You need to be able to think and break things down; I'm sure you have the smarts if you are at a top 5 school, but as you said its the way you think. There is a good possibility that you are just not cut out for consulting because your brain does not work this way. If you think the interviews are hard, wait until you get to the actual work ...I say this as someone who also had to "re-program" his thinking in order to get an MBB offer, and I did :)
I am not saying this to discourage you - you seem to have the drive and desire and that speaks very well for you. I'd recommend getting a copy of Crack the Case and working through the various outlines there - there are only so many archetypes of cases and if you get the hang of them you'll stand a better chance.
I have a non business background and just received a McKinsey offer as an APD for a Midwest office (have BCG final round, but may withdraw as McKinsey is my preferred choice). I think you may want to re-assess your preparation methods. One website I found helpful at the beginning of my prep (about 3-4 months back) was firmsconsulting.com (you can google it). I subscribed for two months, and it helped me achieve basic understanding of consulting and approach to cases. (they have some free videos on cases in youtube, you can check them out as well). Once I felt familiar with the structure and format of cases, I stopped my subcription (it was really pricey) and READ a number of business schools' casebooks (eg Wharton, Harvard, Darden, Kellogg, etc). This was my way of building "business knowledge", and I'll say I read over 100 cases. Then I practiced about over 30 cases to instill the concepts.
Of course, do not underestimate the "fit" portion. I understand it's equally important. A practice mate didn't get to final round because her fit portion was not considered strong (as per the feedback she received).
I listened to the LOMS from a colleague's purchase. It's okay, I'll say, but I didn't rely on it. But then, they are those with non business background that didn't have to pay a pricey subcription like I did to get basic understanding of how to ace consulting cases.
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I heard 10 is enough. Maybe its not your case cracking skills holding you back...
Vodka
You need to be able to think and break things down; I'm sure you have the smarts if you are at a top 5 school, but as you said its the way you think. There is a good possibility that you are just not cut out for consulting because your brain does not work this way. If you think the interviews are hard, wait until you get to the actual work ...I say this as someone who also had to "re-program" his thinking in order to get an MBB offer, and I did :)
I am not saying this to discourage you - you seem to have the drive and desire and that speaks very well for you. I'd recommend getting a copy of Crack the Case and working through the various outlines there - there are only so many archetypes of cases and if you get the hang of them you'll stand a better chance.
Best of luck!
Vodkaguru, Just my two cents here;
I have a non business background and just received a McKinsey offer as an APD for a Midwest office (have BCG final round, but may withdraw as McKinsey is my preferred choice). I think you may want to re-assess your preparation methods. One website I found helpful at the beginning of my prep (about 3-4 months back) was firmsconsulting.com (you can google it). I subscribed for two months, and it helped me achieve basic understanding of consulting and approach to cases. (they have some free videos on cases in youtube, you can check them out as well). Once I felt familiar with the structure and format of cases, I stopped my subcription (it was really pricey) and READ a number of business schools' casebooks (eg Wharton, Harvard, Darden, Kellogg, etc). This was my way of building "business knowledge", and I'll say I read over 100 cases. Then I practiced about over 30 cases to instill the concepts.
Of course, do not underestimate the "fit" portion. I understand it's equally important. A practice mate didn't get to final round because her fit portion was not considered strong (as per the feedback she received).
I listened to the LOMS from a colleague's purchase. It's okay, I'll say, but I didn't rely on it. But then, they are those with non business background that didn't have to pay a pricey subcription like I did to get basic understanding of how to ace consulting cases.
Expedita sit id distinctio doloribus sint. Optio quia soluta dolor velit corrupti iste sint consequuntur. Dicta voluptatibus eaque cumque suscipit aut explicabo blanditiis.
Vel quia nisi nobis praesentium qui architecto deleniti. Quo rem debitis est animi nulla illo. Ullam ex ab laudantium animi non. Ullam quis labore non tempore qui. Voluptas quis inventore quaerat quia sint. Id qui temporibus neque odit at delectus. Necessitatibus et error modi consequatur voluptatibus accusamus.
Culpa voluptatem praesentium omnis sint sint. Et provident natus dolorum dolore. In repellendus nobis cum quasi. Iusto vel distinctio distinctio doloremque consequatur. Tempore assumenda et dolor libero. Voluptas voluptatem atque quaerat atque.
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