Hi,Just interested in people's thoughts. I understand that getting into MBB is supposed to be very tough. I'm wondering how applications into ATK, Monitor, OC&C, RB etc. fare? Is it easier to get into these firms / do less people apply etcI want to give it a go and will apply to a variety anyway, I'm interested in how the firms' selection processes compare.

The entry thresholds at all the strategy firms are pretty similar. The tier of firms you mention have to try *slightly* harder to attract the same volumes of candidates as the MBB firms; but that just means they end up spending a bit more on advertising, campus presentations and the like.With any of these firms you are going to be competing against people from the top academic institutions and they are all going to receive at least a hundred applications for each hire they ultimately make...Don't be fooling yourself that there's an easy way into strategy consulting if you just go out there and research enough firms. Playing the numbers game will help, but asides from that there's no simple way into the sector.Good luckTony RestellTop-Consultant.com

BBU, all the strat houses you mention have about the same acceptance criteria, the same interview/assesment processes and the same 'level' of people. The number of applications might vary slightly, but won't make much of a difference. For example, if your CV gets you an interview with RB, chances are big you will get an interview at ATK, BCG, etc.Good luck.

Hi Tony - interesting response; equally tough to get into all and for these strategy firms (ATK and the like) the calibre is very high still. Does that mnean interviews are broadly similiar?

Clealry I was too slow in typing - thanks for repsonse above

"if your CV gets you an interview with RB, chances are big you will get an interview at ATK, BCG"i must say I completely disagree with this point. Based on my own, and many of my friends' experience the interview process is a bit of a lottery. I myself ended up securing a grad offer from 2 MBBB firms and had my application thrown out at the CV stage for Parthenon, Monitor and Marakon.In my opinion the CV stage of the application is the biggest hurdle. You are usually facing around 10 other CVs for each first round interview place, where as in the second and third phases you are generally up against three or four other candidates.Once at an interview you should be able to sell yourself better than you can represented by a couple of bits of paper up against 10 other very similar CVs.

Diz, wrong choice of words from my side. I should have said; "if your CV is good enough to get an interview at ATK, it is in potential good enough to get an interview at the other firms as well'.I totally agree with you that the CV stage is the biggest hurdle and is a bit of a 'lottery'.

I heard a rumour that some firms don't test mental arithmetic? That would make it a lot easier - I can't remember if it was Bain, ATK or Mercer...not sure if it is true?