MBB SF vs NYC vs Chicago
Hey everyone!
Thanks in advance for the help. I know the ranking of each firm varies based on the specific office. I was wondering if people could provide insight about the rankings of offices for SF, NYC, and Chicago for MBB. Especially comparing BCG and Bain. Aside from the type of work/industries some offices are more geared towards (SF = tech, NYC = FS), rankings in general.
In terms of number of applications, the most competitive office is NYC, then SF, then Chicago. Why do you even care though? Being at MBB in any office is pretty great.
Depends on what you mean by "ranking," I'd say that NYC = SF > Chicago in terms of competitiveness. New York may get more applications but the office also tends to be bigger than SF.
I meant moreso in prestige when comparing office/firm. Traditionally, I feel it goes McKinsey > BCG > Bain, but would for example, Bain SF be better than BCG Chicago?
And I know they are all great and such, but just wanted to see comparisons like this.
When I hear about "best offices", those two usually come up quite often - Bain SF and BCG Chicago.
I don't know anyone who has worked in both so I don't see how you're going to get anyone to compare them for you.
Once you're in a firm, I don't think there's a prestige difference between the offices. There will not be huge differences in terms of exit opps, unless the employer is looking for local candidates to save on relo or something.
It just comes down to where you want to live. And more people want to live in New York or SF than Chicago.
They're the same for people who matter (HHs, C-level people etc.), unless you want PE, for which Bain seems to me to really be quite far ahead. If you want acknowledgement from the average joe or your family BCG is probably somewhat ahead in terms of recognizability I'd say. But if that matters to you're far better off going for a Big 4.
Go with where you fit best.
.
Ranking in terms of prestige may not be the best way to look at it.
If you're concerned about what your parents / grandparents / neighbours / uncle's golf buddies will think, then sure. McK > BCG > Bain from a brand name POV for the average Joe. That may be changing with McK's recent run in the press though.
However, for people who matter from a career perspective e.g. B-schools, headhunters, corporate recruiters etc. McK = BCG = Bain.
Then when you get down to choosing a city, you should probably choose based on where you'd like to live. This will have a much bigger impact on your long-term happiness than a minor difference in competitiveness.
To be honest...McKinsey's reputation seems invincible at this point, and I don't think that any press is going to change it.
If anything, all of the articles that criticize McKinsey begin by discussing how the firm focuses only on attracting the top students at Harvard, Oxford, etc and works with nearly every major company. In some sense then, it actually heightens the lore/prestige/mystery of the firm.
I guess it depends what you're optimising for.
If you want your friends, neighbours and other acquaintances to think you're really smart, and don't mind that they think you work for a network of evil villains spreading its influence across the globe, then this is great press and you should go to work at McKinsey.
If you want them to be slightly less impressed with your intelligence, but also significantly less concerned that you may be an evil mastermind, then BCG & Bain may be better options.
People compare the firms, but nobody compares what city you're in. What a ridiculous notion. People choose offices based on where they want to live, how can that be subjected to prestige rankings?
The top three offices for MBB (in terms of competition and opportunities) are generally understood to be New York, SF, and Chicago. These three cities are therefore also home to the three largest offices for MBB.
As long as you're in a major city for MBB though, it doesn't really matter for exit opportunities. NYC, SF, Chicago, Boston are all great -- it's once you start looking at Dallas, LA, Philly, Miami, etc. that there is a slight drop-off in employee caliber and exit opps.
I don't think there's a drop-off. Especially if you're at McKinsey since you can be staffed across the country. Same for BCG for the most part. Bain is more local but it doesn't really matter since they require everyone to be a generalist regardless of office.
Anyone making the argument you have made here is a prospect who hasn't worked a day in the industry.
Suscipit libero error pariatur reiciendis blanditiis repellendus vitae voluptatibus. Quisquam quia quis quas rerum. Dolore sit quis quasi omnis eveniet quibusdam iste ut.
Hic et et voluptas qui aperiam at. Ex tempore ut vel. Cupiditate totam aperiam doloremque pariatur. Molestias minus et illo adipisci.
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...