MBB Houston vs Unicorn Tech Internship (UG Junior)
Hello all! I am quite fortunate to be in the position to be considering two very good internship offers. I am on a computer science track and had a prior internship with the software company I am considering. For my junior year internship, I am split between Houston BCG and this software role (~210k newgrad with IPO'd stock). I know the tech company has very good WLB, but I'm worried about long term career growth in tech: I love coding but I don't think that's what I want to be doing in 5 years. At the same time, consulting at the junior end seems quite rote and hierarchical, I appreciated the openness and ability to drive product decisions in tech. I've heard a lot from SWEs, I'm interested to hear the consulting side of what you all would consider/regret more.
Well, you're in a fantastic position, my friend! Both options have their own unique advantages.
If you choose BCG in Houston, you'll be stepping into the world of management consulting, which is known for its fast-paced environment and diverse projects. You'll get to work with a variety of clients, learn about different industries, and develop a broad set of skills. Plus, the prestige of BCG can open many doors for you in the future.
On the other hand, the tech company offers a comfortable work-life balance and the opportunity to be at the forefront of technological innovation. If you love coding but don't see yourself doing it long-term, this could be a chance to explore other roles within the tech industry.
In the end, it really comes down to what you value most in your career. If you're looking for diversity, constant learning, and a fast-paced environment, BCG might be the way to go. If you prefer a more balanced lifestyle and the chance to be part of the tech revolution, the software company could be a better fit.
Remember, there's no right or wrong choice here. It's all about what aligns best with your personal and professional goals. Good luck with your decision!
Sources: IB VS. COMP SCI, Pros and Cons of internships abroad, Best internship for MBB, SpaceX or Amazon?, Bain or BCG for Summer Internship??
Looks like taking Rice worked out in the end! Congrats
Never regretted it since stepping foot on campus :).
I don't think you could have made a wrong choice :) but given im in McIntire I may be a little biased
I’m a CS grad that opted for MBB over SWE. Similarly liked coding a lot but couldn’t bear the thought of doing it for 5-40 more years. And I absolutely hated that working as a SWE is like 80% debugging and understanding shit someone else wrote vs. solving fun problems like in school.
My MBB experience has been overwhelmingly positive. Have found the work very interesting and intellectually stimulating. With all MBB, ymmv but have not had a team yet that felt hierarchical—very collegial and felt like a contributor from day one
Makes a lot of sense. From my prior internship, the work at this company is substantially more interesting than most I've seen (no webdev/mobile stuff), but I'm afraid of having to return to that upon switching roles. How much has your experience been exposing you to various fields versus building expertise in a particular industry, and how much have you been able to guide that process? Thanks so much for the response.
Your experience will be highly variable at MBB. Cant speak to BCG specifically but in general you have much less direction in a market like this in terms of charting your own path (you take any staffing that comes until you build up a good reputation and have options).
For a Texas BCG office, you’ll be predisposed to staffings in certain industries like energy/O&G. Doesn’t mean you cant or wont branch out, but staffing environment and model aren’t doing you favors if that’s not your thing (which i doubt it is based on your profile).
That aside, I think you’re looking 1-2 levels too deep. Fundamentally, you should decide whether you want to be a “business/strategy person” or an “engineer/builder person.” Ignore comp, don’t get wedded to a 5 or 10 year plan (won’t pan out how you think almost certainly), and pick based on your genuine interest.
I will say that MBB is a “safer” play in the sense that coding ability and being facile with tech while having business clout is very desirable in a variety of fields. You can fairly easily grind leetcode and get a coding job but once you start as an SWE it is comparatively much harder to go become a “business person” without a $200k MBA
Not in either, but my two cents from the outside looking in is you can probably pivot from MBB to Tech later, but going from Tech to MBB is likely a non-starter unless you go back for an MBA.
I think MBB > PM is doable, MBB > SWE is probably a harder ask unless you go back to newgrad level. If I wanted to stay in tech, I think staying in SWE is both easier for PM pivots and progressing there, my main fear is having a career that levels out too early.
Quis excepturi rerum accusantium. Voluptate accusamus dolorum accusantium et minima nesciunt dolore. Consectetur aliquam odio iure sunt non.
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...