I have applied in the previous year to 3 b-schools working with another editor and didn’t get into any of them.
When I started my re-application, I began wondering around the web looking for some advice and essay questions analysis.
Adam’s blog was clearly standing out with its in-depth detailed discussion of every question of every b-school, with a history of previous years questions, so that one could understand the tendency of the schools and really get into the heads of their adcom officers.
I decided to try working with Adam, although frankly I was very skeptical about working with a distant editor whom I didn’t know personally. Moreover, although Adam’s advices on his blog seemed very concise, smart and logical, I was a little bit confused by the fact that Adam didn’t do MBA himself – I thought how could a person without MBA experience know the MBA admission process good enough?
Well all my fears drifted away after a couple of our first interactions. Adam gave excellent points regarding my previous year application, pointing on exactly my weaknesses and brining up issues that I wouldn’t otherwise think about, but which where really important. For example, the issue of proving to adcom that you will be able to find a job immediately after graduation – such reasoning might play an important role in their decision, because it changes their success statistics.
Adam focused more on the content and strategy of the essays, rather than on wording (here I suppose one whose English isn’t perfect has to decide whether to leave the language as it is – to make it look more authentic, or to use a corrector for more laconic and smooth language).
What I really liked about his advices is that they where straight to the point, without all the “I liked it very much, but here I think you should play with it more” – nothing like this. If he thinks something is wrong, he will just say “This paragraph is nonsense. Throw it away. Instead, write about X, Y and Z”. And such comments where always a bulls-eye hit! At some point, after a few iterations if Adam wrote me something like “that’s an excellent essay, go ahead with it” – I felt like he didn’t do his job! His “devastating” comments are the most useful thing that will help you with your application. On the other hand, of course, getting an “excellent essay” remark from Adam demanded hard work, but felt like being already accepted – and proved to be absolutely right!
Moreover, Adam always gave me the feeling that I’m his only client. His response time was in fact much quicker than the response time of my previous editor, who lived in my city! Adam was ALWAYS available and he ALWAYS remembered what I wrote in which essay – that was really great. Again, I compare this to my previous editor – “Emmm… so what was your long-term goal again? And remind me to which schools you apply?”. Adam’s personal attitude was very very important and helpful.
I absolutely recommend Adam to anyone who wants to be accepted to a top MBA program!!
