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This post may cause you stress.

August 31, 2015 by EssaySnark 8 Comments

We hate to do this. What we’re going to lay out here is likely to create some angst for at least a few of our readers out there. We’re already in a stressful time of year for you BSers, so it hardly seems fair to do this. But you know EssaySnark; we say it how we see it. Today’s post is about the increasing competitiveness of MBA admissions – which you already know about – but hear us out. Based on the class profiles that have been released so far (Exhibits A, B, C and even D) we can see that this game is heating up. When Harvard announced that their 80% GMAT score range for the Class of 2017 is 700 to 760 – wait lemme say that again, 700 to 760 – well that just cemented things.

We already saw this in mid-cycle last year. Things CHANGED. BSers who normally would’ve had no trouble at all getting into, say, Duke, or Tuck, or Kellogg, were being put on the waitlist. These were GOOD CANDIDATES with decent profiles, and the ones we worked with at least 🙂 did a good job on their essays. Yet we kept hearing about limbo outcomes instead of the Rd 2 admits that we were expecting. It was heartbreaking.

This increase in GMAT scores is not happening across the board – the average GMAT at Columbia ticked down a point, to 715 – but that’s still a 715 average. Nothing to laugh at.

And, for the schools we’ve seen reporting data thus far, the trend was that app volumes went up last year. Wharton shows a nearly 8% increase in apps to an already-high 6600. We have seen not much happening there with the (not so new anymore) dean but apparently behind the scenes he’s been putting things in place – or newly-empowered Admissions Director Mary Ellen Lamb has. Presumably the reason that Wharton was able to bump their average GMAT up so significantly (728 to 732) is because they just had so many apps to choose from. A seller’s market, there. They could afford to be selective – and they were.

OK OK OK if you’ve been paying even half attention to the MBA websites this year you already know all this. What we just laid out actually isn’t the part of the post that’s going to cause stress (though it may have done so inadvertently). Your profile is your profile; most likely, whatever GMAT score you have in hand is what you’re planning on moving forward with for Round 1, and the fact that you’re reading this today means that you are already planning for Round 1, so those strategies are set. Today is not about freaking you out about whether your GMAT is good enough or not.

Today is to point out a what-should-be-obvious truth.

Not all applicants are going to make it into the top MBA programs this year. There is a shaking-out process whereby only the best of the best (based on how the adcoms in their whimsy perceive it) will make it.

Guess what?

Not all admissions consultants are up to the task of helping you be one of those few.

When we say the game has changed (not that we like thinking of this as “a game” – it is YOUR LIFE after all) then what we mean is THE GAME HAS CHANGED – and not all admissions consultants are A players.

Even before the admissions landscape tightened up like this, there were gobs of consultants handing out really bad advice all the time. Today, in this new climate, there is simply no margin for error.

In every industry, or company, or team, you have the best performers, the superstars, the ones who have the exceptional knowledge and skills and abilities. The winners. And you have all the rest.

As self-serving as it is for us to be saying this, you just cannot afford to lay your destiny at the feet of a shitty MBA admissions consultant.

What worked for a consultant in helping their clients get in, in, say 2013, is NOT GOING TO CUT IT TODAY.

We see so many people come to us AFTER having worked with a consultant – and we see what that consultant told them to do with their essays. And we’re just like, “GAH!” Because the BSer was totally qualified and totally SHOULD HAVE made it in. Yet there are all these rookie mistakes in the essays they submitted – essays they crafted based on this so-called “professional” advice.

And it’s such a shame, because you only get one shot at the big leagues!! You’re going through this process for the first time, how do you know if you’re being steered right or not? The consultant says that one of their clients made it into Harvard last year, so they must know what they’re doing, right?

Well maybe – except for that fact that sometimes people are admitted to Harvard in spite of their essays. That’s true for every school on the planet.

A clueless admissions consultant is going to assume that that outcome was based on THEIR efforts. On THEIR guidance. When very often it had no bearing whatsoever.

We’ve worked with other consultants; we watch what they say on their websites and applicant forums; we see the results of their work with applicants. We are largely unimpressed by the field.

Want proof? We’ve caught several BUYING OUR ESSAY GUIDES. Yes that’s right: MBA admissions consultants are subscribing to our blahg to read the premium posts on essay strategy and they are also buying our bschool application guides. This happens every year; this year, it’s happened more than ever before. Hmmm, wonder why?

We’re not saying that All consultants except EssaySnark are lousy. No not at all. We happen to know of a (fairly small) handful that actually give out good advice. That do a thorough job of coaching their clients through a process that works. Where their people reliably get in.

But these are few and far between.

You’re putting your life in their hands, people.

We’re speaking here to the BSers who are also A players. Who have a real shot at the big time. Don’t squander your chances by casting your lot with the unqualified. Please remember, the consultants who charge the most are NOT necessarily the ones who know the most. (Sometimes we wonder if we should jack up our prices, actually; that seems to be the bias, that the ‘elite’ consultants are the ones who know what they’re talking about.)

Truly, today we’re speaking to the really good guys (and gals) who have their hearts in the right place, who have done, and are willing to do, the work that’s required, who bring honesty and integrity and ethics to it, who will make the world a better place through the pursuit of their goals. Who are maybe only B‑level players right now, but who deserve the shot, too.

Those are the ones we really like helping. Those middle-of-the-pack players who have the seed of greatness in them, but maybe it’s not fully come out yet. Maybe now is your time?

