Gatehouse Admissions | MBA Admissions Consultants

Eric was great to work with over the past few months and I’d highly recommend him to others that may be considering applying to top MBA programs and are looking for support differentiating themselves in their applications. I come from a finance background and felt that my GPA (3.8+) and GRE (168Q/162V) may be competitive alongside my work experience but was concerned that my “story” may not be as compelling as others applying to top MBA programs (I applied to Booth and Kellogg). Eric’s assistance with the essay writing portion of the application was particularly helpful, as he was able to help me outline the key ideas I wanted to focus on, bring out the most important qualities and traits that illustrated the strength of my candidacy, while still maintaining the personal feel of the writing so the reader could get a true sense of who I was. He made my writing much more concise and direct, so it was easier to follow. After submitting the applications, Eric also was very helpful with my interview prep. We walked through many different types of questions I might encounter, so I was extremely well prepared for the interviews. As a result, I thought my interviews were a particularly strong component of my application and I believe the key driver behind the scholarship I was able to receive. With Eric’s support and guidance, I was fortunate to be admitted to both Booth and Kellogg with meaningful scholarship!

Eric is a candid and meticulous consultant. I am an engineer and have been in the industry for around 10 years. My GMAT score (700+) and GPA (range 3.5 – 4.0) were satisfactory, but I had a unique plan distinct from other applicants. Eric empathetically considered my perspective, offering constructive feedback, whether positive or negative. Throughout the application process, he meticulously reviewed every aspect, from essay writing to transcript submission, ensuring thoroughness. His insights included valuable suggestions I hadn’t considered, and he maintained punctuality, returning my essays and emails promptly. Eric was consistently reliable for any inquiries, from application strategies to MBA program selection. I applied for two top 5 schools (u.s news ranking) and got into both! It would be impossible for me to land two dream schools without his professional consultation. I wholeheartedly recommend his services!

I had an amazing experience working with Rachel throughout the MBA application process, and I could not recommend her, or Gatehouse Admissions, enough.

For context on my background, I am a white female with a 3.8 GPA from a top liberal arts undergraduate college, 750 GMAT, and 4 years work experience in Private Equity. I was accepted to HBS and waitlisted at GSB.

I was introduced to Gatehouse by a friend and colleague who had amazing things to say about the team. I was matched with Rachel Nelson and was immediately sold after our introductory call – even in our first call Rachel understood my background, provided thoughtful advice on ways to boost my resume ahead of applications (e.g., additional extra-curriculars), and shared perspectives on the application processes across the schools I was considering (even ones I was officially hiring her for).

Our first step of the process was to fill out an “Experience Inventory” which was a very thorough (10+ pg) word document detailing my background from childhood, through academics, extra curriculars, work experience, and personal/professional goals. This was an amazing exercise both for Rachel to get caught up to speed on my background, and for me to clearly outline all of my experiences and identify common threads which could help craft a powerful story in my essays. During our next session Rachel came with a list of themes she’d noticed and potential areas for me to focus on in my essays – her brainstorming style was perfect in providing helpful suggestions, while always keeping me in the driver’s seat of creation and the direction my essays would take. In the essay drafting stages her reviews are incredibly thorough and she was always transparent with timing commitments which made it easy to work together. She was a perfectionist in the best way possible, making sure we were using the word count to its fullest and never losing sight of how my essays, resume, and short answers all wove together into a comprehensive application.

Her interview prep thoughtfully started with “general interview” preparation and then offered advice and materials targeted to specific schools – this structure demonstrating her expertise and experience working with the different school’s admissions styles. Her feedback was pointed and specific, which gave me very focused areas to work on.

Rachel was an amazing thought partner throughout the entire process, and overall, just a great person – I could not recommend her enough!

Marcus was incredible to work with and an absolutely essential part of my application success.

I graduated from a top 20 undergrad with a 3.1 GPA and earned a 760 GMAT. Work experience in finance and tech. I applied to Booth, Columbia, Sloan, and Wharton.

For each school I was applying to, Marcus provided a comprehensive list of deliverables I would have to complete, which was extremely helpful for me in getting organized.

I cannot say enough about how much Marcus helped me on the essays. He provided detailed feedback on every aspect from topic selection, narrative structure, what examples to use, and even cutting out words to reach word count. He reviewed 5+ drafts for many of the essays, and the final products were night and day from when I started. Being able to bounce ideas and drafts off of Marcus was a lifesaver, especially for the open-ended prompts like Booth’s “Tell us something about who you are.” As the deadlines approached, Marcus went above and beyond in giving me lots of meaningful same-day essay feedback.

Marcus also gave me great prep for interviews by doing a full-length mock interview for each school for which I received an interview. Additionally, Gatehouse has lots of in-house interview prep material that was very helpful.

When I got waitlisted at Booth, Marcus gave me incredibly helpful advice on what I could do to stand out. He reviewed my supplemental materials and video and brought to my attention Booth’s “Shape the Class” endorsement letters, which are sort of an open secret but which I may have missed altogether without him.

On a personal level, Marcus has an effective style that balances support with tough feedback. He did not hesitate to (wisely) tell me I needed to entirely scrap some essay drafts, but also gave me confidence boosts through our interview prep. I was initially a tiny bit hesitant about the time zones with Marcus being in Sweden, but it actually worked great because he could review stuff while I was asleep, and he was flexible in finding time for calls. His background in entrepreneurship also helped me frame my own entrepreneurial goals in my application.

I ended up getting interviews at Booth, Columbia, and Wharton. I got accepted at Columbia, with a $50k merit scholarship, as well as Booth. I ultimately chose Booth for fit reasons.

There is no way I would have gotten accepted at two M7 schools (one with scholarship) without Marcus’s support. I cannot recommend him highly enough.

Background: Female, 27, majored in statistics at a small liberal arts college (3.7 GPA), worked in consulting and private equity operations for 5 years, 710 GMAT score.

From the moment I met Brooke, I felt an immediate connection. She grasped my journey from our first conversation, making me feel understood in a profound way. While another Gatehouse consultant guided me closely through the MBA application process, Brooke was always there for feedback and counsel. She instilled in me the utmost confidence that I was presenting the most genuine version of my story to the admissions committees.

My collaboration with Brooke intensified during HBS mock interviews. Her approach was professional, insightful, and rigorous. She adeptly drew out aspects of my narrative that were both distinctive and reflective of my aspirations. The mock interview preparation with Brooke proved more challenging than the actual interview, which notably eased my nerves during the real thing.

Throughout the entire application journey, Brooke offered unwavering support. Her guidance was instrumental in my acceptance to HBS, and I credit her significantly for this achievement. I enthusiastically recommend Brooke as an admissions consultant and interview coach.

Alex was a hugely valuable resource throughout the application process. I decided to apply to business school relatively late and ended up applying R2. When I started working with Alex, I had taken the GRE once and gotten within range of my target score, but I was planning on taking it again. Balancing studying for and taking a standardized test (for the first time in a decade), doing the deep self-reflection needed to brainstorm worthy essay subjects, writing the essays, filling out all the small (yet time-consuming) bits, choosing and providing helpful context to recommenders, preparing for interviews, and more on top of a full-time job and trying to stay healthy is HARD. Before I started working with Alex, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to get it all done in time and considered waiting to apply in the next cycle. But from the beginning, Alex made it all feel possible and even manageable. Alex helped keep me accountable for my progress with clear timelines, assignments, and deadlines and helped me stay motivated and optimistic with reassurance and encouragement. During the most hectic times leading up to submission deadlines (even around the holidays!), Alex went above and beyond in replying to my anxious emails sooner than his stated response time. Most of all, Alex helped create an environment in which I could tell my authentic story best. By getting to know me so well, much like a friend, he was able to encourage me to lean into my unique strengths and ask thought-provoking questions that helped me get closer to the heart of my story. Having completed the process, I feel proud of the stories I told because they were true to me.

