BYU Strategy - Marriott School of Business

Resources

A curated collection of resources to support your consulting preparation and projects.

Case Interview Preparation

Case Practice Platforms

Firm Resources

Courses & Deep Dives

These Management Consulted courses are available free to BYU students through our Marriott registration:

Drills & Skill Building

Targeted practice drills from Management Consulted (free via BYU Marriott access):

Structure & Frameworks

Math & Quantitative

Analysis & Synthesis

  • Exhibit Drills – Practice interpreting charts, graphs, and data exhibits

Video Resources

  • Victor Cheng’s Case Interview videos on YouTube
  • Firm-produced case walkthroughs
  • MCA workshop recordings (when available)

How to Give a Practice Interview

This guide is for both students (giving cases to pod members) and TAs (running mentoring sessions). A well-run practice interview helps the candidate improve; a poorly-run one wastes everyone’s time.

Session Format

Each practice interview follows the MBB format:

Component Time
Behavioral (1-2 questions) 15-20 min
Case 30-35 min
Feedback 5-10 min
Total ~60 min

See the Practice Interviews section for the feedback form and rubric.

Before the Session

  1. Select a case from the Case Library below
  2. Work through the case yourself – know the answer before you give it
  3. Prepare 1-2 behavioral questions (e.g., “Tell me about a time you led a team through a challenge”)
  4. Have the feedback form ready – you’ll rate 6 dimensions

Running the Behavioral Portion

Ask open-ended questions and listen for what you’ll rate:

Dimension What to Listen For
Impact & Ownership Are they saying “I” not “we”? Do they quantify results?
Teamwork & Collaboration How did they work with others? Navigate conflict?
Presence & Fit Is the answer concise (~2 min)? Confident and authentic?

Take notes as they speak – don’t try to remember everything for feedback later. If answers are vague, push for specifics: “What did YOU specifically do?”

Running the Case

Read the prompt clearly and pause for clarifying questions. Then let the candidate drive.

Listen for what you’ll rate:

Dimension What to Listen For
Structure & Approach Is the framework MECE? Tailored to this specific problem?
Analytical Rigor Do they set up math correctly? Interpret the “so what”?
Hypothesis-Driven Recommendation Do they synthesize to a clear point of view?

Key behaviors:

  • Resist the urge to help too early – let them struggle productively
  • Provide data/exhibits when asked appropriately
  • Don’t give away the answer
  • Track time; give a 5-minute warning
  • Always ask for a final recommendation at the end

Giving Effective Feedback

Good feedback is specific and actionable.

  1. Start with 1-2 specific strengths – “Your structure was MECE and you prioritized the right branch first”
  2. Identify 1-2 areas for improvement – “You didn’t interpret your math; you said ‘15%’ but didn’t explain what that means for the decision”
  3. Reference the 4-point scale – help them understand where they are relative to the bar
  4. Compare to MBB expectations – what would “strong” look like?

Avoid vague feedback like “that was good” or “nice job.” Be specific.

Common Interviewer Mistakes

Mistake Why It Hurts
Giving hints too early Candidate doesn’t learn to work through ambiguity
Interrupting structure presentation Breaks candidate’s flow and confidence
Not tracking time Case runs too long or gets rushed
Generic feedback Candidate doesn’t know what to improve
Making it too easy or too hard Doesn’t reflect real interview conditions

Case Library

Use these cases from Management Consulted for practice. Register with BYU Marriott access for full case materials.

Suggested progression:

  • TA Session 1: Beginner cases
  • TA Session 2: Intermediate cases
  • TA Session 3: Advanced cases
# Case Name Type Difficulty Notes
1 Coffee Shop Profitability Beginner Classic profit decline
2 Gym Expansion Market Entry Beginner Geographic expansion
3 Airline Costs Cost Reduction Beginner Operations focus
4 Retail Chain Growth Strategy Intermediate Multi-channel
5 Tech Startup Pricing Intermediate B2B SaaS
6 Hospital System Operations Intermediate Capacity utilization
7 Bank Branch Profitability Intermediate Financial services
8 Pharma Launch Market Entry Advanced Regulatory complexity
9 PE Due Diligence M&A Advanced Investment decision
10 Energy Transition Strategy Advanced Industry disruption
11 Supply Chain Operations Advanced Global complexity

Access case details and solutions via Management Consulted.

Company Research

BYU Library Resources

These databases are available through the BYU Library — log in with your BYU credentials for full access. Some databases (LSEG Workspace, Capital IQ, PitchBook) require separate registration with your BYU email. For help, contact subject librarian Jessica Tuwun.

Warning

Library database licenses are for academic use only. Don’t distribute full reports to third parties. Do reference and cite sources appropriately.

