Bridge to BCG, McKinsey Insight, Bain ADvantage application deadlines

Attention Advanced Degree candidates! Yes, we’re looking at you:

1. PhDs and postdocs
2. JDs
3. MDs, MD/MBAs, MD residents/fellows
4. Practicing physicians (less than 5 years of experience)
5. Professors (less than 5 years of experience)
6. Current non-MBA masters with a JD, MD, or PhD
7. Non-MBA Master’s with >3 years of relevant, prior business experience after completing a Bachelor’s degree

If you fall into one of the aforementioned categories, Bridge to BCG, McKinsey Insight, and Bain ADvantage application deadlines for 2023 have been published.

What are Bridge to BCG, McKinsey Insight, and Bain ADvantage? They are 1-5 day spring programs where Advanced Degree candidates can get an inside look at BCG, McKinsey, or Bain – the work, the people, the culture, and more.

These spring programs are highly competitive, and give you a leg up in the summer when it’s time to apply for full-time roles. In most cases, you are guaranteed a 1st round interview for a full-time role after you complete the program. Keep reading for application deadlines for the MBB “bridge” programs, plus info and links for ClearView Healthcare Partners and L.E.K. Consulting’s programs.

2023 Bridge Program Application Deadlines

• Bain ADvantage
• Bridge to BCG
• McKinsey Insight
• Connect to ClearView
• Link to L.E.K.

Podcast and Video Overview

Who is Eligible for Bridge to BCG, McKinsey Insight, and Bain ADvantage?

Anyone who falls into one of the candidate categories we outlined at the top of this article, and who is planning to apply for full-time consulting positions that start in late 2023 or in 2024, is eligible to apply. Are you looking to start earlier? Apply for a full-time role directly – firms review those applications on a rolling basis.

Application Tips

BCG, McKinsey, and Bain all require 1-2 page business-focused resumes (ideally 1 page), focused less on your scientific, medical, or legal expertise, and more on the career impact you’ve achieved and the transferable skills that will help you as a consultant (quantitative analysis, client management, problem solving, process improvement, etc.).

Interview Tips

McKinsey and Bain will require you to navigate up to 2 rounds of a case interview. BCG requires you take their Pymetrics Test and submit a 45-60-minute, one-way video interview within two days of submitting your application. The questions you are asked to answer in this interview are behavioral in nature. Be sure to stay concise and answer in stories!

All 3 firms (as well as our team here at Management Consulted) recommend you start your preparation ASAP. Why? The best performing candidates practice for 4-8 weeks, and many advanced degree candidates come from non-business backgrounds. The case interview is unlike anything most ADCs have ever seen before, and not something you want to wing at the last minute.

Application Deadlines

Program	Level	Candidate Group	Application Deadline	Length	Link
Bain ADvantage	Post-grad	•PhDs and postdocs, JDs, MDs and medical residents/fellows •PharmDs and other doctorate-level degrees •Non-MBA Master’s with >3 years of relevant, prior business experience after completing a Bachelor’s degree	Mar 1, 2023	5 days	Click here
Bridge to BCG	Post-grad	•PhDs and postdocs •JDs •MDs, MD/MBAs, MD residents/fellows •Practicing physicians (less than 5 years of experience) •Professors (less than 5 years of experience) •Current non-MBA masters with a JD, MD, or PhD	Feb 28, 2023	3 days	Click here
Connect to ClearView	Post-grad	PhD or MD in life sciences or are planning to complete their postdoc in 2024	Feb 24 & Mar 10, 2023	3 days	Click here
Link to L.E.K.	Post-grad	PhD/post-doc, PharmD, or MD	Mar 12, 2023	2 days	Click here
McKinsey Insight	Post-grad	•Medical students, interns, residents, and fellows who plan to complete their program in 2024 •PhDs and post-doctoral students who plan to complete their program in 2024 •Master’s students who previously obtained an MD and plan to complete their master’s degree in 2024	Mar 7, 2023	2 days	Click here

Bain ADvantage application deadline: March 1, 2023

The application deadline for Bain’s spring programs is March 1st for 2023. One of the best ways to stand out in the application process? Networking! And one of the best places to network at Bain? The firm’s current diversity groups:

• Blacks at Bain
• BGLAD
• Latinx at Bain
• Veterans at Bain
• Women at Bain

The ADvantage internship is a unique offering and distinctive even amongst these top-tier programs. It is a one-week program designed exclusively for Advanced Degree candidates that is more in-depth than what McKinsey and BCG offer. On top of a full day of training, you are staffed on a real Bain case team for four days! Be prepared for 2 rounds (40min each) of case interviews to snag a coveted ADvantage internship spot.

