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Number Of Expert Admissions Coaches: 6
Total Reviews: 832 | 5 Star Reviews: 832
Firm Website: https://www.admissionsgateway.com/
Founded in 2007, Admissions Gateway is built on the philosophy of “Never leave a person behind.” Our mission is to do all it takes to help candidates get into top business schools.
Over the past 18 years, we have helped more than 2,000 applicants crack the world’s most competitive programs, including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, and other M7 schools. Across the last four intakes, our candidates have received 836 admission offers from M7 programs. In 2026 alone, we had 263 of those, with over $15M in scholarships secured.
Poets&Quants named Admissions Gateway the #1 medium-sized MBA admissions consulting firm in the world for 2026, with a 9.99 client satisfaction score across 145 P&Q-verified reviews, and over 570 5-star reviews overall. In the same year, three of our consultants were ranked in the global Top-10 and five in the global Top-25.
Our model of invested mentoring means we don’t just edit essays, we live the application journey with each candidate. We ensure every student receives the undivided attention of senior consultants, supported by a structured firm-wide process that guarantees consistency and quality across the board.
At Admissions Gateway, our commitment goes beyond applications. We shape authentic stories that win admits and mentor candidates to thrive in business school and in their careers that follow.
Admissions Results:
2026 Intake results: HSW: 104; M7: 263, top-15: 461 2025 Intake results: HSW: 103; M7: 226, top-15: 322
2024 Intake results: HSW: 86; M7: 191, top-15: 315
2023 Intake results: HSW: 61; M7: 156, top-15: 293
Scholarship Results:
2026 intake scholarships: ~ $15M
2025 intake scholarships: ~ $13.5M
2024 intake scholarships: ~ $12.6M
2023 intake scholarships: ~ $10M
I had an excellent experience working with Nisha and the entire team at Admissions Gateway throughout my MBA application journey. From the very beginning of the engagement, the team was deeply involved and invested in my success. Their process was incredibly thoughtful and unique, constantly prompting me to think more deeply and critically about my profile, experiences, and personal story in a way I had never done before.
What truly differentiated the experience for me was the level of involvement and support throughout the process. The team was always available to brainstorm, refine ideas, and push me to present the strongest possible version of myself. I ultimately applied to Harvard Business School and was fortunate to receive an admit, and I genuinely believe the guidance I received played a major role in making that possible.
Nisha was particularly helpful during the HBS interview preparation process. The HBS interview is extremely unique and demanding, but she had an exceptional understanding of how to approach it strategically while ensuring all aspects of my profile and personality came through naturally. Her insights, preparation style, and ability to identify gaps were invaluable.
Super hyped about this wharton admit!
The team had conviction in my profile and story from the start, even during moments when I was second-guessing myself. They were consistently thoughtful, incisive with their feedback, and incredibly skilled at asking the right questions to truly understand my journey, my motivations, and what made me who I am.
Wharton has its own very specific way of evaluating candidates, for instance their unique team based discussion interviews. I did multiple TBD mocks with Nisha who simulated real interview very closely and also offered extensive feedback which allowed me to feel prepared and confident with my prep. Consequently resulting in an admit from Wharton.
Even beyond the admit, the guidance and support have continued as I think through what comes next at Wharton and beyond.
I had an incredible experience working with Aparna Pahwa throughout my MBA admissions journey. She was thoughtful, strategic, deeply invested, and genuinely cared about helping me put forward the strongest version of my story.
What stood out most was her ability to push me beyond surface-level answers and help me articulate my experiences in a way that felt authentic, compelling, and true to who I am. She was extremely responsive, detail-oriented, and brought a calming presence to what can otherwise be a very stressful process.
I always felt like she was fully in my corner — not just as a consultant, but as someone who truly wanted me to succeed. Her guidance across essays, positioning, and overall application strategy was invaluable, and I honestly could not have asked for a better partner through this process.
10/10 experience. I would highly recommend Aparna to anyone applying to business school.
Working with Shabri was the best decision in my MBA application journey.
When I started in July planning to apply to 4 schools in R1, I was extremely worried. But within the first 3-4 conversations, that worry had vanished. Understanding me, she put timelines on an excel and sat through brainstorms and revisions.
My personal story, the one that fuels me, is also one that very few friends know. Yet Shabri created an environment that felt safe to share the big and small things. She not only remembered those details, she reminded and helped me pull them together months later when I couldn’t. Version after version she made me dive deeper into my own stories, asking the tough questions, even when it felt uncomfortable (especially then!). Those moments of discomfort are where I got my strongest essays.
When a work travel and a target school interview coincided, with hardly any time to prep, my confidence plummeted. Shabri sat through those moments, believing in me more than I did she helped me regain my composure.
So if Shabri does agree to work with you, there shouldn’t be a speck of doubt in your mind. She is meticulous at what she does, and an extraordinary human, one who truly cares. At times beating my closest friends to checking in after an interview or an awaited result.
When deciding to invest in my MBA journey, I spoke to numerous consultants, and immediately after conversing with AG and Shabri, I knew she was the best person for me to work with. Her client’s list of acceptances, numbers, and statistics speaks for itself, but behind this excellent MBA consultant, I also found a great listener, advisor, and thought partner as I navigated this life-stage transition.
First of all, Shabri is really with you every step of the way and will not let you submit any application until it passes her own bar. While many consultants out there bill by the hour or by school, Shabri makes a commitment to excellence in every component of the application to ensure it’s a well-integrated, cohesive story of your personal and professional life. Especially for my first few applications, we went through numerous iterations of feedback to ensure the entire application is of a winning standard, which included complete re-writes of some essays. Another standout moment was when I decided to add a school at the last moment. Shabri fully supported me through the process and supported me round-the-clock to help deliver a high-quality application on time.
Second, Shabri’s depth of experience really stands out. Shabri’s has not only coached dozens of students over the years, but she herself is a graduate of a top M7 program with a career in banking and scaling tech companies. She understands both sides of the table, understands what works and doesn’t work, and this allows her to be decisive in direction, which really helped add a lot of structure to my entire process. The entire program is well thought through, and the application order is also well structured to maximize chances. I found the coaching process helpful not only for application’s sake but also to logically think through my short-medium term personal goals, which led to my eventual school selection.
Lastly, one standout area for me was Shabri’s support in interview preparations and in the case of Wharton School’s unique TBD Interview (Team-Based-Interview). This is really a game-changer and the point that separates candidates who are invited to interview from those who convert to offers. Shabri’s personalized coaching in this aspect was a real difference maker for me to go over the line among other similarly competitive applicants.
All in all, I’m glad I worked with Shabri through this journey and would recommend her to anyone who is seriously invested in their MBA studies.
I had a great experience working with Rajdeep, and he really helped me with getting into my dream school.
Through multiple iterations, he pushed me to reflect deeper. He helped me find my own story and voice, and connect different parts of my journey in a way that felt authentic. This made a huge difference to my application.
He also spent lots of time giving feedback, focusing on the minutest of details, and iterating till we achieve a great output!
After getting shortlists, I was struggling with interviews, especially communicating my thoughts clearly and confidently. He spent time doing multiple mock interviews and giving detailed feedback, which helped me become much more structured and comfortable.
What I appreciated most about working with Mudit and the team was their specific read on INSEAD. The school has a rigorous way of evaluating applicants and a clear point of view on what would matter from the very first conversation. We spent serious time on the goals piece, ensuring that the short and long-term answers held up under the constraint of a 1-year program. The team was also fast and consistent throughout. What stands out most is that I remained authentic to myself and my post-MBA goals without the stress of figuring out everything alone. So grateful for getting me here! 🙂
Thank you, Mudit and team, for not only helping me get into my dream MBA but also encouraging me to believe in myself through it all.
