Bain & Company 2028 application guide

For
2028 summer analysts
Sources
15 cited

Applying to Bain & Company for summer 2028? Bain's undergraduate internship is the Associate Consultant Intern (ACI). Check your resume below, then read when Bain's deadlines fall, what each US office asks for, the digital assessment that ends the application, and what happens after you submit.

A student at a wooden picnic table in a leafy campus courtyard in late spring, a laptop open beside a printed resume, a cover letter and a transcript held down by a water bottle, seen from a few steps away.
Bain's Boston, New York, Chicago and Atlanta offices ask ACI applicants for a resume, a cover letter and a non-official transcript.

Key facts

  • Last deadlines: For summer 2027, the US Associate Consultant Intern had two deadlines, Mar 29 and Aug 31, 2026, and you could apply to either.7,8
  • Portal: You apply on bain.com to a main office, and each office adds its own requirements to the standard list: resume, education, work experience and any relevant test scores.1,2
  • Documents: In Boston, New York, Chicago and Atlanta: a resume, a cover letter and a non-official transcript are required, and ACT or SAT scores are encouraged. The resume must be a Word file or a PDF.1
  • Final step: The application ends with a digital assessment of about 30 to 40 minutes: TestGorilla's four timed sections in most US offices. The email after you apply says which you take, and it may name Sova instead.1,3,15
  • Who it is for: Current bachelor's and master's students with one full summer left before graduation, so most summer 2028 interns graduate in 2029.2
  • Pay: A monthly base salary of $9,000 in the US, and Bain pays 100% of individual premiums for medical, dental and vision.2
  • Next step: If you pass the screen, a first round of two back-to-back case interviews of about 30 minutes each over Zoom, then a final round in the office.9,13

Second-year students can meet Bain earlier through its exploratory programs (BEL, CREW and First Forward), held in Bain's US offices (BEL and CREW in Canada too) from Jan 28 to Feb 19, 2027. Applications close Nov 30, 2026, and HireVue video prompts follow the deadline.6

Check your resume before you apply

Associate Consultant Intern at Bain & Company

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What the Bain & Company online application looks like

  1. Pick your office and your deadline

    Bain runs two undergraduate deadlines. For summer 2027 they were Mar 29 and Aug 31, 2026, and you could apply to either. Bain reviews after each deadline rather than on a rolling basis, but fills seats as it goes, so the first deadline gives you more open places. Choose your main office first: its panel on the ACI page lists what that office adds.1,7,8

  2. Gather the documents

    The standard list is a resume, your education, work experience and any relevant test scores. Boston, New York, Chicago and Atlanta add a cover letter and a non-official transcript, and encourage ACT or SAT scores. Save the resume as a Word file or a PDF.1

  3. Take the digital assessment

    The assessment is the last step of the application and one part of the review, alongside your other materials. Most US offices use TestGorilla, four timed sections of about 8 to 15 minutes each in numerical reasoning, business judgment, leadership and people management, and problem solving; the email after you apply says which you take, and it may name Sova instead. It takes about 30 to 40 minutes, and the deadline is in the email. Pen, paper and a calculator are allowed for the assessment only. TestGorilla must be done in one sitting; Sova can be split as long as every section is done by the deadline. AI tools are banned.1,3,15

  4. When the link arrives

    In some markets the link comes within a week of applying; Bain's US office panels say links are sent closer to the next application deadline. In Atlanta in October 2026 (summer 2027), the skills assessment came with optional recorded video questions marked as non-evaluative. If you have already taken the assessment, you do not retake it unless Bain tells you to.1,9

  5. After you submit

    Bain's team reviews your application, and you may have a call with a recruiter before the interviews. Expect to hear within 60 days of the assessment. If you pass, a first round of two back-to-back case interviews follows, and a final round in the office after that.1,4,9,11

What the form asks

Main office Required
Pick the office you want to join. Its panel on the ACI page lists the extra requirements.
Resume Required
A Word file or a PDF, with your education and work experience.
Cover letter Required (US offices read)
Required in Boston, New York, Chicago and Atlanta. Check your office's panel before you write it.
Non-official transcript Required (US offices read)
Required in the same four offices, so your grades are read alongside your resume.
ACT or SAT scores Encouraged
Encouraged in the same four offices; the standard list asks for relevant test scores if you have them.
Digital assessment About 30 to 40 min
TestGorilla in most US offices, or Sova if the email after you apply names it. It is the last step of the application.

The office requirements come from the office panels on Bain's ACI page. Check your own office's panel when you apply, because requirements can vary by office.1

Bain & Company resume checklist

  • One page, saved as a PDF or Word file.
  • Education first while you are a student: school, degree written out, graduation month and year.
  • GPA as 3.68/4.00, exactly as it appears on your non-official transcript.
  • Experience newest first, two or three bullets each, every bullet starting with a verb.
  • Each bullet says what you did and what came of it, with a number where you have one.
  • Leadership roles over memberships: what you ran, led or built.
  • A cover letter for your chosen office that says why consulting, why Bain and why that city.
  • ACT or SAT scores ready, since your office may encourage them.
  • Every line one you could talk about for a minute in an interview.

