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Milkround?
I'm a bit of novice when it comes to the terminology relating to the big city firms. Now I've heard this word scattered around a few times but I'm not really sure exactly what it means. I'm been looking on the website of Bain & Company and I found this quote:
On the next page it lists the universities that are in their milkround and they are:
Bristol University
Cambridge University
Durham University
Edinburgh University
London School of Economics
Nottingham University
Oxford University
Imperial College of Science & Technology
Warwick University
So does milkround mean that they only take their interms and graduates from those universities? Or the vast majority? Does it mean that you probably should not apply if your not from one of these? Does it mean these are the only universities they will go to careers fairs at? Also are these the universities that make up the milkrounds of most of the big MC Firms (give or take one or two changes here and there)? I realise UCL isn't there which seems a bit strange.
Thanks if you can help.
We will be accepting applications from August 2006, when our formal 'milk round' process begins.
On the next page it lists the universities that are in their milkround and they are:
Bristol University
Cambridge University
Durham University
Edinburgh University
London School of Economics
Nottingham University
Oxford University
Imperial College of Science & Technology
Warwick University
So does milkround mean that they only take their interms and graduates from those universities? Or the vast majority? Does it mean that you probably should not apply if your not from one of these? Does it mean these are the only universities they will go to careers fairs at? Also are these the universities that make up the milkrounds of most of the big MC Firms (give or take one or two changes here and there)? I realise UCL isn't there which seems a bit strange.
Thanks if you can help.
Scroll to see replies
Reply 1
A bit strange that UCL and York is not on that list. I though both of those were "target" unis.
Also if Edinburgh is on the list so should Manchester IMO!
Also if Edinburgh is on the list so should Manchester IMO!
Reply 3
It is odd that they aren't on the list, but I would expect there are some general London ones for UCL and York can be expected to travel to London or Bristol.
Edinburgh is probably Scotland's best university, which means there will be incredibly good students there (students who could have gone to better universities in the UK but chose to stay home).
Yes, these are pretty standard universities for MC firms. Oxbridge is incredibly well represented.
Edinburgh is probably Scotland's best university, which means there will be incredibly good students there (students who could have gone to better universities in the UK but chose to stay home).
Yes, these are pretty standard universities for MC firms. Oxbridge is incredibly well represented.
TheAsianProdigy
the LSE one is open to UCL/ULU students?
The LSE one might be open to other students, but then why would they have a serparate one for Imperial College? I have a feeling that the universities listed, are there target universities, even though the events may be open to students from other institutions.
Reply 6
BAIN would be an unreal place to work: if I could choose any employer, it'd be them 
Reply 7
fuglyduckling
BAIN would be an unreal place to work: if I could choose any employer, it'd be them
Why? If you are into consulting, why not mckinsey or accenture etc?
Reply 8
Vilho
Why? If you are into consulting, why not mckinsey or accenture etc?
Bain are widely recognised as the one of the elite MC firms. The 'elite' usually comprise McKinsey, Bain, BCG (and depends where you are in the world) BAH.
Accenture doesn't really feature amonst the elite.
Reply 9
fuglyduckling
BAIN would be an unreal place to work: if I could choose any employer, it'd be them
So I guess your interested in MC then fuglyduckling? I don't know what year you're in but is there much on offer for first years from the big MC firms? I can't seem to find much. McKinsey's Discover in London is about all I can come up with. Are there many Spring Programmes like the banks do?
Reply 10
I actually just got off the phone with a Mckinsey HR yesterday. Discovery will be up and accepting apps around January time. Other than that, there doesn't seem to be any spring stuff.
Your best bet would be to apply to small consultancies and ask for work experience (something I've done). You can then use this as a springboard to summer interviews. Also get any w/e at blue-chip firms (if you can). This is viewed very favourably.
BAIN, Accenture and others run summer programmes as well, but these are strictly for penultimate year students. I might risk a speculative application for Accenture, though.
As for why I would choose BAIN: it is a top tier consultancy and it seems to have a great work culture (dead important when you consider the hours you'll put in). MOW also looks good because it's new: there are great opps to get quick promotions; inflated salaries; apparently they also stick to a sub 55hr week.
Accenture is okay but viewed as easier to get into and less strategy-focused than the others - which need not be a bad thing. McKinsey is viewed as the industry leader and CEO factory; get this on your CV and you're well-placed for industry.
