Gatehouse Admissions | MBA Admissions Consultants

I started working with Rachel very late in the Round 2 application process. I had only recently completed my GMAT, had a 655 score, and had a GPA of ~3.4, which was below average compared from my demographic. I had completed my undergraduate degree in the United States, but in a non STEM field.

I worked with Rachel on applications to three schools. All three were reaches, which Rachel and other counsellors had been transparent about from the beginning. At the same time, I was managing an extremely demanding workload, so everything came down to the final few weeks before the deadlines.

What impressed me most was how Rachel responded under that pressure. She kept me calm when I was nervous, brought structure to a chaotic process, and somehow helped me find the real story behind my experiences.

One of the main things I wanted from the application process was a clearer understanding of my own story and long term goals. It can be extremely difficult to work those things out by yourself. Rachel was able to ask the right questions, identify the common thread across my experiences, and cut through the generic or unconvincing answers I initially tried to give her. She was direct when something was not strong enough, but her feedback always helped me get closer to an answer that genuinely sounded like me.

Her support also went beyond improving essays. She helped me understand why I wanted an MBA, what I wanted to do afterwards, and how the different parts of my background connected. That clarity was one of the most valuable outcomes of the entire process.

I ultimately received interview invitations from two of the three schools and was admitted to London Business School, where I will be starting my MBA.

My advice to future applicants is to start early. The application process is a marathon, and it will be far more enjoyable and reflective when you give yourself enough time. I would also recommend keep your ambitions high. You only do one MBA.

A little bit of my background: 3.9+ GPA in a science discipline at T10 university and 715 GMAT. Admitted into Sloan and HBS deferred MBA programs.

Liza was incredible to work with at every stage of the process. For me, applying to deferred MBA programs as a senior in college with a science rather than business background, she was instrumental in helping me communicate my science and engineering experiences to a non-science audience. She helped me effectively think through all of my past experiences to choose strong essay topics and tell a coherent story across my applications.

She was incredibly patient and kind with me as I juggled a busy schedule while also making sure I was staying on schedule and giving adequate time to my applications. She always gave me feedback on my essays within a couple of days, and as deadlines approached, would turn things around even faster to make sure that everything I submitted was in the best shape possible. Liza was also extremely helpful during the interview process, as she held mock interviews that prepared me for the different styles of each school and boosted my confidence before the interviews. I would highly recommend Liza to anyone interested in applying to MBA programs!

I cannot say enough good things about Marcus Dahllöf and the impact he had on my business school application journey. Looking back, I truly believe that having Marcus by my side made an enormous difference, not only in the quality of my applications, but also in the confidence and clarity I had throughout the entire process.
From our very first conversations, Marcus took the time to understand who I was beyond my résumé. He wanted to know my story, my motivations, my goals, my doubts, and what I hoped business school would help me achieve. That personal level of attention made the process feel much more meaningful and much less overwhelming. He helped me see the strengths in my own journey and guided me in turning those experiences into a clear, authentic, and compelling application strategy.

What impressed me most was his incredible attention to detail. Marcus was deeply involved in every step of the process: school selection, positioning, essays, recommendations, interview preparation, application strategy, and even scholarship negotiation. He never treated any part of the process as minor or secondary. Every word, every story, every school choice, and every decision mattered to him. He was thoughtful, strategic, honest, and always focused on helping me present the best and most genuine version of myself.

Applying to business school can be stressful, emotional, and at times very uncertain. Marcus made that journey feel manageable. He was always patient, encouraging, and very direct when I needed it. He challenged me to think deeper, pushed me to improve, and helped me stay focused during moments when the process felt overwhelming. More than just an advisor, he became a true partner in the journey.

What I appreciated most is that I always felt he genuinely cared about my success. His support went far beyond reviewing essays or giving application advice. He invested time, energy, and heart into helping me reach this goal, and I will always be grateful for that.

I would recommend Marcus without a doubt to anyone applying to business school. He is detail-oriented, strategic, honest, supportive, and deeply committed to his clients. If you are looking for someone who will truly understand your story, help you bring out your best, and support you through every stage of the process, Marcus is exactly the person you want by your side.

Basic info: I went to a top undergraduate university where I studied art history and had a 3.9 GPA. I’ve worked in fundraising operations at nonprofits in healthcare and climate. I got a 735 on the GMAT focus exam.

I had a background in nonprofit fundraising and decided to make a massive career pivot with the help of an MBA, but the application process was wildly overwhelming to me. I knew one other person who had pursued an MBA, and she had worked with Eric and recommended I reach out. I’m so glad I did; he helped me translate my experience to business school terminology and assess what from my story was relevant to the application.

Throughout each essay iteration, he was clear and helpful. I found his resume edits surprisingly beneficial as well – I had made many resumes before for job applications, but I needed a different set of information for the business school applications. The whole time, he helped orient me to relevant information, which was crucial; I’d never heard terms like “CPG,” “MBB,” or “IB” before, to give an idea of where I was coming from.

I was admitted to two top 15 MBA programs, one of which I’ll be attending in the fall, and waitlisted at a third, and I’m elated by the results.

I worked with Liza Weale on my HBS 2+2 application and was admitted; I couldn’t recommend her more highly.

A bit about my background: I’m a Stanford undergrad, Economics major, 4.0 GPA, 675 GMAT, heading into investment banking post-graduation.

Liza was incredibly on top of everything. I submitted my application over a week early with zero stress. Small questions were often answered within the hour, and feedback on drafts came back within a day during crunch time, never more than two business days no matter how many drafts I sent.

She was also great at helping me find my authentic voice. We spent real time early on just getting to know me — family, background, formative experiences. All of this let her later help me recognize details I would’ve dismissed as irrelevant but that ended up rounding out who I am. A lot of consultants push a polished, manufactured “narrative.” Liza did the opposite, with no exaggeration or insincerity, making the final application package feel like an authentic, holistic view of myself.

Liza’s guidance played a big part in this process and I could not recommend her more.

I worked with Rachel on two schools (Sloan Early and HBS 2+2) while applying to M7 deferred MBA programs. She was worth every penny, and you should look no further if you’re willing to put in the work.

Rachel helped me frame my disparate experiences across industries into a single logical, compelling, and unique narrative. She pushed me to go deeper than surface-level accomplishments and helped me understand what actually made my story distinctive. Her feedback was always thoughtful, specific, and honest, and she had an incredible ability to identify both the strongest parts of my application and the areas that needed more clarity.

What stood out most was how supported I felt throughout the process. Rachel was responsive, encouraging, and deeply invested in helping me put forward the best possible version of my story. She made an intimidating and often ambiguous process feel structured and manageable, from brainstorming to essays to interview preparation. I always felt like she understood not just what schools were looking for, but also who I was and how to communicate that authentically.

I ultimately received offers from HBS 2+2, MIT Sloan Early, and Chicago Booth Scholars, and I do not think I would have had the same results without Rachel’s guidance. For anyone applying to deferred MBA programs, especially if you have a non-linear background or are trying to tie together multiple interests and experiences, Rachel is exactly the person you want in your corner. Highly, highly recommend.

I worked with Eric during the 2025–2026 MBA admissions cycle and cannot recommend him highly enough.

For context, I graduated from a small liberal arts college with a 3.7 GPA, scored a 328 on the GRE, and spent two years in investment banking, followed by three years in middle-market private equity. I made the somewhat crazy decision to apply in Round 2 in late November, essentially starting from scratch. At that point, I still needed to study for and take the tests, develop my application strategy, craft my personal narrative, and complete all of my essays on an extremely compressed timeline.

From the beginning, Eric brought both structure and clarity to what felt like an overwhelming process. While I considered myself a strong writer, I quickly realized that business school essays require a very specific style and level of self-reflection. One of Eric’s greatest strengths is his ability to help applicants dig deeper into their backgrounds and uncover the stories that truly differentiate them. He consistently pushed me beyond my first draft answers and helped me identify themes and experiences that became the foundation of my application narrative.

