What's life like at boutique IBs or consulting firms? Do I have a shot?

Hi all,

I was pretty set on auditing prior to discovering this web site and the different careers I could go into instead. I graduated from undergrad with a 3.17, got a couple years of experience at an entry-level (but dead-end) accounting position, and am about to graduate with my MAcc. I have a 3.73 now, as well as an audit internship, but had some concerns. I see it this way: auditing for a Big 4 firm gives a certain quality of experience, exit opportunities, salary, prestige, and work-life balance. However, if I can make it into a smaller IB or consulting firm, that offers all of the above but better (except for work-life balance), I might as well pursue these career paths instead.

1) The most important question here: what firms would take me? If none currently, do I have a good shot at going into Big 4 audit/advisory (and I'm not talking about areas of advisory that wouldn't help me in my goals) and transferring over to their consulting arm in a couple years? If not, how about a smaller consulting firm?
2) How would you rate exit opportunities, pay, prestige, and work-life balance at a smaller IB/consulting firm compared to say, Big 4 audit (which I am using as the basis to compare everything else to)?