2012dreams wrote:
how do you know when to trust the advice of a consultant or how to find a reputable consultant? i emailed a few of them my profile and target schools and all had the same cookie cutter answer - "these are great choices, you have a good profile, you should definitely get in, etc. etc.", i didn't get any type of hesitation or constructive criticism that made me feel like these people were actually interested in telling me the truth versus simply hoping i'd sign on with them.
@bipolarbear and @2012dreams - you're both totally right. I spoke to 3 agencies and they all gave me very positive feedback about how I had a really good shot. I since emailed hbsguru and he told me my chances at HBS and Stanford are pretty low unless I can come up with a very compelling story. I feel his advice was more honest and in line with what I've been hearing top schools expect in an applicant.
That's not to say his services will be the right fit for me. I need to do more research... But it seems like a good option so far.