Placement into B-School -- Booz vs. Bulge Bracket IB (GMJ)
Hey guys,
I'm fortunate to have an offer from a BB where I spent my summer in banking (think one of GMJ). However, my mind is pretty set on consulting. I could potentially go to Booz, but it would be a little controversial given the step down in prestige. Regardless, I'm leaning towards that option.
How is the placement for Booz NYC Consultants into top b-school programs (HSW)? Also, what are other opportunities that would be open to me as a Booz consultant when it comes to effectively "climbing the corporate ladder"?
Thanks, and I hope this thread can be beneficial to others as well!
booz has sent loads of people to the H cant contribute with some solid stats tho...
Booz does send a good number to HBS - look at the slightly outdated stats here: http://poetsandquants.com/2011/08/15/top-feeder-companies-to-harvard-bu…
As far as your original question, though, just do whichever you will like more. 4 years is a long time, assuming you'd be applying from the same company you start with. The lifestyle in consulting and banking are similar, but appeal to different kinds of people.
Remember, business school should not be the end goal, but rather the tool which helps you get to your end goal.
If you are genuinely more interested in consulting, you should do that. Especially since Booz is a good name too. It's hard to compare 'prestige' between consulting and banking firms and even if it is one step down from MBB, it's still a great name and firm. If there are opportunities for a lateral, I wouldn't be surprised if you get interviews at MBB after a year at Booz.
Double post
From my understanding, you'll get into a good b-school from Booz if you don't shit the bed. May not necessarily be HBS but "settling" for a school like Kellogg or Columbia is hardly the end of the world and not a good enough reason IMO to do banking instead if it's not something you really wanted to do in the first place.
The consulting vs. banking conversation can be a long one, and in the end, there are very clear pros and cons to both. If you came out of that conversation wanting to do consulting, I don't think you should go back on that because you could "only" get a Booz offer. Booz is a great firm. A notch below MBB sure, but only just. In the end, you'll do the same type of work for the most part, with just a bit more emphasis on implementation rather than pure strategy. Biggest difference is Booz aligns you with a practice right away which is something that MBB don't do. Unless that's a big sticking point, I'd go with Booz.
As far as exit options, hard to say concretely, but anecdotally, I've heard of many ex-Booz corporate VPs and the like. Seems like Booz places well into F500. Maybe not as good as MBB but still good.
I'm actually in the opposite camp on this. If you have the opportunity to join GS or MS, you're not going to have an incredibly hard time lateraling into consulting (MBB). If you go to Booz, you're probably going to need the MBA to reset and have another shot at MBB. Further, if you fail to lateral during your analyst stint, you can either apply directly to b-school after 3 years of banking or 2 years in banking and a buy-side role and then pursue consulting post-MBA.
If you know you absolutely want to get an MBA, you should be maximizing your chances of admission at the best schools (HSW). Consulting is not an industry that requires relevant pre-MBA experience to get a top job out of b-school (unlike PE, for instance). Therefore, you should take the job that will give you the most competitive profile for the b-school application process. Banking at a reputable name like the three you mentioned will position you strongly.
MBB is a means, not an end. To be blunt, OP probably tried and failed to get an MBB offer. Tough luck. At this point, OP shouldn't be thinking about how to end up at MBB a couple years down the line; he/she should be thinking about what goals he/she was trying to accomplish via MBB and what alternative options can also help achieve those goals.
And I haven't heard of too many GS/MS guys lateraling into consulting without going to b-school first.
At the end of the day, this is an apples vs. oranges comparison. Better vs. worse is not the right way to think about this. You will be doing entirely different work and developing entirely different skillsets at Goldman vs. at Booz. You'll also be living entirely different lifestyles (100+ hour weeks vs. 55-60 hour weeks while traveling M-Th). There is no right answer.
Think you answered this one yourself. You'd rather do consulting, so do it. It's not like your deciding between a GMJ offer and a no-name, small consulting firm in the middle of nowhere. Booz is a better than solid Tier 2 firm (arguably the best), and certainly competes for work with MBB.
You'll be fine getting into b-school, and will have a very good shot at H/S, and even better at Wharton (and beyond, obviously). Do consulting - that's what you want to do.
Before you start considering b-school placement, you might want to put a little thought into job stability. I don't think Booz is in the best shape right now. It laid of half of its junior class last year when they were only 4-7 months into the job.
I think you're thinking of Booz Allen. They have had layoffs recently: http://m.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/fedbiz_daily/2013/05/booz-alle…. I have a couple friends at Booz and according to them, Booz is currently oversold and understaffed. Their healthcare and energy practices in particular are selling a lot of work.
@humblebot - No, I'm specifically referring to Booz &Co. I know people (classmates and friends) who were laid off several months into their jobs at Booz last year and spent most of their time on the beach. If you check on LinkedIn, you can spot profiles of people who had less than a year at Booz before jumping to another job.
What's the issue? Do what you enjoy, start living your life now and not after you do business school. Most people will never get either chance in life, why waste years of the only life you were given, on something you don't want to do.
Can confirm layoffs of major portion of junior staff in NYC in certain verticals, best mate was there
can anyone else comment on layoffs, merger rumors, and placement into HWS?
Announced this morning they're merging with PwC
bad news... pwc merger
Well then...OP's choice is much clearer now.
lol. well that was easy
Came specifically to this thread just to check the comments after the news. Still humored by exactly the reaction I was hoping for.
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