BCG is a better choice, much larger in Dach and with a much better reputation.
The fact that Bain is stronger in PE is not true - BCG does much more in transactions (i.e., DD) and way way more in portfolio work. 

Hello,

Congratulations on your offers! These are both terrific options. I have not worked in DACH myself, so will just offer you my two cents regarding things to think about when making this decision. Bain and BCG are both top of the field, so you will have incredible opportunities at both. I would think about where you see yourself several years down the line (e.g. you mention the PE focus for Bain - is that an area you want to go into?), and which firm seems like a better cultural fit. Talk to people at both offices to assess this.

Hi there, 

Realistically, both are great options. You can't go wrong. 

Realistically speaking, regardless of all the frameworks you want to create to think through this decision, there are so many things that you can't control, that it's hard to know which option would be best for you. 

I'd honestly go for the one that gave you the best vibe throughout the recruitment process. It's likely the one that's the closest to your way of doing things. 

Best,
Cristian

I might be biased but the answer for me would ALWAYS be BCG!

BCG DACH vs Bain DACH? BCG!

BCG North Korea vs Bain New York? BCG!

BCG Somalia vs Bain Dubai? BCG!

BCG on malfunctioning low Earth orbit satellite vs Bain London? BCG!

BCG on the Titanic vs Bain Singapore? BCG!

BCG Chernobyl vs Bain Paris? BCG!

BCG on the event horizon of a super-massive Black Hole vs Bain Silicon Valley? BCG!

(editiert)

Hi there,

Congrats on both offers!

Look, you can't go wrong here.

Ultimately, if you want to do PE/FS *and* you get along with Bainees more (better fit, you see the mentorship/growth potential, etc.), that would lean you more Bain.

All else equal though BCG is, in general, going to get you the strong career/earnings growth (bigger, stronger brand, more global brand, more types of projects/offshoots, etc.)

Dear candidate,

BCG sounds great, choose not just by office but also based on how you want to live. You can also really talk through with peers from BCG on Preplounge and you can talk through with consultants in the offices what is best for you. It might be more about where you like to work.

Best regards, Pope

Hi there,

Congrats on your offers!

All your points are valid, but I think you forgot a very important one: the people!

Based on your interviews/recruitment events, where did you have the best fit? Where did you feel the most comfortable? In which environment do you project yourself the most? 

This was a key factor for me choosing BCG, a choice I don't regret 4 years in!

Hope this helps,

Clara

I recently faced the same choice as well and decided to go with Bain. My main reason for this decision was that I have a Finance Master and also did many internships in Banking. Therefore my main interest is in M&A/PE but I also find FS interesting. Bain's not so well known reputation compared to BCG and smaller footprint in DACH is therefore not so important to me in terms of broad exits.

In addition, all my interviewers at Bain were really super friendly and courteous to me. I felt like I was part of a big family.

Since I haven't started yet, I can't say if it was the right decision.

Ex-post, I might add that I have the impression that BCG has grown much more than Bain. Therefore, when I look at US forums, it makes me think that Bain is handling the current lull in projects a little better. However, these are just opinions of a student who never worked in consulting.