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Applications open, limited spots

Prep with the person who sat across the table.

1:1 coaching from a former McKinsey Associate Partner who conducted 300+ interviews. You get feedback from someone who has run hundreds of case interviews, not textbook theory. For 9 years at McKinsey, my read on candidates was trusted. Now you get that same read, before the interview instead of after.

Apply for coaching → See where you stand on your framework

Solo drilling builds reps. Two hours with someone who conducted 300+ real interviews adds what reps alone can't: a simulation of what it will feel like in the room.

Michael Kirchner, former McKinsey Associate Partner

The one perspective prep resources can't give you.

Case books, peer practice, and boot camps all build real skill. What they can't add is the interviewer's own read on what actually matters.

Case Books

Case books teach the framework. Not the current bar.

Most case-prep books are built around structured, framework-first interviews. McKinsey has since moved toward hypothesis-driven, problem-led cases that test judgment above structure, and books don't get revised often enough to keep pace.

How MK Edge closes the gap

Every case is built around today's hypothesis-driven, problem-led format, not around a framework built years ago.

Peer Practice

Your partner can tell you how it felt. Not how it read.

A practice partner can tell you how your answer felt to them. They can't tell you how an interviewer would have read it, because they have never sat in that seat.

How MK Edge closes the gap

Michael sat in the decision meetings. You get the same read a real interviewer would give, not a classmate's best guess.

Boot Camps

More reps build habits. Only feedback changes them.

Doing 100 cases at average quality locks in whatever habits you started with. If your structure is hypothesis-weak and nobody tells you, you practice being hypothesis-weak 100 times. Quality feedback per case matters more than case count.

How MK Edge closes the gap

Every session ends with AP-level feedback targeted at your specific weak point, so you fix it instead of practicing it.

Built by the person who used to evaluate you.

Most prep resources are written by candidates. I built this from the other side of the table, as an Associate Partner who led undergrad recruiting at UNC and co-led BA recruiting for New York.

300+

Case interviews conducted across undergrad and MBA recruiting.

AP

Associate Partner, 9 years at the firm, sat in the decision meetings where offers were made.

50+

Students coached to a McKinsey offer, from initial application through final-round preparation.

MK Edge Framework Diagnostic

See where you stand on your framework.

One case prompt. You get 2:30 to build a framework and up to 6:00 to say it out loud. I score it myself and email you how it reads, next to my own answer to the same case.

See where you stand on your framework →
Free, about 10 minutes
You need a microphone, pen and paper, and somewhere you can speak out loud.
One attempt
You can take it once, so the result is a cold read of where your framework is today.
Results by email
A read on 5 dimensions, my own framework for the same case, and where you rank once enough candidates have taken it. I score submissions once a day.

Coaching built around your interview. Every session.

Three levels of support, based on how much coaching you want. The prep itself doesn't change by school or program: resume review and interviewer-level feedback are included at every level.

Not sure which level fits? Apply and say so. Every application is reviewed, and candidates who move forward get a free 15-minute call with Michael to confirm fit, next steps, and pricing.

Foundation

Get started

~3 hours of live coaching, plus asynchronous resume review

  • →Resume review targeted to consulting recruiting
  • →PEI story review and refinement
  • →Case Framework Workbook and interview-day setup guide
  • →Video walkthroughs breaking down each part of a case: framework, exhibits, math
  • →2 live 1:1 case sessions with Michael
  • →Custom-built cases calibrated to your target round and office
  • →Preparation for any round
  • →Interviewer-level feedback after every session
Apply now →
Advantage

More sessions, more coverage

~4 hours of live coaching, plus asynchronous resume review

  • →Everything in Foundation
  • →One additional live 1:1 case session (3 total)
  • →Personal Experience Interview (PEI) story development
  • →A different problem type each session: market entry, profitability, or M&A, chosen around where you're weakest
  • →Composure and executive presence under live evaluator pressure
Apply now →
Executive

The most sessions, the most support

~5 hours of live coaching, plus asynchronous resume review

  • →Everything in Advantage
  • →One additional live 1:1 case session (4 total)
  • →PEI story coaching across all four PEI themes
  • →Case customization aligned to your target industry or practice area
Apply now →
Standalone services

Need one piece, not a full package?

Focused services for candidates who already know where they need help. Foundation, Advantage, and Executive include resume and PEI work: every package covers a resume review and PEI story review, and the higher levels add more live time to test your stories against an interviewer's follow-up questions.

Resume Transformation

$350

Written review, plus a 30-minute live debrief

Your current resume, reviewed for consulting recruiting. I go through it before the call, then we work through it together live.

