When to apply during preparation process?

Great question, which we get asked often.

I would (and did) absolutely start preparing long before the actual application. Do a few cases (at least one or two with current/former consultants), to know 'what good looks like' and how far away you are. Doing mental math and listening to LOMS is a great use of your time as well.

Once you apply and start getting interviews lined up, you will obviously need to step up your game and go all in.

In general, most of us need over 100 hours of practice, spread out over 2 or 3 months so our brain has time to absorb the learnings and make it 2nd nature. Just cramming over the couple of weeks before a phone call and the interview generally doesn't cut it. Looks like you are preparing well ahead of time, good job - keep it up!

Hi A,

The best option would be to start preparing in advance because time's gonna be tight. You need over a hundred hours of preparation in general.

So in order to get it through without any rush, you better start now and spend about 3 months preparing, to apply in the middle of the preparation process, as my colleagues have mentioned.

Best, André

Hi,

It's more about quality rather than quantity:

1. Don't count the cases you've done yourself
2. Don't count the cases you've done from the casebooks
3. Count the cases you've done with experienced candidates (50+ cases solved / passed the first round) who can give you a real case and a good feedback.

In that case, you need 40-50 cases depending on the role, office, etc (e.g. MBAs in top schools need just a bit of practice compared to regular candidates. Both because of their knowledge and because the on-campus hiring is not that tough)

If you take a good coach, you can make it in 20-35 cases. The coach will give you the right knowledge. Partners will help you integrate the skill. At the end of the day, it's just a skill that can be trained.

Why do you even need partners and coaches? When you are stressed during the case interview and out of energy having the 3rd case in a row, 90% of your questions and reactions should be fully automatic. Otherwise, it's extremely hard to solve the case, trying in find out what you've memorized from v.Cheng book.

Best!