Question About Internship Case Interviews

Question

So I've been prepping for a very short time for case interviews. I still have about 6-8 months left until my first interview. To be honest, I'm very terrified, as I just cannot understand how these same case interviews that seem to be mostly be targeted at MBAs are supposed to be taken by undergrads who aren't even necessarily in business. I just don't get it a single bit. Am I wrong about this?

Answer 1

Hi,

In my experience, the interview process for internships versus MBA candidates in management consulting does have some distinct differences. Here’s a breakdown:

Focus:
- General Skills: Interviews for internships often focus on general consulting, less advanced skills, such as problem-solving, analytical ability, and communication.
- Cultural Fit: Firms also assess the candidate's fit with the company culture and team dynamics and focusses less on having significant impact.
Case Interviews:
- Simpler Cases: The cases presented to internship candidates are usually less complex and focus on assessing basic problem-solving skills.
- More Guidance: Interviewers may provide more guidance and hints to help candidates navigate the case.
Behavioral Interviews:
- Basic Questions: Questions often revolve around teamwork, leadership experiences, and motivations for pursuing consulting.
- Less Depth: The depth of questions might be less than those for MBA candidates.

Both types of interviews aim to assess the candidate's suitability for consulting, but the level of complexity and expectations differ significantly based on the candidate's experience and educational background.

Feel free to reach out if you need help preparing the interviews.

Mattijs

Answer 2

Hello!

It is totally normal to be overwhelmed when starting to prepare for consulting interviews (at least I was too). While I don't know your background, 6-8 months is a good timeline to prepare for the interviews. I would suggest the following:

Understand what is the purpose of case interviews: This means learning about consulting and what consultants do, and how this is reflected in the case interview (e.g., consultants are solving problems by understanding what the problem is, identifying its root causes, identifying solutions and presenting them to the client)
Learn what is the structure of case interviews: Learn about the different types of questions that are tested (e.g., for (1) understanding the problem - prompt, (2) identifying the root causes of the problem - developing a framework / driver tree for the problem, (3) solving the problem - brainstorming, interpreting exhibits, mental math, market sizing, (4) offering a recommendation) as well as what types of case interviews exist (interviewer-led vs. interviewee-led) and which firms prefer which types
Understand what are the expectations from you during the case interview: E.g., how you should structure / communicate / present your answers, what kind of follow-up questions to ask, how much time to take to write down answers
Read about various prep resources that exist and how each could help you: E.g., colleagues / other students (practicing cases with someone else), coaches (practicing cases with an experienced ex-consultant, coaching E2E across all aspects of the interview process), AI platforms / case books (practicing cases by yourself), podcasts (learning tips and tricks as you prep)
Practice, practice, practice: Develop a practice plan and practice case interviews, in full and in part (i.e., focusing only on the individual parts which are more challenging for you), as well as devote time to learning (about business more generally, as well as about various industries)
Learn some business basics: For example, learn what is the basic structure of an income statement and what drives revenue and profitability for companies (assuming you are not studying business); you can use AI / youtube / Google / friends & family / coaches for this
Learn about various industry characteristics: Read business news or books about various industries to understand what is important for each (e.g., regulation is important in the solar industry, manufacturing is a high-CAPEX industry; you can start high-level with a few industries and build from there)

You can do this!

Maria

Answer 3

Hi there,

You're not wrong to feel nervous, but let me reassure you – case interviews are not just for MBAs. While they might seem intimidating, the core skills they test are problem-solving, structured thinking, and communication, which anyone can develop with practice.

As an undergraduate, you don’t need to have an MBA-level understanding of business concepts. What matters most is your ability to break down problems clearly and logically. Focus on mastering frameworks, practicing cases, and getting comfortable thinking on your feet.

You’ve got plenty of time (6-8 months) to prepare, and that’s more than enough to build the confidence and skills you need to do well. If you focus on consistent practice, you’ll be able to approach the interview process with a lot more clarity.

Feel free to reach out if you need help with case prep or advice on how to structure your preparation!

Answer 4

Hey there,

It's understandable to feel somewhat overwhelmed with this... Many people do and its normal. I guarantee you, there are experienced hires who have years of experience in many fields who still feel overwhelmed by the process. Let's change our mindset about this and see things differently.

I wouldn't say case interviews are targeted at / to MBAs. They are a tool for consulting firms to be able assess the way candidates think and a process they'd follow by simulating an 'on the job experience'. Yes, there is some learning you may need to do, but similarly you'd need to do this on the job anyways. So this shouldn't throw you off. Case interviews are designed to be general (unless its for a technical / expert role) to 'equalise' the playing field across a broad range of candidates and applicants

Given that you have 6-8 months, you'll start feeling much more comfortable with continued and sustained (targeted) practice. Use all the tools and resources at your disposal and over time you'll gain more and more competence and confidence in this

All the best!

Answer 5

Hi there,

First of all, I am sorry to hear about your nervousness!

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

First of all, it is natural to feel overwhelmed in the beginning. I would advise you to just keep practicing, using the high quality material on PrepLounge, and if you ever feel that you have reached a plateau in your preparation, contacting an experienced coach like me to get the required acceleration and quality into your preparation process.
Moreover, please keep in mind that consulting firms take into account when a candidate comes from a non-business background. However, a basic level of business judgement and common sense is still expected.
Lastly, rest assured that spending more time in education will not make you a better candidate for consulting interviews.

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 applications, pre-interview assessments and/or interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Answer 6

Hey!

It’s completely normal to feel intimidated by case interviews, especially as an undergrad. The key thing to remember is that firms like McKinsey, BCG, and Bain adjust their expectations for candidates at different levels—undergrads aren’t expected to have the same depth of business knowledge as MBAs. What they’re looking for is your structured thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to communicate clearly. Focus on learning frameworks, practicing mental math, and doing mock interviews to build confidence over time. With 6–8 months to prepare, you’re in a great position to succeed!

Alessa :)