Should You Engage an MBA Admissions Consultant?

This is adapted from a blog that I write last year.

This is the time of year that MBA candidates are strategizing on how to get admitted to their dream schools. Possibly a little overwhelmed by the application process, many may be considering whether to employ an admissions consultant. The thought of having a personal advisor through the application process is pretty enticing – who wouldn’t want to work with someone who knows the “MBA admissions secrets”?

While some business schools and admissions officers frown upon admissions consultants, consultants fill a need and provide a service that many young professionals want. In truth, most successful applicants get significant support throughout the application process. Not all of them pay thousands for it and they may not get it neatly packaged, but the guidance and advice is out there. You can participate in webinars, events and programs – like the Economist’s Which MBA fair, Forte MBALaunch, or MLT MBA Prep. These are all designed to give you the inside track on applying to business school.

As you consider how you will prepare for business school, seek out resources to guide you through the process – it will help you be more effective (so you can get admitted) and more efficient (you want to do things right the first time). Please don’t read this as an endorsement of admissions consultants – I don’t think you need spend thousands and thousands of dollars for support. That fells a little wrong to me, but whether you a consultant is your choice – you are fully grown!

Value of Admissions Consultants

• Structure: good admissions consultants have a step-by-step approach to guide candidates through the application process. They provide structure which helps candidates stay on track.
• Expert Advice: good admissions consultants have helped hundreds of candidates successfully apply to business school; they have experience and insight that can be incredibly helpful as candidates try to sift through the “noise” of how to apply to business school (i.e., all of those forums of anxious candidates sharing misinformation with each other).
• Coaching: good admissions consultants help candidates strengthen their applications by coaching them on the application components (not by writing the application for the candidate, but by supporting the candidate to deliver their best work).

Did you notice my emphasis on “good” admissions consultants? Consultants are not all created equally.

Downside of Admissions Consultants

• Quality: Anyone can consult on anything if they so decide, but that doesn’t mean they are adding any measurable value. Just because someone has an MBA or is a good writer themselves doesn’t mean they are a good coach. Frankly, even an admissions consultant that has MBA admissions committee experience may still be a pretty crappy consultant. Strong applications are the full manifestation of you – if an admissions consultant can’t help you bring that out then they have failed.
• Not Magicians: Admissions Consultants can’t wave a magic wand and get you admitted to you dream school. You have to have the goods – you already have to have a strong product that can be molded a bit. Don’t go to an admissions consultant expecting miracles and if they promise them, please run in the other direction.
• Cost: Many admissions consultants charge $3,500+ to support you in applying to one school! Seriously! That’s crazy!
• Strong Company, Novice Consultant: Many successful admissions consultancies have dozens of consultants working for the company to support their clients. Who cares if the company is great if your assigned consultant is not great? Be aggressive in getting an experienced consultant.

Successful MBA applicants get help in the admissions process, but not necessarily from Admissions Consultants. Do your homework to uncover all of the available resources and then decide what will work best for you.

For more on getting support through the MBA applications process, check out:

• DiversityMBAPrep admissions coaching product, Virtual MBA Coach
• Article: Choosing an MBA Admissions Consultant: 6 Questions to Ask