Admissions Consulting

We are often asked our opinion of MBA Admissions Consulting. We believe that MBA Admissions Consulting is a valuable service that can significantly boost your chances of admission to your top-choice business schools.

Some GMAT students are able to self-study and achieve successful results on their own. Similarly, some MBA applicants can successfully handle all facets of business school applications themselves. In both situations, however, the vast majority of MBA aspirants would benefit tremendously and maximize their results by using GMAT preparation and Admissions Consulting services.

You should feel very comfortable working with the Admissions Consulting firm that you select and the particular consultant at that firm with whom you will directly interact. Your consultant will be a key advisor who will help you craft all aspects of your business school applications. If you don’t trust and like your admissions consultant, the working relationship is unlikely to be productive.

An Admissions Consulting firm should demonstrate expertise and add value to your application strategy before you sign-up with a particular firm. To asses this, we suggest that you undertake the following research on the firms that you are considering:
 

• Carefully read through the firm’s website and consider what value you ultimately derive from this. A firm that delivers value on its website is much more likely to deliver value in its services. A simple website with minimal information is a red flag.
  • Look for bios of the firm’s founder and consultants.
  • Read testimonials from former clients.
  • Discover what resources and advice the website offers.


• Schedule a free consultation. Top-quality firms happily offer consultations, and a firm that does not offer a free consultation is simply not worth considering. After the consultation, assess how valuable you found the session.
  • Did you get advice tailored to your specific situation, or were you offered a generic sales pitch?
  • Did you get honest feedback about your chances of admission?
  • Did the person you speak with listen to you and respectfully answer all your questions?
  • Did the firm’s representative seem to care about helping you and ensuring a good fit, or just pressuring you to sign up for services?

Not surprisingly, these are the same criteria that you should use in choosing a GMAT preparation company.

There are many Admissions Consulting firms out there. Rather than present a lengthy directory of such firms, we present a our recommendation of the best firm in the industry. We selected the firm that we believe possesses outstanding experience and expertise. We have spoken with key executives at this firm to ensure that they share the values that we espouse. Furthermore, many of our prior clients have used this firm's services and have reported their positive feedback.

We are confident that this Admissions Consulting firm strives to deliver excellent value to its clients. Reach out for a free consultation. Please note that the firm bio presented below has been supplied by the respective company.

MBA Pathfinders

 
MBA Pathfinders was founded by Pamela Jaffe and Laura Nelson, two veteran MBA admissions consultants who have spent their careers helping candidates turn ambitions into admissions. Laura and Pamela first met in 2010 while working as part-time consultants for one of the largest and most established admissions firms in the U.S., while simultaneously pursuing full-time corporate careers. Pamela built her expertise in consulting and strategy across Fortune 500 companies, while Laura launched and led marketing departments at high-growth tech startups.

MBA Pathfinders operates on the belief that exceptional MBA applications are built on a strong foundation — one grounded in a deep understanding of both industry and career goals. By helping candidates articulate not just what they want to do, but why it matters within a broader business context, Pamela and Laura ensure their clients’ applications exhibit authentic, well-reasoned narratives. They maintain close relationships with Admissions and Career Services teams at leading U.S. and European business schools and collaborate with data experts and industry changemakers to stay ahead of evolving trends.

They frequently attend in-person conferences and webinars, fostering direct connections with Directors of Admissions and Career Officers at top programs. Every consultant on the MBA Pathfinders team brings post-MBA business experience, prior tenure with a leading admissions firm, and specialized training in the proprietary MBA Pathfinders methodology.

Pamela holds a B.A. from Smith College and an MBA from Columbia Business School. Laura earned a B.F.A. from Carnegie Mellon University and an MBA from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.