What is a top tier school?

As a undergraduate student what can I do starting now, to convince hiring managers at top consulting firms to hire me? I'm worried that I won't get an offer because I don't go to a top tier school and don't have a "stellar" GPA.

• More about me: Rising sophomore 3.5 GPA w/ an interest in MIS, Finance, and Business Analytics Varsity athlete I'm aiming to work for Deloitte S&O, I already know that top firms such as MMB only hire from top tier, ivy level schools. What can I do to standout from the pack and be offered a position even if I don't have an outstanding GPA, SAT, or pedigree school? Here is a link with info on schools they recruit from for the "Business Analyst" position I'm interested in: http://mycareer.deloitte.com/us/en/students/programsinternships/undergraduate/business-analyst/gettingthejob Deloitte does recruit from my college, just not the exact position I'm aiming for they recruit for "Business Tech. Analyst": http://mycareer.deloitte.com/us/en/students/programsinternships/undergraduate/businesstechnologyanalyst/getting-the-job I've already spoken to a recruiter and they said it's unlikely for me to get a BA position although the BTA position is accessible through her. I'm very eager to get a BA position and I know it's not improbable for me to obtain. There's even less selective colleges on the list for the BA position than my school. I'm just looking for any kind of insight that can potentially give me edge.

• Answer:

  A "Stellar" GPA is not a prerequisite and neither is attending a top tier school. At one of the top firms, I interviewed over 100 candidates and read through thousands of resumes. I can think of many cases where candidates without stellar academic credentials received offers. The most important thing is getting the interview, followed closely by performing well in the interview. Here are some more detailed thoughts - Get the interview 1) Leadership - this typically consists of having a leadership roles in clubs/ activities, leading teams in classes, and/or starting your own organization or business. Almost all candidates excel in this area and if your grades aren't spectacular, it must be clear that you have other priorities that take up your time 2) Drive and initiative - starting an organization/ company, completing complex tasks in short periods of time, or even just launching a new initiative as part of an organization 3) Impact - make sure you highlight the impact of your leadership abilities and drive on your resume. If possible, use real numbers such as "I increased event attendance by 1,000 people, 50% more than previous years 4) Experience - solid internships are valuable. Consulting firms like to see you spend your summers working for a company. The company does not need to be a consulting firm. The more prestigious the internship, the more likely it will be for you to get an interview with the consulting firm as you have proved you already passed a high bar. The one exception to this rule is working for a start-up (this looks particularly good) 5) Meet people - This is the most important part for getting an interview. If the right people at your target firm like you, then you are much more likely to get an interview Perform in the interview There are two parts to an interview, (1) the behavioral part and (2) the case. You must do well on both to get an offer. 1) Behavioral - this is the part of the interview where you talk about your experiences. It is important to focus on impact, how you interacted with people, and how you overcame challenges 2) Case - doing a few practice cases before your interview can be very helpful and there are a number of good case preparation resources If you are interested in learning more, I'd recommend picking up my book Embrace the Case Interview: The Complete Guide from getting the interview to landing the job. (sorry for the shameless plug, but I promise it will be helpful) http://www.amazon.com/Embrace-Case-Interview-Paperback-interview/dp/1494787261/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top