The admissions consultant you choose can make or break your chances of getting into your dream MBA school or college. Because I’ve worked in this field for a long time, I’ve seen how AdmissionsConsultants presents itself as a top-notch service. The truth, on the other hand, might not live up to the expectations. As I go through this review, I’ll go into more detail about what they offer, their pros and cons, and why you might not want to give them your application.
Pros & Cons of AdmissionsConsultants
AdmissionsConsultants provides full MBA and college admissions consulting services to improve applicants’ chances of getting into their first-choice schools. However, this company has some clear downsides.
| ✔️ Pros | ❌ Cons |
| AdmissionsConsultants employs experienced consultants from top schools with significant admissions committee experience. | Some candidates may find their services overwhelming since AdmissionsConsultants’ strategies are very extensive. |
| The company gives each customer specific advice and helps them write unique stories showing their skills. | Due to the high demand for admission consulting services today, highly experienced consultants may be available. |
| AdmissionsConsultants offers a full range of services, from school selection and essay strategy to interview preparation and resume editing. | Although the firm offers fixed-fee and hourly consulting options, the cost could be high. |
In my opinion, AdmissionsConsultants falls short of the high expectations it sets. While they may have some knowledgeable consultants, the overall experience is inconsistent and overpriced. Future students and MBA applicants should proceed cautiously, as other consulting firms may offer better value and more consistent service.
What Are The Main Admission Consulting Services of AdmissionsConsultants?
Admissions Consultants offers a wide range of services primarily focused on MBA and college admissions. These include choosing the right schools, rewriting essays, preparing for interviews, and writing an interesting personal story. They say they look at applications as a whole, but in my experience, it’s more like generic advice dressed up as individual help.
What’s Included in Those Packages?
AdmissionsConsultants’ packages cover various services essential for MBA and college admissions.
🔸 College and University Selection
They help you identify and choose the right schools based on your profile. However, as I know from general practice, the advice can sometimes be overly broad, lacking the personalized insight needed to make strategic choices.
🔸 Admissions Strategies
This part involves creating a game plan for your application, but in my experience, the strategies often feel generic and are not tailored to highlight your unique strengths effectively.
🔸 Personal Statements and Essays
Essay editing is a significant component, yet this service frequently falls short. The edits often lack the depth and nuance that competitive applications require, making the essays feel watered down rather than impactful.
🔸 Interview Preparation
While mock interviews are part of the package, the feedback can be hit or miss. Some clients have mentioned that the advice was either too generic or not particularly helpful for the specific schools they were targeting.
🔸 Evaluating Admissions Options
This involves reviewing your application’s strengths and weaknesses. However, this evaluation can sometimes feel like a sales pitch for additional services rather than an objective assessment of your prospects.
🔸 Pre-Admissions Consulting
This service is intended to prepare students well before the application begins, but the value added here can be questionable, especially given the high costs.
Who Is on the AdmissionsConsultants.com Team?
AdmissionsConsultants has a team with experience on admissions committees at top schools. However, based on my interactions and what I’ve seen online, the consultants seem to be hit-or-miss. Some are genuinely knowledgeable, like at CollegeAdvisor.com, while others lack insight and understanding of what makes an applicant stand out. The company appears to have a high turnover rate, and not all consultants live up to the high standards it claims to uphold.
Do They Offer Any Extra Services?
They offer extra services like application reviews for scholarships and additional school applications, but these come at an extra cost, and the quality doesn’t necessarily justify the price.
From what I’ve gathered, these extras are often upsold during the process, which can feel a bit pushy and unnecessary, especially if the primary services haven’t been stellar.
Do They Have Any FREE Services?
Yes, they offer a free initial consultation but don’t get your hopes up. The consultation is more of a sales pitch than a substantive discussion about your application strategy. They’ll outline how they can “help” you without addressing your unique needs or concerns. As I know from general practice, this initial conversation should be a two-way street, but it felt more like a one-sided sales call.
Their Pricing and Guarantees
AdmissionsConsultants is not cheap, and I expected much more for what they charge. While they also offer hourly rate options, they still represent a significant financial commitment with no real guarantee of results. Here’s a quick breakdown of their pricing:
- Fixed-fee package – starts at $6,000 for one application.
- Interview preparation – from $1,200.
- Hourly rates – available, but they are still a pricey option.
Worse, there’s no guarantee of results, which is concerning when you’re spending thousands of dollars.
Their Professionalism in Terms of Reviews Available Online
Speaking of testimonials, it’s worth noting that while there are many positive ones on their site, many reviews on third-party platforms like Reddit are dissatisfied.
Common complaints include a lack of responsiveness, generic advice, and consultants who seem more focused on closing the deal than helping students get into their desired schools. One customer said their adviser didn’t return drafts on time, often missing the 72-hour deadline, which made an already stressful application process even worse.
Areas of AdmissionsConsultants That They Should Work On
Here are the five most significant areas where AdmissionsConsultants needs improvement:
- Inconsistent consultant quality. Not all consultants are created equal, and the quality of service varies wildly depending on who you’re paired with.
- High costs for low value. The services are expensive, and many clients feel they don’t get what they pay for.
- Generic advice. The so-called personalized strategies often feel cookie-cutter and lack the depth needed to make an application stand out.
- Pushy sales tactics. The free consultation is more of a sales pitch, emphasizing upselling rather than genuinely addressing your needs.
- Poor communication. There are numerous reports of consultants being slow to respond or not meeting promised deadlines, which can be incredibly stressful during the application season.
It’s not worth risking your application to a subpar service when the stakes are this high. So, check all our reviews and choose the best MBA admission consulting service that fits your needs.