Northwestern 4th Year Engineering Student Looking to Break into Consulting

Hey Hyun,

No worries! You are not the only nervous college student -- most of us on PrepLounge either are or were nervous college students, otherwise I'd personally have chosen a career path as a yoga guru :)

Let me share my perspective on your 5 questions, coming from someone who has worked with many Undergrad coaches at Berkeley:

1. A Live Partner is 100% non-negotiable, but the good news is that you don't need to be part of a Consulting Club. 80-90% of European MBB Analysts have studied casing on PrepLounge, you'll find a ton of partners here!

2. STEM background: not a big problem per se, you just have to study some financial basics (e.g., P&L, ROI, NPV) and read a ton of cases to get you up to speed. I have a few docs on how to build 'industry savviness' that might help you understand business logics and market dynamics in specific industries. DM me if you are interested! On your resume, the question is how you adapt that -- but it's doable if someone who has worked in consulting (friend, Alum, coach) helps you :)

3. Referrals are very important (more context here: https://www.preplounge.com/consulting-forum/how-do-referral-work-24701). Also, mass-applying is not a strategy because the target companies are typically from 8 to 15. Try to meet them on campus, or set up coffee chats with Alums :)

4. Fit interview: this is definitely 2x harder than Tech (I have seen both worlds). The reality is that consulting is much more of a 'storytelling' business than Big Tech, and so they will test you on how you can convey your personal story. If you are good with numbers and can build business logic, the Fit is the area where a coach can help the most!

5. Timeline: if you are willing to truly commit (say 3-5 hours a day), I think you can get ready in 1.5-2 months or so. 

What's missing from your questions? 

• The reality is that Consulting recruiting for US undergrads is an incredibly competitive market, only marginally better than Tech SWE.
• A lot of folks do everything they can (i.e., great college, consulting clubs, pro bono consulting activities, business internships) and only end up with offers from small-name boutique firms.
• How does this work? A ton of luck in getting the recruiter to pick your resume from the pile (although, you can definitely improve your resume and make it more tailored). If you have an interview, then that's where you can make the difference -- it's 100% doable if you build the right plan with the right advisor (a friend, an Alum, a coach), if you put in the work, and if you find someone who gives you real, honest feedback

Good luck!

Tom

PS: Feel free to book a 15-min intro call with me. It's free (no commitment) and I am always happy to help a nervous college student, because I was in your shoes a few years ago :)
 

Hi Hyun, thanks for sharing your situation.

You need live casing. Solo prep or AI can help at the beginning, but it won’t replace practicing with a real person; too many things (communication, pressure, interaction) only show up live.

Your STEM background is actually an advantage. You don’t need deep business knowledge; you need structured thinking and clear communication. You can pick up the business basics quickly.

On referrals, they help but aren’t required. Most people get in without them. Still, given your time, it’s worth trying to secure a few, especially to offset potentail weaknesses in your resume.

Fit will likely be your main gap. Consulting is stricter than tech here; it’s not just what you say, but how clearly and crisply you deliver it. You’ll need to actively practice stories, not improvise.

On timing, there’s no shortcut. If you’re starting from scratch, assume ~1 month minimum with full-time effort, more if part-time.

Focus on getting the fundamentals right rather than over-optimizing strategy.

If you want to discuss further, feel free to DM me.

Regards,
Franco

Hi there,

ECE at Northwestern, 3.7 GPA, two real internships. That gets you looked at. The offer is a different story — and that is where most STEM candidates lose it.

1) Solo vs. live partner:

Please please please get a live partner. Not optional. Period. Solo drilling and AI tools will build some specific muscles (fast math, charts, exhibits) but they cannot replicate the pressure, judgment, or communication demands of a real case. ChatGPT specifically: useful when you are an absolute beginner. Actively misleading once you are past that point. Get. Live. Partners.

2) STEM adjustment:

Your math instincts help. Your tendency to lean on them too hard will hurt you. Three traps STEM candidates fall into:

1. Thinking the degree speaks for itself. It gets you to the table. It does not close the offer.
2. Building frameworks that look like flowcharts. MBB wants judgment, not templates.
3. Not prepping behavioral. "Why consulting?" from an ECE candidate does not answer itself. Nail it.

3) Referrals and networking:

Do this now. Don't wait until your casing prep is ready. I have run the analytics on how much networking matters — it matters a lot. Apply to 30+ firms. All MBBs, Big 4 strategy arms, boutiques. Cast wide.

Never stop recruiting until you have a signed offer in hand.

The end-to-end course will save you hundreds of hours of wasted prep: https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/prep-guide/consulting_recruiting_course

A coach early in the process is the fastest way to do this right: https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/coaching-packages-5/31

Good luck — you've got this!

Hi Hyun,

Honestly, your profile is already quite solid for consulting. Northwestern + ~3.7 + technical internships is absolutely within range for MBB / Tier 2. You don’t need prior consulting experience to make the switch.

