Freshman consulting internships are an extraordinary opportunity to experience what consulting is and give you a head start on your consulting career. By participating in training, case work, and social events, you’ll get to develop your consulting skills and network with future colleagues.

 

I’m a former Bain Manager and interviewer and in this comprehensive article, we’ll cover all of the different freshman consulting internships in detail and tell you exactly how you can land one.

 

List of Freshman Consulting Internships

 

The major freshman consulting internship programs among the top consulting firms include:

 

• Accenture Student Leadership Program

 

• Bain Consulting Kickstart

 

• BCG Bridge to Consulting

 

• Deloitte Discovery Internship

 

• Expedition EY

 

• KPMG Embark Scholars

 

• McKinsey El Futuro and Up Next First Year Leadership Summit

 

• McKinsey Ignite

 

We’ll cover each of these programs in more detail, including deadlines and where to apply. For information on sophomore internships, check out our article on consulting internships for sophomores.

 

Accenture Student Leadership Program

 

The Accenture Student Leadership helps current freshman and sophomore students develop their leadership and professional skills through a series of virtual learning calls. Participants will get exposure to Accenture and make meaningful connections with their peers and Accenture leaders.

 The program wraps up with a two-day Student Leadership Summit focused on innovative technology, professional development, and networking with Accenture leadership.

 

There are five major tracks: Student Athlete, Women in Technology, Pride Leadership Academy, HBCU Excellence, and HIS Legacy.

 

Application Deadline: December 1

 

Apply Here: Accenture Student Leadership Program Application

 

Bain Consulting Kickstart

 

The Bain Consulting Kickstart program is an interactive, virtual series that provides exposure to a career in consulting for undergraduate freshmen from underrepresented backgrounds, including Black, Hispanic, Latin American, and Indigenous.

 

A big draw of the program is being guaranteed to interview for the Bain BEL program, a one-week program in which participants will receive training, work on a case team, and have the opportunity to interview for a summer internship position.

 

Application Deadline: April 15

 

Apply Here: Bain Consulting Kickstart Application

You can also check out our full list of all Bain internships.

 

BCG Bridge to Consulting

 

The BCG Bridge to Consulting Program is a workshop for freshman and sophomore students from underrepresented minority groups to explore life as an Associate at BCG. The minority groups that BCG targets include: Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Indigenous/Native American/Alaska Native.

 

During this immersive workshop, participants will learn more about the firm, meet inspirational BCG leaders, network with their peers, and participate in interview prep training.

 

Application Deadline: March 25

 

Apply Here: Bridge to Consulting Application

 

Deloitte Discovery Internship

 

The Deloitte Discovery Internship is an 8 to 10-week program for freshmen and sophomores to explore Deloitte’s professional service lines of Audit, Tax, Advisory, or Consulting. Interns will complete comprehensive training, work on client projects, receive mentorship, and create connections with others.

 

Participants that complete the Deloitte Discovery Internship program may be eligible for full-time job opportunities after graduation.

 

Application Deadline: April 15

 

Apply Here: Deloitte Discovery Internship Application

 

Expedition EY

 

Expedition EY is a virtual program for freshman undergraduate students to engage in educational and networking opportunities with EY professionals and other participants in the program.

 

It is an app-based learning experience that runs from March to May. Participants in Expedition EY will be eligible to win scholarship prizes.

 

Application Deadline: January 18

 

Apply Here: Expedition EY Application

 

KPMG Embark Scholars

 

KPMG Embark Scholars is a multi-year program that develops high performing students to becoming future KPMG leaders. It consists of an 8-week internship in which participants receive training and then rotate through KPMG’s Audit, Tax, and Advisory practices. The following summer, participants will intern in the practice area of their choice.

 

Upon completing the KPMG Embark Scholars program, over 95% of participants receive a full-time job offer after graduation.

 

Application Deadline: March 30

 

Apply Here: KPMG Embark Scholars Application

 

McKinsey El Futuro and Up Next First Year Leadership Summit

 

Both of these programs are two-day workshops for freshman undergraduate students. Participants will get to explore what a career in consulting is like, further develop their problem solving and leadership skills, and network with members of McKinsey’s Black, Hispanic & Latino, and Indigenous networks.

 

To apply for these programs, you must complete the Connect with McKinsey form. There is no separate application for these programs.

 

Application Deadline: March 17

 

Apply Here: Connect with McKinsey Form (no separate application for these programs)

 

McKinsey Ignite

 

McKinsey Ignite is a half-day program sponsored by the McKinsey Women affinity group to empower attendees to explore a potential career in consulting, join a personal strengths workshop, and have the opportunity to network with other participants and McKinsey women.

 

To apply for the McKinsey Ignite program, you must complete the Connect with McKinsey form. There is no separate application for the McKinsey Ignite program.