Kentish: If you'd like to know more, I'm editing a I&F journal, which is doing an issue focused on MC ... I'll email you it when it's finished, if you like.
Your best bet would be to apply to small consultancies and ask for work experience (something I've done). You can then use this as a springboard to summer interviews. Also get any w/e at blue-chip firms (if you can). This is viewed very favourably.
BAIN, Accenture and others run summer programmes as well, but these are strictly for penultimate year students. I might risk a speculative application for Accenture, though.
As for why I would choose BAIN: it is a top tier consultancy and it seems to have a great work culture (dead important when you consider the hours you'll put in). MOW also looks good because it's new: there are great opps to get quick promotions; inflated salaries; apparently they also stick to a sub 55hr week.
Accenture is okay but viewed as easier to get into and less strategy-focused than the others - which need not be a bad thing. McKinsey is viewed as the industry leader and CEO factory; get this on your CV and you're well-placed for industry.
Kentish: If you'd like to know more, I'm editing a I&F journal, which is doing an issue focused on MC ... I'll email you it when it's finished, if you like.
Reply 12
fuglyduckling
I actually just got off the phone with a Mckinsey HR yesterday. Discovery will be up and accepting apps around January time. Other than that, there doesn't seem to be any spring stuff.
Oh Ok. How many do you reckon they will take? I guess they don't make decisions based soley on applications forms. I assume there will be interviews?
fuglyduckling
Your best bet would be to apply to small consultancies and ask for work experience (something I've done). You can then use this as a springboard to summer interviews. Also get any w/e at blue-chip firms (if you can). This is viewed very favourably.
fuglyduckling
BAIN, Accenture and others run summer programmes as well, but these are strictly for penultimate year students. I might risk a speculative application for Accenture, though.
fuglyduckling
Kentish: If you'd like to know more, I'm editing a I&F journal, which is doing an issue focused on MC ... I'll email you it when it's finished, if you like.
I've found that the Oxford MC Fair webpage actually gives quite a lot of good information on the Firms.
http://www.careers.ox.ac.uk/homepage/whatson/mancon2005
Reply 13
Oh Ok. How many do you reckon they will take? I guess they don't make decisions based soley on applications forms. I assume there will be interviews?
Nope just application forms.All they are interested in is your academics and E.C's.The ratio of attendants:applicants was about 1:6 last year but I think it may be much higher this year due to increased publicity
Best of luck anyway if you are thinking of applying.
Reply 14
McKinsey will take circa 45 for Discovery (I think). Or at least that's what they took last year. App process is CV+covering letter - not sure if they interview, but probs not: can't see it being worth their time for a 1-day programme.
I was fortunate enough to know of a boutique firm where I had a contact - other than that I would send out loads of personalised CVs and cover letters to LOCAL firms.
I was fortunate enough to know of a boutique firm where I had a contact - other than that I would send out loads of personalised CVs and cover letters to LOCAL firms.
Reply 15
why no UCL?
Reply 16
When it comes to consulting firms, for me, nothing is sexier than BCG. I fell in love immediatelyl at their presentation. Bain spun off from BCG so they have similar--and cool--cultures.
Reply 17
Got a link to the presentations?? Would like to see
Reply 18
fuglyduckling
Accenture is okay but viewed as easier to get into and less strategy-focused than the others - which need not be a bad thing. McKinsey is viewed as the industry leader and CEO factory; get this on your CV and you're well-placed for industry.
Accenture is okay but viewed as easier to get into and less strategy-focused than the others - which need not be a bad thing. McKinsey is viewed as the industry leader and CEO factory; get this on your CV and you're well-placed for industry.
Can't be very good CEOs around if they need help from a management consultant!
Funny quote on McKinsey on their wikipedia page:
A top civil servant described McKinsey as "people who come in and use PowerPoint to state the bleeding obvious."
Reply 19
I think most 'very good' CEOs use MCs - if nothing else, it's a contigency plan: if it all goes wrong, you blame them. In most cases, they add value to the organisation (note BAIN's claims about its customers outperforming competitors by 4:1). The quote is quite funny, though 
Shadylane: Why didn't you go for a position at an MC firm? Or did you try? Do you prefer IB or MC?
Shadylane: Why didn't you go for a position at an MC firm? Or did you try? Do you prefer IB or MC?
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