Vince's MBA admissions consulting service overview

Vince Admissions

Quality, Creativity, and Results  

 

Welcome to VincePrep.com

 

 

 

 

 

  • I am the founder, owner, and sole consultant, which means I work with all of my clients, from start to finish

  • Vince Admissions is a highly successful admissions consultancy that incorporates my professional training and 20-year experience in critical thinking, storytelling, and instructional design

  • My mission is to provide the best possible advice and support to clients around the world as they apply to top MBA and graduate programs

 

 

 

 

  • I work with a limited number of clients each year in order to maintain the high quality of my service

  • I am based in Tokyo, Japan (September - May) and San Francisco, California (June - August)　

  • I believe that an initial consultation is the best way to determine whether there is a good fit between us

  • If I agreed to work with you after our initial consultation, I will be committed to assist you until you gain admission

 

 

 

End-to-end service, at competitive hourly rates

COMPREHENSIVE COUNSELING

 

  • Most of my clients use Comprehensive Counseling 

  • It is the most flexible and most effective service I offer

  • You are in charge of your time, and tell me how much time to spend on each task

  • If I feel that you should shift your focus to certain essays, recommendation letter questions or interview strategies, I will tell you

  • We share one driving mission - to get you admitted in the most efficient way possible 

 

 

 

With Comprehensive Counseling, I can help you:

 

Plan

Create

Motivate

 

  • Determine your relative strengths and weaknesses compared to past applicants

 

 

  • Read between the lines to determine why admissions officers ask particular questions

 

 

  • Guide you step-by-step towards success using time-tested methods & customized creativity

 

 

  • Research the current admissions environment at your target schools

 

 

  • Provide an objective view of your materials, as adcoms are likely to view them

 

 

  • Pull out your best performance, like a personal fitness trainer, or athletic coach

​

 

  • Reflect industry trends into your goals and accomplishments to convince non-expert readers

 
  • Structure stories so outsiders can understand the cultural context of your achievements
  • Motivate you to keep pace with an ambitious but realistic application schedule

 

 

 

Comprehensive Counseling can cover

 

  • school selection strategy (where to apply and when)

  • resume creation and editing (what to include on a one-page CV or resume)

  • essay brainstorming, outlining, writing, revising, and editing (which stories to tell to which schools)

  • recommendation letter strategy (whom to ask and how to help recommenders support your candidacy)

  • application data forms (what information to include in data forms and mini essays requested by some top schools)

  • interview strategy and mock interview training (simulated interviews with video feedback)

 

 

 

 

COUNSELING PROCESS

 

  • Stage 1: Free initial consultation to determine whether we should work together

  • Stage 2: Resume: 1-3 hours

  • Stage 3: School selection and strategy: 0-3 hours

  • Stage 4: Essays, first school: 3-10 hours

  • Stage 5: Recommendations: 1-4 hours for 2-3 recommendations (0-1 hour for each additional school)

  • Stage 6: Essays, subsequent schools: .25-8 hours per school

  • Stage 7: Interview practice: 2-10 hours in total (English ability and interview skills vary widely)

  • Stage 8: Assistance with administrative issues (application data forms, waitlist letters): 0-1 
hour per school

 

 

 

 

 

HOW MANY HOURS DO I NEED?

 

 

  • My service is designed to maximize your results through a holistic approach to the admissions process

  • The total number of hours you will need is something we can discuss in our initial consultation

  • Some clients use as little as 1 or 2 hours, and others need 50 or more

 

 

Here are some numbers to give you a sense of client usage patterns


 

  • Average hours of counseling services purchased per client: 11 (range 3 to 55)

  • Average number of schools each client applies to: 4.5 (range 1 to 10)

  • Average number of hours Vince spends per client application (including interview training): 3.5 (range .5 to 10)

 

 

 


Here are some past utilization patterns for MBA clients

 

Please note: details have been removed to protect client privacy

 



3 hours

  • American client  

  • Applied to four top MBA programs; admitted to three

  • Needed help selecting programs, brainstorming goals, and preparing for interviews

 


 

5 hours

  • Indian client who earned a bachelors degree at a top US university

  • Applied to two top “dream” schools; admitted to both

  • Needed help brainstorming goals, balancing essay topics, and preparing for interviews

 


 

6 hours

  • American client 

  • Applied and admitted to one top “dream” school

  • Needed help brainstorming and organizing essays, and deciding which recommenders to select

