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In this episode of Recruiting Reality Check, Katie Neff and Japheth Mast break down the real story of “PhD Phil” – a brilliant advanced degree candidate targeting consulting bridge programs who’s fallen into a common trap: confusing reading with readiness.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why reading case books creates false confidence
- The 3 pieces of the case prep puzzle (theory, practice, feedback)
- Why smart candidates still struggle without real application
- What effective case prep actually looks like for PhDs and other APDs
Want help like Phil is getting?
The February Black Belt cohort closes Tuesday, February 10 (limited spots). Learn more and join.
Additional Resources:
Chapters:
- 01:34 – Meet PhD Phil and bridge program recruiting
- 03:00 – How bridge programs actually work (and why they’re competitive)
- 04:22 – The “reading = readiness” illusion
- 06:25 – The 3 pieces of the case prep puzzle
- 07:32 – Building business acumen as a PhD
- 08:49 – Why drills matter more than more cases
- 10:59 – The role of feedback, coaches, and blind spots
- 12:58 – A tale of two PhDs (start early or miss out)
- 14:12 – Black Belt support for APD candidates
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