How do I not care?

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the progress in the application process thus far!

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

• First of all, I would not advise you not to care. It is perfectly natural and good to be excited, maybe even nervous, about your upcoming final-round interviews, and the adrenaline in your body will help you perform at your best.
• Moreover, what you should try to avoid, however, is seeing this as your only chance for a successful consulting career start.
• Lastly, if you haven't already done so, I would highly advise you to apply broadly in order to actually have a successful consulting career start, whether at MBB or another consulting firm.

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 for your upcoming interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi there,

There is a lot to unpack here, mainly related to your mindset. 

Each of the MBBs is just some company among many great firms to work for and start your career with. Life goes on if it does not work out now.

Putting so much pressure on yourself ("this is the only MBB left") probably shows that you place too much importance on getting this particular job.

I can tell you from coaching a few hundred people and having connected with most of them on a mentorship and deeper level that the single biggest risk factor for strong candidates NOT getting an offer is based on how they perceive the potential MBB offer. 

They see it as the only viable option.

The more they obsess over securing that one offer, the more they neglect the broader perspective and fail to consider excellent alternatives, leading to potential failure when they force it. Interestingly, those who primarily think this way often have the best case skills but haven't fully developed the right mindset, causing their issues with stress and overwhelm during the interview.

Additionally, their perfectionist personalities clash with the case interview environment, where not every interview needs to be flawless; it's about demonstrating the right profile. Their high expectations and aversion to failure only amplify the pressure they feel.

There is no need to add unnecessary pressure on top of an already stressful and challenging situation. You are putting yourself at a disadvantage for no good reason.

Yet, there is a whole universe of other great opportunities out there and you might never know what benefits will come with a different situation than desired.

Perspective:

The offer rate for MBB is around 1%, currently less due to a market slowdown. Even getting to the interviews is a huge feat.

You probably have what it takes but a big mindset shift is needed that will help you perform during the interviews while at the same time also making you more resilient to setbacks in general (which improves life quality by a lot - the only thing you should think about on a grander scale).

What can you do now:

• Broaden your perspective and look for alternative consulting firms and different industries
• Consider different paths or non-traditional paths
• If it works out with the final MBB, great - if not, collect valuable experience and enjoy your time somewhere else. Many MBB consultants actually make it only on their second try! I also applied for a McKinsey internship, failed during the interviews, re-applied again for full-time with a different strategy and it worked out well.
• Come back to MBB at a later stage
• Work on your mindset and resilience (coaches, books, taking action). Should you be successful during the interviews, you want to approach the job with a similar mindset, otherwise new issues and performance fears might arise (related to up-or-out)

All the best,

Florian

Florian is 100% right

In short - the stress comes because you think that this job is so important and can be life changing but without it everything will be worse. That is a fallacy, MBB has many good things but many people really dislike their time there and wish they had done something else instead. It has its own unique challenges and they are not afraid to do mass layoffs if things go even slightly wrong and partners bonuses are affected.

In short - do not glamorize the role. It is a great opportunity but it is one of many great opportunities. If it does not work, believe in yourself that something else that is better for you will work. The only requirement though is that you put 100% in preparing for the interview. Once you do that, the results are outside your control anyway.

All the best,

Udayan

Caring and being invested will be crucial to your success in the interview and on the job. With that said, nerves cost me the offer my first time around — I’ve been there! 

Three tactical suggestions for you:

1. Channel anxiety into excitement: it’s hard to tell yourself to “calm down” or “stop caring” in a high-stakes situation. You can reframe the nervousness by reminding yourself about why your doing this, what’s in it for you, and why you’re s great fit for the role (they want to give you the job after they invite you to interview!)
2. Acknowledge stress: whether in your head out loud in playful / lighthearted way, admitting you’re a bit nervous because you’re so invested in getting this job can help dissipate that bad energy and help you focus on what matters. I’d approach saying something with caution, so you don’t come across as unprepared. Only say something if it feels natural and the interviewer has been friendly and invested in making you feel at ease.  
3. Focus on wellness leading up to the interview: sleep, exercise, hang out with the people you love. Nothing good will come from last minute prep. If you invest the time in high-quality prep (encourage you to look into coaching here — happy to chat about options), you should be able to stop practicing in the days or week leading up to the interview. 

I get where you’re coming from—it’s natural to feel high stakes with limited opportunities. Here are some ways to help you approach the interview with a calm, focused mindset:

1. Focus on What You Control: You’ve put in the preparation, and that’s your foundation. Now, focus on performing at your best in the moment, rather than the outcome.
2. Reframe the Pressure: Think of this interview as a learning experience, no matter the result. Shifting your mindset from “I must succeed” to “I’ll give my best effort” can ease the tension.
3. Ground Yourself: Use simple techniques like deep breathing before the interview to stay present and centered. 

Remember, every interview is just one step on a larger journey. Trust in your abilities and let the process unfold.

Thanks

Ashwin

I think we do have to care, but we do have to realize that it's not the end of the world if you don't get the offer. There are many paths to MBB.