 


 

7 hours

  • European re-applicant 

  • Limited English and overseas work experience

  • Applied to one top school with my help, then used those materials to gain admission to a second program

  • Required support to brainstorm goals, select essay topics, planning and executing application strategy


 

 

10 hours

  • American client 

  • Applied and admitted to two top European MBA programs

  • Required assistance brainstorming goals, balancing essay topics, selecting recommenders, and preparing for interviews

 


 

10 hours

  • American client

  • Applied to nine programs, including several Consortium schools; admitted to five

  • Sought my help selecting schools, brainstorming goals, balancing essay topics, and preparing for interviews

 


 

10 hours

  • Japanese client with limited English

  • Applied to five top MBA programs; admitted to four and awarded Fulbright scholarship

  • Required help organizing and editing Fulbright and application essays and preparing for interviews

 


 

12 hours

  • American client 

  • Applied to six top MBA programs; accepted by three

  • Sought help brainstorming goals, selecting essay topics, editing final drafts, and preparing for interviews

 


 

15 hours

  • American client

  • Applied to ten graduate and MBA programs; accepted by six

  • Sought help brainstorming goals, selecting essay topics, planning campus visits, completing application data forms, and preparing for interviews

 


 

18 hours

  • Japanese client with high scores but limited international experience

  • Applied to four top MBA programs; accepted by three

  • Needed extensive help completing first application

  • Used those materials as the foundation for subsequent schools

  • Sought help brainstorming goals, selecting essay topics, editing final drafts, and preparing for interviews


 

 

20 hours

  • Korean client with advanced spoken English and extensive overseas experience

  • Applied to seven top MBA programs, admitted to two, including “dream” school

  • Sought help brainstorming goals, selecting essay topics, planning campus visits, and preparing for interviews


 

 

30 hours

  • Japanese client with strong international experience, but low undergraduate GPA

  • Applied to four top MBA programs, admitted by one

  • Required help selecting recommenders, brainstorming goals, organizing and editing essays, and preparing for interviews


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRICES for 2013 

 

 

I promise to provide the best advice I can to suit your specific needs and budget

 

 

 

  • Clients pre-pay before services are rendered 

  • I work with a limited number of clients in order to guarantee my availability

  • Once I commit to working with you, I do so for the entire admissions season

  • If you need to buy additional hours beyond the initial package, I guarantee my availability

  • I also promise to maintain your hourly rate for the entire time we work together

 

 
 
 
 

 

 

Rates for clients outside Japan

 

  • Clients outside Japan pay via PayPal or international wire transfer  

  • Once we agree to work together, I will send a PayPal invoice or share my bank's wire transfer information 

 

Hourly rate

  • $250 


 

Prepaid package rates

  • 5 hours: $1,200 (additional hours: $240)

  • 10 hours: $2,350 (additional hours: $235)

  • 20 hours: $4,600 (additional hours: $230)

 

 

 

 

 

Rates for Japan-based clients 

(Prices include 5% Japanese Consumption Tax)

 

 

  • If you are based in Japan, please pay via bank transfer

    • Once we agree to work together, I will provide my JP bank information 

    • PayPal transactions for clients in Japan are subject to a 5% surcharge

  • Clients based in Japan can pay in dollars or yen equivalent

 

 

 

Hourly rate

  • $262 (includes 5% Japanese Consumption Tax)


 

Prepaid package rates

  • 5 hours: $1,260 (includes 5% Japanese Consumption Tax; additional hours: $252)

  • 10 hours: $2,468 (includes 5% Japanese Consumption Tax; additional hours: $247)

  • 20 hours: $4,830 (includes 5% Japanese Consumption Tax; additional hours: $242)

 

 

 

 

 


SERVICE EXTENSIONS & REFUNDS

 

  • CLIENT: What if I don't use all the time I purchase?

