Do I have to prep right now?

Hi guys,

Here is my situation: I am currently working as part of my end-of-study internship until December 2021 in a mid-cap private equity fund.

I am still hesitating between management consulting and private equity. 

My full-time position shall start between January and March 2022.

But the preparation for management consulting is time-consuming and I work from 9am to 7-9pm.

So, what do you guys think? What does it take to prepare case studies? Will I have enough time to be ready for interviews in October-December?

Or should I reconsider and start preparing in January with a target starting date in May-July 2022?

PS: I would apply only for top 5-6 consulting firms.

Thank you for your time!