Diversity Programs & Competitions.
The programs and competitions that open MBB doors — especially for students not at target schools.
Three of the four non-target school MBB consultants in our research explicitly used a diversity program or case competition as their entry point. These are not participation trophies — they are documented pipelines to McKinsey, BCG, and Bain offers.
Early Diversity Programs
Apply to these as early as freshman year. Some windows open in the fall semester — before most students even know these programs exist.
Bain Emerging Leaders (BEL)
Bain's premier sophomore diversity program. Direct access to Bain mentors, case workshops, and a head start on the ACI (Associate Consultant Intern) pipeline. Applications open around February 1 — earlier than most people expect.
Learn more & applyMcKinsey Early Insight / Freshman Summit
McKinsey's early diversity programs vary by year and cohort but consistently target freshmen and sophomores from underrepresented groups. Provides exposure to consulting, mentorship, and a direct path into McKinsey's recruiting funnel.
Learn more & applyBCG Early Access / Exploring BCG
BCG's early diversity programs give freshmen and sophomores access to the firm before full recruiting begins. Check bcg.com/careers for current program names and timelines — they vary by year.
Learn more & applyDeloitte Discovery Intern Program
Deloitte's early career diversity program. One of our research subjects explicitly named this as her entry point into professional consulting — it led directly to her Bain offer two years later. Big 4 programs are a documented on-ramp to MBB.
Learn more & applyOliver Wyman Black Leaders in Business / Women in Business
Oliver Wyman's diversity programs provide access to one of the top boutique strategy firms. Strong for students interested in financial services consulting and a stepping stone into broader MBB recruiting.
Learn more & applyCase Competitions Worth Entering
In consulting, winning a case competition is what a strong GitHub project is in SWE. It builds the exact skills tested in case interviews and produces a credential that works regardless of your school's brand.
National Diversity Case Competition
Hosted by Indiana University Kelley School of Business
Open to students from all schools — not just target universities. Winning this is a documented differentiator for non-target students. One Indiana → Bain consultant won two case competitions before receiving any MBB offer. This was her primary credential.
Deloitte Case Competition
National • Open to undergrads
One of the most recognized case competitions in the country. Placing well is a visible signal to every major consulting firm, not just Deloitte.
Darden Case Competition (UVA)
University of Virginia Darden School
Highly regarded in consulting recruiting circles. Strong signal for strategy-focused firms including MBB.
MIT Sloan Case Competition
MIT Sloan School of Management
Nationally recognized. Gives non-target students a credential associated with an elite school name.
International Global Scaling Challenge
International • Open to undergrads
Cross-border case competition. Valued especially at firms with strong international practices like McKinsey and BCG.
Your School's Internal Case Competition
Check with your consulting club
Many schools run internal competitions through their consulting clubs. These build the skills and often lead to external competition invitations. Start here if you're new to casing.
When You Can't Get a Program or Competition
Recruiting doesn't always go as planned. Here's what to do instead:
Enter a case competition instead.
If you didn't land a diversity program, a case competition win is the next best credential. It builds the same skills and produces a verifiable, school-agnostic signal.
Do any internship that builds structured thinking.
Finance, operations, nonprofit consulting, government — any role where you're analyzing data and making recommendations is building the consulting toolkit. Explain the connection clearly in your resume.
Build a consulting project yourself.
Work with a local nonprofit or small business on a real problem — market analysis, operational review, strategy recommendations. Document it as a project with a concrete outcome.
TA a quantitative course.
TA experience appeared repeatedly across both the consulting and SWE profiles we studied. It signals analytical depth and communication ability — both core to consulting.
Read cases and practice solo.
If you can't find a casing partner, use Management Consulted's video library to watch cases being solved. Build the vocabulary and instinct even without live practice.