How WyseGyde is “Hacking” the Price of Admissions Consulting

Started by three Tuck MBAs, WyseGyde aims to make admissions consulting more accessible to all MBA applicants. Charging only $59 per hour and using current students from top MBA programs, WyseGyde provides contemporary and relevant application guidance at one of the lowest prices in the industry.

Over 40% of all MBA applicants use admissions consultants. I was not one of them.

To be honest, when I decided to get my MBA, I didn’t know the first thing about applying. I enlisted in the military after high school, was a Philosophy and English major in college, and worked for the government after graduating. It’s not exactly the sort of background that screams, “I’ve been working toward my MBA my whole life!”

Yet, there I was in early 2012, trying to make the April application deadline. I took the GMAT, followed a few MBA discussion boards, read Poets&Quants religiously, and submitted my applications only hours before the deadlines. I would NOT recommend this approach, but at least this story had a happy ending, as I was fortunate enough to be accepted to the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. I enrolled the following fall and had the best two years of my life. (Seriously!)

Rejecting The High Cost of Traditional Consulting

Nevertheless, I walked away from the experience thinking there should be a better way to apply to schools. I was sure that there were others who, like me, were unfamiliar with the process and were not willing (or able) to spend thousands of dollars per application on a traditional MBA admissions consultant.

The subject of admissions consulting is rarely discussed—not surprising given its hefty price tag ($280 per hour on average). I did some research and learned that there wasn’t a great alternative. You either hired an expensive consultant or did everything yourself.

From this, WyseGyde was born. Our mission is to redefine admissions consulting, making it affordable while providing a high quality, relevant service to applicants.

Working With Real Students From Top MBA Programs

We reached out to real students from the top MBA programs in the world and said, “Hey, you were accepted to a great school, and you understand the current MBA culture firsthand. How would you like to help other applicants by sharing your experiences and expertise, AND get paid to do it?” The response has been impressive, and we’ve formed a diverse team of uniquely qualified consultants, both domestic and international. Each consultant knows what it takes to get into a top tier school and how to put together a great application.

Covering All Application Services: From School Selection to Mock Interviews

We’re making admissions consulting accessible to everyone. With a flat hourly rate of $59, and an a la carte model of services, candidates can get the specific guidance they want, at a price they can afford. Need your resume edited? You got it. Your essay reviewed? We have you covered. Interview prep? No problem. We can even help you get started with the whole process. It’s difficult enough to compete with thousands of qualified applicants. A candidate shouldn’t have to pay thousands of dollars to ensure that they have a competitive application.

We are also mindful of the ethical challenges in the industry. WyseGyde consultants aren’t interested in writing applications—they’re here to help an applicant’s voice be heard. And we’re excited about that. We want to level the playing field and help great candidates rise to the top. After all, when the best applicants are accepted, it supports and strengthens the entire business school community.

WyseGyde is a service that we would have loved to use while applying to business school. We offer the same services as traditional admissions consultants, but at 1/5th of the cost and with experts who know current MBA programs from experience.

Follow us as we blog about our journey on Poets&Quants and WyseGyde.com. Want to know more? Visit our website or email us at contact@wysegyde.com.

by Jason Bodewitz, Founder & CEO of WyseGyde, an MBA Admissions Consulting Firm