  • VINCE: Plans change. I understand and will accommodate, as follows

    • If you wish to delay applications and counseling for up to 12 months from the time of purchase, I will honor the time you have purchased

    • For all other cases, if a client is not 100% satisfied with my work after two weeks of paying, I will refund all the unused time, minus any PayPal or bank transfer fees I might have incurred in receiving payment

    • Please note: This offer does NOT apply if a client's deadlines fall within the initial two-week period after payment is received (ex. client makes initial payment on 23 Dec in order to secure Vince's time to help with an application that is due on 3 Jan)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2013 - 2014 schedule and days off

 
 
 

My days off change week to week, depending on client deadlines, family commitments, and travel 

 

Please note: most days and times are listed in Japan Standard Time = JST = UTC +9

 

  • This summer (Mon 3 Jun through Wed, 21 Aug 2014), I will be working from the US

 

  • From 1 Jun thru 10 Jun and again from 15 Jul thru 21 Aug, I will be in California, which is on Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) = UTC - 7 hours

 

  • I will be visiting schools from 15 Jun thru 12 Jul, so my timezone will be shifting between EDT (UTC - 4 hours), CDT (UTC - 5 hours), and MDT (UTC - 6 hours) 

 

 

 

I am not working the following days

​

  • Wed, 22 May

  • Thu, 23 May

  • Fri, 24 May

 

 

  • Mon, 27 May - Fri, 31 May (in transit from NRT to SFO) 

 

 

  • Wed, 5 Jun

  • Sat, 8 Jun 

 

 

  • Mon, 10 Jun - Sun, 16 Jun (attending the 2014 AIGAC Conference at Wharton)

 

 

  • Fri, 21 Jun

  • Sat, 22 Jun

  • Wed, 26 Jun

  • Fri, 28 Jun

  • Sat, 29 Jun

 

 

  • Wed, 3 Jul

  • Fri, 5 Jul

  • Sat, 6 Jul

  • Wed, 10 Jul

  • Fri, 12 Jul

  • Sun, 14 Jul

 

 

  • Mon, 22 Jul

  • Tue, 23 Jul

  • Fri, 26 Jul

  • Wed, 31 Jul

 

 

  • Fri, 2 Aug - Sat, 10 Aug

  • Wed, 14 Aug

  • Fri, 16 Aug

  • Sat, 17 Aug

 

 

  • Thu, 22 Aug 22 - Tue, 27 Aug (in transit from SFO to NRT)

 

 

  • Sat, 31 Aug

  • Wed, 4 Sep

  • Fri, 6 Sep

  • Sat, 7 Sep

  • Wed, 11 Sep

  • Fri, 13 Sep

  • Sat, 14 Sep

  • Wed, 18 Sep

  • Fri, 20 Sep

  • Sat, 21 Sep

  • Wed, 25 Sep

  • Fri, 27 Sep

  • Sat, 28 Sep

  • Wed, 2 Oct

  • Fri, 4 Oct

  • Sat, 5 Oct

  • Wed, 9 Oct

  • Fri, 11 Oct

  • Sat, 12 Oct

  • Mon, 14 Oct

  • Wed, 16 Oct

  • Fri, 18 Oct

  • Sat, 19 Oct

  • Wed, 23 Oct

  • Fri, 25 Oct

  • Sat, 26 Oct

  • Wed, 30 Oct

  • Fri, 1 Nov

  • Sat, 2 Nov

  • Wed, 6 Nov

  • Fri, 8 Nov

  • Sat, 9 Nov

  • Wed, 13 Nov

  • Fri, 15 Nov

  • Sat, 16 Nov

  • Wed, 20 Nov

  • Fri, 22 Nov

  • Sat, 23 Nov

  • Wed, 27 Nov

  • Thu, 28 Nov

  • Fri, 29 Nov

  • Wed, 4 Dec

  • Fri, 6 Dec

  • Sat, 7 Dec

  • Wed, 11 Dec

  • Fri, 13 Dec

  • Sat, 14 Dec

  • Wed, 18 Dec

  • Fri, 20 Dec

  • Mon, 23 Dec

  • Wed, 25 Dec  

  • Tue, 31 Dec - Thu, 2 Jan 2014

 

 

  • Wed, 8 Jan

  • Fri, 10 Jan

  • Wed, 15 Jan  

  • Fri, 17 Jan

  • Sat,  18 Jan 

  • Wed,  22 Jan

  • Fri, 24 Jan

  • Sat, 25 Jan

  • Wed,  29 Jan 

  • Thu, 30 Jan 

  • Fri, 31 Jan 

  • Sat, 1 Feb

  • Wed, 5 Feb  

  • Fri, 7 Feb

  • Sat, 8 Feb

  • Wed,  12 Feb

  • Fri, 14 Feb

  • Sat, 15 Feb

  • Wed, 19 Feb

  • Fri, 21 Feb

  • Sat, 22 Feb

  • Wed, 26 Feb   

  • Fri, 28 Feb

  • Sat, 1 Mar

  • Wed, 5 Mar  

  • Fri, 7 Mar

  • Sat, 8 Mar

  • Wed, 12 Mar  

  • Fri, 14 Mar

  • Sat, 15 Mar

  • Wed, 19 Mar  

  • Fri, 21 Mar

  • Sat, 22 Mar

 