Rajdeep’s structured approach brought out a compelling narrative in my applications. He pushed me well beyond surface-level storytelling, helping me connect my diverse experiences across consulting, investing, and operations in a cohesive and authentic story. His feedback, right from refining my resume, built a strong foundation to align my profile, school selection, and essays with my investing goals. I was able to freely bounce my thoughts with him as he tailored a distinct approach for each of the 5 schools I applied to, bringing out the best version of each story. After receiving 2 waitlists in R1, I had started second-guessing my profile. Here, Rajdeep’s conviction played a critical role in allowing me to stay focused and trust the process. That mental clarity helped me secure a Booth admit in R2. Overall, Rajdeep helped me think, refine, and present my unique experiences in their strongest form.
When I first started the MBA application process, I spoke to a lot of folks before ultimately deciding who to work with. One thing that clearly and consistently stood out was how positively people spoke of Shabri. And after going through this journey with her I completely understand why.
Shabri is extremely hands-on, deeply invested and incredibly specific in her feedback. She is the kind of consultant who truly becomes the captain of your ship: a ship that is still fully your own but she helps steer it calmly through stormy waters. She doesn’t let you settle for generic storytelling/surface-level introspection. In fact, she has an almost uncanny ability to sniff out anything inauthentic, templated or ChatGPT-like in your work and constantly pushes you to produce much sharper, more personal and more thoughtful work.
What I seriously appreciated most was her honesty. She will be brutal sometimes, but trust me, in hindsight, I needed that. She tells you exactly what’s working, what isn’t and most importantly, why. And she’ll keep iterating, course-correcting, refining with you till the story reaches a genuinely string place. Even if you’re someone who tends to work last minute like me (highly NOT recommended), she somehow manages to make the absolute best use of the time available and keeps the process moving smoothly.
Coming from a somewhat atypical non-engineer FMCG profile, I initially had my own doubts about how my story would be perceived in such a competitive applicant pool. But Shabri’s conviction and confidence in my profile and story gave me confidence in myself. She took the time to truly, deeply understand who I was, my background, my motivations and what made my journey uniquely mine. Our calls always felt like we’re building this together, and never transactional, honestly. Whether it was essays, strategy, positioning or school selection, it genuinely felt like a collaborative exercise.
Her guidance on strategy was also spot on. I initially planned to apply to a much larger set of schools, but her confidence and clarity helped me prioritize intelligently. She was spot on about my R1 vs R2 approach, which schools made sense for my profile and even how to sequence my applications in a way that would help build momentum and confidence throughout the process.
Ultimately, I was fortunate to receive admits from Wharton, Kellogg and Yale, along with a waitlist at Stanford and I GENUINELY believe Shabri played a huge role in helping me present the strongest and most authentic version of myself and in the process appreciate my own journey much better.
Rajdeep’s strategy sessions gave me a genuine head start. He broke down the process in a way that made it feel manageable and helped me understand what these programs are actually looking for. But more than that, he completely transformed how I thought about my own story. Things I had been glossing over became central to my narrative, and that shift carried through every part of my application. He was also consistently helpful and present throughout the entire process, never leaving me to figure things out on my own. I would highly recommend Admissions Gateway to anyone looking for help for their MBA admissions.
Working with Nisha and the Admission Gateway team was honestly one of the best decisions I made throughout my MBA journey, and the results speak for themselves.
What made this team different was how genuinely invested they were at every step. They were thorough, insightful, and we were constantly iterating together. From shaping my career narrative to fine-tuning essays to interview prep, every round of feedback made my application meaningfully better. It never felt transactional; it felt like they actually cared about getting me in.
Round 1 went incredibly well and I got into both Chicago Booth and Wharton, which I was thrilled about. But what really stood out was that Nisha and the team didn’t slow down after that. They brought the exact same energy and focus into Round 2, and we ended up securing an admission to Harvard Business School.
Getting into HBS is no easy feat, and I genuinely don’t think I get there without this team. Beyond the strategy and the editing, they gave me a process I could trust and the confidence to show up as my best self at every stage. Their ability to understand what these programs are looking for and pull that out of you is something else.
Going in, I had a general sense of what I wanted to say. What I didn’t have was a clear strategy for how to say it. The strategy sessions early on were where things clicked. Rajdeep asked sharp questions, challenged my instincts, and helped me see angles in my own story I’d been overlooking. By the time we got to writing, I had a real foundation to build from. What made the essay process much easier was how he broke each essay down to its core and had me tackle one paragraph at a time. It made something that felt overwhelming feel manageable, and it was much easier to improve and iterate when I wasn’t staring at the whole thing at once. His admissions background showed throughout. He knew what schools were actually looking for and helped me build toward that without the application feeling calculated. It still felt like me, just clearer and more compelling. Getting into HBS was the outcome. But I came away understanding my own story better than I did going in, and that’s really a credit to how Rajdeep works.
Round 1 not going the way I hoped was hard. I had interviewed at three schools and ended up waitlisted across the board. Nisha and the team helped me regroup quickly, think through what Round 2 could look like, and then pushed me toward applying to HBS. And that’s what I needed to be honest.
Nisha and the team visibly put in more effort for the HBS application and interview prep. Not just running through questions, but really getting into the details with me, tightening every answer, and making sure I walked in ready. I could feel the difference in how prepared I was going into that interview.
The support ran end to end, first essay draft to final interview. Deadlines were tracked, feedback was quick and substantive, and I always knew what the next step was.
Round 2 ended with an HBS admit. I genuinely didn’t see that coming. Really grateful for how this turned out and for everything Nisha and the team put into it.
Shabri is one of THE best admission consultants (I have spoken to many). I had a great experience working with her – she had value-additive inputs, helped add structure to my application while preserving my authenticity and was very available for last-moment edits. She helped me secure a GSB interview and convert an HBS admit – this would’ve been very different without her. I highly recommend working with her for b-school apps.
Working with Rajdeep was a genuinely strong experience, and I would absolutely recommend him. One of his biggest strengths is the sheer depth of his experience. No matter what you throw at him, he’s able to provide a clear, structured solution. I particularly appreciated how thoughtfully designed his school-specific session content was; everything felt well-researched, backed by credible examples from past years, and reliable enough that I didn’t feel the need to constantly cross-check. That alone saved a lot of time and mental energy. He’s also extremely efficient. Whether it was reviewing drafts or jumping on calls, he was always prepared or able to get up to speed within seconds. Our calls were sharp and focused; we could often cover an entire essay in 15–20 minutes, after which I’d go back, write, and iterate. The overall process felt fast, structured, and productive. Another standout aspect was how he goes above and beyond when needed. I was applying alongside my partner, who wasn’t even part of his cohort, and Rajdeep still took the initiative to support her, arranging a TBD session and even taking a call to help her think through her waitlist strategy for Booth. That level of support isn’t something most consultants would offer. He’s also highly ethical and straightforward in his guidance. He doesn’t tell you what you want to hear; he tells you what you need to hear. For instance, I initially wanted to apply only to Harvard and Stanford, but he strongly advised building a broader school mix. That advice turned out to be critical, since I eventually got into Wharton but not H/S. Without that push, I might have walked away empty-handed. What also stood out is that his focus isn’t just on getting you in, but on building high-quality applications overall. I wasn’t expecting any scholarship outcomes, but because of the strength of the application, I ended up receiving a significant scholarship from Wharton, which was a huge bonus. Overall, if you’re considering working with a consultant, I would strongly recommend Rajdeep. Unless you have the time, confidence, and clarity to manage the entire process independently, he’s someone who can add real value across every stage of the application journey.
Last year, I worked with a US-based MBA consultant. While that engagement was positioned as high-touch, the hours and level of involvement were quite limited. I gained admission to a non M7 school but wanted to target the M7.
This year, I reached out to Rajdeep, and the experience was completely different. He encouraged me not to do the whole admissions consulting process but just take advice on the critical aspects as I already had experience of applying. Even though my package was limited, he was kind enough to offer support beyond that scope. He consistently checked in to understand how I was doing and whether there was anything he could help me think through.
