What weight is given to previous consulting internships vs a target university?

I think there is another reason why you see so many consultants from target universities at Bain. It’s not necessarily that they were selected because they attended a target university. Rather, students at these universities often have much more direct access to the interview process through recruiting events, consulting clubs, alumni networks, career fairs, and personal connections with the firm. As a result, they may enter the recruiting process through these channels rather than relying solely on the standard HR screening.

With your profile - top 10% in your Master’s + internships at Arthur D. Little and Kearney - I would definitely apply. At this stage, your relevant professional experience is a very strong signal and can compensate significantly for a non-target background.

My main advice would be: don’t rely only on the online application. Try to create a personal entry point:

• Search LinkedIn for Bain Warsaw consultants who are alumni of Maastricht or your previous university and approach them with a short, specific message.
• Ask about their experience and, if the conversation goes well, whether Bain has a referral process.
• Look for Bain recruiting events, university events or career fairs you can attend. Speak to consultants there, ideally also some senior levels and follow up afterwards.
• Use your ADL/Kearney network as well — consulting is a relatively small world, and someone may know people at Bain Warsaw.

Referrals are useful for both sides: many firms incentivize employees to refer strong candidates.

Of course, I’m not speaking for Bain or their HR team — this is simply my perspective from around nine years in management consulting and several years of interviewing candidates. But with your experience, I would focus much less on whether your university is officially a “target” and much more on getting your CV in front of the right person.

If you’d like, feel free to reach out - I’d be happy to take a look at your CV and help you optimize how you position your experience for consulting applications.

Hi there, 

thanks for the details, it seems to me that you have a very solid profile for breaking into Bain! 

There is no golden rule but the recruiter will always look at the full package, so if you do not have any relevant work experience, the university curriculum is the only thing they can focus on. In your case this should be a much more balanced decision with some very solid Tier 2 names in there for internships. 

Also, I would not say that a Master's at Maastricht is not a relevant target university for them. 

Hence, I would say that your chances are pretty good when applying! One advice: Do not put all of your eggs into one basket. Successfully breaking into MBB depends on a lot of factors. I would apply more widely and then see what works. 

Feel free to reach out anytime in case of questions. 

Best, 
Sebastian 

Hi there,

Grades and university are important in the screening of all CVs. Of course, the importance varies, and the holistic resume is far more important than any one element.

A few points:

Grades matter. So does work experience. So do skills. If it’s on the resume, it matters.
As time goes on, grades and university matter less.
Nothing will “protect” you or guarantee an interview. However, every additional strength improves your odds.

In your case, graduating in the top 10% of your master’s and having internships at Arthur D. Little and Kearney are significant strengths. Those experiences make your profile much more competitive than your university name alone might suggest.

So yes, your education will still be considered, but your consulting experience should reduce its importance substantially.

Make sure you network before applying and ensure your CV clearly communicates the responsibility, skills, and impact you demonstrated during those internships.

Given that your challenge is converting a strong profile into an interview, I recommend my Applications Course.

Hi,

I would say your professional experience carries at least as much weight as coming from a target school, if not more. In particular, the two internships at ADL and Kearney, and the knowledge of the consulting world they imply, are a real asset, arguably more valuable than a brand school name on your CV. So I would not think of yourself as a weak, non-target candidate, especially since your academic credentials are also strong.

The one thing I would recommend though is not to rely solely on the online application. Look for a referral to make sure you clear the screening, ideally through someone at Bain Warsaw, an alum from your university, or a contact from your ADL or Kearney network.

Hope it helps, and feel free to DM me should you need a hand with the application process or case prep later on.

Federico

Hi, yes, definitely. Your university matters, particularly for graduate recruiting, but it is only one part of the screening.

In your case, I would actually consider the internships a very strong signal. Having both Arthur D. Little and Kearney on your CV shows that two reputable strategy consulting firms have already selected you and that you have relevant consulting experience. Combined with being in the top 10% of your Master's, I wouldn't see your academic background as a major concern.

Also, Maastricht is a well-known university, even if it isn't one of the traditional European target schools.

I would absolutely apply to Bain Warsaw. Nobody can guarantee the screening outcome, but I certainly wouldn't self-select out because of the university. Your profile is much stronger than that of a typical candidate coming from a non-target with no relevant experience.