We’re talking to you. Please be very careful who you trust for advice in this process. We want you to win. In this new era, despite their good intentions, not everyone who claims to be an admissions expert is actually equipped to help you do that.


The possible pain of this post would come from the doubt that we are introducing into the minds of those BSers who come reading the ‘Snark’s blahg every day but for whatever reason went with a different admissions consultant already this season.

Filed Under: the admissions consulting industry

« Previous: Essays are not a writing test. They’re a thinking test.
Next: ($) Does your MBA admissions consultant know this? »

So who the heck is EssaySnark, anyway?!

We're the snarky experts in MBA admissions!

Sometimes amused and often appalled by what candidates write in their MBA applications to top bschools, EssaySnark created this little blahg to share common mistakes. Learn from them and avoid making admissions directors laugh (or want to hurl) when they read your essays. If you are hoping to have your essay reviewed anonymously on the blahg for free, submit it for consideration.

Want EssaySnark's personal assistance with your MBA applications? Start with our menu of consulting services and please read the Help FAQ to learn how we operate. Still have questions after doing all that? Email Team EssaySnark at gethelpnow at essaysnark dot com.

Good luck on your apps, Brave Supplicant!

Here's what others have said about this:

  1. vanguard91 says

    August 31, 2015 at 11:35 am

    Hi Snark,

    I totally understand what you’re saying, because I am currently on that boat. I went to a different consultant at first. I quickly realized that apart from helping me in shortening the essays and may be presenting it better, he didn’t offer me much in terms of strategy. I really doubt if he is even following the admission trends closely. So, I made a very difficult decision that instead of ruining my Rd1 by sticking with him, I should change over to you. This was a costly decision for me, but after your comprehensive profile review, I am convinced that it’s worth every penny.

    Reply
    • essaysnark says

      August 31, 2015 at 3:01 pm

      That’s definitely distressing to hear – but what’s more distressing is that it’s not an isolated case!!! At least you were able to redirect before it was too late! Thank you for putting your trust in EssaySnark. We will work hard to continue to earn it and we look forward to seeing your successes this season!!!

      Reply
  2. vanguard91 says

    August 31, 2015 at 4:39 pm

    Also, I really doubt the authenticity of the consultant reviews on online forums. I see only five-star or four-star ratings for all the consultants. It seems very surprising and suspicious that there hardly seems to be no negative reviews available.

    Reply
    • essaysnark says

      August 31, 2015 at 4:41 pm

      The other problem with that (if it’s the site we’re thinking of) is that they only publish reviews for consultants that pay to be on their site. We also know of some consultants that pay their clients to post the reviews.

      So, yeah.

      Reply
    • essaysnark says

      August 31, 2015 at 4:45 pm

      Oh and before we’re accused of anything like that: We have had some negative reviews here! You can find them on this page:

      https://essaysnark.com/about/testimonials-reviews/

      We’re very proud to also mention though that every BSer who left a negative review made it into a GREAT program while working with us.

      We have never edited nor rejected a review coming in to our site (though we do think at least one of them was not entirely warranted – see evidence above 😉 ).

      Reply
  3. furrowedbrow says

    September 1, 2015 at 6:32 pm

    Hoo boy, this happened to me last year and man do I regret it, because guess who’s re-applying this year? Yep, that would be me.

    I worked with a consultant who’s older than 30 and is pretty (in)famous on this blog and honestly, I wish could do it all over again. It was not so much the quality of work, but more so that he had so many things on his plate and it felt like I was at the very bottom on his list of priorities.

    My mails would go unanswered and he would only reply after multiple reminders. He just didn’t seem like he was “all there” and it added so much stress to the process honestly, because I wasn’t really sure if I could really count on him.

    The quality of work was fine, but nothing extraordinary. I did have some experience with a mid-size consulting firm before him and I can honestly say that even though they were priced higher, it was worth it. They helped with my overall strategy, were extremely responsive and added real value to my essays. In this consultant’s case, I had to do most of the legwork which is fine, but he seemed content to just go along with everything I said. He never really questioned me or pushed me harder. I just felt like it was easier for him to say “Yeah, it looks good” than really going deeper into my essay and questioning my motives.

    Essentially, I never felt like he gave a crap and that he was simply going through the motions. So yeah, if you’re going with a consultant, it is worth your time to do your research. This blahg has been an absolute wealth of information and so have the strategy guides. Thank you ES! I wish I could afford your services, but since I stupidly blew all of my money last year, I’ll have to make do with what I’ve got!

    Reply
    • essaysnark says

      September 1, 2015 at 6:38 pm

      Thanks for the report, sorry to hear you had to go through that, but one thing strikes us: If “the quality of work was fine” then how come you didn’t make it in? (There are MANY other comments we could make but we’ll just leave it there! 😉 )

      Regardless, glad you’re here now, good luck on putting it all together (you did get the Reapplicant Guide we hope?) and please let us know how it goes!

      Reply
      • furrowedbrow says

        September 1, 2015 at 6:44 pm

        Because in my case, “fine” wasn’t gonna cut it. I was pretty low on work experience last year although I think in terms of quality, I was good to go. But I guess didn’t convey that clearly in my application (nor did I address the age thing very well). I did interview at one school and I was waitlisted at another till about a month ago, so I think I did something right. With a better strategy and more effective guidance, perhaps I’d have a better outcome. C’est la vie.

        And yes, I did get the Reapplicant Guide! So far, so good. I’ll let you guys know how it goes!

        Reply

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