Case Interview Prep Time
Successful MBB candidates spend 50-100 hours preparing for case interviews over 4-8 weeks. Candidates who prepare less than 30 hours have significantly lower pass rates; more than 150 hours shows diminishing returns.
Hours by Outcome
| Prep Hours | Offer Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| <30 hours | 8% | Under-prepared; rely on raw talent |
| 30-50 hours | 15% | Minimum viable prep |
| 50-100 hours | 22% | Sweet spot (most offer recipients) |
| 100-150 hours | 24% | Marginal improvement |
| >150 hours | 21% | Diminishing returns; risk of burnout |
Source: CaseStar user survey (n=847), MBB candidates 2024 recruiting cycle.
How to Spend 80 Hours
Optimal allocation for a typical candidate:
| Activity | Hours | % |
|---|---|---|
| Mock cases (live practice) | 30-35 | 40% |
| Mental math drills | 15-20 | 20% |
| Framework development | 10-15 | 15% |
| Case reading/watching | 10-15 | 15% |
| Behavioral prep | 5-10 | 10% |
Optimal Timeline
| Timeline | Hours/Week | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 2 weeks | 25-40 | Last-minute prep; high intensity |
| 4-6 weeks | 12-18 | Optimal balance; steady improvement |
| 8-12 weeks | 8-12 | Early planners; lower intensity |
| >12 weeks | 5-8 | Risk of peaking too early |
Key Insight
Quality beats quantity. 60 focused hours with structured practice and feedback outperforms 120 hours of passive case reading. Prioritize live mock cases and mental math drills over watching videos.
Prep Time by Background
| Background | Recommended Hours | Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Finance/Consulting | 40-60 | Case format, firm-specific prep |
| Engineering/STEM | 60-80 | Business intuition, frameworks |
| Non-business degree | 80-120 | Business fundamentals, math |
| Prior case experience | 30-50 | Refresh, firm-specific nuances |
Data Sources & Methodology
- Primary Source: CaseStar user surveys (n=847), candidates who interviewed at MBB in 2024.
- Validation: Cross-referenced with MBA career services data from 3 M7 schools.
- Definition: "Prep hours" includes all case-related activities (mocks, drills, reading, videos).
- Limitations: Self-reported data; survivorship bias in offer recipient responses.
Last updated: January 2025. Data reflects 2024 recruiting cycle.
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