Eric was also instrumental in streamlining the entire process. Given my timeline, efficiency was critical. He helped me develop a cohesive story that could be tailored across schools while still feeling authentic to each program. His feedback was direct, thoughtful, and actionable, allowing me to complete five applications across five top MBA programs in less than two months while balancing a demanding private equity role.

One other aspect of working with Eric that I think is worth highlighting is his communication style. In a process as hectic and deadline-driven as MBA admissions, there were never any surprises. Eric was incredibly communicative, clear, and consistently available to answer the countless one-off questions that inevitably arise throughout the application process. Just as importantly, he was a genuine pleasure to work with. His positive attitude and enthusiasm made what could have been a stressful marathon of test prep, essays, and applications feel manageable from start to finish.

The results exceeded my expectations. I got interviews with all five schools and ultimately was admitted to three of the programs I applied to, including an M7 program that I will be attending this fall. I also received a full-tuition fellowship from one school and a significant merit scholarship from another.

Looking back, I do not think I would have achieved the same outcomes without Eric’s guidance. If you are looking for an admissions consultant who can help you uncover and articulate your story, elevate your essays, and navigate the process efficiently on a very tight timeline, I would strongly recommend working with him.

I worked with Rachel on my Round 3 MBA applications. At the time, I was a strategy consultant based in the Middle East with a background in mechanical engineering, a 3.2 GPA, and a 328 GRE. In February, I decided to switch career paths and pursue an MBA, which meant applying in Round 3 with a very tight timeline.

Rachel was incredible throughout the entire process. In just two months, she guided me through school selection, helped me build a clear and compelling application strategy, and adapted to my schedule to support me across 10 applications. She took the time to understand my background, help me develop my story, and translate it into strong, authentic essays.

What stood out most was her commitment to excellence. She pushed every application to be as strong as possible, sometimes going through more than 10 iterations of a single essay until it felt right. Her guidance, motivation, and attention to detail were essential to my success. Thanks to her support, I was accepted to 7 out of 10 of the programs I applied to including MIT Sloan and London Business School, even in their final application round.

I applied to Ross, Darden, and Stern without GMAT/GRE scores, receiving test waivers from all three, with a management consulting-focused narrative in my applications.

I graduated from the University of Michigan in 2022 with a degree in Economics and a minor in Mathematics with a 3.7 GPA. I spent my post-grad years in Transfer Pricing at a Big Four for 3 years before moving into management consulting.

Rachel’s contributions were most evident in two areas: interview preparation and essay development.

On the interview side, her mock sessions are thorough and demanding. Beforehand, she provides you with guides on how to frame your personal story and anticipate the range of questions you may face. I felt super comfortable and prepared in each interview and did not get blindsided by any questions.

On the essay side, Rachel takes the time to understand who you are as a candidate and builds a narrative that connects your background to each school’s fit. There were many iterations trying to fit the most into the short wordcounts of the essays. For someone who does not consider himself a strong writer, the process was demanding but the output was noticeably better for it.

I was admitted to all three schools – Darden with a merit scholarship, Ross, and Stern (initially waitlisted). I ultimately chose Stern.

Background: Asian male with 3.3 GPA from top 5 engineering undergrad, 655 GMAT, with 5 years in algorithmic trading.

Applications/Results: Applied to 5 schools; Admitted to UChicago Booth

With a below-median GMAT and an over-represented background, I knew I needed to make every other part of my application count. Rachel was the best resource I could have asked for in doing exactly that.

What stood out most was how collaborative and deliberate her process was. Rachel encouraged genuine self-discovery, asking the kinds of questions that helped me surface what I actually cared about and why. That made a real difference in the authenticity of my essays.

She was also instrumental in helping me refine my goal statement. I came in with a general sense of what I wanted to accomplish through the MBA, but Rachel helped me draw a clear line from my current work in algorithmic trading to my post-MBA ambitions. She also pointed me toward school-specific resources that helped sharpen and substantiate those goals.

And she will go the distance with you. We went through 30+ rounds of essay revisions, and Rachel was always patient and precise with her feedback. She was a constant presence through a steady stream of emails, feedback sessions, and late-stage edits, right up to the deadline. Just as valuable was her ability to keep me from spiraling into dead-ends when I was tempted to keep tinkering with things that didn’t need fixing. She always kept me focused on putting my absolute best work forward.

If you’re navigating this process, especially with a profile that doesn’t fit the traditional mold, Rachel is the partner you want in your corner.

I attended an Ivy League undergrad (3.8 GPA), and came into the MBA application process with 2 years of investment banking experience and ~2 years in private equity at the time of writing.

In the past, I have been generally skeptical of external admissions consultants / tutors etc. but decided to explore Gatehouse given overwhelmingly positive reviews from my colleagues and in part was nervous about crafting an application alongside a full time demanding job.

However, immediately upon my first call with Jennifer I saw her value. From the start, she demonstrated a level of insight, structure, and genuine care that made the entire process not only more manageable, but truly tailored to me. She also stayed in close touch with me since the fall before I submitted my applications, we stayed in touch on my GRE scores (168 Quant, 162 Verbal) and their implications as I took them throughout the winter and into spring.

Jumping into the application process can be overwhelming, there is lots to manage from the 250-character responses about your job descriptions, to essays, and letters of recommendation. Gatehouse and Jennifer have a well thought out process at approaching this and making it seamless. I would not recommend deviating from their suggested plan of action, even though it might be tempting, as it is well thought out and effectively bullet proof. Jennifer was invaluable in keeping me on track with deadlines, pushing me when I was behind and tempering me when I was ahead of myself.

In trying to manage a full-time job and other commitments with business school applications, it is often difficult to know where to start. The Experience Inventory process that Gatehouse has adopted is particularly useful as it is not only a “brain dump” of your past formative experiences, but the prompts are also perfectly curated to make you think about seemingly benign topics. This foundation made it much easier to identify the right stories and themes that ultimately became the heart of my essays.

What stands out to me about Jennifer is also how naturally her marketing background translated to the MBA application process. Jennifer is exceptionally organized, thoughtful, and sharp, and she approached my applications with the same level of strategic rigor and polish that you would expect in a high-stakes professional setting.

Most importantly, I could tell that Jennifer truly cared, not just about the outcome, but about me and about presenting my story in a genuine and authentic way. She never hesitated to explore multiple potential essay paths, even if some of them turned out to be “dead ends”. For example, I was struggling with writing distinctly different answers across all three of my HBS essays. Jennifer, along with Liza, hopped on a same day call with me on very short notice, just as I was trying to process these essays over a free weekend. We talked through multiple potential approaches, and I ultimately landed on a topic that I would have never otherwise expected.

That is exactly the value of Gatehouse, and specifically Jennifer. They guide you down the right path without leading you astray. You stay in the driver’s seat, but you are supported at every step with structure, insight, and encouragement. Everything you craft remains in your voice and true to your experiences and who you are.

With Jennifer’s help, I got into all 3 schools that I applied to – HBS, Stanford, and Wharton.

I can confidently say that working with Jennifer and Gatehouse made a significant difference in my applications, and the investment was worth every penny. I would recommend them without hesitation to anyone serious about positioning themselves effectively in a competitive MBA applicant pool.

Background: Mid to late 20s | Asian male | Top US public university | 3.67 GPA | 332 GRE | Back office to Investment Banking at a top bulge bracket bank in NY (5 years in IB)| Originally from Southeast Asia | Admitted to HBS and Wharton

I’ll be honest, I am not the easiest client. Between a demanding job, test scores that kept falling short, and a timeline that shifted more times than I can count, I brought Mariesa every obstacle an applicant could throw at a consultant. And she handled every single one with grace.

When my GMAT score wasn’t where it needed to be, she believed in me anyway. When I switched to the GRE and that wasn’t where it needed to be either, she kept pushing and kept supporting. She even pointed me toward Brian at Reason Test Prep, shoutout Brian, that was the differentiator. When work got overwhelming and I thought I was going to miss my window entirely, she restructured the timeline without making me feel like I had failed. And when we had time on our side early on, she made sure we actually used it, consistently checking in, sending reminders, finding ways to plug in and move things forward. She never let the process coast.

