# Consulting
**Source**: https://careeradvancement.uchicago.edu/careers-in/consulting/
**Parent**: https://careeradvancement.uchicago.edu/
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](https://uchicago.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=76a5633a008ffdc2081d6edef&id=6d44e45c87)\
[Consulting Recruiting Guide](/consulting-recruiting-guide.pdf)
## Consulting Student Guide
- ## Overview
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.
- ## Fall Quarter
- with your career adviser
- [Apply for an on-campus job](/student-opportunities/month-long-programs/on-campus-employment/) to start gaining experience
- Start networking with employers by applying for a Winter Break or experience
- [Join a business RSO](https://blueprint.uchicago.edu/) focused on an area that interests you
- [Sign up for the Business Bulletin newsletter](https://uchicago.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=76a5633a008ffdc2081d6edef&id=6d44e45c87) 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](https://guides.lib.uchicago.edu/newspapers) of leading publications such as The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times
- ## Winter Quarter
- Apply for selective business career programs like the Trott Business Program
- Continue networking by applying for a Spring Break or experience
- Attend the "What is Consulting?" industry overview workshop
- Register for consulting case competitions
- ## Spring Quarter
- Attend on-campus consulting firm presentations to gain industry and firm-specific insights
- [Register on Handshake](https://uchicago.joinhandshake.com/jobs/10687683/share_preview) for Consulting Career Intensive taking place September 22-24, 2026
- ## Summer
- 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
- [Global Career Experiences](/student-opportunities/month-long-programs/global-career-experiences/)
- Strengthen Excel and PowerPoint skills through free [LinkedIn Learning courses](https://intranet.uchicago.edu/tools-and-resources/tools-and-applications/linkedin-learning) available to UChicago students
- ## Overview
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.
- ## Fall Quarter
- Finish applications for any late-cycle summer internships
- [Sign up for practice case and behavioral interviews](/career-toolkit/ace-your-interview/practice-interview-program/)
- Attend firm information sessions
- Apply for a Winter Break or experience
- ## Winter Quarter
- 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](https://intranet.uchicago.edu/tools-and-resources/tools-and-applications/linkedin-learning)
- Apply for a Spring Break or experience
- ## Spring Quarter
- Sign up [on Handshake](https://uchicago.joinhandshake.com/events/1897785/share_preview) by April 18 for Consulting Case Practice Cluster to practice case interviewing with peers
- Register for and attend the [Consulting Symposium](https://uchicago.joinhandshake.com/events/1895416/share_preview) 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
- ## Summer
- 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](/career-toolkit/ace-your-interview/practice-interview-program/) to prepare for full-time recruiting
- ## Overview
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.\
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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.
- ## Fall Quarter
- 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 or experience
- Read consulting firm’s publications to gain industry insights
- ## Winter Quarter
- 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 or experience
- ## Spring Quarter
- 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](https://uchicago.joinhandshake.com/events/1897785/share_preview) by April 18 for Consulting Case Practice Cluster to practice case interviewing with peers
- Register for and attend the [Consulting Symposium](https://uchicago.joinhandshake.com/events/1895416/share_preview) on May 1
- Engage with McKinsey at Spring Quarter training programs:
- [March 20: Recruiter Office Hours](https://jobs.mckinsey.com/events/Rsvp?folderId=104959)
- [March 23: McKinsey Resume Workshop](https://jobs.mckinsey.com/events/Rsvp/?folderId=105644)
- [March 25: The McKinsey Case Interview](https://jobs.mckinsey.com/events/Rsvp/?folderId=106091)
- [March 26: Recruiter Office Hours](https://jobs.mckinsey.com/events/Rsvp/?folderId=106089)
- [April 3: Recruiter Office Hours](https://jobs.mckinsey.com/events/Rsvp?folderId=104960)
- [April 7: Advanced Case Skills & Standing Out](https://jobs.mckinsey.com/events/Rsvp/?folderId=106092)
- Build your casing skills at three-part Consulting Issue Trees training:
- [March 24: Tackling Revenue & Profitability Cases](https://uchicago.joinhandshake.com/events/1920842/share_preview)
- [March 26: Tackling Market Entry, M&A, PE Cases](https://uchicago.joinhandshake.com/events/1920844/share_preview)
- [March 31: Other Case Types & Market Sizing](https://uchicago.joinhandshake.com/events/1920847/share_preview)
- Reach out to alumni at consulting firms for informational “coffee chats” to gain firm insights and recruiting advice
- ## Summer
- 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
- ## Overview
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.
- ## Fall Quarter
- 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
- ## Winter Quarter
- Continue recruiting for roles with smaller and boutique consulting firms
- Apply for a Spring Break
- ## Spring Quarter
- Continue recruiting for smaller and boutique consulting firms
- Finalize your post-graduation plans
- ## Summer
- Start your full-time consulting role!
## UChicago Consulting Programs
- ## Fall | Consulting Career Intensive
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. \
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**2026 Consulting Career Intensive\**September 22-24, 2026\
Students are expected to arrive in Chicago on September 21\
[Apply Here](https://uchicago.joinhandshake.com/jobs/10687683/share_preview)
- ## Winter | Consulting Case Bootcamp
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.
- ## Winter | UChicago x McKinsey Consulting Immersion Initiative
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.
- ## Spring | Consulting Symposium
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](https://uchicago.joinhandshake.com/events/1895416/share_preview).
**2026 Consulting Symposium\**May 1, 2026\
The Study \
1227 E. 60th St.
- ## Spring and Summer | Case Consulting Clusters
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**](https://uchicago.joinhandshake.com/events/1897785/share_preview) to participate**!**