Let me go through your questions one by one.

1) Solo vs. partner casing

Solo prep is useful, but it’s not enough on its own.

Things like structuring drills, mental math, and reviewing cases — you can do those solo (and even with AI tools). That helps build fundamentals.

But live casing is hard to replace. You need it for:

• communication under pressure
• adapting to unexpected questions
• getting real feedback

What I’ve seen work best is a mix:
do solo drills during the week, and try to get at least a few live cases per week (PrepLounge, peers, etc.). Even 1–2 is much better than zero.

2) STEM background

This is actually an advantage, not a disadvantage.

You’ll likely be strong on:

• logical thinking
• structured problem solving
• quantitative analysis

The main adjustment is:

• communicating top-down (not how engineers are usually trained)
• being comfortable with ambiguity and business judgment

So it’s not a completely different muscle — more like adding a layer on top of what you already have.

3) Referrals vs. cold applying

Consulting is quite different from SWE here.

Cold applying works, but referrals do help, especially for getting your CV reviewed. They don’t guarantee anything, but they improve your odds — particularly at MBB.

You don’t need 50 referrals. A handful of good conversations → a few referrals is usually enough.

4) Fit interviews

If behavioral rounds were your weak spot in tech recruiting, I’d pay attention here — consulting fit (especially for firms like McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, Bain & Company) is very important.

It’s not necessarily “harder,” but it’s more structured:

• clear stories
• strong impact
• structured communication

Resume tailoring matters less than in tech, but your stories matter a lot more. You should prepare 4–5 solid stories (leadership, conflict, failure, impact) and be able to deliver them clearly.

5) Timeline

You’re actually in a good position with a free quarter.

A realistic approach:

• first few weeks → learn basics + start light casing
• next 4–6 weeks → ramp up (cases + drills + fit prep)
• then start applying / networking

So ~6–8 weeks of focused prep is usually enough to get to a solid level if you’re consistent.

If I step back, your main risks are not your background — they’re:

• lack of structured case prep
• underestimating fit interviews

Everything else is in your favor.

If I had to simplify it:

• keep a mix of solo + live practice
• lean into your STEM strengths, fix communication
• get a few referrals, don’t mass apply blindly
• take fit prep seriously

You’re definitely a viable candidate — it’s more about execution from here.

If you want, I’m happy to help you set up a prep plan or do a mock — STEM profiles like yours usually ramp up quite fast with the right structure.

Good luck!

Best,

Soheil

Good that you’re asking this now — your profile is actually quite solid for consulting.

Let me go point by point.

1. Solo vs partner casing

You can start solo (and it helps), but at some point you need a live partner.

Solo is good for:

• structuring drills
• math
• getting familiar with cases

But what you really need to train is:

• communication
• being challenged
• thinking on your feet

AI can help a bit, but it’s not a full substitute. Try to get at least a few real partners (PrepLounge, friends, etc.).

2. STEM background

This is actually a plus.

You’ll be strong on:

• logic
• math
• structured thinking

Where you’ll need to adapt:

• business intuition
• being practical (not over-engineering)
• communicating clearly

It’s not a completely different muscle — more like applying what you already have in a business context.

3. Referrals vs cold applying

Consulting is different from tech.

You don’t need 300 applications.
Focus on:

• a strong CV
• targeted applications
• some networking

Referrals help, but they’re not mandatory. Plenty of people get interviews without them. Think of them as a small boost, not a requirement.

4. Fit interviews

This is important — and often underestimated.

Consulting fit is:

• more structured than tech behavioral
• more about clear storytelling (Situation → Action → Result)
• more about impact and ownership

If this was your weak spot before, I’d invest time here. It’s very trainable, but you need to practice telling your stories clearly and concisely.

5. Timeline

Since you have a free quarter, that’s actually perfect.

You could do something like:

• first weeks: fundamentals + light casing
• then: regular case practice (2–3 per week)
• parallel: work on fit stories

No need to rush everything in 2 weeks — consistency matters more.

Overall

You don’t need a business background to break into consulting. Your profile is already competitive — the game now is:

• learning how to case
• fixing fit
• positioning your story

If you do that well, you’re in a good position.

If you want, happy to help you structure your prep or run a mock — especially on fit, given what you mentioned

Hi,

Thanks for your question. 

First, I know someone who has a broken into consulting with very similar background as yours. So it is definitely possible.

My responses inline.

1. Casing solo vs. partner: I'm graduating soon and won't be able to fully plug into Northwestern's consulting clubs. Has anyone had success practicing cases with AI tools or solo drilling, or is a live partner basically non-negotiable?

>> I don't know much about AI tools but you should be able to practice with live partners on Preplounge. This is a great platform to give and take cases back-to-back, making the process very efficient, not to mention the opportunity to practice cases with candidates at different levels.

You can also do solo drills on the side by going through case books. This will help expedite your prep and you will be able to get exposes to a wide variety of cases. Northwestern consulting club will have access to a lot of latest casebooks.