  • →How your resume matches up today, and where it falls short
  • →Strategic rewrites of your weakest bullets
  • →A new format or structure, if yours needs one
  • →Application strategy, discussed live: how to position the experience you have
Apply now →
Resume Roadmap

$500

For underclassmen 6+ months from applying (more time is better). Two 45-minute calls, six months apart

A plan for the next 12 to 24 months, so the resume you bring to recruiting reflects experience you chose and cared about.

  • →Review and rewrite of your resume as it stands today
  • →A gap analysis of where your experience stands today
  • →A 45-minute call now to work through both and shape what to pursue on your campus, clubs and roles included
  • →A 45-minute check-in about six months later to adjust the plan
Apply now →
PEI Story Refinement

$400

Two stories, plus a 1-hour live call

Your Connection and Growth stories, tightened until they hold up under follow-up questions.

  • →Written review of each story, including where an interviewer is likely to probe
  • →Rewrites of the passages that are vague or thin
  • →1-hour live call: I interview you on both stories the way an interviewer follows up
  • →A written debrief on what stood out and where to sharpen
Apply now →
PEI Story Refinement, full set

$600

All four themes, plus a 90-minute live call

Every story you might be asked for, across Connection, Drive, Leadership, and Growth.

  • →Everything in the two-story service, for all four themes
  • →A recommendation on which story leads for each theme, and which can flex between two
  • →A 90-minute live call, in one session or split into two, to test every story under follow-up questions
Apply now →

Limited spots each week. Michael reviews every application before you pay, and payment follows approval. Plus applicable sales tax if required.

Already a customer of Foundation, Advantage, or Executive? Add à la carte sessions, billed by the hour, to focus on casing, PEI, or whatever else is on your mind. Just chat with Michael.

None of these quite fit?

Apply anyway, and say specifically what you want to focus on. Packages can be shaped around it: one candidate needed lopsided PEI support ahead of an upcoming case, so we built a 90-minute session around that, 45 minutes on PEI story development followed by a live case. Tell us what you need in your application, and we'll build a plan around it.

See what you receive.

Every live case session ends with a written debrief. Every package includes a resume pass. PEI coaching gets its own debrief too. Here's what each might look like.

Sample MK Edge case debrief, illustrative example Sample MK Edge PEI debrief, illustrative example Sample resume review mockup, illustrative example
Case Debrief

Framework, exhibits, math, synthesis, presence, and recommendation, each assessed the way an experienced interviewer would.

PEI Debrief

Session notes on each story you told, plus what stood out and where to sharpen it.

Resume Review

Direct notes on what to cut, what to lead with, and what a reviewer notices first.

Illustrative examples with placeholder data, not real client work.

Free Guide

How to Prepare for a McKinsey Interview

Written by a former Associate Partner who coached hundreds of candidates over the last decade. Not ready to apply yet? Start here, free.

Get the free guide →

About Michael

My path went from North Carolina to McKinsey's New York office, full-time, no internship, no structured on-campus recruiting machine. I learned the case method from YouTube, built my own drills, and found a case partner on my own. Nothing about it was formal.

Once inside, I moved from second-year interviewer to recruiting leader: I led BA recruiting for UNC and the New York office, and supported MBA recruiting at UCLA Anderson while getting my MBA there. Over 9 years and 300+ interviews, rising to Associate Partner and sitting in the decision meetings, I became known internally as one of the most calibrated reads in the process.

That self-taught path shouldn't be the only way in. I built MK Edge to give candidates a more direct, experience-based route: coaching from someone who has since sat on the other side of the table, available to a small number of candidates serious about building the skills required to get the offer.

Michael Kirchner at his UNC graduation
From UNC graduation, when I was in your shoes.

What a session looks like

5
Intro
What's on your mind this session, plus a quick continuation from last time if applicable
25
Live case
Full case simulation with real-time evaluator framing, optionally including PEI drills or story development
15
Feedback
Michael's assessment of your performance, dimension by dimension
10
Action plan
Specific fixes to work on, and tips for improving on your own before the next session

From MK Edge clients and former colleagues.

MK Edge's first client, ever
★★★★★

"Michael's coaching prepared me extremely well for both the PEI and case portions of my final round interview. I walked in confident and crushed the interviews, with the partner interviewing me saying it was a 'unanimous decision' to extend an offer.

For the PEI, Michael helped me identify which parts of my stories to highlight and demonstrate how I worked in teams and thought through conflict.

For the case, he gave me specific, tactical feedback on every element of my approach, which set me up to crush the cases on interview day.

Overall, I'd highly recommend Michael to anyone interviewing at McKinsey who wants to walk in feeling fully prepared."

