The Bridge to BCG Program is an extraordinary opportunity for advanced degree students to experience what it is like being a consultant and working on a BCG case team.

 

In addition to learning more about consulting and BCG, participants have the opportunity to interview for a full-time position following completion of the Bridge to BCG program.

 

If you’re looking to apply to the Bridge to BCG program and want to know how you can give yourself the best chance of getting in, then this article is for you.

 

In this comprehensive article, we’ll cover what the Bridge to BCG program is, program requirements and deadlines, and tips for the application and interview.

 

What is the Bridge to BCG Program?

 

The Bridge to BCG program is a two-day immersive workshop designed to help advanced degree students experience the BCG case team experience. Over two days, participants will solve a mini-business case with a small team of 5-6 other participants managed by a real project leader.

 

This includes having working sessions in team rooms and presenting results to a mock steering committee of clients.

 

Bridge to BCG participants can expect to:

 

• Work with other Bridge to BCG participants and consultants to solve a case in a realistic case team simulation

 

• Learn more about BCG’s culture and life as a consultant from senior BCG leaders

 

• Network with BCG consultants and other Bridge to BCG participants through social events

 

• Have the opportunity to interview for a full-time position

 

There are two different program options, one that is in-person and one that is virtual.

 

If selected for the in-person program, you will be invited to the Bridge to BCG program location that is nearest to your school or home. BCG will also cover round-trip transportation and one night of hotel for guests that are out-of-town. Meals and other reasonable expenses associated with the program are also covered.

 

For further questions on the Bridge to BCG program, you can email [email protected].

 

Bridge to BCG Program Requirements

 

The Bridge to BCG program is open to candidates who are currently enrolled in or have recently completed advanced degree programs.

 

Eligible advanced degree programs include:

 

• PhDs

 

• Postdocs

 

• JDs

 

• MDs and MD residents or fellows

 

• Practicing physicians

 

• Professors

 

• Current non-MBA masters with a JD, MD, or PhD

 

If you hold or are pursuing multiple advanced degrees, you are still eligible to apply to the Bridge to BCG program. However, the one exception is that candidates who are pursuing or already possess an MBA are not eligible.

 

Candidates must currently reside in the US or Canada.

 

While the Bridge to BCG program is predominantly for North American offices, BCG still encourages candidates that are interested in other global offices to apply. While you will not be accepted into the program, you will be considered for full-time consulting opportunities.

 

Additionally, BCG looks for candidates that have a history of achievement and leadership, are great communicators, and are passionate about problem solving.

 

Bridge to BCG Application Deadline

 

The Bridge to BCG application deadline is typically in March. However, you should check the official Bridge to BCG website to find the exact deadline for the upcoming year.

 

Applicants should expect an update on their application status in April.

 

If you are not accepted into the Bridge to BCG program, know that you are still eligible to apply to BCG’s full time consulting position. Your Bridge to BCG application will not affect your chances of receiving an interview for a full-time role.

Make sure to check out our comprehensive list of all BCG application deadlines for internships, full-time roles, and other programs.

 

Bridge to BCG Application

 

The Bridge to BCG application consists of two components, an application and video cover letter.

 

Application

 

The Bridge to BCG application is exactly the same as the full-time consulting application. The major sections of the application are: profile, location preference, education, employment, attachments, and personal details.

 

Profile

You’ll be asked to provide basic information, including your name, email address, and home address.

 

Location Preference

You’ll be asked to provide up to three office preferences, ranking them in order of preference. Additionally, you’ll be asked to provide a weighting for each office selected, with the total adding up to 100%.

 

For example, you could list Chicago as 50%, San Diego as 30%, and Denver as 20%.

 

However, know that your top-choice office location is likely the only one that will be considered.

 

Education

You’ll be asked to provide details on your school or university name, degree, start date, and end date. You’ll also be asked to share test scores and information on any notable scholarships you’ve received.

 

Employment

For this part of the application, you’ll share how much full time work experience you have. BCG instructs you to not consider any internship experience as full-time work experience. However, if you are doing a Post Doc, you can include this in your work experience.

 

Attachments

For this section of the application, you’ll have the opportunity to select the different BCG industry practices that are of interest to you, what BCG capability topics you are interested in, and how you heard about BCG.

 

You’ll then be asked to upload a CV or resume and a transcript. You also have the opportunity to upload a BCG cover letter and any additional documents, but those are optional.

 

If you are a borderline candidate, we recommend submitting a cover letter. A well-written, customized consulting cover letter could make the difference between getting an interview and getting rejected if you are on the borderline.

 

Personal Details

In the last section of the application, you’ll be asked to indicate your language proficiency. You’ll select which languages you are familiar with as well as your fluency level.

