Best Admission Consultants for Insead & LBS?

Question

Dear All,

can anyone suggest most suited admission consultants for Insead and LBS? Or more in general, for European schools (IE, Oxford...)?

It seems to me that most of the Admission consulting firms are US-based and focused, which as a European planning to apply to Insead and LBS do not seem as the most logical choice?

Thanks in advance for any advice/tip

Admissionado · Answer

Hello hello, We have a few Euro-experts working for us (as well as graduates from INSEAD). Drop a line! https://admissionado.com/mba/free-consultation/

ARINGO · Answer

Dear Joe00,
Aringo consultants team includes several grads from top European MBA programs. They are here for you to help you get accepted!
Feel free to read our clients reviews in order to see how many of them were admitted to INSEAD & LBS: https://gmatclub.com/reviews/aringo-345345501

I'd also like to note our success rate at INSEAD:
Aringo's INSEAD's acceptance rate: 68% (141 clients applied, 97 accepted).
INSEAD acceptance rate: 33% (estimated).

Contact us today to start working on your MBA application: https://www.aringo.com/MBA_Process_Registration.htm

FreshLimeSoda · Answer

Hello folks -

I'm a current INSEAD student and I just wanted to put in a good word for Laura Freedman and Access Education (www.AccessEducation.com.sg). It was an absolute pleasure working with her during my application to the INSEAD MBA program, and I would very highly recommend her to anyone looking to hire an MBA admissions consultant.

There were three main things that stood out for me.

First, her working style. She does a wonderful job of helping you get to know yourself better so that you can craft your personal story into the most effective narrative possible, whilst maintaining your unique voice. At the same time, she is very honest and straightforward, which really helped me get a deep and realistic understanding of my profile.

Second, her knowledge about business schools (especially non-US schools, and most of all INSEAD!), their admissions processes and what they are expecting from candidates is unparalleled.

And finally, her commitment to her clients is phenomenal. At one point during the admissions process, Laura was motorcycling in Spain on holiday, but ensured that we would continue to have regular calls at times that were convenient to me, without regard to the personal inconvenience to her. It was also very clear how much she cared about my application, and her enthusiasm also served as a source of encouragement and hope during the anxious wait for responses.

Laura would be a wonderful choice for applicants to any MBA program - and if you are considering INSEAD then choosing her is a no-brainer! Please feel free to PM me with any questions.

indruze · Answer

Even though I've never actually worked with Adam Markus, I'd like to recommend him for LBS and Insead - I only had one initial phone call with him, but think that his methodics are the best for European schools and his success rate is amazing. Also, I've read everything from Adam's blog - it's an awesome source of information: https://www.adammarkus.com/blog/.

Now I'm doing the application process myself, but if I get dinged, I will definitely work with him for the next season.

iapp123 · Answer

Choosing Fortuna Admissions was one of the best choices I made during the applications process. From my very first consultation with Matt, it was clear that Fortuna was different. While most consultants I had spoken to were offering the conventional wisdom you can find online, the team at Fortuna was giving me personalized, unique advice. They were not just trying to guess what business schools were looking for. They simply knew what that was. Working with Caroline and Brittany was a pleasure and made the application process smooth, stress-free and fun. There was a clear roadmap and fast and effective feedback throughout the entire process. The team at Fortuna will spend as much time with you as you want. They will be there to answer any questions or concerns you may have. But they will not make you redraft an essay 20 times when it is not necessary. They will not make you work endless hours on stuff that does not matter or is already effectively written. They will not try to change who you are. Instead, they will focus on what is truly important and will help you turn a good application into a great one, making sure that your key strengths, experiences, accomplishments and goals are communicated to the admissions committee effectively. Especially if you are applying to INSEAD, choose Fortuna, relax and enjoy the process. And who knows, you may even get to know yourself a little bit better.

tchantchouna · Answer

Hi,

I also highly recommend Laura from Access Education. I worked with Fortuna and Laura and Access Education was by far way better and personalized. Not only I got into LBS, INSEAD and Oxford with scholarships but the prep I did with Laura also helped for job interviews during the MBA and I was able to secure offers at almost every job interview I had. We worked on essays but also on my CV and interview prep and that was the best value for money I got. If you've a good profile and are looking for a way in to an ivy school, Laura will take you in for sure and provide the better service for the money out there.