She was also endlessly patient with me, even when I was stubborn and resistant, and even when I eventually came around and realized she was right all along. She never made me feel judged for where I was. She just figured out how to keep moving forward, including being a partner through a last minute decision to completely overhaul my entire essay with just three days left before submission.

What makes Mariesa truly special is how she works. She does not hand you answers. She asks the kind of questions that make you think harder than you ever have about your own story, your own values, your own voice. The result is something that actually sounds like you, not a polished version of what you think admissions wants to hear.

She is also, simply put, one of the most dedicated people I have ever worked with. There were moments where she went so far above and beyond that I genuinely do not know how she does it. She was fully committed to my application even during one of the most difficult personal periods of her own life. That level of care is not something you can fake.

If you are coming in not knowing where to start and need someone who will be patient, honest, and genuinely in your corner through every twist and turn, Mariesa is the one. I cannot recommend her enough.

I would not have been able to get into my dream school without you. Thank you for the millionth time, Mariesa​​​​​!

Background: I studied finance at Tulane, graduated with a 4.0, scored a 329 on the GRE, and spent 2 years in IB and 4 years in climate-focused private equity in New York. I got into every school I applied to: HBS, GSB, Wharton, and CBS. I’ll be at HBS in the fall, and feel confident crediting my success to Liza’s brilliance.

Telling my story was not intuitive for me. The “what matters most and why” essay nearly drove me to my wit’s end — it felt like a code I simply could not crack, which is strange because surely one must know their answer for what matters most to them and why. I’d send Liza a draft and she’d come back with some version of: “this isn’t authentic to you — but this part is working.” We’d continued to iterate and talk it through until one day it just hit me. A consultant can’t answer the question for you, but Liza knew me well enough to help me get to my own answer, which is a much harder and more valuable thing. By the end I felt like she knew me as well as I knew myself, maybe better. She invests real time at the beginning of working with a new client to learn your full life story, and it pays off in every essay after.

The GRE is another example of how she works. I had a 324 and did not want to re-take it — I was tired, it felt good enough, etc. Liza told me I had the time and that I should push myself. I didn’t want to hear it, but she was right — I retook it and scored the 329. It’s one of many instances in which she told me what I needed to hear, not what I wanted to hear, and I was better for it.

The story doesn’t end at admits. Once I got into all four schools and had to decide where to go, I reconnected with Liza, and funny enough she remembered parts of me and things I’d said I wanted out of an MBA that I had forgotten about myself. That conversation ultimately helped me decide on HBS. It’s a small thing, but it captures who she is as a consultant — she’s paying attention the whole way through, not just until the acceptance letters arrive.

An unexpected upside of the whole process: Liza made me a dramatically better writer. The way she edits — surgical, in the margins, preserving voice rather than rewriting — taught me things about my own writing that I’ll carry well past the application cycle.

If you want a consultant who will get in the weeds with you, push you when you need it, and help you find the story that’s actually yours, work with Liza. I truly cannot sing her praises enough

I worked with Rachel during my MBA application process, and she was one of the highest-leverage investments I made.

For context: I studied engineering at an Ivy League school (3.3 GPA), spent two years at MBB, and then two years at an AI startup. I applied with a 325 GRE. Even with a background I thought was strong, I applied to Wharton the previous cycle and didn’t get in.

Rachel was the main reason I was admitted to Wharton as a reapplicant. I had really struggled to translate my experiences into a cohesive narrative, and she was particularly strong at identifying what actually mattered in my story versus what I thought mattered. She helped me finish the process with a story I was proud of.

She also holds a high bar on storytelling and doesn’t let anything slide. She consistently pushed for sharper examples and stronger reflection, and made sure every sentence earned its place. That rigor made a significant difference in the quality of my final essays.

Most importantly, I felt genuinely supported throughout the process. Rachel gave me direct, honest feedback at every step. If you want someone who will push you to tell your story in a way that actually lands with admissions committees, I’d highly recommend working with her!!!

Hollis played a pivotal role in helping me gain admission to both Wharton and Darden (my top 2 schools going into the process). These outcomes that felt like a real stretch given my metrics going into the process.

My background is military, and although I attended a service academy, I had relatively low metrics (a sub-3 GPA and a pretty average GRE score). I have a unique story that allowed me to craft relatively compelling essays. She knew that, and so when we started our introspection, she didn’t just help me refine what I had already written; she helped me reframe an entire story in a way that was authentic and strategically aligned with each school. What stood out most was her ability to balance big-picture strategy with meticulous attention to detail. She knew exactly how to position my background, where to push for stronger narratives, and how to elevate every component of my application, from essays to interview prep.

From Day 1, I also felt like she was genuinely invested in my success. It didn’t seem like she just wanted to help me get into business school; it felt like she wanted to help me understand my why behind even going to business school and then to go/grow from there. She was also completely candid and gave it to me straight at every corner in the process, which, after a military career, was something that I highly appreciated.

If you’re serious about getting into a highly ranked MBA program, I can’t recommend Hollis enough. She was excellent.

Background: 695 GMAT FE, 5Y big tech work experience, and a 3.8 GPA in college.

I was referred to Gatehouse and Rachel through a friend and I didn’t want to just go with the first person I spoke to, so I reached out to a few different advisors (both at Gatehouse and other firms) and I kept finding myself coming back to Rachel. From our first conversation, I felt a mutual respect and a sense that she was ready to truly be my coach and partner-in-crime throughout this insane process.

Rachel has this unique ability to hear you talk about your life and somehow help YOU find the thread you might not have even known was there. I wouldn’t call myself an incredible writer, but she always assured me that she would review as many drafts as I needed, and with each draft, her comments were pointed (sometimes even harsh), but they were always there to sharpen my ideas and push me to think through the WHY of what I was putting on paper.

She also doesn’t take any BS. As you likely already know, this process can make you spiral, and Rachel was the person who kept me grounded. We’d debate different aspects of my app and sometimes she was right, sometimes I was, but the best way I can describe working with her was a real partnership.

And the small stuff matters too, the good luck texts before interviews or decision days or the fast turnarounds on short essays to the random late night questions that popped into mind. And now reflecting on all of it, I can confidently say I wouldn’t be attending GSB next year without her.

I worked with Rachel on my MBA applications and had a really positive experience. I come from a people-focused role in tech and applied with a 3.8 GPA and 330 GRE.

I worked with her most closely on my MIT Sloan application, but she also provided valuable support on my Wharton and HBS applications.

She was especially strong at helping me sharpen my narrative and push past surface-level answers. Rather than just editing, she asked thoughtful questions that helped me get to clearer, more specific stories and better articulate my impact.

I also really valued her approach to interview prep — it felt practical and tailored, not generic, which made a big difference in how confident I showed up.

I was ultimately admitted to MIT Sloan, Wharton, and Harvard Business School, and will be attending HBS this fall. Her guidance played a meaningful role in those outcomes.

I’d highly recommend Rachel to anyone looking for a strategic and supportive partner in the process.

28 y/o. 7 years of experience across 3 roles (Big 3 tech consulting in NYC, MBB consulting in NYC, Corporate Strategy). 337 GRE.

Liza is a natural. She’s made for this role. She struck an incredible balance at being a “colleague” and a “boss” which I needed with my tight timeline. She helped me get out of spinning cycles about my stories and recommenders. She helped me prepare and submit 3 applications (HSW) in 2 months. I got into Harvard. She was hands-on and very communicative.

Background: 3.9+ GPA from top-10 university, 330+ GRE, 4 years work experience in banking / private equity.

I cannot speak highly enough about my experience working with Rachel. She provides a truly differentiated and value-added perspective which I credit for getting into my top choice MBA program (HBS).

Rachel was willing to take me on as a client last minute, and despite not having the benefit of working together for months and months, she dove in, learned my background / application, and immediately began providing tactical, actionable advice for how to improve my essays. She worked over holidays / weekends / etc. to turn my materials quickly given the expedited timelines.

The worst trap you can fall into with an MBA consultant is a “yes man” who takes your ideas and helps re-write them in the essay word limit with more flowery language. Rachel is not that. She was never afraid to challenge my ideas, suggest that I go in an entirely different direction, and overall challenge me to push myself beyond the preconceived notion of how I wanted to “tell my story” in my essays. I fully credit her with all of my essays ending up in a better place than they would have with another consultant, and consequently, my acceptance to HBS.

