Consulting Application Deadlines for Roles in the U.S.
The Bain, BCG, & McKinsey consulting application deadlines are a couple months away, but you can start getting your Consulting Resume and Cover Letter ready now.
See our tips below and links in the “more info” section for further advice on landing these coveted positions!
Full-Time Consulting Application Deadlines for Recruits from Undergraduate & Master’s Programs
| FIRM | Deadline(s) | Region | Read this for more information |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCG | Expected deadline: June | U.S. | Why BCG? |
| BCG Case Interview | |||
| Bain | Expected deadline: June & September | U.S. | Why Bain? |
| Bain Case Interview | |||
| The Bain Experience Interview | |||
| McKinsey | Expected deadline: July | U.S. | Why McKinsey? |
| McKinsey Case Interview | |||
| The McKinsey Personal Experience Interview |
Summer Internship Consulting Application Deadlines for Recruits from Undergraduate & Master’s Programs
| Firm | Deadline(s) | Region | Read this for more information |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCG | Expected deadline: July (preferred) & September | U.S. | BCG Internships |
| Why BCG? | |||
| Bain | Expected deadline: June & September | U.S. | Consulting Internship: How to Get One & What to Expect |
| Why Bain? | |||
| McKinsey | Expected deadline: August | U.S. | Consulting Internship: How to Get One & What to Expect |
| Why McKinsey? |
Full-Time Consulting Application Deadlines for Recruits from MBA Programs
| Firm | Deadline(s) | Region | Read this for more information |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCG | Expected deadline: September | U.S. | Why BCG? |
| BCG Case Interview | |||
| Bain | Expected deadline: September | U.S. | Bain Case Interview |
| The Bain Experience Interview | |||
| McKinsey | Expected deadline: September | U.S. | McKinsey Case Interview |
Summer Internship Consulting Application Deadlines for Recruits from MBA Programs
| Firm | Deadline(s) | Region | Read this for more information |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCG | Expected deadline: November | U.S. | BCG Internships |
| Why BCG? | |||
| Bain | Expected deadline: November | U.S. | Consulting Internship: How to Get One & What to Expect |
| Why Bain? | |||
| McKinsey | Expected deadline: November | U.S. | Consulting Internship: How to Get One & What to Expect |
| Why McKinsey? |
Consulting Application Deadlines for Recruits from Ph.D., J.D., M.D., & Postdoc Programs
| Firm | Deadline | Region | Read this for more information |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCG | Expected deadline: July | U.S. | The Bridge to BCG Consulting Workshop for Ph.D & Advanced Degree Candidates |
| Bain | Expected deadline: June | U.S. | |
| McKinsey | Expected deadline: June | U.S. | The McKinsey Insight Program |
Consulting Application Deadlines for Immersive Workshops for Recruits from Ph.D. Programs
| Firm | Deadline | Region | Read this for more information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transitioning to Consulting from a Ph.D. or Other Advanced Degree Program | |||
| Bridge to BCG | Expected deadline: March | U.S. | The Bridge to BCG Consulting Workshop for Ph.D & Advanced Degree Candidates |
| Bain ADvantage | Expected deadline: February | U.S. | |
| McKinsey Insight | Expected deadline: March | U.S. | The McKinsey Insight Program |
Consulting Application Deadlines for Programs for Traditionally Underrepresented Groups
| Firm | Deadline | Region | Read this for more information |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCG Growing Future Leaders Program | TBD | U.S. | BCG Internships |
| Bain BASE Scholar (MBA) | Expected deadline: May | U.S. | Bain BASE Scholar Internship |
| Bain BEL Program (undergrad) | Expected deadline: February | U.S. | Bain BEL Program |
| McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst | Expected deadline: September | U.S. | McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst Program |
| Sophomore Consulting Internships |
Table of Contents
When to Start Applying to Consulting Jobs
Our advice on when to apply for consulting jobs is EARLY! Deadlines for Bain, BCG, and McKinsey continue to be 1-2 months earlier than in prior years.
