The McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst (SSBA) is a 10-week summer internship program for undergraduate sophomore students from underrepresented backgrounds.

 

Participants will work as part of a McKinsey case team and collaborate with colleagues to solve real business problems for clients.

 

The McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst program is an incredible opportunity to get a head start on a career in management consulting and land a full-time McKinsey consulting offer.

 

If you’re looking to apply to the McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst 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 McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst program is, program requirements and deadlines, and tips for the application and interview.

 

What is the McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst Program?

 

The McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst program is a 10-week management consulting internship for undergraduate sophomores that identify as Black, Hispanic, Latino, or part of Indigenous groups in North America.

 

The goal of the SSBA program is to expose members of historically underrepresented groups to the management consulting profession through real-world work experience.

 

Upon joining the McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst program, participants will be provided with a week of training. This training is very similar to the exact type of training that incoming full-time Business Analysts go through.

 

After training, participants will be placed on a McKinsey case team of 3-5 consultants, working on solving real business problems that a McKinsey client is facing.

 

This includes collecting and analyzing information, formulating and testing hypotheses, developing recommendations, presenting the results, and implementing recommendations.

 

Participants will work with McKinsey colleagues, but own a distinct piece of work.

 

Participants will gain real-world experience on what it is like to work as a management consultant at McKinsey, including:

 

• Interviewing stakeholders and experts

 

• Leading teams

 

• Building financial models

 

• Creating and delivering presentations

 

• Working with McKinsey subject experts to develop perspectives and insights

 

• Serving McKinsey clients

 

• Building McKinsey’s internal knowledge and capabilities

 

Throughout the internship, you’ll receive frequent mentoring and coaching from colleagues.

 

You’ll be assigned a senior colleague that will help answer day-to-day questions and give you advice and tips for working at McKinsey. You’ll also have a professional development manager who will help you choose a project based on your interests and needs.

 

Participants in the SSBA program will also join a number of social activities throughout the summer to get to know McKinsey’s culture, interact with other summer interns, and network with members of McKinsey’s various affinity networks.

 

McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst Requirements

 

To be eligible for the McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst program, candidates need to be currently in or entering the second year of a four-year undergraduate degree at a US or Canadian university.

 

Non-US and non-Canadian citizens are eligible for this program as long as they are currently enrolled in a US or Canadian university.

 

Since the program is targeted towards students that come from underrepresented backgrounds in consulting, preference is given towards candidates that identify as Black, Hispanic, Latino, or part of Indigenous groups in North America.

 

McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst Deadline

 

The McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst application typically opens up on July 1 and is due October 7. You should check the McKinsey SSBA website to see the official deadline for the upcoming year.

We've also put together an article that compiles all McKinsey application deadlines for their internships, full-time positions, and other programs.

 

What Does McKinsey Look For in Sophomore Summer Business Analysts?

 

McKinsey looks for candidates that possess the following attributes:

 

• Outstanding record of academic achievement

 

• Exceptional analytical and quantitative problem solving skills

 

• Leadership skills in professional settings and through extracurricular activities

 

• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team

 

• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing

 

• Willingness to travel

 

McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst Application

 

The McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst application takes 15 minutes to complete and consists of a resume, an optional cover letter, educational transcripts, test scores, and office preferences.

 

Resume

 

The resume that you submit for the McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst program is the most important component of the application process. It’s important that you spend sufficient time crafting your consulting resume so that it best highlights your qualities and accomplishments.

 

McKinsey recommends that in your resume, you should describe what you accomplished and why it mattered. Your resume should answer questions such as:

 

• What roles have you had?

 

• What problems did you solve?

 

• How have you made your work stand out?

 

• How well did you work with others?

 

• What skills have you developed?

 

McKinsey also recommends that you share your leadership experience, evidence of teamwork, skills, interests, awards, scholarships, and any additional information that McKinsey should know of.

 

Cover Letter (Optional)

 

There is an option to submit a cover letter for the McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst application. For the majority of applicants, the cover letter will most likely not be read. Most application decisions are made based on the resume submitted.

 

However, if you are a borderline candidate, a well-written consulting cover letter could push your application over the edge and help you get an interview.

 

Educational Transcripts

 

The McKinsey SSBA program requires you to submit an unofficial transcript to show the classes you have taken and your cumulative GPA. This does not need to be an official transcript that is directly sent from the school to McKinsey. Instead, you can submit a PDF document that you downloaded from your school’s website.

 

Test Scores

 

The McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst program requires you to also submit your test scores for the SAT or ACT, depending on which exam you have taken. You will not need to submit an official score report. You will be asked to provide your test scores and sub-score breakdowns.

 

Office Preferences

 

You will be asked to select up to three McKinsey offices that you have a preference for. You will be asked to weigh each of your office preferences such that the sum of all weights adds up to 100%.

 

For example, you may indicate your office preferences as 70% New York, 20% Chicago, and 10% Washington DC.

 

However, note that the second and third choice offices you select will not have much of an impact on your application. McKinsey typically will only consider you for your top-choice office.

 

If you have any issues with the application, you can contact [email protected].

 

McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst Interview

 

After submitting your application to the McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst program, you’ll need to take the McKinsey Solve online assessment and pass two rounds of interview to be accepted into the program.

 

McKinsey Solve

After submitting your application, you will be emailed to complete the McKinsey Solve.

 

The McKinsey Solve is a 60-minute online pre-interview screening test consisting of two simulation exercises, ecosystem building and the Redrock case study. It assesses a candidate’s cognitive abilities including critical thinking, decision making, and systems thinking.

