Get Active in Our Amazing Community of Over 452,000 Peers!

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

Preparing for Consulting Firm Applications: The Importance of Daily Case Study Practice and Quality Feedback

case studies MBB Practice cases
New answer on Dec 01, 2023
10 Answers
499 Views
Anonymous A asked on Nov 16, 2023

I'm a junior UG student. I have worked with some startups and understand many business terms. I'm interested in applying to MBB and other firms to work there next summer. I have around 2-4 hours daily that I can dedicate to this. Should I practice case studies daily, especially since learning is not just about quantity but also about the quality of feedback provided to me?

I want to have like a daily routine for those 2-4 hours and + have some KPIs weekly/monthly to measure my improvements  

Overview of answers

Upvotes
  • Upvotes
  • Date ascending
  • Date descending
Best answer
Francesco
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Nov 16, 2023
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success (➡ interviewoffers.com) | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi there,

Q: Should I practice case studies daily, especially since learning is not just about quantity but also about the quality of feedback provided to me?

It depends on when you expect to have interviews. If you believe you will have interviews soon, it would make sense to start your preparation.

The quality of the feedback is important, so definitely look for good case partners, however you will need to do a certain number of cases to feel ready (the exact number depends on the person – for many it’s at least 10-20).

In terms of general prep tips, I would recommend the following:

  1. Identify the companies interesting to you. You can create a DB with all the companies you want to target so that you can look for a referral later for them (see point #7).
  2. Define a calendar for your preparation. Identify how many hours you have before your expected interview and allocate the time slots for preparation in your calendar, working on the points below. Many candidates need 100+ hours to be ready before a consulting interview starting from zero so you can keep that as a benchmark.
  3. Start reading good MBA Consulting Casebooks – you can find several for free online (INSEAD is a good one to start). Read the cases and try to apply your structure to solve them. Whenever you see there is something missing, upgrade your structure with the new insights. Try to read a new case per day – in this way you will absorb better the information with constant learning.
  4. After the first 5-10 cases in books/casebooks and basic theory, start to practice live. PrepLounge can be helpful to connect with other candidates for that. There is a relevant part of the interview score that is based on your communication, which you cannot practice at all if you read cases only.
  5. Keep track of your mistakes and see which ones you are repeating. This is extremely important, as otherwise you may do a ton of cases without fixing the real issues. If you find common mistakes, try to identify the reason for them (feedback from experienced partners would be particularly useful for this). Be sure to focus on both the behavioral part and the case part during the mocks. The case part should also cover market sizing, math and graph analysis.
  6. Before your application, be sure to review your CV and Cover, so that they are in the required format for a strategy role.
  7. At least 3 weeks before the application deadline, start networking to find referrals. You can find some tips here.
  8. Before the interviews, be sure to prepare your questions for the interviewer  – a great way to show you prepared in advance and to connect with the interviewer for a good final impression. Ideally, try to find out who they are and study their profile to have good questions to ask.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

If you want to spend a few hours only instead of 100+ and cover everything mentioned above, I developed a program precisely for that. 

I can also share with you real questions for your target office (I have a DB with 1.500+ questions asked in 60+ offices you won't find anywhere else - you can check on my profile if I cover your particular office).

You can check the program at the following link to learn more:

▶ GYM Program

If you have any questions please feel free to PM me.

Best,

Francesco

Was this answer helpful?
Dennis
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Nov 30, 2023
Ex-Roland Berger|Project Manager and Recruiter|7+ years of consulting experience in USA and Europe

Hi,

it’s good to have a focused approach. The number of cases you do is not the sole KPI you should chase. After a while the utility function for doing additional cases will plateau. Rather work on incorporating previous feedback into how you approach and handle cases so that you continuously improve in those areas. Regularly practice mental and written math as well as reading and analyzing charts. You can do these things as separate little exercise units per day.

For actionable and tailored feedback you should also consider a few sessions with a coach during your preparation.

Good luck

Was this answer helpful?
Moritz
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Nov 17, 2023
ex-McKinsey EM & Interviewer | 7/8 offer rate for 4+ sessions | 90min sessions with FREE exercises & videos

Hi there,

Yes, you should be doing cases with peers to get the hang of it. However, don't expect too much from the feedback, which is often a bit misleading/not helpful. If you want quality guidance, get a coach.

With a coach, you will not just get feedback, but you will actually build the skills that a relevant in a very purposeful and impactful way, sometimes without using cases. This is highly effective, much more so than just doing the same case routing over and over…

EXAMPLE: I created some video content and exercises just to practice great case openings for McKinsey, where it comes down to your analytical skills. This has been a game-changer for lots of my coachees!

