Consulting Kickstart
Consulting Kickstart
The Consulting Kickstart program was originally established as an avenue to provide initial exposure and a chance to learn about a career in professional services to undergraduate students whose backgrounds are often underrepresented in the profession. We welcome Black, Hispanic/Latin American and Indigenous students who are first-year (freshman) undergraduate students in the US and Canada at a four-year university to join us for an interactive, virtual series. You'll gain exposure to business leaders and the exciting world of consulting. Upon completing Consulting Kickstart, if you are excited to pursue an additional exploratory program at Bain, you will have an opportunity to apply for our Building Entrepreneurial Leaders (BEL) second-year program.
Join a team of like-minded students
You’ll learn how we help innovative companies overcome some of their biggest challenges.
You’ll get exposure to Bain leaders at the top of their field.
Meet equally ambitious peers and consultants.
Interact with Bain leaders from across North America.
Get exposure to the world of consulting

Find out for certain if this work is for you.

Get to know people who have worked in this field.

After the program, you'll have an opportunity to interview for Bain’s Building Entrepreneurial Leaders (BEL) second-year exploratory program.
This program is for Black, Hispanic/Latin American, and Indigenous students.

We are hoping to connect with individuals whose perspectives and experiences are historically underrepresented in our industry. This program is for Black, Hispanic/Latin American or Indigenous (Native American, Alaska Native, Inuit, Métis and First Nations) students who are undergraduate first-year (freshman) bachelor’s degree candidates completing their degree at a four-year institution. Students from other countries who happen to be studying in the US at a four-year institution are welcome to apply.
Apply in Spring 2024
Applications will open in early January and be due in April. To apply, submit your resume, cover letter, educational information, unofficial transcript, test scores (if applicable), and a video essay.
In the meantime, join us at one of our marketing events and talk to our team virtually or in-person.
Everything you need to know
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Who is eligible to apply to the Consulting Kickstart program?
Because of the intent of this program, Black, Hispanic/Latin American, and Indigenous students who are first-year (freshman) bachelor’s degree students completing their degree at a four-year institution. Non-US citizens are eligible, but you must be attending a university in the US or Canada at that time.
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Do I need to have any prior experience in consulting to participate?
No, you don’t need any prior experience to be accepted into the Consulting Kickstart program, nor to get value from it. We encourage you to apply no matter your major or background.
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If I am not selected for Consulting Kickstart, can I still apply to Bain in the future? How can I stay in touch?
Absolutely, and we encourage it. Consulting Kickstart is a highly selective exploratory program. If you are not selected, we’d love it if you still applied for the Building Entrepreneurial Leaders (BEL) program or an associate consultant intern role. You can find a full list of our virtual and on-campus events on your school page, or on the events page linked here.
You can also sign up for our monthly newsletter to hear about more opportunities.
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I had heard about a Bain program called “Freshman Leadership Accelerator (FLA)”. Where can I find information about that?
We’ve rebranded our Freshman Leadership Accelerator (FLA) program to Consulting Kickstart to provide first-year (freshman) students a chance to gain exposure to consulting.
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Who should I reach out to if I have further questions about the Consulting Kickstart program?
Contact us with additional questions at NAundergradrecruiting@bain.com.