 

You’ll also be asked for a telephone number and a permanent address if it is different from your current address.

 

Video cover letter

 

The video cover letter helps you add a personal touch to your Bridge to BCG application. You will receive a few questions on the screen and will respond to each question one at a time through a recorded video. The video cover letter is conducted using the Spark Hire video platform.

 

To complete the video cover letter, you will need access to internet and a webcam on either your computer or your smart phone. iOS and Android devices are both compatible with the video platform.

 

An email invitation to complete the video cover letter will be sent on a rolling basis leading up to the Bridge to BCG deadline. You will have until the posted deadline to complete your video cover letter.

 

Once you receive a link to the video cover letter via email, click the link and give Spark Hire permission to access your webcam and microphone. Then, you’ll watch a tutorial video on how to use the video platform and complete a practice video question.

 

Afterwards, the first question will appear on the screen for you to answer.

 

The questions in the video cover letter are not case interviews. Instead, they are questions that ask about experiences you’ve had and goals you are pursuing.

 

The entire video cover letter process should take no more than 45 minutes. You have the option to pause the program after each question and come back to it later, but you will need to complete all questions by the designated due date.

 

If you require special assistance to complete the video cover letter, you can email [email protected].

 

Bridge to BCG Interview

 

After submitting the Bridge to BCG application, finalists will be invited to an interview that consists of two components: a 30-minute Zoom interview focused on your experiences and capabilities and an online case interview.

 

30-Minute Zoom Interview

 

The 30-minute Zoom interview will consist of a mix of behavioral and motivational questions.

 

Consulting behavioral questions ask you to draw upon a time or experience in the past in which you demonstrated a particular quality or trait. For example, you may be asked common consulting behavioral interview questions such as:

 

• Tell me about a time when you led a team

 

• Give an example of a time when you went above and beyond

 

• Tell me about a time when you failed

 

• Describe a problem that you solved using data

 

• Tell me about a time when you resolved conflict while working on a team

 

BCG asks behavioral questions because how you’ve handled situations in the past is a predictor of how you will handle problems and challenges in the future.

 

BCG also asks motivational questions to assess your genuine passion for consulting and to see if you are actually interested in working at the firm.

 

There are two common motivational questions that you should prepare for:

 

• Why are you interested in consulting?

 

• Why do you want to work at BCG?

 

The first question evaluates whether you know what you are getting into. Do you actually have an idea of what consultants do and what you should expect on the job?

 

The second question evaluates whether you’ve done your research on BCG. Do you know what makes BCG special among all the other management consulting firms? Are you interested in BCG for the right reasons?

 

Online Case Interview

 

In addition to a 30-minute Zoom interview, you’ll also be given a BCG online case interview.

 

A case interview is a 20 to 40-minute interview in which you are placed in a hypothetical business situation and asked to develop a recommendation to solve a business problem. Case interviews are a special type of interview that all management consulting firms use in their interview process.

 

For an online case interview, candidates are given a series of questions in an interactive chat format, simulating a real case interview.

 

There are several types of questions that are typically asked in the BCG online case interview: structuring questions, quantitative questions, critical thinking questions, and business intuition questions.

 

• Structuring questions: These questions present a scenario or problem and ask candidates to identify the most helpful option or the type of information that should be gathered

 

• Quantitative questions: These questions involve mathematical calculations and analysis, often accompanied by exhibits such as tables, charts, or graphs

 

• Critical thinking questions: These questions assess candidates’ ability to analyze scenarios, apply logical reasoning, and make informed judgments

 

• Business intuition questions: These questions evaluate your knowledge of basic business principles and concepts, assessing how you use knowledge of business to make informed, strategic decisions

 

Tips for Getting Selected for the Bridge to BCG Program

 

1. Perfect your consulting resume

 

Your consulting resume is the single most important component that will determine whether or not you are extended an interview for the Bridge to BCG program.

 

Therefore, you’ll want to dedicate at least a few days perfecting your resume while also getting feedback from peers, your school’s career center, or even consultants that you know.

 

Make sure to follow the tips below to perfect your consulting resume.

 

• Keep your resume to one page only. If it is longer, you’ll need to make your resume more concise and less wordy

 

• Every bullet on your resume should start with a verb in the past tense to show that you have completed or achieved something

 

• Every bullet should have some kind of number or metric in them so that you can quantify your accomplishments and make them sound more impressive

 

• Your resume’s bullets should show a mix of quantitative skill accomplishments (e.g., analyzing data) and qualitative skill accomplishments (e.g., managing or working with others)

 

• Avoid using technical jargon, unfamiliar abbreviations or acronyms, and buzzwords with unclear meanings

 

• Your resume should prioritize showcasing your work experiences, particularly if you have worked at a brand name company

 

• Include personal interests at the end of the resume to give resume reviewers something interesting to read about

 

If you need professional help crafting the perfect resume that will land you consulting interviews, check out our resume review and editing service.

