How to Decide Where to Get MBA Admissions Advice
Applying to business school can feel like a full-time job: multiple essays, recommendation letters, resumes, test prep, and interviews. As if that’s not stressful enough, there’s always a time crunch as application deadlines draw near and you’re rushing to check EVERYTHING before you hit “submit’ and surrender control to the MBA admissions committee.
The process can be so overwhelming it’s no wonder most applicants seek help and support at some point in their MBA journey. There are plenty of avenues to seek advice and assistance, each with their advantages and disadvantages. Let’s review some options ranging from self-directed research to hiring a professional MBA admissions consultant.
Scour Online Resources
Some applicants thrive with self-directed research. Between online forums, admissions blogs, YouTube channels, and even AI tools, there’s plenty of information available for free. If you’re highly organized, confident in your persuasive (or strategic) writing skills, and comfortable piecing together advice from multiple sources, you can “read the online instruction manual” and self-service your way to a completed MBA application.
The trade-off: self-guided applicants need to be disciplined about separating reliable information from noise. A lot of information is available, but that includes conflicting advice and strategies. Also, admissions policies and school cultures vary. Strategies and advice that worked for one applicant may not work for you.
Lean on Family and Friends
Many people naturally turn to family and friends for input. This can be helpful for brainstorming stories or getting feedback on clarity. The upside is trust and accessibility—loved ones tend to know you well and are usually eager to help.
But there’s a downside too: unless they’ve been through the MBA process themselves and have a good handle on current school priorities, their advice may not line up with what admissions committees are looking for. Even well-meaning feedback can steer you in the wrong direction if it isn’t grounded in current knowledge of MBA program dynamics at your target schools. Context and leadership change over time. Every business school dean and head of admissions brings their own perspectives and priorities into the decision-making process.
Get Insights from Mentors at Work
Professional mentors at your place of employment can provide another layer of support. They often know your career trajectory and can help you frame your goals convincingly. Mentors may also serve as recommenders, which makes their input particularly valuable.
Still, mentors usually aren’t admissions experts. They may know how to tell your leadership story in a workplace setting but not how to translate it for an academic institution. Business schools are assessing FIT and want to know how you will add value to a cohort which is different from just your individual work performance.
Learn from Successful Applicants
Another common approach is talking to someone who got accepted to your target school. These conversations can be inspiring—they’ve had success walking the path you want to follow, and they are eager to pay it forward by offering advice and sharing practical tips.
Yet, their experience represents just one data point. What resonated with admissions in their case may not apply in yours. MBA applications are highly personalized, and can’t be refitted easily like second-hand clothing. Strategies that worked for one candidate rarely work for another without significant rework and tailoring. Successful applicants also rarely have the “inside perspective” on how admissions decisions are made, so they can’t offer guidance on how positioning may have affected their application or yours.
Leverage Low-Cost Consulting Services
Several organizations offer low cost support for MBA applicants. They can help guide you through the application process, share examples of essays and resumes, provide templates to help you get started on your application materials, and offer feedback. This is an admissions consultant “lite” option that can provide useful assistance at a relatively lower cost compared to leading MBA admissions consultants.
The opportunity cost: While low cost advice may save you money, it can come at a cost. Beware of part-time or volunteer consultants and writers who aren’t committed full-time to researching schools, developing relationships in the industry, and staying current on trends and priorities at each school. Low-cost consultants can be skilled, but they are rarely experts who can give the best advice in a highly competitive admissions process.
Hire an MBA Admissions Consultant for Expert Advice
Some of the most common reasons applicants seek professional support are tied to the very heart of a strong application.
You have a compelling story but struggle to communicate it persuasively.
You have multiple stories but aren’t sure which are best to include in your application.
You feel uncertain about whether your story is truly distinctive and need help identifying aspects of your background that can set you apart.
You recognize that stakes are high and want to seize every available opportunity to strengthen your application.
Bottom line: It helps to understand how admissions committees will evaluate your application. A professional MBA admissions consultant, especially those with prior experience in admissions, brings this valuable perspective to the application process that others don’t.
Consultants with deep and current knowledge of school cultures and priorities can help you position your application strategically to help admissions committees understand your fit. This can be a critical advantage especially when applying to competitive schools where the margin between acceptance and rejection is razor-thin.
Furthermore, a strong strategy involves going beyond yourself. It’s about much more than your individual candidacy. For the admissions committee crafting an entire cohort, you’re one possible piece of a puzzle and they are also considering how well you fit with the rest of the picture they are assembling. The admissions journey can be an unsettling and stressful process. A consultant can also help with clarity and confidence. An experienced champion in your corner who believes in you, even when you doubt yourself, can make all the difference.
Stay Focused on the Ultimate Goal
Regardless of where you choose to get your MBA admissions advice, never lose sight of the ultimate goal: Make your application as strong as possible so you can achieve your dreams. An MBA can put you on a completely different career trajectory and open doors to professional pivots that you didn’t even know existed. Simply stated, it can change your life. Be sure to step boldly into your future with sound recommendations and no regrets.