Company Information

Database What You Get
Capital IQ Analyst reports, detailed financials (exportable as CSV), guidance, earnings call transcripts
LSEG Workspace Detailed stock reports with peer companies, business summaries, and investment indicators (earnings, valuation, risk, momentum)
MarketLine SWOT analysis reports (exportable as Word/PDF) — search by ticker or company name

Industry Research

Database What You Get
IBISWorld Analyst reports on thousands of US industries — products, markets, competitive forces, key players, call prep questions. Search by keyword or NAICS code
Passport (Euromonitor) International economies, industries, and markets — includes PESTLE analysis
Frost & Sullivan Consumer behavior, global technology developments, growth opportunities — focused on science and technology industries
Mintel Consumer markets, trends, psychographics, and data about consumer lifestyles and attitudes

News & Current Events

Database What You Get
Factiva Search current events by company or topic — covers WSJ, Washington Post, Forbes, Barron’s, and more
New York Times Full access — set up SSO with your BYU email

Financial Data

  • SEC EDGAR – 10-Ks, 10-Qs, proxy statements
  • Yahoo Finance – Quick financial snapshots
  • Company investor relations pages – Earnings calls, presentations

Industry Research

News and Analysis

Slide Design and Communication

Slide Resources

  • STRATEGYU – Consulting slide techniques
  • Slideworks – Slide templates and inspiration
  • Company investor presentations – Real-world examples

Communication Guides

  • The Pyramid Principle by Barbara Minto (book)
  • Slide:ology by Nancy Duarte (book)
  • Say It with Charts by Gene Zelazny (book)

Excel and Analytics

Excel Learning

  • ExcelJet – Functions, shortcuts, tutorials
  • LinkedIn Learning Excel courses (BYU access)
  • Practice datasets from course materials

Key Shortcuts (Mac/Windows)

Action Mac Windows
Copy ⌘C Ctrl+C
Paste ⌘V Ctrl+V
Paste values ⌘+Shift+V Ctrl+Shift+V
Fill down ⌘D Ctrl+D
Fill right ⌘R Ctrl+R
Go to ⌘G Ctrl+G
Find ⌘F Ctrl+F
Insert row Ctrl+Shift+= Ctrl+Shift+=
Delete row Ctrl+- Ctrl+-
Format cells ⌘1 Ctrl+1

AI Tools and Prompts

Tools

  • Claude – AI assistant for analysis and writing
  • VS Code – Code editor with Claude integration
  • Cursor – AI-powered code editor

Sample Prompts

Company Research

I'm analyzing [Company X] for a strategic diagnostic. Based on their
10-K and recent earnings calls, help me identify:
1. Their core business model and revenue drivers
2. Key risks they've disclosed
3. Strategic initiatives they're pursuing
4. 2-3 potential strategic challenges

Cite specific evidence for each point.

Competitive Benchmarking

I'm comparing [Company X] against [Competitors A, B, C] in the
[industry] market. Help me:
1. Identify the 4-5 most important metrics to compare
2. Summarize how each company performs on these metrics
3. Identify 2-3 key insights about Company X's competitive position

Format as a comparison table where possible.

Framework Building

I'm working on a case about [situation]. Help me build a MECE
framework to analyze this problem. The framework should:
1. Have 3-4 main buckets
2. Include key questions under each bucket
3. Be tailored to this specific situation

Then suggest which bucket I should prioritize and why.

Slide Drafting

I need to communicate [insight] in one executive slide. Please:
1. Draft an action title (statement, not label)
2. Suggest a visual format (chart type, layout)
3. Write 3-4 supporting bullets
4. Identify what data I need to make this compelling

Growth Strategy Analysis

This detailed prompt helps map competitors, find opportunities, and prioritize growth plays.

<instructions>
You are a top-tier strategy consultant with deep expertise in
competitive analysis, growth loops, pricing, and unit-economics-driven
product strategy. If information is unavailable, state that explicitly.
</instructions>

<context>
<business_name>{{COMPANY}}</business_name>
<industry>{{INDUSTRY}}</industry>
<current_focus>
{{Brief one-paragraph description of what the company does today,
including key revenue streams, pricing model, customer segments,
and any known growth tactics in use}}
</current_focus>
<known_challenges>
{{List or paragraph of the biggest obstacles you're aware of –
e.g., slowing user growth, rising CAC, regulatory pressure}}
</known_challenges>
</context>

<task>
1. Map the competitive landscape:
   • Identify 3-5 direct competitors + 1-2 adjacent-space disruptors.
   • Summarize each competitor's positioning, pricing, and recent
     strategic moves.
2. Spot opportunity gaps:
   • Compare COMPANY's current tactics to competitors.
   • Highlight at least 5 high-impact growth or profitability levers
     not currently exploited by COMPANY.
3. Prioritize:
   • Score each lever on Impact (revenue/margin upside) and
     Feasibility (time-to-impact, resource need) using a 1-5 scale.
   • Recommend the top 3 actions with the strongest Impact × Feasibility.
</task>

<output_format>
Return structured sections for:
- Competitive Landscape (bullet list of competitors & key data)
- Opportunity Gaps (numbered list of untapped levers)
- Prioritized Actions (table with Impact, Feasibility, rationale)
- Sources (numbered list of references)
</output_format>

Networking and Career

LinkedIn Resources

  • BYU Alumni in Consulting (search and connect)
  • Firm company pages for news and culture
  • Professional networking best practices

Firm Research & Job Boards

Resume Resources

  • Resume Bible – Comprehensive guide with templates and examples
  • Resume & Cover Letter Course – Full course on resume and cover letter optimization
  • Career Services resume reviews
  • MCA peer resume workshops
  • Sample consulting resumes (ask your TA)

Interview Preparation

  • Fit Interview 101 – Complete guide to behavioral interview preparation
  • Consulting Bible – Comprehensive ebook covering all aspects of consulting recruiting
  • Glassdoor interview reviews (with caution)
  • Vault Career Guide to Consulting
  • Firm-specific prep guides

Books Worth Reading

Consulting Skills

  • The McKinsey Way by Ethan Rasiel – Inside consulting
  • The Pyramid Principle by Barbara Minto – Structured communication
  • Case in Point by Marc Cosentino – Case interview prep