Background: I graduated from an Ivy League university in the top 5% of my class. I had ~4 years of work experience in tech and a 330+ GRE score.

Result: I ended up getting into all the schools I applied to (HSW schools), and I couldn’t be more thankful for my result.

TLDR: Working with Liza was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and I recommend anyone seriously considering top MBA programs to reach out and see if she’s available! With her help, I’m really excited to be heading to Wharton in the fall!

My background: Mid-20s, Asian American Male – applied to a select small group of schools from a traditional MBB consulting / Private Equity investing background. Test scores and GPA are in line with the medians of the top schools, but are not outstanding by any measure. I had applied once a few years ago to one school only, with the assistance of an admissions consultant who wasn’t too helpful – so I was a bit skeptical this time around. However, from the moment I first had a consultation with Liza, I knew that she was on top of her game and treated each of her candidates not just as a paycheck, but a friend she works closely with from day one as a true thought partner.

From when you start working with her, she is meticulously detailed and organized, something that I found tremendously valuable while balancing a full time job with applications. Through working with Liza, I found that no question was too silly, no essay or short answer too poorly written, no idea too random. She is willing always to explore different angles and problem solve with you as you approach an application – something I found really comforting to have throughout. Liza excels in helping you throughout the process – from the macro brainstorming around essays, all the way down to catching the most minute grammatical errors in a short-answer response.

She is a talented editor and partner to brainstorm with as you’re approaching the large essays for each school – but she is also there to help provide suggestions on how you architect your whole application – from connecting the essays, to recommendations, to short answers and interviews – to make the whole package come together. Furthermore, she is so dedicated to your cause and success – if you were to equate applying to business school with going through an exhausting, 12-round boxing match, Liza would be your trainer in the corner at all times there to chat in between rounds – giving you tips, prepping you, helping you up when you get knocked down, and always there to be your biggest cheerleader. Even now, as I’m in the summer prepping for business school, Liza continues to be a thought partner on navigating another school’s waitlist I’m still on!

I think beyond everything else – what makes Liza stand out is the fact that she balances being an adept, experienced consultant on the tactical portions of the application with being a tremendously empathetic, thoughtful friend that goes through the ups and downs with you when you’re applying. More likely than not – you’re going to get a rejection from at least 1 school. I’m sure many consultants are good at celebrating their clients’ successes when they get into school – but I believe Liza is singular in her ability to be there when you actually face rejection – and need to pick yourself up for your other interviews and applications. No consultant will be a magician that can sprinkle pixie dust that will grant you admission into all your schools – but Liza is as close as you can get – she’ll take your experiences, your stories, your personality – and help you package it in a way that you don’t believe is possible. It’s not cheap – but then again – neither is business school! If you’re thinking seriously about an MBA – I think it’s a small price to pay to get you to a place you’re happy at!

Background: White female who worked at a PE fund for two years and Investment Banking prior to that. “Ivy plus” undergraduate with above average GPA and 740 GMAT. Cannot thank Rachel enough for her help and encouragement! She guided me through reflection, helping me to articulate my experiences and goals in a cohesive and compelling manner while avoiding sounding trite. Rachel was direct and targeted with feedback, providing me with clear, actionable steps to enhance my application. Her honesty about deadlines and efforts to keep me accountable ensured that I stayed on track while balancing applications with an intense work schedule. Thanks to Rachel’s support, I was able to submit a strong application that truly represented my best self and was admitted to Wharton and Sloan!

I am thrilled to recommend April Stewart of Gatehouse Admissions, whose expertise and dedication were instrumental in my successful business school application journey. For context, I am a white male with an HYP undergraduate degree, an undergraduate GPA of 3.81, and a GRE score of 334. Thanks to April’s exceptional guidance, I received offers from Wharton, Columbia, and Stern, each accompanied by significant merit-based aid.

April’s approach to project planning was meticulous. From our initial consultation, she laid out a comprehensive timeline for each component of the application process. This level of organization ensured that every task was completed well ahead of deadlines, allowing ample time for revision and refinement. Her ability to break down the daunting application process into manageable steps made the entire experience far less overwhelming.

One of April’s standout qualities is her attention to detail, particularly when it comes to essay editing. She meticulously reviewed each draft, providing thorough and insightful feedback that significantly elevated the quality of my writing. Her edits were not just about correcting grammar; they focused on enhancing the coherence and flow of ideas. Over multiple drafts, April helped me develop a narrative that was compelling and cohesive, ensuring that my essays reflected my unique strengths.

Moreover, April’s skill at ideating on a story that would resonate with business schools was remarkable. She invested considerable time in understanding my background, experiences, and aspirations. Together, we brainstormed and crafted a narrative that was not only appealing to the admissions committees but also inspiring to me. April’s ability to draw out and refine the most impactful aspects of my journey was a testament to her deep knowledge of what top business schools seek in applicants.

Working with April was a terrific experience. Her strategic insights, combined with her support and encouragement, played a pivotal role in my acceptances. I wholeheartedly recommend her and the Gatehouse team to anyone seeking a highly skilled and dedicated business school application consultant.

Background: In-state undergrad, 2 years of banking, 3 years of private equity. 750 GMAT. MBA being sponsored through my current fund

Result: Admitted to HBS; GBS; Wharton (with $55k per year scholarship). Chose HBS

Rachel is the best there is. I come from a very overrepresented background of MBA applicants and did my undergrad at my generic middle-of-the-pack state school. On paper, my resume looks very similar to many folks with my background, but Rachel was critical in helping me tell a compelling story that gave schools a deep understanding of who I am and allowed me to stand out in the ways I hoped. She guided me through all parts of each application and every single line (down to the 100 character entries on the online apps after you’ve uploaded all your essays) was thoughtfully crafted. Rachel got an incredible sense of me as a person over this process and then helped me think about the mosaic I wanted to build out with each aspect of my application (i.e. let Recommender A cover X, so you can use real estate in your essay to elaborate on Y). Most critically, she was able to see throughlines in my experiences that allowed me to have connected themes and narratives guide my essays. She had my back every step of the way and wasn’t afraid to tell me when to pick it up (either in my quality of drafting documents or in the pace of turning them to meet my target deadlines). She is a wonderful thought partner and an especially kind and caring person. I tremendously enjoyed working with her and couldn’t recommend her enough.

I would not have had the success that I did with my MBA applications, had I not worked with Gatehouse Admissions and namely, Rachel Nelson. As an Indian-American male who graduated from Vanderbilt University with a 3.55 GPA as an undergraduate Chemical Engineer with a 770 GMAT score, I believed that I had a chance to get into an M7 Full-Time MBA Program, but I had some concerns. I’m not a strong writer, I knew I needed help managing the concurrent admissions deadlines, and I came from a non-traditional industry (I work in pharmaceuticals manufacturing). When I did introductory calls with many consultant firms, they all spent the time “selling” me on how much they would help me, while Gatehouse Admissions (where I spoke with Hollis Kline) went ahead and showed me. The intro call itself felt like a working session, and after hiring Gatehouse I was paired with Rachel Nelson. She is timely, honest, encouraging, and darn good at what she does! She turned my “pharma jargon” into translatable achievements while helping me identify and develop the themes of my essays. Her reviews are incredibly thorough, and she sent me back her reviews early multiple times, allowing me to have extra time to ensure my applications were strong. Her interview prep is targeted and effective, but also not too repetitive. When my work wasn’t good enough, she told me so in a manner that helped me improve. I found that the stronger writing skills I developed through her showed in my job too! If she felt that I could do even better, she pushed me for another draft, and I know that this “final push” led to me receiving admission at Tuck, Kellogg, and Booth, while also currently being waitlisted at HBS and Sloan despite applying to both of those programs in the highly competitive Round 2. Even as I am currently waitlisted at both programs, Rachel is actively helping me to get off these waitlists by reviewing additional recommender letters and application updates. I truly believe that pairing with Gatehouse Admissions and Rachel Nelson was the “edge” that allowed me to experience such a successful application process in the incoming MBA Class of 2026’s competitive landscape!

