Frequently asked questions

FAQ – About MBA Crystal Ball

• What is MBA Crystal Ball?

  MBA Crystal Ball is a premium MBA Admissions Consulting venture. We help high-potential and ambitious Indian MBA applicants get into the most competitive business schools across the world.
   

• How does that differ from the regular educational consultants?

  Here’s how we differentiate ourselves from others;

  • Boutique model as opposed to mass market approach
  • Focus on quality rather than volume
  • Focus on maximising conversions (i.e. bschool admits) rather than revenue
  • Calibre of consultants (top bschools grads with stellar professional accomplishments & excellent mentoring skills)
  • Very specific focus (top MBA programs accepting GMAT scores)

   

• Where are you based?

  Globally, premium MBA admissions consulting works on a virtual model. 

FAQ – MBA Mock Application Process

• Why do you charge for something that other consultants do for free?

  For leading players in the MBA coaching industry, the two big revenue generating areas are – GMAT test prep and MBA essay editing services. The top international MBA consultants charge around $2500-$3000 per business school. For most, the free profile evaluations over phone double up as a promotional tool. Even if one candidate signs up, that more than makes up for the ‘free’ time spent on other prospects.

  The MBA MAP is a proprietary product designed by our founder to address the gap between GMAT test prep and MBA essay editing services.

  At MBA Crystal Ball, we are transparent about the fact that there’s no free lunch. We do provide ‘free’ advice on many discussion forums too, to spread the word about our work and allow people to get a sneak peek at what we can do. But personalised, high quality advice comes at a premium.
   

• Yeah, yeah, I got the point. But why do you charge so much?

  International consultants charge $250 per hour for their services. For the MBA MAP, we spend roughly 4-5 hours (2+ hours on the phone with you and the rest doing the analytical behind-the-scenes work). For the effort that goes into each order, the pricing is significantly below the market pricing.
   

• Can’t I skip the MBA MAP and take up one of the essay editing packages?

  A huge majority of folks who work with us, start off with the MBA MAP as it’s a great way to build a solid foundation. It also gives them an opportunity to start with a smaller service to test the waters and decide if they are getting real value for the money they are paying. Most MAP clients come back to sign up for the actual application work.

  But sure, if you are fairly confident that you’ve got the application strategy (i.e. storyline, bschool list, post-MBA goals and overall gameplan) sorted out, you could skip the MAP and consider our essay packages.
   

FAQ – Essay Editing Packages

• How is brainstorming different from the MBA MAP?

  The 1 hour brainstorming phone call that precedes the essay review/editing process is managed by MG. It is school specific (unlike the MBA MAP which applies to all schools).

  In the MAP wrap-up we focus on a storyline (pre-MBA, why MBA and post-MBA goals) and try to identify the bigger disconnects. We don’t get into the details of essays for individual schools. In contrast, for the brainstorming session, you’ll choose one school and get into the content details of each essay for that school.

  Some folks who have taken the MAP prefer to skip the brainstorming and move straight to the review/editing mode. Others prefer aligning their essay content & structuring first before sending across their first drafts. That’s why we keep it optional.

  You can take a call on whether to keep or skip the brainstorming depending on your level of confidence with your essay drafts.
   

• How long does the essay review process take?

  Our typical turnaround time for each review (i.e. all essays for 1 school) is 2-3 days. So for a 3-review package, considering our turnaround, plus the time you’d need to incorporate the changes, it could take 12-15 days for the first school. Once you’ve gone through the learning curve, the subsequent schools tend to be quicker.
   

• I don’t have enough time. Will you write essays for me?

  No, we won’t. It has to be your story and your work. We’d expect you to put in your 100% and we’ll then try to see if there’s scope for further improvement to take it beyond the 100% that you could’ve managed by yourself. That’s the real value you’ll get from us.