Schedule mock interviews on the Meeting Board, join the latest community discussions in our Consulting Q&A and find like-minded Interview Partners to connect and practice with!
Back to overview

Asking for more time to prepare for the first round of interviews

I passed the BCG entry test and got invited for the first round of interviews. However, I don´t feel well prepared for the interviews, yet. 

Would it be ok to ask for more time (a couple of months)?

Would I have to do the test again? (in my country BCG only recruits candidates once per semester)

8
1.6k
18
Be the first to answer!
Nobody has responded to this question yet.
Top answer
Hagen
Coach
on Mar 02, 2023
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | 8+ years consulting, 8+ years coaching and 7+ years interviewing experience

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the invite!

I think this is an interesting question that may be relevant for many people. I would be happy to share my thoughts on it:

  • Yes, based on the information provided, I would highly advise you to ask to postpone the first round of interviews since there is no point for either you or the company to proceed with the interview when you do not feel prepared. Chances are very low that you will need to redo the test, though.
  • Furthermore, I would advise you to develop a proper preparation plan to ensure that you will be ready for the interviews by the rescheduled date.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to most efficiently prepare for your upcoming interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Ian
Coach
on Mar 02, 2023
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success

Hi there,

Regardless, you don't have a choice! Please ask to delay! Make sure to do it in the right way.

If you're not recruiting in a specific recruiting channel, will likely get a few weeks at most (though it's possible you'll get months, please don't count on it).

However, it sounds like you're doing university recruiting, correct? In which case they will not let you postpone because you are interviewing with a cohort.

This is why I always advise people to be 80% ready before they apply!

Now, if you're timeline is short, the #1 thing you can do to get ramped up quickly is hire a coach. They are a time lever and will stop you from making all the mistakes so many candidates make.

Here's some additional reading to help: https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/pitfalls-case-interview-preparation

on Mar 04, 2023
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success: ➡ interviewoffers.com | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi there,

1) Would it be ok to ask for more time (a couple of months)?

You can ask for more time, although a couple of months seems quite a bit of time. A few weeks is more typical and usually fine. In any case, I would recommend to call instead of sending an email so that you can discuss live with the recruiter.

2) Would I have to do the test again? (in my country BCG only recruits candidates once per semester)

If you are just postponing by a few weeks they should not ask to do the test again.

Good luck!

Francesco

Deleted
Coach
on Mar 02, 2023
1st&2nd session 33% off|Incoming BCG Consultant ME|President of the Consulting Club|Esade MBA|Offers from McKinsey & BCG

Hello A,

  • It's understandable that you may feel unprepared for the first round of interviews, but it's generally not recommended to ask for several months of delay as it could indicate that you are not serious about the opportunity. Instead, you could ask for a reasonable extension of a few weeks to adequately prepare for the interviews.
  • Regarding the test, typically you do not need to retake the entry test once you have passed it, so you should be able to proceed with the first round of interviews without taking the test again. However, this may vary depending on the specific policies of BCG in your country, so it's best to confirm with them directly.

Best of luck!

Victoria

Dennis
Coach
on Mar 01, 2023
Roland Berger|Project Manager and Recruiter|7+ years of consulting experience in USA and Europe

Hi,

you should postpone in this case if you think you would not be successful otherwise. 

However, I would generally recommend to be prepared for case interviews already when you submit your application. While sometimes it might take forever to hear back, there are other times when the interview is actually scheduled very shortly after you get the feedback. You want to be ready for that.

Good luck

Rushabh
Coach
on Mar 01, 2023
Limited Availability | BCG Expert | Middle East Expert | 100+ Mocks Delivered | IESE & NYU MBA | Ex-KPMG Dxb Consultant

Hello,

I wouldn't delay it by “a couple of months”. I think the max that you should ask for reasonably is 1-2 weeks with a justifiable reason. 

Especially if you're recruiting through university, they will have strict timelines for rolling out offers for that university. Additionally, you must already be in a competitive pool of talented candidates.

Best,

Rushabh

Udayan
Coach
on Mar 01, 2023
Top rated Case & PEI coach/Multiple real offers/McKinsey EM in New York /12 years recruiting experience

Yes it is always good to ask for time if you feel like you need it. The worst case scenario is that they will say no or move your timelines to a later one, but that’s not usually likely. 
 

You will not be asked to take the test again. 

Pedro
Coach
on Mar 02, 2023
Bain | EY-Parthenon | Former Principal | 1.5h session | 30% discount 1st session

Yes, you can ask for more time. They're fine with it and would rather have you asking for more time than wasting their (and your) time in an interview for which you are not ready. So yes, go ahead, and ask for a bit more time.

Similar Questions
Consulting
BCG Knowledge DIRECTOR SALARY
on May 31, 2024
Global
6
3.4k
Top answer by
Florian
Coach
1400 5-star reviews across platforms | 600+ offers | Highest-rated case book on Amazon | Uni lecturer in US, Asia, EU
80
6 Answers
3.4k Views
+3
Consulting
When can I expect to hear back from BCG Final/Decision Round for North America Intern
on Jun 27, 2024
Global
6
5.7k
Top answer by
Hagen
Coach
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | 8+ years consulting, 8+ years coaching and 7+ years interviewing experience
250
6 Answers
5.7k Views
+3
Consulting
BCG First Round Behavioral
on Mar 24, 2025
Global
6
3.2k
Top answer by
Lorenzo
Coach
IESE MBA | Bain&Co | OC&C | Private Equity | Consumer Goods
70
6 Answers
3.2k Views
+3
How likely are you to recommend us to a friend or fellow student?
0 = Not likely
10 = Very likely
Thanks for your feedback! Your opinion helps us make PrepLounge even better.