BCG ME Round 3: What to Expect?

Hi there,

Q: What should I expect in this third round? Does being moved to this round affect my overall chances?

From your question, it is unclear if the third round was planned initially or not. If it was not planned (meaning, the second round should have been the final one to make a decision), it might be due to the fact that one of the interviewers had some doubts about your performance and they want to check the doubts with an extra interview.

If instead this is a standard final round, this is simply the standard next step of the process after passing the previous round.

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Regarding what you should expect, a final round normally has the same structure as the first round (fit + case + your questions).

In a final round, the interviewers might:

1. Spend more time on fit and your alignment with the company.
2. Ask questions related to the areas of improvement for which you got feedback after the first round.
3. Not use a “standard” case. During one of my finals, I had one interview made by two market sizing questions and a brainteaser, without any business case.

To prepare, you can work on the following:

1. Review your fit answers – they might spend more time on the fit part compared to the first round.
2. Work on the case areas they mentioned you could improve, if any (you can base that on the feedback they provided, if present).
3. Focus your case prep on the weakest areas. If you are tracking your performance, you can do drills for the areas where you are struggling the most / review cases where you made mistakes.

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Extra reading:

▶ How to Prepare for a Consulting Interview

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Good luck!

Francesco

You have to take what is given to you at face value. You have no way of knowing otherwise on what your 'true' performance is.

In terms of the third round, you will be tested on the same fundamentals. Nothing changes. So, if you have good fundamentals, it really wont matter who your interviewer is, how they end up conducting the interview etc.

All the best!

Hi,

The third round contains the same elements like previous rounds (behavioural and case interview). The main differentiator is the seniority of the interviewer. For the behavioural interview, they are going to focus more on the FIT you have with the specific firm. 

For the case interview, cases are presented in a less structured, with more ad-hoc questions on the side, where it's even more important to switch gears keeping the high-level overview and giving very actionable solutions.

If interested, I have real 3rd round interview cases we can practice together.

I am available via chat or we can schedule a 15m free intro call. 

Mattijs

Congratulations on making it to the final round! This is a great sign, especially with the positive feedback you’ve received. Here’s what to expect:

1. Partner Interviews:

• Expect to meet senior leaders who will evaluate your strategic thinking, leadership, and cultural fit.
• Cases may be less structured and focus more on high-level business judgment.

2. Behavioral Questions:

• Be ready to discuss your motivations, leadership experiences, and alignment with BCG’s values.

How does this affect your chances?

Being invited to the final round means BCG sees you as a strong candidate. They’re validating earlier impressions, but competition is still tough as every finalist is highly qualified.

How to Prepare:

1. Refine Your Personal Story: Tailor it for senior partners, emphasizing leadership and results.

2. Polish Case Skills: Focus on leading cases with minimal guidance and delivering clear, strategic insights.

3. Understand the ME Office Context: Familiarize yourself with regional industries and challenges.

You’re in a strong position—stay confident, be sharp, and connect well with the interviewers. Good luck!

Hey there, 

Generally, there is no difference in the nature of the case interview across rounds, but there is when considering the seniority of the interviewer. 

So expect similar to what you've been through in the other rounds from a case and fit structure perspective, but with Partners - your business judgement, maturity, common sense, personality and fit, etc. matters more - so make sure you have a good positive inflection on these elements!

All the best in that round! :-) 

Hey!

Final round interviews can be slightly more challenging than earlier rounds. Expect a mix of case interviews and a deeper personal fit discussion, focusing on leadership, impact, and problem-solving under pressure. Partners often test your ability to think independently and push back on your ideas, so confidence and structured thinking are key. The fact that you received positive feedback and were moved forward is a great sign, but the final round is still highly selective. Stay sharp, refine your problem-solving approach, and be ready for broader business discussions. Let me know if you need help prepping! 😊

Alessa

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the progress in the application process with BCG thus far!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your questions:

• First of all, I have written a detailed article about all the potential differences in the final interview round.
• Moreover, of course, progressing through the application process will increase your cumulative chances of success, even if you may still fail.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming BCG interview, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen