How many interviews are there? What are the format of the interviews? How do I prepare?

There are two interviews. The first round is 15 minutes and consists of fit questions. We’ll ask you questions to questions to get a sense of your creativity, communication, and critical thinking skills. You’ll get a wide variety of questions to give you the best opportunity to demonstrate what you excel at so no worries if you don’t nail every question. The second round interview is 20 minutes long and will be with 2 board members. For this interview, you’ll prepare and give a presentation on a prompt that will be released beforehand, and we’ll ask follow-up questions about your presentation. Other than the presentation, there’s no preparation or specific knowledge required for these interviews.

Is there financial aid? What is the HCCG scholarship program?

We know HCCG can be a large time commitment, and we want everyone to be able to join, regardless of socioeconomic status. That’s why HCCG offers a scholarship program, giving out tens of thousands of dollars per semester to allow a larger group of students to consider HCCG. Scholarship applications are kept 100% anonymous from every person in the organization and are only ever reviewed by a board of alumni more than 4 years removed from Harvard.

What is the weekly time commitment?

Most analysts spend on average five hours per week on casework, though it may vary a bit from week-to-week depending on the nature of the assignment.

How can I learn more about membership experiences?

Talk to us! Email info@harvardconsulting.org or check us out on our Instagram page, @harvardconsulting. Don’t hesitate to reach out to anyone from membership to board to ask about our experiences. We’re all happy to chat about what we’ve enjoyed, what we’ve learned, and even what we’ve found challenging. Everyone does not “experience HCCG” the same way, so it’s always nice to talk to several people and hear their story about how the organization has shaped their college experience.

Who have you worked for in the past?

We’ve worked with a wide range of clients from Fortune 500 companies to small nonprofits. Snapchat, NBC Universal, and The Atlantic have been great clients from the past few semesters alone.The clients we work with provide unique opportunities for students to explore industries and grapple with questions these sectors are facing. For a list of public clients, please reference this page.

What can I expect to be doing my first week in the group?

You’ll first have new analyst training the following morning, and a lunch reception at Park Restaurant for the rest of the group to welcome you the weekend you’re accepted. After that, you’ll meet your Case Team Leader who can explain all the work your team has started on. You’ll join your case team during the weekly case team meeting and seamlessly be integrated into the HCCG community at large.

If I get in and have no consulting experience, is that okay?

Yes! We have several hours of training prepared for you to make sure you’re on-boarded effectively and can contribute to your case team from day one. After you’re accepted in the group, all new analysts go through a rigorous training program that teaches you everything from designing a good slide to effective researching skills. Throughout your time in HCCG you will also have the support of your case team and the entire board to help with any issues you encounter.

What if I don’t want to pursue consulting as a career?

Not to worry, many of our members are not part of HCCG to become consultants. Through your HCCG experiences, you can learn skills like teamwork, communication, and analytical thinking that will be helpful for any career path. You also build a network of friends and join a tight knit community.

What is think-cell, and how do HCCG members access it?

The Harvard College Consulting Group has partnered with think-cell to provide free access to members. think-cell (www.think-cell.com) automates the creation of high-impact data-driven presentation. Trusted by 80 of the Fortune 100 companies and 8 out of 10 top management consulting firms, think-cell allows you to create 40+ chart types such as waterfall, Mekko, and Gantt in just 2-3 minutes each. HCCG members can access the free think-cell license by emailing info@harvardconsulting.org.

If you have any remaining questions, feel free to contact us at info@harvardconsulting.org.