how much time does it take to prepare for the interview cases, right now I study and I want to join a consulting firm next year. Can you you advise me to better organize myself?

Hey there 😊,

The time needed to prepare for consulting case interviews really depends on where you're starting from and how familiar you are with structured problem-solving, business frameworks, and mental math.

1️⃣ General Timeline for Case Prep

✅ If you're a complete beginner → 3-4 months of consistent practice
✅ If you have some experience (e.g., business background, internships, case club experience) → 2-3 months
✅ If you’ve already done cases before & just need polishing → 4-6 weeks of intensive prep

Since you plan to apply next year, you have plenty of time to structure your prep efficiently without rushing.

2️⃣ How to Organize Your Prep?

🔹 Step 1: Learn the Fundamentals (1-2 months)

• Get familiar with case structures, frameworks, and market sizing techniques.
• Practice mental math & business intuition.
• Start with basic profitability, market entry, and operations cases.

🔹 Step 2: Practice Live Cases (2-3 months)

• Do 30-50 cases with partners (either case study groups or online platforms).
• Focus on weak areas (e.g., structuring, brainstorming, data interpretation).
• Improve chart reading & quantitative analysis.

🔹 Step 3: Personal Fit & Behavioral Questions (1 month, alongside case prep)

• Prepare strong PEI stories (McKinsey) or behavioral answers (BCG/Bain).
• Align your answers with leadership, impact, and problem-solving skills.

🔹 Step 4: Company-Specific Prep (Last 4-6 weeks before applications)

• Research the specific consulting firm’s case style.
• Focus on industries or topics they specialize in.
• Adjust your personal fit answers to match their culture & values.

3️⃣ Final Advice & Support

If you’re unsure where to start, I’d be happy to help you structure your preparation plan, refine your case-solving approach, and guide you on personal fit answers tailored to your target firms.

Let me know if you need 1:1 support or coaching—I can help you navigate this process efficiently so that you’re fully prepared when applications open! 🚀

Best, Alessa 😇

Hello there,

There are different factors that contribute to a final answer. Your education background (business related vs non-business related), current skills (communication, familiarity with math concepts), your ability to focus and study efficiently, your mental state when doing mocks, the quality of the materials you use and (very important) the quality of the people you train with.

I have seen people using 6 months to prepare that failed, and others that in some weeks were able to secure an offer.

That being said, you want to apply next year, so you definitely have time to get to a top performance by using the right materials and receiving appropriate guidance from good partners.

If you would like to evaluate your current state and craft a solid study plan, feel free to DM me, will be happy to support you!

Best,

Mari

Hello there,

Short answer regarding time required: 
It depends on your starting point, but typically 2–4 months of structured practice is enough—less if you have prior experience, more if you're new to case interviews. Since you’re applying next year, the key is to pace yourself and integrate prep into your schedule without burnout.

• Start light: Dedicate a few hours per week now to learning fundamentals (frameworks, mental math, structuring).
• Gradually increase intensity: In the final 4–6 months before interviews, ramp up live practice (30–50 cases), focusing on weak areas.
• Balance with studies: Avoid overloading yourself—quality > quantity. Even one structured case per week now will build a strong foundation.
• Avoid burnout: Starting too early with heavy practice can lead to fatigue. Keep it sustainable and ramp up closer to applications.

If you’d like help assessing your level and crafting a study plan that fits your schedule, feel free to reach out!

Best wishes,
Johannes

Hi there, 

It depends on many different factors. E.g., how familiar you are with case interview, how much basic business / finance knowledge you have, how much time you can spend on learning and practicing case etc....

Typically I'd say 4-6 months for someone new. But it really depends on the individual. The better way is to get on a call with a coach to go through in more details about your starting point / situation. 

Best,

Emily