Consulting
A UChicago education provides exceptional preparation for careers in consulting. Students secure opportunities each year with leading consulting firms such as McKinsey, Bain, Boston Consulting Group, Accenture, Deloitte, EY-Parthenon, KPMG, PwC, and more!
Resources
Business Bulletin Newsletter
Consulting Recruiting Guide
Consulting Student Guide
First Year
During your first year, your goal is to start exploring and building a base of skills and experience. Most consulting firms don't offer internships until third year, so you can pursue any summer experience that will help you build strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Build a resume with your career adviser
Apply for an on-campus job to start gaining experience
Start networking with employers by applying for a Winter Break career trek or job shadowing experience
Join a business RSO focused on an area that interests you
Sign up for the Business Bulletin newsletter to get regular updates on internships and upcoming events
Make a habit of reading business news - as a UChicago student, you get free access to the online editions of leading publications such as The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times
Apply for selective business career programs like the Trott Business Program
Continue networking by applying for a Spring Break career trek or job shadowing experience
Attend the "What is Consulting?" industry overview workshop
Register for consulting case competitions
Attend on-campus consulting firm presentations to gain industry and firm-specific insights
Register on Handshake for Consulting Career Intensive taking place September 22-24, 2026
Complete a summer opportunity: any summer experience that gives you exposure to the business world or helps you build analytical, data, and problem-solving skills will put you in a strong position for consulting
Sample summer opportunities that are great for consulting:
Startup internships
Data analysis internships
Business development internships
Economics research assistantships
Nonprofit strategy and management internships
Strengthen Excel and PowerPoint skills through free LinkedIn Learning courses available to UChicago students
Third Year
At the beginning of your third year, you will focus on interviewing and securing a consulting internship offer for the following summer. The most effective path to a full-time consulting job is to receive a return offer from a third-year internship, so you'll want to spend the rest of this year growing your network of consulting contacts and building your skills so that you're ready to be a top performer from day 1 of your internship.
Finish applications for any late-cycle summer internships
Attend firm information sessions
Apply for a Winter Break career trek or job shadowing experience
Start preparing for full-time recruiting by registering for the Case Bootcamp series
Attend employer information sessions
Build your skills by taking advanced coursework or technical training through LinkedIn Learning
Apply for a Spring Break career trek or job shadowing experience
Sign up on Handshake by April 18 for Consulting Case Practice Cluster to practice case interviewing with peers
Register for and attend the Consulting Symposium on May 1
Attend firm information sessions
Reach out to alumni at consulting firms for informational “coffee chats” to gain firm insights and recruiting advice
Complete summer consulting internship or another business internship
Start applying for full-time positions:
July-August: McKinsey, Bain, and BCG
July-September: additional top management and economic consulting firms
Update your resume with your summer position so you have it ready to go for fall
Sign up for practice interviews to prepare for full-time recruiting
Second Year
In your second year, you want to focus on putting yourself in a strong position to secure a consulting internship next year. Applications will open for these opportunities in spring and summer of your second year.
This year is also a great time to research firms, start learning case interviewing skills, and network with employers and alumni.
For your second year summer, look for opportunities that will expose you to the types of businesses your target firms serve as clients while continuing to build your research, analytical, and data skills.
Attend Consulting Recruiting Roadmap Workshop
Attend on-campus consulting firm presentations (targeted for 2nd and 3rd years) to begin networking and gain firm-specific insights
Apply for a Winter Break career trek or job shadowing experience
Read consulting firm’s publications to gain industry insights
Sign up for special training programs with McKinsey:
February 27: Introduction to Case Interviews
March 2: Demystifying the McKinsey Recruiting Process
March 3: McKinsey Recruiter Office Hours
Build your consulting knowledge at Career Advancement workshops:
March 5: What is Consulting?
March 6: Enhancing Your Resume for Consulting
Sign up for consulting firm job and event alerts; attend on-campus consulting firm presentations
Apply for a Spring Break career trek or job shadowing experience
Submit applications for third-year consulting internships at select firms: highly competitive firms like McKinsy, Bain, BCG, and Oliver Wyman typically have applications open between March and June
Sign up on Handshake by April 18 for Consulting Case Practice Cluster to practice case interviewing with peers
Register for and attend the Consulting Symposium on May 1
Engage with McKinsey at Spring Quarter training programs:
Build your casing skills at three-part Consulting Issue Trees training:
Reach out to alumni at consulting firms for informational “coffee chats” to gain firm insights and recruiting advice
Submit applications for third year consulting internships: many management and economic consulting firms have applications open from July through September, with interviews taking place in August through October
Complete a summer opportunity - while consulting firms typically only hire third-year interns, you can strengthen your competitive position for future consulting opportunities by interning with the types of organizations that your target firms serve as clients. These could include organizations in:
Consumer Goods
E-Commerce
Energy & Utilities
Finance & Insurance
Government
Industry & Manufacturing
Media & Entertainment
Fourth Year
The top priority for your fourth year will be to finalize your post-grad plans. Large consulting firms accept applications for full-time roles from the summer of your third year through fall of your fourth year, with interviews continuing into the fall. Smaller and boutique consulting firms will continue posting positions through the winter and spring.
Continue applying for late-cycle full-time positions at large consulting firms
Complete behavioral and case interviews
Attend employer information sessions
Apply for a Winter Break career trek
Continue recruiting for roles with smaller and boutique consulting firms
Apply for a Spring Break career trek
Continue recruiting for smaller and boutique consulting firms
Finalize your post-graduation plans
Start your full-time consulting role!
UChicago Consulting Programs
Apply for an exciting opportunity with Career Advancement in Chicago for a three‑day Consulting Career Intensive designed to prepare students for careers across strategy, management, and business consulting. Days one and two will focus on core consulting skill‑building—including problem‑solving frameworks, case interview techniques, and client communication through a live case —while day three will feature case presentations to industry professionals.
2026 Consulting Career Intensive
September 22-24, 2026
Students are expected to arrive in Chicago on September 21
Apply Here
The Consulting Case Bootcamp is a five-part series designed to prepare students for consulting recruiting by building core case interview skills from the ground up. The program is open to second and third year students.
The UChicago Consulting Immersion Initiative is a a selective, 5-week experiential learning series designed to equip second-year students with the analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills essential for success in consulting recruiting. Sessions are led by the McKinsey team and feature a mix of instruction, peer breakout practice, and group debriefs. Students will be selected into the program by the McKinsey recruiting team.
The UChicago Consulting Symposium kicks off the consulting recruiting season and provides networking opportunities with leading management and economic consulting firms. The day includes an industry insights panel with senior consultants, networking, and group case simulations that are a critical step in the application process. Open to all second and third year students. Students can register on UChicago Handshake.
2026 Consulting Symposium
May 1, 2026
The Study
1227 E. 60th St.
Students can sign up for Case Clusters, designed to help students build confidence and consistency through regular case interview practice. Participants are paired with other students at a similar stage of preparation to practice casing together. Career Advancement will kick off the cohorts on April 18, 2026 and June 17, 2026. Open to second and third year students. Sign up here to participate!
