I’ve been stuck in analysis paralysis every time I get a market sizing question. Someone mentioned the community’s annotated case solutions from real consulting interviews, but I’m not sure how to use them effectively. For those who’ve tried this: what’s your step-by-step approach to breaking down these examples? Any tips for internalizing the methodology instead of just memorizing numbers? Also, do veterans actually review these annotations for accuracy?
those annotations are like training wheels - useful til you realize half the ‘expert’ examples have flawed assumptions. pick 3-4 from MBB folks, compare their approaches, and look for patterns. pro tip: the anxiety never fully goes away, you just learn to bs with more conviction. source: ex-bain here
omg yes! i made flashcards w/ the key assumptions from 10 solutions. game-changer! but sometimes the notes confuse me – like why some ppl start with demographics vs gdp?? def need a study group tbh
Strategic use is key. Start by category: profitability cases, market entry, etc. For each solution, reverse-engineer 1) framework choice rationale 2) data shortcut credibility 3) error-checking mechanisms. Pair with live practice sessions where you explain your logic aloud. I’ve seen candidates reduce prep time by 40% using this method over 6 weeks.
When I was prepping, I found this one breakdown of a pharma market sizing case that completely clicked for me. The consultant had written margin notes like ‘almost messed up here – forgot hospital markup rates’ which made me feel better about my own mistakes. Now I always flag my own blind spots in red.
Analysis of 127 candidates showed those reviewing 5+ annotated solutions improved assumption accuracy by 22% vs control group. Focus on solutions where multiple experts disagreed - the margin notes highlighting debate points reveal more about strategic thinking than unanimous examples.