Liza was incredible to work with and is the reason I got into UVA Darden.

Some background: I have been working in SaaS sales for the past 5 years and wanted to pursue business school as it was an opportunity to pivot into a consulting and jumpstart a more strategic career. However, coming from small liberal arts school outside the t20 with an average GPA and no financial or strategic work experience I knew it would be an uphill battle to get into my dream school. I scored a 322 (161V/16 Q) on the GRE which was solid but knew my application would need to shine… enter Liza. She was a master at highlighting my strengths and storytelling to make my essays excellent. From our first meeting it was clear she was an expert in the process and was proactive in keeping us to a clearly defined timeline. I had very few friends, family, and colleagues that had gone through the bschool process, so Liza was my lifeline and true advisor (even a motivator when I was down on myself!). I would not have gotten into a t15 school without Liza’s help and for anyone looking to unlock the keys to success in the bschool application process, look no further. Thank you Liza!

I had a great experience working with Brooke and believe she made a huge difference in my application. I come from a traditional finance background (IB -> PE) and worked with Brooke on my application for HBS. I was waitlisted and accepted in Round 2. Her expertise and experience were instrumental in helping me prepare for the interview and in developing my waitlist update letter. It is clear she has decades of experience evaluating MBA candidates – she brings a differentiated perspective to the table. She was exceptional at helping me identify the aspects of my application that were unique and pushed me to build on those themes with each step of the process. I would highly recommend working with Brooke.

Working with Hollis Kline over a rigorous three-month period was a cornerstone of my successful transition from a military to an academic setting. As an Army service member who was stationed overseas during my work on MBA applications, I faced unique challenges in the MBA application process. Hollis’s expertise was instrumental in translating my military experiences into compelling narratives for business schools.

Her deep understanding of the nuances in my background allowed her to tailor her approach effectively. Despite significant time zone differences, Hollis was remarkably accessible, ensuring that I had support whenever needed. This was especially valuable as I juggled my commitments with application deadlines.

With Hollis’s guidance, I secured admissions to Booth, Columbia, Stern, and Yale. Her strategic input and moral support throughout the application process were crucial to my success. But even beyond the application process, the insights I gained working with her have helped me envision how my military experiences will translate into a successful finance career.

Hollis is a top-tier consultant who brings clarity and a competitive edge to MBA applications. I strongly recommend her services to anyone looking to make a significant impact on their educational trajectory.

Background:
Undergrad: USMA
Major: Engineering
GPA: 3.6
GMAT: 730
Post-military industry goal: Finance

By way of background, I majored in statistics during my undergraduate studies (3.7 GPA) and have since spent the past five years working in consulting and private equity operations (710 GMAT score).

My education and career path haven’t given me significant writing experience, so the business school admissions process and required essays felt out of my comfort zone and overwhelming. I began working with April Stewart from Gatehouse Admissions last Spring, enrolling in their ‘Full Support Services’ package for 3 schools, and having her as my counselor through this intense journey proved to be invaluable.

April’s approach to essay writing was a game-changer for me. She didn’t just suggest improvements; she inspired a whole new mindset. By teaching me to “show, not tell” and utilize the powerful “I” voice, April helped me delve into the essence of my personal and professional journey. Her encouragement guided me to uncover and articulate the deeper meanings behind my life’s choices and experiences, while avoiding the professional jargon I use daily.

Another constructive aspect of working with April was her organization and reliability. Every Sunday I received a weekly action plan. This structure kept me on track and ensured that each of my essays underwent 1-2 rounds of her insightful reviews weekly and that my applications were submitted well before their deadlines. April’s responsiveness was impressive, consistently replying to emails within 24 to 48 hours, and she was always just a phone call away when I needed immediate guidance or reassurance.

I am excited to share that, with April’s unfaltering support, I will be joining Harvard Business School’s class of 2026 this Fall. To any future applicants, I can affirm that April’s dedicated support could make a defining difference in your business school admissions success as it did in mine.

Working with Mariesa and the Gatehouse team was essential to my MBA application journey. I started working with Mariesa in July for Round 1 Deadlines so I only had about 1.5 months to complete my applications. As a Healthcare AI consultant at a large consulting firm similar to many other applicants, Mariesa’s insights were crucial in helping me stand out. She took the time to understand my experiences and helped me skillfully craft a cohesive, compelling narrative- she has a great sense for tying together themes across my diverse experiences that didn’t seemingly fit together at first glance. Her excellent organizational skills and direct communication ensured I met all deadlines for the three schools I applied to in Round 1. Additionally, her support continued beyond the applications, assisting me in navigating decision-making after receiving acceptances. I am thrilled to be attending Wharton and highly recommend Mariesa to anyone looking to distinguish themselves in their MBA journey.

(1) Background: 26 y/o white female; project manager in untraditional sector; int’l work experience; Ivy undergrad, 3.86 GPA, 166V 166Q (total 332) GRE

(2) Results: Admitted at HBS, Kellogg ($140K scholarship), Booth ($100K), Darden ($164K), Waitlisted MIT Sloan, No interview GSB

(3) Experience: I was accepted to 4 of 6 top-tier MBA programs (most with full or near-full rides) thanks, in large part, to April. Here are the highlights: (1) Because I’m a professional project manager, I initially questioned the need to hire a dedicated (and expensive) admissions consultant. I’m glad I did: As a first-time MBA applicant, I relied on April’s deep knowledge about the admissions cycle and school-specific expectations, which freed up my time to focus on test prep (allowing me to cinch a great score at the 11th hour) and essay drafting. (2) I appreciated that April had strong, well-reasoned opinions about how to frame my untraditional background and approach each essay; she is assertive and direct, not a ‘yes person.’ My essays looked night-and-day different after 5-10 rounds of edits. On a scale of “prescriptive” to “lax,” April is quite prescriptive. While her feedback was sometimes uncomfortable to hear (I also have strong opinions, and sometimes disagreed on her approach), she always had the right intention (i.e., getting me into every school I applied to). (3) Finally, I credit April with revealing the extraordinary parts of my story to the admissions committee. When I joined Gatehouse, I tended to underplay my contributions (lots of “I helped” and “It was a team effort”). April noticed this habit and elevated my profile through consistent coaching to make my stories about me. While I struggled with this mindset shift, I believe it demonstrably improved my admissions outcomes (esp. at HBS). All in all, the results speak for themselves.

Background: White female, 3.8 GPA at top liberal arts college (Williams/Amherst), strong extracurricular activities, 4 years of work experience at start-up, 660 GMAT.

Results: Accepted to Kellogg (+ received an interview invite at Wharton and was admitted to several other T15 schools with scholarship!).

I began seriously considering business school last spring but procrastinated on starting the application process until October because I wasn’t sure how to approach it. I was very set on attending school in the fall of 2024; however, being not the greatest standardized test taker, I was unable to improve my score in time for round two applications.

Knowing that my score was well below average for the caliber of schools I hoped to attend, I knew I’d need a consultant who could elevate other aspects of my application and provide much-needed guidance. Rachel did just that and more! She helped me convey my personality and experiences authentically in my essays and successfully navigate the challenges posed by a low test score. Plus, working with Rachel, I gained more from the application process than offers of admission — I developed a new skill set that I know will be invaluable in business school and beyond, including honing my career goals, improving my writing skills, and effectively preparing for behavioral interviews.

