(New GUy) Which MBA should i get for Management Consulting? Does it matter if I get it at my current School?

Kevin, you’re on the right track, and I can see that you’re ambitious and eager to break into consulting. Let’s break this down;

1. Does the MBA Matter for Consulting?

Yes, but where you get it from matters more than what specific MBA you choose. Consulting firms, especially top ones like McKinsey, BCG, and Bain (MBB), heavily recruit from top-tier MBA programs. These are often ranked globally (Harvard, Wharton, LBS, INSEAD, etc.) or regionally (Kellogg, Ross, Duke in the U.S.; IE, ESADE, HEC Paris in Europe).

If your current university in Iowa is not well-known for consulting placements, you might have a harder time getting into top firms.

2. One MBA vs. Two MBAs?

One good MBA is enough. Having two MBAs does not help—it’s unnecessary, and firms will wonder why you didn’t just go to one top-tier school. Instead, focus on:
    •    Getting into the best MBA program possible that places students into consulting.
    •    Networking aggressively with consulting alumni.
    •    Gaining relevant experience through case competitions, internships, or strategy-focused projects.

3. What Should You Do Next?

Since you’re just about to start your MBA:
    •    If your current MBA program has strong consulting recruitment, stay and make the most of it. Check how many graduates go to MBB or Tier 2 firms.
    •    If not, consider transferring or applying to a stronger program (e.g., a top 20 U.S. or top 10 international school).
    •    Leverage your experience in upper management & HR—this can help you pivot into HR strategy, organizational transformation, or operations consulting at firms like EY-Parthenon, Deloitte, PwC, Accenture, etc.

Feel free to reach out if you need more advice - hope this is helpful!

Best,

Evelina

Hi Kevin,

In general, a MBA can indeed help you to pivot your career and is a perfect 'entry ticket' to start in Business Consultant. I would advise to start with online research to make a shortlist of targeted MBA schools, suited with your background, location, duration and entry fee.

Feel free to reach out, we can further discuss via chat or in a 15m free intro call.

Mattijs

Hi Kevin,

1) I know everyone wants there consultants to have a MBA, which is fine but what MBA should i get

You don’t necessarily need an MBA to get into consulting (by definition, undergrads get in without and don’t necessarily need to do one for progression, although they can). 

If you want to do one, you can easily find the top MBAs for consulting with a quick online search and/or look on LinkedIn for how many alumni an MBA has. For a 1-year MBA, INSEAD is a great option.

You can find a list of target schools for consulting in the US below:

▶ MBB Target Schools

2) I have played around with the idea of getting 2 different MBAs (to look better and stand out) but i have no idea if that would help my chances.

No need to have two MBAs, just ensure the one you are doing has good exit opportunities (again, you can check in a few minutes via LinkedIn).

Good luck!

Francesco

Hey Kevin! First off, great to see your enthusiasm for consulting—your fast-tracked education and management/HR experience could definitely be valuable. For MBB and top-tier firms, the MBA brand does matter. If you’re aiming for management consulting, especially at a top firm, consider a well-known, globally recognized MBA (think M7 in the US, INSEAD, LBS in Europe). However, if your current university isn’t a top-tier target, you can still break in through strong networking, referrals, and a well-crafted consulting story. Getting two MBAs isn’t necessary—one solid one from a well-regarded school is enough. Focus instead on case interview prep, networking with alumni, and securing a summer internship in consulting. Let me know if you need more advice! 😊

Alessa

Hey Kevin,

Getting two MBAs for consulting is an overkill. If you've got relevant experience you can try applying without a single MBA. Consider coaching instead. You can get it at a 1% of an MBA cost but your chances of getting an offer will be higher.

You'll need to prepare a strong CV tailored to a management consulting role and do the necessary preparation (case / fit interview + mental math).  Also I suggest you start networking through LinkedIn extensively in order to increase your chances of getting a referral.

Good luck!
Nick

Hi Kevin,

First of all, congratulations on your career trajectory thus far!

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

• First of all, I would highly advise you to apply for an internship during your studies and see what happens. There is a certain chance that you may not even need an MBA.
• Moreover, if you do end up wanting/needing an MBA, I would advise you to apply only to top MBA programs (see the current FT MBA ranking) to maximize your chances and opportunities.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hey there, 

So a few general thoughts that may be helpful:

• An MBA is more helpful to increase chances of passing screening, but not completely necessary depending on the strength of other elements in your CV and profile
• 2x MBA's is redundant, and the second one won't necessarily add more value. Your highest qualification remains as having Masters / MBA so the effort in your second MBA is not really well spent
• Getting an MBA from a Top Business school counts significantly more than having 2x MBA's. So if going the MBA route - try get into the best that you can
• Depending on which consulting firm you want to get in, having an MBA may not be required at all

If you'd like to chat more about these in details, by all means, please feel free to reach out!

All the best! 

Hey Kevin, feel free to reach out to schedule 15 min to discuss if you'd like - I'd be happy to share my thoughts once I better understand your experience and aspirations.

Best,

Maria

MBA is the most common route to get into MBB, if you've already graduated. 

If you are aiming for consulting at a top tier firm like MBB, then you need to go to a top tier school. 

If you are okay with boutique firms, then you can consider smaller/lower ranked schools.