Invitations to interview

Question

Hi community,

I have a question regarding the invitations to interviews at MBB and tier2. We had a lot of consulting workshops were all the companies told us that you have to be in the top 10-15% of your cohort in order to have a chance for an interview. I was top 1% during my bachelors. However, during my masters it is extremely competitive (60 people cohort) with most people having a 1.0 to 1.1 GPA. At least half of the cohort has a 1.0. I was unlucky this time and once got a B instead of an A, meaning I am falling behind in the ranking tremendously and have no chance of getting back into the top 10-15%. Do you think this means there is no chance for me to get the interviews as I am not in the respective 10-15% anymore? Will it be much harder for me? I am wondering how much companies actually look at the rankings of such master programms as grades are extremely similar and often only 1 or 2 grades are different. Does it really matter that much?

Thank you!

Answer 1

Hi there,

Q: Do you think this means there is no chance for me to get the interviews as I am not in the respective 10-15% anymore? Will it be much harder for me?

In general, you can get an interview even if you don’t have a top GPA. However, you would ideally need to compensate for it to maximize your chances.

The exact probability of getting an interview depends on:

The rest of the application material (CV and Cover)
Whether you have a referral or not
When and where you apply (in some regions/periods, it is easier to get interviews)

You can find more information on #1 and #2 (the main points under your control) below:

▶ How to Get a Consulting Interview Invitation

Good luck!

Francesco

Answer 2

Hey there,

Honestly, MBB's have no way of determining or know if your performance or grades are within top 10-15%. Ideally the interpretation of this is you should have high performance grades.

At times, where your grades are not high enough, your achievements and experience may make up for that - so please make sure you optimize on all other evaluation aspects of the screening process.

Then the cherry on top is to have a referral that could help push your application success chances.

All in all - optimize as much as possible and give it a shot! Don't disqualify yourself :-)

Let me know if you'd like help in preparation of your application, getting referrals or anything else!

All the best

Answer 3

Hey!

While top consulting firms do value strong academic performance, they also consider the overall competitiveness of your program. Being in a highly competitive master's cohort with a strong track record from your bachelor's degree still makes you a strong candidate. Consulting firms look at your application holistically—your experience, extracurriculars, and networking efforts also play a crucial role. To improve your chances, focus on securing referrals, showcasing leadership experiences, and crafting a compelling application. A slightly lower GPA in a top-tier, rigorous program won't necessarily disqualify you, but demonstrating other strengths will be key.

Alessa