Above all else, Rachel is a genuinely great person to work with! She gave me the confidence to push forward with my applications, even in the moments when I felt discouraged. After I submitted my applications, she continued to support me, regularly checking in and wishing me luck ahead of decision dates. I can’t recommend Rachel enough to anyone navigating the business school process, whether you’re seeking direction from square one, or aiming to refine an already strong application. Her expertise, honesty, and support can enhance any application. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner through the process and wouldn’t change a thing!

Background: Caucasian male, 5 years experience (2 years consulting, 3 years big tech), 3.8 GPA, 750 GMAT
Results: Admitted to Wharton, Columbia

April was an essential partner and advisor in my admission journey. I decided to apply to business school (round 1) in August, and would not have been able to navigate the tight timeline without her expert guidance. When I began the process, I worried that I would not be able to meet the application deadlines, but April helped me develop a comprehensive timeline with milestones along the way to ensure that I got all of my applications polished and submitted with time to spare. She helped me determine which 4 schools best suited my interests and personality, and ultimately helped me get into my dream school, Wharton, as well as Columbia with a substantial scholarship. I owe this success largely to April’s outstanding coaching, dedication, and structured approach to building a winning application.

At the beginning of the process, April helped me brainstorm key experiences and learnings from all aspects of my life, and worked with me to develop compelling themes and motifs to emphasize throughout my essays. I leveraged these introspective insights when crafting my essays, which April edited scrupulously, challenging me to delve deeply into the impact of my accomplishments to date. When giving feedback, she was both empathetic and instructive, applauding my ideas, phrases, and word choices that worked well, while stripping down and reconstructing everything that didn’t work in my early drafts. April settled for nothing less than stellar, and once my essays earned her coveted approval, they were sent to the Gatehouse founder, Liza Weale, who had a similarly keen eye for detail, and often identified new ways for me to improve my essays. Working with Gatehouse admissions, and with April specifically, allowed me to perfect my essays to a level of excellence and introspection that I could not have come close to on my own. While my essays consumed most of our time together, April was similarly instructive with my short answer responses, helping me ruthlessly cut words in order to meet the typically stingy character limits, and my letters of recommendation, guiding me to ideate strong topics and anecdotes for my recommenders. Finally, she coached me through interview prep, ensuring that I entered each interview feeling confident and ready. Overall, April’s approach helped me stay on track to deliver strong applications despite a timeline that initially seemed impossibly tight.

I did not take the decision to hire a consultant lightly, and worried that the payoff would not justify the high cost. Seeing the number of hours that April put into our partnership (her feedback was so thoughtful and comprehensive that I often suspected it often took longer for her to review my essays than it did for me to actually write them), the expert advice and frameworks that April provided, and ultimately the payoff of being accepted into two elite MBA programs, I feel that I got outstanding value for my money. She played an essential role in my successful application process, and I cannot recommend April’s services highly enough.

As someone who previously found self-reflection and personal essays extremely difficult during the undergraduate admissions process, I gained a ton of valuable insights and guidance from Alex while working with him on my MBA admissions. I was accepted to 3 out of the 4 schools that Alex supported me on for R2 – Booth, Kellogg, and Haas – with $150K in total merit scholarship across the schools.

Alex was especially helpful in the following:

1. Helping ideate and connect past experiences into cohesive essays: From the day I started my applications to the day I submitted them, Alex listened to my thoughts, experiences, and perspective and recommended ways that I could powerfully tell my story. As someone who (successfully) went through this process himself and as an English major, Alex has a gift for storytelling and essay revising that would benefit anyone who works with him.
2. Establishing clear cadence and timelines: Starting my MBA applications, I initially found it overwhelming to workplan and hold myself accountable because the entire process seemed so vast and nebulous at the time. Alex took into account my busy work schedule, personal commitments, and school deadlines to craft a working cadence and interim deadlines that ensured I was always on track.
3. Going above and beyond during times of greatest need: I was rejected to my R1 schools and hadn’t put too much thought into R2 before receiving these rejections. This meant I had ~1 month before R2 deadlines. Needless to say, I was stressed, overwhelmed, and discouraged. When I reached out to Alex after these R1 results, he got on a call right away to gameplan R2 apps and to provide emotional support when I needed it most. For the schools with the earliest deadlines, Alex even provided revisions ahead of our agreed schedule to make sure we had ample time before these applications were due. This is just one of many ways that Alex has given 110% during our time together.

Background: I graduated from a top 25 US undergrad university with a 3.8 GPA. ~2 yrs. of work experience in MBB consulting. 740 GMAT.

Result: Accepted to Chicago Booth, Northwestern Kellogg, Berkeley Haas, with ~$150K in total merit scholarship across schools.

I was admitted into HBS, and I attribute a large part of this to the two mock HBS interviews I did with Brooke. The detailed feedback I received was incredibly helpful for course-correcting many of my bad habits. Yet at the same time, Brooke provided feedback in a confidence-building way, something that was critical for me as I approached my actual interview date. In addition, Brooke’s questions were so insanely accurate; several of them came up during my actual HBS interview! Not only the questions themselves, but the style and the flow of the interview–suffice it to say, I felt very prepared during the actual interview.

If you are interviewing at HBS, you need to do a mock interview with Brooke. I seriously cannot recommend it enough. I can personally say that I would not have gotten into HBS without Brooke’s help.

Background: Mid-20s, Asian male, STEM major from top engineering school, 3.7 GPA, 760 GMAT.
Work experience: 3 years MBB consulting, 1 year healthtech operations.
Results: HBS admit (attending), Wharton admit.

I highly HIGHLY recommend working with Liza. She is hands down the best. Without her, I would not have gotten into my dream MBA program (HBS). I always knew HBS would be a bit of a crap-shoot, but I am confident that working with Liza flipped the odds completely in my favor.

I was initially hesitant to work with an admissions consultant, after having met with several others. Thankfully, I booked time with Liza. She was direct, thoughtful, and clearly had a ton of experience under her belt. I immediately knew that I wanted to work with her. It turned out to be the best decision I could have made during the whole process.

From the get-go, Liza was a crucial thought partner. She really forced me to dig deep and reflect on the decisions I have made throughout my life and why I was applying to business school, and more importantly, how I could concisely and convincingly share my story in my application. Her feedback was always insightful, actionable, and necessary–even when receiving more critical feedback, I felt fully supported, as Liza would always explain her perspective thoughtfully and coherently. She understands deeply the entire business school application and I always felt that I was in very capable hands. On top of everything, Liza held me accountable to a realistic timeline, and I never felt like I was scrambling at any point in the process.

When it came time for interviews, Liza and the Gatehouse team were extremely crucial in my preparation for the HBS interview. I will sound like a broken record by the end of this review, but I seriously would not have gotten in without Liza’s guidance and support. The level of detail we went into during my mock interviews was nearly identical to the types of interview questions I was asked in the actual interview.

If it’s not obvious by now, I believe that working with Liza is a no-brainer. If you are at all on the fence, please read her other reviews and let the results/personal experiences of others speak for themselves! I have personally sent several friends to meet with Liza already. 5 stars is not nearly enough; Liza breaks the scale.

Late 20s, white, female, ivy undergrad, banking / private equity background. I was extremely apprehensive about hiring a consultant in the first place given how pricey the services are across the board, but Liza had come heavily recommended to me by peers from banking / PE backgrounds and I can’t thank them enough. I got into HBS (attending) and Wharton and simply could not have done it without Liza.

