Should I Hire an MBA Admissions Consultant? Three Non-Obvious Reasons the Answer May Be Yes

Originally published on March 9, 2023. Updated on March 26, 2025.

In past articles, we’ve discussed how MBA admissions consultants charge for their services and what to ask when interviewing them. But it dawned on us—we’ve never really shared why you should consider hiring an MBA admissions consultant in the first place.

So, if you’re wondering, “Should I hire an MBA admissions consultant?”—this one’s for you.

Yes, you might expect our answer to be “yes”—this is our business, after all. And yes, we wholeheartedly believe in the value of what we offer. But our reasons go beyond the obvious.

Sure, the data shows that working with a consultant increases your chances of admission. And yes, it’s helpful to have a trusted sounding board for all your application-related questions. But some of the most compelling reasons to invest in a boutique admissions consulting firm like ours are more nuanced.

Curious whether working with a consultant is the right move for you? Request an initial consultation to learn more about our personalized approach and how we can support your MBA goals.

#1 – Looking Good on Paper Isn’t Enough

It may be counterintuitive, but some of the most challenging clients we work with are those who look like strong applicants on paper—those with “MBA feeder” employers on their resumes and stats that exceed the average for their target programs.

There are two reasons why.

First, the competition. It’s fierce for everyone, but especially so for candidates from overrepresented sectors like banking and consulting. To stand out from equally talented peers, these applicants need to differentiate themselves—and that’s tough.

Second, and this is a generalization—but one we’ve seen often—candidates from these “feeder” industries have long assumed that business school would be part of their path. As a result, they haven’t always paused to reflect on why the MBA makes sense for them. And as you probably know, having a compelling answer to “Why MBA?” is critical to a successful application.

We often find that these candidates lack passion-led, realistic, yet ambitious career goals that clearly require an MBA. It’s a blind spot—even for otherwise highly marketable applicants.

A good MBA admissions consultant knows how to draw out your unique story (even if you swear you’re “not that interesting”) and help you articulate future goals that feel authentic and resonate with admissions committees.

#2 – The Scholarship Game is Real

Over the last few years, we’ve seen a significant increase in scholarship dollars offered by top MBA programs. These funds are often used to help programs compete for the highest-caliber admits.

As our founder Melody Jones shared here, two of the keys to attracting these scholarship offers is showing your leadership potential and presenting a nuanced argument as to why ‘program X’ is a great fit for you (and vice versa).

Programs don’t want to extend scholarships to candidates who don’t seem genuinely interested. They reserve these offers for applicants they believe will enroll and make a meaningful impact. If you do receive an offer, knowing how—and when—to negotiate can make a real difference. This article outlines what’s possible when it comes to MBA scholarship negotiations and how to approach them strategically.

So how does the question “Should I hire an MBA admissions consultant?” tie in?

A good consultant can help you highlight the parts of your profile that not only appeal to admissions committees—but also make you more competitive for scholarships. While we can’t promise working with a consultant will land you scholarship dollars, we believe it absolutely can improve your chances.

#3 – The Value Extends Beyond Matriculation

We’ve already mentioned how a consultant can help you craft compelling, post-MBA career goals. But the value of that work goes far beyond getting into your dream school.

A big part of what we do is help clients reflect on what really matters to them—what drives them, what they’re passionate about, and where they ultimately want to end up. That clarity helps craft a more authentic, differentiated application story. But just as importantly, it gives you direction once you’re on campus.

Here’s the thing: internship recruiting starts fast. If you arrive on campus without a strong sense of the industries or roles you want to explore, you could find yourself overwhelmed—or worse, missing out on key opportunities.

A Few Closing Thoughts…

If you’re weighing the question “Should I hire an MBA admissions consultant?”—and perhaps experiencing sticker shock—we encourage you to consider the bigger picture:

• The overall cost of an MBA
• The significant salary increase many graduates experience
• The expanded professional opportunities that comes with an MBA
• The potential cost of going it alone and not gaining admission to your top-choice school

When you weigh these factors—along with the reasons outlined above—it becomes clear that working with an MBA admissions consultant can be a valuable investment in your future.

If you’d like to learn more about how we work with clients and explore whether we’re the right fit for your MBA journey, click here to request an initial consultation.