BCG Offer: more information on job salary/offer, etc

I received an offer from BCG and would appreciate your comments on the following issues:

  1. How many years is the Associate program? Is it possible to enter directly into the second year if you hold a master's degree?
  2. Can you defer entry one year?
  3. What is the salary range for associates?
  4. Is it worth negotiating the offer?

Thank You

9 Comments
 
  1. Like all other entry-level programs, it's 2 years. No exceptions, no skips for special degrees - standard for bcg mckinsey and bain.

  2. Sure, if you have a damn good reason (Fulbright, Rhodes, sick family member, etc.). If you just want to take a year-long vacation, I doubt you'll keep your offer.

  3. Exactly what it says in your offer letter. I've seen offers from all three - they spell all of that out.

  4. Nope.

 
Best Response

Thanks.

  1. Well, at McKinsey if you have a master's degree, you can enter either as a Business Analyst or as an Associate. At BCG, there are also senior associates ... so is a Senior Associate the second year of the associate program is it a third year between the associate and consultant position?

  2. Good to know you can defer if you have a good reason

 

congrats

i remember in freshman year i asked a bcg associate: "do businesses listen to what you have to say? what credibility do fresh grad consultants have when telling a ceo to establish a business direction?"

i thought this was a smart question because a small business owner told me consultants were arrogant young pricks who told you what to do with businesses without any experience.

he looked at me with a glare that would kill a cow.

 

GotBushels, your comment and prospective monkey status brings to mind this joke:

What's the difference between you and a mallard with a cold? One's a sick duck and I can't remember how it ends, but your mother's a whore.

We can all make jokes about consultants vs. bankers, do we really have to go down that path? Especially when this kid just got an offer and is excited about it? Don't be a douche.

abcdef -

1) You're right, but the thing that you're missing from that story is that McKinsey has the discretion to bring you in at different levels just like BCG. A 5 year BS/MPH is a very different candidate than a BA, 2 years work experience, MS type candidate. From what I know, Senior Associate would probably be a one year bridge, but if you didn't interview for it and they didn't offer it you didn't get it.

2) Yeah - my experience with these bigger firms tells me that they have pretty kind HR people - they have to if they don't want attrition to go through the roof. Make a good sell but be prepped for them to say no if it's not something big like a fellowship.

 
bleedblue82GotBushels, your comment and prospective monkey status brings to mind this joke:

What's the difference between you and a mallard with a cold? One's a sick duck and I can't remember how it ends, but your mother's a whore.

We can all make jokes about consultants vs. bankers, do we really have to go down that path? Especially when this kid just got an offer and is excited about it? Don't be a douche.

abcdef -

1) You're right, but the thing that you're missing from that story is that McKinsey has the discretion to bring you in at different levels just like BCG. A 5 year BS/MPH is a very different candidate than a BA, 2 years work experience, MS type candidate. From what I know, Senior Associate would probably be a one year bridge, but if you didn't interview for it and they didn't offer it you didn't get it.

2) Yeah - my experience with these bigger firms tells me that they have pretty kind HR people - they have to if they don't want attrition to go through the roof. Make a good sell but be prepped for them to say no if it's not something big like a fellowship.

1 "a small business owner told me consultants were arrogant young pricks who told you what to do with businesses without any experience." Did you even read that this wasn't my opinion? 2 how did i even start a consultants vs bankers argument? 3 how is "congrats" beating down a kid i'm congratulating for getting an offer at BCG?
 

I know someone with a BS from HYPSW, an MS from a top school and a few years industry experience who still went in as an Associate. PhD's, JD and MBA come in at Consultant level, but a 1 year Master's won't get you there usually.

What region are you in OP? It actually may matter in this case.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of Starwood Points
 
  1. 2 years
  2. As said before, you can defer, but you need a good reason. I've seen things like prestigious scholarships, TFA, and studying a language for a year in a foreign country be approved.
  3. If you have an offer, this is clearly stated.
  4. No.
 

Good to know that an Associate is the right position for me. Funny though that associates include Undergrads with 1 or 2 internships and Postgrads with a couple of years of experience.

The offer is from an Asian office. I know that the salary I received is average (i.e. ~ 70K) but interestingly in the offer letter the range is not specified as some of you mentioned.

 

Voluptatem tempora minima molestiae minima reiciendis. Suscipit ex et id. Et fugit earum non voluptatibus quia sit. Saepe autem ipsam ut sed sed. Quasi amet animi dolorum sunt corporis quo quia. Provident sed dolorem autem earum qui saepe vitae rerum.

Et sit quas dignissimos voluptas cum deserunt dolorem alias. Rem laudantium corrupti sed dignissimos. Labore dolore asperiores voluptate sit beatae. Et accusamus deleniti et quam atque. Qui ad nihil qui harum et quae itaque odio.

Cum sequi qui ea odit delectus non odio in. Consequatur voluptas quia est expedita eaque. Explicabo ipsam et dolorum. Omnis maxime sint enim a error dolor.

One of those lights, slightly brighter than the rest, will be my wingtip passing over.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Consulting

  • Boston Consulting Group 99.5%
  • Bain & Company 98.9%
  • McKinsey and Co 98.4%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.9%
  • LEK Consulting 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Consulting

  • Cornerstone Research 99.5%
  • Bain & Company 98.9%
  • Boston Consulting Group 98.4%
  • McKinsey and Co 97.9%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Consulting

  • Bain & Company 99.5%
  • Boston Consulting Group 98.9%
  • McKinsey and Co 98.4%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.9%
  • LEK Consulting 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Consulting

  • Partner (4) $361
  • Principal (30) $294
  • Director/MD (58) $274
  • Vice President (53) $247
  • Engagement Manager (113) $232
  • Manager (170) $173
  • 2nd Year Associate (185) $142
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (116) $135
  • Senior Consultant (355) $132
  • Consultant (642) $122
  • 1st Year Associate (577) $121
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (164) $121
  • NA (16) $114
  • Engineer (6) $114
  • 2nd Year Analyst (391) $104
  • Associate Consultant (176) $101
  • 1st Year Analyst (1164) $90
  • Intern/Summer Associate (208) $83
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (633) $68
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”