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LeoDiCaprio
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Who Will Be the Harvard of Admission Consultants? 20 Jun 2014, 15:43
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Some time back Harvard did the unthinkable by reducing the number of required essays in its MBA application. This brave move inspired all other top b-schools to do the same and now we all are benefiting from it. As Harvard's admission directors says "...getting into HBS isn't an essay-writing contest". No problems yet!

I hope we all will agree that writing multiple essays was probably the most time consuming component of the application process. And if you plan to take any consultant's help, essays are something on which you both will spend a substantial amount of time (brainstorming topics, first draft, structure, iterations etc.). Now my questions to everybody are this: Why are we still paying the same exorbitant price to consultants? Why haven't consultants reduced their prices after this drastic change in application process?

To strengthen my point I'll give give you one more data point. When HBS introduced its after interview essay, everybody was keen to charge extra for it. Here is a quote from StratusPrep's website: "Harvard Business School applications require an additional $250 due to an additional required essay". Why not use this logic to reduce your price now? (https://shop.stratusprep.com/collections ... g-packages)

What I've written above is my point of view. I've tried to explain things logically but I could very well be wrong. So please share your views as well and let's discuss this in the right spirit to push for a fair pricing. We just need one consultant to understand our point of view and reduce the price accordingly. I am sure rest will follow the 'Harvard of Admission Consultants'!
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EBM
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Who Will Be the Harvard of Admission Consultants? 21 Jun 2014, 12:29
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Essay revisions are only part of what a good admissions consultant does for his/her client--there's plenty of man-hours that go into setting an overall timeline, clarifying short/long term career goals, branding and positioning, selecting target schools, reviewing resumes, lining up recommendations, prepping for interviews, and about a dozen other things.

And having worked with clients on applications for about 15 different MBA programs last year, I can tell you that perfecting HBS's single essay often took us just as much time as the 3-4 essays for other schools.
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LeoDiCaprio
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Who Will Be the Harvard of Admission Consultants? 21 Jun 2014, 13:21
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Dear EBM,

There is no question to the hardwork that a consultant puts in and the immense value that he or she brings to the table. All I am trying to say is that since there has been a mesurable reduction in work, then why not reduce the price?


EBM
Essay revisions are only part of what a good admissions consultant does for his/her client--there's plenty of man-hours that go into setting an overall timeline, clarifying short/long term career goals, branding and positioning, selecting target schools, reviewing resumes, lining up recommendations, prepping for interviews, and about a dozen other things.

And having worked with clients on applications for about 15 different MBA programs last year, I can tell you that perfecting HBS's single essay often took us just as much time as the 3-4 essays for other schools.
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domotron
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Who Will Be the Harvard of Admission Consultants? 22 Jun 2014, 02:34
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I don't actually think reducing the number of essays necessarily reduces the amount of work for admissions consultant. From personal experience, writing that single open HBS essay was much harder than writing one 2-3 essays that tackle why MBA, leadership, or other usual topics. I imagine it is the same for admissions consultants in terms of time spent brainstorming with a client.

At the end of the day, it's a free market. If people are willing to pay these prices for admissions consultants, they will keep charging them. With the applicants increasing and size of classes remaining constant, people are willing to pay these prices to get an edge. It is up to the applicant whether they think it is money well spent or not. There are other options out there like essaysnark who only offer essay-reading services rather than the whole admissions package that are a bit cheaper.

Personally, I decided against a consultant and it worked out fine. At the end of the day, it is your own prerogative whether you pay their prices or not. But in essence I wouldn't say a reduction in the number of essays necessarily reduces the amount of work for the applicant or the consultant.