Not only is Liza an exceptional editor who can really focus your body of writing to communicate exactly what you’re trying to get across, but she is also extremely creative, which is valuable for the work you do through the admissions process. Liza is a balanced cheerleader – pushing you to keep going in what is a slog of an application cycle without BS’ing you. Her enthusiasm and candor are truly invaluable in the months that you work with her.

In addition to being a great editor, Liza helps manage your process to ensure you’re staying on track. Applying while balancing a full-time workload and extra curriculars is challenging enough, and having Liza chart the course is very helpful.

Lastly, once interviews came around, Liza and the broader Gatehouse team were super mock-interviewers, focusing on the things that matter most and offering real-deal questions. Doing mock interviews with the Gatehouse team was another added bonus of working with Liza.

I truly can’t recommend her enough. Run, don’t walk, to work with her!

Background: Ivy undergrad, Consulting > Buyside, 760 GMAT, re-applicant (previously applied for 2+2)

Result: Admitted to HBS and Wharton

As a quant-oriented person, I was nervous about essay writing. Rachel guided me through the entire writing process and rounds of revisions. She helped tell my story in a way that highlighted my accomplishments, created a coherent narrative across my personal / professional life, and didn’t feel forced. For both schools, she coached me on what the adcoms are looking for – I didn’t realize how different my essays needed to be!

When I was given a “Further Consideration” status at HBS, Rachel helped steer me through the process. She gave me the direct feedback that I needed to put together the best overall package possible. This ultimately resulted in being accepted to both schools that Rachel helped me with (my top 2 choices)!

I cannot recommend Rachel enough – I would tell anyone applying to business school to look no further!

I worked with Mariesa on 1 MBA application. I come from a traditional finance background (IB -> PE), and Mariesa took the time to fully understand my motivations, career journey, and professional goals. Her thoughtful and direct feedback were instrumental in crafting my story and clearly articulating my post-MBA goals. As we discussed the essay, she helped me pull together themes from my previous school, personal, and work experiences to tell a cohesive story – she is incredible at spotting the common threads between different aspects of my life. We also worked together on my resume and interview preparation. She has deep expertise in what admissions committees are looking for when they review resumes. Her mock interviews and guidance developed my confidence going into the real interview, and I felt that I was able to tell my story in an authentic manner.

I applied to HBS and was admitted there. Mariesa’s guidance was instrumental in successfully navigating the application process; overall, I would highly recommend working with her.

Background: 2 years of Banking, 2 years of PE, 710 GMAT, Claremont McKenna undergrad with 3.6 GPA.

When signing up for a consultant, I did not know what to expect exactly. Rachel made the process incredibly easy and smooth for me. First thing Rachel did was truly get to know me. She took the time and effort to figure out my story to understand how we can make the best application possible. Rachel did not tell me to just do xyz, she really worked with me so I understood why we were doing what we were doing. This allowed me to tell the story that worked for me and my application. When working with Rachel, you realize how much work your application really needs if you want to make it the best application possible. The MBA process is incredibly competitive, so it is important to put yourself in the best position possible to succeed. I truly think that Rachel did that, and she truly got me to a place where I felt like I had the best application possible and also felt prepared for my interviews.

You will only get what you put into it, and Rachel really made me feel that I got all that i put into the process. Truly would not have done it any other way.

Simply put, Liza was incredible to work with and I would 100% recommend anybody applying to business school to work with her. The results speak for themselves – I got into Stanford, Harvard, Wharton and MIT – and Liza played a critical role in all of these outcomes.

Coming from a traditional finance route of investment banking and private equity, I initially didn’t feel differentiated from my peer group. While I had a strong GPA from a good undergraduate school, my GMAT was average for the business schools I was applying to. Liza helped me stand out. She worked extensively with me to help craft my story. Liza truly cares and the depth of her passion for her applicants manifests itself throughout the process from the initial consultation (where I got actionable, super specific advice) to the extensive interview preparation (where she probed all the hard questions known to come up on interviews). She worked tirelessly and creatively to ensure I could put my best foot forward for my applications. I really appreciated her direct, tactical advice – she never relied on broad strokes, but helped me think through things step by step.

Looking back on the experience, what felt unique about her approach was the depth and intensity in which we delved into my life experiences and future ambitions. This experience crystalized what I hope to gain from business school and what impact I want to have afterwards – reflection that not only helped craft my application, but also will help me maximize my business school experience (which I believe is ultimately even more important than the application itself).

Background: Mid-20s female, based in Boston, worked in healthcare private equity and then operations at growth-stage healthcare company, went to Colby College for undergrad, Spanish and International Relations double major, Economics minor, 3.8 GPA, 161V/162Q GRE.

Result: Attending HBS Fall of 2024 and admitted to Wharton

Working with Laura was an absolute dream. Laura’s firm, Gatehouse, came recommended to me through a former coworker who also had great success working with Gatehouse and is currently at HBS. I was given the option to “interview” a few consultants before choosing who I would work with throughout the process but I only needed 30 minutes with Laura to know I wanted to work with her. Between her background of working in HBS MBA admissions and also having been in my shoes at one point in her life as an MBA applicant, I was confident she was going to ensure that my application was as strong as possible and that I was over prepared for interviews and navigating the process in general.

What struck me most about working with Laura was her organizational skills and holding me accountable to our timeline. Laura gets straight to the point which I really appreciated. There are so many different work streams that overlap during the lengthy application process that it would be easy to get lost without someone with excellent time management skills guiding you through it. Her expertise in interview prep made me feel confident and prepared walking into my interview, and all of her advice paid off. I never had to worry about not knowing what was going on or feeling confused about the process because Laura had either thought ahead and prepared me with detailed documentation and materials or I knew I could reach out to her at any time with any question.

I am so thankful to have worked with Laura throughout the MBA application process. She was with me every step of the way. I would recommend Laura (and already have) to anyone applying to business school.

Background: Late 20s, female, Texas, technical role at oil and gas company, undergraduate business degree from state school (business management & finance double major), 3.7 GPA, GRE: 162Q/159V.

Accepted: Wharton, Chicago Booth, MIT, Yale
Attending: Wharton School (Class of 2025)

I had the privilege of working with Liza at Gatehouse Admissions for two years. Coming from a niche role at an oil and gas company, I knew that I needed exceptional guidance to navigate the competitive admissions process. Liza proved to be the perfect partner in my journey to business school.

Liza played a pivotal role in shaping my personal story. She helped me craft a narrative that described where I came from, the decisions I made along the way, and most importantly, my “why.” Liza’s guidance in this aspect was invaluable as it helped me present a clear and strong case for my candidacy. Further, Liza took a holistic approach to the application. She ensured that all components of the application (resume, essays, short answers, etc.) were consistent and connected to my “why”.

One of Liza’s specialties was her ability to help me articulate my accomplishments, projects, and performance in a way that was clear and compelling to admissions staff who may have been unfamiliar with the energy industry. Liza took the time to understand my nuanced role and pushed me to dig deeper in my reflections in both professional and personal experiences.

Additionally, Liza provided strategic advice on re-testing for the GMAT & GRE and helped guide me through my decision to delay my applications until the following admissions cycle, ensuring I could present the strongest possible application to the admissions committees. Her thoughtful guidance underscored her dedication to not just meeting but exceeding the expectations of top-tier business school admissions processes.

Further, my experience with Gatehouse Admissions offered access to a variety of resources. I participated in a mock interview with another specialized admissions consultant and engaged with other Gatehouse clients in a simulated Wharton “Team Based Discussion” interview. Throughout the entire process, Liza and the Gatehouse team consistently offered constructive feedback and support.

Liza at Gatehouse Admissions was a vital partner on my journey to business school. I am incredibly grateful for her expertise and guidance, which undoubtedly played a key role in my successful application to business school. If you want to gain admission to the top business schools, you must work with Liza and Gatehouse Admissions!

