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20 May 2021, 01:25
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Hey everyone, welcome!
This forum thread is an extension of our super-active Masters applicants’ chat group, home to 350+ members who connect daily on GMAT Club. We share application updates, tips, successes and yes, the occasional stress and chaos of the process!
If you’re applying (or have already applied) to Master’s programs, you definitely don’t want to miss being part of this vibrant community
Come, join us by clicking this link.
This forum thread is an extension of our super-active Masters applicants’ chat group, home to 350+ members who connect daily on GMAT Club. We share application updates, tips, successes and yes, the occasional stress and chaos of the process!
If you’re applying (or have already applied) to Master’s programs, you definitely don’t want to miss being part of this vibrant community
Come, join us by clicking this link.
17 Jul 2026, 23:45
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Hey princesshbs,
Great question, and I am really glad someone asked this. I am certain good answers to this question could benefit THOUSANDs of applicants (if not more), and will remain relevant for years to come.
1. Experience
Having evaluated applications for over a decade usually builds pattern recognition and nuances, skills that are absolutely necessary for reliable admissions judgment by Consultants. Those consultants who tout their qualifications PURELY on being an Alum of XYZ program, esp novices lack the scale that helps them with judgment that comes from experience. For their own application, they may have written an impressive application that fit their profile, or their profile may have worked to get them admits. However, would they know what would work in YOUR case? When assessing if your cconsultant would be able to help shine YOUR profile, ask them number of applications they may have individually worked on (not the entire firm, but individually). Vague answers should be a clear indication for you to stay away.
2. Would they be willing to connect you to their ex-clients?
Think about Top Schools. None of them have "testimonials" from behind opaque walls. They usually have ambassadors, who are easy to connect with. And that is BESIDES the large number of alumni from that school you can easily reach out to. Now apply the same logic to Admission Consultants.
Consultants wanting to keep their reviews "vague" and opaque, will talk about their "testimonials" or reviews, but how transparent are they about these testimonials, and on who left these reviews? If those clients who have written big sounding words in testimonials really mean what they say, logically, at least a few of them would be willing and available to talk to potential clients.
Early on, instead of hinding behind fake reviews or testimonials, I have requested my clients to write public recommendations on LinkedIn, where anyone going through those recommendations, is also able to see their entire backgrounds, career trajectories, and demographies to understand (in ex-clients' own words), whether I would be a consultant who the potentials would want to work with me on their applications. For those of my clients who have strongly wanted to recommend me, but have wanted to avoid the public glare, have still given me ALL 5 Star ratings via recommending me anonymously on gmatclub.com/reviews/admissions_consultants/?/bala-bal-krishna-shukla/
Thus, every single one of my recommendations are ALL reachable, and public. Of course the bragging rights to having the HIGHEST number of public recommendations on my LinkedIn (for my INDIVIDUAL services) makes me proud, and even more passionate about my work.
3. Process followed:
Does the Consultant understand the most effective flow for the Applications?
For example a consultant who works with you on the essays and LORs too early would miss aligning your application with your career goals, even if they help you design super strong essays. Or they may get your LORs to project you as super achiever Type A aggressive personality type, when the school you apply for seeks a team-worker, who is passionate about enriching the community.
4. Do you get to speak to (and ask your questions to) the consultant you would work with. (Hint: If not, you are likely buying a pitch by the salesperson)
If you decide to trust a confident sales pitch, you would likely work with an unknown low-level employee (possibly an English Graduate or AI worker) with your career dreams. If you get to SPEAK to the consultant you would be working with however, you would be able to ask and understand the expertise of the consultant in mentoring you on the path.
5. Prices
Many value for money applicants prioritise low prices over everything else. If you are looking to do your graduate studies, and understand how to calculate ROI, try and imagine what situation would you prefer:
A. Consultant A who charges US$4.5K (Approx INR 450K) but gets you 3 admissions on average to your top schools, and $120K in individual scholarships (approx 450K in cumulative schoalrships).
B. Consultant B who charges US$850 (Approx INR 80K) but pushes you for much lower rank schools, often with ZERO scholarships.
6. Size (frequently, but not always)
Finally, and this is not always true but large firms often mandate specific structures, which don't allow individual consultants to customize processes to individual clients per stories. The English language calls it "Cookie Cutter profiling". Very small companies or individuals however, customize their mentorship to different clients' lives.
Frequently, there are also large firms where different parts of the applications are addressed by different experts. In theory, it seems productive if Miss P sharpens your Resume, Mr. Q works with you on your LOR, and a 3rd works on your essays. Practically speaking however, none of these experts know "your" story, and you often become a piece of dough, passed around from machine to machine, until you are baked into a cookie, like many others before (and after) you.
DISCLAIMER: A Yale SOM grad of 2005, I have been an Admissions Consultant, professionally in this space for 12+ years, with large cookie-cutter firms, then the most successful firm (worlwide), and a small firm in India, before starting my own one-person consulting firm. Views in the above answer may have biases resulting from my experience.
Hope that helps. For a Free Assessment over a 1:1 call, please submit your profile https://theivyleagueedge.com/index.php/contactus/
_________________
Bala
1. WORLD'S MOST recommended Admissions Consultant on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/balkrishna/
2. 100% 5-Star Reviews on PoetsandQuants
Poetsandquants(dot)com/consultant/bala-bal-krishna-shukla/
Great question, and I am really glad someone asked this. I am certain good answers to this question could benefit THOUSANDs of applicants (if not more), and will remain relevant for years to come.