Not all the deadlines are out yet, but we recommend you begin crafting your Consulting Resumes and Cover Letters NOW so you are not caught with too little time!
Check back here. We’ll continue updating deadlines as we hear about them.
It’s also a good idea to visit the websites of firms you’re interested in, sign up for recruiting notifications, and be ready to apply earlier rather than later.
Top consulting firms try to wrap up recruiting early to ensure they’ve secured the best talent. This means you could be applying for an internship of full-time position before you’ve completed your internship for the prior summer.
Firms won’t wait or hold spots just for the sake of finding people later and they typically won’t open up more spots until later in the year (or at all). Later interview dates can be more competitive.
When To Apply for Full-Time Consulting Roles
Undergraduate students should apply in the summer before your senior year.
Master’s (non-MBA students with ~3 years of work experience or less) should apply in the summer before the final year of your program.
MBAs completing a traditional 2-year program should apply in the summer before your final year.
Students in Ph.D. & Advanced Degree Programs should apply in the summer of your final year.
When To Apply for Consulting Summer Internships?
Undergraduate students apply during your junior year or in your senior year if you’re planning to enter a 1-year master’s. You should apply about a year before you expect to start working full-time.
Master’s (non-MBA students with ~3 years of work experience or less) completing a 2-year program should apply in the first year of your program. Students should apply when they have at least one year left of school following the summer you’d intern.
MBAs completing a traditional 2-year program should look for information programs on careers in consulting the summer before you begin your MBA program and sign up for recruiting notifications.
Students in Ph.D. & Advanced Degree Programs (JDs/MDs or Master’s students with more than~3 years of work experience) should look into programs like the Bain ADvantage Program, the Bridge to BCG Consulting Workshop for Ph.D & Advanced Degree Candidates, and McKinsey Insight. You’ll need to be ready to apply about a year before you plan to start a full-time position.
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McKinsey Application Deadlines
McKinsey Application Deadline for Full-Time Undergraduate & Master’s Programs
McKinsey’s application deadline for undergraduate & Master’s students applying for a full-time Business Analyst (BA) role is typically in July of the year before you plan to begin full-time work.
Refer to your university recruiting center to confirm these dates. You can contact the recruiter at the office(s) you plan to apply to if you attend a non-target school.
McKinsey Application Deadline for Summer Internships – Undergraduate & Master’s Programs
McKinsey is offering 2 application deadlines for undergraduate & Master’s students applying for a Summer Business Analyst Intern role. The first deadline is in July and the second is in August.
When should you apply? It’s best to apply at the earliest deadline you are ready for, but don’t rush if your application is not complete or as compelling as you can make it.
Refer to your university recruiting center to confirm these dates. You can contact the recruiter at the office(s) you plan to apply to if you attend a non-target school.
McKinsey Application Deadline – Full-Time MBA Program Recruits
The consulting application deadline for MBA students applying for an Associate role depends on the school you are attending. Generally, deadlines fall in September, but refer to your university page to confirm exact dates.
If your school does not list a date (not a target school), reach out to a recruiter at the office(s) you plan to apply to.
McKinsey Application Deadline – Summer Internships for MBA Program Recruits
The consulting application deadline for MBA students applying for a Summer Associate role depends on the school you are attending. Generally, deadlines fall in November, but applications for next summer are already open. Check with your university career center to confirm exact dates.
If your school does not list a date (not a target school), contact recruiting at the office(s) you plan to apply to.
McKinsey Application Deadline – Full-Time Roles for Recruits in Ph.D. & Advanced Degree Programs
The consulting application for Ph.D. & Advanced Degree candidates applying for a full-time position is typically June of the summer before you plan to begin full-time work.
McKinsey Application Deadline – Summer Internships for Recruits in Ph.D. & Advanced Degree Programs
The consulting application deadline for Ph.D. & Advanced Degree candidates applying for a summer internship in 2025 is expected to be in November.
