Not a Level Playing Field

Hi there,
You can consider trying the below:

1. Changing the wording of your LinkedIn requests. I have received plenty of those during my career at Bain, and I didn't respond to those that were very transactional, or where the person sounded entitled. I did however respond to those that were polite, respectful and enthusiastic. Wording really matters here. Also specifically look for alumni of your university working at top firms - it usually helps if they see you as a version of themselves couple of years ago.

2. Getting internships/work at some big brand name companies, not necessarily consulting. Big brands matter. You will compete against people with internships at Goldman Sachs, World Bank and Apple. Your CV must show that you have some ongoing interest in business, unless you are a genius PhD or an Olympian.

3. Meeting consultants at the events. Did you go to all recruiting events available at your uni/in London? It's the best way to meet consultants. Be aware of your behaviour there though - if you appear to transactional or a bit heavy to be around, you might harm your chances.

4. Fine-tuning your application, so that the biggest achievements stand out. Needless to say, but there is almost always work to be done on application.

I hope the above helps. You are certainly not doomed and a lot can be done with some effort and positive attitude :) But remember that it's competitive so you'll need to put more effort than others.

Best,
Michal