If an MBB rejects you after first round interview for an mba internship. is it possible to reapply to the same firm in 6 months. I finish my MBA in top european university in 8 months and I want to apply for full time? Thanks

Hi,
Yes, you can definitely re-apply. The "wait period" depends on the company.
At McKinsey, it is typically 1 year. However, there are exceptions for on-campus recruiting. For example, if you have been rejected for an MBA internship after your first year MBA, you can 100% re-apply for a full-time in the fall of your second year (to join after graduation). I know many people from my batch who didn't get the internship but got full-time offers.
In your cover letter (or when asked), you can mention what you did over the summer and how it improved your candidacy. Feel free also to reach out to your on-campus recruiter, they'll be happy to orient you on the process.
Good luck in your recruiting!
Kateryna

Short answer: yes, absolutely – and this is very common.

A first-round rejection for an MBA internship does not block you from applying full-time a few months later.

A few clarifications that matter:

• Internship and full-time are treated as separate recruiting tracks, especially for MBAs
• At MBB, the standard “cool-off” period (often ~12 months) does not apply when you move from MBA internship recruiting to on-campus full-time recruiting
• Many candidates who miss the internship convert successfully to full-time offers the following cycle – this is normal, not a red flag

What does matter is the narrative:

• You should be able to clearly articulate what changed since the internship interview
• Summer experience, leadership roles, or sharper casing maturity are usually sufficient
• Recruiters and interviewers expect improvement, not perfection the first time

Practical advice:

• Reapply through on-campus recruiting if available – this is the cleanest path
• If asked, be transparent and factual about the prior attempt; do not overexplain
• Focus prep on fixing first-round issues (usually structure, synthesis, or communication – not raw intelligence)

Bottom line: a first-round internship rejection does not hurt your full-time chances if you show clear progression. Many offers are made exactly in this situation.

Yes, you can reapply. This happens more often than you think.

Most MBB firms allow reapplication after 12-18 months. But the thing is internship and full-time recruiting are often treated separately, especially at top European schools where firms hire for both.

The key question they'll ask when they see your name again is: what changed? If you were rejected after first round, something in your case or fit wasn't strong enough. You need to show growth in that area. Reapplying with the same skills will likely get the same result.

What you should do:

Reach out to your recruiter or a contact at the firm. Ask directly about their reapplication policy for your situation. Rules vary by office and they'll tell you.

Try to get feedback on why you were rejected. Some offices share this, some don't. But it's worth asking.

Use the next 6-8 months to actually improve. More case practice, sharper fit stories, whatever the gap was.

Moving from intern to full-time applicant shows commitment. You're not a random reapplicant. You're someone finishing at a target school who wants to join for real. That context matters.

Don't wait to hear back before you start preparing. Assume you'll get another shot and use the time well. If you show clear improvement, your chances are solid.

That is absolutely the right question to ask, and the short answer is yes—this is a very common and successful path.

A first-round rejection for an MBA internship does not trigger the standard 12-month cool-off period when you immediately move into the full-time campus recruiting cycle later that year. Internship slots are aggressively competitive and numerically constrained, far more so than full-time offers. A rejection after one round often means you were filtered out due to headcount scarcity rather than a deep assessment of your potential.

Crucially, the firm treats the internship track and the full-time track as separate gates. Your full-time application will be evaluated mostly on its own merits, but you must be prepared to articulate a clear narrative of progression.

The six months you have now are critical. Since you were rejected at the first round, the firm needs to see evidence that you have specifically fixed your core casing mechanics: structure, synthesis, and communication. They aren't looking for a new job title; they are looking for higher maturity in how you approach problems. Get deeply involved with your school's consulting club, case constantly, and treat this next application as an opportunity to prove the learning curve.

Focus on leveraging the on-campus recruiting channel. Be transparent but brief if the recruiter asks about your prior attempt; simply state that you applied for the internship, and you have since focused on strengthening your casing skills, which is why you are reapplying for the full-time role. Many offers are extended in exactly this situation.

All the best!

Theoretically, no. Because the 'freeze' period is 1 year. 

Practically, yes, because they sometimes make exceptions. 

Reach out to the recruiter if you want to apply earlier and make your case. Explain why you think you're significantly better positioned to be successful now. 

Then make sure that you apply broadly. Even if they do make an exception, it doesn't mean that this one opportunity will work out.

Best,
Cristian

hey there :)

Yes, it’s possible to reapply, but most MBB offices recommend waiting about a year before reapplying for full-time after a first-round internship rejection. Use the time to strengthen your profile and get fresh experiences, then you can target full-time roles confidently.

best,
Alessa :)

Yes, usually that's considered a new interview cycle and you are good to go.

However, they will give priority to candidates they did not interview before, or that had good performances in their previous attempt.