Just in case, this is Laura's website www.accesseducation.com

Good luck.

Shaggo · Answer

You really can't go wrong with Laura from Access Education. While I didn't apply for LBS or Insead, I can say that, with her help, I applied and got accepted to IESE and HEC in R1.

I signed up for the comprehensive package and Laura was with me every step of the way, from helping me revise my CV, to editing my essays, to preparing me for the interviews. We spent a considerable amount of time discussing my background so that she could help me better understand my story and tell it effectively.

She is also extremely dedicated. Like a previous poster said, Laura was on a holiday in Spain while I engaged her help and she still took the time to have a video conference with me.

Laura is a master at trimming the fat from essays such that every sentence I wrote was succinct and purposeful. Also, since she did most of her editing together with me, by the time I had finished my last essay, I felt that I had become much better at writing.

Her interview prep was extremely detailed, and we went through twenty to thirty questions. She also provided tips which made me feel much more confident. When the actual interviews happened, everything went smoothly since I was well prepared.

sandiip87 · Answer

Would recommend Laura from Access Education as well. Am a current LBS MBA 2017 candidate.

Biggest difference between her and other consultants was that she was the most sincere and trustworthy consultant I interacted with. She definitely knows her stuff and was able to give me the right guidance and the necessary confidence in my MBA application process. Most importantly, the skills that you get to learn by working with her on your essays and CV are valuable throughout the professional life and has continuous ongoing benefits.

She's been in constant touch with me even after I got my MBA with timely and relevant advice/tips/referrals to opportunities related to my career interests and currently I view her as a professional mentor as well. It's not easy to build that sort of relationship with another run of the mill MBA admission consultant.

Highly recommended!

AccessEducation · Answer

These are incredibly kind comments - thank you! My clients are truly awesome people.

I do think my background gives me unusual insight into international programs and the challenges facing international applicants. An American from New York, Boston and Chicago, I've lived 12 years in Europe, Eastern Europe and Russia, 10+ in Asia, and travelled through much of India over many months. I have several degrees from the US and Europe (including Cornell and INSEAD), and have visited most of the top US, European and Asian schools (and studied on the campuses of six). I'm also an ICF-certified coach, and I counsel MBA's with the Career Development teams of INSEAD, National University of Singapore's (NUS) MBA and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. My profile is here:  https://www.accesseducation.com/about.html .

That said - there are a lot of good (and unfortunately some not-so-good) admissions consultants out there. I believe Fortuna perhaps is among the good ones, though we have very different service delivery models. The best tend to be members of AIGAC (the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants -  https://www.aigac.org ), our industry association.

You're best off speaking with several and seeing who you're most comfortable with before you make a final decision, since you'll be spending a lot of time with your consultant. Remember - you're not buying soap. It's about your future.

Laura Freedman
Access Education
 https://www.accesseducation.com  
 https://www.linkedin.com/in/lfreedman

lsquarenyc · Answer

I first spoke to Laura Freedman at Access Education (accesseducation dot com) in December 2015. I was applying to European business schools (Cambridge, Oxford and INSEAD), and had heard that Laura is the best MBA admissions consultant for top European schools. My background isn’t that unusual (Asian\female\Wall Street\dual cultural background), but my age is an issue (I’m 34).

After interviewing 4 different admissions consulting companies, I decided to choose Laura immediately after our first consultation. Right off the bat, I found Laura to be extremely insightful, candid and direct. She told me straight out that my age was a potential weakness and had ideas for ways to manage it. I was also impressed by how quickly she was able to encapsulate an accurate summary of me and my value proposition to the different programs I was looking at.

Having successfully gone through the process and been accepted by my dream schools, I can easily say that hiring Laura is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. While she helped in many different ways, the following areas really stood out:

1) Life and career coach

Laura is so much more than a MBA admissions consultant; she’s a life and career coach. She helped me to dig deep and pushed me to a level of introspection I did not think I could ever reach. She helped me recall stories from my childhood which I did not realize were significant but actually helped me better understand my personal journey and how it has molded me into the person I am today. She was also a Career Counselor at INSEAD and NUS in Singapore, so she had lots extremely helpful insight into my career goals and likely range of options. With a better understanding of myself, I am now clearer than ever about my future goals in life, both personal and professional.

