“Oh no, I can’t go into consulting because I study English”. Cap. Consulting firms don’t care at all what you studied. Literally, study whatever is most fulfilling/enjoyable/interesting/piss-easy. And also don’t worry about getting a first – just get your 2.i and enjoy university as much as possible. Here’s what you should ideally be thinking about each year:

Gap year

Take a gap year. Just do one – you won’t regret it.

Year 1

So you’ve started uni and have no idea what is going on. Once the small-talk-and-VK blur of freshers’ week dies off, you are going to be presented with a vast array of things to do, and you’ve probably got zero idea what to pick.

The first thing to do: chill out. People will tell you not to worry about work in first year and it’s really true. You have to get 40%.

40%.

That’s amazing. I mean don’t go nuts because you still have to do some work, but also don’t burn out by doing all-nighters in the library.

First-year should be based around socialising as much as possible and trying as many societies/clubs/sports as possible. Consulting firms love extracurriculars. Spend the year figuring out what’s fun and then commit to at least two of them.

Year 2

So you got your 40% and you’ve gained a position in one (or two) of these societies/sports.

This year is going to be based on obtaining the elusive summer internship.

Apply to as many companies as possible. This really is a numbers game. Watch youtube videos on how to write a CV and cover letter (and please please please keep your CV to one page). Then fingers crossed you get an interview. If you do so, drop every single bit of uni work and train nonstop for the interview. It’s all about practice, and you’ll want to go through as many behavioural and case study questions as possible. Reserve at least two weeks to do this. You’ll probably tank the first interview, but that’s normal, and the more you do the better you’ll get.

Year 3

You finished the summer internship. They offered you the job. Chill out and enjoy your final year.