The prestige gap is real in some contexts, but it is often exaggerated online. MBB brands can open doors more quickly because employers, investors, and business schools understand the screening and training behind them. That can matter for certain exits, especially highly competitive strategy or investing roles.

But brand is only one part of the career. The actual projects you do, the skills you build, your industry exposure, and the people you work with can create just as much long-term value. A strong consultant at a good Tier-2 or boutique firm can build an excellent career and sometimes gain deeper responsibility earlier.

The gap matters most when two candidates have otherwise similar experience and the employer uses brand as a shortcut. It matters much less once you have several years of strong post-consulting accomplishments that speak for themselves.

So I would include prestige in the decision, but not let it dominate everything else. If one role gives you clearly better work, geography, culture, or specialization for the career you actually want, that can outweigh a brand difference.

The internet massively overweights prestige because it is easy to rank logos.

For some exits the MBB name absolutely helps though. Both things can be true.

Would you take a worse role at MBB over a much better role at Tier 2? That is where the question gets interesting.

After a few years, your actual track record matters more and more.

Tbh if the offers are close, I would take MBB. If the job itself is clearly worse for your goals, I would not.