"Best" admission consulting companies?

Think Vibranture might be helpful(Though i have never used 'em)

Any reviews for Vocaz ... for engineers ?

mundasingh123,
I worked with Vocaz on my MBA application (got into Sloan). I found them to be very responsive and professional which is very important for an admission consultant. They have a very structured process that incorporates feedback from recent alumni of the top schools. I decided to work them since they have expertise with engineering-background candidates, and they really did a great job helping me show that my background is relevant for business and to differentiate myself from other engineers.

The only issue with consulting companies is the high cost but it can usually be addressed by special programs/packages that they offer.

Overall I would highly recommend working with Vocaz.

MBAapply.com Alex Chu's review
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I just received a school decision so I can contribute to the forum by sharing my feedback on working with MBAapply.com guru Alex Chu.
A year ago, when I started an MBA saga, I was reading all available materials on the MBA program and the application process. Thus I came across Alex’s book "The MBA Field Guide" that literary covers all aspects of MBA application (by depth/quality of material I can only compare it with Rhyme’s guides). Later on I read his posts on the forum and came across his video advices on who to blow an interview http://mbaapply.com/interviewdonts.htm, so Alex appeared on my radar. Once I dealt with the GMAT, I looked for a consultant to help shape my essays (I had plenty of ideas/material, but vague understanding of the structure/selling points).

So, why Alex?
Uprightness/Integrity
First, I read this thread, shortlisted some names and then asked for free profile evaluation with four or five other companies. I was looking for an expert who can assist rather than milk me. Thus I immideately dropped all the companies offering crazy sliding schemes (pay for eight - get ten etc) – IMHO that makes no sense! If you are looking for specific experience and opportunities, you probably can shorlist three-four schools MAXIMUM! If your school list is more than four names, you are going after a diploma, not after knowledge/experience. Also, gone were the companies that work with fixed hours allocation as I had no idea how much time I would actually spend. I also deselected all canned evaluation replies. That is not serious: the cost of consulting is USD 2-3-xk and in many cases the only 'test' option for us to judge consultants is a profile evaluation. With such approach, I narrowed down my list to Alex and Avi Gordon (who wrote an excellent book on building your profile). Since Avi was on vacation and I really liked Alex's replies, I started with Alex.

Individual approach
Probably the only canned stuff I received from Alex was questionnaire. Apart from it Alex’s replies were up to MY points, customized and written in my language (in his explanations he would refer to realities of Europe where I live, not those of California where he lives)

Quality and patience
It probably took AT LEAST A DOZEN of iterations to get right my goal essay (I could not shape my ideas well enough). Alex patiently checked my corrections and reverted with advices. Note he won’t write stuff for you, but will explain what you need to think about, what will be better selling points and why. Response time was like 12 hours or sometimes even 2-3hr (Alex, do you have a life?

Fun
Alex has a very smart and often funny way of communicating, so you won’t be bored with "one size fits all" vague advices (‘be yourself’). In addition to application questions, I asked him on a lot of other related topics (job prospects etc) and received EXCELLENT advices that answered my points and also triggered some thinking.

Things to consider:

I worked with Alex via email. I don’t know whether it is his policy, but eventually I understand it is probably better than Skype – I have all valuable info stored in my mailbox and can access it anytime.

Unlike other consultants who advertise they will load you with schedules and be pushy, Alex won’t be kicking your a… (or maybe I was too fast working weeks before deadlines). IMHO, that is a personal choice – I think MBA students are adults who can manage their lives and don’t need a babysitter reminding ‘’it’s time to drink your glass of milk and submit that Harvard application’.

Results: INSEAD - accepted (prepared essays, CV with Alex; interviews - myself). Ross - interviewed and waiting (all prepared myself using experience working with Alex).

I wanted to advise all clients thinking about working with Stratus Prep to contact me via PM. I have had a VERY stressful experience working with them on my MBA applications and believe that it is necessary for prospective clients to listen to my feedback before investing thousands of dollars in your future on this admissions consulting company. I am not advocating any other company or consultant service, and would not like to get into all the intricate details of my experience on this forum publicly (I will be more than happy to discuss privately), however, I do want to advise other prospective clients what to expect.

I sincerely wish you all the best of luck of choosing an admissions consultant. I hope that you all do not have a stressful experience working with your consultant.

Moderator: WARNING! First post. Low credibility.

Hi all,

I recently wrapped up R1 after working with Adam at Amerasia and also did initial consultations with 7 or 8 other consultants. Feel free to PM me with any questions!

Thanks

Still waiting for my phone call-not sure why its taking so long.. meh :/

Still beaming over the news of my acceptance !! Wow this feels great! In the spirit of the holidays, I'm gonna do a little giving of my own & give a review of the consultant I used: Sandy Kreisberg.