If you want an incredible consultant who will truly be a thought partner and push you to craft the best application you are capable of, work with Rachel, you will not regret it.

Background: Early 30s, white male, BYU undergrad, Finance major, 3.86 GPA, 730 GMAT
Work Experience: 2 years at tier-2 consulting firm (not MBB), 3 years boutique VC firm in southeast US
Extracurricular Experience: Heavily weighted towards volunteer work with my church
Results: Accepted R1 to HBS and Wharton; rejected R1 from Sloan

I got serious about applying to MBA programs 18 months before I would eventually submit, and I was fortunate enough to have a friend connect me with Brooke. He had a very similar profile to me and got into HBS after working with Brooke as his coach. She ended up not having availability to take me on as a full client, but she connected me with Liza Weale (the founder of Gatehouse) for a full package, and then I hired Brooke to do an HBS mock interview a week before my actual interview.

Mock interviewing with Brooke was one of the best decisions I made as part of the application process. I tend to get more nervous for job interviews than the average person, and I cared more about my HBS interview than I have for any job interview previously, so I wanted to do everything in my power to control my nerves. In all of my research, I’m confident there couldn’t be a better single person with whom to do an HBS mock interview. Brooke has decades of previous experience on the HBS adcom, and with that, gave me a mock interview experience that felt just like my actual interview. Knowing her background and incorporating the feedback she gave me after our mock, I walked into my actual interview with way more confidence than I expected to. I felt very prepared for all of the questions I got, and left campus feeling like I had done everything in my power to put my best foot forward.

Brooke prepared very thoroughly for our mock (hard to tell, but it seemed like she spent 2-3x more time than my actual interviewer did reviewing my application). She was warm but efficient, a style that was very reflective of my actual interviewer. She asked me some creative & challenging questions, but in ways that didn’t make me feel like she was trying to put me on the spot, but just genuinely see how I think about complex issues I’ve encountered.

After our mock interview, we spoke on the phone for quite some time, and she gave me detailed feedback (constructive and reinforcing) on every single one of my answers. This debrief was probably the biggest contributor to my confidence going in, as she gave me lots of low-hanging fruit ideas for tightening my interview style, but simultaneously reinforced the main strengths she saw come naturally through, things that she said she was impressed by.

I could not recommend Brooke highly enough. Best of luck with the application process!

Background: White male from US, 4Y work experience at mid-market private equity fund straight out of college. 3.9 GPA at Penn undergrad (Econ in College), 755 GMAT.

Results: Admitted to HBS, admitted to Wharton with full scholarship. Applied to both in R1 and did not apply to any other schools. Attending HBS.

I began working with Rachel about 9 months before submitting applications. At the time, I had not yet taken the GMAT and needed a partner who would help guide me through the full process and work with me to craft my story. Rachel was recommended to me by multiple friends who had read her reviews (like this one!) and had success in their applications, and I am so glad I took their advice! She helped me build a roadmap early, laying out timelines, key milestones, how to approach recommendations, etc., ensuring everything kept moving forward and I was never guessing at next steps or where to prioritize.

Throughout the application process, Rachel and I spoke nearly every week for the core ~6 months of work (March – August). What really separates her specifically was how quickly and deeply she got to know me through my experiences – personal, academic, professional – and how she helped me articulate those into a cohesive application. She put in real effort upfront to understand my story, values, and aspirations, and encouraged me to lean into the reflective and soul-searching nature of the process to help flesh out my narrative. Rachel helped identify what made me unique and differentiated as an applicant, and pushed me to crystallize it with clarity.

With each call and draft, Rachel continued to share detailed feedback on both big-picture thematic framing and specific line-by-line word choice. She had a knack for challenging me with questions which reframed my perspective, and never hesitated to flag when things seemed generic, overly polished, or like my true voice wasn’t coming through. Her process was methodical, clear, and organized, and she helped me feel grounded and structured amidst multiple drafts and workstreams, exam prep, and my job. While the majority of our work together was on the core essays, she also helped guide me through the interview process (mocks + prep for both schools).

I wholeheartedly endorse Rachel – look no further. I am genuinely grateful for her guidance and consistency of support over the many months we worked together. If you’re considering a consultant, you need someone who will understand you as a person, obsess over the details and strategy, and stay fully committed from early-stage planning to final school decisions. Rachel is that person – truly the best.

Background: 5 years of experience in IB/PE, 730+ GMAT, 3.8+ GPA
I was referred to Brooke for an HBS mock interview by my admissions consultant, and was initially skeptical. However, now having completed the entire application process, I can say whole heartedly that the mock interview with Brooke was extremely helpful and a key factor in my acceptance. Since she previously worked in HBS admissions, her questions mimicked the style, demeanor, and content of the HBS interview to a T. Especially since the HBS interview is different from other business schools, her experience with the specific style was critical. I would highly recommend Brooke – I was accepted to HBS R1 and can attribute a large portion of the interview success to her mock.

Coming from Mexico and the agricultural industry specifically I was worried that some of my stories would not come across as I wanted to for the GSB Interview. Giving a bit of context, I studied Chemical Engineering, got a 326 GRE (168Q 158V) and had a 3.5 GPA in the top university in Mexico; however, I still felt that I didn’t come from the traditional industries that you see in the top MBAs. After doing a mock session with Alex, not only did he emulate it perfectly (My interview was almost the exact same format, timing, interruptions, and follow up questionz) he also helped me find confidence in sharing these stories, organizing my ideas, and be able to share vividly and accurately what I wanted to convey. Alex was a huge part of my GSB acceptance and definitely felt ready the day of the interview. After finishing my interview (comparing it to the year before as I had been WL’ed in 2024-2025 cycle) I knew I had crushed it. Thank you for everything Alex and recommend him for anybody that is trying to find their voice in the application and looking to be prepared for any given question during the interview!

Eric was one of the best investments I made in my MBA application process. My background is investment banking and private equity with a pivot into operating and entrepreneurship in CPG, and I needed help turning a non linear path into a clear, compelling story. He pushed me to get specific about decisions, stakes, and outcomes, and to articulate what I learned and how I have grown as a leader, which made my application feel cohesive instead of like a set of disconnected experiences. He is exceptional at helping you surface what is truly distinctive about your profile and translate it into crisp, memorable themes that carry across essays, resume, and interviews. Just as importantly, he brought structure and momentum to the process with clear milestones, thoughtful feedback, and the right level of accountability, so I always knew exactly what to do next. I also appreciated how steady and supportive he was, keeping the bar high while making the process feel manageable and genuinely collaborative. By the end, my materials were dramatically stronger, more differentiated, and much more authentically me, and I walked into submissions and conversations feeling confident in my narrative.

Background: Mid-20s female; T10 liberal arts undergrad; GPA 3.8+; GRE 330+; ~4 years of work experience in finance.

I came into the MBA process excited but also nervous about how my profile might read. I thought that finance could look “standard” on paper, and I worried my story would come across as not personal/unique enough. I had plenty of experiences I was proud of, but I wasn’t sure how to shape them into a clear narrative that felt authentic and memorable. I also didn’t know how to connect the dots between what I’ve done in the past and what I want to do post-MBA.

Working with Liza changed everything. From the start, she took the time to truly understand who I am, not just what I’ve done. Her process pushed me to reflect more deeply than I expected, and it helped me connect the dots across my academics, career choices, and long-term goals. Liza didn’t try to “manufacture” a story. Instead, she helped me find the strongest and most truthful version of my own and even made me think about what I truly wanted in a career.

There are a few specific ways she added value and made me feel supported:

She made my essays sharper and more meaningful. Whenever I wrote something that sounded generic, she pushed me to get specific. Her questions were direct and thoughtful, and they consistently led to better insights and stronger writing.

She brought structure to a stressful process. Liza was incredibly organized and kept me on track without making it overwhelming. When I felt stressed out, she helped me keep the momentum going and was super supportive.

