How do I Case Prep while interning at an MBB?

Question

For context, I am currently an intern until 6 months. How it works for me is that after 6 months, to become an associate, I will need to re-do the interview process (meaning I will need to pass 4 case interviews) in order to get in.

Issue for me is that my maths is still relatively weak, and I will need to work on it. I am super busy on the weekdays, and I'm afraid if I spend the weekends to study, it will lead to me being more fatigued and burnt out.

May I please have advice on this? What do you think my approach should be to ramp up my numeracy skills, while having enough sleep to do well on the job?

Answer 1

Hey!

I would advise the following:

Move the interview (if possible): If your timeline feels too tight, speak to HR about shifting your interview to give yourself more preparation time.

Micro-practice daily: Dedicate 10 minutes each day to mental math drills or frameworks to build consistency without overloading yourself.

Use vacation days strategically: Plan a day or two off for focused case prep closer to the interview. It can provide a mental reset while improving your preparation.

Weekend efficiency: Reserve short, focused weekend sessions for critical practice, like doing a full case or reviewing weak areas, without over-exerting.

Maximize on-the-job learning: Look for opportunities in your current work to hone relevant skills, like problem structuring or quantitative analysis, that overlap with case preparation.

Good luck, Alessa

Answer 2

Look for opportunities during your internship to improve your math skills, such as working on Excel modeling.

Answer 3

Even doing this part-time (a few hours during the week and a few more during the weekends), you should have PLENTY of time to prepare. A few tips:

Focus on your mental math but don't forget to develop mastery of all the other fundamentals (structuring, exhibit analysis, brainstorming, etc.)
Ask the recruiting team to set you up for mock cases (or give you access to retired cases) during your internship and/or ask your peers to give you cases using online resources such as MBA casebooks
Consider working with a coach here on PrepLounge -- it's a worthwhile investment to de-risk an offer that is your to loose right now! I'd be happy to chat about my approach, work plan for you, and pricing

Answer 4

Hi there,

If your focus is math, then you need either

a strong coach
a strong math program

or both!

Both should teach you the fundamentals of (case) math, e.g.,

the right thinking techniques for the logic
shortcuts and fast math
the quantitative interpretation skills
the right communication
+ practice materials

Reach out if you want to learn more. I have just the program for that.

Cheers,

Florian