 

2. Practice answering behavioral interview questions

 

If you receive a Bridge to BCG interview, expect to be asked a few behavioral interview questions at some point during your interview.

 

To answer behavioral or fit interview questions well, follow these guidelines:

 

• Prepare 6-8 different stories in advance that draw upon your professional and personal work experiences. This ensures that you have prepared answers and stories that you can draw upon no matter what behavioral question is asked

 

• Only select and share experiences that are the most impressive, impactful, or unique. You want to showcase the highlights of your experiences, not just any experience that is relevant

 

• Make sure that you the stories you prepare are collectively diverse. You’ll want to have at least one story that is relevant to leadership, teamwork, problem solving, resilience, integrity, decision making, communication, and interpersonal skills

 

• Structure your answer to help keep your answer clear and easy to follow. Most candidates use the STAR method, which stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result

 

• When giving your answer, cover the Situation and Task sections quickly and spend most of your time focusing on the Action and Result

 

If you want to learn how to answer 98% of behavioral and fit questions in just a few hours, check out our behavioral interview course.

 

3. Prepare your answer to “Why BCG?”

 

In addition to behavioral interviews, you should expect to be asked “why BCG?” at some point during your Bridge to BCG interview. There are a variety of different reasons you could give for why you’re interested in BCG:

 

• BCG works with an impressive roster of prestigious clients, working on solving their most important and difficult problems

 

• BCG has ambitious, intelligent people that fosters a dynamic environment where ideas are constantly challenged and elevated

 

• BCG has a strong commitment to professional development, including professional development chats, mentorship programs, and peer-to-peer teaching

 

• BCG has a culture of innovation, known for pursuing fresh ideas, novel solutions, and groundbreaking strategies

 

• BCG’s regional staffing model strikes a balance between local presence and global opportunities, offering employees the best of both worlds

 

4. Prepare your answer to “Why Consulting?”

 

You should also expect to be asked “why consulting?” at some point during your Bridge to BCG interview. There are a variety of different reasons you could give for why you’re interested in consulting:

 

• You want to make a significant impact by working on the biggest, most challenging business problems that companies face

 

• You enjoy the diversity of solving business problems across multiple different industries and functions

 

• You see consulting as the quickest way to build a strong toolkit of both hard skills and soft skills that are needed to be successful in business

 

• You want to get an insider view on how companies are run and operated

 

• You want to develop knowledge and expertise in a particular industry or function

 

• You value the significant mentorship and professional development that consulting provides

 

• You find fulfillment in working with and servicing clients, helping deliver significant value to them

 

5. Practice solving case interviews

 

Case interviews are difficult and require a lot of time and practice to do well in them. Unlike behavioral or motivational questions, it is extremely unlikely you will nail your BCG case interview unless you have practiced at least 5 to 20+ cases.

 

Below, we’ve put together a 30-minute video giving you a solid introduction to case interviews.

If you’re looking for a step-by-step guide to learn case interviews quickly and save yourself hundreds of hours, make sure to check out our comprehensive case interview course. Whether you have no business background, rusty math skills, or are short on time, learn the most effective case interview strategies and become a top 1% caser.

 

The course also includes plenty of practice cases that you can do without a case partner. This will significantly speed up how quickly you can master case interviews.

 

Resources to Get into the Bridge to BCG Program

 

Getting into the Bridge to BCG program is extremely competitive. To give yourself the best chance of landing an interview and getting accepted into the program, we highly recommend the resources below.

 

For help landing consulting interviews

 

• Resume Review & Editing: Transform your resume into one that will get you multiple consulting interviews

 

For help passing case interviews

 

• Comprehensive Case Interview Course (our #1 recommendation): The only resource you need. Whether you have no business background, rusty math skills, or are short on time, this step-by-step course will transform you into a top 1% caser that lands multiple consulting offers.

 

• Hacking the Case Interview Book (available on Amazon): Perfect for beginners that are short on time. Transform yourself from a stressed-out case interview newbie to a confident intermediate in under a week. Some readers finish this book in a day and can already tackle tough cases.

 

• The Ultimate Case Interview Workbook (available on Amazon): Perfect for intermediates struggling with frameworks, case math, or generating business insights. No need to find a case partner – these drills, practice problems, and full-length cases can all be done by yourself.

 

• Case Interview Coaching: Personalized, one-on-one coaching with former consulting interviewers.

 

For help passing behavioral and fit interviews

 

• Behavioral & Fit Interview Course: Be prepared for 98% of behavioral and fit questions in just a few hours. We'll teach you exactly how to draft answers that will impress your interviewer.