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Mckinsey case study preperation

Hi everyone,

I just completed the McKinsey Problem Solving Game yesterday – I purchased a prep course and spent time practicing.

I’ve noticed that some people recommend starting to prepare for case interviews immediately after taking the PSG, even before receiving any results, in order to maximize preparation time.
 

However, I’m wondering if that’s really necessary, or if it’s better to wait until hearing back – both to avoid unnecessary effort if things don’t move forward, and because the window between receiving an invite and the interviews might be enough for effective prep(?).

For context, I felt that the Ecosystem Building and Sea Wolf sections went very smoothly, but I didn’t do great on the Red Rock game - cases were perfect but the first part was very tough.
Does anyone know if there’s still a reasonable chance to pass in a case like this?

Curious to hear how others approached this – did you start case prep right away, or wait for the results? 

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

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Anonym B
vor 14 Std

Hello there,

I was in the same situation, I did pass the game and was invited to the first round interview.

Nevertheless in my case, I had about 2 weeks between game completion and first interview although they had proposed me another slot 4 weeks after game completion so there is a bit of preparation time possible.

I guess you should start to do all their online cases (there are 7 on their website) immediately and the rest depends on your background and how at ease you are with cases. Usually, you will hear back from them in a week or so.

Best luck!

0
Anonym C
vor 14 Std
Hi :) Between getting the link for Solve and completing it, how long did you have?
Anonym B
vor 14 Std
I did my test one day after receiving the link and four days after completing the game the HR contacted me for a first discussion.
vor 12 Std
1st session -50% and free 15min call| Ex-McKinsey| Offical McKinsey Case Coach | +250 coaching sessions

Hi,

I think given your recollection of your Solve experience, I'd say you have a solid chance of getting invited for an interview.

The time between receiving the news that you've been invited for an interview and the actual interview can be between a week or longer ....and for some people, a week is NOT long enough to be adequately prepared.

I'd recommend you start case prep because:

  • You don't know for certain how long they will give you before the actual Round 1.
  • You don't know how much time you personally need to prepare to feel truly ready.
  • You want to give yourself the best chance of passing the cases as possible.
  • You can go through your FIT answers with more people, improving both content and delivery.
  • Case prep will never go to waste -  it sharpens your clear thinking and communication, skills you can apply in all interviews.
  • Case prep usually takes longer than people initially expect. There's always a ramp-up period where you're just getting used to the structure and pacing, and real progress only starts once you’ve built a solid foundation.

Starting now means you’ll avoid a mad scramble later ... and you'll walk into the interview confident, not cramming.

Good luck and happy to help!

Mariana
Coach
vor 9 Std
You CAN make it! | xMckinsey | 1.5h session | +200 sessions |Free 20-Minute Call

Hello there,

First of all, hard to say if you’ll be invited or not since McKinsey considers your result and your CV to decide that. Let’s hope for the best! :)

About your prep question: “However, I’m wondering if that’s really necessary, or if it’s better to wait until hearing back – both to avoid unnecessary effort if things don’t move forward, and because the window between receiving an invite and the interviews might be enough for effective prep(?).

1. You have two risks: one, unnecessary effort if you don’t get called. The other, to waste the opportunity for lack of preparation in case you do. To me, the first is way more manageable than the latest.

2. The window between receiving the invite and the interview is usually not enough (at all). People typically spend months preparing for case and behavioral interviews, specially for MBB. McKinsey window is of 1-4 weeks.

That being said, my recommendation is for you to start preparing now and if you get invited for the interview and the timeline is to short, kindly ask for a postponement as they usually grant it.

Good luck in your learning journey!

Obs.: If you need help to learn how to properly tackle each part of the case interview using a proven method and to communicate your stories in a strong and compelling way, count on me. I’m a former McKinsey consultant, happy to chat over a 20min free call to discuss your case and see if coaching would be useful for you :) 

Best,

Mari

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