1. Experience
Having evaluated applications for over a decade usually builds pattern recognition and nuances, skills that are absolutely necessary for reliable admissions judgment by Consultants. Those consultants who tout their qualifications PURELY on being an Alum of XYZ program, esp novices lack the scale that helps them with judgment that comes from experience. For their own application, they may have written an impressive application that fit their profile, or their profile may have worked to get them admits. However, would they know what would work in YOUR case? When assessing if your cconsultant would be able to help shine YOUR profile, ask them number of applications they may have individually worked on (not the entire firm, but individually). Vague answers should be a clear indication for you to stay away.
2. Would they be willing to connect you to their ex-clients?
Think about Top Schools. None of them have "testimonials" from behind opaque walls. They usually have ambassadors, who are easy to connect with. And that is BESIDES the large number of alumni from that school you can easily reach out to. Now apply the same logic to Admission Consultants.
Consultants wanting to keep their reviews "vague" and opaque, will talk about their "testimonials" or reviews, but how transparent are they about these testimonials, and on who left these reviews? If those clients who have written big sounding words in testimonials really mean what they say, logically, at least a few of them would be willing and available to talk to potential clients.
Early on, instead of hinding behind fake reviews or testimonials, I have requested my clients to write public recommendations on LinkedIn, where anyone going through those recommendations, is also able to see their entire backgrounds, career trajectories, and demographies to understand (in ex-clients' own words), whether I would be a consultant who the potentials would want to work with me on their applications. For those of my clients who have strongly wanted to recommend me, but have wanted to avoid the public glare, have still given me ALL 5 Star ratings via recommending me anonymously on gmatclub.com/reviews/admissions_consultants/?/bala-bal-krishna-shukla/
Thus, every single one of my recommendations are ALL reachable, and public. Of course the bragging rights to having the HIGHEST number of public recommendations on my LinkedIn (for my INDIVIDUAL services) makes me proud, and even more passionate about my work.
3. Process followed:
Does the Consultant understand the most effective flow for the Applications?
For example a consultant who works with you on the essays and LORs too early would miss aligning your application with your career goals, even if they help you design super strong essays. Or they may get your LORs to project you as super achiever Type A aggressive personality type, when the school you apply for seeks a team-worker, who is passionate about enriching the community.
4. Do you get to speak to (and ask your questions to) the consultant you would work with. (Hint: If not, you are likely buying a pitch by the salesperson)
If you decide to trust a confident sales pitch, you would likely work with an unknown low-level employee (possibly an English Graduate or AI worker) with your career dreams. If you get to SPEAK to the consultant you would be working with however, you would be able to ask and understand the expertise of the consultant in mentoring you on the path.
5. Prices
Many value for money applicants prioritise low prices over everything else. If you are looking to do your graduate studies, and understand how to calculate ROI, try and imagine what situation would you prefer:
A. Consultant A who charges US$4.5K (Approx INR 450K) but gets you 3 admissions on average to your top schools, and $120K in individual scholarships (approx 450K in cumulative schoalrships).
B. Consultant B who charges US$850 (Approx INR 80K) but pushes you for much lower rank schools, often with ZERO scholarships.
6. Size (frequently, but not always)
Finally, and this is not always true but large firms often mandate specific structures, which don't allow individual consultants to customize processes to individual clients per stories. The English language calls it "Cookie Cutter profiling". Very small companies or individuals however, customize their mentorship to different clients' lives.
Frequently, there are also large firms where different parts of the applications are addressed by different experts. In theory, it seems productive if Miss P sharpens your Resume, Mr. Q works with you on your LOR, and a 3rd works on your essays. Practically speaking however, none of these experts know "your" story, and you often become a piece of dough, passed around from machine to machine, until you are baked into a cookie, like many others before (and after) you.
DISCLAIMER: A Yale SOM grad of 2005, I have been an Admissions Consultant, professionally in this space for 12+ years, with large cookie-cutter firms, then the most successful firm (worlwide), and a small firm in India, before starting my own one-person consulting firm. Views in the above answer may have biases resulting from my experience.
Hope that helps. For a Free Assessment over a 1:1 call, please submit your profile https://theivyleagueedge.com/index.php/contactus/
_________________
Bala
1. WORLD'S MOST recommended Admissions Consultant on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/balkrishna/
2. 100% 5-Star Reviews on PoetsandQuants
Poetsandquants(dot)com/consultant/bala-bal-krishna-shukla/
princesshbs
19 Jul 2026, 21:38
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi everyone!
If you’re planning to study in the UK, we at UniAdvise have created a free UK Student Guide with practical insider tips on everything from accommodation and banking to budgeting and settling in.
Simply fill out the Google Form below, and the guide will be sent to you automatically. Hope it helps make your move to the UK a little easier! 🇬🇧
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1AeZzxr ... ested=true
If you’re planning to study in the UK, we at UniAdvise have created a free UK Student Guide with practical insider tips on everything from accommodation and banking to budgeting and settling in.
Simply fill out the Google Form below, and the guide will be sent to you automatically. Hope it helps make your move to the UK a little easier! 🇬🇧
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1AeZzxr ... ested=true
