Office Selection - MBB FT Undergrad

Question

Hello! I'm a rising senior at a mid-tier Ivy with a poli-sci major and arts minor with most alumni going to the NYC office for MBB and the MBB office that is closest to my school isn the NYC office. I'm interested in NYC, a second tier city think Denver, Seattle, Austin, LA, or Miami and have lived in that city and have work experience in an industry largely based out of that city, but I am also interested in the Middle East Office but I do not have experience or any true connection to MEO except tutoring someone from there, but thats not on my resume or cover letter.

I was wondering how I should allocate my office selection, should I do 100% NYC, or like 60% NYC 40% second tier US city, or like 60% NYC 30% second tier US city, or vice versa, and 10% MEO? Or something different entirely? I'm open to living in all of these cities. I’d appreciate any guidance on how to balance my preferences strategically. Thanks!

Answer 1

Hi there,

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

First of all, I would strongly advise against trying to trick the system through tactical percentage allocations to offices. Instead, I would advise you to stick to offices where you can demonstrate a clear rationale in your application - random office choices without a clear personal or professional link often lead to early rejections, no matter how strong your profile is.
Moreover, because of that, I would alsos advise you not to list any Middle Eastern office unless you can clearly explain your interest in the region.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare your application files, for your upcoming pre-interview assessments and/or interviews, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Answer 2

There’s no correct answer to this. It really depends on your personal preference.

In the current market, pretty much all MBB offices are very competitive in the regions you have mentioned. I don’t think there’s much point trying to prioritize on that basis.

In your shoes, I would first figure out which city I actually want to live in. Then I would apply to not just MBB, but also a wide range of T2 in that city.

You may have to tell a different story for each area (e.g., if you apply to MEO it’s certainly possible but there needs to be some logic as to why in your CV / application - for example, the type of work you are hoping to do).

Applying to roles in one city will make it easier to just have a coherent story across all of your applications.

That’s just my take though. Others may have a different view.

Answer 3

Honestly, office prioritisation is a misnomer.

What matters almost always is your first choice. That's the office that receives your app and decides whether to take you further or reject it. Only rarely might they realise they don't have the capacity to hire further, but your secondoes, and then they for option office dward it there.

So, you need to decide on the one that actually matters.

Re Middle East, if you have no connection with the place, you're very likely to get screened out regardless of how strong your profile is.

Best,
Cristian

Answer 4

Hi there,

Be strategic when selecting where to apply — and intentional with your office preferences. Focus on three key variables:

Pick a location where you’d actually like to live
Make sure your profile matches the office’s hiring needs (language, background, etc.)
Maximize your chances by targeting offices with lower competition

Use your referrals to push for the right office from the start — that’s how you really increase your odds.

Happy to help you think this through in more detail — just send me a message!

Best

Alberto