To the Professional Coaches: Your experience with students that are bad in math

Hey! 
It’s definitely possible to improve your math skills and get an offer from MBB! I’ve coached many people specifically focused on math improvements, and they went on to secure offers at MBB firms. So, with the right approach and practice, you can definitely get better. The key here is case math in context—the type of math problems you face in cases are often repeated patterns, and over time, you’ll become more familiar and comfortable with them. Daily drills will help with speed and accuracy, but also, practice solving these problems within case studies to make the math more relevant to consulting. 

Another important point to consider is whether consulting is the right fit for you. Consulting revolves around numbers—just like doing case studies repeatedly—so math will always come up. If this doesn’t sound like something you enjoy or can improve on over time, it’s worth considering whether consulting is your best long-term path. However, if you can build up your math and case-solving skills, you'll definitely be on the right track!

Best, Alessa :)

Hi there,

First of all, you're definitely not alone - math is one of the key areas most people struggle with during case prep and also during the interviews.

Second, case math (or the math you need as a consultant/business math) is surprisingly simple in hindsight, especially compared to other professions, and I'm saying this as someone who also struggled with it during my own prep. 

The good news is that it's completely learnable, so if consulting is your dream career, I would not give up just because of math.

The main issue I see is that people often don’t practice math effectively. Just doing more problems will help, but the improvement will be slow since the practice is unfocused. You’ll be relying more on luck than strategy. 

The key is to first understand the types of math problems that commonly appear in case interviews and the associated logic and patterns (e.g., cost-benefit analysis), then learn the right approach and thinking techniques to solve them efficiently and communicate clearly.

Also, most case math problems are designed in a way that common sense is enough to approach it (this is what firms are looking for - not memorization but practical application and problem-solving). Move away from learning any formulas - this is not helpful and misdirected.

Once you’ve mastered the approach, practice becomes much more effective. You can work on this independently with a good theory/practice course or consider working with a coach who can provide direct feedback and help accelerate your progress.

If you’re interested in exploring coaching or a course, feel free to reach out!

All the best,
Florian

Hi there, 

It sounds like you're navigating some common challenges many aspiring consultants face, and it's fantastic that you're eager to improve. Here are some tailored insights and strategies to help you move forward:

1. Understanding Structure

Structuring your thoughts and problems is essential in consulting. To enhance your skills:

• Familiarize Yourself with Frameworks: While it’s not necessary to rigidly adhere to frameworks during interviews, knowing them will help you think on your feet and understand various scenarios more quickly.
• Start with Simple Problems: Begin by tackling straightforward case studies or business problems. Focus on structuring each problem from a casebook, even if you don’t work through the entire case. This will help you develop both speed and accuracy.

2. Math Drills

Improving your quantitative skills is crucial. Here’s how to approach math drills effectively:

• Understand Concepts: Aim to grasp the underlying principles rather than just memorizing formulas. This understanding will help you apply your skills under pressure.
• Timed Practice: Simulate test conditions to become accustomed to working with time constraints. This can help alleviate anxiety and improve your speed. After practicing structuring, focus on math problems from the casebook to refine your skills in this area.

3. Mock Interviews and Feedback

Engage in mock interviews with peers or coaches. This provides a safe space to practice structuring your thoughts and receiving constructive feedback. Here are some tips:

• Practice Under Time Constraints: Focus on articulating your thoughts concisely while working against the clock.
• Peer Practice: Starting with peers on platforms like Preplounge can be beneficial. It allows for general practice before investing in coaching, which can be expensive. This way, when you do work with a coach, your practice will be more targeted, maximizing your investment.

4. Consistent Practice

Improvement comes with regular practice. Dedicate consistent time to case studies, math drills and continue being self-reflective and assessing your performance. Over time, you’ll likely see significant progress.

5. Mindset and Resilience

Maintaining a positive mindset is crucial. Many successful consultants have faced similar hurdles early in their careers. Embrace the learning process and don’t let setbacks discourage you. Remember, fear of failure can be one of the biggest obstacles, leading to mental blocks.

Improvement takes time and effort, but with persistence and the right strategies, you can cultivate the skills needed to thrive in consulting. Stay focused on your goals and don’t hesitate to seek support along the way.

We’ve all been in your shoes—the key is to keep pushing forward. With dedication and practice, anyone can excel in this field. Just remember not to put too much pressure on yourself, as it can lead to frustration and increased anxiety during interviews.

Feel free to reach out to me directly if you'd like to book a complimentary session to answer any questions you might have or you'd like some help in creating a preparation plan.

Good luck! You can do it!

Hello there,

To directly answer your question, yes, you can vastly improve your case math skills by doing targeted drills. However, I’d suggest you firstly ensure your fundamentals (business math logic, calculations, etc.) are sound before running repeated drills so you can maximize performance.

Also, considering there are multiple areas that require improvement beyond case math, you need to make sure to address those other weak points including structuring et al simultaneously. Primary reason for that is a single salient weakness can disrupt an otherwise brilliant case interview performance.

Feel free to reach out if you need tailored case prep support.

Fathu

Hi there,

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

• First of all, given the diverse weak spots, I would highly advise you to consider working with an experienced coach like me to receive the quality and acceleration you require for your preparation.
• Moreover, while practicing basic math skills daily to improve your speed and accuracy will certainly help you with most pre-interview assessments, it will not address your other weak spots.

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

Best,

Hagen