Local boutique management consulting firm vs more prominent consulting firm for MBA admission?

My initial reaction after reading your question is that choosing where to work based on the anticipated bounce you might get for B-school admission seems a bit twisted - most folks go to business school to land a better job - not the other way around.    Even so, here are my thoughts on your question: Admissions counselors are trying to balance two somewhat competing goals when they select students.  On one hand they are trying to bring in folks with the best credentials possible (GPA, GMAT, etc).  On the other hand they want to build a diversity of experience within the student cohort which provides a much richer experience for the group than a classroom filled with MBB alumni.  In this regard I think that your time with a startup will be more valuable for admissions purposes than any work with a consulting firm. As you said in your question - there is a higher likelihood of progressing in a boutique consultancy quickly and this would give you higher levels of responsibility early.  You suggested this would help by demonstrating leadership - but I think that leadership is relatively easy to demonstrate for folks with that trait.  Allow me to suggest another advantage here - if you are in a managerial role in a consulting firm, that makes you a hiring manager in an industry where business schools want to place graduates and alumni.  Spun correctly, this can make you very attractive to schools, particularly if you plan to return to that firm when you are done with school.  Remember that one of the primary values of business school is the network you take away from campus.  If you can demonstrate that you will be a valuable addition to that network you are more competitive as a prospective student. If the opportunities you discussed to support international work at the boutique firm really materialize I think this would also be a very positive discriminator in your favor. So I'd tend to favor the boutique company.  That said, you wouldn't be hurting yourself to take a job at one of the marquee firms.  However, consider the basic fact that admissions counselors are assessing you, not your employer.  It sounds to me like you'll be fine either way.

I agree with John and Jen. I also think you have analyzed the pros and cons yourself fairly well. The smaller boutique firm may give you more opportunity to achieve more significant responsibility, but it also requires you to spend more time and energy in your application educating any application reader about your responsibilities. That's not impossible or so terrible. Just something to keep in mind. The other element you should keep in mind is which position moves you closer to your post-MBA goal? That would be a plus for that option. If that post-MBA goal is with leading management consulting firms, then probably the MBB position is best. Also, if that post-MBA goal is with a leading management consulting firm, you might be interested in "MBA In Sight: Focus on Management Consulting" at http://blog.accepted.com/2013/05/20/new-guide-to-b-schools-for-management-consultants/ . We've collated information of interest for applicants interested in management consulting from top schools in that area. Best, Linda

I agree with John's assessment and feedback, and would also generally have advised that you choose the path that fits best with your personal career goals and preferences, and what you are most excited and passionate about... then that naturally comes through in your MBA applications, and your story makes 'sense' given your longer term career goals.  There is definitely an element within MBA admissions of assessing your contribution in any way shape or form; and how you went above and beyond in your role; and what impact you had... so if you can make that impact in either role, or if you feel the boutique opportunity would better facilitate your ability to make an impact, those are important points to think about as well.  Good luck to you!

Go for the bigger firms for. Get a brand stamp, learn some problem solving skills, build a network of people and then decide if you want to make a move to smaller one. At smaller firms you might seem to have more responsibility but at bigger firms you'll work on much bigger problems for bigger clients and career progression in consulting is generally faster than the average corporate career.

Thanks for the A2A. You said: many of the consultants at the boutique firm are from top management consulting firm. If you have a choice, here's another option. Join the top firm, work for a few years and start your own boutique consulting firm. During the process, if you can make the MBA degree (rather your need for it) redundant, even better.

Working at a top 3 is certainly a "relatively easy" way to get an MBA: the firm will likely pay for it (assuming you need it, of course), and will do what is in its power to make you get in (think recommendation letters for example). However, these are not the easiest firms to get in, and your career path is predetermined - it will be relatively hard for you to progress faster than the average employee there. Boutique firms are generally easier to get in, assuming you have interest and/or experience in the specific niche they're addressing. Talent is generally just as good (as you said, they're generally founded by former MBB consultants) and you can grow way much faster than at an MBB. MBA admission is all about having a compelling profile. If you think that your startup story would be more valuable with a couple of years at an MBB, then go for it. If you think that starting up a company and helping building from the ground up a boutique consulting firm looks more exciting, then you know what to do.