| Topic Name: |
How can I get my foot in door? |
| Message Name: |
What do you mean more specifically? |
| Date Posted: |
03/20/2001 |
| In Reply To: |
Put some distance between your college days and the time, sometime in the future, when you try to break into consulting (if you are still interested). What I mean by "distance" is time.
Work in industry for a short time (say 4 - 6 years). Build up a network of people who can give you sterling recommendations. Take a few grad courses (as a non-matriculant) so you can show that your academic abilities have taken a turn for the better.
Then apply to a top 25 B-school (doesn't have to be an Ivy -- could be Fisher (OSU), Stern (NYU), Marshall (USC), Haas (Berkeley), Freeman (Tulane) etc.).
Get good grades (and I don't mean B+ like your undergraduate days). If you're still in your 20s when you are doing this, try for a summer internship between your 1st and 2nd years.
Then go for it. College records mean less and less as the years go by. Your work experience will mean more and your grad school record will, if not wipe out your undergra record, at least minimize its weight in any employment offers from consulting firms.
Don't even think about applying to McKinsey. They'll just pull your pants down and giggle for their own amusement.
But, with the right work experience and grad school credentials, you have a shot at one of the top firms like Booz, Accenture, or Bain. If you don't get an offer from one of those, try one of the next level down, like PwC or DC. CGEY, though not up there yet, is moving into that category, too. They are all very good firms with excellent reputations and career paths.
You can also apply to a less presigious firm, such as AABC, ATK or GT. Work a few years, get a good record, then try to move up to one of the firms mentioned above.
So there is hope for you, but you have to have a plan . . . and you have to let some time go by before you for the brass ring, just to take the focus off of your recent college experience and record.
Good luck !!
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| Message: |
First off, I fully sympathise with the original poster. Summer Internship at a MC is next to impossible. You and I had too much fun, guess we gotta pay the price this summer! :-P
My question is what interests/extra curricular activities would you say are seen as most favourable in an application for MC or SC? What makes you "one of the guys"?
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