Mckinsey case study preperation

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

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!

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!

Hi,

Based on your answer, it seems you have a solid chance of receiving an invitation for a first round interview. The time between the results of the PSG and the first interview is typically 2-4 weeks. I recommend to keep the momentum and keep on practicing your case skills. You can intensify the practicing when you receive a positive outcome on the PSG.

Feel free to reach out if you have further questions.

Mattijs

Hi,
a few comments from my side:

• If you felt good overall, it’s worth starting light case prep now, just 30–60 min a day
• The gap between Solve results and interviews can be short, so prepping early helps avoid last-minute stress
• Red Rock is tricky for many; strong Ecosystem and Sea Wolf performance can still get you through
• Focus on building case basics now, and ramp up if you get the invite, better to stay ready than scramble later

Best of luck!

Hey! It's great that you've completed the McKinsey PSG and are reflecting on how to proceed with case interview prep. Here’s some advice based on your situation:

1. Start Preparing for Case Interviews Right Away (Even Before Results):

• Why: The reason some people recommend starting case prep immediately after completing the PSG is that the interview process can move quickly once you get an invite, leaving you little time to prepare if you wait until hearing back. If you start prepping early, you’ll build a strong foundation in case you do pass and receive an interview invite. Case prep is usually time-intensive, and starting sooner gives you more room to master concepts.
• Approach: Focus on the fundamentals first, like practicing structuring cases, breaking down problems, and refining your math skills. While you might not be doing full cases, focusing on these smaller components will help you get into a rhythm before diving into full mock interviews.

2. Waiting for Results:

• Why: If you're concerned about unnecessary effort or prefer not to overcommit before you hear back, it's totally valid to wait for your results. There’s a chance you may not move forward, and case prep could feel premature. Waiting might also give you more focus and energy when the actual prep time starts.
• What to Do: If you wait, keep a light touch on general skills you might need for consulting (e.g., logical reasoning, math drills, or analytical thinking exercises). You can also review general frameworks and case structure without diving into full-fledged mock cases.

3. Assessing Your Red Rock Performance:

• Regarding the Red Rock section, it's normal to face difficulty with certain parts, especially if it's your first time encountering the game’s logic. It’s important to remember that McKinsey’s PSG is designed to be tough and not all sections need to be perfect. It’s common for candidates to struggle with some parts and still progress.
  • Focus on improving weaker areas like the Red Rock game if you feel there’s room for improvement. However, if you felt the rest of the sections went smoothly (like Ecosystem Building and Sea Wolf), those could make up for any struggles in Red Rock.

4. A Balanced Approach:

• If you're unsure whether to dive into case prep or wait, consider doing a blended approach:
  • Week 1-2: Focus on reviewing materials and building general skills. You don’t need to dive into full cases, but you can work on frameworks, math skills, and problem-solving exercises.
  • Week 3 (after receiving results): If you move forward, ramp up your preparation by focusing on mock cases, structuring frameworks, and doing timed drills with a partner or coach. This is where you’d apply the preparation you’ve already done to practice full-fledged cases.

5. Mentality Shift:

• Stay positive: While it's normal to feel uncertain after a tough section like Red Rock, focus on the positive aspects of your performance and consider it as part of the learning process. The PSG is just one component, and even if you’re uncertain about one part, your overall performance could still be strong enough to move forward.

Final Advice: Ultimately, how you proceed depends on how comfortable you are with the uncertainty of waiting for the results. However, since case prep can take time to master, starting earlier won’t hurt, and it could position you for success if you do receive an invite. Don’t overthink waiting versus starting prep immediately — just ensure you're keeping your skills sharp while managing your energy.

Good luck, and feel free to reach out if you have any other questions as you prep!

You heard good advice. You won't have enough time for a full preparation if you wait until you get the answer.

Don't worry, cases are fun, and they are a useful learning experience REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU ARE INVITED OR NOT. You will improve your thinking process specifically for problem solving, which is an invaluable skill / capability for a business person.

And no, 2-3 weeks is not enough to do a full preparation. Enough to get acquainted with the case interview format, but not enough to prepare for all of the case interview parts.

And please note, I am a coach here, but I was a candidate a couple of times before as well, I've been in your shoes and saw a lot of people preparing both as my peers when I was a candidate, and as my "coachees" now that I am a coach here.

Actually, I typically people to apply only when they are 70-80% ready with the prep, so even well ahead of the doing the PST. 

Once you're in the recruitment funnel, things can move really quickly and you have the test to worry about and other things. So it's best if you already have a good casing foundation before everything else gets going.

Best,
Cristian