2) Expert in identifying meaningful personal stories.

Laura is an expert at identifying meaningful personal stories. She kept pushing me to explain my stories in detail until she understood the reasoning behind them. She also had deep insight into my cultural background, since she’s spent her entire life moving between Asia, Europe and the US. I was very pleased with how my essays turned out. They are authentic and personal, and truly captured the essence of me. My friends read my essays and said it feels like me speaking to them, so true and alive.

3) A business woman, not just a writer.

As a senior INSEAD alum with many years of experiences in banking and consulting, Laura clearly understands the business world across sectors, functions and geographies. She truly understood my job functions and the challenges I face, which really made our conversations efficient and productive.

Overall, Laura went way above and beyond my expectations. I not only accomplished my goal of getting into my dream business school, but also developed a keener sense of myself and became a much better writer (all her editing is face-to-face).

I recommend Laura to anyone who is interested in top European business schools. I will also be happy to answer any questions on this forum.

Dienekes · Answer

Hi All,

I am writing this post to share my experience consulting with Laura Freedman at Access Education while preparing for my interview for the MBA application at INSEAD for the Class of July 2018. I would absolutely recommend her to all current or future MBA applicants, who are seeking help towards any step of their application process.

I would like to thank Laura for the sincere, precise, and prompt support that she provided me at the time when I most needed it. Although I reached out to her just a week before my INSEAD interview and despite we both being in completely opposite time zones, she was able to respond immediately and help me out by answering my open-ended queries. Her support really helped me feel confident about the prep and enabled me to put my best foot forward during the interviews.

Most importantly, her feedback helped me transition my perspective of the interview process from more of a formal process to a two-way discussion between me and the interviewer in which both of us are there to know about each other. I fortunately got accepted at INSEAD, and I am still in touch with my interviewers who are now mentors rather than just alums of my dream school. Laura’s support during the interview prep has played a major role in helping me get here.

Her support has been an invaluable asset, and I would continue to seek her guidance towards my time during and after the program.

Thanks!

aasg · Answer

Hey guys!

I was in your shoes a couple of years ago when I needed MBA Admissions Consulting services and guidance from current students and alumni but always faced the problem of either the admissions consultants being too expensive to afford or not knowing the right student/alumnus from my target school who can guide me. I graduated recently in Dec 2017 from INSEAD and realized that this needs to change and democratizing the consulting process makes much more sense. This is why I have started   Easy MBA Admit  - An Admissions Consulting service for the people, by the people . Why should you be interested? Here's why:

1. The   most affordable admissions consulting service with services starting at $100   (mostly to cover operational expenses) - because we believe more in paying it forward and helping future MBA aspirants rather than making huge profits.

2. All services offered by   recent alumni/current students from top B Schools   like  INSEAD, LBS, CBS, Kellogg, Stern, IESE, Wharton , etc. motivated by goodwill and who were in your shoes not too long ago and hence know how best to position your application.

3. Proud to say that so far we have had a   100% success record   at placing aspirants in their target schools. Examples include  INSEAD, LBS, IESE, HEC Paris, CBS, Wharton, Kellogg, Stern, NUS, NTU  and more

4. Get your  Free Intro Call  with no obligations attached. If you do book any of our services we have a   money back guarantee   in case you don't like the service.

Wishing everyone all the best in their applications and don't hesitate to reach out!

Cheers
Abhinay (from  Easy MBA Admit )

xinxinbunbun · Answer

Hi there!

I would recommend Laura Freedman at Access Education (www.accesseducation.com). I had talked to a few admission consultants and decided to go with her because of her focus on international MBA programs. She definitely exceeded my expectations as an MBA admissions consultant in terms of the type and quality of service that I would be getting during my application to LBS. I expected help with language and presentation of information and ideas, perhaps some insights into the school selection process - Laura was excellent in all these aspects, but more than that, she was very quickly able to help me formulate the whole thesis of the person I wanted to present myself as, and why I wanted an MBA. This to me shows intelligence, thoughtfulness and experience, which I find rare in the admissions consulting marketplace. She not only gave me more clarity and confidence in the application process, she also made the otherwise painful preparation process much more enjoyable with her straight-talking and laid back personality. I think Laura has a real talent for what she's doing, and I would definitely recommend her to anyone seeking help during their MBA application process.