She was responsive and genuinely invested. I always felt like she was in my corner. She gave fast, detailed feedback and balanced high standards with encouragement in a way that made the process feel manageable.

She also helped significantly with my resume, recommender strategy, and interview prep.

Results: I was admitted to multiple top MBA programs, including Wharton, Columbia, and Kellogg, with significant merit scholarship support. I’m heading to business school this fall with options I’m genuinely excited about, and I credit Liza with helping me put forward the strongest application possible.

This process is intense, and it’s easy to second-guess yourself. Liza made it feel grounded. I cannot recommend her highly enough.

I had a great experience working with Rachel, as she spent significant time getting to know me and helped shape my personal stories to put my best foot forward in my application process. Coming from a traditional finance background (top 20 undergrad, Finance major, 3.8 GPA) with a slightly below median GMAT score for my target schools, Rachel was upfront with me that my profile would place me into a competitive applicant pool. However, she guided me smoothly through each step by encouraging early reflection and brainstorming, which ultimately set a strong foundation for my essays. She consistently challenged me to dig deeper and make my stories more personal, while also helping me manage my time and priorities efficiently. Without Rachel, I know my application would not have been as strong or cohesive. I was fortunate to be accepted to both HBS and Wharton, which were my two target schools. I am incredibly grateful for Rachel’s support and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for support in this application process!

Rachel was my trusted advisor for R1 admissions from the very start, starting with school selection up until deciding between the offers I received. She is the ideal partner for admissions and has pushed me to be strategic about where I apply and how I package myself to adcoms. Her exceptional professionalism alleviated a lot of the stress I faced: she was always available to answer all of my questions and proactively accommodated multiple deadlines (as early as June for a scholarship application).

I’m an international student working in strategy consulting in MENA with 4 years of experience, a 3.8 in engineering undergrad and a lower than ideal GRE of 320. I was concerned about my chances given my below-average score and I attribute my successful applications to Rachel’s support in helping me package my personal experiences outside of work and future aspirations into a compelling story for business school. Rachel did this with warmth and honesty, continuously checking in to keep me on track in spite of my 80-hour work weeks and pushing me to put my best foot forward on all iterations and steps along the long process.

I am especially impressed with the support she provided on my resume (almost 10 drafts!) and interviews—while I do have a lot of resources on both from my undergrad career center, business school is a different ballgame. The many mock interviews we did were invaluable in securing admission to Sloan, Kellogg and Darden (50% scholarship).

The quality of my submitted applications could not have been achieved in this timeline without her insights, meticulous reviews and deep understanding of my goals and background. I considered other consultants at Gatehouse before working with Rachel and I cannot imagine having a better experience.

Thank you so much, Rachel!!

I started working with Rachel late in the game for HBS R1, and she was invaluable in helping me shape my narrative and pulling everything together by the deadline. I was admitted to HBS.

I’m a US applicant with a 3.9 in STEM from a Top 10 university and a 750 GMAT. I’ve worked in MBB consulting for ~4 years.

Rachel has a clear idea of what business schools are looking for and provided detailed comments on my iterations that pushed me to continue reflecting and further improve my application. She also accommodated my short timeline, even turning around 1 essay iteration in 1 day instead of the standard 2. Lastly, I appreciated Rachel’s candor throughout the process. I always felt like she was straight-forward with me and wanted me to succeed.

Going with Rachel also gives you access to her firm’s resources; she shared helpful documents on the different parts of the application (some of which were HBS specific).

I’ll be headed to Harvard Business School next year – thank you again Rachel!

Background: Early 30s, white male, BYU undergrad, Finance major, 3.86 GPA, 730 GMAT
Work Experience: 2 years at tier-2 consulting firm (not MBB), 3 years boutique VC firm in southeast US
Extracurricular Experience: Heavily weighted towards volunteer work with my church
Results: Accepted R1 to HBS and Wharton; rejected R1 from Sloan

I got serious about applying to MBA programs 18 months before I would eventually submit, and I was fortunate enough to have a friend recommend I reach out to Liza and see if I could get on her roster. I paid a deposit with her 12 months before the R1 deadline, and got the sense that she tends to fill up completely about a year in advance (a fantastic leading indicator of her caliber). I hired her for just HBS and Wharton (two full school packages), with HBS as my clear #1 where I would spend the majority of my time and focus.

Going into the application process, I had a number of fears / concerns: 1) I have a very vanilla background on paper, hitting essentially all of the overrepresented categories I possibly could. 2) Below the median test score for HBS. 3) I had tons of ideas for potentially essays swirling, but wasn’t sure at all how to distill them into a tight, compelling narrative. 4) Began initially with the perception that I would need to significantly play up my accomplishments in order to stand out enough, at the risk of portraying myself inauthentically

Liza has a gift for what she does. She is the eminent MBA admissions coach. In a subtle, inconspicuous, gradual, but powerful way, she helped me quickly break through all of my concerns. Her implicit and explicit messaging from the beginning was consistently this: we can’t guarantee anything, but you have every reason to feel very confident in your unique, authentic story. She imbued a quiet confidence by orienting my on self-reflection, honesty, humility, and purpose-driven ambition.

While she exceeded expectations throughout the entire process (10/10 on resume review, short answers, recommender preparation, and mock interviews), there were three specific areas where Liza was particularly notable as a coach:

1) Results. My individual results, but more importantly, Gatehouse’s consistent results, speak for themselves. Liza told me after R1 decisions that her Gatehouse team had a 55% HBS acceptance rate for R1 this year, and is consistently at 30%+ across HBS rounds. This is 3x+ the “market” rate.

2) Creative writing breakthroughs. By far the most stressful part of my application was writing my third HBS essay, the “Growth Oriented (Curiosity)” essay. Going into the app, this was the essay I was most nervous about. We brainstormed and I drafted essays with different topics for ~6 weeks over the summer, coming up with a few different versions that I thought had great potential. Liza was kind and patient, but ultimately firm in helping me see that I was focusing on topics / experiences that were too fraught. With only ~3weeks before the deadline, we decided together to scrap, and we were back to the drawing board. Liza offered to schedule a one-off emergency call, and we re-reviewed my initial brainstorm. She led with her characteristic warmth and encouragement, saying “I am certain there are great stories, it’s about just surfacing them.” She called out a specific topic that we hadn’t previously given much thought to, asked me a number of questions about the experience to try and tease out some themes, and then helped me storyboard an outline live. Her parting words before she left me to write the first draft were again open-ended enough to not apply undue pressure, but sincere enough to really stoke confidence and excitement. Sure enough, the draft came together with relatively few edits over the course of a week or so, and it ended up being a fantastic essay: undoubtedly unique to me, very authentic, and perfectly fitting to the prompt.

3) Humanity & character. I can’t speak highly enough of Liza as a human being. She is simultaneously warm, kind, humble, sincere, and firm, direct, and unapologetic in her coaching. I don’t know how she does it, but I truly felt like I was her only client. She replied to every single one my emails promptly. On most of our (infrequent) scheduled calls, she went longer than the scheduled time, even asking multiple times at the end of the call if there was anything else I wanted to discuss or she could help with. She learned the names of my wife and kids, and asked about them regularly. I called her shortly after getting the news from HBS, and it felt just like celebrating with my family and best friends. I esteem her SO highly, because of the genuine care I feel she has for me, a care that goes so far beyond our relationship as “client” and “consultant.”

I could not recommend her highly enough. Make sure you reach out with as much time as you possibly can so you can get on her roster. Best of luck with the application process!

My background: mid 20s female from a T20 undergrad, with a liberal arts degree/background with ~3 years of work experience. GRE score of 325 (163V/162 Q)

I was recommended to Liza by a friend who described her as the best in the business, and Liza completely lived up to that description. I came from a small, boutique firm in a highly specialized arts/culture sector, and Liza provided invaluable support by transforming my niche experiences into captivating stories that demonstrated my strengths and potential for a career in MBB (something wildly different than what I do now). Liza is excellent at getting you to dig deep on your essays, so much so that each time I pressed ‘submit’ on the three schools I applied to, I was 100% confident that I had put my best foot forward – that peace of mind alone is invaluable.

