Why am I not surprised. Several universities were being investigated by some State Attorneys General because financial aid officers at these schools were cozying up to certain student loan lenders and driving business towards them by unofficially "recommending" these lenders to unsuspecting students. The financial aid officers received fully paid vacations, gifts etc. from the lenders in return for their "services." Why should ad coms be any different?

If you look at most admissions committees, several officers are just there because they have risen through the ranks of university administration etc. and don't have a lot of "professional business" experience that would really make them qualified to oversee MBA admissions. For instance, I have always (innocently!) wondered how an opera singer with a degree in music gets into supervising MBA admissions in the first place?

For a lot of university staff, a little moonlighting on the side could mean a lot of extra cash for minimal effort. Especially in a lucrative "career" such as that of admissions consulting with a huge, ready and for the most part, captive market.

LOL! I knew that Joe Smith was up to no good. Can never trust him...
_________________

****************************
GMAT Club Knowledge Vault:
http://gmatclub.com/forum/123
Haas Ambassador
http://gmatclub.com/forum/128-t62555
Kryzak's Profile:
http://gmatclub.com/forum/111-t56286
Member Essays:
http://gmatclub.com/forum/103-t50969

At least I am not surprised.

It is accpeted practice that almost all the top school adcom officers join or start an admission consultancy. That is a reason, IMHO, they put such stress on essays, because that is the only subjective part in the whole application, and it is primariily because of essays these consulting companies survive.

So, it is not surpirsing if some officers are trying to get ahead of the curve and preparing there post-retirement sinecure before even that market gets crowded.

Are you kidding...you do realize that the top consultants are tight with adcoms. A lot of former adcoms go to work for them since they probably get a hefty pay raise. Its all a scam, they are just "networking" with the consultants. Heck, sandy made a post about having a meeting with other elite consultants at Tuck with adcoms from top schools discussing the state of b-school admissions.

Many of the people who use consultants have lots money and come from stellar backgrounds, they are getting into schools anyways. It just makes it easier for the schools to ensure these people dont slip through the cracks and get dinged.

That said there is a huge drop off between the elite consultants and the rest. Not in price but in what they really can tell you. However, if you hire sandy's company chances are unless you are some superstar you are getting pawned off on one of his minions. He is too busy posting on BW anyways for your paltry 4K or whatever it is to really get him involved.

I hear that Joe Smith cat is a god with applications.
_________________

Kellogg Class of 2010...still active and willing to help. However, I do not do profile reviews, don't offer predictions on chances and am far to busy to review essays, so save the energy of writing me a PM seeking help for these. If I don't respond to a PM that is not one of the previously mentioned trash can destined messages, please don't take it personally I get so many messages I have a hard to responding to most. The more interesting, compelling, or humorous you message the more likely I am to respond.
Find out what's new at GMAT Club - latest features and updates

33% still far exceeeds the norm for ultra elites. Personally I think its his big mouth not application abilities that negatively affects results.


_________________

Kellogg Class of 2010...still active and willing to help. However, I do not do profile reviews, don't offer predictions on chances and am far to busy to review essays, so save the energy of writing me a PM seeking help for these. If I don't respond to a PM that is not one of the previously mentioned trash can destined messages, please don't take it personally I get so many messages I have a hard to responding to most. The more interesting, compelling, or humorous you message the more likely I am to respond.
Find out what's new at GMAT Club - latest features and updates

Kry, I think Joe Smith will be spending this weekend at Bernie's.
_________________

Kellogg Class of 2010...still active and willing to help. However, I do not do profile reviews, don't offer predictions on chances and am far to busy to review essays, so save the energy of writing me a PM seeking help for these. If I don't respond to a PM that is not one of the previously mentioned trash can destined messages, please don't take it personally I get so many messages I have a hard to responding to most. The more interesting, compelling, or humorous you message the more likely I am to respond.
Find out what's new at GMAT Club - latest features and updates