McKinsey Associate Offeree, New York Office
MK Edge Client - Sept 2026
★★★★★
"Michael really knows what he's talking about. His input and framing massively improved my PEI stories, and he helped me go into 'game day' ready to crush it! When I got the offer, I realized MKedge made all the difference."
McKinsey BA Offeree
MK Edge Client - Oct 2026
★★★★★
"I really enjoyed working with Michael during my final-round interview preparation. I especially appreciated his detailed feedback on my case presentation, exhibit analysis, and PEI stories. His advice helped me feel more confident and prepared going in. I'm grateful for Michael's support and would highly recommend him to anyone preparing for consulting interviews."
McKinsey BA Offeree
MK Edge Client - Sept 2026
★★★★★
"Michael's experience is unmatched. It's extremely relevant and recent, and he shares it enthusiastically, based on what you need. I have tried 4 to 5 other coaches, and Michael is easily at the top and worth the price."
McKinsey BA Offeree
★★★★★
"Michael has been an incredible mentor and supporter throughout the recruiting process. He's a fantastic communicator who's incredibly knowledgeable about what it takes to be successful in the MBB interview/case process."
McKinsey Summer BA, Atlanta
★★★★★
"From helping me refine my casing approach as an applicant to navigating my early days at the firm as a BA, Michael has been instrumental in my journey to and during my time at McKinsey."
McKinsey BA, Charlotte
★★★★★
"Michael's personalized and direct case feedback helped me identify the most impactful changes I needed to move the needle on my casing ability, and ultimately land my internship offers."
Bain & BCG offeree
From a former recruiting colleague
★★★★★
"Michael and I recruited together for years. He's one of the most calibrated interviewers I've worked with. His read on a candidate almost always matched who got the offer. His feedback was never just 'good' or 'bad'; he always broke down exactly why, and what to fix. That's why newer interviewers were always sent to him."
Former McKinsey New York office recruiter
★★★★★
"Michael helped recruit me to McKinsey, and I'll never forget the call he made the night before my final round interviews - he gave me the last boost of confidence that turned into an offer. He's incredibly sharp, but what sets him apart is how deeply he cares about recruiting and how much joy he finds in helping others build their dream careers. Anyone preparing with Michael is in the best possible hands."
McKinsey Business Analyst Intern Offeree, Charlotte
★★★★★

"I have Michael to thank for helping me secure my offer at McKinsey. He has extensive experience as an interviewer and knows the ins and outs of the case and PEI interview. My best advice to MBB prospects is to find a case buddy to practice with, and Michael is the best case buddy you could ask for.

I can also attest to Michael's passion for recruiting. He led both NYC and UNC recruiting and knows the formula for success."

McKinsey Experienced Hire BA, New York
MK Edge Client - Sept 2026
★★★★★
"I would highly recommend working with Michael. Think of it as a small investment in yourself. It's not about the offer letter. It's about making sure you are prepared and confident to give your 100%, which is what leads to the offer."
MK Edge client

Questions before you apply.

Why do I need to apply instead of just booking a session? +

MK Edge takes a limited number of candidates each month. Michael reviews every application personally to confirm there's a real fit before committing time, both his and yours.

What happens after I apply? +

Michael reviews your application and responds within 3 business days. If it's a fit, you'll get a free 15-minute call to talk through your target offices, timeline, and which package makes sense.

Do you coach for Bain, BCG, or consulting broadly? +

Yes. Michael's specific expertise is McKinsey, and that is where his read is sharpest, after 300+ interviews there. Many candidates recruit across firms, and the core skills (structuring, case math, exhibit reading, behavioral stories) carry over to Bain, BCG, and other consulting firms. The firm-specific details, like the PEI, are McKinsey's, so that is where the coaching is most targeted.

Is MK Edge affiliated with McKinsey & Company? +

No. MK Edge is independently owned and operated, and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by McKinsey & Company. The coaching reflects Michael's own experience and judgment as a former Associate Partner.

How much does coaching cost? +

Pricing depends on which package fits your timeline, and is shared once Michael reviews your application. There's flexibility for candidates with real financial need, so don't let that stop you from applying.

Who is this for? +

MK Edge is open to anyone working toward a McKinsey offer, though it's the best fit for undergraduate and MBA candidates on a traditional recruiting path, for full-time or intern roles at any McKinsey office (U.S. offices are the best fit). It doesn't have to be a target school. What matters more is genuine dedication, drive, and a track record of past success.

Does McKinsey's interview process ever change? +

Yes. What's described here reflects United States generalist Business Analyst and Associate hiring as it currently runs. The process isn't static, McKinsey has already evolved it over the years, including through tools like Solve, and it's reasonable to expect further changes, including more AI-driven elements. Always confirm current specifics with your recruiting coordinator.