This is for the full 10-week summer internship. However, most spots are for MBA students and most Ph.D.s apply for the shorter summer internships (1-week, 3-day, 1-day) and the application deadlines are typically in the spring (March/April).
Bain & Company Consulting Application Deadlines
Bain Full-Time Undergraduate & Master’s Programs Application Deadlines
Bain typically offers 2 deadlines for undergraduate & Master’s students who are applying for a full-time Associate Consultant (AC) role. These dates are typically in June and September.
Which should you apply to? Bain encourages applicants to apply when they feel ready to complete the application and says they plan to hire a significant number of applicants in each round.
We suggest you confirm that these dates are the same as those on your university page. You can email the firm recruiter in the office(s) you plan to apply to in order to confirm the deadline.
To find out if you’re ready to apply, book a FREE strategy session with one of our former Bain, BCG, and McKinsey recruiters.
Bain Summer Internship Deadline for Recruits in Undergraduate & Master’s Programs
The consulting application deadlines for undergraduate & Master’s students who are applying for an Associate Consultant Intern role are typically in June & September of the year before you intend to intern.
Which should you apply to? Bain encourages applicants to apply when they feel ready to complete the application and says they plan to hire a significant number of applicants in each round.
We suggest you check your university page to confirm this date. You can also email the firm recruiter in the office(s) you plan on applying to in order to confirm the deadline.
Bain Full-Time Application Deadline for Recruits in MBA Programs
The consulting application deadline for MBA students applying for a Consultant role depends on the school you are attending. Generally, deadlines fall in September, but refer to your university page to confirm exact dates.
If you cannot find a deadline for your school, email the firm recruiter in the office(s) you plan on applying to in order to confirm the deadline.
Bain Summer Internship Application Deadlines for Recruits in MBA Programs
The consulting application deadline for MBA students applying for a Summer Associate role is typically in November.
Bain Full-Time Application Deadline for Recruits in Ph.D. & Advanced Degree Programs
The consulting application deadline for Ph.D. & Advanced Degree students applying for a Consultant role is typcially in June.
Bain Summer Internship Application Deadlines for Recruits in Ph.D. & Advanced Degree Programs
The application deadline for Ph.D. & Advanced Degree students applying for a Summer Associate role in 2025 is expected in November.
The full 10-week summer internship spots are mostly for MBA students. Most PhDs apply for the shorter summer internships (1-week, 3-day, 1-day) and this is typically in the spring.
BGC Consulting Application Deadlines
BCG Full-Time Application Deadlines for Recruits in Undergraduate & Master’s Programs
The consulting application deadline for undergraduate & master’s students applying for a full-time Associate role is typically in June.
If BCG conducts interviews on campus at your school, we suggest you check with your career office for a deadline specific to your school. If you attend a non-target school, you can email the firm recruiter in the office(s) you plan on applying to in order to confirm the deadline.
BCG Summer Internship Application Deadline for Recruits in Undergraduate & Master’s Programs
The BCG Summer Associate Internship application deadlines are typically in July and September. Of the two dates, the July deadline is preferred.
Our guidance is to push to make the earlier deadline if your application is ready. BCG’s strategy is to hit their hiring targets as early as possible, so interview spots in September will be more competitive.
If BCG conducts interviews on campus at your school, we suggest you check with your career office for a deadline specific to your school. If you attend a non-target school, email the firm recruiter in the office(s) you plan on applying to in order to confirm the deadline.
To find out if you’re ready to apply, book a FREE strategy session with one of our former Bain, BCG, and McKinsey recruiters.
BCG Full-Time Application Deadline for MBA Recruits
The consulting application deadline for MBAs applying for a full-time Consultant role generally fall in August-September, but refer to your university page to confirm exact dates.
