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I felt obliged to write this Admission Masters review after gaining much expertise as a college admissions consultant. Although they portray themselves as industry leaders, my observations and comments cast doubt on that claim.
Potential customers should be informed of significant problems, such as subpar services and dubious business methods, before committing their time and money to Admission Masters.
Pros & Cons in Short
These pros and cons provide a balanced view of what AdmissionMasters.com offers and potential areas for improvement.
| ➕ PROS | ➖ CONS |
|---|---|
| Admission Masters offers various services, including academic advising, extracurricular guidance, and college application support. | The website does not provide a clear price list for their services, making it difficult for prospective clients to understand the cost structure. |
| The team comprises specialized education counselors, standardized testing experts, and certified teachers. | Limited detailed information exists on the specific outcomes and improvements achieved through each service, such as the average increase in SAT scores. |
| They have over two decades of experience and a history of working with students who gain admission to Harvard, Princeton, and MIT. | The company’s emphasis on admission to elite universities may not be as beneficial for students aiming for a broader range of institutions. |
Based on my experience and the feedback from other families, I strongly advise against using Admission Masters. Their services are overpriced, unhelpful, and not tailored to individual needs. They seem more interested in protecting their reputation than in providing real value.
Search elsewhere if you’re serious about getting the best support for your child’s college admissions. Admission Masters is not the solution you’re looking for.
What Are The Main Admission Consulting Services of Admission Masters?
Admission Masters is a college consulting service that has assisted students since 1996. It offers comprehensive services to help students achieve their academic goals. Their work history looks solid, just like the best college admission consultants.
These services include academic advising, extracurricular activities advising, college application assistance, personality development, and other miscellaneous support tailored to each student’s needs. They position themselves as experts in the industry, claiming to help students get into top-tier universities like Harvard and Princeton. However, in my experience, their offerings don’t match their promises.
What’s Included in Admission Masters Packages?
Their “Full Package Service” claims to cover every aspect of the college application process, from academic planning to final application submission. According to their promotional materials, the package includes services like:
- School selection and activity choice evaluation.
- Major and minor declaration guidance.
- Essay brainstorming and topic selection.
- SAT/ACT/AP test prep and score reports.
- Interview preparation and practice.
- Final decision for best-fit schools and appeal/waitlist support.
But from my experience, it’s just a series of generic meetings. They claim to offer guidance on course selection, extracurricular planning, and essay writing, but all they do is give very basic advice like “raise your GPA” or “take more APs.”
Why would anyone pay for information that’s readily available on the Internet? It’s frustrating, especially when expecting something more nuanced and tailored to your child’s needs.
Who Is on Their Team? Are They Knowledgeable Enough?
Admission Masters markets their team as a group of highly skilled counselors and standardized testing experts. But if you dig deeper, you’ll find complaints from parents and students about the inconsistency in counselor quality.
Some seem to lack experience and struggle to provide meaningful guidance. As I know from general practice, the success of a consulting service is largely dependent on the expertise and consistency of its staff.
Now, let’s look at what this means for students.
Does AdmissionMasters.com Offer Any Extra Services?
They offer additional services like personality development, but these feel like superficial add-ons to justify the high price.
One parent shared their experience where “personality development” was just an extra charge for vague advice that didn’t help their child. It’s as if they’re more focused on upselling than genuinely assisting their clients.
Do They Have Any FREE Services?
They offer a free initial consultation but be prepared for a hard sales pitch. Instead of focusing on how they can help, they convince you to buy their expensive packages. This “free” session can feel more like a marketing gimmick than an opportunity to understand your needs or provide real value.
In that regard, they should learn from Prep Sholar’s example.
Admission Masters Pricing and Guarantees
A significant issue is the lack of transparency in their pricing. The AdmissionMasters.com website does not provide information about how their prices are structured, which makes it hard for families to plan or even understand what they’re paying for.
According to their clients, Admission Masters seem more interested in getting clients to commit to a non-refundable $20,000 package than in demonstrating the value of their services.
Their Professionalism in Terms of Reviews Available Online
In my view, The most concerning issue is how they manage their online reputation. There are numerous reports of fake reviews on Yelp and other platforms.
For example, one reviewer mentioned, “They have since eliminated the other fake reviews and created NEW ones. One account has been reviewed only for AdmissionMasters, one is fake, and another started reviewing other businesses just four days ago.”
They are more concerned with changing their online picture than dealing with real problems. It says a lot about the service you’ll get.
Areas of Admission Masters That They Should Work On
While AdmissionMasters presents itself as an expert in college consulting, the actual value delivered is questionable. Here are the five main problem areas that need serious attention:
- Pricing transparency. Not providing a clear breakdown of pricing is a huge red flag. Parents and students need to know what they are paying for.
- Quality of academic advising. Admission Master’s so-called advising is nothing more than basic suggestions you can find on any college planning website.
- Extracurricular guidance. This company claims to offer help with leadership development and goal setting, but the reality is far from it.
- Focus on honest reviews. Instead of fabricating positive reviews, AdmissionMasters should improve their services. It’s disheartening to see a company more invested in its rating than in the success of its students.
- Communication and support. Numerous complaints about the lack of responsiveness and poor communication.
In conclusion, AdmissionMasters.com should concentrate on actual changes above controlling their internet image. Families should use caution when investing in their services until these difficulties are resolved.
1. What is the cost of AdmissionMasters services?
The cost of Admission Masters’ services can reach up to $20,000 for their Full Package Service, but they do not provide a detailed pricing list on their website, which makes it difficult to assess the value for money.
2. Is Admission Masters a reputable company?
While Admission Masters is a reputable firm, there are mixed reviews online. Some clients have reported positive experiences, but others have raised concerns about service quality and transparency.
3. Can AdmissionMasters.com guarantee acceptance?
No, AdmissionMasters cannot guarantee acceptance into any college. While they offer guidance on the application process, no consulting service can promise specific admission results.
4. Is Admission Masters legit?
Yes, Admission Masters is a legitimate company. However, prospective clients should thoroughly research and consider positive and negative reviews before deciding if their services align with their needs.