That level of accessibility and personal involvement made a big difference. There were several moments where we debated key decisions, especially around my career goals. At one point, I was unsure whether my short-term goal should be product management or consulting. Rajdeep helped me think through this decision in depth, considering my long-term aspirations and profile. I was also able to identify key gaps in my resume, essays and interview preparation.
I received admission to Kellogg. Looking back, even though I engaged a consultant this year for a few hours, the support, structure, and quality of advice I received from Rajdeep were far more detailed and impactful than my previous full consulting experience.
I feel that I could not have gotten better value from this process, and I am thankful to Rajdeep for his guidance and support throughout my application journey.
I chose to work with Eli after hearing great things from friends who got into top universities. They told me he is very professional and very direct, and they were right. If you are looking for someone who will tell you only what you want to hear, Eli is not for you. But if you want someone who will push you to be your best, he is the perfect choice. His deep knowledge of the MBA world and his honest feedback are the reasons I succeeded. Eli’s talent is helping you find your real story. He knows how to bring out the best version of you, the one that top business schools are looking for. He works incredibly hard and expects the same from you. For four months, we worked so closely that I spoke with him more than I spoke with my partner. He was always available, even at late hours, to make sure everything was perfect because he is a perfectionist. He doesn’t compromise on anything not in the essays, not in the CV, and not even on a single comma. In addition, What makes Eli special is that he doesn’t just “fix” your application, he truly cares about your success. During the most stressful moments of the process, he was there to keep me focused and confident. He knows exactly what the admissions committees want to see, and he makes sure your unique voice shines through in every part of the application. Next year, I will start my MBA at my dream school, MIT. This would not have happened without Eli’s support and his push for excellence. I highly recommend Eli to anyone applying for an MBA. It is a challenging process, but the results are worth every dollar and every correction.
I reached out to Shabri after getting rejected from multiple M7 schools and feeling pretty down about my chances. Over the next six months, we put together a solid plan. She didn’t try to force me into a typical mold, but instead helped me tell my story in a way that felt authentic and unique. She’s not afraid to give honest feedback, but it’s always constructive and pushes you to do better. Ultimately, I got into Wharton with a scholarship, and I couldn’t have done it without her guidance. Highly recommend working with her if you want someone who’s genuinely invested in your success.
I came into this process with a story that felt scattered. I had a strong sports background, but I didn’t know how to position it, how to connect it to my professional life, or how to make it relevant to a top MBA program.. I have my own style, my own pace, and I needed someone who could both adapt to that and push back when necessary. Working with Eli changed everything. He didn’t try to force me into a standard mold. Instead, he took the time to understand how I think and how I work, and then built a strategy around that. At the same time, he wasn’t afraid to call me out when I was off track or when I was holding back. That balance, adapting to me while also keeping me accountable, is rare and incredibly effective.
The biggest impact was how he helped me reframe my sports background. What I saw as just “something I used to do,” he turned into a central, compelling part of my narrative that tied together different phases of my life. Suddenly, everything made sense. My story had direction, coherence, and purpose.
He was also extremely available throughout the process. Whether it was brainstorming, reviewing drafts, or just getting unstuck mentally, I always felt like I could reach out and get a real answer, not a generic one. In the end, I was admitted to Columbia Business School. This didn’t happen by chance. It was the result of a very deliberate, thoughtful process and someone who knows exactly how to extract and position the best out of you.
Working with Nisha was one of the most defining parts of my MBA application journey, and it is difficult to fully capture the impact she has had on me in just a few paragraphs.
At a baseline, Nisha checks every box you would expect from a top-tier admissions consultant. Her feedback is sharp, honest, and incredibly incisive. She has a remarkable ability to see through noise and get to the core of what truly matters in an application. Whether it was refining my resume, shaping my career narrative, or pushing me to dig deeper into my experiences, she consistently brought out the best version of my story. What stood out most was her strength in storytelling. She did not just help me write essays, she helped me discover and articulate parts of my journey I had not fully understood myself.
She also played a critical role in helping me sharpen my goals and think about my career more holistically. The inputs she provided were not limited to crafting strong application narratives. They fundamentally changed how I approached my career decisions. I found myself applying her frameworks and insights well beyond the applications, using them to think more clearly about my long-term direction and professional choices.
But what makes Nisha truly exceptional goes far beyond the mechanics of applications.
Two months before my deadlines, I had left my job, a moment that could have easily derailed both my confidence and my plans. During that time, Nisha was far more than a consultant. She was a steady source of reassurance and perspective, helping me believe that this transition would not define my candidacy. She anchored me when things felt uncertain and ensured that I stayed focused and confident through the process.
What I did not expect, and will always be grateful for, was how she and the team went above and beyond to support me beyond applications. This started with encouraging me to apply to schools beyond the initial set I had signed up for, including suggesting that I apply to Ross, which turned out to be a great decision. The scholarship outcomes that followed were equally meaningful. Receiving a full ride gave me a huge boost in confidence, and the scholarship from CBS was incredibly helpful and far beyond what I had initially expected.
They also actively supported me through my job search, offering referrals and guidance at a time when I needed it most. This was not part of any formal engagement, but it reflected a genuine investment in me as a person, not just as an applicant.
Even after I received my admits, the support did not stop. Nisha and the team continued to be available, helping me think through next steps and offering guidance wherever they could. That continuity of care is rare, and it speaks volumes about how deeply they commit to the people they work with.
I can confidently say that Nisha is an outstanding consultant, and I would recommend her purely on that basis without hesitation. More importantly, I would strongly encourage anyone considering working with her to do so because of everything she brings beyond the application process. She does not just help you get into business school, she stands by you through the highs and lows of the journey in ways that truly matter.
I came into this process from what most people would consider a non-competitive background. I was working at a small, relatively unknown company, and my initial target schools were firmly in the second tier. M7, let alone top five, didn’t feel realistic.
What changed everything was the strategy we built together. From the very beginning, Eli went far beyond surface-level advice. We didn’t just pick schools or tweak essays, we constructed a full, coherent plan. That meant defining a credible career path, connecting every part of my background to that path, and shaping a narrative that actually made sense at the highest level. The amount of thought and detail that went into this was honestly surprising.
At some point, something shifted. The strategy was so strong and so well thought through that it completely changed how I saw my own potential. Naturally, my ambition grew. I started aiming for top five schools, which I would have never considered before. That shift is what motivated me to retake the GMAT, not pressure, but a genuine belief that it was now worth it.
Throughout the process, I needed a lot of support, and this is where Eli stands out. I had his personal WhatsApp and used it frequently. Whether I was second-guessing decisions, stuck on an idea, or just needed reassurance, he was always available and fully engaged. That level of access and responsiveness made a huge difference for me.
What impressed me most is his ability to take someone from a less obvious, less competitive profile and build a positioning that works at the very top. This was not about polishing what I already had. It was about rethinking everything and executing it properly. The outcome still feels surreal. I was admitted to a top five school along with several top 20 programs. A year ago, this would have sounded completely unrealistic.
I am honestly the happiest I’ve been in a long time. This process didn’t just change my results, it changed how I see myself and what I believe is possible.
Eli is truly one of a kind – and for me, he became far more than a consultant. He became a true mentor.
Looking back on my MBA journey, working with Eli was not just one of the most meaningful parts of the process, but also one of the best decisions I made. From the very beginning, it was clear that this is not a typical consulting relationship. Eli doesn’t just guide you through the steps – he fully immerses himself in your journey. He takes the time to deeply understand who you are, what drives you, and what truly makes your story unique, often identifying strengths and angles you haven’t yet been able to articulate yourself.
