5 Tips For Choosing The Best MBA Admission Consultant

MBA admission consultants can help you get into your dream business school, but they’re also expensive. Here’s how to choose the best MBA admission consultant for you

Competition to gain admission into a top MBA program can often be fierce. That's why thousands of students each year turn to MBA admission consultants to get help in making their applications as strong as possible.

However, utilizing an MBA admission consultant can be a considerable monetary investment.

There are many top MBA admission consultants out there. Here’s our top five tips for choosing the right one.

1. Establish your priorities

Defining your personal goals and establishing your needs as they relate to the MBA admissions process is a crucial step that any student must take before seeking out an MBA admission consultant. This means figuring out what type or tier of schools you are aiming for, what type of admissions candidate you are, and everything in between.

Once you have properly assessed your situation and your profile, you can then go ahead and start researching potential consultants who might be a strong match and who are confident in your potential as an applicant. After all, how are you supposed to select someone to guide you through the process if you haven’t figured out where you want to focus your time and effort?

2. Talk to your family and friends

Whether you’re searching for a great chocolate chip cookie recipe or trying to secure yourself a top MBA admissions consultant, there’s no doubt that the opinions and experiences of your family and friends are trusted above the rest.

So, as you embark on your journey of securing the best MBA admissions consultant, take the time to reach out to family and friends and tell them what you’re aiming for, so they can do their part in pointing you in the right direction.

3. Leverage online reviews from other students

Given the enormous amounts of information that have become so easily accessible through the internet and social media, it should be no surprise that you can (and should) certainly take your digging for MBA consultants onto the web to read reviews on various consultants made by past MBA program applicants.

Each year, MBA Insight collects trusted student reviews and testimonials on MBA admissions consultants, with the end product being their annual list of top MBA admissions consultants.

4. Don’t be afraid to set up free consultations

You’re at the point where you have solidified your list of potential MBA admissions consultants, but now it’s time to get to work and narrow down the list until you have made your choice.

Start by setting up free consultations with the MBA consultants you have narrowed down on your list. Use those sessions to ask questions about how they approach the process and what they see in you as an applicant, as well as to assess the quality of the ‘match’ between you.

Taking this step might seem superfluous, but it will save you both time and money later on as you will be more confident that you made the right choice.

5. Trust your gut

Last, but certainly not least, as you continue along (and eventually start to wind down on) your journey of selecting an MBA admission consultant, remember to trust your gut.

A certain organization or individual might have a hundred 5-star ratings, but if, after a phone call or free consultation, you don’t feel that they properly align with your goals or values, then don’t be afraid to trust your instincts and keep looking around until you find the perfect fit.

Next Read:

Do You Need An MBA Admission Consultant?

This article was written by John Karageorge of MBA Insight