Before I started my app I realized I needed a consultant. I was so far behind the game when compared to the info those at prestigious firms and schools had gotten. I did NOT know how to present myself best to the bschools adcoms.

After calling a bunch of consultant with cheesy lines who all sounded the same (for those people who watch Entourage-it was exactly like when Vince was shopping for a new agent after he fired Ari-just way less glamorous). My call with Sandy was different. At first I told him my stats and my version of the story I would apply with-which he dismissed as mediocre. Instead he had me tell him EVERYTHING I had done since the start of college. The best way to describe him is like a bloodhound-he listened to everything, and sniffed out the stuff which I had assumed as ordinary, but in reality were impressive and the info that needed to be presented to the adcoms.

I came to him with a mess of a story, and left with a solid picture and message. The rest of the process was tailoring this story to make it uber crisp and clear.

He also served as a bit of a stress relief which I really needed. He has his own info and stats of bschool acceptances over the past 10+ years based off his clients and others, and also a significant portion of the applicants who interview at the top school use him, so by interview time he had an even better idea of where I stood. Whenever I worked myself up too much-I shot him an email with a nervous question-and he responded with a solid email outlining where I stood and what I should be expecting going forward.

Another unintended consequence of using his service was the benefit to my job search. I've been applying to jobs for awhile, and even with my impressive experience, I didn't even get a nibble. It wasn't until AFTER we hammered out my story that I started getting callbacks. The criteria these bschools use are similar to the criteria used by the prestigious firms for interviews. I have final round interviews with XXXX, XXXX, XX (edited here) etc. all of which didn't even call me back the year before. No one has noticed this added benefit on the forum but its true and something to think about.

Can you get in without a consultant? Of course. How many other people use em? I would guess ~40-50%. At my HBS interview, about 3 out or every 4 people there had used one-but that is obv a small sample size.

Should you use a consultant? You need to decide that yourself. But considering a lot of people spend upwards of 1000$ on apps alone, and the cost of tuition-the cost of a consultant begins to seem less insane. I had to cut back a little after using his service-but it was all worth it when I got my HBS acceptance letter! My advice to you: if you're going to use a consultant, your best bet without a doubt is with Sandy. If you can only afford to pay for 1 school (like me) have him decide which school he should help you with-and ask him for general advice for the other ones. He was nice enough to give me general advice for my other apps. Book him early-cause he is in high demand and for good reason.

Well thats all from me. Good luck to everyone and happy holidays !!

Moderator: Identity checked. The user joined the club in June 2010, has more than 370 posts and owns more than 60 kudos. He got into CBS and Booth.

I am gmatclub regular, but I have decided to post this review under an anonymous username. If anyone would like to confirm my identity, or inquire further about my experience working with Amerasia, feel free to PM me.

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This is a review of my experience using Adam at Amerasia. It was a pleasure working with him…and if there was a rating system in place, I’d give him a 10/10.

Before I go into detail about my experience working with Adam, let me explain my unique background. I have an above average GPA and GMAT score, but I lacked confidence in my candidacy for three reasons. First, I’m young. I only had two years of work experience when I submitted my applications. Second, my work experience, while entrepreneurial, is very non-traditional. And finally, I had a very rocky start to undergrad. I actually failed out of school during my freshman year, and while I was able to return after one semester, it took me five years to graduate.

For these reasons, I set up an initial consultation with Adam. Our conversation lasted 1.5 hours and I took three pages of notes. There was no sales pitch; it was just a long discussion about the application process, my profile, and my concerns. I had already been told by two admission consultants that it would be difficult to get into a top program this year given my lack of work experience. Therefore, I was very surprised when Adam told me the complete opposite. He said that if I framed my unique background correctly and adequately explained why I needed an MBA right now, I shouldn’t have any trouble getting into a top program this year. I was so impressed after this phone call that I decided to pull the trigger on a three-school package.

Working with Adam in the months that followed was a great experience. During this time we exchanged literally hundreds of e-mails and spoke on the phone probably a dozen times. No matter how small, mundane, or worry-ridden my questions were, Adam would always reply promptly with a well-thought out and sincere response. If I had a question that was too complicated for email, no problem, he was always willing to speak with me over the phone. When it came time to write my essays, Adam would first send out a custom-made, comprehensive PDF document that provided insight into the school and outlined strategies for each essay. After drafting an essay, I would send it to Adam for review. He would correct any awkward sentences and add notes to the margin that would ask thought provoking questions and suggest ways to emphasize specific aspects of my background that were most relevant to what that school valued. We would rinse and repeat this process until each essay was perfect.

In addition to providing unparalleled guidance through the general application and essay writing process, Adam was a lifesaver when it came to preparing for interviews. After my first invitation to interview, he arranged an hour-long conference call just to discuss the twists and turns of the business school interview. Then, a week before each interview, I’d schedule a mock interview and feedback session with Adam or one of his colleagues. Coming from an entrepreneurial background, I don’t have much experience being the interviewee. Therefore, these mock interviews were truly invaluable.

