Should I bring up a second bachelor's degree in the behavioral interview?

I would concur with the other coaches on this thread. 

I would absolutely mention it.

One thing I have noticed, both in consulting interviews and in other competitive selection processes, is that candidates sometimes worry too much about having a “perfect” story. In reality, interviewers are usually looking for a story that is authentic and makes sense.

An Architecture degree followed by Economics does not make you look unfocused if you can explain the transition clearly. In fact, it often makes you more memorable than someone with a completely standard profile.

I would keep it brief:

“I initially studied Architecture, but over time realised I was increasingly interested in the commercial and economic side of decision-making. That led me to pursue Economics, which ultimately sparked my interest in consulting.”

Simple. Clear. Honest.

I would not spend time worrying about whether the transition looks unusual. Focus instead on explaining it confidently and helping the interviewer understand your journey.

The biggest mistake candidates make in “Tell me about yourself” is trying to tell the interviewer everything. The best answers are easy to follow, highlight a few important decisions, and explain why consulting is the logical next step.

Keep it simple. Communicate clearly. Make it easy for the interviewer to follow your thinking.

I would absolutely mention it.

In fact, if the interviewer doesn't have your CV, the architecture degree is part of your story, and it's a pretty interesting one.

The key is not to spend 5 minutes talking about architecture. The key is to explain the transition clearly and confidently.

Something along the lines of: "I initially studied Architecture, which taught me structured problem solving and working on complex projects. During that experience I realized I was increasingly interested in the business and economic side of decision-making, which led me to pursue a second degree in Economics. Through that transition I discovered consulting as a career that combines analytical problem solving, business impact, and exposure to a variety of industries."

That's a much stronger narrative than pretending the architecture degree never happened.

What interviewers typically dislike is not a non-linear path. It's a path that appears random or unexplained.

If you can articulate:

• why you started in architecture,
• why you transitioned,
• why consulting is the logical next step,

then the story actually becomes more memorable than that of a candidate with a completely standard background.

So my recommendation would be:

• mention it briefly,
• make the transition sound intentional,
• spend most of the time discussing where you are today and why consulting

Hi there,

It's non-consequential. 

If you do mention the degree, I doubt they'll assume that you're 'unfocused'. Everybody's life is different, and they have different motivations for the objectives they pursue. Sharing those is what makes you feel human and easier to connect with in the interview, so I wouldn't worry about them. Still, if you feel uncomfortable about that, feel free not to bring it up proactively. 

Best,
Cristian

hi!

Short answer first: yes, you should mention the architecture degree, but only briefly and only as a clean narrative bridge. It will help you, not hurt you.

Here’s the logic.

When interviewers don’t see your CV, they need a simple timeline to understand who you are. If you skip the architecture degree, your story starts in the middle and feels incomplete. If you include it, but keep it tight, it becomes a strength: you show intentionality, maturity, and a clear pivot into economics and consulting.

The trick is framing. You don’t present it as a detour. You present it as the first chapter of a coherent story.

What to say in tell me about yourself:

• Early background   One sentence: I originally studied architecture, which taught me structured thinking and project discipline.

• Pivot   One sentence: Over time I realized I was more drawn to analytical and economic questions than design, so I decided to pursue economics.

• Current profile   Two sentences: During my economics degree I focused on quantitative coursework and took on activities that built problem‑solving skills. That’s what led me to consulting.

• Close   One sentence: I’m excited about consulting because it combines analytical work with real impact and steep learning.

This keeps the architecture degree in the story without letting it dominate. It also prevents the interviewer from wondering what you were doing before economics.

What not to do:

• Don’t apologize for the first degree

• Don’t over‑explain the switch

• Don’t talk about architecture details

• Don’t hide it entirely

A clean, confident narrative always beats omission.

Alessa

Not only it is perfectly, you should also be able to use it to reinforce a narrative about yourself. The real issue here is how you want to build that narrative, which qualities you want to highlight, and how that transition makes you a more mature candidate that has given a deep thought about what you want in life / in a career.

FIT/PEI is one of my expertises, so feel free to reach out for a session if you want help in preparing for that part of the interview.

Hey, mention it briefly. Hiding the architecture degree is risky, if it comes up later, it looks like you were trying to hide something.

How to frame it. Make the switch sound deliberate, not random. Something like, "I started in architecture, which taught me structured problem-solving and visual thinking. Through that I realised I was drawn to the commercial side of decisions, so I pursued Economics. The combination gives me a unique angle on business problems."

Architecture plus Economics is actually a cool combo, design thinking plus commercial rigour. Own it confidently, don't apologise for the non-linear path.

Good luck.

From the interviewer side, a second degree is almost never the problem. What we react to is a path we cannot follow, not one that is non-linear. Architecture then Economics is easy to follow the moment you give the why, so the degree is not a liability you need to manage, it is just one more data point in a story that holds together.

So keep it to two lines in your story, frame the pivot as a deliberate move toward the commercial side of decisions, and let the architecture work carry some of the "what have you actually done" weight that an internship would normally carry.

Hope it helps. Good luck with the prep!