MBB NYC vs. Boston

I am at a top three business school (HBS/Wharton/GSB) and wondering if changing office preferences from Boston to NYC would hurt my chances for a summer internship? I have a strong healthcare background which is why Boston was originally a top pick. Some people suggest doing Boston and transferring offices after the internship but I would rather know whether NYC is a real possibility sooner rather than later.

Caveat: I have interviews with all three MBB already and really want to live in NYC one day

9 Comments
 

If you're at one of HBS/Wharton/GSB, I'd say go for the city you want. If you want to live in NYC one day, recruit for NYC. The competitiveness for office varies year to year, but to my knowledge NYC isn't THAT much more competitive than Boston. If it were NYC vs. Cleveland, then it might be a different story. Even still, office transfers aren't easy if you really do want to live in NYC at some point.

Best of luck on your interviews!

 
Best Response

The best advice on this, year after year after year, is to simply apply for the office you want to be at. If you want to live in NY, apply to NY.

Trying to swap offices after the internship is not looked on favorably. You will most likely get denied, AND you will look bad.

For the NY/Cleveland example......the midwest offices aren't stupid. Fit is important in all offices, but especially at the smaller ones. The partners are wary of giving offers to people who are going to bolt and not grow with the office. If you don't have family in the region or they don't "specialize" in something you are interested in (and have demonstrated interest in via clubs or prior work experience), you are not doing yourself a favor by listing them as your first choice.

 

I already submitted my application for Boston but my first round interview is in a week -- is it too late to switch office preferences? Worried that switching this late in the game will look even WORSE...

 

I would be concerned that it reflects poorly on me to have gone through an entire recruiting season, selected office preferences, submitted applications....and then suddenly switch those preferences without any clear reason why. That could be irrational fear on my part though.

 

My personal life became a factor for my wanting to switch to NYC, something that I did not know would happen until I had already been recruiting for Boston. I feel like if anything, BCG would be more amenable to that than other firms?

 

Switched my interviews to NY from another office and got grilled pretty hard on it, definitely have some reasons prepared. I had an offer already when I made the switch so I was OK taking the risk.

 

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