What to put on it

The first screen reads your resume, cover letter and transcript together with the assessment. Keep the resume to one page, with Education first while you are a student, then experience, then leadership and activities, then skills. The examples below are Intervyo rewrites of common resume and cover letter lines, not questions from the form.1,3,14

  • Education: School, degree, graduation month and year, and GPA. Your transcript goes in too, so the GPA must match it.
  • Experience: Internships and jobs, newest first, two or three bullets each on what you did and what came of it.
  • Leadership and activities: Roles where you owned a result, such as a club you ran or a case competition you led.
  • Cover letter: Required in Boston, New York, Chicago and Atlanta: why consulting, why Bain and why that office.

Example questions and how to answer them

Experience bullet"Rewrite this bullet: "Worked on a consulting project for a local business.""14,2
  1. 1Start with a verb for what you did yourself: sized, interviewed, built, recommended.
  2. 2Name the question the client asked, in a few words.
  3. 3Add one number for scale: customers, revenue, people interviewed.
  4. 4End with the result: what the client decided or changed.

Tip: Bain interns are staffed on real case teams working on client problems, so bullets that show a question, an analysis and a decision read like the job.

Example answer, written by Intervyo (not a real candidate)

Sized the regional market for a family-owned bakery chain ($8M revenue) with a 4-person student consulting team; interviewed 25 customers and recommended two new locations, one of which the owner opened in spring 2026.

Education line"Rewrite this education line: "Northwestern, Econ, 3.68, 2029""2,1,14
  1. 1University and location on the first line.
  2. 2Degree written out, with the expected graduation month and year.
  3. 3GPA to two decimals with the scale, matching your transcript exactly.
  4. 4An optional line for honors or relevant coursework.

Tip: Summer 2028 interns have one full summer left before graduating, so most will show a 2029 graduation date.

Example answer, written by Intervyo (not a real candidate)

Northwestern University, Evanston, IL Bachelor of Arts in Economics, expected June 2029. GPA: 3.68/4.00 Relevant coursework: Microeconomics, Statistics, Corporate Strategy

Cover letter"Rewrite this cover letter opener: "I am writing to apply for the Associate Consultant Intern position at Bain.""5,1
  1. 1Open with the reason, not the role: one sentence on what drew you to consulting.
  2. 2Name the office and one specific thing that ties you to it.
  3. 3Give one piece of evidence from your resume that shows you can do the work.
  4. 4Close the paragraph on why Bain, in your own words.

Tip: Bain looks for people who can explain why they want to join Bain specifically. A letter that could go to any firm misses that.

Example answer, written by Intervyo (not a real candidate)

Written by Intervyo as an example. Last spring I spent ten weeks helping a 40-person nonprofit decide which of its programs to grow, and I found that the part I enjoyed most was turning a messy question into a clear recommendation. I am applying to Bain's Chicago office because I grew up in the Midwest and want to build my career here, and because the consultants I met at the October info session described a team culture I want to be part of.

From resume to interview"Tell me about yourself."13,9
  1. 1Open with where you are now: school, major and year.
  2. 2Take 2 or 3 entries from your resume in order, one sentence each.
  3. 3Link each step to the next, so the story builds toward consulting.
  4. 4Close on why Bain and why this office.

Tip: This came up in Atlanta in October 2026, alongside why consulting and why Bain. Order your resume so the entries you want to talk about come first.

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How long to hear back after the online application

Bain reviews applications after each deadline and fills seats as it goes. Expect to hear within 60 days of the assessment; once interviews start, the rounds move within days.1,8

  1. Oct 2026 (summer 2027)

    ACI, Atlanta

    Online skills assessment after applying, two 30-minute Zoom interviews, then two 45-minute interviews in the office and an offer, all in less than a month.9

  2. Oct 2026 (summer 2027)

    ACI, Boston

    Less than a month in all, but three weeks of silence before the result.10

  3. Aug 2026 (2027 start)

    Associate Consultant, Boston

    Applied online, then a first round of two back-to-back 30-minute cases over Zoom, within a month.13

  4. Mar 2026

    Intern, Boston

    Two cases in the first round and two in the second round, which was in person; less than a month in all.11

  5. Jul 2025 (summer 2026)

    Intern, San Francisco

    TestGorilla first, then an online behavioral test, two interview rounds, and an offer a couple of days after the second round.12

After each interview, Bain says you will learn exactly how it went.4

Best guessIf your assessment is done and three weeks pass with no word, reply to your Bain recruiting email to check your status. Silence of a few weeks has happened before an answer.

