All questions tagged MBA - Consulting Q&A - PrepLounge.com

Hello there,

Getting a sponsorship will require one to achieve Tracking rating based on the latest 2 reviews. Although some office might require higher rating above Tracking.

The rating system are normalized, meaning your performance is being compared to the performance of your cohort in the Firm. With the Firm filled with highly-driven professionals, these could indeed prove challenging at times for some, although for tracking, it should be very doable.

Most of the people who stayed typically gets an opportunity to propose for and receive the scholarship (since getting Tracking means you are not counseled to leave in this case), although it is indeed to offer to jump straight to Associate for high performing ones are quite enticing and preferred by the Firm.

One can apply for the funding once yo have ticked all the boxes, hence you have somewhat of a control in getting it.

Hope it helps.

Kind regards,
Nathan

Hello!

I think it´s a very personal option, and it highly depends on your personal circumpstances as well (e.g., whether you have any debts already, if you can get it financed, etc.). However:

• It´s an amazing personal growing experiece -not everything needs to be measured in terms that you can monetize-.
• Network is strong, international and much wider and richer than the one you get in your local MBB office
• Great for the CV -if you can get in a good school, of course-.

I would talk to people who returned from MBAs in your office and ask them about it. In McKinsey Madrid, it was a no-brainer for (almost) all BAs.

Also feel free to reach out since I´m starting in no time my MBA in MIT

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

Hi,

The NW school is a good source but it depends on how much you want to deep dive into the subject. If your aim is just to "speak the same language" and understand what is happening, it is fine. If your aim is to handle the accounting part on your own, you should definetly do a face-to-face course or an intership to put your hands on the financial statements ina safe enviroment.

Where are you going to start your company? Every country has his own detailed rules about accounting, you should consider it before buying a course.

Hope it helps,
Luca

Hi,

Based on what I've seen at Harvard, the programs are completely different:

• MBA usually has a required curriculum (finance, marketing, accounting, etc) and elective classes
• EMBA usually has multiple programs (e.g. for entrepreneurs, for corporates, etc). They don't have the required These courses are usually standardized and are less about technical skills and more about soft skills (leadership, negotiations) but are more advanced than traditional MBA courses. There can be specific EMBA programs that cover a particular topic - e.g. venture entrepreneurship

The major difference is networking. At EMBA the people around you will be more qualified. However, you will spend less time together (that will limit your opportunities for networking)

Best

Hello,

MBA is definitely better to increase you chance of getting an offer from MBB. A good alternative would be to enter a tier2 firm and work there for a couple of years.
Are you sure that your profile is not sufficient? Feel free to send me your cv and we can talk about it.

Best,
Luca

Hi,

It depends also on your academical background: if you have technical studies (e.g. engineering) every business course is appreciated.

This program is really a good one, but It can not be compared to a full-time MBA

Hello,

1) Network, possibilities to switch and start a new career. Talking about business knowledge it depends on your background: if you have a business background, it will not add that much

2) As soos as possible. After the MBA you will have this "Lock-in" period and they won't let you to switch career immediately. The sooner you do it, the sooner you will be owner of your career.

Best,
Luca

Hello!

THe mini-MBA from McKinsey is a super-super-concentrated 3 weeks program.

Have you considered doing an executive MBA, so you can make it compatible with your work? Most top programs have the E-version.

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

Hi JAbrams,

please find below the answers to your questions:

1) Thinking about consulting. How would MBB of the world (London in particular) feel about getting post-mba friend with a year in ib experience (and a couple of closed deals) on board? Would they treat it friendly or wtf we need this lad? pre-mba experience is pretty general: some consulting/finance/generalist jobs from middle to no names.

If the IB name is good (GS, JPM, MS) your background would be solid for a switch to consulting; however there may be a challenge with the timeline for this year according to the office, as you would compete with MBAs for the position and target a post MBA position.

2) How would it get from work-life-balance perspective? 60-70 hours a week dont scare sh* of me - but 100 bites. Want to have development and also sort of human life.

You would for sure work less than IB – probably in the 60-80 hours range according to the project

3) Anyone would recommend a nice alternative? Heard PE is not an option for post-mba person and think it may be apple for apple. Corporate not sure will fit (any funky names like amazon could work?) - free to throw your view on here.

I am helping right now a post-MBA candidate switching from IB to PE (they ask cases there as well). PE hire post MBA, however you should have a strong IB background from a top name or top consulting experience or both.

