Dutch Student with Startup Experience – Best Master’s Strategy for MBB Entry?

Hi Baak,

You’ve built a strong profile with your entrepreneurial experience, and it’s great that you’re thinking strategically about your next steps. Below are my thoughts on your key questions:

1. Best Internship for MBB and Master’s Admissions

For both MBB recruiting and top master’s programs, the most impactful internship would be:
    •    Tier 2 Strategy Consulting (Roland Berger, Strategy&, Oliver Wyman, etc.) – This would signal consulting experience and make your MBB application much stronger. Admissions committees for MiM and deferred MBA programs would also see this as a sign of strong analytical and business skills.
    •    VC Internship – If you’re committed to startups post-consulting, this could reinforce your long-term entrepreneurial aspirations. However, unless it’s at a top VC firm (e.g., a well-known European or US fund), it may not add as much direct value to MBB applications as consulting experience.
    •    Other Options? A high-impact internship at a scaling startup or tech firm (e.g., a strategy role at a unicorn or FAANG company) could also be compelling, but it won’t signal the same consulting readiness as a tier 2 consulting internship.

Recommendation: If your primary goal is to maximize your chances at MBB, prioritize a strategy consulting internship. If you’re more focused on top-tier business school admissions and want to emphasize your entrepreneurial track, VC could work—but it’s riskier for MBB.

2. Best Master’s Program for Your Profile

Given your below-average GPA (3.1/4.0) but strong GMAT potential (700–750) and entrepreneurial background, here’s a breakdown of your options:
    •    MiM at LBS, INSEAD, or HEC Paris – These are great choices for MBB recruiting, but LBS and INSEAD are particularly competitive. Your entrepreneurial success will help, but you’ll need a compelling application story to offset your GPA. HEC might be slightly more accessible.
    •    Deferred MBA (HBS 2+2, Stanford, Wharton, etc.) – These programs are extremely competitive, and while your startup experience is a differentiator, your GPA could be a challenge unless your GMAT is 750+ and your essays are exceptional.
    •    Alternative options – You might also consider Esade, IE, or Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) for a strong business foundation while keeping MBB in reach.

Recommendation:
    •    If you really want MBB in the short term, MiM at LBS, INSEAD, or HEC is a stronger bet than deferred MBA programs, as MBB recruits heavily from these.
    •    If your long-term priority is an entrepreneurial MBA track, applying to deferred MBA programs is worth a shot, but it’s a high-risk strategy.

Your plan (internship + MiM or deferred MBA) is solid, but here’s how you can optimize it:
    1.    Maximize your GMAT score – With a 750+, you improve your odds significantly for both MiM and deferred MBA programs.
    2.    Pick a consulting-focused internship – This will give you a more direct pathway to MBB and help with MiM admissions.
    3.    Strengthen your academic positioning – Since your GPA is a weak spot, highlight coursework, projects, or side certifications (e.g., CFA Level 1, strategy-related MOOCs) to show quantitative strength.
    4.    Consider networking with MBB now – Attending events or reaching out to consultants in your target offices (Amsterdam or elsewhere) could help position you for a future application.

If you can get into a top MiM (LBS, INSEAD, HEC) + a strategy consulting internship, you’ll be well-positioned for MBB. A deferred MBA is a moonshot but worth trying if you have strong essays and a compelling narrative.

Hope this helps, and happy to discuss further!

Best,
Evelina

Hi Baak,

Why do you want to break into consulting if your goal is to return to the entrepreneurial world afterwards? Just wondering the underlying motivation to see if all this mid-term work and investment is required.

Answers to your questions:

1. T2 and even MBB internships would be preferable. Probably you have what it takes, considering your entrepreneurial experience and the MBAs schools you are aiming.

2. I don’t think there is enough information to tell you that, but of course the European programs are more feasible, short, cheaper while also targeted by MBB/tier2. M7 is a no-brainer, but selection is tougher. 

3. Seems sound to me! Not sure if you need an MBA to be honest, depending on the country you chose. If you could gather relevant experience in a boutique/T2 consulting, that could be enough. Your GPA is not great, but as you collect professional experience across the time, this become less important. That being said, MBA is a more certain path. 

Best,

Mari

1. The consulting internship is the best option to get into consulting. VC is a different skill set and will only deepen your "entrepreneuship" profile which is not your objective

2. All the schools you mentioned are great schools.

3. Nothing wrong with your strategy. Seems to be a good option.

Hey Baak 😊

Thanks for the great and thoughtful message – your entrepreneurial background is very compelling and definitely sets you apart from other applicants with more traditional profiles 🙌 I’ve supported quite a few students from the Netherlands and Europe in similar positions, so happy to share my thoughts:

🎯 1. Best Internship to Strengthen Your Profile:
Given your entrepreneurial track, the best signal to MBB would be an internship at a tier 2 consulting firm (e.g., Roland Berger, Kearney, Oliver Wyman). This shows direct interest and experience in consulting, which is often more impactful for MBB recruiting than VC or startup work – even if your startup was successful. VC could still be a good alternative, especially if it’s at a well-known firm and you can show strong strategic thinking, but if your goal is MBB, go for the consulting internship first.

🎓 2. Master's Program Fit & Reach:
With your GMAT target (700–750) and your strong entrepreneurial experience, the top MiM programs like LBS, HEC, and INSEAD are realistic – especially if you can build a good story and get strong recommendation letters. LBS is particularly known for strong MBB placement in Europe, especially London and Amsterdam 🌍

Deferred MBA options like HBS 2+2 or Stanford are more competitive, especially with the GPA – but not impossible! If you can explain your academic performance clearly (and show strong GMAT + achievements), you still have a shot. That said, MiM would likely offer more immediate recruiting opportunities into MBB.

📈 3. Is this Plan Optimal?
Yes! Your timeline and strategy (consulting internship + MiM or deferred MBA) is very solid. Just make sure to:

• Prep for a top GMAT and apply early.
• Craft a compelling narrative that connects your math + startup + future consulting journey.
• Use your internship and master’s applications to also network with MBB recruiters – that’s key for breaking in.

If you want, I’m happy to support with your application strategy and even help decide between master’s or deferred MBA offers down the line 💬

Best of luck, I’m sure you’re on the right track!
Best,
Alessa 😊

Hi Baak,

1. Given what you have written, both options work well - you already have a great profile and both a VC and consulting internship are well-suited for MBB.
2. I'd go for an MiM and then have the MBB firm sponsor the MBA after 2 years of tenure, if that's what you want. Make sure your Master's grades are top-notch as your current GPA is quite low for MBB standards and GMAT would not balance that.
3. Agree - it's a great strategy. Maybe the more important question, though, is why pursue this route if you are planning to continue building startups afterward. There has never been a better opportunity to become an entrepreneur than now and spending 2-4 years somewhere else would likely come at a very high opportunity cost.

Cheers,

Florian

Hi there, 

Sharing my thoughts on your plan:

(1) Given you already have startup experiences, internship with a tier 2 strategy consulting firm would be more valuable for applying to MBB later. VC internship experience is not adding too much additional value on top of your startup experience. 

(2) I think the best MBA program would be M7 or INSEAD. LBS and HEC are possible but slightly less common. 

(3) Tier 2 intern + M7/INSEAD would give you a really strong position to apply for MBB. 

Best,

Emily