Hi. I have just graduated from a redbrick university with a 2:1 in Economics. I am travelling between September and May which limits the number of MC grad schemes I can apply to (2009 intake). This is why it's imperative that I impress on the few I have the chance to this summer. I feel I have strong extra-curriculars but I am starting to doubt this is not enough due to my lack of work experience (no internship at bank etc). I haven't even needed to work part time (although I have irrelevant part-time experience) as I make more than enough playing poker online. Does anyone have any knowledge of graduate schemes, is work experience a pre-requisiste if you are unfortunate enough to graduate from a redbrick and not oxbridge.In advance, thanks for your replies.

Work experience is advantagous regardless of where your degree is from. A red-brick degree will work as well as an OxBridge one to get you through the door of most consultancies (including Tier 1). Your bigger challenge will be finding a firm interviewing over the summer (the schedules don't tend to work due to the people needed to sign off hires and conduct interviews being on holiday).In the current economic climate you'd be better off concentrating on getting more work experience over the summer, take your break and apply to schemes when you return.