Math background

Hi,

Not at all.

A mathematics degree from a target school is already a strong background for consulting. I would actually be more surprised if someone with that profile thought they needed another bachelor's degree.

Consulting firms hire people from all kinds of academic backgrounds, and mathematics is a well-respected one because it demonstrates analytical thinking, problem solving, and the ability to deal with complex problems.

What will matter much more is your overall profile: academics, leadership experiences, extracurricular activities, internships, and interview performance.

To be honest, many math students have an advantage in the analytical parts of consulting recruiting. The bigger challenge is usually learning how to communicate ideas clearly and translate technical thinking into business language.

So my advice would be to stop worrying about getting another degree and focus instead on building a strong consulting application and preparing for interviews.

Your degree is not a weakness. It is something you can absolutely use as a strength.

Best,

Soheil

Absolutely not.

A Mathematics degree from a target school is already an excellent background for consulting. Firms recruit from a wide range of disciplines, and mathematics demonstrates analytical thinking, problem solving and comfort with numbers.

If anything, I would spend less time worrying about your degree and more time focusing on your application story and interview preparation.

In my experience, candidates with strong quantitative backgrounds often find the technical aspects of case interviews easier. The bigger differentiator is usually whether they can communicate their thinking clearly and confidently.

Consulting firms are not looking for business students. They are looking for people who can solve problems, work with others, and communicate effectively.

Keep it simple. Focus on telling a compelling story and make it easy for the interviewer to follow your thinking.

If you have a math degree from a target school and strong grades, your chances of landing interviews are very high.

A mathematics degree is absolutely within the core recruiting pool for MBB firms. In fact, consulting firms value analytical thinking, problem solving, and the ability to work with complex data.

Once you get to the interview stage, your degree matters much less and your performance becomes the key factor. 

Don't put yourself down. Consulting is, at its core, a highly quantitative profession, and a strong mathematics background can be a significant advantage.

Best,
Franco

Hi there,

Actually, that's absolutely fine, and having a math degree already gives you an edge relative to candidates coming from social sciences or other less numerically focused degrees. 

Have a look at the guide I've put together that explains how to build an application strategy:

• • Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out. 

Best,
Cristian

Hey, no need for a second degree. A math degree from a target school is genuinely competitive for consulting, often stronger than a business degree.

Why it works. Consulting firms value structured thinking, quantitative rigour, and problem-solving. Math signals all three. MBB and Tier 2 actively hire math grads, especially for analytics-heavy practices, finance, and data-driven roles.

What you might need to build.

Commercial vocabulary. P&L, market share, revenue drivers, basic accounting. Pick this up through reading (Economist, FT) or a free CFI intro course.

Business intuition. Read McKinsey, BCG, Bain reports. Build pattern recognition for how consultants think about business problems.

Case prep. Math degree handles the quant comfortably, but you'll need to practise structuring and synthesis.

Don't underestimate your degree. Math grads at MBB do exceptionally well.

Good luck

Hi,

I also do have a Maths Bachelor and Quantitative Finance MSc Background :) 

Consultancies are looking for diverse profiles, so having a non-business background is even benefical. 

Important is to have a good prep to A) have a good understanding of Business Basics and B) make sure your communication skills / personal storyline are strong. 

best of success,

Vincent

Hi there,

The short answer is that you do not need a second degree. A math background from a target school is a genuine asset in consulting, not a gap to fix.

The one thing I would actually watch is the flip side of a pure quant profile. Interviewers occasionally probe whether a very technical candidate can zoom out from the numbers to the "so what" for the client. Two things help here: get comfortable with basic commercial vocabulary (how firms make money, what moves revenue and cost), and in cases practise leading with the answer before the analysis, not the other way round. Do that and your math background works entirely in your favour.

Best,

Federico

hey!

Consulting firms don’t expect business or engineering backgrounds. What they care about is whether you can think clearly, structure problems, and handle numbers. A math degree signals exactly that. You definitely do not need a second bachelor’s. What you need is a clean story about why you want consulting and a couple of experiences that show teamwork or problem‑solving. That’s enough to be competitive at most firms.

Alessa