Admissions Consulting - Worth the money?

Just wanted to throw this question out there. Is it worth paying the money for admissions consultant if I am shooting for top 10 MBA schools? Any experiences with or recommendations for an admission consultant would be greatly appreciated!

No

If you are making tons of money and have little time (aka if you are an investment banker in the year 2007) then I can see how they would be useful. But if you have access to a forum like this one and do your research I don't think you need one.

my thoughts exactly. Get your friends (preferably ones that know you but not THAT well) to proofread your essays, most will be happy to in exchange for a beer or 2. The only other case I could think of where it'd be worth it would be if English is not your first language and you could use some serious help / direction to write some good essays. Which would, even then, only get you as far as the interview. You're going to have to go it alone eventually.

I have a different opinion.

If you expect someone to write your essay for you or prepare your application, than Admission Consultants are probably not going to solve your problem.

If, on the other hand you do not have someone who is candid, will critique your work honestly and will put in the hours necessary to read and re-read; or you are applying to schools where you cannot afford to make a mistake (because you are a stretch applicant), I think having an admission consultant help can definitely be worth the money.

At the end of the day, you can read through these forums day and night, but you will never know the business as well as a professional. Having someone who has been a member of the admissions committee in a leading school on your side will keep you "coloring inside the lines".

You are going to be spending a LOT of money on the MBA process. If you feel you need the support, I would check which one is most recommended and try him/her out for one school.

Depends how prepared you are.

The GMAT club will help you a long way, coupled with self research, should typically be enough.

Great counter opinion Gil +1

Thanks:)

I think part of the problem for some applicants is that, being very talented people who have been at the top at most of the things they've done, they naturally assume that they are also good writers.

Unfortunately, that is not always the case - especially when we are granted very limited space and need to answer complicated, structured questions. Think of how much information you have to condense into some of the tougher questions (HBS' 3 accomplishment question in 600 words comes to mind). You need to make every word count and you need to avoid run on sentences or anything that is not related to the question.

I used to be a professional writer (working as a reporter and editor). When I sent my answers to my brother who has an MBA from Chicago GSB, he sent them back to me completely crossed out. It took me several angry days of denial to realize he was right - I was way off. I didn't answer the question - I answered what I wanted to write. He kept harrassing me until the essay answered the question completely.

If you don't have someone like that in your life, I would definitely consider using the services of an expert. You will when you are CEO of a company and need expertise in a certain field. So why not now?

I think there's also a risk to using people you have personal relationships with. My girlfriend, for example, won't read my essays because she can't handle the pressure. She's afraid she'll mess up my life if she tells me to make the wrong changes. I think having a professional is good because professional relationships make criticism a bit easier in a lot of cases. Some of the questions are really difficult or personal and when you feel attached to some part of it and then someone wants you to change it it can put some tension in a relationship.

I think consultants can be very helpful - if you are willing to put the work in as well.

I worked with Dan from MBAExchange, and found his service to be extremely valuable. He provided very good edits to my essays, and helped me position my candidacy (a bit atypical) in a good light. Now, the real value will be determined if I get accepted, but I certainly think I put the right foot forward.

PM me if you have any specific questions.

~Sam

Could not agree more! My GF read one of my essays, didn't like it and suggested I rewrite it on a different topic. Needless to say, I was NOT a happy camper. If I had gotten that advice from a professional, I wouldn't have been happy, but I would have been less reluctant to accept the critique.

I also worked with a professional on my first application. I really just wanted to make sure I was on the right track for my essays. She was extremely nice and knowledgeable. Don't get me wrong, it was expensive, but it was worth it to me to know that my essay was approved by someone who had a lot more experience with this process than me.

If anyone is looking for a recommendation, PM me.

I agree, a professional can definitely add value to your essays that a friend/relative cannot. They can provide perspective as someone who doesn't know you (just like an adcom will not) and as someone who knows the admissions process. I actually had the opposite problem where my wife loved everything about my essays even in 1st drafts...

I think that if someone doesn't have access to someone familiar with b-schools essays to review their essays, or doesn't feel confident in their writing abilities, a consultant is probably worth the money, at least for the first set of essays.

I put together a set of essays for my first school, then sent it to my friend who got accepted at a top 10 school and he tore my essays apart. Looking back, I can honestly say they were absolute crap. Nice essays to read, but sorely lacking in the kind of information b-schools look for.

RF

Very useful information, thanks all!

For those who hired a consultant, what type of service did you use - I noticed they have different packages (hourly, two-schools, three-schools, etc.) and which one you find most helpful?

If you don't have that buddy with b-school experience to review your apps, check out our website: http://www.MBAvolunteers.org. We're current or former MBAs happy to tear apart your essays (unless they are actually good). Unlike consultants, we only require that you donate to a non-profit.

I would think if you don't have anyone with MBA exp to help, and you can afford the consulting fee, go for it. It definite helps (but need to choose the service wisely).
I only have a friend in BBA helping to proofread the essays coz the $$ is substantial for me (need to save for my 2 yrs if I can get thru also since I am not from IB =)), but that all I can afford. Life still goes on as it must be phww

I'd be interested to see the GMAT clubbers success rate with consultants.

For those that used consultants:

% of interview invite
% of acceptance

We won't know until 2009 but it would be interesting to track

I did one of those free initial consults with one admissions firm a few months back. The response that I received can be at best be described as pitiful. It was poorly written, overly repetitive (they hit 'copy paste' a few too many times), and at one point they offered to set me up with a gmat tutor, even though I got a 730, information that was included in what I initially provided them. As I told them (they followed up several times asking me to sign up), if that's the lax standards that they provide when trying to sell me something I couldn't imagine the poor quality that I'd receive after I coughed up the money.

So for those considering a admissions consultant, what good ones are out there?

I assume Alex's MBA Apply is up there. I've heard good things about Stacey Blackman Consulting. What about Veritas Prep? Finally, what about HBS Guru? I've heard amazing things regarding HBS Guru, but that seems to be more focused on the essays.

I assume that the biggest help a consultant can provide is with the essays, and for those, I figure HBS Guru would be the best option?

Here is a good post to consider - a long one though.
http://www.geekmba360.com/?p=725