Frequently Asked Questions

How many rounds will the competition be and what is the structure? What is the timeline?

The MHCC will consist of a written application, followed by a few presentation rounds. Written applications open on August 25th and close on September 25th, 2023.

The written application will consist of a team cover letter and individual resumes. Selected teams will have one week to prepare a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation for a healthcare-oriented case prompt. The case prompt will be released on October 3rd, 2023 and PowerPoint submissions will be due on October 10th, 2023.

Teams with stellar presentations will be selected for the semifinals and will present to judges from top life sciences consulting firms (morning of Saturday, Oct 14th, 2023). Top teams selected by judges will advance to a public final presentation (afternoon of Saturday, Oct 14th, 2023). Winners will be announced shortly after.

The main event will also include keynote talks and networking opportunities with top life sciences consulting firms. Additionally, this competition will be held in an entirely virtual format via Zoom to allow for national and international participation.

How many teams will be admitted to each round?

15-20 teams will be invited to participate in the quarterfinals, with the top 3-5 teams advancing to the final round.

How are teams evaluated for entry into the quarterfinals?

Team applications will include resumes and a cover letter, and they will be evaluated on the basis of leadership/entrepreneurial drive, motivation for healthcare, team dynamics, and presentation & communication.

Do I need prior business or consulting experience?

No! We welcome applications from teams with and without business backgrounds or consulting experience. The case prompt can be solved without much prior business knowledge.

Who is eligible to be on a team?

Graduate-level trainees from institutions across the country and world are eligible to participate. PhD, MD, JD, and masters students (both MBA and non-MBA masters), as well as postdocs are all welcome! You must be enrolled in an academic institution at the time of this application. We highly recommend interdisciplinary and diverse teams in terms of educational and professional skill sets. You do not have to be in a healthcare-related field to join a team. You also do not need prior case competition or business experience.

Are part-time students eligible?

Yes, part-time graduate-level students are eligible to be on a team. However, please note that any student who has a current job in consulting (either part-time or full-time) is NOT eligible to participate in MHCC. MHCC is intended as a professional development opportunity for students who are aspiring consultants, and thus anyone currently working as a professional consultant is not eligible.

How big can teams be?

Teams must have 3-5 members. One of these team members should be appointed as a team leader, who is responsible for project management (i.e., defining goals, organizing workstreams, planning, monitoring team members’ work, etc.). This person will serve as the main point of contact for the MHCC organizing team.

How can I find teammates?

We encourage you to find teammates through friends, individuals in your graduate program/research laboratory, extracurricular activities, and any other network available to you. However, if you are unable to leverage connections, MHCC will be offering virtual team building sessions prior to the written application deadline where you can get connected with others who are interested in participating. Interested participants who are unable to form teams may be randomly assigned to teams.

What resources are allowable during the competition?

You may use secondary resources (e.g., market reports, research papers, news articles, etc.) and you may conduct your own primary research (e.g., interviews with key opinion leaders) for your presentation. Regardless of the resources you use, it is required that you cite all your sources appropriately. Any business models generated in Excel must be attached with your submission. Full transcripts/notes of any primary research conducted must be attached with your presentation.

Is there an entry fee?

There is no entry fee to participate.

What are the prizes for the winning teams?

The prizes will be $5,000 for the first-place team, $3,000 for the second-place team, and $2,000 for the third-place team. The top three winning teams will also receive lifetime access to the entire Management Consulted online curriculum.

Are multi-university teams allowed (i.e., members from different universities)?

Yes.

Are international students allowed?