Schedule mock interviews on the Meeting Board, join the latest community discussions in our Consulting Q&A and find like-minded Case Partners to connect and practice with!
Back to overview

Does a location-agnostic profile help or hurt one's chances at the application stage?

Hey Guys,

Friend of mine is in pre-application at Bain and McKinsey and wants to know if a location-agnostic profile will improve his chances or make him appear too cavalier?

Let me explain:

My friend is a North African national with French citizenship, but currently living in the United States. In his McKinsey application, he plans to list his office preferences as 1. Casablanca; 2. Paris; 3. New York; 4. Dubai

In his Bain application, he plans to allocate his percentages across the four as follows: 25% to each.

I would think that such diluted preferences across such disparate geographies could wrong-foot the reviewers and question his career seriousness. At least, this is how I responded to him when he asked me. Of course, I know him well, and his personal and educational and professional history clarify (for the most part) his agnostic attitude to location, but I'm not certain the review teams at Bain and McKinsey will be as accommodating.

What do you guys think?

2 Answers
4.0k Views
12
Be the first to answer!
Nobody has responded to this question yet.
Top answer
Anonymous
on Jul 11, 2018

Hey Vlad,

Thanks for your response!  :-)

McKinsey, at least, allows four choices:

https://www.mckinsey.com/next-generation-women-leaders/how-to-apply

You might be right about Bain's 3.

I will pass along this information. I agree that New York (and other Alpha offices) as anything but first choice during application phases guarantees a declination, but his heart is set on Europe/Morocco. 

Many thanks!

3
Vlad
Coach
on Jul 11, 2018
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

First of all - as far as I remember, you have 3 location options, not 4.

Secondly - there are no strict rules, but I would recommend prioritizing at least one of them with a higher percentage.

For example, putting New York in a 3rd position with 25% doesn't even make sense since that office is the hardest to get into and most probably they will not consider it in this situation. Having 3 preferences with the one prioritized more than the others is totally fine.

Best!

Similar Questions
Consulting
ACTION PLAN
on Apr 12, 2024
Global
5 Answers
1.1k Views
Top answer by
#1 rated MBB & McKinsey Coach
48
5 Answers
1.1k Views
+2
Consulting
Expert Pricing Consultant at Bain: Interview
on Dec 22, 2024
Global
5 Answers
400+ Views
Top answer by
Hagen
Coach
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | most experience in consulting, interviewing, and coaching
37
5 Answers
400+ Views
+2
Consulting
Consulting Profile
on Oct 31, 2024
Global
9 Answers
600+ Views
Top answer by
Hagen
Coach
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | most experience in consulting, interviewing, and coaching
24
9 Answers
600+ Views
+6
How likely are you to recommend us to a friend or fellow student?
0 = Not likely
10 = Very likely
You are a true consultant! Thank you for consulting us on how to make PrepLounge even better!