FredericKuin · Answer

Hi there, I would genuinely recommend you Laura from Access Education. She did get me into LBS and Insead

. Below some of the reasons why she was great: Laura Freedman at Access Education (accesseducation com) was one of the key success factors during my MBA application process. As a management consultant, I was time constrained and my GMAT was not excellent. But because of Laura’s extensive knowledge, I could save a significant amount of time, create a compelling story and avoid common traps that would easily fail a first-time applicant. In the end, I got offers from all 3 of my targeted schools (LBS, INSEAD and HKUST). I was impressed by Laura’s personal approach and genuine interest she took in me personally. She really took time to understand my personal and professional background. It helped a lot that she’s a former management consultant who’s lived in Europe and Asia. Also, Laura pushed me to think very deeply about why I want to pursue an MBA and how such a program would benefit my long-term career. This approach was key to create a differentiated and authentic story for the applications. Laura also excels on the operational side of the process. Her editing skills and grasp of the English language are outstanding. She helped me to reshape my essays to make them concise and well-articulated. At the same time, she made sure that I was answering the questions in a structured and clear manner. The essays were my main challenge and Laura was essential to bring them into a competitive form. Finally, Laura’s live coaching approach was highly effective. From the first session onwards, she sat down with me (virtually) and went through each preparation module. This was extremely helpful when working on essays, as we could talk through suggestions, clarify issues directly and make sure the changes fit with my experience. This significantly reduced the time I would have used otherwise mailing back and forth different essay versions. Overall, it was a pleasure to work with Laura. I can highly recommend her to anybody seeking for an MBA admissions consultant, who is genuinely interested in the person and has demonstrated skills to make the application a success. Hope that helps

Zainulabidin · Answer

Although I haven't worked with any other consultant, I have received plenty of feedback from friends and colleagues on their experiences. With that in mind, I honestly did not expect much at first when I engaged Laura Freedman at Access Education (www.accesseducation.com), despite having heard only good things about her work ethic and competence. But since I was only applying for 1 business school (INSEAD) I figured I could use all the help I can get. And in barely 2-3 sessions with her, I quickly realized I had absolutely no idea what I was missing out on.

When we write our own essays, or draft recommendations in liaison with our recommenders, things seem to look much better than they actually are. External perspectives from friends and family don’t help too much. I realized that the value someone with Laura's experience and perspective can add to a B-School application is unparalleled. Here is why I think so:

1) Laura has specialized in international MBA programs full-time since 2010. She really understands these schools, their differences from US MBA’s , and from each other. She’s absolutely the best MBA admissions consultant for INSEAD - she’s held alumni leadership roles in 4 countries since 1993 and even worked for several years coaching students on their Careers’ team. Her name is even on an amphi in Singapore!

2) She does not beat around the bush. If your application is not up to the mark, she will tell you exactly that, and explain why! Her brutal honestly is definitely refreshing.

3) She will extract stories from within your essays and through your interviews with her that will really enhance your application. Sometimes, we really do not know how much of an impact a particular experience had on us, or can have on an admissions committee.

4) This one really saved me from getting dinged. Recommendations are a challenge for most of us in international companies, where our recommenders often expect us to write a draft recommendation ourselves. Laura understands, and will help you understand, how to get the perfect recommendation in a way that’s completely honest and ethical!

5) Once you go through the whole process with Laura, you will realize that you have made a friend. I don't know of many consultants who stay in touch with you even after the admissions process is over. Regardless of the outcome!

Long story short. I applied for INSEAD's class of Dec 2019 in Round 1. Did not apply to any other schools. And if it weren't for Laura, I could not have been able to say that I am going to be an INSEAD-er! Thank you, Laura!

