LSE 3rd year BSc Economics and Politics student. I have no experience. How do I break into consulting or IB?
I don't mind taking a job like audit if I have to or doing a masters. I just want to end up in consulting (preferably). Ideally at a T2 consulting firm though T1 would be even better. My grades are, unfortunately quite mediocre, (low 2:1). Do i have a chance? What would be my best route to consulting?
Breaking into consulting or investment banking (IB) with a low 2:1 and no experience is challenging but not impossible. Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s a roadmap tailored to your situation:
1. Leverage a Master's Degree
2. Gain Relevant Experience
3. Networking is Key
4. Target Tier 2 and Boutique Firms
5. Prepare for Applications and Interviews
6. Consider Alternative Routes
Final Thoughts:
Your path to consulting or IB might not be straightforward, but with persistence, strategic planning, and leveraging opportunities like a master's degree or Big 4 experience, you can achieve your goals. Focus on building a strong narrative around your skills, experiences, and aspirations to stand out in applications and interviews.
Sources: Q&A - Left First Undergrad with Sub 2.0 GPA====>Booth MBA/"Tier 2" Consulting, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/ib-vs-consulting?customgpt=1, Q&A: Strategy consulting Associate Partner offering career advice, Q&A: 1st year VC analyst (~750M AUM), MSF Class of 2018
First of all its a strong cons not having any experience , in terms of internships , as an LSE student, coming from an super target background you could have had several prestigious internships from investment banks, consulting firms including big 4 etc. Having not so great grads on top of none experience mostly means you won't be able to better most of your LSE graduating cohort besides most other recently graduated target and semi-target students that spent the last three years building up an attractive CV. But still a LSE graduate would probably have some good opportunities even without a great CV or grades. I'd say try to get your grades up to at least a high 2:1 to at least be competitive for prestigious roles. The grades you graduate with are very important for your masters applications as well so work on that while preping for applications to Tier 2 consulting (MBB is far fetched with less than first class and no experience, you would have better chances with a high 2:1 at tier 2) Big 4 consulting&audit and maybe some industry roles that might interest you (try to not go for too competitive ones) . Even if you end up with smth like big 4 audit you could work your way up to tier 2, industry roles and maybe even mbb. You might do it with a masters too.
Thank you so much, I am planning to do the two year masters in MSc Accounting and Finance at LSE. Could getting good grades in my masters compensate for my lower grades at undergrad? I will try to push for a high 2:1 though. As I have two years (this and next year), I could use those to build up my CV and gain experience, would this give me a shot?
Don't know much about the MSc Accounting and Finance at LSE , people mostly go for the single year Mfin or finance and PE, but a quantitative master's from LSE will always look good on your CV especially if you graduate with a distinction. A two year masters would be a good pick for you because it would open two summer internship slots for you, the first one being the summer you graduated from your ug and second one being the summer between first and second year of your masters. I'd say focus on getting that grades up to a high 2:1 because without that its going to be hard for you to get that MSc spot. I must say that technically an accounting&finance MSc could look a bit too quantitative for consulting, most students that go for a masters with a goal of becoming a consultant apply to MIM (masters in Management) or GMIM, but still a LSE quant heavy MSc will look good on your CV. Maybe if you improve your grades at ug and one or two insight weeks&short internships you could land a big 4 role (considering you have literally zero experience before) and a couple of years later you'd go for a post-experience masters rather than directly out of uni.
Initially I was considering the GMIM, but upon realising my chances for getting into the program were less competitive I decided not to do it. The two year MSc in A+F at LSE is a bit easier to get into based on my research. If I manage to get my grades up to a high 2:1 (on 65 - mid 2:1 atm) and get accepted to the masters, would it be reaching too high to try for IB internships? Doing a 2 year MSc essentially puts me on a level playing field with other internship applicants
It’s definitely a step up from where you started, and overall a competitive position. If you land the MSc and crush it, you’ll have a real shot at IB and consulting. Just don’t forget a MSc only fixes the academics part, it doesn’t magically solve the zero experience problem.
My take: get your grades up, lock in the MSc, and grab any internship you can get your hands on starting now - no overthinking just yet, just stack experience. Only then will you actually have options and be able to choose which summer internship or grad offer you want to run with.
Yeah I agree, I’m going to try as hard as I can this cycle and next year to land something in either IB or consulting. Thanks so much for your advice.
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