Econ Consulting: Cornerstone vs. Analysis Group
I just received offers from both. Done some research online, they seem pretty similar. Vault seems to rank AG a little higher. Any advice?
Thanks!
Can't really go wrong with either. Cornerstone has a great reputation for placing well in graduate school and they have arguably the strongest group of experts. My best friend just finished summer internship at AG and is returning full time and he says that it is a really fun environment (lots of happy hours, team get togethers, etc.) with strong emphasis on developing and taking care of their people--his experience is consistent with their reputation as well. Grad school ops will be great from both, compensation should be pretty much identical, hours should be comparable, etc.
I am very familiar with both of these firms and economic consulting as a whole. From what I can tell, AG seems to have a consistently better culture and happier people.
I'm in a similar position. h09, when did you hear from AG and which office did you apply to?
AG seems to have a lot more in-house guys, whereas Cornerstone deals more with outside experts. Am i right?
There seems to be very little distinguishing the firm in terms of pay, exit ops, culture etc.
take cornerstone. the opportunity to network with leading academics nationally is unrivaled by any of the other EC firms. It will, automatically, place you into an elite business school as long as you are smart about it.
from what i've heard cornerstone works you to death, however the pedigree of the analysts and bschool / phd exit ops probably exceed or at least match any job out there
Thanks afalcon10 and myblackberryblinks.
So you seem to suggest exit ops are better from Cornerstone? What about skills etc. Would AG beat Cornerstone because they do more modeling and research in-house?
Also, could you tell me a little more about phd exit ops. From what I gathered, very few analysts pursue an econ phd. How do grad schools in econ view EC firms.
I am very familiar with both of these firms, and I would be shocked if there was any difference in exit opps between the two. In my observation, there is none. As long as you are half decent at your job, you will get into a top bschool from either firm. Both firms work extensively with academic affiliates but the academic affiliate doesn't really do any modeling/research, so you will likely due the same amount at either firm.
As far as PhD admissions go, the main benefit of EC is that it buys you time to get another rec and take some math classes in your spare time.
You should make this choice based on your gut instinct and the sort of work you'll do at either office.
PM me if you want to talk more.
how does cra compare to these two?
CRA is quite good, but they've had layoffs since the financial crisis and the culture seems to be a bit less positive. I think AG and Cornerstone are better if you have a choice, but CRA will set you up just the same in terms of bschool admissions.
Pretty well from what I hear.
How does Compass Lexecon rank in this space? I just received an analyst offer from them and am wondering about their reputation.
Congrats on the offers! Both are great shops. I would rank CRA right at the top with Cornerstone, and Analysis Group. All of these shops will grind you out for hours, so if I were in your shoes I would choose based on your perception of the team. How do the VPs strike you at each office? Which company seems to have happier people? But yeah, you're gonna learn a ton at any of those firms, and exit opps are great. I'm a CRA alum myself, and have met several folks from Cornerstone and AG in bschool. ECs are very well represented, especially considering how small of an industry it is. I had a couple friends go do a ph.d. after a year or two. They placed well too, and having a well published economist (which all the experts at these shops are) on your list of recs certainly doesn't hurt.
Enjoy!
Would it be possible break into a generalist consulting firm like McKinsey, Bain or BCG after a summer internship at Analysis Group? What about Analysis Group full time then top MBA then MBB?
Yes, and Yes. Both are common routes.
Cornerstone seems to have a more congenial culture than AG. But that's just my opinion, other people will probably think otherwise.
can anyone share what the salaries are like coming from these firms right out of undergrad? Are they higher at these firms than comparable econ consulting shops like NERA, Brattle, etc?
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