When making the crucial decision to hire an MBA admissions consultant, relying on anonymous online comments can be misleading and risky. Instead, approach this decision with the same rigor and thoroughness as any significant investment. Here’s a detailed guide to making an informed choice.
Evaluate the Source
Before diving into the selection process, it is essential to evaluate the credibility of potential consulting firms. Understanding their professional background, service offerings, and the qualifications of their consultants will set a solid foundation for your decision-making.
Verify Credentials
- Professional Background: Initiate a direct conversation with the head of the consulting firm. Ensure they demonstrate professionalism, relevant credentials, and passion for helping candidates succeed.
- Service Description: Carefully review the firm’s published service offerings. Assess whether these services align with your specific needs, priorities, and budget.
Consultant Background
- Lead Consultants: Request detailed backgrounds of all potential lead consultants. Examine their qualifications, experience, and previous successes to identify the consultant who offers the most value and confidence.
- Preliminary Feedback: Seek personalized feedback on your background and potential from the firm. Understand their assessment of your chances for admission to your targeted schools.
Independent Verification
- Performance and Satisfaction: Verify the firm’s claims about their success rates and client satisfaction through credible, independent sources such as professional associations, CPA reports, and identifiable past clients.
Six Steps for Due Diligence
Once you have a general understanding of the consulting firm’s credentials, it’s time to delve deeper. Conducting thorough due diligence is crucial to ensure you make the best possible decision for your MBA application journey.
- Free Evaluation: Obtain a free, expert evaluation of your MBA candidacy. This helps you gauge the firm’s confidence in your potential and their expertise.
- Service Model Overview: Ensure the service model comprehensively covers all aspects of the application, interview, and waitlist processes.
- Independent Proof: Require independent documentation, such as a CPA report, that verifies the firm’s past admissions success.
- Direct Dialogue: Engage in a candid conversation with a senior manager to ensure their values and priorities align with yours.
- Thoughtful Matching: Participate in a thorough matching process that considers your background and goals, starting with a shortlist of potential consultants.
- Gut Feeling: Trust your instincts about how the firm treats you as a prospect, as this is indicative of how they will treat you as a client.
Comparing Consulting Firms
After conducting your due diligence, it is important to compare consulting firms based on specific criteria that matter most to you. This comparison will highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each firm, enabling you to make a well-informed decision. After comparing different firms, focus on specific criteria that will help you identify the best consulting partner for your MBA journey. These key criteria encompass responsiveness, experience, credibility, results verification, and more.
- Responsiveness to Clients
- Ensure the firm promises replies within 24 hours, 7 days a week. This is crucial for applicants with demanding jobs who need timely assistance.
- Experience and Breadth
- Choose a firm with extensive experience and a large team of consultants from various schools. The MBA Exchange, with 70+ consultants from 18 business schools, stands out.
- Credibility of Expertise
- Prefer firms with former admissions officers from top programs. The MBA Exchange has more former MBA admissions professionals from top-10 programs than any other firm.
- Verification of Results
- Ensure the firm has independently documented admissions success. The MBA Exchange offers results verified by a CPA firm.
- Focused Application Guidance
- Avoid firms using a “committee approach” which can lead to fragmented applications. Opt for firms where you work directly with one consultant who intimately knows your candidacy.
- School-specific Information
- Seek personalized guidance over generic guidebooks. The MBA Exchange teaches clients how to feature the most relevant and authentic aspects of their applications.
Final Considerations
Consultant Matching Process
As you narrow down your choices, it is essential to consider the firm’s process for matching you with a consultant and the overall client experience they offer. Ensuring compatibility and responsiveness is key to a successful partnership.
When narrowing down your choice, consider:
- Consultant Options: How many options do you have in selecting your consultant?
- Consultant Match: How and why was a particular consultant chosen for you?
- Compatibility: Look for common backgrounds and compatible communication styles.
- Accessibility: Ensure the consultant’s attention is not stretched by an excessive client roster.
- Responsiveness: Confirm the firm’s commitment to timely responses.
- Issue Resolution: Check for a formal process to resolve issues or change consultants.
Invest Wisely
Choosing the right MBA admissions consultant can significantly impact your chances of admission. Invest the time and effort to make a decision based on verified facts and thorough evaluation. Your future is too important to rely on anything less.
By following these detailed steps and criteria, you can confidently select an MBA admissions consulting firm that will best support your journey to business school success.
