Incoming college freshman looking for advice

Hi everyone,

I’m Ayush and am from India. I’m an incoming freshman at the HEC Paris–Bocconi double degree program. I’m interested in startups, venture capital, and tech in general. One of my goals is to create a product so meaningful and valuable that it becomes habit-forming and part of everyone's daily life. So, I will definitely be working on that during college.

That said, I’m wondering if it’s worth trying my hand at management consulting too, at least during college, or I should rather gain experience interning at startups or at venture capital firms?
If yes, what can I start doing right now to really build a competitive edge? What should I read, practice, pursue, or work on to stand out?
Also, while researching, I saw that MBB firms offer business analyst internships for college students. I had a quick question regarding whether I would be eligible to apply to the Dubai and India offices even if I’m studying overseas. Will I even have realistic chances if I work smart and hard, or will they still prefer domestic talent? (asking because the French and Italian offices require knowledge of local languages)

Thanks a lot in advance! I would appreciate any advice from people who’ve been in similar shoes, experts and mentors who know the inside out of this field, and current or ex-professionals.

Have a great day ahead!

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