You’ve probably heard it before: “Just do more practice cases.”

And yes, practice matters. But here’s the part most people leave out:

Bad practice partners will hold you back.
No matter how hard you work.

A lot of candidates give up on case prep because the people they practice with aren’t helping them improve.

You can do 50 cases like this and still be stuck.

Meanwhile, others do just 10, with the right partner, and start to actually improve.

That’s what this guide is about:

• Why most peer practice doesn’t work
• What a good partner actually looks like
• And what to do if you’re tired of guessing who to practice with.

If you’ve been wondering whether it’s you or your partners…

You’re not crazy. Most people get stuck here.

Let’s fix that.

What a Strong Case Partner Actually Looks Like

Having 100+ mock sessions or an MBB offer doesn’t guarantee someone’s helpful.

The best partners are consistent, thoughtful, and invested in real improvement.

Here’s what that looks like:

• Reliable: Shows up on time, prepared, and treats the session seriously.
• Engaged: ays attention, asks follow-ups, and works through the case with you, not around you.
• Feedback-Oriented: Gives clear, specific notes and values feedback both ways.
• Close in Level: Growth happens when you’re roughly at the same stage, or just one step apart.

Most people don’t practice this way because no one teaches them how.

Even in consulting clubs, the bar is low. Anyone can join. No one’s screening for mindset, much less teaching people how to give structured feedback.

At High Bridge Academy, we do things differently. Peers are selected, trained to give feedback that drives improvement, and held to a standard throughout the program.

Remember: Volume doesn’t guarantee growth. The right structure and partners do.

Red Flags to Watch For

If a session consistently feels rushed, unclear, or discouraging, it may be less about the case and more about the dynamic.

Here are a few signs it’s not the right match:

• Interrupts frequently or rushes the structure
• Gives vague feedback, or none at all
• Dominates the session. Turns it into a one-way critique
• Shows up inconsistently, or cancels often
• Leaves you feeling more confused than confident

None of these makes someone a bad person. But they do signal that the sessions may not be helping you progress.

In the next section, we’ll go into how to find them, especially if you’re not part of a formal consulting program or network.

Where Most People Look for Case Partners (and Why It’s Hit-or-Miss)

Most candidates turn to familiar places like consulting clubs, MBA cohorts, Reddit threads, LinkedIn posts, or platforms like PrepLounge.

And those can work. But they come with trade-offs.

You’ll meet people with different levels of commitment, skill, and mindset.

Some sessions go well. Others fall flat. And often, you won’t know which one you’re getting until you’re already halfway through the case.

Even with good intentions on both sides, many partnerships break down because:

• No one agrees on how feedback should be given
• One person shows up late or unprepared
• The skill gap is too wide
• Or the session feels like a checklist, not a chance to improve

None of this means the platforms are bad.

But they aren’t built to screen for quality, or to teach people how to be good partners.

So if you’re relying on these spaces, expect to spend extra time filtering, rotating, and recovering from weak sessions. 

That’s normal. 

But it’s also why many people burn out or lose confidence midway through prep.

What to Include in Your Outreach Message

Once you’re ready to look beyond your immediate network, you’ll need to message potential partners.

This is where most people overthink it.

You don’t need a perfect pitch. You just need to be clear, consistent, and honest about where you are in your prep.

Here’s a simple format that tends to work:

Here’s a basic format:

Hi [Name],

I’m currently preparing for [McKinsey / Bain / BCG / generalist consulting] and looking to practice 3–4 times per week.

I’m at an intermediate level (comfortable with structures, working on math speed), based in [time zone], and always open to feedback.

Let me know if you’d be open to a session this week or next.

You don’t need to sell yourself, just signal you’re serious.

The right partner will pick up on that and respond.

Even then, expect hit-or-miss replies. It’s part of this filtering.

In more structured programs like those we have at High Bridge Academy. People don’t just show up randomly. There’s a shared expectation for preparation, feedback, and growth.

That’s the gap most people don’t see. 

How to Evaluate Quickly if It’s a Good Fit

Not every partner you meet will be the right long-term match. That’s normal. 

But you’ll save time if you look for alignment in the first 1–2 sessions.

Ask yourself:

• Did they show up on time and prepared?
• Did they give structured feedback?
• Was the energy collaborative, not performative or competitive?
• Did I walk away with 1–2 things I can work on?

If yes, great, keep going. If not, it’s okay to move on. 

It’s better to rotate early than stay locked into low-growth sessions.

You need 1–2 consistent, coachable ones who help you improve over time.