 

The test is similar to an ecology-themed video game where players engage in tasks like building food chains, protecting species, and managing ecosystems.

 

The McKinsey Solve assessment does not require any business knowledge or video game experience. The assessment is taken at home, allowing candidates to use resources such as pen, paper, and calculators.

 

The McKinsey Solve is scored based on the final answers submitted as well as the method used to arrive at them.

 

Each candidate receives a unique McKinsey Solve assessment. No two assessments are identical.

 

If you have already completed the McKinsey Solve within the last 12 months, you will not need to complete this online assessment again. Your previous score should be linked to your McKinsey profile.

 

First round interview

McKinsey first round interviews consist of two 60-minute interviews with McKinsey Associates, Engagement Managers, or Associate Partners. There are four types of questions asked: case interview, Personal Experience Interview, “why McKinsey,” and “why consulting?”

 

Case interview

 

A McKinsey case interview is a simulation exercise lasting 30 to 60 minutes, where the candidate and the interviewer collaborate to devise a recommendation for a business problem. It mirrors the challenges faced in actual consulting projects, condensing the problem-solving process into a shorter timeframe. Case interviews span various industries and scenarios without necessitating specialized knowledge

 

Personal Experience Interview (PEI)

 

The McKinsey Personal Experience Interview (PEI) assesses a candidate's fit with the firm's values and culture. It focuses on understanding a candidate's past experiences, behaviors, and personal attributes that align with McKinsey's consulting mindset.

 

The PEI is essentially a longer version of a behavioral interview question. The interviewer will dive deeper into the experiences you share, asking detailed follow-up questions.

 

Why McKinsey

 

The "Why McKinsey" interview question is aimed at understanding a candidate's specific motivations and alignment with McKinsey's culture, values, and consulting approach.

 

Why Consulting

 

The "why consulting?" interview question seeks to understand a candidate's genuine interest and motivation for pursuing a career in management consulting. This question evaluates whether candidates have a clear understanding of the consulting profession and can articulate how it aligns with their career aspirations.

 

Final round interview

McKinsey final round interviews consist of two to four 60-minute interviews with McKinsey Engagement Managers, Associate Partners, and Partners. You will be asked the same mix of questions as first round interviews, including a case interview, Personal Experience Interview, “why McKinsey,” and “why consulting?”

 

However, there are some notable differences between McKinsey final round interviews and first round interviews.

 

Longer cases

 

Cases in the final round tend to be slightly longer, requiring you to manage time more efficiently and cover more aspects of the case.

 

More senior interviewers

 

Final round interviews are conducted by more senior consultants, often Associate Partners and Partners. They may ask questions based on their interests and choose cases they've worked on rather than giving standardized, generic cases.

 

Different case styles

 

There are two slightly different case interview styles you should be prepared for: conversational case interviews and stress case interviews.

 

Conversational case interviews resemble discussions or brainstorming sessions. They are less structured and have no clear right answer. Interviewers want to see how you approach business problems and use your judgment.

 

For stress case interviews, interviewers intentionally create pressure by being somewhat hostile. Remain calm, think out loud if not given time to structure, and persistently seek better solutions.

 

Diverse case types

 

McKinsey final round cases cover a wider range of topics like pricing, growth strategy, mergers, operational improvement, etc. You might even encounter cases in unfamiliar industries to test your adaptability.

 

Tips for Getting Selected for the McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst Program

 

1. Perfect your consulting resume

 

Your resume is the single most important component that will determine whether or not you are invited to participate in the McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst 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. Prepare for the McKinsey Solve

 

The results of your McKinsey Solve assessment may determine whether or not you are invited to participate in the McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst program. So, it is important that you do well on this test.

 

There have been a total of six games that have appeared on the McKinsey Solve, though only the first two are used today.

 

• Ecosystem building: create a stable ecosystem by choosing a location for the ecosystem and selecting eight different species to inhabit it

 

• Redrock case study: ensure ecological balance in a nature reserve by optimizing the number of wolves in the four packs that live there such that wolves and elk can sustainably coexist

 

Below, we’ve outlined a video that explains what the McKinsey Solve is and walks you through exactly how to tackle the games you’ll see on your online assessment.

 

 

After watching this video, we highly recommend practicing playing these games before you take the actual McKinsey Solve. You can do this through PSG Secrets’ McKinsey Solve simulation. This simulation replicates the actual games you’ll be evaluated on in the McKinsey Solve.

 

3. Practice solving case interviews

 

Case interviews are difficult and require a lot of time and practice to do well in them. Unlike other interview questions, it is extremely unlikely you will nail your McKinsey 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.

 

4. Prepare answers to behavioral and fit interview questions

 

Expect to be asked a few McKinsey PEI or behavioral interview questions at some point during your interviews.

 

To answer these 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

 

Additionally, prepare answers to the “why McKinsey?” and “why consulting?” questions. The reasons you provide should be genuine, credible, and structured.

 

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.

 

Resources to Get into the McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst Program

 

To give yourself the best chance to get into the highly competitive McKinsey SSBA program, look into the resources listed below.

 

You don’t have to prepare your application and interviews by yourself. Getting professional help can significantly increase your chances of getting into the program and giving yourself a head start on your consulting career.

 

For help landing consulting interviews

 

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

For help passing the McKinsey Solve

• McKinsey Solve Simulation: A realistic McKinsey Solve simulation that lets you practice the exact same games you’ll see during your online assessment. Learn how to ace the McKinsey Solve step-by-step with detailed guides and tips for each game.

 

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.