What sets Eli apart is the depth and rigor of his process. This is not about “writing good essays” – it is about building a narrative that is both authentic and precise. He challenges every idea, every sentence, and every assumption. Nothing is accepted at face value, and nothing is left unrefined. At times, the process is demanding and even uncomfortable – but that is exactly what elevates the outcome to a completely different level.
His level of commitment is exceptional. Eli is fully hands-on at every stage, with a degree of involvement and availability that is extremely rare. Whether it is late-night iterations, detailed feedback, or interview preparation, you constantly feel that he is genuinely invested in your success. It is a true partnership built on accountability, trust, and shared ambition.
But more than anything, what had the greatest impact on me was his belief in me. Throughout a process that naturally comes with uncertainty and self-doubt, Eli had a level of conviction in my potential that I didn’t always have myself. And this belief was never superficial – it was grounded in a deep, thoughtful understanding of my story and how to position it in the strongest possible way. Even in moments where I questioned myself, he never did – and over time, that belief became my own.
Beyond the tangible results, Eli gave me something much more valuable: clarity, confidence, and a much deeper understanding of my own story. He didn’t just help me present myself better – he helped me become a stronger candidate and, in many ways, a more self-aware person.
I can say without hesitation that I would not have achieved the same outcome without him. If you are serious about aiming for the very top and are willing to meet a high standard, Eli is not just the best partner you can have in this process – he is in a league of his own.
I was referred to Eli by a friend when I first started thinking about MBA applications. At that point, I was honestly only focused on the “top” schools, but didn’t really have a clear strategy beyond that.
What stood out early on was that Eli was very straightforward. He didn’t sugarcoat things or overpromise, but he was also very clear on what I needed to do to actually have a shot. He helped me narrow down and choose the right schools based on my profile, instead of just blindly aiming or playing it safe.
I was also juggling a full-time job, so time was a real constraint. Eli was very practical about that. He helped me plan around my schedule and also referred me to a GMAT tutor early on, which made a big difference since I didn’t have much time to figure everything out myself during weekdays.
Throughout the process, he was consistent and very matter-of-fact. If something wasn’t strong enough, he would say it directly, and we would fix it. I ended up rewriting my essays many times, and the final versions were completely different from where I started.
Overall, the process felt structured but not stressful. I always knew what I should be focusing on next, which made it a lot more manageable alongside work.
In the end, I got into HBS.
Eli is someone who’s honest, practical, and knows how to push you without overcomplicating things. I’d recommend him, especially if you’re trying to balance applications with a demanding job.
After a full cycle of rejections, I came into this process convinced I had already done everything right. I hadn’t. Within the first few conversations, Eli dismantled that assumption completely. He didn’t “edit” my previous applications. He showed me, in very direct terms, exactly where they failed, where I had been generic, and where I was simply missing the point.
From there, we rebuilt everything from the ground up. This was not a light-touch process. It was intense, creative, and at times uncomfortable. We spent hours brainstorming, pressure-testing ideas, and uncovering stories I had completely ignored before. What I thought were minor or irrelevant experiences became the foundation of my application. Eli has a rare ability to identify what actually matters in your story and then amplify it in a way that is both authentic and strategically powerful.
What truly differentiates him is how he operates. He is brutally honest. He will tell you when something is weak, unclear, or simply not good enough, and he will not sugarcoat it. At the same time, he is extremely available and responsive. I could reach out at any moment, share doubts, second-guess decisions, or admit I was stuck, and he was always there to push me forward. That combination of honesty and constant support is what makes the process work.
He is not a salesperson. He is an execution person. There is a big difference. Many consultants know how to sound convincing in an intro call. Eli is focused on getting the job done, and he does it at a level that is hard to match.
The outcome speaks for itself. After being rejected across the board the previous year, I was admitted to two top-5 M7 schools with a large scholarship. This was not a marginal improvement. It was a complete transformation of how I approached the application process and how I understood my own story.
I chose to work with Eli after hearing great things from friends who got into top universities. They told me he is very professional and very direct, and they were right.
If you are looking for someone who will tell you only what you want to hear, Eli is not for you. But if you want someone who will push you to be your best, he is the perfect choice. His deep knowledge of the MBA world and his honest feedback are the reasons I succeeded.
Eli’s talent is helping you find your real story. He knows how to bring out the best version of you, the one that top business schools are looking for. He works incredibly hard and expects the same from you. For four months, we worked so closely that I spoke with him more than I spoke with my partner. He was always available, even at late hours, to make sure everything was perfect because he is a perfectionist. He doesn’t compromise on anything not in the essays, not in the CV, and not even on a single comma.
In addition, What makes Eli special is that he doesn’t just “fix” your application, he truly cares about your success. During the most stressful moments of the process, he was there to keep me focused and confident. He knows exactly what the admissions committees want to see, and he makes sure your unique voice shines through in every part of the application.
Next year, I will start my MBA at my dream school, MIT Sloan. This would not have happened without Eli’s support and his push for excellence. I highly recommend Eli to anyone applying for an MBA. It is a challenging process, but the results are worth every dollar and every correction.
Before signing up in Mar’25, I did a proper round of ref checks and spoke to multiple people across different application cycles. The feedback was consistently strong, and not in a vague “she was great” way. People genuinely wanted to talk about the experience in detail. That gave me real confidence going in.
Coming from an IIT + finance (IB, PE) background, I was aware of how competitive and overcrowded my corner of the Indian applicant pool is. What I appreciated most was that Shabri never tried to fit me into a pre-conceived narrative for “the finance guy.” She spent real time understanding my specific story before forming any view on how to position it. What made my path distinct, where I’d taken risks, what I actually cared about. The application was built around that rather than the other way around. It sounds obvious, but it’s rarer than you’d think.
The Singapore to India time zone difference was something I had vaguely worried about. In practice it was a complete non-issue. She was consistently available and came to every interaction prepared. There was never a sense of rationing time or working through a checklist. Multiple iterations, calls when needed, detailed written feedback when that was more useful. The engagement felt genuinely unlimited throughout.
One thing that stands out in hindsight is how she delivered feedback. Honest and direct when something wasn’t working, clear about why, but in a way that kept you motivated rather than deflated. For a process that carries more emotional weight than people like to admit upfront, that balance matters.
Came away with admits to Wharton, Booth, and CBS. Would recommend her without hesitation. For what it’s worth, my college best-friend has signed up with Shabri for this cycle
Working with Eli was, without exaggeration, the single most important factor in my MBA application journey. I came into the process uncertain, with a background I genuinely believed was fragmented and, in parts, uninteresting or even irrelevant. I had explored different ventures that, in my mind, lacked coherence or prestige, and I struggled to see how any of it could form a compelling story for top programs.
Eli didn’t just help me “package” my profile. He fundamentally changed how I understood it.
From the very beginning, what stood out was his extreme availability. This is not a typical consulting relationship where you wait for scheduled calls or delayed responses. Eli was accessible at all times, whether through phone or WhatsApp, and every interaction felt intentional and focused. Whenever I hit a wall, had doubts, or needed to make a decision, he was there immediately, fully engaged, and ready to go deep. That level of presence made a massive difference in a process that is, by nature, stressful and often isolating.
But availability alone means nothing without substance, and this is where Eli is on another level. His ability to dissect a profile, identify hidden strengths, and build a narrative that actually works is exceptional. He saw patterns and meaning in my past experiences that I had completely overlooked. Ventures I had dismissed as random or insignificant became central pillars of my story. He didn’t force anything artificial. He uncovered what was already there and made it undeniable.
The process itself was intense. There were moments of doubt, frustration, and real vulnerability on my side. What Eli created, though, was an environment where I could be completely open. I could call him when I was unsure, when I felt stuck, or even when I questioned my own chances. Instead of judgment, I got clarity, structure, and encouragement. He helped me move forward every single time, no matter the situation.
Another thing that truly differentiates Eli is that he is not a “delegator.” You are not handed off to junior consultants or left with generic feedback. He is personally involved in every detail, from the early strategy conversations to the smallest edits in the essays. That consistency matters. It ensures that the story remains sharp, coherent, and aligned from start to finish.
