I have an upcoming first round interview at BCG for entry level Associate. This is my first time interviewing at a big company and feel quite nervous. Over the week I have done a few cases by myself and one live case with a friend. Any tips on how to ace this?

It’s completely normal to feel nervous (everybody does!), but practicing is the best way to build confidence. Focus on quality over quantity—working through fewer cases thoroughly is better than rushing through many. Try finding case buddies on PrepLounge for more live practice, which is key to getting comfortable with the process.

If possible, it might also be helpful to do a couple of practice sessions with professionals. They can offer detailed feedback and insights that can make a big difference in refining your approach. Feel free to reach out to me if I can help.

In addition to full cases, consider practicing specific parts of the interview in isolation. For example, you can do math drills to sharpen your calculation speed or focus on structuring practice to ensure you’re approaching problems in a clear, logical way. Breaking it down like this can make the overall process feel more manageable.

Good luck—you’re on the right track!

Hey there,

Overall it sounds like you are making good progress. However, a few things to watch out for.

• Focus on quality over quantity. Doing 50+ cases does not mean much if you are not applying the right habits to score high and do a detailed debrief after every case to improve. You want to move from bad to good for your weaknesses and good to great for your strengths --> use the feedback from your previous experience and tailor your prep accordingly
• Consider booking at least an initial coaching session to get a detailed and objective evaluation of your performance + learn the right habits for every case regardless of context and framework + get a tailored preparation plan out of the session that will set you up for an effective and efficient prep. Avoid case interview advice from many moons ago (Case in Point or Case Interview Secrets)
• Practice drills alone (structure, chart, math) and practice full cases with other excellent candidates who know the right habits and approach. You must be practicing with really good peers, otherwise, it's a waste of time. Practicing drills on your own is a huge effectiveness and efficiency booster since you can go over many more questions in a shorter amount of time compared to practicing with peers. Do both in parallel!
• Invest extra time into case math. Math (besides structuring) is the common most reason why candidates fail. I'd focus 1-2 hours a day on a. setting up the math logic and b. conducting number drills
• Don't forget the fit part. Prepare answers for all the typical fit questions and rehearse them a couple of times
• Rest the days before the interviews to reset your mind and focus!

Reach out if you need help :-)

All the best with your prep!

Cheers,

Florian

Congratulations on landing the interview! Here are some tips to help you stand out:

1. Structure Your Thoughts: BCG values clear, structured thinking. Practice breaking down problems methodically and communicating your thought process clearly.

2. Practice Cases: Since you've already done a few cases, try to do a few more with a focus on getting feedback. In case you need an expert to practice with, happy to help.

3. Know Your Resume: Be ready to discuss your experiences and how they’ve prepared you for the role. Highlight leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills from your projects. Important! Show them who you are as a person - They want to know if they would like to work with you on a day by day basis.

4. Be Confident and Calm: It’s normal to feel nervous, but confidence is key. Take a deep breath, listen carefully to the questions, and take your time to respond.

5. Ask Smart Questions: At the end of the interview, ask thoughtful questions that show your interest in BCG and consulting.

For the case portion, focus on understanding the problem, asking clarifying questions, and providing logical, data-driven recommendations. Remember, it’s about how you think, not just the final answer.

Good luck!

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the invitation from BCG!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your questions:

• First of all, before you start thinking about how you can stand out from the crowd, I would highly advise you to check, either by yourself or with an experienced coach like me, to what extent you are really prepared for the interviews. It's not just about quantity, but the amount of preparation you have invested is certainly at the lower end.
• Moreover, once you are decided to attend the interviews, make sure that you maintain your level of readiness right through to the interviews and between interview rounds.
• Lastly, since the BCG Casey pre-interview assessment is essentially a case study that you have to solve on your own, I would advise you to focus your preparation on practicing case studies with colleagues and on your own, as this is the best way to prepare. Please feel free to contact me directly for realistic preparation materials for the BCG Casey.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming BCG pre-interview assessment and interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen