When it comes to choosing an MBA Admissions consultant, there are a lot of factors to consider, and we know you probably have a lot of questions. To help you in your research, we’ve put together a list of the most frequently asked questions we receive from applicants.
The overwhelming majority of our clients are admitted to one of their target schools. We help
applicants to select schools that are in line with their qualifications and don’t hesitate to
recommend against particular schools (or even against an MBA). We’re happy to help you apply to
a stretch school if you understand the odds and do so in the context of a balanced list of
schools.
Having said that, we recommend against using success rate as the main way to
select a consultant because this metric is easily manipulated by either a) taking only perfect
candidates, or b) convincing applicants to apply to easy schools. Furthermore, there is no
satisfying way for applicants to verify claimed success rates.
Most clients pay a low five figure amount for comprehensive support on their application process.
We can give you an exact quote after a consultation once we know where and when you are
applying.
Interview preparation, which includes a 2-hour communications training session,
two mock interviews and access to our self-paced interview curriculum is $2,500 for most
schools, and $3,000 for HBS because of the extra time required to prepare realistic questions.
We don’t hire our consultants based on Admissions Committee experience. And while some of our consultants do have MBAs, we don’t see it as a requirement. Instead, we hire consultants who are great writers and storytellers.
In the end, creating a winning application is a persuasive writing exercise, and strong writing and editing skills are the most important qualities here. Our consultants combine their talent for communication with a deep knowledge of the MBA admissions process, along with insights into which types of candidates appeal to which schools—ultimately, these are the abilities that will help you get into a top program.
We don’t offer refunds or guarantees. If you must make a reapplication, we offer an affordable hourly service that will target only the areas where you need additional assistance.
But know that this is a rare occurrence, and it’s usually the result of an aggressive application strategy (for example, targeting only Harvard and Stanford).
Further, ask yourself whether you really want a guaranteed refund of a few thousand dollars (but no admits), or whether you want to work with a firm that will maximize your chances in the first place—and should it come to it, that will help you refine your applications should you need to reapply.
As soon as possible! To preserve the quality of our services, we accept only a small number of clients and must turn away the vast majority of applicants.
If you’re applying in a future round and want to maximize your chances by raising your GMAT score, networking with schools, identifying the right recommenders, and thinking about your story ahead of time, ask us about our Early Birds program.
It depends!
In general, you’ll benefit more from engaging a coach now if one or more of these factors apply:
By engaging a consultant now, you can handle tasks such as boosting your professional or extracurricular profile, networking with your target schools, or starting early on tasks that can take a long time, like figuring out your personal story.
On the other hand, we may advise you to wait before engaging a consultant if you do not have your test score and:
In those cases, waiting to get a positive sign on your test scores first, such as a good score on an official mock exam, ensures that you will get good value from your investment in admissions consulting services.
While it is natural to feel some uncertainty about working with a consultant who does not live in your time zone, we find that it is rarely an issue. In fact, many clients come to view the time difference as an advantage.
Think about it like this: when you submit a draft at the end of the day, you’ll typically have feedback by the time you wake up. This cadence helps keep you moving at a productive pace through the application process.
To learn more, watch this video compilation of Menlo Coaching clients commenting on their experience working with the time difference.
