MBA application process is a lengthy one, comprising several important steps, hence applicants often look to get professional help in their applications to give themselves best chances of selection and to gain a competitive advantage on their peers. There are so many admission consultants and it can be hard to choose the right consultant for you.
Who’s an admission consultant? An MBA Admission consultant can be a former member of a Bschool’s admission team, or an MBA graduate. A consultant could also be an expert of branding or marketing, with strong knowledge of Bschool admission process.
Consultants know what business schools look for in applicants. They can thoroughly analyze your profile and advise you on which schools would be suitable to you, how can you make the most of your achievements and distinctive background, which other programs should you consider, etc.
Role of admission consultants in your Applications:
MBA admission consultants offer a variety of services to MBA applicants. Their services range from simple profile assessments and business school selection assistance to complete application packages of strategy, essay editing, recommender selection, interview coaching, waitlist coaching, and rejection feedback.
They can help with technical aspects of an application’s written requirements, such as the essay and CV, as well as improving your story, conducting mock interviews, and instructing prospective MBA students on the best way to present themselves in front of a business school’s admissions team.
With most consultancies, you should be able to sign up for as little as a one-off editing service to as much as a full package that encompasses the whole process of targeting multiple schools from school selection to admittance.
How to select a consultant?
- Identify your Priorities: Figure out what you need in a consultant: Do you need help in selecting right schools? Are you uneasy about the application process, and your chances for success? Are you unsure about how to express yourself in your applications? Is there a particular weakness in your profile that you need help in overcoming?
- Research: It’s important that you conduct thorough research before selecting an MBA consultant. Most consulting firms offer free consultation session with their experts. We highly encourage you to sign up for these consultations and talk to their consultants. Try to know their consulting methods, how the whole process would work and how you would interact. Know who would be working with you and talk to that person, if possible, before finalizing the deal. AIGAC (Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants) has prepared a detailed list of questions you might consider asking of your potential consultant. https://aigac.org/for-applicants/how-to- ... onsultant/
- Consultant Reviews: GMATClub has vast collection of verified reviews of many top admission consulting companies. Be sure to go through them before selecting a consultant. https://gmatclub.com/reviews/admissions_ ... ts?fl=menu
- Some consultants offer payback (full or particle), or free subscriptions to their other services (such as rejection analysis), if you don’t get accepted to your schools. Be sure to check whether your consultant has any such offer.
- Make the Most of your Consultant: Being shy does not lead to results! If you have any concerns or if you are unhappy with the process, please communicate your concerns to your consultant clearly, directly and immediately.
Best Time to Hire a Consultant
We asked this question to Donna Bauman, admission consultant at
Stratus Prep, in our live chat session on GMATClub. According to Donna, the best time to work with an admissions consultant to start on full packages is 5-6 months ahead of application submission, as you need some time to work through your story and goals and that takes several weeks and then it takes time to apply.
How much does it cost?
This depends of the type of service or package you choose. There are variety of service options. You can choose from tactical packages, comprehensive packages, or Pay-As-You-Go plans. Comprehensive package may not suit everyone in terms of cost. If your budget is limited, consider working with the consultant thoroughly on one Bschool application, and on the others, consider working independently. After all, the work done on the first application usually builds the foundation for the subsequent university applications.
Helpful Forum Posts on Admission Consulting
Here is a comparison of school packages offered by various consulting companies. Let me know if I'm missing any companies, and I'll add them accordingly.
Note: These prices have been taken from websites of consulting companies. Many consulting companies offer special discounts to GMATClub members, so don’t forget to check out our marketplace for available discounts before selecting the admission package. Table Updated on Dec 11, 2018 |