What course should I study to land a consulting job in my undergrad

Hi Abhay,

You’re honestly thinking about this much earlier than most students, and that already puts you in a good position.

And yes, you’re right that firms like MBB recruit heavily from IITs. The brand definitely helps in India.

But for the branch itself, there usually isn’t a strict “consulting branch.”

At IITs, consulting firms hire people from all kinds of backgrounds:
Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, Math, etc.

What matters much more is your GPA, internships, leadership positions, communication skills, and later, your case interview performance

So I honestly would not choose a branch only because you think it’s best for consulting.

For example, a student with strong GPA in Mechanical, leadership in clubs, good internships, and strong communication will usually do much better than someone in CS with a weak overall profile.

That said, branches like CS or Mathematics & Computing can sometimes help a bit because they tend to have stronger placement opportunities overall, not only for consulting.

My honest advice would be:
choose the branch that you are genuinely interested in, you can perform well in, and where you can realistically maintain a strong CGPA

Because once you’re inside IIT, your overall profile matters much more than the exact branch name.

And since you already know you’re interested in consulting, you’ll also have time during college to build the right profile gradually instead of discovering consulting in final year like many students do.

Best,

Soheil

Hi Abhay, this is a smart question to be asking early. The honest answer is that for consulting recruiting at IITs, your branch matters far less than you think. Firms are looking for problem-solving ability, structured thinking, and strong communication skills. I’ve seen history majors and chemical engineers both get offers — it’s about how you frame your story.

The real advantage of IIT is the brand and the peer network. If you’re deciding between branches, pick something you’ll genuinely enjoy and do well in. A high GPA in any branch signals discipline and analytical ability, which is what actually moves the needle. Don’t pick something purely for optics if it’ll drag your grades.

Your focus now should be on getting into IIT first, and once you’re there, invest in building case interview skills and a strong resume with leadership roles. The branch is a footnote compared to how you develop yourself. All the best!

hi Abhay!

For consulting in IITs, your branch doesn’t matter much, MBB and top firms hire from almost all departments. What matters is being at a top IIT, having strong academics, good communication, and doing well in case interviews. If you want a slight edge, branches like Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, or Economics tend to have more students going into consulting, but firms don’t prefer one over another. Choose the course you can score well in and genuinely enjoy, that’s what gives you the best shot at consulting.

Best, Alessa

Abhay, 

That's quite precocious. 

Typically, in terms of degrees, consulting firms tend to be flexible. However, those with a business background tend to have an advantage due to earlier exposure. 

That aside, I would encourage you to also look for opportunities to do pro-bono consulting. This will build your consulting toolkit and signal to future employers that you've had a long-term interest in consulting.

Best,
Cristian

Branch matters less than you think. MBB hires from all IIT branches based on grades, leadership, and case prep, not branch.

Don't pick a branch just for consulting. The IIT brand carries most of the weight. Pick what genuinely interests you.

Strong consulting-friendly branches. CS, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering, Electrical. CS faces more competition from tech placements. Mech and Industrial offer a good balance.

If choosing between a top IIT (other branch) vs a lower IIT (CS), pick the top IIT.

What actually matters. CGPA above 8.5, leadership roles, internships, and case prep from Year 2.

Focus on JEE first.

Good luck.