I completed my BCG first round interview on Nov 11th but still haven't heard back since then. Is it common for BCG to hold that long to proceed to the next round?

Hi,

Normally ~2 weeks is still within range of what the typical response time is. I would wait again another week or so before following up again.

You can check out this article for more thinking on this exact situation:

Haven't Heard Back After Your Interview? Here's What To Do!

All the best!

The silence post-Round 1 is always brutal, and you are right to be anxious when the timeline stretches this far out. Here is the reality of what is likely happening behind the scenes, based on where we are in the typical recruiting cycle.

If you don't hear back from an MBB firm within 72 hours of your interview—especially for a core R1—it means you passed the performance bar but were not deemed a top-tier candidate for an immediate Round 2 invitation. You are currently pooled or placed on a strategic waitlist. BCG prioritizes candidates who performed exceptionally well, getting them through the pipeline quickly to lock them in. The delayed feedback means they are waiting to see how many of those top candidates accept or decline their next-round invitations or final offers before they decide if they need to widen the net.

The reason your recruiter is silent is that they genuinely have no update for you. They cannot respond with "you're waitlisted," so they wait until the firm gives them the definitive green light to either formally reject you or invite you back. Repeated follow-ups will not move you from the pool; it just signals anxiety. Give them space.

Your focus now must shift. Do not put all your energy into waiting for BCG. Accelerate your efforts aggressively with other consulting firms (Tier 2, corporate strategy roles, etc.). If BCG circles back in 2-4 weeks, treat it as a bonus, but you need to operate as though you need to secure an offer elsewhere in the meantime.

All the best.

Yes, it's not that unusual. 

They will answer, even if takes a while. 

If you don't hear back in a week, send them a polite email, but I'm sure they'll get back to you as soon as they can. 

Hope you hear back soon!
Cristian

Hi there,

It’s totally normal for it to take a few weeks to hear back, especially around busy periods. I’d give it a little more time before following up again. If it’s been over 2-3 weeks since your first follow-up, a polite check-in is fine.

Hi,

don't worry. They will get back to you!

Hang in there! :) 

Best,

Lukas

Usually they'll take 1 to 2 weeks. But it's not that uncommon to take 3-4 weeks.