  • Tue, 25 Mar - Sun, 6 Apr

 

 

... other ​2014 days off coming soon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULING PROCESS

 

 


Scheduling Skype/telephone, email, and document review sessions

  • Clients may set up Skype/telephone, email, and document review sessions as needed

  • If necessary, requests to reschedule appointments should be made at least 24 hours in advance of the originally scheduled appointment time

  • Rescheduling requests made less than 24 hours prior to an appointment will be granted at Vince's discretion

  • Skype/telephone, email, and document review sessions can last 10 minutes or more (minimum charge 10 minutes)

 

 

 
 

Skype/telephone, email, and document review sessions typically available

  • Mon, Tue from 11:00 – 15:00 JST

  • Tue, Thu from 19:30 – 22:30 JST

  • Sun from 17:30 – 22:30 JST

 

 
 

Scheduling face-to-face sessions

  • I use Google Calendar to manage my face-to-face meeting schedule

  • Once sessions are purchased, I will share my Google Calendar

  • Clients can reserve up to 3 face-to-face sessions at a time

  • If necessary, requests to reschedule appointments should be made at least 24 hours in advance of the originally scheduled appointment time

  • Rescheduling requests made less than 24 hours prior to an appointment will be granted at Vince's discretion

  • The minimum time for face-to-face sessions is one hour (60 minutes)

 

 

 
 
 

Face-to-face sessions typically available

  • Tue from 19:30 – 22:30

  • Thu from 19:30 – 22:30

  • Sun from 17:30  –  22:30

  • Just before deadlines, I encourage clients to utilize phone / Skype and email sessions to minimize travel time and maximize efficiency

 

 

 

 

 
 

LOGISTICS

 

TURNAROUND TIME

 

  • I handle work requests in the order received, and try to return files within 48 hours

    • If it will take longer, I will let you know

    • I also prioritize tasks according to deadlines

 

 

FILE MANAGEMENT

 

  • How to send files to me

    • For essays, resumes, recommendations or any other document that you want me to make comments or editorial suggestions on, please send me a .doc or .docx file

    • For presentations, please send me PowerPoint files

    • Only send me PDFs or HTML files if you don’t expect me to make written comments

    • For application forms copying and pasting content into an MS Word file is preferred, if time permits

 

 

 

 

 

  • Session Recording

    • I encourage clients to record sessions 

 

 

 

 

  • Time Tracking

    • Clients only pay for what they need, and for how much time I spend on any given task

    • I provide my clients with a spreadsheet that shows exactly how much time was spent on each task

 

 

 

 

  • Telephone/Skype/Google Talk sessions

    • I encourage all my clients to use Skype or Google Talk as they are free

    • For Skype/Google, I am video enabled, but usually use video only for interview training

    • If you want to talk with me on the phone, please call me (I will provide a phone number at your request)

 

 

 

 

  • Email sessions

    • We don't have to schedule anything if you are sending me an email or document to review

    • You just send me files and I review and comment on them

    • I usually reply within 48 hours

    • If I will require longer than 48 hours to review your files, I will let you know

    • Please note that this 48 hours period exlcudes my days off 

 

 

 

 

  • Face-to-face sessions are conducted at my office in Hongo, Bunkyo-ku

    • Unlike telephone/Skype or email sessions, I have a one-hour minimum for all face-to-face sessions 

    • Please note that schedule changes are allowed on a case-by-case basis

    • Penalties may apply for face-to-face sessions cancelled less than 24 hours ahead of time

    • Face-to-face sessions can be changed to telephone/Skype or email sessions without penalty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below, I have pasted two commonly asked questions from my FAQ page

 

I hope they help you understand a bit more about my counseling methods

 

I also encourage you to watch these YouTube videos  

 

 

 

 

 

 

FAQ 1

 
APPLICANT: What is your process for completing essays, recommendations and application data forms? What is the sequence of steps?
 
