Which is better for consulting recruiting, Brown or Colgate?

The biggest practical tradeoff is breadth versus intimacy: Brown gives you access to a larger, more nationally visible consulting pipeline with more on-campus recruiting and alumni in major firms, while Colgate offers a smaller setting where strong students can stand out and build close faculty and alumni relationships.

At Brown, firms are more likely to already know the school, recruit there consistently, and find enough interested candidates to justify structured outreach. That matters for both internships and full-time roles because consulting hiring often runs through early timelines, coffee chats, case prep groups, and alumni referrals. Brown students also benefit from being in an environment where there are more peers targeting consulting, which can make preparation for casing and recruiting more organized.

In a smaller student body, it may be easier to take on leadership roles, get close mentoring, and distinguish yourself academically.

If consulting is one of your main priorities rather than just one option among many, Brown has the stronger recruiting setup and the safer advantage for internships and full-time consulting outcomes. Colgate is still a respectable route, especially for a student who will network aggressively and use the smaller community well, but Brown gives you more direct access to the opportunities you’re asking about.