5 Best MBA Admissions Consultants According to Students

Nearly 20% of MBA applicants use admissions consultant to help guide their applications. A new survey reveals five of the best

This is a GUEST POST by John Karageorge from MBAInsight.com

If you’re intimidated by the application process at graduate business schools, then it may be worthwhile to hire an MBA admissions consultant.

In addition to getting help writing your MBA essay and having someone guide you through the entire process, consultants understand what it takes to get into top-tier MBA programs.

And with nearly 20% of MBA applicants using a consultant these days, students can be at a strategic disadvantage by not investing in one.

Nevertheless, given the cost of hiring an admissions consultant, students must be certain they are getting value (and results) for their money. To help future...

ts, MBAInsight.com surveyed about 1,300 current business school students to find the best MBA admission consultants.

1. Personal MBA Coach

Rate: $390/hr

With a 96% success rate at getting students into one of their top school choices, Personal MBA Coach was the top-rated program. The consulting company supports students applying to full-time, part-time, and executive MBA programs by offering the following approach – comprehensive application strategy, personal story development, essay help and editing, scholarship advice, and acceptance decision support.

Pricing gets progressively cheaper with more school applications and students raved about founder Scott Edinburgh’s knowledge, insights, and straightforward approach to feedback.

2. Stacy Blackman Consulting

Rate: $365/hr

Unlike Personal MBA Coach, Stacy Blackman Consulting is a team of full-service consultants. As a true sign of confidence, the company only works with students they believe they can help get into the top programs and their approach reflects this commitment.

Students mentioned that even the free consultation offered an in-depth look at their backgrounds and that prospective clients have the ability to interact with multiple consultants before picking the right one to be their main point-of-contact.

While not cheap by any means, SBC has a history of placing students at the best MBA programs in the US. If you have what it takes to get into a great school and want to cement the opportunity, investing in a consultant will pay huge dividends over the course of your career.

3. Admissionado

Rate: $325/hr

Admissionado is another highly-rated team. Consultants go through a two-month vetting and training process before joining the team full-time, and with less than 10% of applicants to the company hired, the team knows what it takes to succeed.

Students are paired with two consultants:an MBA expert to help with the general application process and a storytelling expert focused on the essay portion. Student reviews also stressed the personalized experience and writing skills they learned, helping them feel encouraged and hopeful about their prospects.

4. Accepted

Rate: $300-390/hr

In addition to MBA admissions consulting, Accepted works with students applying to medical school, law school, other graduate programs, and even college admissions. Their services include general admissions consulting, interview help, resume assistant, and editing for LORs and essays.

Rated highly by dozens of students, the team is committed to helping high-potential students reach their goals.

5. mbaMission

Rate: $325/hr

mbaMission takes a very methodical approach to the application process. The company’s popular 'Start-to-Finish' package offers a nine-step process, ranging from candidate assessment and program compatibility to outlining and essay writing to interview preparation and post-acceptance support. Multiple students left glowing reviews crediting their admissions consultants with providing extraordinary support.

There are plenty of MBA admissions consultants out there. These are just a selection. Check out independent consultants like Barbara Coward and Cara Skikne of Admissions Africa as well as the teams at The MBA Exchange and MyGuru.