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McKinsey SSBA Tips

Hi all, I'm a rising sophomore from a non-target T30 school in the U.S. I have prior work experience in software and limited consulting experience with my school's consulting club, but did not expect to make it to interviews.

 

Now that I have the R1 interview secured, how can I best prepare for and maximize this opportunity (outside of grinding cases)?

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Top answer
Sarah
Coach
edited on Jun 30, 2025
Ex-McKinsey EM in London, foreign student with no prior consulting internship experience

Congrats on the interview! Given that it sounds like the interview date has been scheduled and you don't have much time to work with, i would suggest the following (in order)

1. Understand the concept of issue tree and how to make it MECE - there should be plenty of resources online on this 

2. Familiarise yourself with common frameworks and its drivers (P&L, Victor Cheng's business situation framework)

3. Watch mock interviews to understand what good AND bad looks like 

I would then prioritise working on structuring > math > exhibits

Working with a coach will also greatly accelerate this process - feel free to reach out if you would like some support

Mariana
Coach
on Jun 30, 2025
xMckinsey | Consulting and Tech | 1.5h session | +200 sessions | Free 20-min introductory call

Hello there!

First of all, congratulations on advancing for the interview round!

I suggest you to understand the basics of every step of the case (case opening, structuring, math, exhibits reading, brainstorm), how to communicate properly during the case and how to craft your stories for the behavioral interview. You can find good YouTube videos about each part of it, and Crafting Cases has also a nice 7day free course (may be a bit overwhelming if you have never done a case before). If you need to prioritize due to the short time until interview, go for structuring and math.

Happy to support you with a detailed coaching session regarding how to tackle each part of the case and / or a behavioral session to make sure you convey your best self in the PEI assessment!

Good luck!

Mari

Mihir
Coach
on Jun 30, 2025
McKinsey Associate Partner and interviewer | Bulletproof MBB prep

Hi,

In addition to what has already been shared, I would suggest asking your recruiter if it’s possible to postpone your interviews (even if just for a couple of weeks) to give you extra time to prepare. Learning to do cases well at very short notice is challenging.

If it’s for a summer internship position this may not be possible but worth checking.

Best of luck.

Alberto
Coach
on Jul 02, 2025
Ex-McKinsey AP | Professional MBB Coach | +13yrs experience | +2,000 real interviews | +150 offers

Hi there,

Two big levers to crack your McKinsey — and they’re not what most people focus on:

1. Understand what the interviewer really wants to see.

This isn’t about sounding robotic or reciting a framework. It’s about showing how you think. Can you break down any problem logically? Can you flex your structure when needed? Can you stay calm and clear when challenged? That’s what wins offers.

2. Master the core toolkit, not the case types.

Forget memorizing market entry or profitability frameworks. Instead, get really good at:

  • Structuring (and stress-testing your structures)
  • Math analysis
  • Chart reading + insights
  • Brainstorming with logic
  • Clear, confident communication

If time is tight and this opportunity is a real priority, investing in a coach is a no-brainer. The ROI? Usually 10–20x your first-year salary if you land the role.

Best

Alberto

on Jul 01, 2025
#1 Rated McKinsey Coach | Top MBB Coach | Verifiable success rates

Congrats!

There are lots of resources on the website here, and you can also prep with a peer. 

If you want to get a baseline assessment of where you are and how you can close the gap, you could book an expert, which is what many candidates choose to do. 

Also, if you feel you are not ready for the interview, you can ask for a postponement. This is also rather common. 

Best,
Cristian

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