Ultimately, what impressed me the most about Adam was how familiar he became with my profile. While he was no doubt working with a number of other applicants this season, he never forgot even the minute aspects of my story. He really did make me feel like I was his only client. In the end, I was accepted to my top two choices (both top five schools) and I couldn’t be happier! If you are considering an admission consultant, and you don’t at least arrange an initial consultation with Adam, you are doing yourself a disservice. I absolutely feel that he was worth every penny and I would recommend him to anyone.

I worked with Aringo.com and got admitted to Duke Fuqua, my first and only choice. Here is a short review:

What I liked - the service was excellent, anything I needed they came back to me in a matter of hours and the consultant was extremely professional. My consultant was very experienced and knew exactly how to extract the things from me that were the most suitable for the school. His writing skills were really great, and it transfromed my essays from mediocre to excellent.

What I didn't like - I did the work on the phone so it wasn't as comfortable as it could have been if it was face to face.

To sum up - I would rank the service 5 out of 5, and would recommend it without a doubt.

Let me know if you have any questions. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hi GMAT Club Members,

Has anyone hired Justin Pope as the MBA consultant for Round 2 applications? I have been having trouble reaching him over the last few days. I have a couple of upcoming MBA application deadlines that I need him to return the edited essays! I'll appreciate if anybody knows the current status on Justin Pope. Thanks!

Why are there no reviews of Clear Admit? From what I've seen they seem very legitimate. Has anyone used them?

I worked with Aringo for Round 2 and I have just received the interview from INSEAD and Yale.

My consultant is very experienced in professional writing and we worked on 7 schools within 2 months. I don’t think I can complete so many essays without her assistance.
In addition, Aringo is very structured. I had my main consultant to work with me for my essays and had a specialist to run a test drive for INSEAD.
One thing I like Aringo is they will not try to persuade you to buy the comprehensive package. In fact, I had the option to choose between 3, 7 or 10 hours package. I think it’s very flexible.

My rating for Aringo would be 5 out of 5.

One sharing on choosing a consultant:
You must be clear that you are still taking the main responsibility for your essays and your consultant is there to help you with the grammars, structures and make sure you answer to the question. Do not expect your consultant to write anything for you and I believe that would violate the school’s honor code as well.
I used to write long sentences and explain simple thing in a complicated way. When my consultant helped me reduce the words, she usually used my own words and structure to summarize. Besides, when she found me did not reflect enough or did not answer to the question, she would ask me questions that helps me to think more. She NEVER wrote any learning or reflections based on my story. I believe that’s very important to keep the applicant’s own voice.

Hope above information helps.

Hi all,
I am constantly moderating this thread. And I want to be crystal clear with you. There are some of feebacks posted from temporary profiles and the users claim that they are long-time members of the club, but want to stay private, providing a feedback. No problem.

Please if you wonna stay private and you are a posting from temporary profile notify me through you regular profile to let me check your identity. Otherwise I will warn all users about low credibility of feedbacks posted by fresh users.

hey, guys. i know my id looks new here. i still want to share some of my experience of my interaction with Jon Frank. i didn't use service of his company (Precision Essay), but i did get a lot of specific advise from him. and it's really helpful. a couple of weeks ago, i got an offer from one of those M7.

often, applicants get confused by so many issues. Jon Frank specifically helped me on the following quesitons: i shouldn't send additional email to explain my low GPA. how and when to invite alumini to write support letter for me. how to get off of wl...i got valuable reply.

also, i know two of my friends used PE service, and both have secured top mba offers.

Hi all, I want to share my experience with Adam from Amerasia Consulting.
I only have a 680 GMAT score, and with his help, I just recently got the interview invitation from the #1 B-school. What I like about Adam is, he actually pushed me to do a lot of work and go thru several revisions. It wasn't a easy journey (as it should not be), and the purpose of this process is to think of what I have achieved in my life, and where I want to be in the future. Adam did help me to clear up the big picture.
My experience is: because this the life I live, so I actually have no idea what to write about. What are my top three achievements? What are my setbacks? I have no clue. Adam went thru all the possible topics with me and helped me to pick - what appear the right choices now - to write about. I am not a good writer, but every step on the way, Adam always gave me warm encourages so I became more confident about my candidacy along the way.

I am very glad about the result. Will recommend him to anyone.
I know I am new here, if you have any questions, please PM me.

Any suggestions on who gives out the best mock interview prep ?

I worked with Kevin Chen from Clear Admit. His feedback is specific, thoughtful, and direct. He's not afraid to push you beyond your comfort zone--there were a few times when I got "stuck" and thought I couldn't improve my essays further, but he convinced me to re-edit them and I think they were better for it.

