Non-target student with full-time offers to 2/3 MBB's. Ask me anything!
Hey everyone, this site has been fairly helpful to me throughout the last few years, so I figured it was finally time to give back. I'm currently in my senior year of undergraduate, and I have offers from 2/3 MBBs (made it to final rounds at the 3rd, but was rejected after final round). I would love to answer any general questions about my approach or the interview process itself.
Brief background: I am a business major at a COMPLETE non-target (large state school with 50%+ acceptance rate). I would say in the last decade, we have had less than 10 alumni go directly into MBB from undergraduate. My method for receiving interviews was solely through cold-calling (over 200 calls in total), and building connections with consultants who were willing to pull for me. My offers are both from midwest offices.
Moderators: happy to send proof of offers if that makes this post any more legitimate!
Ask away!
Congrats! I'm sure it's a tough fight, and I'm happy for you to see the light from the tunnel. What an accomplishment!
two questions here 1. you may have had super SAT/ACT numbers... what's your thought if one doesn't have a good score in that range? 2. in your opinion, what is the top 3 things you did exceptionally well compared to target students? They're obviously advantaged by a lot, but getting 2/3 MBB is still tremendous for some targets
Thanks!
I did have fairly high scores, however as far as I know math is really the only component that matters. Unfortunately, you really only have two options. First, retake the SAT/ACT (yes you can do this even in college), however I would not recommend this in 99% of scenarios. Second, study and do well on a graduate level test (GMAT or GRE). Again, this is a huge time commitment and really only makes sense if you eventually plan on going to grad school. Ultimately, I don't think it makes or breaks you unless you did completely awful on it. Your resume is looked at holistically, so you can stand out in other ways such as stellar grades, involvements, and work experiences.
a. I networked my ass off. Some target students just waltz into info sessions, talk to a consultant or two, and then drop their resume. I had 30 min + phone calls with over 30 individuals at each firm. This gave me a super-in-depth understanding of the firms, the culture, and the people. Ultimately that allowed me to show genuine excitement and interest during my interviews, which I think goes a long way. b. I never treated my non-target background as a crutch or impediment. I went to no-name state university, and I'm genuinely proud of it. I've thrived during my time here, both academically and in my involvements (and unlike a lot of ivy league kids, socially :) ). Having a "second-tier" mentality isn't going to get you anywhere. Own it. c. My attitude was that I was serious about the recruitment process but I realized this wasn't a life or death situation. Have fun with it. Cases should be fun - it's literally what you'll be doing on the job. Learn to love the process and your interviewers will notice. There is a big difference between someone who can confidently "crack" a case and a person who nervously "jabs" at one.
I'm at MBB, now at the EM level. No questions, just wanted to say I'm impressed with the hustle and commitment that you showed (200 calls!) Hope you're joining my firm.
From an MBB perspective, you have to remember that a big reason we recruit only from elite schools is that it's just easier. If someone is smart and insanely driven like this comes from a non-target, why wouldn't we give them a shot?