AIGAC Blog

In May, Businessweek published “A Booming Business in MBA Coaches” in both its online and print editions (in slightly different flavors). The article quotes AIGAC Treasurer, Graham Richmond of Clear Admit, who disputes the criticisms of admissions consultants and defends the profession: “His goal, he says, is to ‘perfect the admissions process, not pervert it.’” The article also mentions that Graham is one of the co-founders of AIGAC, but it misrepresents AIGAC’s mission.

To correct that misrepresentation, AIGAC’s President Linda Abraham of Accepted.com, submitted the following correction to BW, which was not published:

“Your article ‘A Booming Business in MBA Coaches’ incorrectly states that the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants was formed to legitimize the field. Leading colleges and universities legitimized admissions consulting years ago. For decades they have provided the identical services to their undergraduate students applying to graduate school as AIGAC members provide to their clients.

“AIGAC was formed to ‘promote high ethical standards and professional development amongst graduate admissions consultants, increase public understanding of graduate admissions consulting, and enhance channels of communication with complementary organizations and entities.’”

AIGAC member Luvy González de Wilson of The MBA Image was much more successful; her Letter to the Editor was published. In “MBA Coaches Know Where The Ethical Lines Are Drawn she wrote:

“As an MBA admissions coach based in Monterrey, Mexico, I can attest that ethical MBA advisers do not write applications for clients (IT’S ALMOST LIKE…admitting an impostor,” B-Schools, June 4). They coach them on personal salesmanship, a skill students need well beyond business school and one not usually taught in Latin American universities.”

AIGAC and its members will continue to defend and promote the admissions consulting industry.

AIGAC has set up a Google Group to facilitate communications among members. We anticipate that it will be enable dialogue among our members, who are from the four corners of the globe.

If you are a graduate admissions consultant who wants to take part in this dialogue and has not yet joined AIGAC, check out our membership requirements. If you believe you meet them, please submit a membership application.

The AIGAC Board has established 4 committees to handle AIGAC’s affairs.

The committees are:

• Communications, headed by Linda Abraham of Accepted.com, which manages AIGAC’s Web site, Google groups, blog, and internal and external communications generally.
• Events, chaired by Graham Richmond of Clear Admit, is planning AIGAC’s 2008 AIGAC Annual Conference and other professional educational programs.
• Governance, headed by Maxx Duffy of Maxx Associates, develops and manages documents, policies and guidelines (e.g., by-laws) that shape and direct organizational operations, rules and adherence to regulations.
• Membership, chaired by Ricardo Betti of MBAEmpresarial, oversees membership matters including membership recruitment, member satisfaction, member application and review process, and use of the Stamp of Excellence.

AIGAC members, please let the chairs of these committees know which committees you would like to participate in.