The outcome reflects that. I was admitted to an M7 program with a scholarship, something that felt out of reach when I started. But more than the result, what stands out is how different the entire experience was compared to what I expected. Instead of feeling lost or overwhelmed, I felt guided, challenged, and supported throughout.
Working with Rajdeep was honestly one of the most defining parts of my MBA application journey, not just because of the outcomes, but because of how he approached the process at every stage. I applied to three schools in Round 1 and got interviews at all three, but unfortunately ended up with waitlists/rejections across the board. That phase was easily the lowest point in my application journey. It didn’t make sense statistically. However, what stood out was how quickly Rajdeep stepped in. We had a long call the very next day, and within that conversation, he had already reframed the situation and laid out a very clear, actionable plan for Round 2. What I appreciated most was that he didn’t let me slip into a conservative mindset after that setback. While we did make some strategic adjustments to the school list, he continued to push me to aim high, based on the strength of my interview traction. Within a tight window of about 2–3 weeks, we were able to pull together 6–7 strong applications. What really stayed with me was that even beyond the scope of our engagement (which was for fewer schools), Rajdeep continued to advise me on additional applications without hesitation. That level of commitment made a big difference. Another area where Rajdeep adds a lot of value is in the depth of his interview guidance. It’s not just generic prep. His advice is highly contextual and often based on a nuanced understanding of how different schools and even specific interviewers operate. For instance, in one of my interviews, he knew the profile of the interviewer and guided me to adopt a slightly more formal and structured tone than I otherwise would have. These small but targeted adjustments helped me approach each interview much more strategically. His support also extends well beyond just applications and admits. A great example of this was during the scholarship negotiation phase. I was close to submitting an updated test score to a T10 school to push for scholarship reconsideration, but Rajdeep advised me to hold off, something I didn’t fully understand at the time. He explained how the process works and why timing that update after receiving other scholarship decisions would strengthen my position. That advice directly translated into a significantly better scholarship outcome, which I’m fairly certain I wouldn’t have achieved otherwise. Even after our formal engagement ended, Rajdeep continued to be accessible. When I was considering applying to Stanford in Round 3, he took the time to guide me at a high level, even though it was outside our scope of work. It’s small things like this that show that he’s genuinely invested in your journey, not just the transaction. Overall, what differentiates Rajdeep is not just his experience or knowledge of the process, but his mindset, his ability to stay calm under pressure, think clearly in uncertain situations, and consistently push you in the right direction. I’m extremely grateful for his support through this journey and would strongly recommend working with him to anyone going through the MBA admissions process.
Working with Eli was one of the most intense, eye-opening, and ultimately transformative parts of my entire MBA journey. I came from a non-traditional legal background, which is not the typical feeder into top MBA programs, and I can say without hesitation that his approach is completely different from anything else out there.
The first thing that stands out is the honesty. It is direct, sometimes uncomfortable, but always accurate. There is no sugarcoating, no “you’re doing great” just to keep you happy. Every conversation is focused on moving forward, fixing what’s weak, and getting results. That execution mindset is rare. Eli is not trying to sell you a process. He is trying to get you across the finish line.
What made the biggest difference for me, though, was his ability to identify and build a story I would have never found on my own. I came in thinking I understood my narrative. I didn’t. Eli pushed until we uncovered a defining experience that, in hindsight, clearly shaped who I am, but I had never considered it relevant. He then helped translate that into something that actually resonates with admissions committees. That single shift changed everything about my application.
There is also a misconception in this space that the best consultants are the ones who sound the most polished in an intro call. Eli is the opposite. He is not a salesperson. In fact, if you’re looking for someone to impress you in a pitch, you might miss what actually matters. What matters is execution, judgment, and the ability to turn your raw material into something exceptional. That is where he is on a completely different level.
The results speak for themselves. As someone from a less traditional and arguably less competitive background, I was admitted to a few M7 programs and am currently on the Stanford GSB waitlist post-interview, which in itself reflects how far the application was able to go in an extremely selective process where most candidates are filtered out well before that stage.
If you are serious about top MBA programs, you should think very carefully about what you are actually paying for. It is not the initial conversation. It is the outcome. Eli is entirely focused on the latter.
One of the earliest things that helped me was the clarity on school selection and overall direction. In our first conversations, Rajdeep helped identify the right mix of schools based on my profile, what would be a stretch versus target, and that gave me a strong sense of conviction in the choices I was making. Along with that, the way the entire process was broken down, starting from resume, moving to goal setting, and then into school-specific essays, meant that at no point did I feel directionless. There was always a clear sense of what we were doing and why. A big shift for me came in how I approached my own stories. Coming from an FMCG background, I was inclined to focus heavily on cost optimization and efficiency-related work because that was a core part of my role. But Rajdeep pushed me to step out of that silo and look at my experiences more holistically. He encouraged me to bring in stories around people management, values, and broader impact. That shift not only helped diversify my application but also made it more reflective of who I am beyond functional outcomes. What also stood out was how he approached story development itself. Even when I came in with multiple ideas, he would push me to go deeper, asking more “why” questions and helping uncover layers within each experience. It wasn’t just about selecting stories, but about ensuring they had enough depth and were multi-dimensional. Over time, this helped me bring out the full potential of my experiences and build a narrative that was consistent across essays. The way I approached my resume also changed quite significantly. Initially, I had created something I was fairly about, but Rajdeep pushed me to rethink it entirely. Instead of listing out points and then trying to group them later, he emphasized starting with clear pillars and then building content under each. That approach made the resume much more structured and intentional, and it also made it easier to ensure that the overall narrative was coherent and not something that had been retrofitted. The interview preparation was another area where I saw a lot of value. The question banks, debriefs, and mock interviews were closely aligned with what I faced in the actual interviews. Most of the questions I encountered were not new; they were already covered during preparation. More importantly, the structured way in which the entire application had been built made it easier to articulate my thoughts clearly during interviews. Since everything was my own thinking, shaped through feedback rather than given to me, I felt confident handling questions independently. Overall, what I appreciated most was that the process was very feedback-driven rather than prescriptive. I was always writing and thinking through my own material, but with consistent direction and refinement. That balance gave me a lot of confidence, especially during the later stages of interviews, because everything felt authentic and well thought through.
Working with Shabri was the best decision of my MBA admissions process. What stood out immediately was her refreshing candidness—she never sugarcoats feedback, yet she delivers it with a precision that pushes you to elevate your narrative without ever feeling discouraged. In a high-stakes environment where t’s easy to get lost in overconfidence or self-doubt, that balance is invaluable.
Shabri has a sharp eye for identifying what genuinely makes a profile stand out versus what just sounds good on paper. Another big plus is her responsiveness and structured approach. Overall, Shabri is the ultimate advocate and the best friend you can have for this demanding journey.
I worked with Nisha and Team from Admissions Gateway for my MBA application process. Although I had initially planned to apply in Round 1, I reached out quite late, around mid-July. Nisha and Team were the only folks confident enough to take this on, and remarkably, we were able to submit 6 applications within just 1.5 months, without any compromise on quality.
What truly sets the experience apart is their patience, structure, and depth of involvement. They consistently went the extra mile to bring out the best in my experiences. Instead of following a standard template, she was exceptional thought partner, helping me craft a coherent, authentic story that genuinely felt like a true representation of who I am.
I personally prefer getting things done well ahead of deadlines, and despite the compressed timeline, Nisha and Team were incredibly mindful of this. I never felt like I was chasing deadlines, it was planned, proactive, and calm.
Even during the interview stage, she was deeply involved. She set up multiple mock interviews and provided sharp, actionable feedback, which made a huge difference to my confidence on interview day.
I’m grateful to have received admits from CBS, Kellogg, Tuck ($70K scholarship), and Darden ($90K scholarship). I genuinely believe that two M7 admits would not have been possible without their guidance.