Now, let’s see how you can structure sessions, track progress, and give feedback that leads to real improvement.

How to Structure Case Sessions for Consistent Progress

A lot of candidates burn out from doing back-to-back cases without clear goals, without feedback, and without any system for tracking what’s working.

That’s avoidable.

Here’s how to structure your sessions and help you improve week by week.

1. Set Expectations Before the First Session

The fastest way to derail a partnership is misalignment on time commitment, goals, or feedback style.

Before your first session, agree on a few basics:

• How often do you want to case? (2x a week? Daily?)
• What’s the goal for these sessions? (Speed? Structure? Feedback?)
• How do you like feedback? (During the case? At the end? Written?)

Quick Tip: You only need an honest conversation. It saves a lot of confusion later.

2. Use a Simple Format That Encourages Focus and Feedback

In most cases, a clear and consistent structure leads to better outcomes than over-engineering the process.

Here’s a format that works well:

Part	Duration	Purpose
Warm-up & alignment	5 mins	Quick check-in, today’s focus
Case session	30–40 mins	Full mock interview
Feedback & recap	10–15 mins	What went well, what to improve

Optional: switch roles and repeat if you have time.

This helps you avoid the “we talked for an hour, but I’m not sure what I learned” feeling that derails many prep sessions.

3. Give and Receive Better Feedback

The feedback portion is where most of the value comes from, but only if it’s clear and actionable.

Encourage your partner to focus on:

• One thing that went well
• One thing that could improve
• A concrete suggestion (not just “be faster,” but how to be faster)

Do the same when giving feedback. Structured, specific notes are far more helpful than general impressions.

If helpful, you can even track recurring themes across sessions like “rushed conclusions,” “missed math logic,” “incomplete structures,” and set personal improvement goals based on them.

4. Review Progress Every 1–2 Weeks

One of the simplest habits that separates high performers is reflection.

Every few sessions, take 15–20 minutes to ask:

• What patterns are improving?
• What mistakes keep repeating?
• Are these sessions helping me hit my goals?
• Do I need a new partner to push a different skill?

This helps you avoid flatlining. You’ll notice progress faster and correct course before you lose time.

What to Do When Practice Sessions Aren’t Helping 

Some sessions will feel flat. Others might lose momentum after a few tries. 

What matters is knowing when to adjust and how to keep your prep moving forward.

If sessions feel unstructured, overly critical, or simply unhelpful, it may be time to step back and reassess. A few common signs:

• The session ends without clear takeaways
• Feedback is vague, too harsh, or missing altogether
• One person dominates the session, while the other disengages
• There’s no sense of rhythm or mutual focus

In these cases, it’s better to pivot early than to stay stuck. 

A short, respectful message is enough:

“Thanks again for the sessions. I’m shifting my prep style a bit and exploring other formats. Wishing you the best with your interviews.”

If your primary partner drops off, keep a slight rotation of others, two to three is ideal. 

This provides variety without compromising structure. 

One partner might be great with math. 

Another might push your creativity in structuring. 

A third might give sharp feedback. 

That kind of balance helps you grow in different ways.

There may also be times when prep occurs solo due to time zones, schedules, or your current stage in the process. 

Here are a few ways to keep momentum:

Solo Prep Strategy	How It Helps
Targeted drills (math, structuring, sizing)	Sharpens specific skills in short, focused bursts
Case walk-throughs aloud (record yourself)	Builds clarity in communication and reveals gaps in logic
Pause-and-solve with casebooks	Encourages deeper thinking at key decision points
Reflection log (track what’s improving or repeating)	Helps identify patterns and track real progress over time

When the right partners aren’t available, solo prep can help you stay sharp. 

Just make sure it’s focused. Otherwise, it becomes another hour spent spinning in circles.

Case Practice Works, But Only If the Setup Does

Most candidates already know they need to practice. What they miss is how much of that time gets wasted, doing cases with the wrong people, in the wrong setup, without realizing it.

The right case partner can make the difference between repeating the same mistakes for weeks… and finally unlocking the habits that lead to offers.

To recap:

• A strong partner is prepared, engaged, and gives clear feedback
• Small, consistent circles work better than a large network
• Structured sessions lead to more focused improvement
• Course-correct early if the partnership isn’t helping
• Solo prep works  when it’s intentional and targeted

If you’re starting your partner search, High Bridge Academy can help you skip the trial and error. The structure is already in place with trained partners, clear standards, and sessions that are built to move you forward.

Better prep starts with better structure.