I am thrilled to be attending Wharton next year and attribute my success to Marcus and the Gatehouse team. I came to them with a condensed timeline, a non-traditional background (investor relations hoping to transition to entrepreneurship) and Marcus helped me create a compelling story across my varying experiences. My GPA (3.9) was strong but my GMAT was slightly below the average of my target schools. With Marcus’s hands-on support in editing and reviewing my essays and resume, I was admitted to a handful of programs with scholarships. Notably, given my condensed timeline, Marcus spent much time helping me on weekends and provided thorough and efficient feedback in each step of the process. I also want to highlight that Gatehouse has incredible resources for preparing applicants for interviews and truly helps you throughout the entire process of applying. I give my highest recommendation!

I will be heading to London Business School this summer, and Marcus was an invaluable partner in getting me there.

I came in with I had a fairly strong background (3 years WE in Corp Strategy & Operations at a FinTech, 3.9 GPA at T25 undergrad, 334 GRE (170V, 164Q)), but I needed help differentiating myself as a white male looking to make an industry change into clean energy. Marcus helped me build out a holistic and compelling story, helping me find through lines across my education and professional career that not only shaped my essays, but also my post-MBA career outlook. He also had an attention to detail that helped me perfect the parts of the app that are super important but easy to overlook (resume, short answers, etc.).

LBS was always my top choice school (though I have never spent extended time living or working internationally), and Marcus’s experience working and living in Europe provided guidance that was difficult to find at other US-based consultancies.

I worked with Mariesa on five business school applications for Round 1. With a career in Product Marketing in the health care tech space and aspirations of moving into Product Management and Entrepreneurship, Mariesa’s expertise in crafting a compelling story was immensely supportive. Mariesa was organized and mapped out timelines and work back plans to ensure I submitted all my applications ahead of time, decreasing stress as the deadlines approached. She took the time to get to know my background, my personality, and what I was interested in getting out of business school which helped me share my authentic self through my applications. She identified areas where my application was weaker (on the quant side) and ensured we worked together to showcase my quantitative skillset in multiple ways. Mariesa was there every step of the way and was available to help for every question or concern. After submitting my applications Mariesa helped me prep for my interviews which I found extremely valuable. Her in depth of knowledge of the business school process, the programs, and how to position one’s background / goals was critical in submitting strong applications. I am excited to say that I am attending Kellogg this fall! I believe Mariesa’s support was instrumental in this outcome. I highly recommend working with Mariesa on your business school applications!

Background: White male of Latin American descent. Worked for PE/HF/VC for two years and Investment Banking prior to that. Non-target undergraduate with above average GPA. Recently admitted to HBS!

It initially took me a while to appreciate the value of an MBA. I was skeptical and spent a long-time soliciting feedback and different points of view to ensure this was the right next step in my career. After coming to the realization, I was slightly behind in my application process and timeline for round 1.

Rachel was incredibly helpful from day-1 distilling each of the key components of a well-rounded application. As someone with a type-A personality, Rachel did a great job creating structure to each component of the application process and pushing timelines to hold me accountable throughout. While busy with work, this demystified the application process and allowed me to dual-track applications with GMAT test preparation in a short timeline.

Rachel was also a great thought partner as I evaluated the course of my applications. Rachel helped me prioritize applications and shared valuable perspective on how to structure my submissions (round 1 vs. 2) based on the strengths and weaknesses of my application relative to each school’s focal areas.

Most importantly – Rachel clearly wanted what was best for me and always gave honest feedback. I am happy to have had the opportunity to work with her, and don’t believe I would have achieved the same outcome without her support. Highly recommend you put your faith in her as well!

I cannot say enough positive things about Laura. She was instrumental in helping me put my best foot forward and tell my story in a way that stood out despite no obvious “hook” (HBS / GSB admit as a white / Asian male from large cap PE). Laura is intelligent, knowledgeable, organized, empathetic, and refreshingly direct. I was a huge fan of both her substance and style, and would recommend her if you’re looking for someone who will be upfront and candid with you while working tirelessly to help you put your best foot forward in an increasingly competitive applicant field.

Alex was incredibly helpful in keeping me calm and focused through a chaotic process. For reasons outside of my control, I applied in Round 3 and was under significant time pressure to complete my applications. Alex was instrumental in helping me create a plan that allowed time for me to still find my voice which proved more difficult than expected. Through countless drafts, Alex was there with sound advice and probing questions that helped me really dig deep and write essays that fully encapsulated who I am and what motivated me.
Background: I have a B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University (UG GPA: 3.7, Grad GPA: 3.9) and have worked for 6 years in the automotive industry on advanced technical projects. I was selected for MBA sponsorship by my company, took the GMAT and scored 760 (Q50, V42).
As somebody who had never considered applying to business school before this year, I found Alex’s help to be priceless when it came to understanding each step in the process. Obviously, the essay help was crucial, but there are so many other aspects to the process that I completely underestimated. With Alex’s help, I went through 7 drafts of my resume. His attention to detail helped me to maximize the use of space and adequately convey the impact that I have had in my career and activities. He also was incredibly helpful in thinking through who to ask and how to coordinate my letters of recommendation. After submitting my applications, Alex conducted multiple mock interviews with me that really honed my storytelling abilities. His focused feedback gave me the tools to standout in my interviews. And lastly, an often under-appreciated piece of the process is the emotional toll it can take. The arduous process can really wear you down, but Alex really encouraged me every step along the way and kept me motivated when I was tired. I am truly grateful for all the assistance that Alex provided and don’t know where I would be without him. I’d recommend him to anybody applying to business school.
Result: I applied to 4 full-time MBA programs in Round 3/4 (Stanford GSB, Wharton, Kellogg, Ross) and was accepted to all including full scholarships at Kellogg and Ross. I chose Stanford GSB because of my sponsorship.

I worked with Mariesa after deciding in January to apply to MBA programs round 3, leaving only 2 months between starting the process and submitting my first application. I’ve spent the last few years working full-time as an engineer, and business school applications were a completely new world for me. I so appreciated receiving Mariesa’s feedback on my resume, essays, and mock interviews. Given the tight timeline, I was tempted to immediately rush into writing essays. However, Mariesa insisted that I take time for self-reflection, and asked probing questions to help establish my personal and professional accomplishments. By resisting the urge to jump right into writing, Mariesa helped me craft impactful stories that ultimately resulted in stronger essays and interviews. Mariesa is not one to mince words. When providing feedback on revisions, Mariesa was always clear and direct, and my essays were all the better for it.

I ended up applying to 3 programs: Wharton, Kellogg, and Sloan. I was admitted to all 3, and received a full-ride scholarship to Kellogg. I am grateful to have a company that is sponsoring my education, which gives me the flexibility to attend my first-choice school, Wharton. I am so grateful for Mariesa’s guidance in this process. I genuinely believe that she was the difference between 3 acceptances and no acceptances.

I thought Mariesa was instrumental in helping me successfully navigate the particularly burdensome MBA application process. As someone who has spent the last 5 years in finance, Mariesa did a great job in bringing to light some of my other strengths as an applicant and helped me craft a cohesive narrative that definitely improved my candidacy.

In terms of our working relationship, I found Mariesa to be very clear and direct, which I appreciated. She was explicit in timing expectations (which helped us abide by all of the relevant deadlines) and she was always timely in her responses back to me. I personally really enjoyed her working style and thought she was very helpful in helping me adapt to changing circumstances (whether it be personal or work) as we went through the application process.

I will be attending GSB in the fall and I can’t thank Mariesa enough for her help – I definitely wouldn’t be in this position without her!