Beyond admissions, she has been an amazing mentor and friend, going out of their way to help me think through and finalise my school decision as well. I couldn’t recommend them more highly.
Working with Team AG was a deeply structured and comprehensive experience that provided true end-to-end support across every aspect of the application process. From shaping my overall narrative to refining essays, resumes, and interview preparation, the team ensured that every element of my application was thoughtfully developed and strategically positioned.
While I came in with a relatively modest GRE score, Team AG helped me focus on strengthening the broader story, bringing out clarity, depth, and authenticity in my profile. Their approach went far beyond just edits; it involved rigorous brainstorming, detailed feedback loops, and constant iteration, which made a significant difference in how my story came together.
I initially signed up for 3 schools in R1 and was fortunate to secure admits across all of them. Despite the formal engagement concluding at that stage, Team AG went above and beyond by encouraging me to aim higher in R2, suggesting schools that were not even on my original list. At no point did they bring up commercials, which truly reflected their commitment to my outcomes over anything else.
The support extended seamlessly across schools, from crafting compelling essays to preparing for interviews with tailored, school-specific insights. This holistic guidance ultimately helped me secure admits from Ross, Haas, Tuck, and Kellogg, and culminated in an M7 admit with a cumulative $540K scholarship.
Overall, what stood out most was the consistency and quality of support from Team AG throughout the journey. The process was highly structured, feedback was always actionable, and the team remained deeply invested in helping me put forward the strongest possible application. I cannot recommend Nisha and Team AG enough.
I would wholeheartedly and unequivocally recommend working with Shabri. What stands out most about her is her exceptional empathy, she is not only a remarkable professional but also an incredible person to work with. From our very first interaction to our last, there was absolutely no shift in her attitude, energy, or commitment; she remained consistently thoughtful, present, and deeply invested throughout.
I came in concerned about being guided through a generic, cookie-cutter process, but what I experienced was the complete opposite. Instead of shaping my story into something templated, she focused on helping me uncover and articulate it authentically. I struggled initially with connecting my experiences and positioning my strengths, but rather than offering ready-made answers, she asked the right questions: ones that pushed me to think more deeply and arrive at clarity myself. That process made me far more confident in my narrative.
On a more personal note, I had a deeply personal and difficult story, one I haven’t shared with many people but I found myself able to fully open up to Shabri. That, more than anything, speaks to the kind of person she is. She creates a space of trust that allows you to be completely honest, and that is truly rare.
Her key strengths:
Turnaround Time: While she officially commits to 48 hours, she often replied much faster, sometimes like a friend responding on WhatsApp, which showed how deeply she was invested. Despite the speed, she always came prepared with detailed edits and thoughtful feedback. She didn’t just suggest ideas; she worked with me on how to communicate them better. With her support, I applied to 7 schools and had great results in four.
Belief & Personal Investment: One thing that stood out was how much she believed in me, often more than I did. While many consultants push “safe” schools, she focused on where I truly wanted to go and pushed me to aim higher. I was genuinely unsure if applying to Booth even made sense, but she pushed me to take that shot, and I got into my dream school with a significant scholarship. Speaking to friends, many felt they worked with “busy” consultants; with Shabri, I always felt she understood the process from the applicant’s POV and was fully present.
Unlimited Iterations & Storytelling: There were no limits, I remember going through version 1, 2, 3, 4 then mixing parts of each until the story felt right. It never felt like she was just editing; it felt like she was peeling the onion, asking questions, and turning the process almost therapeutic. We would spend time debating specific words and emotions to make sure it truly reflected what I felt. She didn’t just leave comments, she would get on calls to walk through full rewrites. What amazed me was her memory: things we discussed in May would come up again in November with full context. Even during a month when I was constantly traveling, she stayed fully engaged throughout.
Holistic Approach & High ROI: She treated every part of the application seriously: not just essays. She pushed me to network (something I wasn’t good at but have now developed), helped me with interview prep, and even spent time on application forms, treating them like essays. Small details like reasons for leaving a job were thoughtfully positioned to strengthen the overall narrative. It truly felt like having a partner in the process. Even if I forget the scholarships, given just the time and effort she invested, she is, in my view, an extremely high-ROI consultant.
I come from a highly unconventional background – at the intersection of business and government. It’s not the kind of profile that fits neatly into a standard business school archetype.
When I applied in Round 1, I was balancing a demanding work schedule and had to move quickly through the application process. The results reflected that – multiple waitlists and rejections. It was a difficult moment, one that made me pause and seriously reassess my approach.
At that point, I had also applied to schools outside the US, and I had begun preparing myself mentally to pursue an MBA from a top school in India as I’d received an admit from there.
But despite the Round 1 outcomes in US schools, Nisha and the Admissions Gateway team believed in my profile and encouraged me to keep going. Especially after a bruising first round, they worked with me and encouraged me to apply to my dream target schools in Round 2.
We went back to the drawing board. Together, Nisha and team dug deep into my experiences, rewired the angles, and helped me build a clear narrative thread. What emerged was an authentic story – one that reframed my unconventional background as a strength.
The application process that followed was rigorous and thorough. From reworking my resume to multiple iterations of essays, each step pushed the work closer to something that truly felt like me. It reflected not just what I had done, but the impact I had created, and where I wanted to go.
For interviews, the preparation went far beyond standard mock sessions. The team helped me understand the specific nature of the HBS interview and how to approach it in a way that aligned with my profile and personality. From industry context to personal narrative, every dimension was thoughtfully covered. By the end of it, I walked into the interview feeling genuinely prepared.
I ultimately secured an admit from my dream school — Harvard Business School.
Looking back, I’m deeply grateful that I chose to work with Nisha and Admissions Gateway, who were true thought partners in this journey. Their commitment to the process strengthened my own resilience. It truly felt like we were one team, pushing through setbacks and doubling down on the goal. And for that, I’m incredibly grateful.
I worked with Mudit and team on my MBA applications and got into Marshall and Ross, with Marshall offering a substantial scholarship. Given how late I started, I honestly don’t think I could have pulled this off
I came to him with really tight timelines and hit several roadblocks along the way. He never made me feel like it was impossible. Instead, he kept me focused and helped me navigate each challenge as it came up.
What stood out was how invested he was in my success. He helped me frame my experiences in ways I hadn’t thought about and pushed me to articulate my goals more clearly. His feedback always had an actionable and a plan ahead. He knew what schools looked for and how to position my story accordingly. When I doubted my profile was strong enough, he helped me see it differently.
If you need someone who genuinely cares and will push you, do consider Mudit and Admissions Gateway
I worked with Nisha for my MBA applications and got admits from Booth, Kellogg, Columbia, and NYU Stern, all with scholarships. But honestly, the results are only part of why I’m writing this. I came to Nisha with a background in healthcare. No finance internships, no consulting experience, no traditional pre-MBA path whatsoever. She immediately saw the value in my healthcare experience and helped me frame it in a way that made sense for business school. What made working with Nisha especially valuable was how she adapted to my reality. I was working crazy hours as a practicing clinician, often seeing patients back to back with barely any time to breathe. Nisha never made me feel guilty about my schedule constraints. Instead, she worked around them. When I could only do calls late at night or on weekends, she made it happen. When I needed quick turnarounds on essay edits because I had a rare free weekend coming up, she delivered. Her iteration speed was incredible. I would send her a draft and get substantive feedback within a day or two, not generic comments but real insights that pushed my thinking forward. She helped me connect the dots between my clinical work and my future goals in ways I hadn’t considered. Beyond the application itself, Nisha went out of her way to connect me with current students and alumni at each of my target schools. These conversations were invaluable in understanding the culture and community at each program, and they definitely helped me during interviews. Looking back, she saw something in my story when I wasn’t sure it was enough. If you have a non-traditional background and are worried about how you’ll fit into the MBA world, Nisha is the person you want in your corner.
