Medicine to consulting?

Hi there,

I had colleagues in both Bain and BCG who were medical doctors before consulting. So it is totally possible to make the switch. 

The key is to show case your analytical skills and problem solving skills during the interviews. In addition, it would also be helpful to gain some fundamental business and financial knowledge and showcase your business acumen. 

As long as you (1) have strong analytical and problem solving skills, (2) show great business judgement, and (3) appear friendly and coachable, you would stand a high chance of passing the bar, regardless of background. 

For more details about how to plan, feel free to DM for a discussion.

Best,
Emily

You’ve got a very strong profile for MBB UAE:

• Medical background + startup traction = differentiated expertise in healthcare and entrepreneurial problem-solving.
• Arabic fluency + having grown up in the UAE = immediate cultural fit and client-facing readiness.
• Sports achievement = standout personal leadership story that MBB loves.

Chances: Strong — provided you can clearly connect why you’re moving from medicine to consulting, and how your skills translate into delivering value for clients in the Middle East.

Tips:

1. Craft your narrative – Be crystal clear on your “why MBB, why now, why UAE.” Make it tight, memorable, and consistent across CV, cover letter, and interviews.
2. Map transferable skills – Clinical problem-solving, teamwork under pressure, research rigor, and your startup leadership are all gold for consulting. Frame them in business terms.
3. Network smartly – Target MBB consultants with healthcare focus or UAE office experience; Arabic is a huge plus, so leverage it.
4. Prep cases + fit – Aim for both generalist and healthcare-specific cases. Fit matters just as much — your sports and startup stories are perfect here.

With the right prep and a strong referral, you’re not just “possible” — you’re competitive.

Transitioning from medicine to consulting is actually quite common, having personally known more than 5 such people. Your training has equiped you with analytical thinking, a systematic approach to problem‑solving and resilience under pressure which are qualities valued by consulting firms. Here are some steps that can strengthen your application:

• Highlight transferable skills. Emphasise examples where you diagnosed complex matter, led teams, managed a project or dipped into building business cases. Consulting firms are primarily looking for structured thinking and communication.
• Build business literacy. Demonstrate interest in commercial topics - potentially linking it to your startup that is gaining traction to show that you understand the consulting toolkit and why you want to move from medicine.
• Network strategically. Connect with consultants in the UAE offices through alumni channels or friend networks to built a relation and ultimately secure referrals..
• Prepare for the case and fit interviews. Go through the usual preparation process of case interviews and FIT/PEI answers. In your case - demonstrating motivation to join consulting vs pursuing medicine further will be the most important piece of preparation.

Your profile fits well for entry into consulting, provided your FIT and Case prep is on-point. Make sure tot ailor your story to show why consulting excites you and how your medical insights will allow you to serve healthcare and public‑sector clients in the Middle East.

Hello D! I’d like to highlight something that’s come up in the other comments but I think is key: don’t just frame yourself as the healthcare person because even if your medical and startup experience are huge assets for health-sector projects, most consultants work across many industries. Show that you can use your diagnostic mindset, operational discipline, and entrepreneurial problem-solving on any client challenge while still being the go-to for health

If you add a solid case prep (where you might focus on what matters in the region  now… things like Vision 2030, sustainability, and economic diversification) and a sharp why consulting/why now story, your profile will be incredible. Good luck! 

You’ve got an impressive set of achievements: top academic performance, sports at an elite level, entrepreneurship, and clinical work. That breadth is valuable in consulting, especially in the UAE market where diverse backgrounds stand out.

That said, your trajectory so far is very broad (medicine → startup → MBB). Make sure this pivot is a deliberate choice and not just the next step for the sake of trying something new, otherwise you'll also be at risk of burning out. Firms will want to see a clear narrative for why MBB now, and how your unique mix of experiences will add value to their client work.

If you can lock down that “why” story and prepare for case interviews with the same focus you applied to medicine and sport, you’ll have a competitive shot in the UAE offices. I can walk you through how to frame your story and prepare for the region's interview style if you want to get serious about the application.

That's a cool track record.

You have distinctive experiences that make you well positioned to apply to consulting.

I've worked previously with several candidates transitioning from medicine, so feel free to reach out directly if you have any specific questions.

The most important thing for people with your profile is to present your background / your story in the right way - primarily in the CV, but also as part of the conversations you have with the recruiters and interviewers. So, one thing I'd recommend to begin with is a professional CV review. 

In terms of how to approach the application process, you'll likely find the following guide useful:

• Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Best,
Cristian