Capital One BA vs. Other Consulting Firms
Hi there! Recently got a full-time offer from C1 for their BA program, and also have a full-time offer from firms within the range of Kearney, OC&C and Simon-Kucher in their NYC offices. I think my ultimate goal would be to exit into private equity or product (SWE or anything else data/coding heavy could also be super neat if doable).
I'm leaning on the consulting offer primarily due to it being based in NYC and the fact that I really enjoyed my consulting internship. I know C1 has remarkable placement for their analysts but just really want to get other perspectives to be able to make a formal decision.
Thanks!
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to consider:
Exit Opportunities:
Location Advantage:
Skill Development:
Personal Preference:
Recommendation:
If private equity or a broader range of exit opportunities is your ultimate goal, the consulting offer in NYC seems like the better fit. However, if you're drawn to fintech, big tech, or data-heavy roles, Capital One's BA program could be a strong contender. Your enjoyment of consulting and the NYC location might tip the scales in favor of the consulting firms.
Sources: Capital One BA vs MBB, CapitalOne FT - BA and Strategy Associate, Capital One vs KPMG Consulting vs Boutique Consulting
As a former C1 BA Intern who re-recruited and left - the exits are poor, the culture is slow and numbing, and the projects are largely irrelevant to anything you'd want to do outside of fintech. It has no private equity placements. It would rival those firms for product placements, however, and you would get excess exposure to SWE and data projects, if you wanted them. I still think going t2 and keeping your options open is stronger.
Can you expand more on how the exits are poor? Thought people always touted the program for having pretty good exit opps after completing it?
C1 BA is not consulting. It’s a very interesting role but it is not consulting. It’s more of a data analytics role with applied outcomes. A few friends there love it but are in python for a lot of their day
C1 BA is a fantastic role, but not consulting. Based on what I've heard, it is pretty easy to simply move into product if you make it your goal. You will not work in PE, but MBA is def a path, especially if you impress during your time there. You're also going to be in SQL or Python most of the time, but the work is supposedly fairly interesting if you like fintech.
From those T2s, a PE role would be fairly difficult unless you made a concentrated effort, as OC&C is exclusively strategy focused, SK focuses on pricing strategy, and Kearney on supply chain (but def gets a lot of DDs as well). Product is not as easy as an exit as it used to be from consulting, although tech is kind of improving, so in 2-3 years maybe things are looking better.
T2 will shape you better long-run, but product and PE are not sure gets. More varied and better exits in corpdev, startups, strategy roles, etc. Gives you a lot of optionality in your future career.
In C1 is very possible to move internally into product after your 2 year stint (afaik), and exits are "limited" to fintech. Fintech is a pretty great industry to be siloed into, it's fast growing, good WLB, high pay, located in T1/T2 cities. Objectively a phenomenal industry. And being 100% sure of a product lateral is genuinely unheard of this day in age - C1 is the only company I've even heard of something similar (not even Google or Amazon can gaurantee this in the way C1 can). I'm incoming at MBB and C1 product is an exit I've seen from our office a few times.
What about C1 BA vs Altman Solon? Same story or would you have any other insightss here?
I think Altman Solon is tmt focused so it should be a bit easier to exit into product. Go to linkedin and filter for "past company - Atlman Solon" then type in "Private Equity" or "Product" and you can see how the exits are. I took a look and I see a fair number of Altman Solon -> M7 or T10 MBA -> product. I also see a few exits into product generally, maybe not big tech but F100 and a switch or two later and they're at FAANG/top dollar tech (microsoft, snap, salesforce, etc.). I saw a couple PE as well, but not as many.
I would look through and explore, this is your future career. Personally, I would do Altman Solon for future career optionality but if you're set on product and higher pay earlier in your career then I'd go C1.
Other poster has lots of insight; personally I'd go C1 since a lot of friends have touted the progression and culture there
Aliquid quis nam eveniet vel veniam placeat veniam. Molestiae rerum cupiditate minus molestiae itaque corrupti id sed. Sit omnis soluta delectus fuga. Vel cum aut accusantium dolor aliquam necessitatibus. Eum et dolores molestiae rem.
Accusamus illum velit explicabo voluptatem illum. Est earum consequuntur id excepturi quo.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...