Working with Nisha at Admissions Gateway was a pivotal part of my MIT interview preparation. She provided a brilliantly structured approach: first, she gave me a list of practice questions, then we had a full practice run. After that, she gave me efficient, clear feedback on every answer. What stood out most was how deeply she listened—she captured my responses, offered precise, constructive feedback, and helped me organize everything in a way that truly elevated my preparation. She was especially skilled at taking my story and picking out the key moments that aligned with MIT’s core values, helping me amplify my truth so that my story matched exactly what MIT was looking for. By the time of the interview, the questions I faced were versions of what we had practiced, and that alignment gave me so much confidence. I’m incredibly grateful to Nisha for the extra time, the constant support, and for making my preparation so tailored, authentic, and successful.
Nisha was incredible. She really helped settle my nerves by breaking down the HBS interview process with actual data and facts. She pushed me to look at my prep from angles I hadn’t even considered, and her feedback was super actionable. I walked into the interview feeling calm and actually ready, and fortunately, cracked HBS in Round 1 2025.
Shabri is an excellent storyteller in her own right, and working with her was one of the best decisions I made during my MBA application journey.
The rigor with which she pushes you to bring out your best essays is truly unmatched, she doesn’t let you settle for anything less than your most authentic, compelling self. I came in with a marginally non-traditional background and honestly wasn’t sure how to frame my story. Shabri took it from zero to a narrative I was genuinely proud of. Beyond essays, she was equally thorough with my resume and letters of recommendation, ensuring every piece of the application told a cohesive story.
If you’re looking for a consultant who combines sharp instincts with genuine investment in your success, look no further than Shabri.
I would 100% recommend working with Shabri. Three factors truly distinguish her as an exceptional consultant:
1. Early, Long-Term Investment in Candidates Shabri began investing in me nearly 1.5 years before my Round 1 application. Even before I formally engaged her, we connected multiple times, and she generously guided me through pivotal career decisions and resume refinement. That early commitment signaled something important. She is in this for the long game, not just the application cycle.
2. Unfiltered, High-Quality Feedback Shabri kept me grounded throughout the process and left no stone unturned. When I believed my essays were ready, she helped me see they were just the beginning of many thoughtful iterations. She asked probing questions that helped me uncover deeper nuances in my story. Importantly, I did not lose my voice in the process. Instead, she amplified it, giving it sharper direction and rerouting me whenever I drifted.
3. Deep Institutional Knowledge and Pattern Recognition As a Booth alum, Shabri brings first-hand insight, but what truly differentiates her is her strong knowledge repository built from years of experience. Drawing confidentially on patterns from previous candidates, she provided realistic benchmarks and clarity on areas that are often difficult to navigate alone. This proved especially valuable during interviews, helping me shift from explaining what I did to articulating why it mattered and the impact it created.
I am deeply grateful for her partnership and wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone serious about earning admission to HSW.
Shabri is an exceptional consultant who goes above and beyond. She helped me secure admits to GSB, Wharton, and Kellogg with scholarships by helping me craft a narrative built deeply on my own stories. She is a true realist who offers honest, constructive feedback rather than false hope. What sets Shabri apart is her personal dedication; she is deeply invested in her candidates’ success. She is also incredibly responsive, specifically during the high-pressure weeks leading up to deadlines.
I was initially referred to Eli from a friend who had received an offer to Stanford GSB. My decision to take on Eli for as an admissions consultant was the single best I made, resulting in an offer to Stanford GSB.
Having already had one unsuccessful application to five M7 schools and having several factors going against me (age mid-30s, weak quant background), I was lacking confidence about my profile and chances. However, Eli reviewed my profile and previous application, and gave me candid advice about what I needed to do to be competitive, namely regarding test score and volunteering. Well before we formally started working together, he was approachable for follow-up advice on these two aspects of my application.
By the time I was ready to work with him, there were only eight weeks to go until the round 1 deadlines. Despite the tight deadline, Eli was still willing to take me on. What followed by working with Eli was an extremely hands-on process, including resume, essays and selection of recommenders. For each aspect of the application, Eli had an extremely strong grasp of exactly was needed to be competitive at top schools, especially for Harvard and Stanford, which were my target schools. The brainstorming process we did together helped me select and craft narratives which than ultimately led to a far stronger application than I submitted previously.
At all times, Eli was approachable, easy to reach, and had a quick turnaround on reviewing. Every essay and part of the application was reviewed as many times a necessary until deemed ready. What I appreciated at every stage was absolute honesty – if I proposed a story/experience to use that he felt was bland, not unique or boring, he would say so! Interview practice was comprehensive and prepared me well for the interviews I eventually received.
When I received an offer from Stanford, I was beyond words to express my delight. It was not long ago that I thought that, given my background and age, getting into a top business school was a pipe dream. What I now have is an offer from one of the best business schools in the world, and my top choice. This is a huge thing for me, and it would not have been possible without Eli’s rigorous guidance and support.
I therefore wholeheartedly recommend Eli to anyone seriously considering a strong business school application, especially for M7 schools. Thanks so much, Eli!
I spoke to virtually every top MBA consultant across the world before making my decision. I am not someone who takes anyone’s word at face value. If I am not convinced, I am not convinced. I wanted someone who could truly understand my story, give it the respect it deserved, and was not afraid to be challenged or debate their views. After all those conversations, I chose Shabri.
What stood out immediately was how deeply she listened. She took the time to understand my entire story before offering a single opinion. When I pushed back, she welcomed it. We debated ideas openly. While we often went with her recommendations, she was never ego-driven or dismissive. She respected my thinking and challenged it thoughtfully, which ultimately strengthened the final outcome.
There is no formula for a perfect MBA application. Your story is unique, and no one knows it better than you. Shabri’s real strength lies in helping you bring structure to that story. She brings method to what initially feels like madness, guiding you to dig deep into your life, clarify what you stand for, and articulate it with honesty and coherence.
I had an extremely demanding work schedule and took on the ambitious task of applying to all my target schools in Round 1. Without her, I genuinely do not think I could have applied to more than one school. She applied just the right amount of pressure to keep me on track, while always remaining supportive.
Despite being in a completely different time zone, she regularly woke up early and stayed up late to ensure I felt fully supported. Her commitment was exceptional. No detail was ever treated as “small.” From major essays to the tiniest application form questions, she was always available, patient, and respectful of the fact that I was new to the process. No question ever felt like a stupid question.
While writing my HBS essays, I hit a serious block. She knew HBS was my dream school and truly believed I belonged there. She helped me push through by spending hours talking things through with me until clarity returned.
As interview invitations started coming in, my schedule became insane, with four interviews back-to-back within a single month. She helped me prepare for every one of them, going well beyond what was promised by Admissions Gateway. She genuinely cares. Once you sign up with her, your dream becomes hers.
The outcome speaks for itself. I was admitted to HBS, Wharton, Columbia, and Booth, with $$$ scholarships everywhere merit-based scholarships were available. HBS had been my dream since I was ten years old, and Shabri was truly the dream weaver.
Working with Eli was a defining part of my MBA application journey, particularly because of how he approached moments of uncertainty with clarity and composure. From the beginning, Eli was confident in my candidacy and in my first-choice school. He never framed it as a reach or tried to manage expectations downward. Instead, he focused on the work. We went deep into my story—far beyond what I initially anticipated—and he helped me identify themes and strengths that I had not fully articulated before. The process was rigorous, thoughtful, and highly structured, and it gave me great clarity. At one point, despite the preparation and progress we had made, I began to second-guess decisions that had already been carefully considered. External opinions created unnecessary noise. What stood out was that Eli did not react to the uncertainty. He remained calm, grounded, and consistent. He trusted the process and, importantly, he trusted the work we had done together. Rather than offering reassurance alone, Eli redirected my focus to substance. He reminded me of the strength of the narrative and encouraged me to stay anchored in the parts of my story that were genuinely compelling, not those driven by momentary doubt. That steadiness helped me re-center and move forward with confidence. When I received the interview invitation from H/S/W, Eli treated it as a natural outcome of strong preparation. The interview preparation followed the same approach: focused, strategic, and grounded in who I am, not in rehearsed or over-engineered responses. Looking back, while friends offered emotional support, Eli provided something more valuable. He kept me anchored to strategy, execution, and my own strengths. He ensured that uncertainty never dictated the process. I was admitted to H/S/W. If you are looking for someone who remains steady, thoughtful, and deeply invested—especially when clarity matters most—Eli is exceptional.