Rachel was excellent! My situation was quite unique, I had a very limited timeframe to apply and it was for Round 3. Nevertheless Rachel was action focused and didn’t take her foot off of the accelerator. The entire way she was there to support me, I was impressed by her ability to help me tell my story so concisely. I was also quite impressed with Rachel after applications were done, she continued to check in to see how I was doing and offered her help.

Some background on me, I am in the Automotive industry, had a 3.95 GPA from my undergrad in engineering but am not the strongest standardized test taker. Even so, with Rachel’s help I was able to gain admittance into Ross and Sloan. I am beyond thrilled with the results!

Rachel was instrumental in getting me through a tough Round 3 Application Process. Due to late notice of receiving sponsorship (mid-January), I only had a few months to complete school research, GRE/GMAT prep and tests, essays, resume update, and recommender prep. Her method of understanding your unique background in order to help you shape your application and story is unbeatable. The MBA application process is hard, and it 100% helps to have an unbiased and unfiltered reader give you their feedback and help you iterate on your applications. I was ultimately admitted to Ross and Kellogg, and Rachel without a doubt helped me refine my first draft applications.

Background: Male, 4 years work experience (investment banking & private equity), 730 GMAT / 4.0 GPA, Economics major

Accepted: HBS, Wharton

I worked with Brooke in advance of my interviews, and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to have worked with her! She was extremely engaging, polite, thoughtful, and overall, a pleasure to work with. She clearly took the time to put thought and effort into preparing for our mock interviews – she had read over my entire application in detail and asked very nuanced questions. Based on her directly relevant experience, she was able to provide very targeted, clear, and actionable feedback on how to best articulate my experiences and interests. It also felt like she was invested in my success, as she was always available to hop on the phone / answer questions over email as they came up. I truly do not think I would have been admitted to HBS had I not worked with Brooke beforehand. We did two mock interviews, and I was able to walk into my interview with a strong sense of confidence from the feedback and advice I had received from her. The two mock interviews with Brooke were by far the best preparation I could have done and were absolutely worth it. I would wholeheartedly recommend working with Brooke!

My time working with Hollis lasted a full year, and it was an overwhelmingly positive experience. Hollis is organized, thoughtful and patient. Some essays took me over 6 months to complete and with each iteration Hollis remained optimistic and encouraging. I’ve been admitted to one of my top programs (Northwestern Kellogg) and have Hollis to thank for her guidance through the process. I especially appreciate how she was willing and able to answer every question that came to mind (and there were a lot of them). In the rare event Hollis did not have an immediate answer, she would consult her colleagues, and the added perspective was always appreciated.

Additionally, as a more “alternative” applicant working in the music industry with no proper banking or finance experience, Hollis helped me craft a compelling story that emphasized my creative strengths while identifying more quantitative components in my story as well. She really helped me thread the needle as an MBA applicant with a creative background.

I’d highly recommend working with Hollis.

Undergrad: Vanderbilt
GPA: 3.73
Major: Music, Media & Enterprise
Post-school industry: Music Business
GMAT: 700
GRE: 323

Background: Caucasian male, 5 years experience (2 years IB, 3 years PE), 3.8 GPA at T50 undergrad, 760 GMAT
Results: Admitted to HBS, Wharton, and Columbia

April was an invaluable guide and a true partner during my business school application process. April pushed me to be introspective in ways I hadn’t thought possible, extracting a level of self-reflection I hadn’t practiced since I applied to college a decade earlier. One of the most valuable exercises we completed together was early in the process when we took everything from my formative relationships developed in my early childhood to workplace achievements in my current role and distilled them into meaningful life lessons. This was instrumental in helping me organize my thoughts so I could more effectively apply my personal experiences to each school’s application.

I got started on my applications later than I would have liked for R1 submissions, but April took what could have been a highly stressful situation and turned it into an expertly strategized game plan. What set her apart from other consultants was her ability to create a structured schedule to hold me accountable on meeting deadlines. On each Sunday, April would send me an email outlining my deadlines and goals for the week ahead. Of course, there were times when work got busy and required flexibility in the schedule, but it was nothing April hadn’t seen before having worked with other IB/PE clients and was always able to push me to make up for lost time. There was ultimately never any doubt of getting all my applications in before the R1 deadlines. For people who benefit from a structured schedule and to-do list, April is the perfect consultant.

Finally, as a firm of professionals with expertise across all the top business schools, I had a strong network at Gatehouse to tap into for each of my applications and April was always happy to leverage her colleagues for a second opinion on a nuanced question. I honestly couldn’t have asked for better partners in April and the Gatehouse team.

Background: ORM Male, 7 years of experience

GMAT: 710

Results: Accepted to Fuqua, Ross, UNC, and Stern

April is someone who I thoroughly enjoyed working with throughout the application cycle. I started working with April in July and wanted to submit my applications to most schools for Round 1 in September. Originally, I was anxious about the amount of time, but April reassured me that I would be able to submit a polished application. She kept me accountable throughout the process but made sure to reprioritize items when I had other important commitments. In addition to being organized, she was always timely with her deliverables and responsive to all my questions.

I come from an accounting background and thought my work experience / accomplishments to be mundane. April was instrumental in helping me see the true impacts of my accomplishments and what skills and traits I would bring to business school. I felt like April did two things that were the most helpful in me standing out from the pool of applicants. First, she challenged me to be very specific and thorough in my essays. In my beginning drafts, my responses to the essay prompts were broad and made it appear that I had not put much thought into my ideas. April helped me craft full-fleshed ideas on what I would bring to an MBA cohort and how I would make a difference during my time on campus. Second, she pushed me to write succinctly about my accomplishments and the impact that each one had by thinking about the “so what?” of each bullet point. The original drafts of my resume were sorely missing the impact of my accomplishments and were filled with industry jargon that made them hard to understand. By the end of the process, it unrecognizable from previous drafts.

In the end, I was accepted to almost all the schools that I applied to and received full scholarships from two. April’s knowledge of the application process and how to bring an applicant’s story to the forefront was extraordinary. Originally, I had hesitations about working with a consultant, but working with April made it very clear to me and others around me the value that an amazing consultant, such as April, can add to an application.

I’ve planned to get an MBA since I graduated from undergrad in 2015. With good grades/extracurriculars at an Ivy, 740 GMAT score, and 5 years of total WE across banking & VC (some spent internationally), I felt confident in my candidacy and the applications I prepared for the 2020 admissions cycle. PS – additional background: straight white male, 29 years old.

What I didn’t realize until I was outright rejected from H/S/W in 2020 [no consultation help] and then again by Wharton/CBS in 2022 [used a 3rd party essay revision service], was that a “good” application is not enough. The application has to be exceptional, meaning all aspects of who you are and what you have done shine through in the clearest, most compelling light.

In 2023, I decided to go all out, in what I decided would be my last attempt at applying to FT MBA programs. With Rachel [end-to-end application consultant], not only did I get interviews at every school I applied (Wharton included), I was accepted with scholarship to CBS, Yale, NYU, Tuck, and Darden!!

I echo all comments in other reviews that touch on Rachel’s work style, particularly her earnestness, patience, and reliability. And of course, her expert knowledge of what makes for a good app. Rachel draws the most out of you at both a high-level (key stories and concepts to draw from) and low-level (editing for concision and clarity).

If you want to give yourself the best shot of getting into your dream school, do not wait for your 3rd try to work with Rachel like I did, do it on your 1st. And start working with her soon, because MBA applications are a hefty burden that requires brain, time, and emotional expenditure that’s best spread out over a 3+ month time horizon. The peace of mind, results, and stakes make working with Rachel one of the best investments you’ll ever make.

