All-Access Initiative

As part of our broader effort to increase diversity in the field of economics, CRA has partnered with Howard University in Washington, D.C., to support the school’s American Economic Association (AEA) summer program. The purpose of this program is to give scholars real-world knowledge of applied research while helping diversify the pipeline.

CRA hosts AEA scholars each year at our office in Washington, D.C., where they complete an immersive eight-week internship within one of our many practice areas at CRA, learning from some of the very best minds in the industry.

Founded in 1994, KIPP is a network of free, open-enrollment college-preparatory schools located in low-income communities across the nation—including one just outside of Boston.

Our partnership with KIPP MA includes a half-day corporate tour and visit of our Boston headquarters and is designed to give KIPP high-school students an opportunity to spend time at our office and experience what it is like to work in a corporate setting at a global professional services firm: interacting with CRA leaders and analysts; and learning more about what it takes to pursue a career in consulting.

We also offer paid summer internships to high-school seniors who are college-bound and are considering a degree in economics and interested in a career in consulting. Eligible students go through a full interview process, with chosen candidates spending part of the summer at CRA’s Boston office working within one of corporate departments.

In the years ahead, our plan is to engage with KIPP schools in other cities across the country and empower as many students as possible.

Our All-Access Scholarship Program was created to help diversify the fields of Business, Economics, and STEM, with a focus on supporting female students, as well as those from underrepresented or socioeconomically challenging backgrounds, as they pursue careers in their chosen fields.

Each year, the program will award scholarships to 12 deserving students at universities across the US and UK. It is yet another way we are working to make the talent pipeline in our industry more diverse, more equitable, and more inclusive—while identifying potential future talent for our growing firm.

We are proud to partner with Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO London), an organization that offers educational, training and mentoring support to young people from underrepresented backgrounds in the U.K. The goal of this initiative is to help attract more diverse students to the field of consulting, particularly in the economics and financial services sectors.

As part of the partnership, students throughout the U.K. are invited to participate in a virtual “Masterclass.” The presentation allows students to take a deep dive into the culture and career opportunities of our firm and what their personal career trajectory might look like. In the Fall, we participate in a “Autumn Consulting Panel” designed to provide useful insights into the world of consulting, helping students prepare for internships, postgraduate studies, or how to launch their careers. To date, hundreds of students have participated across both events.

In addition, in collaboration with the SEO-London team, we are developing a new program that will provide training through CRA’s Tech Labs, giving participants the technical skills they need to be successful in an economics-consulting role, along with in-person networking experiences in our London and Cambridge offices in the U.K.

QuestBridge connects students from underrepresented backgrounds with educational opportunities at colleges and universities throughout the U.S., including some of the most prestigious schools in the country. Through a combination of scholarships and year-round support, this amazing organization seeks to give talented low-income students the tools and resources they need to succeed, both in the classroom and beyond.

We work closely with the national QuestBridge organization to identify scholars for internship opportunities at CRA. For example, our Research Scholar Summer Internship Program offers rising juniors a unique opportunity to learn more about the world of consulting.

Our goal is twofold: to identify dynamic talent at universities across the country and give them opportunities to hone their skills; and to diversify the talent pipeline.