This title perfectly summarizes what it is like to work with Shabri. Last year, I applied to M7 schools with guidance from a U.S.-based consultant and was admitted to Haas and Kellogg.
So, eventually I decided to reapply. I reached out to Shabri with very little hope. In our very first call, she said something that stayed with me: “You belong at Stanford.” At the time, I had zero belief that Stanford was even remotely possible, but even then she believed in me.
During my consultant discovery process across both application cycles, I spoke with nearly 50 consultants. And I can easily say that Shabri is at least 10x better than the next-best one. So, if she agrees to take you, don’t think about it twice.
So, keeping my fingers crossed I began my journey with Shabri. Over the next five months, Shabri supported me at every step—not just as a consultant, but as a genuine friend. With her, timing was never an issue. She was always there for me, just a phone call or a message away. Even for long 1-hour sessions. What struck me most was how deeply invested she was. While working with her, it felt like it mattered equally to her that I get into my dream school as it did to me.
One thing that sets Shabri apart is her relentless push for excellence. Early in the essay process, I would often share ideas that were “good enough.” But she never was satisfied with those, she always tried to push me harder to get the best out of those essays. I vividly remember invested around ten days on our first Stanford essay draft, one that was already twice as strong as my previous year’s version, only for her to suggest we scrap it entirely in favor of a stronger storyline. Her advise is like gold, so when she tells you something you can rely on it with your eyes closed.
As a reapplicant who had worked with another consultant before, I think I am the perfect person to tell you how much difference Shabri can make to your applications. While waiting for results, I revisited my previous essays and resume and was stunned by the contrast. The difference was night and day. I was literally like, were these essays really written by me. So yes, Shabri has this magical way of bringing out the best in people which is very hard to describe in words.
Unlike last time, with her the journey really was enjoyable and gave me a great sense of content. Even before the result were announced I was content in the fact that I was able to deliver my absolute best and I think that is what counted.
Finally, I applied to HSW and was admitted to both Wharton and Stanford ($146K Scholarship). And I would just say that it wouldn’t have been possible at all without her. I am really grateful and indebted for her guidance, belief, and unwavering support throughout this long and tumultuous journey.
As they rightly say, with the right person even the most difficult journeys can become memorable & meaningful, and this is exactly what happened with me. Through the process, I didn’t just find an incredible consultant; I found a lifelong friend in Shabri.
I first reached out to Eli almost a year before we officially started working together. At that point, I was still exploring my options and speaking with many different, highly rated MBA advisors (some of whom are in the Poets & Quants “top 10”). What stood out immediately was that Eli never rushed the process and genuinely cared about me as a candidate. While other advisors met with me for exactly 30 minutes or one hour, he met with me on multiple occasions, completely pro bono. He gave me ample time, answered questions honestly, and was willing to have several conversations before I made any decision.
When we did start working together, the process was strategic and deliberate. We began early and built a long-term plan that accounted for my work schedule and periods when I knew I’d be unavailable to focus on applications. That flexibility mattered. Instead of forcing artificial deadlines, Eli structured the process to maintain momentum without creating unnecessary pressure.
One of the most important moments came during school selection. I initially aimed conservatively, focusing on programs I felt confident about, especially given my lower-than-average test scores. Eli challenged that thinking. He pushed me to apply to schools ranked higher than I had originally considered, even when my own confidence wasn’t fully there. He was clear, rational, and firm about why those schools made sense for my profile, and over time, his confidence helped reshape how I saw my own candidacy.
Throughout the process, Eli was consistent and steady, especially during moments when I doubted myself. He never exaggerated or oversold, but he also never allowed unnecessary self-limitation to dictate the strategy. The work on my essays reflected that mindset: focused, intentional, and built to present the strongest version of my story. I rewrote my essays countless times and ended up looking nothing like my first drafts.
The outcome exceeded what I initially thought possible. I was admitted to my reach school (M7) and received a significant merit-based scholarship. That result wasn’t accidental. It was the product of starting early, aiming higher than I would have on my own, and having an advisor who believed in my potential even when I hesitated.
Eli was truly an exceptional partner in this process.
Working with Eli was a very smooth and well-run experience from start to finish.
From our first conversation, it was clear that Eli knows the MBA admissions process inside out. He quickly understood my background, my goals, and what each school on my list was really looking for. The guidance was structured, practical, and focused. There was no wasted time and no generic advice.
The essay process was thorough and disciplined. Eli pushed for clarity and precision, making sure every story had a purpose and every sentence added value. The feedback was always direct and actionable. Nothing was overcomplicated, but nothing was left vague either. The result was an application that felt coherent, authentic, and strong.
Eli was also very responsive and easy to work with. Questions were answered quickly, drafts were reviewed on time, and deadlines were handled calmly and professionally. The entire process felt controlled and efficient, even during busy periods.
Interview preparation followed the same approach. It was focused, honest, and tailored to the specific schools. I felt prepared without feeling scripted, which made a real difference on interview day.
I was admitted to my target school, and I felt confident about my application when I submitted it. That confidence came from knowing the work had been done properly.
If you are looking for a consultant who is organized, sharp, and consistently delivers high-quality guidance without drama, Eli is an excellent choice.
If Shabri was just an admissions consultant, this review would be quick and easy! But over the last year, she’s become very much a friend. Still, Shabri’s work and results speak for themselves, so here goes.
I first heard about Shabri through the grapevine. A friend who completed the process a year earlier told me she was one of those consultants you shouldn’t second-guess working with (if she agrees to work with you). During our first discovery call, I understood why. She quickly grasped my not-so-straightforward background, identified my strengths, and clearly laid out the areas we’d need to address when presenting my story to adcoms. She also offered guidance on schools that might fit my goals, while fully respecting my reasoning for my targets. By the end of the call, I knew she was the only person I wanted to work with.
Over the year, Shabri invested heart and soul into my applications. As other reviews here also note, she’s a gifted storyteller and a logical thinker. We’d invariably go through eight or nine iterations of essays for each school. While I felt my essays were “good enough” by the fourth or fifth version, Shabri consistently pushed me to refine them further through storytelling choices I wouldn’t have considered on my own. When I compare the final version to the earlier ones, I know her insistence on perfection made all the difference in my applications.
Beyond the work itself, Shabri is one of the most understanding and friendly people I know. She’s never once said “I don’t have time”, she always made space for me and all my questions while also setting a very high bar for quality. She was direct when an essay didn’t hit the mark and honest when she sensed sloppiness, which I’ll (grudgingly) admit, happened at times during bouts of writer’s block. At the same time, she was unfailingly kind, delivering feedback in a manner that kept me motivated and confident through the process.
Her support extended into the interview stage as well. Her feedback on content, tone, and the stories I wanted to share helped me have genuinely positive interview experiences. And when some outcomes didn’t materialize (as can happen with a not-so-conventional story and the competition), she was there to steady me, making sure I didn’t spiral or lose momentum.
I received admits from Kellogg and CBS, which I’d considered reach schools while beginning this journey. I’m skeptical I would have achieved these outcomes without Shabri treating my applications like hers. I’ll always be grateful for her guidance and her effort, and just as importantly, for her friendship.
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