"Top Tier" Consulting Firms versus DT, E&Y, etc

What is the distinction between top tier and 2nd tier firms? I know m/b/b is on the top, but after that where does monitor, booz & co, AT Kearney, Parthenon etc fit in with the big 4ish firms?

Thanks

Cannot agree more with nink: M/B/B are a golden key to H/S/W not to mention any top 10 school. Actually, Wharton doesn´t like kids with 2 years WE in its class...

However, Big 4 and the like are still a very decent place to start your career. You can develop similar skills than in any top consulting firm and they are renowed worldwide (big plus vs. a boutique) so that you don´t need to waste your time explaining what you did in interviews.

My case: 3 years WE at Big 4 doing actual corporate finance /M&A (no due diligence stuff), attended reputed public undergrad and kicked asses at peers from private schools, now heading to NYC for CBS´12 with GMAT in the low range. No feeling inferior at all.

p.s. Full disclosure: top grades, 3 internships, extracurriculars and the CFA under the belt may have helped

A LONG time ago, I worked at a big 4 too. I think at some of the big 4s you actually get to do implementation work that leads to a high degree of responsibility very early in your career (compared to the type of work you do at M/B/B early on). The brand of M/B/B is the differentiator and will hold you in good stead in any top b-school. However, don't underestimate the Big 4s.

Big 4 Accounting Firms have a different emphasis - they are big in audit and tax, consulting is secondary business to them, therefore, it cannot be compared to the big 4 consulting firms.

I am coming from PwC - 5.5 yrs there (audit), and hoping to join a big 4 consulting firm after MBA.