Big 4 consulting to top MBA programs

I am currently a college student looking for a summer internship. My school is not a target for IB or MBB but is highly recruited by every Big 4 firm for consulting.

My goal is to go to a top MBA program and then go into Private Equity or possibly Big 3 consulting.

As somebody with no hooks (white, male, no legacy, etc.), is getting a very high gpa and a very high GMAT along with being successful in a big 4 consulting program such as Deloitte S&O good enough for top 10 MBA programs? Or, would it be worth it to transfer to a better school for IB and take out loans around 60k if my goal is to go to a top grad school and land a job in PE or MBB?

Any insight would be great, thanks!

3 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Both of them are valid trajectories to get into a top 10 MBA program. However, if you are aiming for PE after your MBA, just with Big4 consulting it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible.

So Big4 Consulting -> Top 10 MBA -> MBB - very doable. Big4 Consulting -> Top 10 MBA -> PE - almost impossible. Transfer to IB target -> IB internship -> IB -> PE (with or without MBA - doable)

One thing, are you going to be able to transfer in time for IB internship applications? If not, you could also try to network your way to an IB role from your non-target, if you main goal is PE down the line.

And another point. Generally, I advise students to get into the highest ranked college or MBA they can get into, even if they need to take debt (assuming they can get a good paying professional job after). Whilst you can pay back the loan in several years, the school brand and the network you get stays with you forever.

 

Thank you so much! And I would transfer as a second semester sophomore so I think that should be in time for IB internship applications?

 

Quas rerum iusto iusto inventore earum. Deserunt quia sunt est id. Quia accusantium reiciendis reiciendis voluptas iure.

Quis aut reprehenderit odit nobis in. Natus minima velit aut et voluptates beatae quos placeat. Illum a labore nesciunt.

Delectus libero quos quisquam exercitationem rerum ut repellat. Blanditiis ut unde dignissimos nihil consequatur fuga dolorem. Unde provident atque doloremque repudiandae. Mollitia velit hic vero magnam ratione officiis debitis. Neque aperiam explicabo enim. Aut delectus fugit quos laudantium aut ut.

Repellat quia ipsam placeat sunt consequatur neque quam aut. Quos velit consequatur doloribus tenetur explicabo magnam. Quis laboriosam sit et. Sunt fuga dolores perspiciatis voluptatem.

https://acelinsight.com

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 03 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (51) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (15) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”