Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 04:39 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 04:39
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
avatar
marina2
avatar
Joined: 28 Jan 2012
Last visit: 28 Jan 2012
Posts: 1
Own Kudos:
1
 [1]
Schools: Wharton '14 (A) Booth '14 (M) CBS '14 (A)
Schools: Wharton '14 (A) Booth '14 (M) CBS '14 (A)
Posts: 1
Kudos: 1
 [1]
Offers from McKinsey, Bain and BCG (Summer Internship) 28 Jan 2012, 08:14
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello,

I got lucky enough to receive offers from the three consulting firms in their offices in my home country for the MBA summer internship.

I'm confused and really don't know which one to accept. In my country McKinsey has a bigger office than BCG, which is bigger than Bain. I have not had much interaction with people from those offices (perhaps I've met 4 people from each at most) and at first glance Bain seemed friendlier, followed by BCG and then McKinsey. However, McKinsey has the biggest reputation in my country and are known to hire only "the best of the best", has as clients the biggest companies, has a bigger alumni network, etc.

I would really appreciate some help here. What would you do? How do you compare the three firms? Do you think the name McKinsey is a resume is far stronger than the others? Is Bain better for PE?

I need to choose in the next few days.

Thanks a lot
User avatar
jazzman
User avatar
Joined: 22 Sep 2011
Last visit: 06 Mar 2013
Posts: 197
Own Kudos:
41
Given Kudos: 3
GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V40
GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V40
Posts: 197
Kudos: 41
Offers from McKinsey, Bain and BCG (Summer Internship) 29 Jan 2012, 09:22
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Is there any way to find out potential projects you could be working on? If that's the case, I'd go with the one that interests me most. All three pack some "brand name" clout.
avatar
pandreirobr
avatar
Joined: 03 Jan 2011
Last visit: 08 Jan 2016
Posts: 9
Own Kudos:
5
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Babson '16 (I) Hult '16 (A$) HBS '16 (S) Thunderbird '16 (I) Olin '16 (A$) Simon '16 (S) Weatherhead '16 (S)
GMAT 1: 700 Q48 V38
Posts: 9
Kudos: 5
Offers from McKinsey, Bain and BCG (Summer Internship) 02 Feb 2012, 09:02
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
marina2
Hello,

I got lucky enough to receive offers from the three consulting firms in their offices in my home country for the MBA summer internship.

I'm confused and really don't know which one to accept. In my country McKinsey has a bigger office than BCG, which is bigger than Bain. I have not had much interaction with people from those offices (perhaps I've met 4 people from each at most) and at first glance Bain seemed friendlier, followed by BCG and then McKinsey. However, McKinsey has the biggest reputation in my country and are known to hire only "the best of the best", has as clients the biggest companies, has a bigger alumni network, etc.

I would really appreciate some help here. What would you do? How do you compare the three firms? Do you think the name McKinsey is a resume is far stronger than the others? Is Bain better for PE?

I need to choose in the next few days.

Thanks a lot
Show more

All 3 are great, McKinsey (top of the line, the cynosure of strategy consulting), BCG (also very strong, my personal favorites) and Bain (also in top 5). I would personally choose based on the human side. You always want to have a friendly workplace.
avatar
cole2012
avatar
Joined: 06 Feb 2012
Last visit: 21 Feb 2014
Posts: 64
Own Kudos:
30
Given Kudos: 13
Concentration: Technology, Marketing
Schools: Cnsrtm-Hass '15 (D) Cnsrtm-Anderson '15 (A) Cnsrtm-Marshall '15 (A) Cnsrtm-Ross '15 (A) Kellogg '15 (A) Booth '15 (WL)
Schools: Cnsrtm-Hass '15 (D) Cnsrtm-Anderson '15 (A) Cnsrtm-Marshall '15 (A) Cnsrtm-Ross '15 (A) Kellogg '15 (A) Booth '15 (WL)
Posts: 64
Kudos: 30
Offers from McKinsey, Bain and BCG (Summer Internship) 07 Feb 2012, 23:17
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I would seriously consider the networks of the three in your weighing. Was just speaking to a tech VP the other day who had several offers after 5 years at McK.... their network is astonishing. He had an IN at just about any company that interested him. Assuming you aren't going to be a lifer, that is a very legit thing to consider...
avatar
DagwoodDeluxe
avatar
Joined: 12 Oct 2011
Last visit: 26 Aug 2016
Posts: 36
Own Kudos:
53
 [3]
Schools: HBS '15 (M)
GMAT 1: 760 Q49 V45
GPA: 3.94
Schools: HBS '15 (M)
GMAT 1: 760 Q49 V45
Posts: 36
Kudos: 53
 [3]
Offers from McKinsey, Bain and BCG (Summer Internship) 08 Feb 2012, 07:39
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I spent 3 years at one of MBB in the U.S. I have several friends who worked at the other two, and we spent plenty of time comparing notes. Here are my thoughts (granted, this is U.S. specific, so you'll have to filter for things that are different in your country).

- McK is MUCH bigger than the other two, which is good and bad. The good part is the network is much larger (both former McK consultants and McK clients), so finding exit options is arguably easier. The other good part is you will have a wider selection of projects to work on. The bad part is the culture could feel less intimate/closely knit.

- Bain has a more fun / younger culture. This is because of their team structure (again, at least in the U.S.). In the U.S., McK and BCG hire 80% from grad programs (MBA, MD, JD, PhD, etc.) and 20% from undergrad. At Bain, it is more 50/50. As a result, a larger percentage of your colleagues at Bain will be recent grads, which makes the environment more lively/fun. Of course, most people who work at McK and BCG enjoy it, so it's not like it is "boring".

- BCG is more intellectual/academic in their problem-solving approach. Bain and McK are super data-driven. You may personally prefer one strategy over the others.

- Bain does way more PE work (McK is scaling back their PE work and BCG is increasing theirs). Doing due dilligence ("DD") projects SUCKS because the hours are horrible. However, you do learn a lot in a very short period of time. So if you're into that type of work, Bain could be a good fit.

- The OP specifically asked about PE exit options. This is only relevant for the analysts (undergraduate hires). MBAs very rarely go work at MBB for two years, then go to PE. The exception is if they go to one of the internal consulting teams at a large PE fund (e.g., KKR Capstone or Bain Capital Portfolio Group). The PE funds mostly hire MBB and I-Banking analysts into their "pre-MBA Associate" programs, which are 2-3 years long. Then like 90% of these PE associates go to b-school. That is actually why it is difficult for an MBA who has spent two years at MBB to get into PE: there are a large number of former MBB consultants who did PE prior to going to b-school, so the PE funds just hire them post-MBA instead. Why take a risk on someone who has never done PE if you can easily hire someone who has already proven he or she is a strong PE professional? That is their thinking at least.

My final point is, you can't go wrong, especially since this is for a summer internship. Pick the one where you like the people the best, and give it a shot for the summer. You can always interview at the other two firms if you don't like the culture at the place you choose for the summer. Good luck!
Moderators:
Bunuel
Math Expert
105382 posts
GMATBusters
GMAT Tutor
1924 posts