Given the terrible state of the market as well as consulting recruiting for summer and FT's at MBB this year. I would love to compile a list of the best junior-year internships to aim for this summer to best set myself up for re-recruiting MBB full time (outside of banking) .
| +19 | Uchicago for Consulting | 9 | 16h | |
| +13 | REPOST, SOMEONE PLS HELP… | 2 | 4h | |
| +10 | UCSB vs Super Non-Target | 2 | 19h | |
| +9 | Pivoting towards consulting at a semi-target (rising junior) | 1 | 1d | |
| +5 | MBB office doesn't matter for exits | 3 | 10h | |
| +3 | Brown Econ vs Cornell Dyson vs Dartmouth Econ | 1 | 15h | |
| +2 | Sophomore in College wanting to break into Management Consulting | 3 | 4d |
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Generally, F500 roles are fine, and even startup roles at venture-backed companies can be good. Ranking is a pointless exercise because there are literally hundreds of internships that are good enough, and that only gets you an interview not an offer. There are people who'll just do research on campus and still get an interview and offer. Generally the worse your school though, the better your internship will need to have been.
Overall, I'd say a better brand name is generally good (Google is typically better than a company that manufactures paint), but don't overthink this. Your ability to do well in a case interview will matter much more.
This. Only thing i’ll add is that it can be helpful to do some sort of big 4-type advisory role so you can spin the “i liked consulting but just didn’t like the focus on X industry/sub field when I was at Y” line during interviews. Wont move the needle too much though.
Shoot for a brand name company that a recruiter will recognize when they scan your resume for 10 seconds. Focus on networking and interview prep once you lock that in
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some internships that could set you up nicely for MBB full time:
F500 Internships: These are internships at Fortune 500 companies. They can provide you with valuable experience in a variety of business functions. However, as you've noted, many of these internships are reserved for upperclassmen.
Research Grants: You've already secured a research grant related to M&A, which is fantastic. Continuing in this vein could provide you with further valuable experience.
Boutique Consulting Firms: Interning at a smaller consulting firm could give you relevant experience and demonstrate your interest in the field.
Internships at McKinsey: McKinsey has expressed a preference for candidates who have completed their sophomore internships before applying for their junior internships.
Remember, the key is to gain relevant experience and skills that will make you an attractive candidate for MBB. Good luck!
Sources: Consulting Recruiting 2023, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/m7-ib-associate-full-time-recruiting?customgpt=1, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/consulting/internship-for-sophomore-year?customgpt=1, Re-recruiting for full time senior year
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