Leveraging McK Final Round to Bain/BCG 1st Round

Is it possible to use a McKinsey final round interview to secure a 1st round interview with Bain and BCG?

A little background: I am a PhD student from Stanford. Last summer I applied to McKinsey and BCG's summer PhD programs (Insight and Bridge2BCG, respectively) and didn't even get to the phone screen. This indicates to me that I'm probably not a top candidate on paper. The summer applications did lead to a 1st round McKinsey interview. I passed the PST and then the 2nd round and am now on to final rounds.

My worry is that I'll have trouble passing Bain and BCG's resume screen. I am considering emailing the recruiters and saying something like "I may be requesting an accelerated interview schedule, pending the results of my October 4 final round interview with McKinsey," to reassure the recruiter with some external validation of my interviewing skills.

Two questions: (1) Would that help? and (2) Would I come off as a giant tool?

 

An engineering field. Would rather not say which to stay somewhat anonymous. I got my BS from a crappy state school. I assume that is what killed me at the resume screen level for the summer programs.

Makes sense, I guess. If they are getting, say, 100 PhD applicants from Stanford for 20 slots in the summer program, UG school is a quick filter.

 
Best Response
Pee H. Dee:
I got my BS from a crappy state school. I assume that is what killed me at the resume screen level for the summer programs.
I went to absolutely unknown state school (like 3rd tier state system) but got my PhD from Northwestern--the school for your BS doesn't matter.

Honestly, not getting into the summer programs doesn't matter much either--most of the people accepted for the summer program don't get an offer (we had a yield of about 5% this year out of the summer program, which was less than a third of our advanced degree target).

 
Beny23:
CaR:

A Stanford PHD doesn't get you a phone interview? Good Lord

I can't believe it myself but maybe you have to remake your resume. What's your PhD in?

There are a ton of PhD students applying to consulting positions from all kinds of fields. Just as a Standford BA doesn't guarantee you a phone interview, a Stanford PhD won't either.

OP: just try what the other person did. Can't hurt to try!

 

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