Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA, United States
QS #1Full need-based aid
Electrical Engineering & Computer Science · Mechanical Engineering · Economics
- Tuition
- Est. above $60,000 per year before aid
- Deadline
- Typically 1 November
All careers
Business & Strategy
Management Consultant
Helps organisations solve their most important strategic and operational problems.
What this career is
Consultants work in project teams for clients, analysing problems, developing recommendations and helping implement them. Projects cover strategy, operations, digital transformation and more.
What professionals do
- Structure problems into hypotheses
- Analyse data and interview experts
- Build slide decks with recommendations
- Present to client leadership
Outlook: Highly competitive entry; case-interview preparation and leadership evidence are decisive.
Official occupation data
- Management Analysts$101,860
- General and Operations Managers$105,770
- Project Management Specialists$102,320
Tasks, skills, US pay and job growth from O*NET and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Key skills
Structured problem solving
analyticalConsulting case interviews and analyst roles test this directly.
Start with
- · Practise issue trees on everyday problems
- · Do two case interviews per week with a partner
Excel & spreadsheets
technicalFinance, consulting and business roles rely on spreadsheets daily for analysis and communication.
Start with
- · Learn lookups, pivot tables and charts
- · Rebuild a simple budget or financial statement
Public speaking
communicationInterviews, pitches, Model UN and leadership roles all reward clear spoken communication.
Start with
- · Join a debate or Model UN club
- · Present a project in under five minutes
Writing & argument
communicationEssays, research reports, policy memos and scholarship applications all depend on strong writing.
Start with
- · Write a one-page memo each week
- · Enter an essay competition
Leadership
leadershipScholarships such as Chevening and fellowships explicitly select for demonstrated leadership.
Start with
- · Take on a defined role in a club or project
- · Lead one initiative from idea to result
Negotiation
communicationUseful for consulting, sales, entrepreneurship and diplomacy.
Start with
- · Learn interests vs. positions
- · Practise in Model UN or case competitions
Education paths
- 1Bachelor's in any rigorous subject — business, economics and engineering are common
- 2MBA for later-stage entry
Universities strong in Business & Management
Stanford University
Stanford, CA, United States
QS =2Full need-based aid
Computer Science · Management Science & Engineering · Economics
- Tuition
- Est. above $60,000 per year before aid
- Deadline
- Typically 1 November
Imperial College London
London, United Kingdom
QS #2Merit scholarships
Computing · Electrical & Electronic Engineering · Mathematics
- Tuition
- Est. £38,000–£50,000 per year for international students
- Deadline
- Typically late January
Typical entry-level roles
Business Analyst (consulting)Associate ConsultantResearch Analyst
Build your profile
Recommended extracurriculars
- · Case competitions
- · Student consulting projects
- · Leadership in societies
- · Model UN or debate
Recommended competitions
PrizesHybrid
- Location
- Campus rounds worldwide; global final varies
- Deadline
- Campus programmes typically run from autumn to winter
PrizesIn person
- Location
- Local, regional and global rounds
- Deadline
- Typically autumn, through your local CFA society
PrizesIn person
- Location
- National competitions worldwide
- Deadline
- Season timing varies by country
Scholarships & fellowships
Funding variesIn person
- Location
- Boston, United States
- Deadline
- Registration typically in autumn for a February conference
Certifications that help
Cloud
Google Cloud Digital Leader
Google Cloud
Business-level understanding of cloud and Google Cloud products.
- Cost
- See official page for current fee
- Time
- 3–5 weeks part-time
Business & Project
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
Project Management Institute (PMI)
Entry-level project management credential for students and early-career professionals.
- Cost
- See PMI — lower price for PMI members (student membership available)
- Time
- 1–2 months part-time
Business & Project
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Project Management Institute (PMI)
The global gold standard for experienced project managers.
- Cost
- US$425 for PMI members (higher for non-members)
- Time
- 2–3 months of study