The tools, side by side
Most tools help with one job. The last column is the work that is still yours.
| Tool | What it does | Cost | What you still do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Find consultants by school, firm and office | Free | Write every note, follow up | |
| Your school's alumni directory | Alumni who signed up to help students | Free | Write every note, follow up |
| RecruitU | Finance and consulting profiles, many with work emails; deadline tracking | Free for students | Write every note, follow up |
| Leland | Paid coaches, including MBB networking coaching | Set by each coach | Find people, send every email |
| Management Consulted | Case courses and one-on-one coaching | Paid | Find people, send every email |
| Paperclip Concierge | Already has the consultants; picks the ones at the firms and offices you choose, alumni first; writes and sends each email from your inbox; follows up twice | $149 a month, 14 days free | Take the calls |
McKinsey, BCG and Bain consultants in our database
Paperclip's database has 3,046 consultants at the three firms. Consultants answer students from their own school more than anyone else, so start with the firm where your school is strongest. The schools with the most consultants at each firm:
| Firm | Consultants | Schools with the most |
|---|---|---|
| McKinsey | 1,378 | Penn 77, Harvard 77, Columbia 73, Northwestern 53, UChicago 45 |
| Bain | 1,310 | Penn 117, Northwestern 102, Harvard 74, UChicago 57, Columbia 42 |
| BCG | 358 | Penn 23, UChicago 21, Dartmouth 19, Harvard 18, Northwestern 16 |
When to start
For the full-time class of 2027, BCG's applications closed July 7, 2026 and McKinsey's on August 11, 2026. Conversations take weeks to set up, so the networking has to happen before those windows open, not during them. Start the spring before you apply.
How to choose
If you have time to write and send 10 to 20 notes a week, the free tools are enough: LinkedIn or RecruitU to find people, and a tracker for follow-ups.
If the bottleneck is case interviews, pay for prep, not outreach.
If you know you should be emailing consultants but it never gets done, a done-for-you service closes that gap, and Paperclip already has the people, so there is no list to build first.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best networking tool for MBB recruiting?
It depends on which job you need done. LinkedIn and RecruitU are free and good for finding consultants. If what you need is the emails actually going out, Paperclip already has 3,046 consultants at McKinsey, BCG and Bain and emails the ones who fit from your own inbox, alumni first.
Is RecruitU free?
Yes for students. RecruitU says it is free for any student, and it offers some optional premium features.
Is LinkedIn enough to network into MBB?
It is enough to find people. Whether they answer depends on the note: one person, a real connection like your school, and a small ask for a 15-minute call.
Do I need a coach to network into consulting?
No. Coaches help with cases and your story. The networking itself is finding the right consultants and writing to them, which you can do yourself or have done for you.
How is Paperclip different from RecruitU?
RecruitU helps you find people and track deadlines, and you send the emails. Paperclip already has the consultants, picks the ones who fit, and sends the emails for you from your own inbox every weekday, stopping follow-ups once someone replies.
Sources and editorial notes
Templates and workflow suggestions are original Paperclip examples. They do not promise replies or job offers. Employer requirements can change; check the current posting before applying.