 

Application Deadline: March 17

 

Apply Here: Connect with McKinsey Form (no separate application for McKinsey Ignite)

 

What Consulting Firms Look for in Freshman Consulting Interns

 

Consulting firms look for six major qualities in their freshman consulting interns: analytical skills, teamwork, communication skills, ownership, adaptability, and resilience.

 

Analytical skills

 

Consulting firms value interns who have strong analytical skills. They want students that can gather, interpret, and analyze data to identify meaningful insights and develop data-driven recommendations.

 

Analytical problem solving skills is at the core of consulting. After all, you’ll be working on solving some of the most difficult and impactful business problems that clients face. Having strong analytical skills sets the foundation for solving complex business problems.

 

Teamwork

 

Consultants frequently work in small teams of 4-6 people. You’ll be working with your teammates every day, sometimes spending 12 hours or more in a single day with them.

 

Therefore, strong teamwork skills is crucial. Consulting firms look for students who can collaborate effectively with team members from different backgrounds. This includes sharing responsibilities, supporting each other, and managing conflict.

 

Communication skills

 

Exceptional communication skills are essential for consultants to convey complex ideas, findings, and recommendations in a simple, clear, and persuasive way.

 

Strong verbal communication skills enable consultants to articulate their thoughts clearly and persuasively during team meetings, client interactions, and presentations.

 

Strong written communication skills is necessary for creating clear and easy to understand presentations.

 

Ownership

 

Consulting firms want students who take ownership in their work and proactively manage their responsibilities. They want students who hold themselves accountable for their actions and commit to delivering high-quality work.

 

Interns are expected to take ownership of assigned tasks, manage their time effectively, drive projects forward with minimal supervision, and seek help when needed.

 

Adaptability

 

Consulting is a fast-paced and constantly changing. Priorities may shift every single day. A new piece of data or information can completely change the proposed recommendation.

 

Therefore, consulting firms want students that thrive in ambiguous and dynamic environments. They look for students that are flexible and can quickly make pivots in their approach when needed.

 

Resilience

 

Consulting is a demanding and tough job. There will be days when you work more than 12-14 hours. There may be difficult problems or roadblocks that you face and will get stuck on. Resilience is key to persevering through the tough demands of consulting.

 

Consulting firms want students that demonstrate the ability to stay calm and collected in high pressure situations, overcome obstacles, and bounce back from setbacks. Resilience means having mental toughness, emotional stability, and a growth mindset.

 

Tips For Getting a Freshman Consulting Internship

 

To give yourself the best chance of landing a freshman consulting internship: perfect your consulting resume, network with firms you are interested in, prepare for case interviews, and prepare for other common consulting interview questions.

 

1. Perfect your consulting resume

 

Your consulting resume is the single most important component that will determine whether or not you will get an interview for a freshman consulting internship.

 

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. Network with firms you are interested in

 

Leverage consulting networking opportunities to connect with professionals at consulting firms and learn more about their freshman internship programs. Attend networking events, information sessions, and career fairs to engage with recruiters, consultants, and alumni from target firms.

 

Initiate conversations, ask insightful questions, and express your genuine interest in the consulting industry.

 

Utilize online platforms such as LinkedIn to identify and connect with individuals working at consulting firms, and request informational interviews to gain insights into their experiences and the recruiting process.

 

Building meaningful relationships with professionals in the industry can provide valuable insights, referrals, and mentorship opportunities as you pursue a freshman consulting internship.

 

3. Prepare for case interviews

 

To land a freshman consulting internship, you’ll need to nail every single one of your case interviews.

 

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.

 

Case interviews are difficult and require a lot of time and practice to do well in them. It is extremely unlikely you will nail your case interviews 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.

 

4. Prepare for other common consulting interview questions

 

In addition to case interviews, you should expect to be asked several behavioral and fit interview questions during the interview process for a freshman consulting internship.

 

Examples of common questions you could get asked include:

 

• Why are you interested in consulting?

 

• Why do you want to work at this firm?

 

• Can you tell me about a time when you used data to solve a problem

 

• Give an example of a time when you successfully led a team

 

• Tell me about a time when you failed

 

Since there is such a high likelihood of getting asked these questions, it’s important to take the time to carefully craft coherent and well thought out answers to these questions.

 

If you’re looking for a step-by-step guide to preparing answers to over 98% of consulting behavioral and fit interview questions, check out our consulting behavioral interview course.

 

Resources to Help You Land a Freshman Consulting Internship

 

We recommend using the resources below to give yourself the best chance of landing a freshman consulting internship.

 

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.

 

• Case Interview Coaching: Personalized, one-on-one coaching with a former Bain interviewer.

 

• 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.

 

For help passing consulting behavioral & 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.