What happens after the online application

  1. Online applicationYou are here

    This page. A resume, education and work experience, plus your office's extras: in Boston, New York, Chicago and Atlanta, a cover letter and a non-official transcript.1

  2. Digital assessment

    The last step of the application: TestGorilla in most US offices, or Sova if your email names it, about 30 to 40 minutes.1,3,15

  3. First-round interviews

    Two back-to-back case interviews of about 30 minutes, usually over Zoom.9,13

  4. Final-round interviews

    Two interviews of about 45 minutes, in the office.9

Spring deadline vs summer deadline

Bain's two undergraduate deadlines sit five months apart. Earlier gives you more open seats; later gives you another summer of experience on your resume.

Summer 2027 date

Spring deadline

Mar 29, 2026, the first deadline.7,8

Summer deadline

Aug 31, 2026, the second deadline.7,8

Summer 2028, expected

Spring deadline

Around March 2027, going by the last cycle.8

Summer deadline

Around August 2027, going by the last cycle.8

Seats left

Spring deadline

More: Bain fills seats after each deadline.8

Summer deadline

Some may already be filled from the first deadline.8

Assessment link

Spring deadline

Sent closer to the next application deadline.1

Summer deadline

Sent closer to the next application deadline.1

Interviews

Spring deadline

First rounds 2 to 4 weeks after the deadline, finals one to two weeks later.8

Summer deadline

Atlanta and Boston rounds ran in October 2026 (summer 2027).9,10

2028 summer analyst status

Bain's US office pages say undergraduate applications typically open in the spring. For summer 2027 the deadlines were Mar 29 and Aug 31, 2026, so expect summer 2028 deadlines around March and August 2027.1,7,8

FAQ

When are Bain's 2028 Associate Consultant Intern deadlines?

Expect around March and August 2027 for summer 2028. For summer 2027 the two deadlines were Mar 29 and Aug 31, 2026, and you could apply to either. Bain's US office pages say undergraduate applications typically open in the spring.1,7,8

Does Bain require a cover letter?

Yes, in the US offices we read. Boston, New York, Chicago and Atlanta require a resume, a cover letter and a non-official transcript, and encourage ACT or SAT scores. Check your own office's panel on the ACI page before you apply.1

Which online test does Bain use?

TestGorilla in most US offices: four timed sections of about 8 to 15 minutes each, in numerical reasoning, business judgment, leadership and people management, and problem solving. The email after you apply says which one you take, and it may name Sova instead. It takes about 30 to 40 minutes, a calculator is allowed for the assessment only, and AI tools are banned. TestGorilla runs in one sitting; Sova can be split as long as every section is done by the deadline.1,3,15

What GPA do you need for Bain?

Bain does not publish a GPA cutoff, but its US offices ask for a non-official transcript, so your grades are read in full. Put your GPA on your resume and make sure it matches the transcript.8,1

What happens after you submit your Bain application?

You take the digital assessment, the last step of the application. Bain's team then reviews everything, sometimes with a recruiter call. Expect to hear within 60 days. If you pass, you get a first round of two back-to-back case interviews, usually over Zoom.1,4,9,13

Can sophomores get into Bain early?

Through Bain's exploratory programs for second-year students: BEL, CREW and First Forward, each 1.5 days in person in January or February 2027. Applications close Nov 30, 2026, and include HireVue video prompts after the deadline. They are a way to meet Bain before ACI recruiting, not the ACI application itself.6

How much does a Bain Associate Consultant Intern earn?

Bain lists a monthly base salary of $9,000 in the US, plus its benefits, including 100% of individual premiums for medical, dental and vision.2

Online application at other firms

Sources

Firm pages first, then dated candidate reports. Last checked Nov 4, 2026.

  1. 1Bain & Company: Associate Consultant Intern (hiring process, US office panels)
  2. 2Bain & Company: Associate Consultant Internship
  3. 3Bain & Company: Digital assessment
  4. 4Bain & Company: Our Hiring Process
  5. 5Bain & Company: Interviewing
  6. 6Bain & Company: Undergraduate exploratory programs
  7. 7Management Consulted: MBB 2026 Application Deadlines: McKinsey, Bain, BCG · prep site
  8. 8Extern: Bain Internship 2027-2028: Programs, Deadlines & How to Apply · prep site
  9. 9Candidate report on a public forum: ACI interview, Atlanta (Oct 2026)
  10. 10Candidate report on a public forum: Associate Consultant Intern interview, Boston (Oct 2026)
  11. 11Candidate report on a public forum: Intern interview, Boston (Mar 2026)
  12. 12Candidate report on a public forum: Associate Consultant Intern interview, San Francisco (Jul 2025)
  13. 13Candidate reports on a public forum: Bain & Company interview questions (Nov 2026 listing)
  14. 14Georgetown University Cawley Career Education Center: Resume Content & Formatting · prep site
  15. 15Hacking the Case Interview: Bain TestGorilla Assessment: How to Pass (2026) · prep site

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