No one ever said that landing a consulting job was easy. But demanding and specific industry expectations built around their own unique set of challenges can make for a daunting interview process—even for the brightest students. That’s why a strong support network can mean the difference between merely trying and excelling.
Carson Breus (McIntire ’25) recognized this need and decided to do something about it. Initiated with co-founder Forrest Sun (A&S ’27, McIntire ’27), the Consulting Academy & Mentorship Program (CAMP) at UVA is setting new benchmarks, helping students to better understand and prepare for a career in consulting. CAMP’s low-risk, high-reward program caters to students eager to break into the consulting world by providing them with the necessary tools, education, and mentorship experiences that demystify the consulting interview process.
The Genesis of CAMP
Breus’s interest in consulting recruitment began with a personal challenge while interviewing for private equity internships. While recruiting at a firm, she learned she’d need to tackle consulting-style cases—unlike typical PE interviews—and had to get up to speed quickly.
“I spent the next three weeks of my life immersed in all these different resources, trying to understand how to case,” says Breus. “I quickly realized how challenging it is—not just to be competent, but to truly excel. In consulting, it’s easy to be good, but at top firms, you have to be great.”
While she ultimately landed an offer with Altamont Capital Partners in Palo Alto, CA, she saw firsthand how demanding the process can be. In the months that followed, she noticed that friends recruiting for consulting positions who had yet to get a satisfactory offer were often caught in a situation that was a direct result of being unprepared for the case process and unclear about what resources were available.
The difficulty of mastering the types of consulting case studies during the interview process ignited Breus’s resolve, and seeing friends struggle pushed her to act: “That really struck a chord with me,” she remembers. “When you don’t have the resources to succeed, it’s so much more difficult to get your dream offer.”
She reached out to McIntire Professor Paul Seaborn, who encouraged Breus in her vision to launch a program akin to the existing Finance Academy at the Commerce School, only focused on consulting. Her initial attempt, the Consulting Recruitment Mentorship Program (CRMP), which she created in her third year, laid the groundwork, reaching out to student clubs and UVA alumni working at firms who might be interested in sharing their expertise with students through a variety of avenues.
As Breus continued to refine her focus, Sun, a CRMP mentee, entered the scene in late fall 2024.
Sun explains that he was motivated to democratize information around consulting to better include students from low-income and first-generation backgrounds. “From my interactions as a tutor and grader for introductory economics, I learned how difficult it might be for new college students to gain professional advice and get that initial boost, especially when they are balancing school and adjusting to a new lifestyle,” he says. After participating in Finance Academy, he wondered if it would be possible to create something similar for consulting.
Sun’s vision for a comprehensive bootcamp, supplemented with guest speakers and student-led workshops, aligned perfectly with Breus’s mission. With some behind-the-scenes assistance from Seaborn and Batten School Professor Brendan Boler, the two students quickly got to work in the creation of CAMP for spring 2025.
Cultivating Community and Engagement
CAMP’s foundation is heavily reliant on collaboration, extending far beyond the immediate University environment. Breus’s efforts in securing support were relentless. She cold-emailed hundreds of potential mentors and students to amplify the reach and visibility of the program. “I was able to get 30 mentors and over 150 students to sign up,” Breus explains.
Sun brought his own expertise on outreach, securing substantial backing and coordinating the design of CAMP’s educational curriculum through communication with industry leaders. This unyielding endeavor was evident during the daylong spring break trek to Washington, DC, for second- and third-years, which Sun spearheaded, offering CAMP participants firsthand exposure to consulting firms McKinsey & Company, Bain & Company, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and Accenture, which hosted a dinner in its ballroom that connected students with more than 40 alumni representing multiple firms.
“From my conversations with CAMPers who attended the trek, [I learned that] many enjoyed being able to see and hear things they’ve learned about firsthand, from the types of work consulting firms deal with to the fantastic office spaces and what living and commuting in DC is like,” Sun says, adding how the DC trek demonstrated the strength of the University’s network. “Not only were there so many alumni willing to attend a dinner on a Monday evening, but the fact that I was able to organize this myself as an underclassman with virtually no connections to each organization, with the ‘selling pitch’ that we’re from UVA, is, retrospectively, quite remarkable.”
Sessions and Curriculum: Empowering Through Knowledge
CAMP’s curriculum is thoughtfully devised and diverse. Each Friday session contains a student-led learning portion highlighted by a special guest speaker. They range from introductory sessions covering “What Is Consulting?” which featured Darden School Professor Vivian Riefberg, to targeted workshops on the finer points of networking, internships, brainstorming, professionalism, the various dynamics of consulting cases, and examining the various cultures of different firms. The program also emphasizes industry-specific insights, featuring sessions on federal and economic consulting (with speaker McIntire Professor David C. Smith), delving into career alternatives in technology, accounting, government, strategy, and management.
Prominent consulting figures like Marc Cosentino, author of the renowned book on the subject, Case in Point, contributed to sessions, providing unparalleled insights into consulting case interviews. “I read his book when I was preparing for my interviews,” says Breus, still sounding surprised that CAMP was able to entice him to speak with student participants.
Discussions detailed the many types of consulting cases students may be asked about during an interview, including entering new markets, analyzing profitability, expanding product lines, and many other subjects that enlightened students with a practical, hands-on approach. “Upperclassmen speakers are key in addressing how to tackle the many casing scenarios and what frameworks students should use,” Breus says, noting that Kevin Zhang (McIntire ’25), who worked with Saahas Gowda (McIntire ’26) to create and coordinate the student-led education plan for CAMP, detailed special situations and how students can rescue themselves from sinking an interview.
Sun notes that in the early going, he consulted often with Justin Wachtel (McIntire ’25) regarding CAMP’s weekly structure. “He’s been a great guiding voice,” he says, noting that Watchel also assisted Breus with finding mentors for the program.
The CAMP initiative has not only served McIntire students but has also embraced a wider audience across UVA, breaking barriers for those unfamiliar with the field.
“I’ve been hearing from a lot of my friends who aren’t in McIntire, or aren’t pre-Comm, that they’re really loving it and learning a lot,” says Breus. “I really see CAMP as an equalizer. While a lot of CAMPers are already involved in Comm clubs, a significant number have no prior exposure to consulting and join simply to learn. CAMP creates a learning environment where everyone can take away something meaningful regardless of prior knowledge.”
CAMP provides a platform for both novices and experienced students to polish their skills, from logical analysis to case competition readiness.
The Road Ahead
Looking forward, the future looks promising. CAMP plans to sustain its impact and growth beyond its founders’ academic timelines. A solid team of engaged student leaders is in place, led by Sun, with the input of other student leaders such as Gowda and CAMP’s enthusiastic marketing committee, led by Hamdael Eslaquit (A&S ’27) and Tejus Lakshminarayan (A&S ’27), which has been essential in the success of the group’s initial marketing plan and continued audience growth on social media.
“Student self-governance at UVA inspired me to create CAMP,” Breus reflects. “McIntire equipped me with the skills to bring these ideas to life, and I’m excited to break down those barriers for students who don’t know much about the field.”
Breus’s vision, coupled with the innovation of Sun and other collaborators, has manifested into a program that truly prepares students for the rigors and expectations of the world of consulting and greatly expands the scope of opportunities available to students post-graduation. As interest and participation continue to flourish, CAMP is offering pathways for future UVA students to forge their future in the industry.