At this point, I'd focus on presenting those internships very well on the CV and making sure you're ready for the interviews rather than worrying too much about the target-school label.

Good luck! 

Hi there,

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

• First of all, contrary to what other coaches have said, Maastricht University is typically considered a target university, at least in continental Europe.
• Moreover, please keep in mind that while relevant internships help improve your profile, they won't make your educational background any less important as a graduate. And considering a top 10% rank from Maastricht University, I don't see any need for you to worry about your educational background anyway.
• Lastly, one important aspect to consider, though, is whether you have any strong, rational reason(s) to apply to Warsaw office. Assuming you are Dutch, you may want to ensure you speak fluent Polish (which would at least be preferred, if not required) and you have some form of connection to the country and/or the city. Without any strong, rational reason(s), no matter how strong your profile may be, your chances may be significantly lower than in the Netherlands.

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

Best,

Hagen

For screening, education is mainly used as a first-pass filter to manage volume. It's not a hard requirement once you clear that bar, and internships at Arthur D. Little and Kearney do a lot of work here. Those are big consulting brand names on your CV, which signal you've already been evaluated and hired by firms in the same space. That typically carries more weight than school pedigree, because it's direct evidence you can do the job.

Maastricht is also a well-regarded program for Finance/Economics in Europe, so you're not starting from zero on the school side either.

What I'd focus on is making sure your CV bullets under ADL and Kearney show quantified, case-relevant impact (e.g., "built a market sizing model that shaped a $X recommendation").

Hi there,

Solid profile — here are my thoughts:

• Screening is holistic; there's no fixed weighting. University matters most when there's nothing else to look at. With ADL and Kearney on your CV, the decision is much more balanced, and the weight of the school name drops further the more experience you accumulate.
• Two strategy internships are a strong signal in their own right. They show that two firms in the same space already evaluated and hired you — direct evidence you can do the work. Combined with top 10% in your Master's, that's more than enough to not self-select out.
• Maastricht isn't the handicap you think. The Uni is well regarded in continental Europe, and some would call it a target outright — especially for Finance/Economics.
• The real gap is access, not pedigree. Target-school students often enter through recruiting events, clubs and alumni networks rather than the HR screen. Build your own entry point: LinkedIn outreach to Bain Warsaw consultants who studied at Maastricht, recruiting events, and your ADL/Kearney network — consulting is a small world. A referral is the single highest-leverage move here.
• Make the internships work on paper. Quantified, case-relevant bullets (e.g. "built a market sizing model that shaped a $X recommendation"), not task descriptions.
• One flag on Warsaw specifically: be ready to explain why that office. Polish is likely preferred if not required, and without a clear link to the country or city, a strong profile can still stall. Worth sanity-checking against the Netherlands offices.
• Apply broadly. Screening outcomes depend on too many factors to bet on one firm and one office.

Good luck!

Hi there!

As you might expect, there's no mathematical weighing here, so it's unlikely you'll get a clear answer. 

The fact that you have several internships that are relevant for the industry that you're applying for is super useful. Lots of candidates don't have that. I didn't have that either. And anyway, it's not something you can change (e.g., not having a 'target' university). 

My suggestion instead is to apply broadly to maximise your chances of passing screening with several firms. 

Best,
Cristian

Tier-1 consulting internships (Kearney and Arthur D. Little) heavily outweigh target school pedigree.

While recruiters check university credentials, two strategy internships prove you already possess client-ready consulting skills. Paired with top 10% grades at Maastricht, your profile easily overcomes a non-target background. Secure an internal referral from a Bain Warsaw consultant to ensure your CV gets flagged for review.

Feel free to reach out if you want to discuss your application strategy further.

Hi,

The reality is that applications are taken into consideration holistically. While being in a target university does help, it is not the only factor. 

Nobody here can tell you the exact weight because very often its not an exact science.

What's more important is that you are able to make sure that your application (CV, Cover letter) is strong.

All the best!

hey there :)

yes, absolutely. Once you have strong, relevant internships, your practical experience becomes much more important than simply having a target university on your CV. Your experience at Arthur D. Little and Kearney, combined with your strong academic performance, gives you a very credible consulting profile.

I’d focus on making sure your CV clearly highlights the impact and responsibilities you had in those roles rather than worrying too much about the university name.

Let me know if you have any more questions, happy to help!

best,
Alessa :)