Results: Waitlisted Round 1 and accepted Round 2 to HBS

I partnered with a different consultant and advisory firm for my HBS written application, but I worked with Brooke from Gatehouse for HBS interview and waitlist support. My background is fairly generic (strong GPA and standard GMAT, Asian female, business major at non-target school, 4 years in finance), but Brooke helped me bring my story to life as I was prepping for my interview. She was very adept at pulling out the unique factors and drawing connections to past experiences to build a full, cohesive narrative. Tactically, I also appreciated that Brooke was extremely responsive and flexible with her schedule – I was very busy with live deal work leading up to my Round I interview, and she carved out time last minute to conduct two mock interviews.

I also solicited Brooke’s help on my waitlist strategy. I had progressed a variety of projects since my Round I application, and Brooke was very helpful in “storyboarding” these initiatives into key themes to structure a cohesive, organized, and succinct update letter. Brooke pushed me to truly refine my update letter by moving beyond a resume style list of accomplishments and instead towards a more thoughtful reflection that demonstrated my passions and underlying motivations. I would highly recommend Brooke – She is creative, honest, demanding, and very much invested in your success. She is a great partner in the MBA application process and goes above and beyond to support you.

Background: late 20s female, ~5 YOE in STEM field, sub-700 GMAT & below average GPA for schools I was applying to.

Results: Admitted to HBS (attending) and Wharton

I worked with Laura primarily for interview prep for my top two schools and preparing an additional application for a later round in the event that I was not admitted. The preparation Laura gave me going into my interviews made all the difference! The mock interview we conducted for HBS in particular was a highlight — she took the time to review my application in detail and asked a lot of questions in a short time period, just like the real HBS interview. I was also able to participate in a mock Wharton group interview that her colleagues were hosting. These experiences in particular made me feel incredibly prepared and I was able to go into each interview with confidence. Despite my lower stats, I was able to receive an offer of admission from both of my dream programs!

Laura was great to work with! Thanks to her advice, encouragement, and quick feedback throughout the busy process, I was able to go into each next step (including juggling interviews with additional application prep) with ease and confidence. I highly recommend working with Laura; I had a great experience!

Background: Caucasian Male, 7 years general finance experience, liberal arts undergrad, GRE: 324. Results: Accepted to 2/2 schools (Columbia and Stern). April was an excellent partner throughout the business school application process and she was truly invested in my success. I felt like April put the same effort into advising me through my application process as she would for her own MBA applications, making me genuinely trust her as a partner. I came to April with a narrow list of schools I wanted to attend. She was completely supportive, and based on my list helped identify other schools I might want to consider. At times when I was exhausted from work, studying for the GRE, and writing essays, April helped me prioritize which tasks to focus on and was there to continue to push me forward.

I’m confident that April’s knowledge and high standards helped get my application materials to the next level. From our very first meeting, April helped me recognize the strengths in my experiences and develop a cohesive and interesting story. April provided unparalleled guidance and the tools for success, ranging from essay idea formation to interview preparation. We had multiple brainstorming sessions, and we went through multiple versions of certain essays before agreeing on the strongest topic for that essay. Admittedly, I can be stubborn about criticism of my writing; but April was not afraid to provide direct feedback (in the best way). April knew when to challenge my ideas and ask me to dig deeper or take something to the next level. She was not willing to settle for anything less than what she knew to be my full potential. She was honest with me when she felt something wasn’t right and made helpful suggestions to guide me in the right direction. Ultimately, her counsel was crucial in my successful outcome.

I was comfortable knowing that April and the Gatehouse team were always giving me sound advice. April is an absolute professional and an expert in this field, and I wholeheartedly trusted her guidance. She had all the answers to my questions as I worked through the application process, and occasionally she would bring in another Gatehouse expert for a second opinion, making me feel like she truly had my best interests at heart. Gatehouse is a great company, and I cannot recommend April enough as the right consultant there. She will absolutely ensure your full potential is reached.

Background: Asian/white male, worked for new HF/PE/VC fund for four years (straight out of college), 3.9 GPA at Harvard/Yale/Princeton undergrad, 770 GMAT. Result: Admitted to HBS.

While I was initially skeptical of the value of working with a consultant, I am so glad I ended up working with Gatehouse and Rachel specifically. Rachel got to know my story, work experience, and extracurricular involvement in detail and we worked together to create a cohesive application that resulted in receiving interviews at both HBS and GSB (and an acceptance to HBS). Throughout the process, there were numerous times when I sent essay drafts I thought were pretty decent but once I got Rachel’s feedback, I realized that they actually needed a bunch of work. Rachel’s suggestions were immensely helpful and pointed out things that I never would have even thought to consider. While some of these changes were tactical (e.g., fitting into word counts), many of them were also in the spirit of conveying a better overall story/narrative, which she was able to do because she put in a lot of work in getting to know me upfront. While the bulk of our work together was on the core essays, Rachel was helpful every step of the way of the application process, including incremental written materials (e.g., HBS Further Consideration Update) and the interview process.

If you’re considering working with a consultant, I would wholeheartedly recommend Rachel and the Gatehouse team!

I can confidently recommend Alex as a consultant! He is an extremely kind, creative, and humble individual who has a wealth of knowledge to share!

Background: I graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in finance and a 3.63 GPA. I have worked for four years in Corporate Development/M&A for a Fortune 25 company. I took the GRE and scored 164 Quant/163 in Verbal.

Result: I was accepted into Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, the only school to which I applied.

My current employer is sponsoring my MBA as part of a fellowship program, and they contracted Gatehouse Admissions to help all fellows with the application process. I only wanted to apply to Fuqua’s earlier round and wait to hear back before considering applying to other schools. Alex was my consultant, and he was absolutely fantastic! From the time that we were introduced to Fuqua’s R3 deadline, we only had 2 weeks, and Alex worked with me to get the application ready to go in that very short amount of time!

Alex is absolutely fantastic for many reasons. He is extremely responsive and timely, and he makes a great effort to give you quick and accurate turnaround times. He is also very organized, keeping track of outstanding tasks and deadlines for each. In addition, he has a thorough understanding of what schools are looking for in candidates, which is helpful because candidates can be very specific and intentional in their applications to different schools.

I think one of Alex’s greatest contributions came in the form of application essays. When we first met, he did a great job of getting to know my background, goals, and values so that he could effectively advise me on my essay topics. After I provided my initial essay drafts, Alex provided insightful feedback on how to make them stronger in content and more creative in style. He did an incredible job at making constructive suggestions while keeping my voice and style in mind.

Once I reached the interview stage, Alex provided helpful interview tips and topics of focus. We walked through questions that could potentially be asked and thought through how to best present my experience and goals. He was open in sharing his own interview and career experiences, which helped me understand what interviewers were looking for, as these key factors are not always what you expect.

If you are wondering whether a consultant helps, I can tell you with certainty that it does! My overall application and interview strategy were both stronger thanks to Alex’s guidance and support!

Background: Late 20s female, east coast, worked in e-commerce and then growth marketing/strategy at a late-stage tech startup, went to Brown for undergrad, 165V/163Q GRE.

Result: Attending Wharton in Fall of 2023

I could not recommend Liza more highly. Liza came recommended to me through a friend who had worked with her and ended up at Stanford GSB. From the moment I met Liza I knew she had my best interest at heart – honestly, thoughtfully, and strategically pointing out the strengths and weaknesses in my application, and how we would work together to put my best foot forward.

The MBA application process is long, and Liza is incredibly adept at leading you through that process. She is patient and thoughtful through every essay draft (of which there are many) and really takes an interest in you as the applicant and how to make you shine through the page. Liza was my biggest support system throughout this process. Liza is also extremely helpful in helping you prep your recommenders, preparing you for interviews, and even filling out the minutiae of the online applications themselves.

Working with Liza was the best decision I made in preparing for the MBA process – I recommend her and the Gatehouse team wholeheartedly.