<p>Eric,</p>
<p>I am a consultant working for the strategy group of one of the Big 4 systems integrators. I’ve been in consulting for over 15 of my 25+ years in business.</p>
<p>I have an Econ undergrad from LS&A, but I didn’t hire in direct to consulting, making the jump after being in sales and IT operations.</p>
<p>If you are looking to get into one of the strategy houses like McKinsey, BCG, or Bain, the route is a premium MBA from Harvard, INSEAD, or Wharton (extreme generalization, but I’m sure you get the point).</p>
<p>There are economic consulting firms, but I would expect them to only consider PhD’s.</p>
<p>If you are looking to get into the advisory firms or system integrators (Big 4 CPA, IBM, Accenture, or CAP Gemini), you have more options. Of course, a Ross undergraduate degree with a specialization in accounting and passing the CPA exam is a shoo-infor the Big 4 CPA firms, the path into non-accounting advisories will have more options.</p>
<p>My experience in the systems integration houses and Big 4 advisory groups is that, although an undergraduate Econ degree is certainly a potential route to consulting, it probably isn’t the most direct. I would predict that specialty degrees like statistics, engineering, or computer science are probably more attractive at the undergraduate level. On the other hand, an Econ degree can prepare you well for a top MBA school or Law School, which would be attractive to the boutiques.</p>
<p>The best direct-in undergraduate hire I’ve encountered in consulting had an Industrial Engineering degree with an emphasis in statistics. He took writing classes to improve his communications skills. That would be my path if I were to do it again.</p>
<p>If you do decide on the Econ route, which I found to be very intellectually stimulating, I recommed you augment your program with statistics, creative writing, accounting, and computer programming. Concentrate on getting great grades (3.6 or better), and try to get an internship (I worked for The Institute for Social Research for a couple of years). You can also take undergraduate business school courses; I took production management and business law.</p>
<p>Start interviewing in your junior year to identify the firms you want to work for and to make the initial connections. Michigan’s career center can help with this. </p>
<p>Oh, and you must be willing to travel 100%, typically leaving on Sunday night or Monday morning and returning Thursday or Friday night (deal killer for many people). </p>
<p>Good luck and Go Blue!</p>