What are my chances for management consulting or BB Banking (Pre-MBA)?
A little background about myself:
Out of high school, I did not make it to a target or semi-target university. So, I decided to go to community college for one year and have been able to transfer to a semi-target university on the west coast (think UCLA/USC). I will be a business major this upcoming fall. Right when I graduated from high school (2013), I started interning at a PWM firm before community college started until January of 2014. This past spring, I was able to intern at a merchant bank and now I am currently at a boutique investment bank in Los Angeles for the summer and into the fall. At this point in my life, I still have about 2/3 years left of undergraduate so I am testing the waters with investment banking but would also like to see the possibilities with management consulting.
ACT Score (super scored): 30 (31 if you do not add science) (Eng 30/Math 32/Reading 31) (Yes, this is low)
Couple questions I have (Considering I have a high GPA throughout it all):
1) Is the ACT acceptable in lieu of the SAT for management consulting firms and some of the BB firms? I saw that Bain requires SAT but I did not take the SAT.
2) Correct me if I am wrong, I think the ideal path to a BB bank for me right now would be:
Freshman Year: Summer/Fall (2013) - PWM ; Spring (2014) - Merchant Bank (Deal source for M&A) ; Summer: Boutique Investment Bank
Sophomore Year: Fall (2014): Continue Boutique Investment Bank Internship ; Summer (2015): Middle Market Bank
Junior Year: Summer (2016): BB Summer Analyst
Senior Year: Recruitment (if I do not get a return offer).
Is this correct?
3) I have the option of staying 2 or 3 years at my university (Money is not an object). I will finish my degree within 2 but can stay longer in order to strengthen my resume/transcript (if needed) for recruitment. Should I leave after 2 or 3 years? (I will not have a GPA for summer 2015 recruiting until January.... Not sure what to do there... Sucks being a transfer) I am not sure if I can land a BB or MBB/tier 2 job with only two years at my university (I would put expected graduation: 2016 only; so, firms would not know I have been there for only 2 years).
4) **Most wanted answer** What experiences do management consulting firms look for? (Correct me if I am wrong) From reading, I know they want high math standardize test scores, leadership positions, high GPA, results from your leadership/internship experiences, and high grades in quantitative classes. What about IF I choose to do consulting, what is the path I should take in terms of internships and work experience? Also, what leadership positions should I take on? Should I participate in case competitions and consulting clubs?
Freshman Year: Summer/Fall (2013) - PWM ; Spring (2014) - Merchant Bank (Deal source for M&A) ; Summer and
Sophomore Year: Fall (2014): Continue Boutique Investment Bank (Want to stay long enough to see the results of my work) Summer (2015): ???
Junior Year: Summer (2016): ????
5) Should I take the GMAT during my last year to help with the low ACT score?
Thank you so much.
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