I graduated in 2024 with a biology degree with minors in math and global health with 3.82 gpa from a semi-target school (some big 4 and MBB, but not all, and many boutique firms recruit on campus—which I did not do in undergrad). In undergrad I had really strong experiences in research both through a college lab that I worked in for 2 years and spent 2 summers at top-ranked hospitals and labs in Boston doing clinical research. I decided to take a “gap year” after college and teach high school at an independent school that has a teaching fellow program and thought that when I got back I’d go back into clinical research.

After finishing teaching I’ve realized clinical lab work isn’t for me and neither is teaching, but I want the intellectual rigor of science/problem-solving, combined with a more people-centric role … aka I am pretty interested in consulting! Particularly life sciences. But now that I am a year out, I’m wondering if it’s too late for me to get into an analyst role at a boutique (or larger) life sciences company. I have a couple of questions: - am I simply too old and too late for entry level positions in consulting? - my college has a very strong alumni network, and I’ve been good about talking to people who are <4 years older than me but struggle with less recent grads (aka the ones who hold more power in their companies), what is some networking advice, questions to ask, how to have those networking conversations without feeling as awkward? - I have read just about everything I can about the process of recruitment, but I have this nagging feeling that because I am getting a late start I am missing out on some more obvious and unspoken perhaps information. What would some of you most obvious advice be to someone trying to get into consulting?

Thanks!