Why College Consulting Agencies Should Outsource Essay Revisions
Over the past several years, I’ve had the opportunity to interact with nearly a thousand college consulting agencies across the world, including in the United States, Korea, Kuwait, Indonesia, Japan, and Nigeria.
Understandably business models, pricing, and offerings vary–in some cases dramatically–from country to country. However, I’ve observed that broadly speaking agencies typically fall into one of three categories based on size.
- Small Agencies (0-15 students/year): These agencies often thrive on close relationships with their clients. Essay revisions and other tasks are typically managed in-house, with growth primarily driven by word-of-mouth referrals within personal networks. Some do not have employees.
- Medium-Sized Agencies (15-75 students/year): These agencies are slightly larger, and often have several employees and sometimes multiple office locations. They typically offer a blend of in-person and virtual services. I’ve noticed that non-U.S. agencies of this scale often outsource essay revisions to dedicated proofreaders or specialized essay editors. Some employ current college students instead, taking advantage of their recent experience and affordability (sometimes as low as $15/hour). The downside is their potential reliability. U.S. agencies of this size are less likely to outsource revisions although is changing somewhat.
- Large Agencies (75+ students/year): These agencies usually maintain extensive operations with multiple employees and offices (often in multiple countries). They are the most likely to outsource a significant portion of essay revisions, allowing them to concentrate on core business functions and expansion strategies.
The hesitancy of smaller agencies to outsource revisions is understandable. Many are concerned with quality control, having not outsourced before. Given the personalized nature of college consulting, essays also require a unique level of service and attention.
For some smaller agencies, it may also not make sense to outsource as they have a small workload. However, medium or large agencies, as well as smaller agencies that are looking to expand, should consider outsourcing some or all their essay revisions. Outsourcing revisions often proves more cost-effective and reliable than keeping the process in-house.
Here are three specific reasons why this strategic move can help your agency.
1. Cost Savings and Efficiency
As any business owner knows, human labor is often the most expensive element. Hiring dedicated, full-time staff for essay reviews and revisions can deplete your resources quickly. Besides salaries, one needs to consider recruitment costs, the cost of training, office space, tax withholding, healthcare and other benefits. From a liability perspective, employees also pose an additional risk rather than working with businesses. This overhead, particularly for smaller organizations, can be considerable.
Outsourcing eliminates these overheads, making more room in your budget for other important aspects of your business. By outsourcing essay revisions to a professional essay review service, you can obtain the same, if not better, quality of work at a fraction of the cost. It's a smart business move that lets you provide top-tier services without straining your budget. And with the saved resources, you can focus more on your core services and market to new clients.
It's also important to remember that business owners often underestimate the value of their own time. Recognize your worth, consider the opportunity cost of doing essay revisions yourself, and weigh it against the cost of outsourcing. If the latter comes out on top, it's likely an advantageous move, even for smaller or solo operations. For instance, if you value your time at $100/hour, and outsourcing essay revisions come at a fraction of the cost, you should strongly consider outsourcing.
And so, even if you're running a solo operation, it's generally more advantageous to outsource. This allows you to concentrate on expanding your business and acquiring more clients.
2. Ensure Consistent Quality During Busy Periods
Application seasons can sometimes feel like a roller-coaster ride, with sudden surges in workload. Outsourcing allows you to flexibly scale your services based on demand. Expert review services, accustomed to handling large volumes, ensure that your students' essays are polished and ready for submission, regardless of the workload or looming deadlines. It also serves as a buffer against disruptions from employee turnover, a problem that can otherwise be time-consuming and costly.
Expert review services are reliable partners that ensure your students' essays are well-refined and ready for submission, no matter how high the stack of essays or how tight the deadlines are. They are also contractually bound to deliver quality work on time. There's a peace of mind knowing someone dependable is on the job, especially during peak application season.
3. Gaining a Competitive Edge
In an industry as competitive as college admissions consulting, outsourcing essay revisions can give you a much-needed competitive edge. Collaborating with a premier essay review service can enhance the quality of your services or let you focus on expansion, as it frees up more time.
For smaller agencies, the comfort of handling everything in-house may seem attractive. However, shifting your mindset to embrace strategies like outsourcing not only enables you to compete effectively with larger agencies but also opens up more time for proactive marketing of your services.
About Alcanzo Prep
Even if you're the one doing the essay revisions now, outsourcing can benefit you. It frees up your time to focus on strengthening client relationships and growing your business. So, if you're looking to make your agency more resilient, efficient, and competitive, it might be time to consider outsourcing your essay revisions.
Our team at Alcanzo Prep is comprised of Princeton graduates. We understand what top-tier universities are looking for in applicant essays. By assisting students in crafting engaging narratives that emphasize their unique perspectives, we've helped over a thousand students secure a place at their dream college.
If you are interested in speaking further, please contact us or schedule a call today.