MBB recruit in Florida

Hey Xinhon :)

For Florida specifically, MBB doesn’t have true on-campus recruiting like they do at the top US target schools (Harvard, Wharton, MIT, etc.). In Florida, the only semi-target would be University of Miami and, to a smaller degree, University of Florida. Florida International (FIU) and Florida State aren’t considered targets. The Miami office tends to hire more from the strong national schools (Duke, UVA, Michigan, etc.) plus Latin America top schools since the office is very international. Career fairs at local Florida schools don’t really guarantee interviews.

The MBA is popular in the US because it’s the standard “career switch” degree and very recognized by consulting, finance, and corporate strategy. But going straight to an MBA right after undergrad, especially at a lower-ranked one like FIU, usually doesn’t help for MBB. They prefer candidates who do a few years of work first and then apply from a top MBA program (think Wharton, Booth, Columbia, etc.). A BA from a strong target school is much stronger than an MBA from a weaker school without experience.

Applicants are technically in the same global pool but screened by office preference. You can apply to multiple offices, but you’re expected to have a clear story why those locations. Transfers across offices can happen but usually only after you’ve joined and performed well.

There is a preference between schools: Michigan, UVA, UT Austin, Duke will always place better than Florida schools. That’s simply because MBB has structured recruiting relationships with them.

Career fairs usually focus on the business schools, but consulting firms will often let students from any faculty attend if they’re interested.

For H-1B: if you don’t win the lottery, the firms generally try one or two years, but if unsuccessful, they encourage transfer to an office where you have work authorization. They do not use Day 1 CPT as that’s not considered legitimate by MBB.

Finally, yes, they do sometimes hire candidates with LLM, MPP, or other non-business master’s degrees, but you need to show strong analytical ability and leadership. A business background helps, but it’s not mandatory.

If you want, I can give you a strategy for how to best position yourself coming from China into MBB Miami.

best, Alessa :)

Let me take your questions one by one. 

1.Any schools in Florida are target school and they will recruit on campuses? Which school most employees in Miami office come from? Can you share me their target school in Miami office where have Career Fair?

The most data driven way to get an answer to this is to look on LinkedIn at the MBB employees from the Miami office and see where they studied. That's where your answer will be. 

2.Why MBA is so popular in US compared to other master degrees? Some MBA can also admit undergraduates similar to normal programs. If I study for MBA immediately after graduation, like MBA in FIU, will I have better chance compared to other candidate studying BA from a better school?

Well, there are MBAs and MBAs. Some are tough to get in and prestigious, which is why they really elevate your profile. Others honestly just seem like a way for some institution to make money off students. Make sure that you actually want to do an MBA though before going down that road. I wrote an article about this that might help you in making the decision:

• Expert Guide: Are MBAs worth it?

3.Are all candidate from American in the same pool or they need to apply to different offices? Is it easy to transfer within different offices?

You need to specify what office you want to apply for. This office will be the one reviewing your application and deciding whether to invite you to the first round interviews. 

4.Are there any preference for candidate from different target schools like UT vs Michigan?

Not sure what you mean here. High-level, no. When assessing the profile of a candidate, there are lots of things that you take into account beyond what university they graduated from. 

5.Does Career Fair face to the college of business or all faculties?

Depends on the institution. Some career fairs are targeted at, let's say, business majors. Others are targeted at other fields. Reach out to your institution to clarify this and what they offer.

6.If I don't get selected in H-1B lottery, will they relocate me or permit me to use Day 1-CPT or just lay off?

I believe almost all large firms support the visa application process.

7.Will they welcome  students with a LLM or MPP, or do they at least require a background related to business?

You can get in without a business background, don't worry about this. Sharing below an article that gives you a sense of what they are looking for in a consulting candidate:

• Expert Guide: What Do Management Consultants Do?

Best,
Cristian

Hi Xinhong,

A few points to clarify on MBB recruiting in the U.S.:

1. Target schools in Florida – MBB has limited on-campus presence in Florida. For the Miami office, most hires come from strong national target schools (e.g., Ivy League, top 15 MBA programs) rather than local undergrad campuses. FIU/UF/FU might have occasional events, but they are not core feeders. Networking and referrals become more important if you are outside traditional targets.
2. MBA popularity – In the U.S., the MBA is the standard path into consulting because it combines business training, recruiting access, and alumni networks. Most top MBAs admit candidates with 3–5 years of work experience, not directly from undergrad. An immediate MBA from a local school like FIU won’t carry the same recruiting weight as work experience plus a top-tier MBA later.
3. Application pools – You apply to a specific office, but firms coordinate globally. Transfers are possible but depend on business need.
4. Target school differences – Yes, there is a preference: Michigan or UT would carry more weight than regional schools, given their established recruiting pipelines.
5. Career fairs – These are usually run by the business school, though some are open more broadly.
6. Visa questions – If you don’t get selected in the H-1B lottery, MBB typically cannot rely on Day 1-CPT; relocation to another office is sometimes possible, but not guaranteed.
7. Other graduate degrees – MBB does hire from LLM, MPP, and other master’s programs, but they are less common paths compared to top MBAs or STEM master’s. You’ll need to show strong business/quantitative skills and leadership experience.

If your long-term goal is MBB in the U.S., the most effective route would be:

• Gain strong work experience first.
• Target a top MBA program (ideally top 15 in the U.S.).
• Use that platform for recruiting.

Happy to help you prep – feel free to reach out.

Best, 

Evelina