Case Study: McKinsey & BCG – From LSE Undergraduate to Interview Rooms

hassan2990
Sep 8, 2025
2 min read

Updated: Oct 7, 2025

At a Glance

Cleared <1% MBB CV‑pass rate; 100% CV‑screen success after 3 drafts; 2 MBB interview invites in 9 weeks; case‑math accuracy +28pp (62% → 90%)
Frameworks: STAR‑3™, PEAL‑3™, 80‑20 Branding; Year‑1 consulting comp £55k+

Before

LSE Year‑2 student with a generic CV and no consulting network; prior apps rejected at CV stage.

After

Invited to first‑round interviews at McKinsey & BCG; impact‑driven bullets, quantified achievements and case‑math speed <60s/question.

Problem

Breaking into MBB from LSE without Oxbridge pedigree is brutal: <1% CV pass, most winners arrive with trophies and referrals. This client’s CV lacked business impact, letters recycled clichés, and he’d never tackled market‑entry cases. With deadlines looming he needed: (1) total narrative overhaul, (2) measurable case‑math gains, (3) insider prep for McKinsey PEI prompts to avoid another blind rejection cycle.

Solution

STAR‑3™ CV re‑brand → 100% ATS pass at McKinsey & BCG.
14 quantified bullets → recruiter “evidence density” +45%.
20min/day case‑math → accuracy 62% → 90%, speed 1.8×.
6 PEI mock interviews → refined to 180‑sec arcs, confidence +3 pts.
80‑20 alumni outreach → 5 mapped, secured McKinsey referral.

Result

Within 9 weeks he moved from silent rejections to interview slots at McKinsey & BCG. Recruiters praised impact‑driven CV and crisp PEI stories as “stand‑out for Year‑2.” The process also unlocked strategy‑club leadership and a fast‑track for Bain—proof structured coaching converts raw talent into MBB‑ready credibility.

ROI Table

Metric	Result
Programme investment	£POA (Price on Appointment).
Consulting salary (Yr1 est.)	£55,000 + bonus
Pay‑back period	<1 month
Lifetime uplift	£2–3m

Testimonial: “CCC’s frameworks were cheat codes — my CV finally spoke in McKinsey language and I walked into both interviews ready.” — LSE Year‑2 Candidate

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