“I will definitely recommend you to others! (later.)”

EssaySnark has a corporate initiative designed to allow us to give back to the world a little by offering some pro bono and reduced-price deals to those in the service-based professions. Awhile back we did a freebie Comprehensive Profile Review to someone through our Military MBA support program and we got this note back from them:

MilitarySnark,

First of all, thank you for the time and effort in putting together what is, frankly, much more of a detailed reviewed than I expected. You have given me quite a bit of good feedback that I need to fully digest over the next few days. Support for the military and the pro-bono work that you do is never expected but always appreciated. I plan on utilizing some more of the accelerators but may need to do some more homework first. I will surely recommend this to other service members going forward (maybe after the first round…)

To which EssaySnark says “Hmmm.”

1. We totally appreciate that this person sent this note! Sometimes BSers seem to forget. And that hurts our widdle feelings when it happens *poutyface*

So THANK YOU to this BSer for saying thanks! It was definitely appreciated.

2. We never expect anyone to buy stuff from us, so it’s not necessary to say you’re gonna use other services that we offer. We don’t do these pro bono deals because we’re trying to drum up business. We do it because for us, it’s the right thing to do. So just to be clear for all who may read this: It’s totally groovy by us if you get some free (or cheaper) thing and never buy anything further. If you decide that we can add value, then that’s always a nice thing, but it’s by no means an obligation or expectation from this side. So, no worries either way. We’re happy for the chance to give back when we can.

3. That last bit though…. That’s where we hafta to say something. 😀

We get it. You think EssaySnark is awesome. But you don’t want too many people to know, because hey, then THEY might use EssaySnark too! And then where will you be?? The competition is hard enough as it is!!!!!!

Totally understand the sentiment.

Why would you empower your opponent?? Who on earth who is sane would ever do that?!

It kinda comes down to the giver/taker mentality, or maybe how much confidence you have in your own abilities to execute, and general uneasiness about the unnerving nature of this whole process. Understood. Why make it easier for someone else to get in, when you will be fighting for the same spot?

The reason we got rankled when we saw that comment though is we just did something totally for free for this person and they replied back with the promise to return the favor by telling others about all the goodness that they received… but only after it won’t damage their chances.

We just HELPED you. And your response is to NOT HELP someone else?

Maybe we’ve totally misread the intention. Maybe that’s not what they’re saying. We’ve been wrong before! On so many things.

And we are not doing these freebie reviews for people because we want them to refer us to others. But when someone says, “Yeah, I have buddies who could use this, maybe I’ll tell them about it too” we get excited — and then we realize no, they won’t tell them, or not when it would actually do any good.

Very often what we tell BSers in the profile review is, HEY BUDDY! YOU’RE IN TROUBLE! YOU NEED TO STOP AND TAKE INVENTORY, AND CONSIDER A NEW PATH!!

If you’ve got a friend who is trying for this very ambitious endeavor like you are, and you realize how much value there is in the advice that we can offer, then don’t you think maybe he could use the same?

Like, NOW?

Not only later, when it’s safer for you?

Anyway. We just felt like that needed a response.

If you have honorable inclinations, that’s great! If you want to do something to help, all the better! Everybody is only motivated by self-interest. We get it!

But life is not a zero sum game.

And neither is getting into bschool.

---

 
If you’re a do-gooder, we’d love the chance to do some good for you! Military candidates can please follow the instructions on our Military MBA page; all others can send in a request (please include your resume) and we’ll let you know what might be available. Capacity is limited right now but we should have a little sum’in-sum’in to offer, or if you’re planning ahead then there will be more options available.