should feel structured and calm, not cramming. Do another session with a coach to test whether they would pass you.

For resources, I personally liked casecoach.com. For tests, simple mental math drills and GMAT style quant are usually sufficient.

Happy to jump on a call if you need help in preparation.

Hi Shambhavi,

First off—congratulations on thinking ahead. A six-month runway is perfect for a PhD making this pivot. It's enough time to build the skills without burning out. Your analytical rigor from BME is a huge asset; the game now is learning to apply it to business problems.

Here’s how I’d structure those six months:

• Months 1-2: Light start:

  • Read one foundational book, like Case Interview Secrets. Don't just read—practice the basic frameworks out loud.

  • Start business immersion. Skim headlines in The Economist or the Financial Times. Focus on healthcare/biotech—you'll already get it and can see how business writers frame issues.

  • Shake off math rust. Do 10 minutes of mental math daily (speed and accuracy under pressure is key).

  • Draft your "story." Why consulting? Why now? Start connecting your PhD skills (solving complex, ambiguous problems) to what firms need.

• Months 3-4: Build the Muscle Memory:.

  • Practice cases with a partner, 2-3 times a week. This is non-negotiable. Use free MBA casebooks or a platform like CaseCoach. The goal is to get comfortable thinking out loud.

  • Polish your behavioral stories. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to craft 5-7 crisp stories about leadership, teamwork, and impact.

• Months 5-6: Simulate the Real Thing. Shift from practice to performance.

  • Ramp up mock interviews. Do 4-5 per week, with different people if you can. Seek harsh feedback.

  • Do full, timed test simulations. Practice under real pressure.

  • Finalize applications. Get your resume reviewed by someone in consulting. Every line should show impact, not just duty.

One thing to remember - You are not a typical candidate. Your PhD isn't a gap to explain—it's your advantage. In your resume and stories:

• Translate your research into business terms. Instead of "Characterized protein kinetics," try "Developed and validated a novel model to solve a key bottleneck in therapeutic development, leading to a publication in X." See the difference? It's about problem solved and impact achieved.

• Your core PhD skills are consulting skills: breaking down ambiguous problems, designing rigorous analyses, managing long-term projects, and persuading experts (your committee!). You just need to say it in their language.

Good luck! You've got this. The structured thinking you've honed in your PhD is exactly what they're looking for—you just need to learn how to show it.

Kateryna
 

Hi!

Good that you’re thinking about this early! That gives you a lot of optionality.

A few high-level thoughts first: coming from a PhD background, your biggest risk is not capability, it’s being under-prepared for the consulting interview format. The good news is that this is very trainable.

Here's an approach you can use as reference:

1) Understand the consulting interview end-to-end (1st month) - plenty of YouTube videos, podcasts, and reading materials out there - feel free to reach out if you feel overwhelmed, and want something more curated:

• Learn how consulting interviews are structured (fit + case)
• Speak to or network with consultants (especially those with PhD backgrounds) to sanity-check expectations and timelines
• At this stage, you’re building context, not drilling yet

2) Case interview prep (this should take the bulk of your time) 

• Start with fundamentals: case flow, structuring, hypothesis-driven thinking, synthesis
• Then move into targeted practice: market sizing, charts/exhibits, brainstorming
• Do not wait until interviews are scheduled — consistency over months matters more than cramming

Resources-wise, there are plenty of good ones out there (PrepLounge, Case Coach, Crafting Cases, Victor Cheng, etc.). The exact resource matters less than deliberate practice. One high-ROI option is to get feedback early (via peers or a coach) to avoid building bad habits. If you want something more structured and adapted to your needs, again, feel free to reach out

3) Fit / personal experience stories (don’t leave this late!)

• Prepare a small set of strong stories: leadership, conflict, failure, impact, teamwork
• Translate your PhD experience into business-relevant language (decision making, trade-offs, ambiguity, influencing)
• This is often underestimated by candidates

4) Pre-screening tests (especially for MBBs and some T2 firms)

• Get familiar with the types of tests by each firm you're keen to apply to
• Read up and prep for them early so you don't have to rush when the invite for the test comes
• Use firm-specific practice material where possible once you know which firms you’re targeting

5) CV + networking (ongoing)

• Work on a consulting-style CV early
• Network with consultants and recruiters, and aim for referrals where possible
• This also helps validate whether consulting is really what you want post-PhD

In summary, 6 months is a very reasonable timeline if you’re consistent. Don’t over-index on “collecting resources” — focus on building the core skills and getting feedback early.

All the best, and feel free to reach out if you need help structuring your prep in more detail!

