Summer 2026 Internships - Best Time to Apply?

Hi,

1) I would recommend to apply as soon as possible if you feel ready for the interview. They are generaly filling the spots and might be even a bit more strict at the end if there are very limited spots left.

2)  You can select the offices based on your personal life and industry preference; while the latter seems less important for an intership. Also be aware that some offices are  (like NY) are more popular and so competitive than others.

3) There is typically a 12 months ban, meaning it's too early to re-apply. If you are unsure, double check with the recruiter.

Good luck with you preparation.

Mattijs

Hi there,

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

• First of all, I would advise you to weigh the pros and cons of being in the first cohort, where more offers are naturally handed out, against being well-prepared. If you are not confident that you will be ready to succeed in the interviews, there is no point in applying for the first cohort.
• Moreover, naturally, your chances of success may be slightly higher in Canadian offices. For example, NYC has very few open spots and very tough competition. Ultimately, however, I would strongly advise you to apply only to offices in cities where you would feel comfortable spending the weekends.
• Lastly, I would strongly advise you to clarify with the recruiter whether you can reapply after only 6-7 months, which is shorter than the usual ban period of 12-18 months.

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

Hey - its great you are thinking about next summer already - always good to be ahead of the curve when it comes to recruiting.

1. Apply in the first deadline. You want to ensure you are one of the first to be interviewed because that is when there are the most spots open for offers. Later on the spots dwindle and the competition is higher

2. Focus on offices for which UBC is a target school. NYC is probably the most competitive office in the world and chances will always be lower there vs say at Calgary for that reason. Additionally, visa sponsorship is much harder these days in the US

3. Typically a rejection for the summer internship does not affect applications for full time roles so you will be fine. I would try and get a referral here if possible to boost your chances to be invited again

Best,

Udayan

Hi there,

Congrats on planning ahead for Summer 2026 recruiting. Here’s my take on your questions:

1) Timing: June vs. September cycle
Most UBC students apply in the June cycle because it lets you secure an offer before the fall term and frees up your summer for a full-time internship. The September round is typically for late-stage candidates or those who missed June, but it’s more competitive (fewer slots, more internal referrals). If you’re ready by June—i.e., you’ve got uber-solid résumés, networking contacts, and basic case drills in your back pocket—I’d go for it. If you need more time to network or sharpen cases, you could aim for June “whiteboard” screens and then use July–August to prep deeply for September.

2) Office strategy
As a Canadian citizen studying at UBC, you’re a natural fit for Toronto, Montreal, or Calgary—these offices recruit heavily in Canada and have fewer visa hurdles. That said, nothing stops you from applying to U.S. offices like NYC; just be aware that U.S. firms may favor U.S. work authorization, and competition is steeper. If you have strong personal or alumni connections in a U.S. market, lean into those. Otherwise, prioritize Canadian offices first, then add one or two U.S. targets if you’re comfortable lining up visa sponsorship and doing a bit more legwork on networking.

3) Reapplying after a past invite
Absolutely reapply—MBB firms expect growth between terms. In your cover note or networking conversations, briefly remind them of your November interview, then pivot quickly to your improvements: e.g., “Since our last discussion, I’ve completed 20+ mock cases with Toronto alum, refined my framework speed, and led a student consulting project for a local startup.” That shows self-awareness and traction. Don’t dwell on the past rejection; emphasize concrete skills you’ve built and your continued enthusiasm for BCG (or whichever firm).

Good luck with your prep and applications! If you have any follow-up, feel free to ask.

Best,

Evelina

Hi there,

Great questions and great that you're being proactive about the process. Let me take them one by one.

1. Earlier is better than later. Why? Because by the second cohort, many of the offers will have already been handled. Naturally, the process is likely to become stricter, even when they have to choose between really strong candidates. Try and accelerate your prep as much as possible to go with the first wave.

2. Focus on offices with which you can demonstrate some connection - e.g., you're from there, studied there, etc. Don't apply randomly to US locations if you have no connections to them, or you're likely to get screened out. 

3. Check with the interviewer. Explain to them that you've progressed significantly since the last round. They often make exceptions. This is the only way to actually validate that you can apply again.

Best,
Cristian

Good that you're planning ahead! To your questions:

1) As other coaches have mentioned, the earlier the better. It'd advisable to apply by the first deadline.

2) Think about the offices where UBC tends to place best, which I'd wager are the Canadian offices. You may also be able to receive a referral through your network, which would likely help your application.

3) You can definitely reapply! It's worth mentioning to recruiters how you have addressed previous feedback as well. Many of my colleagues at McK and friends at other firms got an offer at the second attempt.