FortunaAdmissionsMJ · Answer

Hi All, for those reading this thread (even though the original post was from years ago!), we at Fortuna Admissions have so much expertise for coaching candidates for INSEAD and LBS. Because there is over a handful of us that actually used to WORK there on the admissions side (both at INSEAD and LBS at the Director level) so we know first hand what both admissions committees are looking for. Particularly myself where I used to be an Assistant Director at INSEAD and Caroline Diarte Edwards used to be the Director of Admissions. We also have Emma Bond on our team who used to the Director of Admissions for LBS (among others). We LOVE helping candidates get into the schools where we used to work so give us a call! (free consultation at:https://fortunaadmissions.com/free-consultation/)

sjscott22 · Answer

I happened upon Laura Freedman at Access Education as an MBA admissions consultant and it was life changing. If you’re assessing the value of the many options out there, I can attest that Laura offers a premium service in every way. She provides uncommon perspective in every phase of the process (including after you are accepted!), she does all her work with you on live video conference and meets as much as you need (in fact encourages you to schedule more meeting time) and is an absolute perfectionist with your essays. I’ve worked with multiple MBA admissions consultants. Your dollar goes way further with Laura than with other services in terms of the application support alone.

But Laura is so much more than that. She's a life coach who cares about you as a person and speaks from her own fascinating, diverse experiences. She sees the potential in you but also sees through the lies you tell yourself (a big part of the MBA application process!). Laura will challenge you at every turn and make you think about things differently to ensure that your MBA is not only a career advancement opportunity, but a pivotal adventure in a non-linear life path.

If you’re looking at top programs outside the US, Laura is the foremost expert. If you’re looking at programs in the US you should still work with Laura because her perspective is just that valuable. I wish I’d known how much of a no-brainer the decision is when I was looking at options. It’s easy to get cynical about the MBA consulting world, but I can honestly say Laura is a one-in-a-million mentor that I would want to work with even if I wasn’t applying to business school. And I got into my first choice!

rahul222 · Answer

Hi All,

I would definitely recommend Laura if you are looking to pursue your MBA at INSEAD.

When I was deciding on an MBA admissions consultant, I had no doubts that Laura Freedman at Access Education was the best consultant for INSEAD. I am glad I chose her.

I had my concern about my profile, especially since I was from a highly represented background (Indian, Engineer though a non-resident Indian) and hadn’t changed companies during my work tenure.
 
I worked with Laura for nine months, since I was giving my GMAT during the period as well. Unlike many admission consultants, when you decide to work with Access Education, you will work directly with Laura (yes, she is a one-woman army!). We started by redesigning my CV, then discussing how to get great recommendations, developing my stories, editing my essays, preparing my interview, and analyzing how best to use my “golden ticket” period. 
 
I have to praise Laura for being completely honest (and insisting that I be honest!) throughout my application process. We discussed my personal life, career background and progression. She dedicated time to understanding my story while giving me an opportunity to self-reflect, understand how far I’d come, and realize what I truly want to achieve with my MBA. She helped me carve my essays skillfully and make them concise. She is gifted in understanding her clients’ individual personalities, strengths and weaknesses, and helping them edit their essays. 
 
Laura’s in-depth knowledge about top international business schools, and especially INSEAD, helped immensely. She is an alum (‘92D), a long-standing alumni volunteer, and was an interviewer before she became an admissions consultant. Her experience was evident during our conversations. She understands the school’s culture and what it is looking for and does very well to help you understand and articulate your story from its perspective. In addition, she has an open calendar that gives you access to her availability, and if the timing doesn’t work for you, she goes out of the way to schedule according to your convenience. 
 
I am confident that Laura is the best MBA admissions consultant if you plan to apply to INSEAD. Thank you, Laura, for your assistance and constant motivation throughout my journey, and for helping me join the INSEAD community!

cst123789581 · Answer

Honestly, I might not have received an INSEAD offer without help from Laura Freedman, an INSEAD alum and MBA admissions consultant at Access Education (www.accesseducation.com). I only focused on 1-year programs, and INSEAD was my first choice. One of my friends, an INSEAD alumn , strongly recommended Laura to me. The best part is that Laura was not just helping with my essay editing. She guided me to discover and reflect on myself in ways I had never thought about before. Each essay editing session, we would have video calls to discuss how to further improve the content. I liked her direct approach to give feedback and her patience to keep pushing me to revise my drafts. She is always responsive and helpful about my questions, even when she fell sick during the process. Further, the skillset I learnt from Laura is not just one-time for the MBA application. I applied what I learned working with her to my CV and cover letter writing during my full-time job recruitment at INSEAD and successfully received an MBB consulting offer.

Best Admission Consultants for Insead & LBS?

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards