Note: In this article, we’ll primarily focus on MBA applicants considering working with MBA admissions consultants. However, here at The Art of Applying, in the spirit of our founder who is a joint degree graduate of Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School, we work with applicants to top business schools as well as other graduate degrees such as policy school, law school, education, and social work.
MBA hopefuls are often concerned about the financial investment required to work with The Art of Applying. We get it. You’ve worked hard for your money, and you’re about to spend a lot of it in pursuit of an MBA at one of the country’s top schools. You want to make sure that working with the experts at The Art of Applying is really worth the investment. The best way to answer that question is to look at the results we can provide. We can’t speak for our clients, but we can speak to their success. Below, we’ll dive a little deeper into what you are really paying for when you hire an MBA admissions consultant and demonstrate the return on investment that The Art of Applying can provide.
Are MBA Admissions Consultants Worth the Cost?
With so much information available for free on the Internet, you may be wondering, are MBA admissions consultants worth the cost? That’s a fair question, but it’s important to consider what you are paying for. While we do encourage you to do some independent research before you come to us and talk to others who have applied and been accepted to top MBA programs, this is often not enough to completely support you in being successful throughout the entire MBA admissions process.
There is a lot of false information floating around out there and many different stories, circumstances, and paths that have led people to their particular programs. You shouldn’t rely on just one person or experience to guide you through the admissions process. An MBA admissions consultant helps you break through all the noise to provide you with a clear and proven strategy for approaching the admissions process.
Not only have the consultants at The Art of Applying been through the MBA admissions process themselves, but they’ve worked with a diverse array of candidates with a myriad of personal and professional stories. This holistic experience guides the consulting team in combining a customized application strategy tailored to each candidate with a proven process for successfully navigating the admissions process. More than just expert advice, you are getting someone who has been in your shoes and can support you along the way. We know the process can be frustrating and that it’s hard to stay motivated.
Our team is here to remind you of your goals and why you started this process. We want you to succeed, and we’ll be here to celebrate your successes and help you through any setbacks.
While online forums can be a nice place to commiserate and celebrate anonymously with other applicants, there is nothing like having a dedicated team there with you side by side throughout the entire application process. In the end, you get out of admissions consulting what you put in.
Though your admissions consultant provides guidance and advice, it’s up to you to do the work. Just like a sports coach can provide game-changing guidance, it’s still up to the players to train, practice, and perform on game day. “You have to do the hard work. We don’t do it for you,” says Kaneisha Grayson, founder of The Art of Applying. “You have to write the essays, study for the GMAT, and show up to your coaching calls. You have to be honest with us about your goals and open about your feelings along the way. You’ve got to be willing to invest in yourself and your future if you want it to pay off many times over.”
Calculating the ROI of The Art of Applying
The Art of Applying is a premium service, and some people can get a little sticker shock when they learn the financial investment required to work with our expert team. However, when you compare the cost of our program to the potential results that can come from working with someone who can provide targeted, strategic advice, the value really is priceless.
Take it from one of our best success stories – David V. After working with Kaneisha and the team at The Art of Applying, David was accepted to Harvard Business School, Wharton with a full tuition scholarship, and Stanford Graduate School of Business with the Knight-Hennessey Scholarship. With a background in finance, David excels at thinking in numbers. When asked about the ROI of working with The Art of Applying, he says, “Just on a dollar amount perspective – I’m getting 15 to 16 times what I put in. That’s just in dollars. Not to mention the career advice and help with the transition process – how invaluable it was to hear that I can make the career transition that I’ve always wanted to make. Looking at it now, it’s almost silly to think of the money I put up front as a hindrance.”
From David’s point of view, The Art of Applying isn’t a luxury good, but a vital part of the admissions process. There are only so many things that you can do to get a leg up in this process. You can’t easily change things like your GMAT score, GPA, or work experience. However, through the guidance of an MBA admissions consultant and getting help bringing out your personal story, you can position yourself as a competitive candidate.
“If you’re already looking at The Art of Applying, then you’ve already come to terms with the sticker shock of an MBA. This is peanuts in comparison to that, and it makes all the difference. It can be the difference between your fifth choice and your first choice school. It can be the difference between no money and full tuition,” David says.
“I would not look at the cost of The Art of Applying with sticker shock. Add it on top of what you would expect to pay for your MBA. But just like your MBA, it’s something that’s going to provide real returns fairly early. I fully endorse it.” Interested in seeing what The Art of Applying is really all about? Schedule a 15-minute Quick Call to find out how our team can help you achieve your graduate school goals.
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