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Apr 3009:00 PM IST
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Thinking about PE/VC? Most consultants are. Few actually make it. Learn how to position your profile, build the right skills, and break into Private Equity & Venture Capital.
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Get the inside scoop on what makes Emory’s Goizueta Business School great, learn how you can present a strong MBA application, and connect with an Admissions Director to get your questions answered.- May 01
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Get the inside scoop on what makes Emory’s Goizueta Business School great and how you can present a strong MBA application. Explore the difference between our One-Year MBA and Two-Year MBA programs, talk to our admissions team, and meet students. 
Apr 3010:00 AM EDT
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Applying to business school from a finance background? Personal MBA Coach is here to help with this quick tips video on how to set yourself apart during the MBA application process!
Apr 3010:00 AM EDT
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Sia Admissions Founder Susan Berishaj will walk through why reach/target/safety produces the wrong list for many specific profiles, how admissions committees at different programs read the same background differently, and more...
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Starting at $975 and offering up to $545 of savings, our new Amplify Hourly Packages offer structure and support in certain high-value areas (story development, resume, essays, interviewing) to help get your applications across the finish line.
May 0108:00 PM PDT
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May 0507:00 PM EDT
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In this live 60-minute masterclass, How to Get Ahead of MBA Recruiting Now, we’ll walk through the four biggest mistakes incoming MBAs make and how to avoid them so you’re not scrambling to catch up once recruiting begins.
21 Apr 2016, 11:11
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I'm going to just be very direct about this. I have pretty good stats I think for the top schools (750 GMAT first try, Big 4 accounting firm, top 10 undergrad 3.3, dual citizen U.K. / U.S., regular volunteer). I thought I'd be fine on my own - I got into a top 10 undergrad just fine. But I know a handful of other people applying this year and they have all heard from the MBAs in their offices that they should talk to a consultant. I had never heard of mba consultants (or gmatclub for that matter) (sorry) until about a month ago. Through checking-out a few websites I can't seem to figure out who really needs your services (eh hem, if I do). Can you give me a quick summary of if or how you'd help me given my stats? Would it really help improve my odds even though I don't have any glaring issues? Full disclosure - I'm posting this on a few boards here randomly. Hoping the direct approach gives me more insight than googling did. Thanks in advance for your honest advice
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21 Apr 2016, 14:05
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Honestly that's a great question, and I wish I got it more from applicants. There's a lot of confusion about what we do, so you're not alone.
I've been on both sides of the table. My co-founder and I both worked with consultants when we were applying (Kellogg and Columbia respectively), and have since made careers of it. What I've found is that if it just came down to straight scores (ie. your GPA and GMAT), then we wouldn't serve a purpose. But, there are a ton of 'super qualified' candidates with great stats, so it comes down to more than just numbers and even brands on your resume. Truly those who succeed are the people who differentiate themselves from others through their stories and vision for how an MBA from a particular school will help them accomplish their equally as interesting goals. As one data point, I worked with a top 10 consultant, great undergrad, 740 GMAT, 3.7 GPA etc applicant last year who was a reapplicant (he'd been dinged everywhere the first time around with no clear red flags on his resume save for the fact that his essays were probably the same ones anyone with his profile could have written). We spent a ton of time thinking through how to distance him from the huge category he was applying from and describe his story and goals in a way that made it clear what a unique and interesting perspective he could bring to the classroom (that other consultants with high scores couldn't). And this year he got in to four top schools...
We aren't miracle workers but our aim is to help optimize your chances. So truly, the majority of the clients I've worked with over the years have come to us because they a) want someone who knows what the adcom is looking for to help them position themselves optimally (eg. a brand developer / manager); b) are unclear on exactly what the adcom / schools want and are looking for insight from people who have done this successfully and are close to the schools (eg. a mentor); and c) simply want an unbiased perspective from someone who doesn't know them but who is 100% dedicated to helping them success (eg. a coach).
I personally was in a similar position to you. I worked for a large investment bank and felt like I was surrounded by MBAs, so why did I need to hire someone to help me? What I found is that my colleagues provided interesting opinions, but they didn't have the time to dedicate to brainstorming with me on my story ideas (and we all worked in the same industry, so getting outside of that realm wasn't always easy inside the four walls of our building). They especially didn't have time to help me think through how to pull every part of my application together in order to present a compelling "total package" with clear, concise messaging.