2. STEM background: how much of an adjustment is case prep for someone who is very math/logic oriented but has zero business background? Does the STEM intuition actually help or is it a different muscle entirely?

>> It can be an adjustment initially but with some proper foundational work, you should be able to ramp up quickly. To build the foundation go through books like Case Interview Secrets by Victor Cheng, Case books and ask your consulting club for casebooks or foundational business material. They should have it. You don't need to know many complicated business content to solve cases. It is about structured thinking, creativity and business acumen. To build the business knowledge, also read business articles from WSJ, Bloomberg etc.

3. Referrals vs. cold applying: for SWE I mass applied to 300+ roles with maybe 5 referrals. I get the sense consulting works differently. How much does a referral actually move the needle at MBB vs. Big 4?

>> Ask if your school offers opportunity for campus recruiting for these firms for non business school students. Chances are they probably don't. Networking and referrals through networking will help, so try to network with alumni who have taken this path from your Engineering school and any other people you may know. Use Linkedin to find people you can reach out to.

4. Fit interviews: this is honestly my weak spot. I consistently passed technical screens in tech recruiting but got cut at the behavioral stage. Is consulting fit harder or more forgiving than tech behavioral rounds? And how much does resume tailoring per firm actually matter?

>> I cannot compare consulting fit interviews to Tech. Fit interviews are important for any interview. 

Resume: You don't have to tailor by firm so much unless your firm focuses on a specific sector of type of consulting. At the end, what they care about most is relevant projects that ties to the consulting type of work.

5. Timeline: I have a wide open spring quarter with no classes. Tech recruiting is winding down. Any general timeline suggestions for consulting recruiting?

>> Check with the consulting club in your school, go to company websites - that should give you some idea. Consulting firms hire if they have a need. However, they will be hiring new grads in summer and winter, mostly from campus recruiting from B schools. So you will have to do networking to get your resume through, unless you are eligible for campus recruiting for these companies. Start with first understanding the consulting space, what is the type of work, what cases entail. Then start your networking.

My advice would be to to keep your options broad, applying to different tier firms, given the level of competition, especially from a non-traditional background.

Thanks,

Soh

No need to apologise for the long post, these are the right questions to be asking. Quick takes on each.

1. Casing solo vs partner. You need both. Solo for drills, live partners for full cases and real pushback. AI tools help early but cannot replace a live interviewer. Aim for 20 to 30 live cases before interviews. Find partners on PrepLounge, LinkedIn, or through alumni.
2. STEM background. Huge asset. Your math and structured thinking are what MBB wants. The shift is framing. Consulting is about asking the right question first, then using math to test it. Read "The McKinsey Way" and a few HBR articles on profitability and pricing to get business fluency.
3. Referrals. Matter way more in consulting than tech. Mass applying at MBB without a referral is a waste. Target 10 to 15 firms, get a referral at each.
4. Fit interviews. More structured than tech behavioural. They test why consulting, why this firm, and your stories. Use STAR, be specific, always a clear you moment.
5. Timeline. Good window. Use spring quarter for prep. Two months on cases, one on fit and resume, then referrals in early summer.

Very doable pivot. Good luck.

hi Hyun!

You’re actually in a great position for consulting: strong school, solid GPA, technical internships, and a full spring quarter to prep. Let me go through your questions one by one.

1. You can drill solo for fundamentals, but you need live partners to get interview‑ready. Even two or three consistent partners are enough. AI tools help for structuring drills, but they can’t replace real‑time pushback.
2. STEM backgrounds usually ramp up fast. Case work is logic, decomposition, and clear communication, all things engineers do well. You don’t need business knowledge to start; you learn the business logic through cases.
3. Referrals matter more in consulting than in tech. They won’t guarantee an interview, but they significantly increase your chances at MBB and Tier‑2. At Big 4, they help but are less critical.
4. Fit interviews in consulting are more structured than tech behavioral rounds. If you learn how to tell one or two strong stories with clear impact, you’ll be fine. Tailoring your resume per firm helps, but the real differentiator is how you tell your story live.
5. With a free spring quarter, you can absolutely get ready. Spend the first few weeks building structuring fundamentals, then shift to live cases. Aim to be interview‑ready by early summer when many firms open their next cycle.

all the best :) Alessa

Hyun, feel free to reach out for an intro call. That will be easier and likely more useful than responding to these questions here.

In short, high level, with your background, whether consulting is for you or not is something that you should just test out. 

That could mean an internship or even a full-time role, but then you can pivot from there. 

Almost all new joiner graduates who go into consulting don't know practically what the job is like, and instead, they learn it on the go. For some, it turns out to be rewarding, for others not, and they move on.

Best,
Cristian 

I'll be brually honest. Consulting is the most useful field you could pursue. I would suggest you apply to work in India for Call service jobs. This would allow you to move up the ladder quickly and find your career. Hope this helps!