FAQs
1. Applying
Who is eligible to apply for The Beacon Fellowship?
All our programs are open to both undergraduates & post-grads. You must be at least 18 years old by the time your program is set to start, and attending or recently graduated from college. If you are an international student, you are responsible for researching and acquiring any travel documents you may need in order to travel to your program destination(s). No prior consulting experience is required. Students in graduate school or who have completed a graduate degree are also welcome to apply.
What if I have conflicts with the dates?
Contact one of our Beacon staff — we'll be able to work with you. Solutions include arriving after the program has started, leaving early, or departing for a short period of time in the middle of the Fellowship.
What if my GPA is not very high?
We evaluate candidates comprehensively. A weakness in one area may be overcome by strengths in other areas. We also factor in your field of study.
What backgrounds do Fellows come from?
Fellows come from a range of academic backgrounds including finance, management, marketing, economics, classics, history, political science, engineering, mathematics, psychology and more!
Do I need to speak the language?
No. All Beacon program elements are in English, and the Fellowship requires no foreign language skills.
How competitive is the application process?
As an educational institution, we hope to include as many students as possible. Therefore, we accept all qualified persons, meaning that you compete only against yourself. So long as an applicant is professional, serious about business, and has a vision for how Beacon will impact their professional path, he/she has a strong likelihood of being accepted.
Is there an application deadline?
Please see our application page for applicable deadlines. There are benefits to enrolling sooner, including that you have a better chance of receiving your first-choice program.
2. the project
Can i do another SUMMER internship in addition to beacon?
Yes! Most of our Fellows do another internship before or after their Beacon experience.
For example, Jason, a student from Florida State, did Beacon in Madrid in May 2019 and then completed an 8-week internship with Protiviti in their Fort Lauderdale office. Another alum, Michelle, from Western Michigan University, interned at a private law firm after doing Beacon in Rome, and impressed her boss with the skills she’d developed on Beacon.
Why should I choose to do Beacon?
The short answer is that you get to work full-time under a McKinsey/Bain/BCG alumnus on a project with a real client. Normally, the only way to work with an experienced consultant is go through the extremely competitive selection process to intern or work at a consulting firm. Beacon makes that same experience more accessible to students, and allows them to spend 1–4 weeks in Europe or D.C. at the same time.
Another reason to do Beacon is that most internships consist of lower-level administrative work that does not give you a clear picture of either business or consulting, nor do most internships help you determine if business is the right fit for your career. While these other internships can be good options, Beacon designs its whole experience directly for YOU, rather than the self-interest of the company or client.
Below is a sample resume entry from one of our alumni, alongside a typical resume entry from a regular business internship or study abroad program.
Will I be working for McKinsey, Bain, or BCG?
No. Fellows work with a Project Lead who has experience at one of these firms, but neither the project nor Beacon is affiliated with one of these firms. Our relationship with McKinsey/Bain/BCG is limited to hiring Project Leads that have worked at these firms in the past.
What will my team be like?
We try to assign Fellows to teams according to their interests & experience, taking into account the demands of a particular project. Teams usually consist of around 20-25 students and one Project Lead. The Project Lead will usually break teams into smaller groups of 5-8 for a specific component of the project.
Do I get to pick the client and project I will work on?
Your offer letter for Beacon will include a specific location and start date, based on the preferences you put in your application. Clients and Project Leads are typically announced closer to the start date. If you decide that you want to switch to a different program in order to work with a certain Client or Project Lead, you have until 60 days before your program starts to request to transfer. Keep in mind that Beacon cannot guarantee that spots will be available.
What kind of impact can I have in such a short time?
Fellows are able to significantly impact our clients (otherwise they wouldn't bother hosting us!) by solving real problems they are facing. These projects may include go-to-market strategy, advertising strategy, consumer or competitive analysis, etc. We work to find projects that offer excellent opportunities for learning about consulting and delivering meaningful results.
Learn more about past projects our Fellows have worked on here.
Will I get an internship or full-time offer from the project?
Although in the past some Fellows have received offers from the client, Beacon does not control the clients’ decision in this regard and cannot promise a offer with the client. However, many of our alumni have received prestigious offers from other firms afterwards, including McKinsey, BCG, PWC, Booz Allen Hamilton, Accenture, EY, KPMG, Capital One, UBS, Amazon, & Deutsche Bank.
What is the relationship between me and my Project Lead?
The Project Lead is a consultant with experience at either McKinsey, Bain, or BCG. Their role includes leading the Fellows on the project, training Fellows in dedicated consulting skills, and guiding Fellows one-on-one. The Project Lead brings a wealth of experience and insights, which help Fellows on the project and serve as a resource about the consulting industry generally.
3. logistics
What cities can I do Beacon in?
Our current locations can be found on the Current Openings page. You can see each location’s associated fees, which depend on the length of the program you choose.
What are the dates for Beacon?
Our programs are offered for 1–4 weeks throughout the winter, spring, and summer breaks. and we also offer 10-day programs over winter break for students unable to participate over the summer. Exact dates vary by location, so please reference our Current Openings page to see available programs.
How much does Beacon cost?
Program costs vary by location and program length. You can find the cost for each program on our Current Openings page.
Why does the Fellowship cost money?
The program fee covers the program’s operations, housing, excursions, the McKinsey/Bain/BCG alumnus Project Lead, health insurance, some meals, transport onsite, etc.
Beacon is an investment like any similar program. The returns are both short and long-term: Fellows have the immediate joy of being abroad and working on a challenging project, and can also leverage the experience for future internships and jobs.
Do you offer any scholarships, or how else can I make the program more affordable?
Historically, most Fellows afford the Fellowship through a combination of parental assistance, individual work/savings, and fundraising. Each accepted Fellow works with a Beacon team member to brainstorm program funding. See here for options on funding your Fellowship.
What will the housing accommodations be like?
Housing varies by program, and could be a university dorm, an apartment, or international student housing. It could be in the center of the city or on the outskirts. Fellows can expect to have at least 1 roommate, and up to 3.
What sorts of group activities are planned?
Fellows enjoy some group meals each week which Beacon’s staff organize at local restaurants. In addition, Fellows have the opportunity to participate in weekend excursions to nearby places of relaxation or cultural interest.
Will I be safe?
Yes. Fellows’ safety is our #1 concern. We offer our programs in cities that are safe destinations for students. Our international staff are available 24/7 to ensure the students safety, and are familiar with the local area and the city. You and your parents will be provided a direct line to both Beacon’s international & domestic staff should any urgent matter arise.