Admissions Strategy and Admissions Consultants

(This post is a shameless plug. If that offends you, please click away.)

In my Internet meanderings, I occasionally come across posts from applicants who dismiss and deride admissions consultants. These sages, who usually have never talked to a consultant, claim that applicants can get all they need to know from the web and books and talking to a few friends.

They don't understand the difference between the dynamic, individual qualities of educational advising and the static, mass nature of information.

I am proud of the rich information Accepted.com provides, probably more than any boutique consultancy. But I am also keenly aware of its limitations. Information is static, inert. It cannot respond to individual needs. It can't react to a fluid situation.  It doesn't analyze or change. It can target segments, but rarely individuals.

We can write a gazillion articles and ebooks. We can develop web tools, databases, and chats to serve you. But none of them will replace an in-depth, one-on-one consultation or the nitty-gritty work of critiquing and editing your applications and essays.

Accepted editors and advisers can help you develop and implement your admissions strategy, whether you are shooting for a BA, MBA, JD, MD, or PhD or a host of other degrees.  And unlike friends, we stay abreast of admissions news and developments because admissions is our business.

Using our expertise and experience to guide you as an individual interacting with a dynamic admissions world is the magic of admissions consulting.

That's how we help you develop your admissions strategy. Then there's implementation, and the personal statement, application essay, or statement of purpose.

Professional writers have editors with reason: writing is rewriting. Writers can fall in love with their own words and lose objectivity.  Writers need editors.

If the professionals need editors, so do you.

Can you implement a carefully thought-out strategy? Can you maintain your critical eye after reworking an essay ten times? Can you bring the superior editing skills of professional writers to your application?  If you can't, you need an Accepted editor to critique and review your essay(s).

Accepted has two early bird specials running through July 31, 2008.

• For MBA's, you can get 10% off our MBA essay editing and B-School advising and editing packages.
• For residency applicants, you can get 10% off essay editing for your Match essays.

Get the magic before July 31 and save 10%.

Comments

[Gautam]

I do agree that using an admission consultant's services would make one's BSchool application more impressive/thorough. But I wonder what the BSchool's Ad-Coms think of prospective students using such services to edit their essays. Do the BSchools look upon such essay editing services favorably?

[Linda Abraham]

Gautam,

Good question. First of all, all schools condemn services that write essays.

Schools are becoming more accepting of schools that advise clients and edit essays. Please see the quotes on http://www.aigac.org web site, the list of almost 200 admissions transcripts on Accepted (http://www.accepted.com/chat/transcripts/mba_year.aspx ) or review the recent graduate admissions consultant conference press release (http://kcs4aigac.setupmyblog.com/2008/07/15/first-annual-aigac-conference/) to see that more and more schools are working with us to help you find the right school for you. Collaboration is more and more the name of the game between admissions officers and consultants. It's not universal, but IMHO it is definitely a trend.

Best,
Linda