Google Software Engineer vs MBB

I am a freshman at a target for both Google and BBs with a high GPA. I feel like learning CS and taking the engineering curriculum may tank my GPA and make me ineligible to get offers at top consulting firms. Yet if I take a lighter load with more emphasis on the easier business classes, I may not be used to the algorithms/data structures for an offer at a Big Tech. I want to tailor my internships toward a future career.

So I suppose this boils down to which career I want to focus on. I do not think banking would suit me because I am fine with a 250k salary cap. I know consultants can make more and more money is never a bad thing, but I want a decent lifestyle. A consultant may work long hours but the work seems at least a bit interesting. I may be asked "which do you enjoy more" and both fields seem "fun" enough for a career. I am leaning towards pursuing engineering courses and maintaining at least a 3.6 so I can decide later. Additionally, I will see a Deloitte's and Booz Hamilton's consultant lifestyles this summer, possibly intern with one of them. Can some of you tell me why you picked consulting? Thank you.

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Best Response

If you're obsessed with lifestyle, go for the software engineer roles and crush it. Way better than MBB. Of course, these are completely different roles with very different people - so first and foremost ask yourself what interests you and where you want to take your career long term (aside from prestige and money, because when you're trying to build a model/finish a deck/edit some code at 2AM those things WILL NOT MATTER). Do you want to be a software engineer? Do you want to be in corporate strategy? These things are so different that you should easily be able to swing one way or the other.

I picked consulting because I came from a finance background and hated IB. I don't have the skills to be a software engineer, although I'm certainly jealous of those who can crush it in tech.

Edit: Something to note is particularly for harder, more "quanty" majors, MBB gives some leeway for GPA.

 

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