However, Clear Admit is very pricey (to me) and I found the response time a little slow (~24-48h, OK, maybe I'm asking alot!) relative to other consultants my friends used. It's also a very professional relationship, so don't expect him to become your confidante/best friend/FB pal/career counselor or hold your hand and make you feel better, like I've heard about other consultants. I didn't mind because that's not what I was looking for, but for someone who's looking for a little more reassurance and a gentler touch, you might want to try another firm.

Overall, I've been very satisfied. Think Kevin helped me put together a good app, fingers crossed, it'll get me past the finish line!

What I would STRONGLY recommend is getting a profile evaluation over the phone before signing up for any consultant. Be prepared with VERY specific questions about YOUR app and the schools you're interested so you can check how good their advice is. Some of the consultants I interviewed clearly hadn't bothered to read my resume before the call or were giving me super generic advice about schools ("HBS is looking for leaders"--seriously?!). That was an automatic ding on my part!

In general, how effective a consultant is depends on you. What works best is if you come prepared with an idea of your career vision, why you want an MBA, why you should be given a place, and what are your potential areas of weaknesses. Having a rough idea of your answers of these questions would give the consultant enough material to work with. You also need to be quite motivated and send your drafts regularly as well as push the consultant with questions about how you can improve, potential areas of weakness. I think that helps maximize the huge amounts you're paying!

I think the value of mock interview prep is getting a good sense of the type of questions that would be asked. So who gives the "best" mock interview prep depends on the school you're interviewing with. Find a consultant with significant experience helping applicants to your school. For example, I worked with Sandy (HBS Guru) for my HBS mock interview because of his extensive experience coaching HBS applicants. (Fingers crossed, his questions are a good reflection of what's likely to be asked!) Might not have chosen him if I were interviewing with INSEAD for example.

Now that I have a good set of questions (gleaned from Clear Admit wiki, friends who were past applicants, Sandy, etc), I'm planning to just arm-twist my good friends into practising with me. I think you just need practice to train yourself to come up with answers on the spot that:
- answers the question
- is structured and concise (not rambling, not getting lost in the weeds)
- doesn't sound like bullshit


(PS. For those who were wondering why I worked with Sandy AND Clear Admit--I engaged Sandy because I wanted an objective assessment of my app from someone who was completely unfamiliar with my app. I wanted a fresh pair of eyes to see if there's anything Clear Admit or I missed.)

For those interested in hiring a consultant, I would strongly recommend Tyler Cormney of MBA Prep School. He was punctual, honest, concise, and realistic. We spent a few months working together on applications to two Top 10 MBA Programs, and I was admitted to both programs.

I had several free ‘assessment’ calls with different consultants. I think the biggest difference that Tyler brought to the table was his crafted approach – I had the feeling on all the other initial calls that many other consultants and larger firms had a more ‘cookie-cutter’ approach. Tyler really took the time to get to know me personally and different strengths I could leverage in my application. He was very accessible throughout the process. There was a lot of prep work on my end, but as long as you put in the time and effort, Tyler will too and you will reap the benefits.

Tyler has his MBA from a top program as well as a degree in creative writing – I believe the latter helped me significantly in my essays so that they stood out from the crowd. He does not write them for you, but he provided me with great feedback – specifically, I was having trouble identifying points of differences that Adcoms would find valuable, as well as coming up with a career ‘story’ that made sense given my interests and prior work experience. Tyler was able to help me pick my best experiences and craft them into meaningful stories. He also assisted with different ways of making points so that I was able to stay within the essay length guidelines. We spent hours and hours on them and I was very happy with the result. There is NO way I would have gotten to the same final product without Tyler’s guidance.

It was a bit tough for me to digest the fee at first, but in retrospect I think the value that Tyler provided was well worth the investment. To me the biggest value-add was the essay editing. We also spent a lot of time on assessing my strengths, picking target schools, and interview and resume prep. To those applicants who are finding it difficult to come with a concrete “story” that makes sense, or who are struggling with essay writing or having issued with self-reflection, I would encourage you to try MBA Prep School.

Additionally, MBA Prep School has a comprehensive online forum with seminars and tools for everything related to MBA applications – from selecting target schools to nailing the interview, and everything in between. I believe access to this online resource can also be purchased separately from the traditional hourly or comprehensive consultant fee. This would be useful if you are a particularly strong writer or have some really concrete stories already in mind – otherwise, I would go with the comprehensive package. As I said before, it’s my opinion the biggest value-add was the essay prep and editing.

Overall, it was a great experience. My outcome was very positive as I went 2/2 on acceptances. Though even if I went 0/2, I still would have been pleased with my applications as I felt with Tyler’s help I did absolutely everything in my power to make them as strong as possible.

I’d be happy to give more feedback or advice if necessary, so feel free to PM me if you want more info.

Any feedback on Michelle Awuku Tatum from Amerasia?