Pivot from premed to consulting
Hello everyone,
I am a recent graduate currently working as a clinical research assistant. Initially, I intended to apply to medical school after a few years, but I am hoping to explore other options before embarking on the 10+ year journey to become a doctor. I'm hoping that this thread can help me get the lay of the land, consider career options in consulting, and maybe even give me some encouraging stories from people who were in a similar situation at one point.
A little bit about me: I went to an ivy league school where I graduated with a 3.97 GPA (not sure if GPA matters at all). My extracurriculars are very cookie-cutter premed (leadership role in a public health organization that educated local high schoolers, researching in a lab over the summer, writing for a neuroscience student journal, private tutoring, shadowing surgeons). After some in my current role, I've decided to explore the intersection of business and healthcare/life science rather than pursue becoming a practicing physician.
Given my pretty premed-focused background and the fact that I graduated last May, what are some realistic options for moving into the consulting field right now? I know that I'd need a few more years before I pursue an MBA, but I wouldn't hate to try my hand at making a career change before then. Does anyone have a similar story/know people who changed their goals from med school to consulting after graduating? What are some early steps that I can take in the right direction for a career move? I'm in the beginning stages so I'd be grateful for any advice, stories, or other thoughts that you may have. Thank you!
Well, if you're a recent graduate then you missed the boat on on-cycle recruiting, which is how 99% of the new recruits at large firms (MBB, T2, Big Four...) matriculate. We're not in a great hiring market so off-cycle recruiting is WAY down from the recent 2021-22 peak. Your best bet is probably one of two options:
1. Remain in clinical research for a few years and then pursue an MBA - not your #1 choice but this is the most realistic path. Your UG GPA, Ivy League background and research-based experience will be very attractive to potential employers and you'll fall into a well-established recruiting process; unless you blow your interviews, I'd think you're a classic M7 > MBB candidate.
2. If you're dead-set on consulting pre-MBA, your best bet is probably a HCLS-focused boutique. I don't work in this vertical so don't know the landscape well but there are firms like ClearView Healthcare Partners that specialize in this space and may recruit more off-cycle.
My advice would be to pursue #2, focusing on boutiques but can't hurt to shoot your shot at MBB / T2 / B4. Worst case scenario, you get to practice your pitch and build your network. You're going to need a compelling story - why switch from research to consulting? You'd be surprised how many terrible answers to this question I hear and it's going to be the first thing you're asked. However, understand that this route may not succeed, in which case you have #1 as your fall-back. Don't let focus on #2 distract you from succeeding in #1; e.g., don't forego GMAT preparation, b-school visits, etc. because you're narrowly focused on a difficult lateral move.
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