Liza is also incredibly kind, patient, and energetic, making her easy and pleasant to work with – she makes a stressful process reflective and enjoyable, and I left many of our strategy conversations feeling more confident about myself and my future – something that will serve me beyond the applications/admissions process! But Liza is also, importantly, 110% honest when needed, and she will not hesitate to tell you when an idea, essay, or interview response is not up to par for your goals. She always comes back with solutions-oriented feedback, making the essay writing slog much easier.

I’m thrilled to be attending Columbia Business School with a large merit scholarship, an outcome I am incredibly thankful to Liza for – she was a north star throughout this process, and I felt so much more at ease knowing I had her in my corner to make my application the best it could be. Thank you, Liza!!!

I had a great experience working with Rachel on my reapplication to a few schools, resulting in acceptances to Wharton and Sloan and a waitlist at HBS (I had been rejected without an interview to all 3 last year). I was applying with a strong academic background (Oxbridge undergrad, 780 GMAT), but a slightly unusual professional history (3 years at a research startup in the energy sector, based in London). She did a great job helping me tailor my story and tie all of the essays together into one message. She is extremely responsive, never missed a deadline and often turned things around extremely quickly, especially as we got closer to the deadlines. She was also particularly helpful for the interviews, helping both with mock interviews and organizing a group interview to get used to the unique Wharton structure. She was great, would definitely recommend.

I worked with Eric from April through December, ultimately earning admission to Harvard Business School. I came into the process as an Asian consultant at an MBB firm, applying to only one school: HBS. Given how competitive that profile is, especially as an overrepresented applicant, I knew from the outset that I needed the right partner to help me craft a story that was both distinctive and compelling.

I chose to apply exclusively to Harvard because of its academic rigor, strong brand recognition, and the combination of a large class with a close-knit section experience. I also knew that with my background (top undergraduate institution, strong professional trajectory, industry expertise, externship experiences, and long-term family business aspirations) I had many strong pieces, but I lacked a cohesive narrative that tied them together in a clear and authentic way.

Eric was instrumental in solving that problem.

From day one, he was extremely organized and methodical. He laid out a clear roadmap for the entire process, and as long as I followed his guidance and timelines, I felt completely confident that I was in good hands. Eric has deep experience helping candidates from similar backgrounds get into HBS, and that credibility made it easy to trust his judgment throughout the process.

We worked closely on all three HBS essays. One took only 2 iterations, while another took more than 10, but at every step, Eric maintained a high bar. He made it clear that something wasn’t finished until it was truly great, and once it reached that standard, we moved on with confidence. That level of rigor made a meaningful difference in the final product.

Beyond the essays, Eric was a true partner. He was highly responsive, often replying to emails within hours and consistently generous with his time. During interview preparation, even though our engagement only included one mock interview, he went well beyond scope, running multiple mock interviews and answering every question I had. His calm, expert presence made the entire process far less stressful and helped me feel prepared and confident heading into my HBS interview.

What sets Eric apart most is his ability to distill what admissions officers actually care about. He asks the right questions, not just to get better answers for the application, but to push real introspection. Through working with him, I gained a much clearer understanding of my own career goals, leadership style, and long-term aspirations. That self-awareness alone made the process worthwhile, regardless of outcome.

That said, Eric was a pivotal reason why I ultimately received an offer from HBS. I’m incredibly grateful for his guidance, partnership, and unwavering support throughout the journey, and I would recommend him without hesitation to anyone aiming for top MBA programs, especially those coming from competitive or overrepresented backgrounds.

Background: Mid-20s, Ivy League undergrad, 715 GMAT, 3.58 GPA. I’ve spent the last 4 years working in the Consumer/Retail space.

I was hesitant to work with a consultant for the application process. I was determined to submit an authentic app and was concerned that a consultant would try to influence my story to fit what admissions officers are looking for. I was also concerned that I would not realize the full value of the cost, and that the benefits would be marginal.

I could not have been more wrong! Liza was a true partner in this process. Her expertise in resume building, essay writing, interview prep, and much more were invaluable. She pushed me to focus my application on being “100% me”, helped transform my storytelling, and kept me extremely organized. Most importantly, I maintained a tremendous amount of trust in Liza throughout the process. She was always reachable, honest, and supportive. Because of her help, I was fortunate to be accepted at GSB and Wharton.

If you’re thinking of signing on with Gatehouse, pull the trigger!!

Background: Finance (investment banking/private equity), test score 730-750 old GMAT, GPA 3.8+ @ top 5 US undergrad Economics program, Asian F

I was initially skeptical about hiring an admissions consultant, but heard about Liza from friends who had highly recommended her. I decided to give it a try and am so glad I did!

Process: I set up an introductory 30 minute call with Liza, where I provided my resume and we walked through my ‘story’. I could tell from this initial call that Liza invests a lot of time and thought into each of her clients, and had the experience necessary to help me craft the best version of my application. After the call, I filled in an “Experience Inventory” (aka a very detailed questionnaire essentially detailing my life and career story). The inventory was extremely helpful, allowing me to actually reflect on why I made each major decision in my life, starting from childhood all the way to my most recent job. Liza and I reviewed the inventory together and she was able to pull out the common threads that connected all these disparate events and decisions, laying the groundwork for my essays. Liza then provided a timetable for the application workstreams, and we started working on the essays.

Liza’s greatest strengths were:
1. Helping me craft essays that genuinely reflected me as a person and condensed my life story and passions/goals into <1,000 words. This is a tall task that I wouldn't have even know where to begin without her. My essays ended up being very personal and authentic – I only felt comfortable sharing that kind of information at her encouragement. If I hadn't worked with Liza, I likely would have written very sanitized version of my essays (what I 'thought' business schools would like to see vs. what actually reflected me as a person). There was also one essay in particular (Why business school) that I really struggled on because I had never truly reflected. Liza nudged me along that reflection process, brainstorming ideas and helping to craft my essay.
2. Meticulous organization and timetables. Liza is extremely organized and delivers all of her revisions in a timely manner (i.e. within the windows she specifies which is usually around 2 business days). For one of my essays that I was struggling with, we were able to get to 10+ revisions because of this efficiency. She also set schedules for essays/application materials so that I didn't have to spend any time planning.
3. Liza's interview prep materials were very helpful. As part of the package, I received a general behavioral mock and school-specific mock interviews, which I found to be very similar to my actual interviews.

Results: Applied to GSB and HBS R1, accepted to both.

I came into the cycle with a pretty mixed background across finance, tech operations, and medical device R&D. My stats were solid but not in the highest percentiles. My undergrad GPAs ranged from 3.6 to 3.9 across two top 20 universities, and I scored a 720 on the GMAT. I planned to apply to both MBA and JD/MBA programs but wasn’t sure how competitive I’d be, especially for JD/MBA programs which have very small class sizes and notoriously difficult dual-admissions hurdles.

From the start, Eric helped me make sense of everything. He understood the different chapters of my career and helped me figure out how they fit together in a way I hadn’t fully recognized. When I voiced doubts about applying to JD/MBA programs, he didn’t hesitate and encouraged me to go for it. That kind of unwavering confidence made a huge difference throughout my entire application process.

Eric is incredibly talented at helping you find the through-line in your story and present it clearly and concisely. This was especially important given the limited space in application essays.

His feedback on essays was always timely, thoughtful, and candid. When something wasn’t working, he said so, and when I hit my stride, he let me know that too. I don’t consider myself a strong writer, so having someone who could guide me without compromising my voice was invaluable.

Whether it was talking through doubts, tightening essays or prepping for interviews, Eric consistently showed up. He always checked in ahead of deadlines, interviews, and decision days. It was incredibly comforting to know someone was in my corner the entire time. 


In the end, I was admitted to several M7 MBA programs, including Harvard Business School, and to a top 5 JD/MBA program with over $100K in scholarship funding. Eric’s consistent guidance played a major role in my admissions outcomes. If I were to start this process all over again, I would choose to work with Eric every time.