I know this sounds like a lot of "personal marketing", but that is truly the value that we provide for a lot of people. My job is to ensure that you are presenting your "best" (read, most unique, interesting and differentiated) self to the adcom so that you can improve your chances of admission.
So, now for Vantage Point specifically. At VP you'll have a dedicated consultant who is truly with you throughout the whole process (and has been through this process his/herself). Your consultant helps you assess your strengths and weaknesses along the dimensions of profile overall (eg. stats, career progression etc) as well as how differentiated and/or unique you are; then develop an application strategy accordingly. Taking that a step further, our process also has multiple layers including a review by a former adcom (eg. a trial run), a discussion with a post-mba professional in the field you're hoping to go into (eg. someone who has been there and can help refine your career goals - folks from McKinsey, Google, BCG, Goldman, Amazon, P&G, General Mills - you name it), and insights from current students at the schools. All of this is designed to help you to present a very well thought-out and differentiated story; no matter what your scores are.
Hope this helps a bit (and doesn't confuse you more!) Best of luck and I'm always happy to chat if you have more questions.
I've been on both sides of the table. My co-founder and I both worked with consultants when we were applying (Kellogg and Columbia respectively), and have since made careers of it. What I've found is that if it just came down to straight scores (ie. your GPA and GMAT), then we wouldn't serve a purpose. But, there are a ton of 'super qualified' candidates with great stats, so it comes down to more than just numbers and even brands on your resume. Truly those who succeed are the people who differentiate themselves from others through their stories and vision for how an MBA from a particular school will help them accomplish their equally as interesting goals. As one data point, I worked with a top 10 consultant, great undergrad, 740 GMAT, 3.7 GPA etc applicant last year who was a reapplicant (he'd been dinged everywhere the first time around with no clear red flags on his resume save for the fact that his essays were probably the same ones anyone with his profile could have written). We spent a ton of time thinking through how to distance him from the huge category he was applying from and describe his story and goals in a way that made it clear what a unique and interesting perspective he could bring to the classroom (that other consultants with high scores couldn't). And this year he got in to four top schools...
We aren't miracle workers but our aim is to help optimize your chances. So truly, the majority of the clients I've worked with over the years have come to us because they a) want someone who knows what the adcom is looking for to help them position themselves optimally (eg. a brand developer / manager); b) are unclear on exactly what the adcom / schools want and are looking for insight from people who have done this successfully and are close to the schools (eg. a mentor); and c) simply want an unbiased perspective from someone who doesn't know them but who is 100% dedicated to helping them success (eg. a coach).
I personally was in a similar position to you. I worked for a large investment bank and felt like I was surrounded by MBAs, so why did I need to hire someone to help me? What I found is that my colleagues provided interesting opinions, but they didn't have the time to dedicate to brainstorming with me on my story ideas (and we all worked in the same industry, so getting outside of that realm wasn't always easy inside the four walls of our building). They especially didn't have time to help me think through how to pull every part of my application together in order to present a compelling "total package" with clear, concise messaging.
I know this sounds like a lot of "personal marketing", but that is truly the value that we provide for a lot of people. My job is to ensure that you are presenting your "best" (read, most unique, interesting and differentiated) self to the adcom so that you can improve your chances of admission.
So, now for Vantage Point specifically. At VP you'll have a dedicated consultant who is truly with you throughout the whole process (and has been through this process his/herself). Your consultant helps you assess your strengths and weaknesses along the dimensions of profile overall (eg. stats, career progression etc) as well as how differentiated and/or unique you are; then develop an application strategy accordingly. Taking that a step further, our process also has multiple layers including a review by a former adcom (eg. a trial run), a discussion with a post-mba professional in the field you're hoping to go into (eg. someone who has been there and can help refine your career goals - folks from McKinsey, Google, BCG, Goldman, Amazon, P&G, General Mills - you name it), and insights from current students at the schools. All of this is designed to help you to present a very well thought-out and differentiated story; no matter what your scores are.
Hope this helps a bit (and doesn't confuse you more!) Best of luck and I'm always happy to chat if you have more questions.
