Different level of difficulty of Casebooks: Yale vs Duke

Question

I´ve been preparing for McKinsey and I've been using a lot of Yale Casebook 2013 since it has a lot of McKinsey-style cases, but recently I felt the cases in this book are a bit simple and one-dimensional.

Then I started with Duke 2015-2016, I felt cases in this book are quite long and difficult, it could be around 6-8 pages and 3 exhibits. Do people really solve these cases in just 30 minutes?

So I wonder: what´s the difficulty level of cases given in real life interviews?

Also shout to Experts: in your opinion, which casebook offers the cases that are the closest to real life interviews?

Answer 1

Hi,

I have not compared the cases in both books. But in my opinion it makes sense to practice not on the cases that are similar in length / difficulty to the real inteviews but rather the case that are longer / more difficult.

You'll have 6 interviews. And the chances are high that just one failed unconventional case will leave you without a job offer. Remember that all the interviewers (especially on the partner level) are different.

Best!

Answer 2

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Hi! I agree in the sense that the relevant element is not the case, but the quality of the person who gives the case! This is far far more important than the case as such. The... (read entire answer)

Answer 3

Hi! These are typical questions you HAVE to ask the interviewer! You cannot just assume something or, even worse, app... (read entire answer)

Hi! These are typical questions you HAVE to ask the interviewer! You cannot just assume something or, even worse, apply "real world knowledge". What is tested in these interview... (read entire answer)

Answer 4

Hello there, Generally, the most distinct cases draws out a combination of multiple case types, e.g. profitability,... (read entire answer)

Hello there, Generally, the most distinct cases draws out a combination of multiple case types, e.g. profitability, market sizing, business case situation (customer, company, c... (read entire answer)