Eric was exactly what I needed as a candidate coming from the most “classic” MBA feeder path imaginable: two years in bulge bracket investment banking followed by four years at an upper-middle-market private equity fund. I had strong numbers (~3.9 GPA from a top liberal arts college and a 755 GMAT FE), but I also knew that great stats and a traditional background can actually be a liability at the very top schools if you don’t have a clear point of view and a differentiated story.

I only applied to HSW, so there was no margin for a generic application. From the start, Eric focused less on polishing and more on strategy. He pushed me to answer the hard questions that top programs actually care about: What’s the throughline in my decisions, beyond “finance progression”? What do I uniquely bring to a class full of high-performing investors? What is the precise problem I want to solve post-MBA, and why am I the right person to solve it?

Where Eric really stood out was his ability to craft a narrative that felt both compelling and true. He helped me identify the more nontraditional aspects of my experience that I had been under-weighting, then built them into a cohesive story with clear stakes, motivations, and direction. Just as importantly, he helped me pressure-test my post-MBA goals until they were specific, credible, and differentiated—so the “why MBA / why now” argument didn’t read like a template.

Eric also brought the kind of candid feedback that is rare and incredibly valuable. He gave tough love when I needed it, called out weak framing immediately, and didn’t let me hide behind strong credentials. That directness made the work better and made me better. By the end, I submitted three applications that I was genuinely proud of—applications that reflected my best foot forward, not just my resume.

The outcome speaks for itself: I was admitted to Wharton with a scholarship. I obviously own the work, but I also know I would not have stood out the same way without Eric’s guidance. If you’re coming from a traditional background and want a consultant who can help you differentiate with substance, sharpen your goals, and tell your story with clarity and edge, Eric is the real deal.

Eric Hollowaty was a phenomenal advisor throughout the entire application process, going above and beyond routinely to ensure I put my best foot forward in my Round 1 applications. I would highly recommend him to anyone who is debating working with a consultant ahead of their MBA applications.

For background, I am from the Northeast and attended a top 15 U.S. News-ranked university for undergrad (think Duke, Johns Hopkins, UChicago, Northwestern), where I graduated with a liberal arts degree and a 3.9+ GPA. I applied in Round 1 this fall with a 695 GMAT Focus to HBS, GSB, and Wharton with four years of work experience (will be five by matriculation); two years at an investment bank and three years in large-cap private equity. In case helpful context, I had previously applied as a college senior for the 2+2 / deferred admission at HBS / GSB (did not apply with a consultant and had been less rigorous about prepping for GMAT, resulted in rejections without interviews).

I approached the application process with some trepidation about building a profile that would differentiate me from the large pool of candidates applying to the same schools with similar backgrounds. Although I had led a few initiatives outside of my core job responsibilities / through partner organizations over the ~2-year stretch ahead of applying, I wouldn’t say I had some particularly strong non-professional angles (i.e., no Associate Boards, leadership positions with community orgs, etc.). With Eric’s help, however, I was able to build a differentiated application that still described me authentically.

I’d say Eric’s primary value-add can be split across three core buckets, all of which were immensely valuable and critical to my success:
• Initial Ideation: Eric spent hours going through my background with me, teasing out anecdotes and stories that would ultimately form the basis of my applications. Where he is most effective in this process is driving you to think more critically about why something has been impactful or where you have driven change – he doesn’t ‘let you off the hook’ at your initial story, but prompts you to do the second-level thinking that makes your story both unique to you and interesting. Once the essay prompts themselves were released, he would coordinate a 90 minute school-specific ideation session, where we would debate stories to leverage for each prompt. These sessions with Eric were critical – he is unafraid to tell you when an idea is a bad one, saving you the time of writing an essay that ultimately would not land. Further, his excitement over a compelling essay idea is palpable, motivating you to drive forward. In short, he was a crucial sparring partner that helped me land at the best and most relevant narrative possible.
• Essay iteration: Eric was tireless in his support through the drafting process; he thoughtfully reviewed everything I drafted (multiple times), ranging from the long-form essay responses to the 150 character blurbs embedded in the applications. He was unafraid to push me when a draft needed a lot of work, taking the time to even leave voice memos describing where he thought I could improve when a draft particularly missed the mark. Across the three schools, Eric reviewed and commented on nearly 50 iterations of my various essays and short answers – an incredible level of meticulous external review that helped me get my essays into very polished shape well ahead of submission day.
• Interview Preparation post-submission: Eric’s help did not stop after I submitted my applications. When it came time to prepare for interviews, he worked with the same meticulousness, helping me think through both how to prepare broadly and specifically for each school I applied to. Again, Eric was unafraid to give direct but valuable feedback when my answers missed the mark during a mock session. With his support, I walked into my interviews incredibly confident, and even faced several questions that we had gone over in our mocks.

One other note which I think is important in the hectic nature of getting applications submitted – there are no surprises with Eric. He is incredibly communicative, clear, and always available to promptly answer one-off questions that pop up. Importantly, he is also a pleasure to work with, bringing an infectious attitude that made the marathon of MBA application writing feel manageable.

With Eric’s support, I was admitted to both HBS and Wharton this fall. I am 100% confident my applications and profile would have been nowhere near as well-received without his help and support throughout the last year. I feel very fortunate to have worked with him, and strongly recommend him to anyone considering working with him.

Before my mock interview with Laura, I was frankly very overwhelmed with prepping for the HBS interview because of the sheer number of answers and stories I felt like I had to prepare. That’s when I decided to do a mock with Laura. And let me tell you, that was the best decision I could have made, because Laura was AMAZING.

Prior to the mock, she read through my entire HBS application, and I could tell she did thorough research beforehand (just like your HBS interviewer would) from the thoughtful and pointed questions she asked me. She was warm, energetic, and thoughtful – throughout the interview, I felt like she was always on my side (which is what your actual interviewer will feel like as well – they want you to succeed, something Laura reinforced!).

The mock helped me so so much! Many of her questions were very similar to my actual HBS interview. Her feedback was also incredibly helpful – she told me exactly what was working really well and what I needed to reframe. She helped me tighten responses that were too long and encouraged me to emphasize the parts of my story that she felt would be more compelling.

I honestly don’t think I would have done as well in my real interview without this preparation. Laura made me feel so much more confident going into my HBS interview that I actually wasn’t nervous on the day of.

If you get an HBS interview invite, PLEASE do a mock with Laura!! I got into HBS, and Laura played a huge role in getting me there.

Background: Asian, Female, Undergrad at top US public university, 3.75 GPA, 328 GRE. MBB Consultant on the East Coast with ~4 YOE. Originally from Southeast Asia

Results: Admitted to HBS and Wharton

If you’re researching MBA consultants right now, I was in your EXACT position a year ago. I did intro calls with several consultants, and while most were good, my conversation with Liza was different. Within 15 minutes, I knew she was the person I wanted in my corner.

I was concerned about my profile from the start – MBB consultant with a business undergrad degree, a fairly overrepresented background. But Liza immediately started asking thoughtful questions to uncover what made my story unique. She dug into my cultural background, my extracurriculars, my family background, the specific work at my current job, and how all those pieces connected. I was also only applying to HSW and am a 2+2 reapplicant (did not get interviews at any of the schools I applied to), which added significant pressure to get every application right. Liza didn’t try to talk me out of this strategy or push me to add safety schools. She was fully committed to making each application as strong as possible. Knowing she believed in my candidacy and was willing to go all-in with me made a huge difference.

My first essay drafts were generic – lots of “I want to transform XYZ sector” without real substance. Liza kept pushing back: what does that actually mean? What will you specifically do? It was uncomfortable at first, but through her questioning, I developed a concrete plan and the WHY that I could articulate with real confidence. Throughout multiple essay drafts, Liza continuously put genuine thought into each version, no matter what stage it was in. We had nearly finalized one of my essays, and when we picked it up a month later, Liza suggested changing some aspects of it. That level of thoughtfulness – being willing to revisit something we’d already polished – made the essay significantly stronger.

What I really want to emphasize about Liza: she’s a genuinely wonderful and fun person to work with. High energy, always supportive, and she never made me feel bad about anything – even when my drafts needed significant work. Whenever I had concerns (and I had plenty), I could share them with her, and she’d immediately brainstorm solutions with me. She was also consistently on top of everything – deadlines, submission plans, updates on school requirements; I never worried about missing something important because Liza had it covered.

