BCG vs Bain in the US?

Question

Hi all, Wharton MBA student here who got 2 offers for BCG and Bain in the US (to not dox myself, will keep it fairly high level). I want to live in the city of the Bain's offer. BCG told me they would not be "actively hiring" for that city so I applied to other place which, although I like it, I am not as excited about.

Any chance i can ask BCG to "transfer" my offer to the Bain's city? I mean, worst case, I assume they say no... Is there a good or bad choice here? I am honestly more inclined towards Bain but I am such a rational person that I would love to feel I made a decision for XYZ arguments so that I never end up regretting it.

Of course, I can just ask BCG and see if they say yes about transferring my offer. However, if I do so, I feel that then I would have to say "yes" to them and "no" to Bain otherwise I would burn a bridge.

Answer 1

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the offers from BCG and Bain!

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

First of all, I would advise you to communicate transparently with the BCG recruiter about your preference for the other city. It is not uncommon for firms to accommodate such requests, especially if they intend to retain promising candidates like yourself.
Moreover, I would highly advise you to opt for the option that better aligns with your professional (and maybe even personal) mid- to long-term goals. In order to make an informed decision, I would advise you to do the following:
- Weigh the different criteria that are meaningful to you independently of the current options (e.g., location, prestige, culture, compensation). After that, score the two options based on your criteria and their weighting, resulting in two scores. This way, you have covered the left-brain perspective.
- Critically assess your initial reaction to the outcome of the scores. For instance, if you feel the urge to tweak the numbers, this is a solid indicator that you do not want this decision to become reality. This way, you have covered the right-brain perspective.
- By doing so, you will be able to integrate both parts of the brain into the decision-making, guaranteeing a higher chance that you will still be happy with it years later.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Answer 2

Hey! First of all congrats! :)

I think, it’s definitely worth asking BCG if they would consider transferring your offer to the city where you have Bain’s offer. As you said, the worst they can do is say no, and it won’t hurt to explore the possibility. However, if you ask and they say yes, it could put you in a position where you'd feel more committed to BCG, so be sure you’re comfortable with either outcome before you make the request. If you're leaning towards Bain because of the city and overall fit, that should weigh heavily in your decision-making. At the end of the day, both firms are prestigious, so it comes down to where you’ll thrive both professionally and personally.

Good luck with it! Alessa :)

Answer 3

Hi there,

I’d say go with your gut feeling on this one. Ask yourself, which interviewers did you feel more of a connection with? Which recruiting process felt more inclusive and aligned? These questions might help clarify where you feel a better cultural fit.

It might also be worth talking to 1-2 consultants at Bain and BCG to get more insights into their experiences and help you make a more informed decision. You can ask HR to put you in contact.

As for asking BCG about transferring to the city you prefer, there's no harm in trying. Just make sure you’re certain you would accept the BCG offer if they agree to the transfer. If Bain excites you more, then maybe that’s your answer already.

Ultimately, think about which firm and location genuinely gets you more excited. At the end of the day, the key is to trust your gut.

Have a great start whichever company you choose!

Kairavee

Answer 4

Competition over "cross-offers" like yourself is real, so BCG may offer you the choice if you tell them you're going with Bain because of location. But it's only worth putting it that way if you'll actually take BCG's new offer.

Answer 5

Hi there stranger ;-))

In case there are no material differences in salary and perks, I would definitely go with the option you had the better chemistry with (during recruiting events, talks, and interviews).

Both firms are great and set you up for life so go with your gut feel. :-)

Cheers,

Florian