Hi all,I have just graduated from University of Leeds and I have been a dean's list student in Bsc Accounting & Finance. I have got an ACA graduate scheme contract at one of big 4 firms. I just wanted to know if after the 3 years, supposing I clear the ACA, is a move to a top tier management consultancy possible? because I want to spend 2-3 years in Mck/Bain/BCG in order to place me well for a top MBA from US.Thanks in advanceZack.

Not in that sequence, no. Pre-MBA (BA) positions at MBB are for new graduates. With 3 years experience you would most likely need to get an MBA first to enter MBB as an Associate.

Have to agree - you get the top MBA to make the move into MBB possible. You're unlikely to go from ACA qualification at a Big 4 with a Leeds degree straight into MBB, so getting from there into a top business school will make or break your efforts to switch to a top strategy consulting firm.Tony RestellTop-Consultant.com

Thanks for the answers. Its a bit of catch 22 though isn't it. As I was reading on most ivy league mba websites and most of their student have had experience in mbb before entering. I don't really think they would take me from the big 4 so where do I go from here?Thanks.Zack

Zack - it's true that the top business schools recruit lots of candidates from MBB firms. It's also true though that there's much more of a push for staff at MBB firms to go and do an MBA. You'll not find accountancies pushing staff who've just gained their accounting qualifications to go and do an MBA.Certainly the top business schools recruit from a far broader pool than this - diversity of intake in any one class is important to them as everyone's past experience contributes to the learnings of the class. In consulting they certainly don't recruit exclusively from MBB - and the idea that a really high performer at a Big 4 couldn't get into a top business school is wide of the mark.Having said all the above, it is going to be a tall order to be a top achiever at a Big 4, get into a top business school and from there then into an MBB firm. Leeds is going to count against you compared with candidates coming from Oxbridge, etc; and Big 4 background isn't as compelling to a business school as MBB. So you've got your work cut out. But it isn't impossible - and far more probable than moving straight from Big 4 to MBB before an MBA, which in my experience is a path rarely trodden.Good luckTony RestellTop-Consultant.com

Is this necessarily true?I'm asking because I just graduated from college, I did an internship in consulting and received an offer but turned it down to pursue a yearlong fellowship where I'm working for a well known non-profit in Latin America. I'm very much interested in reapplying to the top firms, but will I be excluded simply because I'm a year out, even if it's for a fellowship like this?

There's always scope for exceptions, and I suspect your case would be one - the experience you're going for would probably be a positive.Then again, I was never a BA so don't know the criteria 100%. Did you not ask whether the firm you turned down would be OK with this, or simply postpone your start date (many firms have no problem with this)?