Your opinion requested

Hi,

Short answer: no, an 87/110 is very unlikely to get you automatically filtered out — especially with the rest of your profile.

Let me explain how this is usually looked at.

First, most consulting firms don’t use a single hard GPA cutoff in isolation (especially in Europe). There are thresholds, but they’re applied in context. What recruiters really look for is a consistent signal of performance.

In your case, your profile already tells a strong story:

• solid recent academics (EDHEC, 3.8, top 10%)
• relevant experience (project manager, multi-country exposure, €35M portfolio)
• professional signal (PMP)

That tends to outweigh a mid-range bachelor grade.

Second, the “working full-time during your degree” point definitely helps — but only if it’s clearly visible and easy to understand. Recruiters won’t guess it.

Instead of just stating the grade, make sure the context is explicit on your CV, e.g.:
“Completed full-time degree while working full-time (company-sponsored)”

That changes how the number is perceived.

Third, for firms like Simon-Kucher, Roland Berger, and Kearney, your recent trajectory matters more than your starting point. Strong master’s performance + relevant experience is exactly what they want to see.

Where you should focus instead is:

• making your experience impact-driven (not just responsibilities)
• showing clear progression and ownership
• having a sharp story for why consulting (especially given your background)

Because at your level, interviews are much more about that than filtering.

If I had to be very direct:
your bachelor grade is not your bottleneck.
Your positioning and how you present your experience will matter much more.

If you want, I’m happy to take a look at your CV — small tweaks in framing can make a big difference in how this is perceived.

Best,

Soheil

Honest view, especially if you’re targeting Italy: the bachelor grade may matter, particularly at screening stage.

In Italy, grades tend to carry more weight than in some other markets. I can’t tell you there is a hard automatic cut-off everywhere, but it is quite possible it can have an impact, especially in automated screening or very high-volume recruiting.

Abroad, I’d worry less.

And candidly — I spent 4 years at Simon-Kucher and, being honest, I almost never saw CVs with less than ~105/110 in the traditional graduate pipeline.

That doesn’t mean 87/110 makes you non-viable. It means you may need to manage around it, especially in Italy.

The good news is: your profile has a lot that compensates:

• strong professional experience
• good brand (KKR-backed platform)
• international exposure
• PMP
• strong MSc performance at EDHEC Business School

And importantly, the fact you completed your bachelor while working full-time is a real contextual element — but I wouldn’t rely on the narrative alone to neutralize the issue.

If you’re applying in Italy, I’d probably try to move through referrals where possible.
Given your profile, I think that’s smart anyway.

Also, this changes meaningfully once you have your MSc result. A strong master’s performance often helps rebalance how people view the earlier undergrad signal.

So my take:

• yes, it may create friction in Italy
• less so abroad
• I’d use referrals/networking to mitigate it
• and I would absolutely still apply

With your experience, I wouldn’t self-select out.

Feel free to DM me if you want to think through positioning or target firms — happy to help.

Hey,

My two cents:

• Italian offices might be skeptical and automatically turn you down (my hunch is 50-50). It honestly depend on the individual recruiter who checks your profile. Although, from a few friends who did not have stellar grades, I can guarantee that Italian offices have been more open-minded in the last few years about Bachelor grades :)
• International offices probably won't automatically turn you down. They don't know really well how to consider your 87/110 vs. other system (e.g., UK, Spain, France), and will probably trust the latest GPA (EDHEC) more.

Hope this helps!

Tom

Very unlikely that it will be automatically filtered out esp. since you have work experience (seems strong from what you have highlighted) and the fact you are pursing Master's with good credentials. Try and get some warm referrals if possible by outreaching to people from your target office.

Good luck!

hey! 

Your 87/110 will not get auto‑filtered at Simon‑Kucher, Roland Berger, or Kearney. These firms don’t use rigid GPA cut‑offs the way some US firms do. They look at the overall profile, and yours is genuinely compelling: 3 years as a project manager on a KKR‑controlled renewable platform, €35M portfolio responsibility across 5 markets, PMP Above Target, MSc at EDHEC with a 3.8 GPA and merit scholarship, plus a bachelor’s completed while working full‑time with employer sponsorship.

I’ve coached candidates for these firms, and what consistently matters is whether the academic result is explainable and contextualized. In your case, “I completed the entire degree while working full‑time, and the company sponsored my studies” is a perfectly credible narrative. You don’t need to over‑justify it,  just state it factually and confidently.

Your professional track record and current academic performance easily outweigh the bachelor’s grade. Focus on telling a coherent story, showing momentum, and nailing the interviews. The 87/110 won’t hold you back.

Best, Alessa

Your concern is legitimate. On the auto-filter. Simon-Kucher, Roland Berger, and Kearney don't run hard bachelor GPA cutoffs for experienced hires. Their systems flag academic data but don't auto-reject, especially when you have a strong master's GPA, certifications, and relevant experience. The recruiter sees the full profile.

What matters more. You're an experienced hire with three years at a KKR-backed platform, EDHEC master's with 3.8 GPA and merit scholarship, PMP Above Target, and cross-border experience across five markets. Your bachelor GPA becomes a footnote.

On the narrative. The "worked full-time with employer sponsorship" line is sufficient if framed right. Don't make it apologetic. If the GPA field is optional, leave it off and lead with the master's.

Two things to strengthen your application:

Pick a clear angle for each firm. Simon-Kucher likes pricing and commercial topics. Roland Berger has strong industrials and energy. Kearney leads in operations and PE due diligence. Tailor CV bullets accordingly.

Networking matters more than GPA at this level. Reach out to consultants from infrastructure or PE backgrounds. A referral resets the screening entirely.

Don't lose sleep over the 87/110. Focus on case prep.

Good luck.