Connect consulting to the capabilities your specialized degree gave you and the type of problems you want next. Avoid relying only on variety or prestige.

A credible answer explains both why you are moving away from the obvious direct path and why consulting is a better fit for how you want to work.

Use one concrete example from your degree where you enjoyed solving an ambiguous problem, working across stakeholders, or translating analysis into a decision.

Then explain what consulting adds at scale: broader problems, faster learning, and client impact. Keep the story personal and specific. For a related reference, see Case Interview Preparation for Master’s Students.

This is a good question. I would also pay attention to what the interviewer is reacting to, because that usually tells you whether the issue is clarity or the underlying logic.

This came up in one of my mocks and the feedback was basically to stay calm and make the next step explicit.

I have seen people get stuck here because they treat every detail as equally important. Prioritizing one thing first made my answers much stronger.