Hi Shambhavi,

Six months is a very solid timeline, especially with a PhD background. The key is to sequence your prep so you’re not doing everything at once.

Months 1–2 (foundation)

• Get clear on the consulting interview format and what firms test
• Light case exposure: understand structure, common case types, and what “good” looks like (don’t aim for speed yet)
• Start drafting your fit/PEI stories and your “why consulting / why now” narrative as a PhD
• Begin light mental math and chart-reading drills

Months 3–4 (case depth + tests)

• Regular case practice (2–3 per week), focusing on structure, hypothesis-driven thinking, and synthesis
• Start timed practice for online tests: numerical reasoning, data interpretation, and logic
• Use SHL-style platforms, GMAT/GRE Integrated Reasoning, and timed drills rather than pure IQ puzzles
• Refine PEI stories with clear actions, decisions, and impact

Months 5–6 (polish + realism)

• Shift to fewer, higher-quality cases under interview conditions
• Focus on weak spots (math speed, exhibits, or confidence under pressure)
• Practice synthesis and final recommendations
• Do mock interviews and finalize applications and networking

Resources

• Case prep: McKinsey official cases, Bain/BCG-style interviewer-led cases, PrepLounge (selectively)
• Online tests: SHL-style platforms, GMAT Integrated Reasoning, timed numerical reasoning drills
• Fit: STAR method with consulting-specific framing

With your background, the biggest unlock is translating analytical depth into business judgment and clear communication. Don’t underestimate fit and storytelling—advanced degree candidates are often screened there.

If useful, I’m happy to help you map this into a week-by-week plan or focus on PhD-specific positioning.

Best,
Evelina

Great that you're reaching out early!

This guide will give you a sense of how to think through the application process:

• • Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

And this one will explain how to get referrals

• • Expert Guide: How To Get Referrals Via LinkedIn?

Basically, what I would prioritise over the coming weeks is to identify your target firms and roles, confirm the deadlines and what documents you need. Then get going on preparing those documents and getting them professionally reviewed so they are in top shape. 

Once that's set up, you should start case practice. Build it slowly but consistently. 

You might also want to work with a coach. Getting them at the beginning of the process ensures you work only on what matters and you have a guide throughout the process. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out directly. 

Best,
Cristian

This is a fantastic goal, and the best news is that you have a significant strategic advantage: your application window (Fall 2026) is nearly three years away, not six months. If you structure your preparation correctly now, you can execute a smooth, low-stress pivot that minimizes the risk common in last-minute transitions.

The biggest hurdle for Advanced Degree candidates is rarely the intellectual complexity of the case; it is demonstrating demonstrable business acumen and translating your deep expertise into commercial relevance. The firms already know you are smart. Your preparation needs to be phased, focusing first on the narrative and the network.

For the next 12–18 months, completely ignore case interviews and quantitative tests. Your time is best spent on two critical areas:

1. Closing the Acumen Gap: Stop reading science journals and start reading the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, and publications specific to the Life Sciences/MedTech space (e.g., Fierce Biotech, STAT News). You need to master the industry's jargon and major trends (M&A, pipeline strategy, regulatory challenges). Crucially, join or lead a business/consulting club at your university, or find a significant non-academic volunteer position that involves budget management, operational strategy, or client interaction. You need tangible, non-lab examples of leadership and influence for your future resume.

2. Building the Network: Immediately start reaching out to Advanced Degree consultants (especially former PhDs) at the firms you target (Bain, McKinsey, BCG, etc.). Your goal right now is not casing; it is to understand their transition story and secure advice. These warm contacts are essential. When you officially apply in 2026, you want recruiters to see several internal endorsements on file, signaling that you are not a cold applicant.

Once you have executed these two steps, you can dedicate the final 6–9 months (early 2026 onward) exclusively to the technical skills—case practice, mental math drills, and the specific online assessment prep. Doing the work now means you will enter the recruiting cycle as a known quantity with a highly tailored narrative, which is the definition of an insider advantage.

All the best with the pivot!

hey Shambhavi:)

With six months, a simple structure works well: start with aptitude prep (numerical, verbal, and problem solving) for a few weeks using prep books or platforms like PrepLounge or Case in Point, then layer in case prep with 2–3 sessions per week—mix live practice, solo structuring drills, and math drills. Simultaneously, prep your PEI / fit stories so you have clear examples of leadership, impact, and teamwork. In the last month or so, do timed mock cases and full run-throughs to build speed and confidence. Focus on quality over quantity, and aim to understand frameworks conceptually rather than memorize.

best,
Alessa :)