This year’s ADvantage program takes place from May 8-12, 2023.

Didn’t get accepted to ADvantage? Join Strategy Sprint for real-world consulting experience that will make your resume stand out.

Bain ADvantage is limited to a few select offices in the U.S. and Canada. For advanced degree candidates in Australia or Asia-Pacific, consider Access to APAC instead.

Bridge to BCG application deadline: February 28, 2023

The application deadline for Bridge to BCG 2023 is February 28. On top of typical application materials (resume, cover letter), BCG will require you to complete two online activities within 48 hours of applying. Want to get ahead and begin networking at BCG? If applicable, network inside the firm’s current diversity groups for a leg up:

• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected] ​​​​​​​

This year, BCG is holding two in-person Bridge to BCG workshops in April:

April 12-14: Boston and Washington, D.C.

April 19-21: Chicago and Dallas

If accepted to the program, you will be invited to the workshop that is closest to where you are based (regardless of your long-term office preferences).

McKinsey Insight application deadline: March 7, 2023

The application deadline for McKinsey Insight is March 7, 2023. If eligible, you may apply to both Diversity Connect and Insight. However, the firm will make you choose one program if you are accepted to both. If you are accepted to the program, you will be notified in late March.

The format of both McKinsey Insight and Diversity Connect is changing this year. To make these programs more accessible to more candidates, McKinsey is shifting the format to virtual gatherings over several days for candidates from schools all over North America for its global offices. 

The firm experienced significant demand for this year’s program, and is also evolving its approach to talent attraction to offer more opportunities for new, distinctive, diverse talent to get to know McKinsey. As an added benefit, this change will enable McKinsey to attract and cultivate many more candidates with advanced professional degrees than it could with the restrictions of space and time.

Both McKinsey Insight and Diversity Connect will take place March 31-April 1.

Make sure to highlight transferable skills (ex: research, analysis, leadership, stakeholder management) and the impact you’ve driven in your resume. Not sure your CV is good enough? Work with our expert team on custom resume edits.

Bonus Spring Programs

Connect to ClearView application deadline: February 24, 2023 & March 10, 2023

ClearView Healthcare Partners also offers a spring program for Advanced Degree Candidates interested specifically in Life Sciences Consulting. There are two application deadlines for Connect to ClearView – the first is February 24 and the second March 10, 2023. ClearView recommends applying with the first deadline to maximize your chances for success. The program will take place in-person in April or May. If selected, your interviews will take place in March.

Connect to ClearView is a 3-day program where participants get to experience the firm’s work and culture. To apply, you’ll just need to submit your resume and fill out a short form.

Link to L.E.K. application deadline: March 12, 2023

L.E.K. offers a 2-day program open to current PhD, post-doc, or MD students interested in life sciences strategy consulting, ideally with a target graduation in 2024. The application deadline for Link to L.E.K. 2023 is March 12. If selected, candidates will participate in a virtual case interview the week of March 20, 2023.

Accepted participants receive an invite to a final round interview ahead of the general recruiting cycle.

Conclusion and Application Links

• McKinsey Insight application
• Bridge to BCG application
• Bain ADvantage application
• Connect to ClearView application
• Link to L.E.K. application

Again, these programs are uber competitive, and give the candidates who score invites unparalleled opportunities to network with current BCG, McKinsey, Bain, ClearView, and L.E.K. consultants, as well as familiarize themselves with specific practice areas and offices.

Not eligible for these programs? Most firms have rolling application deadlines for lateral hires – contact us directly for help.

MC Links for Advanced Degree Candidates

• Top Sophomore Summer Internships for Consulting
• Consulting Resume: Complete Guide
• Case Interview: Complete Prep Guide
• BCG Pymetrics Test
• Go from Law School to Management Consulting