Welcome! Check out our free B-School Guides to learn how you compare with other applicants.
Login or Register
 

Admission Consultants: Hourly vs Package

This topic has 1 expert reply and 2 member replies
Bookmark
Previous Topic Next Topic
stompy Just gettin' started!
Joined
13 Jun 2011
Posted:
3 messages
Admission Consultants: Hourly vs Package Post Wed May 16, 2012 6:08 pm
I'm currently trying to decide whether to do a hourly or school package with a admissions consultancy firm. I plan on applying to around 6 of the top 10 schools. I'm primarily seeking a consultant for high-level review and application strategy (my story, career goals, the message in my essay) and not for details. Given this, I think it makes more sense to go on a hourly basis and spend less money. Additionally, I am not limited to only working through a couple schools' apps.

On the other hand, I'm worried I may end up being better off with a package and having unlimited access to my consultant. I'm thinking if I go with a 2 school package, I can apply whatever I've learned from applying to these 2 schools to other schools. Not sure if this is true.

Can someone paint any color on my thought processes?

Need free GMAT or MBA advice from an expert? Register for Beat The GMAT now and post your question in these forums!

GMAT/MBA Expert

Jon@Admissionado MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined
01 Apr 2011
Posted:
2003 messages
Followed by:
217 members
Thanked:
396 times
Most Active Expert Most Responsive Expert Most Thanked Expert
Post Thu May 17, 2012 7:39 am
Sure! I'm on the consulting side, so make sure you get feedback from clients too. But my thoughts are that hourly help or "single edits" is very good for people who are already amazing writers and who have strong profiles already. Otherwise, for the rest of us folks (and yes, that was me too), if you aren't going in with a perfect GMAT and a perfect GPA and a perfect work history, then you will need to strategize. And although it may seem like problems can be solved by just high level reviews, in fact, many of the changes will take place at the microcosmic level. The thing to keep in mind is that hourly work is usually priced relatively expensive, and it will quickly overlap a full-service package, for which you will likely get double the hours if not more. And your idea of doing two packages at the start to get them tip-top and then doing the rest yourself (say supplementing it with an hour here or there if you have any difficulties) can be a good and cost-effective way to work with consultants.

_________________
Jon Frank
Harvard MBA, 2005
Founder and CEO, Admissionado

Ask us a Question!
Get a Free Consultation!

myEssayReview Really wants to Beat The GMAT! Default Avatar
Joined
11 Jan 2012
Posted:
170 messages
Followed by:
8 members
Thanked:
60 times
Post Thu May 17, 2012 11:57 am
I agree with Jon. Opting for a package instead of hourly service is definitely a better choice. Writing is a time-consuming process and most applicants require multiple edits (based on the guidelines/ feedback provided by their editors/consultants) to produce effective and persuasive essays. However, going for two or three school package initially is a good start.

Good luck with your application.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at poonam@myessayreview.com

PrepMBA.AlexLeventhal Really wants to Beat The GMAT!
Joined
22 Jun 2011
Posted:
256 messages
Followed by:
7 members
Thanked:
52 times
Post Sat May 19, 2012 8:20 am
I would suggest that you go for a package with an experienced consultant, and then based on what you learn and the progress you make, you might be in a position to either fly solo or use that consultant on a more limited basis.

From my 8 seasons of helping clients, I feel that many don't know what they don't know, and so a great consultant should add a lot of comprehensive value.

Good Luck!

_________________
Alex Leventhal
Harvard MBA, 1998
Prep MBA Admissions Consulting
www.prepmba.com
alex@prepmba.com
(323)424.3178

Best Conversation Starters
1 vipulgoyal 32 topics
2 hemant_rajput 23 topics
3 guerrero 18 topics
4 abhirup1711 17 topics
5 sana.noor 16 topics
See More Top Beat The GMAT Members...

Most Active Experts
1 image description Brent@GMATPrepNow

GMAT Prep Now Teacher

 211 posts
2 image description GMATGuruNY

The Princeton Review Teacher

 137 posts
3 image description Jim@StratusPrep

Stratus Prep

 60 posts
4 image description Jon@Admissionado

Admissionado

 49 posts
5 image description David@VeritasPrep

Veritas Prep

 31 posts
See More Top Beat The GMAT Experts