<p>thestudmuffin, I think the reason for all the confusion is the absence of a definition for the word “target”. If by “target” program, you mean the placement of a large number of students from a program into MBB annually, then you are quite right, none of Michigan’s programs are targets. But then you would have very limited target programs. At Penn, only Wharton would be a target for MBB. The SEAS at Penn only placed 3 non-Wharton affiliated students into MBB. CAS at Penn placed a slightly more significant number (10) of non-Wharton affiliated students. Those are hardly significant numbers in absolute terms when you consider that CAS at Penn graduates 1,700 students annually, 1,000 of which are out looking for jobs. However, it would be incorrect to say that Penn CAS or even SEAS are not target program because in relative terms, placing any . The fact is, MBB hardly recruit undergraduate students to start with. Altogether, MBB have 20,000 consultants globally. Of those, fewer than half are located in the US. It is safe to say that they hire fewer than 2,000 undergrads annually, half of them from US universities. Even if they recruit a handful of graduates on campus from specific programs (like CAS and SEAS at Penn or LSA and CoE at Michigan), those would qualify, as “target” programs. Altogether, I would estimate that MBB hire 15-30 Michigan undergrads annually (including 8-10 from Ross alone). That’s a very significant number, relatively speaking. Only a dozen or so universities place 10-30 of their undergrads into MBB annually (Harvard and Penn place closer to 50 from what I am told). The Ivies, Chicago, Duke, Georgetown, MIT, Northwestern, Stanford and maybe UVa. Those are all target schools. When you consider that each of those universities will have hundreds of very talented and driven undergrads seeking jobs at MBB and only 10-30 are actually placed, the odds are not good. </p>
<p>Another way of looking at it is this; Target schools offer undergrads a slim chance of getting into MBB straight out of college. Non-target schools offer no chance whatsoever. </p>
<p>On a separate note, BCG’s CEO, Rich Lesser, completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan (CoE, ChemE). If you look through the list of Principals and Partners/Managing Directors at MBB, Michigan is among the most well represented. </p>
<p><a href=“Home | Careers | Boston Consulting Group”>Home | Careers | Boston Consulting Group;