BCG Summer Internship Application Deadline for MBA Recruits
The consulting application deadline for MBAs applying for a Consultant Summer Internship role typically fall in November. Refer to your university page to confirm your exact deadline.
BCG Empower Application Deadline for Pre-matriculation MBA Students
The application deadline for pre-matriculation MBA students who would like to take part in the BCG Empower program is generally in June. This program is a great way to find out about careers in consulting.
BCG Full-Time Application Deadline for Recruits in Ph.D. & Advanced Degree Programs
The consulting application deadline for Ph.D. & Advanced Degree students applying for a full-time Consultant role is generally July of the year before you expect to complete your program.
If BCG conducts interviews on campus at your school, we suggest you check with your career office for a deadline specific to your school. You can also email the firm recruiter in the office(s) you plan on applying to in order to confirm the deadline.
BCG Summer Internship Application Deadline for Recruits in Ph.D. & Advanced Degree Programs
The consulting application deadline for Ph.D. & Advanced Degree students applying for a Consultant Summer Internship role is expected to be in November. Refer to your university page to confirm the application deadline that applies to you.
This is for the full 10-week summer internship. However, most spots are for MBA students and most Ph.D.s apply for the shorter summer internships (1-week, 3-day, 1-day) and the application deadlines are typically in the spring (March/April). These deadlines are typically posted in the new year.
McKinsey, Bain and BCG (MBB) Application Deadlines for Experienced Hires
While a large majority of recruiting for McKinsey, Bain, and BCG happens directly from campus, firms are doing more and more experienced hiring each year.
Experienced hiring varies by firm, role, and office, so it is important to confirm with the appropriate recruiter that you are applying for a role where they are actively hiring in that location.
The best times to apply as an experienced hire are July/August and in the new year. We typically see a spike in experienced hire recruiting in January. Experienced hire recruiting is done when there is a need for talent, so networking is a great way to find out if you are applying at the right time. Needs will vary by firm and office.
Additionally, Bain sometimes has another application deadline for experienced hires for the Consultant level role (post-MBA, PhD or over 4 years of relevant work experience) in January. It will be posted on their firm website. This occasionally happens in the spring instead, and it only happens when there is a need. This January or Spring deadline does not apply to Bain’s Associate Consultant (AC) level role (undergraduates, Master’s (non-MBA), or experienced hires with less than 4 years of work experience).
All of this being said, the need for experienced hires can change quickly, so candidates should check with a recruiter first before applying to an office since not all offices at all firms will add experienced hires every year. The majority of experienced professional hiring happens for specialized roles so it is great to look out for other non-generalist roles as well if you have a specialized background (e.g. digital, healthcare, private equity, technology, etc.)
What to Do If You Miss the Consulting Application Deadlines
If you missed the application deadlines for MBB firms, you should be open and excited to apply to firms outside of just McKinsey, Bain, BCG, and some of the other larger Tier 2s. See our List of 200+ Consulting Firms to Apply to for suggestions. The deadlines for Tier 2 firms are usually around the same time as MBB or a little bit after.
Some boutique firms conduct hiring on a rolling basis and continue to review applications throughout the year.
Some Tier 1 and Tier 2 firms will occasionally have openings after the main deadlines, but it will depend on if a specific office has a hiring need and numbers tend to be smaller. Networking with folks at the firms can be a great way to know when there is an opening. The MBB firms keep their application “open” all year round, but that doesn’t always mean they are actively reviewing applications.
The good news is, we have worked with many folks who have missed application deadlines and still land offers from smaller firms and then go on to make a lateral transition to a larger consulting firm. While it isn’t the straightest and fastest path into an MBB, don’t give up if you have missed the deadlines!
If you want a step-by-step solution to land more offers from consulting firms, then grab the free video training series below. It’s been created by former Bain, BCG, and McKinsey Consultants, Managers and Recruiters.
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Get your application noticed with these insider tricks from former McKinsey, Bain, and BCG Recruiting Managers.