MY ADVICE: Get some cases under your belt and then reach out to some coaches. It's worth it, believe me!

Best,
Moritz
_______________________________________________________
>> Need a specialized McKinsey coach & mentor? 
     See my full profile 
>> Need real McKinsey cases?
     Zero Carbon Mine (hard)
     Car Convenience (Intermediate + brand new)

Was this answer helpful?
Nikita
Expert
updated an answer on Nov 16, 2023
MBB & Tier2 preparation | 85+ offers | 7 years coaching | 2000+ sessions | PDF reviews attached

Hi,

2-4 hours daily is an overkill, you'll burn out pretty quickly.

From my experience, doing 5 quality cases per week with peers (solving 5 and giving 5) is enough. It's 90 to 120 minutes per day 5 days per week. I also suggest taking 1-2 days off preparation every week. 

I would also use the remaining time you've got left for passive learning: reading business articles etc.

Also, To progress quickly, I suggest you take this approach (in the following order):

1. Getting coaching when you are a complete beginner to learn the basics;

2. After you've learned the basics, practice cases with peers to polish your case solving process and acquire understanding of a wide range of industries and problem types;

3. Before the interview, ask a few acting consultants to give you cases in a mock-interview format to assess your readiness.

Good luck,
Nick

 

(edited)

Was this answer helpful?
Hagen
Expert
Content Creator
updated an answer on Nov 16, 2023
#1 Bain coach | >95% success rate | interviewer for 8+ years | mentor and coach for 7+ years

Hi there,

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

  • First of all, since you have 2-4 hours daily, I would advise you to split your time between practicing case studies and preparing your applications as well as other forms of practice.
  • Moreover, you should obviously only practice with peers who can provide thorough and constructive feedback. This will help you identify your areas of improvement and refine your approach.
  • Lastly, while defining KPIs might be meaningful from a procedural perspective, it might be hard to quantify your performance on both the case study and personal fit part of your future interviews.

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

(edited)

Was this answer helpful?
Cristian
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Nov 16, 2023
#1 rated MBB & McKinsey Coach

Hi!

That's a great question. 

Basically, try to form a base of knowledge from self-study. Practically, that means somewhere up to 10 cases. 

Then aim to get feedback over a live case done with somebody who is a consultant or a coach. They will be able to give you good feedback and an understanding of what to aspire to. 

Start doing peer practice only after you've developed an understanding of what good looks like; otherwise peer practice is going to be more confusing than helpful. 

Good luck!
Cristian

———————————————

Practicing for interviews? Check out my latest case based on a first-round MBB interview >>> CodeWave  

Was this answer helpful?
Ian
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Nov 17, 2023
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi there,

In general you want to make sure you are practicing dribbling, passing, and shooting, NOT just playing matches.

Make sense?

So, yes, do live cases with peers (not reading cases) AND, try to do some combination of:

  • Daily reading
  • Fast math
  • Charts/exhibits
  • Industry deep-dives
  • Frameworking
  • Market sizing
  • Fit/Behavioral

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

Was this answer helpful?
Anonymous B updated the answer on Nov 17, 2023

Nice sharing. Mastering daily case study practice is pivotal in preparing for consulting firm applications. The consistent effort refines analytical skills, problem-solving, and communication. Quality feedback, integral to the learning process, hones one's approach. It's the dynamic combination of practice and feedback that empowers candidates for success in consulting firm recruitment. MyAssignmentHelp provides invaluable case study help, offering expert assistance and tailored solutions. With a commitment to excellence, their services ensure comprehensive support for students, making it a trusted resource for academic success in case study assignments.

(edited)

Was this answer helpful?
6
Pedro
Expert
replied on Dec 01, 2023
30% off in April 2024 | Bain | EY-Parthenon | Roland Berger | Market Sizing | DARDEN MBA

The best preparation is practical preparation. If you are devoting 2-4 hours a day then yes, it makes complete sense to do at least 1 case a day.

Was this answer helpful?
Frederic
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Nov 16, 2023
ex Jr. Partner McKinsey |Senior Interviewer| Real Feedback & Free Homework between sessions|Harvard Coach|10+ Experience

Hi there, I honestly do not think you need even 2-4hrs DAILY. Make sure you can maintain the level of training rather than pushing too hard at the beginning and then not being able to follow through. Happy to develop a good strategy over a free coffee chat with you, just ping me a DM. Warm regards, Freddy 

Was this answer helpful?
Francesco gave the best answer

Francesco

Content Creator
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success (➡ interviewoffers.com) | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching
4,527
Meetings
45,375
Q&A Upvotes
392
Awards
5.0
1622 Reviews