VINCE:  These are the tasks most clients complete for a typical school:

 

  • Goals / why MBA essay

  • Leadership / accomplishments essay

  • Failure / mistake / setbacks essay

  • Contribution / personality essay

  • Letters of recommendation

  • Application data forms

  • Interview preparation

 


Every time you need to write an essay, recommendation letter or application data form short answer, you should follow my five suggested steps to writing winning essays that get results: 

 

  1. Brainstorm (list and discuss ideas and options with Vince)

  2. Outline (list your main ideas and supporting details)

  3. Draft (turn your outline into complete sentences and paragraphs)

  4. Revise (add words to make the story clear and interesting (explain what happened, add details)

  5. Edit for concision (cut words to meet the word limit)

 

 

We edit LAST. I suggest you start cutting words one or two weeks before the deadline. Here is my best advice about how to cut words from your essays

I can help you edit as needed. I am fast and effective

Regardless of my editing, your essay will only get results if the story makes sense and contains interesting details and, most importantly, your authentic voice


 

 

 

 

 

 

Please read below to understand how the process might work:

 

  1. Brainstorm new essay, recommendation, or application data form short answer topic with Vince (face to face or on the phone/Skype)

  2. You outline your essay (quick notes in bullet or list form, as you like)

  3. Upload your outline to Google Docs or send it to Vince as an MS Word file (please be sure to add your initials to the file name)

  4. Tell Vince your outline is ready for his quick review

  5. Vince will insert comments in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS 

  6. If my suggested text is correct, please re-write my ALL CAPITAL LETTERS into normal text, using your own words

  7. We can discuss any issues during our next session

  8. If your logic is clear, Vince will encourage you to write your full essay draft (as you write, you can delete Vince's comments as you fix each issue)

  9. Send Vince your full essay draft

  10. Vince will add more comments before our next face-to-face or telephone / Skype session

  11. The process continues until you have fully explained your story

  12. After all contents are explained in logical, detailed English, you and Vince begin editing your essay draft until it fits within the word limit

 

 

 

 

 

 

FAQ 2

 

APPLICANT: How long will it take me to finish my first application?

VINCE: It can take anywhere from one to three months to finish the entire application for your first school. How much time you need usually depends on four factors

 

1. How deeply you have thought about why you need an MBA  

  • Can you articulate your strengths and weaknesses?
  • Do you know what kind of job you want right after MBA, otherwise known as your short-term goal?
  • Do you have a clear and convincing long-term career vision?

 

2. How quickly you outline and write essays 

  • Do you have to write in your native language first? Can you make logical outlines?

 

3. How much time you can spend thinking and writing

  • Are you especially busy at your job?
  • Are you still studying for tests?

 

4. How well you work with your various stakeholders

  • Can you send Vince regular updates?
  • Can you balance the input of senior colleagues, mentors, friends and family as you find your own voice to best answer each essay question?
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONTACT VINCE

 

  • Step one: please contact me using this online form

  • Step two: if I have capacity and feel that I can help you, we can arrange a meeting or call (phone, Skype, Google Talk, etc.)

  • During the meeting or call, I can answer questions about my service and we can discuss the possibility of working together

 

 

 

 


 

 

Related topics and other services

 

 

 

 

 

Quick links

 

 

 

 

 

 

-Updated by Vince on 21 May 2013

 

 

  • I am a graduate admissions consultant who works with clients worldwide

  • If you would like to arrange an initial consultation, please complete my intake form

 

Results

 
 
Vince's clients
admitted since 2008
 
Stanford Sloan Masters 1
Tuck 8

+5 Fulbright Scholars

Full list here

Testimonials

 

 

"You encouraged me to be genuine, and helped me find the right, true stories that captured who I am. In this way, you offer applicants not only an effective admissions advisory, but also a unique journey of self discovery and empowering dreams."

Havard Business School Class of 2015, with Fulbright Scholarship (also admitted Stanford GSB)

________________________________
 

"First, you limit the number of your clients so that you can maintain the high quality of your services while many other MBA consultants accept clients almost beyond their capacity. Second, you are really great 'catalyst.' Each question you asked me made me think and thus deepened my stories. Thanks to you, I was able to come up with excellent ideas that I could never come up with alone."

Kellogg Class of 2015 (also admitted Berkeley Haas)

________________________________

More here http://www.vinceprep.com/testimonials

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