Other alternatives really depend on your goal. Feel free to PM if needed for more info.

4) Last but upmost - dont want to stop developing and learning - need to hit that C-level suit one day.

Consulting would probably be the best shot for a C-role between the options you listed

Best,

Francesco

Hi,

At McKinsey in North America it works like this

You must join the firm as a BA (no other starting role as far as I am aware allows this) and then stay in the firm for 2 years. Additionally, you must maintain a certain rating during your entire time at the firm, this could include being promoted to Associate or EM early but is not necessary to avail of the sponsorship. The firm then pays for your MBA or any other two year graduate program! (there are 2 different financial methods to do this depending on the tax implications for you).

If you do want to take advantage of this, you have to commit to coming back to the firm for 2 years post your MBA in order to consider the debt paid off.

This differs significantly in other regions, and also McKinsey no longer considers an MBA a requirment to move up in the firm. All BAs that are performing well automatically get promoted to Assocate after a certian amount of time

Hope this helps,

Udayan

Hi,

Not sure what you mean by tie-ups. Consulting background is one of the most common applicant's backgrounds. The brand is well known. You have to compete however with the other candidates both with similar and different backgrounds since the business schools are looking for a certain class composition

They pay, but not for all. It is usually decided on a case by case basis, so there is no 100% guarantee

Best

Hi,

You should apply for a post-MBA role (associate at mck, consultant at bcg) August 2020. If you can find someone to refer you, you can increase your chances to be invited again significantly.

Best,

Deniz

Hi Zeid,

2 years of experience + an MBA is great to enter in MBB with a non-entry level position ("junior associate"/"associate" in McKinsey, "consultant" in BCG and Bain).

Moreover, you can find multiple paths suitable for your background (maybe in your case operations and implementation). Here you can find post MBA paths available in McK: https://www.mckinsey.com/careers/students

Best,

Antonello

Hi Justin,

the truth is that it does not make any significant difference whether you go for McGill or HEC. MBB and other big players shall visit both schools for recruiting sessions with candidates during the academic year.

What is way more important - you overall profile, achievements, academic notes and your ability to crack the case during the interview. So practice, practice, practice!

Good luck,

André

Hello! I am currently trying to apply for one ofe the MBB, and I can help you with some info:
1: I believe McKinsey works with every type of departments, so I would go for them for sure;
2: Maybe with a huge background you would be able to apply for positions that recquires experienced people, so, above analyst (maybe associate or something like that)
3: The same logic here: if you are already experienced, you will join firms after the entry positions, where the MBA are sponsorized. I am not sure, but that's the impressions I got from my researches

Hi,

This is a very hard question to answer, as we don't know your personal circumstances and your career ambition going forward.

Until you start working in the grad scheme, you could use this time to explore what you like by doing an internship e.g. at a pension fund for a couple of months. Running a subsidiary of a company sounds like a longer-term commitment.

Best,

Deniz

To answer your question: In my vast experience as a McKinsey interviewer in the London office, there is no difference in terms of expectations between MBA and PhD candidates. I've never been in an interview review where we've discussed a candidates performance based on their background. I (and we) scored each candidate based on performance, alone, and decided on how they progressed based on their performance.

Bonus insight: I have prepped 200+ candidates (maybe even more at this stage). The biggest difference I noticed between MBAs and non-MBAs (PhDs, experienced hires, etc.) is that non-MBA were not always as prepared. Because of the nature of MBAs and the fact that it has historically been a direct route into consulting, MBAs have an advantage, by default:

1. They get a lot of support from their universities in terms of case prep
2. They know where the bar is and what is expected of them to get in (practice, practice practice)
3. Arguably the biggest advantage is they have direct access to Consultants who they can practice with.

Whereas non-MBAs don't have this. And I say that as a non-MBA experience hire who got into McKinsey. And as a Consultant who has successfully prepped many candidates - both MBAs and non-MBAs.

With PrepLounge, the great news is you have access to awesome consultants and information so that levels the playing field. Give me a shout if you want to practice!

All the very best!

Hi,

It's hard to say without knowing your University. But in most of the cases MBA is different in the following:

• Learning method - Mostly case method with little to no lectures
• Electives - they are totally different from BBA
• Diversity - lots of internationals
• Networking - your classmates already have 3-5 years of work experience and can contribute the discussion
• Recruiting activities - totally different

Best