I cannot recommend Liza highly enough. As many will tell you, the MBA application process is extremely rigorous, but Liza actually made it very enjoyable and somewhat relaxing for me. Working with her was the best decision I made throughout this entire process.

I got into HBS and Wharton, and I couldn’t have done it without her. THANK YOU LIZA!!!

Rachel was essential in my Wharton application and preparation for the interviews. As a reapplicant I had had the experience of being ill prepared and after having a session with her on the mock interviews, I was left feeling assured and confident in this process. Without a doubt, I would hire her again. 10/10

I started working with Rachel quite late in into round 2 (end-November 2024) and was initially nervous about whether we could pull everything together in time. From day one, Rachel jumped right in, helping me organize and prioritize the many moving pieces of my application (I still had to take the GRE on top of everything) while never making me feel rushed or behind. Her responsiveness was unmatched – whether it was (many) questions over email, quick check-ins, or strategic brainstorming sessions, Rachel always made time. I was especially grateful for her availability between Christmas and New Year’s to accommodate my short timeline, when many others would have been offline.

What truly set Rachel apart was her ability to help me tell my story. Coming from a consulting background, I struggled to differentiate myself and articulate my post-MBA goals in a compelling way. Rachel asked the right questions, challenged me to dig deeper, and helped shape a narrative that felt both authentic and impactful. Her feedback on my essays, resume, and even the short-answer questions was consistently sharp and constructive, yet always encouraging.

I was eventually admitted to Kellogg’s One-Year MBA program (my only application) and I can confidently say I wouldn’t have gotten there without her support. I was initially hesitant about the investment but can now say it was worth every penny especially if you are an international student like myself.

I’m a recent graduate from Northwestern University, where I studied Learning and Organizational Change and had a focus in marketing. I graduated with a 3.8 GPA and was applying to Kellogg’s deferred MBA program during my senior year.

Working with Rachel made a huge difference in my application process. Our time working together felt intentional and productive. She asked thoughtful questions that really pushed me to reflect on my long-term goals, and helped me build a clear narrative connecting my past experiences with where I hope to go. She checked in regularly, helped me manage my stress around the process, and gave me the freedom to shape what our work together looked like.

With Rachel’s support, I applied to the Kellogg Future Leaders Program and was accepted. I’m so grateful for her guidance and highly recommend working with her—especially if you’re looking for someone who will help you bring your story to life.

I had an awesome experience with Lynn on my application to HBS, GSB and Wharton (was fortunate enough to get into HBS and Wharton and am headed to HBS!). I spoke to a few consultants before my application process and liked that Lynn seemed focused on story-telling aspect of my application rather than just iterating on grammar / project management. I wanted to tell the story of my transition from a very traditional background (Ivy league Economics major, private equity, top percentile GRE score) into a less traditional career path afterwards, and Lynn was very quick to understand and shape the narrative going into my applications. Her perspective shone in the ideation phase, where I had a lot of discrete ideas and anecdotes that I was struggling unite under a common thread; she immediately found commonalities between these different pieces and saved me dozens of hours of me iterating on my story.

Lynn was hyper focused on every little detail of my application to make sure that we were telling this consistent story, and made sure nothing slipped through the cracks. I loved how painless the application process felt with Lynn’s support, and when I felt like I was lost or unsure through the process she helped me stay confident and on track. I was frankly much more stressed about the interviews than the essays themselves, and when my HBS and Wharton interviews came around, she was extremely supportive and made sure to answer all questions and assuage my anxieties so I felt incredibly prepared going into these interviews. Overall, I’d recommend Lynn to anyone looking for an MBA admissions coach that’s more than just an essay editor but is an insightful storyteller who can help you reflect on your life and tell a coherent, persuasive story on your professional career and MBA journey.

As a product manager at a consumer tech company with 4 years of experience, I initially thought I could tackle the HBS interview process on my own. But once I received the invite, I quickly felt overwhelmed by how much ground I needed to cover—and how high the stakes felt. That’s when I reached out to Eric, based on a friend’s referral, and I’m so glad I did.

Eric quickly helped me narrow in on the areas where I was struggling, and more importantly, helped me lean into being myself rather than over-rehearsing or posturing. I tend to be humble, sometimes to a fault, and Eric helped me recognize when it was important to celebrate my accomplishments rather than downplay them. Throughout the self-reflection work, the waitlist update, and the interview prep, he reminded me that the admissions team truly wants to understand who I am—not just what I’ve done.

His feedback was always honest and clear. He helped me cut through my tendency to overcomplicate stories and coached me to explain things more clearly and in layman’s terms. I never felt like I had to pretend or over-polish—his approach helped me convey my story with clarity and confidence.

Even after I was waitlisted, Eric didn’t disappear. He continued to support me through the process of writing an update and helped me stay grounded and optimistic without being unrealistic. I ultimately got into HBS, and I genuinely don’t think I would have navigated the experience as well without his guidance.

My stats: 3.34 GPA, GRE 158V/166Q/4.5W.

If you’re looking for someone who cuts through the noise, helps you focus on what matters, and supports you with care and candor—especially under tight timelines—Eric is the one.

Working with Hollis Kline was the single best decision I made in my MBA application journey. Thanks to her expert guidance, I was fortunate to gain admission to both Harvard Business School and Stanford GSB. But beyond the results, it was Hollis’s approach—deeply personal, calm, and incisive—that made the process so meaningful. She took the time to truly understand me: my goals, my values, and the nuances of my story. From that foundation, she helped me craft applications that were authentic, compelling, and strategically sharp.

For context, I’m a private equity associate with five years of combined experience in investment banking and PE. I studied finance at Indiana University and scored a 695 on the GMAT Focus. Like many applicants with a traditional pre-MBA background, I knew standing out would require thoughtfulness, precision, and depth. Hollis delivered on all three. She is personable and laid-back in a way that puts you at ease, yet she’s also relentlessly committed and unafraid to challenge you when needed. Her feedback was always sharp, constructive, and focused on making my application the best it could be.

Hollis is more than an admissions consultant—she’s a true partner and advisor. For anyone looking to rise above the noise and submit a distinctive, high-quality application to a top MBA program, I cannot recommend her highly enough.

Working with Rachel was truly one of the highlights of my MBA journey. I started the process quite late (mid-November for Round 2), with a GRE score slightly below the median and a background in management consulting, so I knew I needed to bring real depth to my story to stand out. Thanks to Rachel’s guidance, I was fortunate to be admitted to both Wharton and MIT out of the four schools I applied to (other ones being Kellogg and Booth).
What made working with Rachel so special wasn’t just her sharp strategic advice (which was spot-on), but how quickly she created a space where I felt I could be completely honest, something that allowed me to go deeper in my storytelling. She helped me uncover what was unique about my path and pushed me to articulate it with authenticity, confidence, and warmth.
She helped me structure my time efficiently and stay on track without feeling overwhelmed, always helping me prioritize without ever making the process feel transactional or rushed. I genuinely looked forward to our calls, which kept me grounded through a pretty intense few months.
I’ll always be grateful for Rachel’s support, and I can’t recommend her enough!

I went through my MBA application process with a vague understanding of my story and how that led me to want to apply to an MBA, but working with Eric truly helped me tie together all of the dots and crystallized for myself the value of getting an MBA degree. While working with Eric, he was consistently returning my essay drafts days ahead of schedule, which enabled me to continue to iterate while in the right headspace. Throughout it all, Eric kept me motivated and optimistic that it would all work out in the end… which it did!

Alex was an absolute joy to work with last year. I was accepted to 5 out of the M7 schools (Booth, CBS, GSB, Kellogg, Wharton) that Alex supported me on with $450k in total merit scholarship across the schools. I graduated from a top 30 school and worked in financial services after graduating. He is the right fit for someone who is all in–if that is you, work with him!

Alex was particularly helpful in the following areas:
>Forcing me to dig deep in identifying and displaying 1) the granular skills I needed to achieve my goals, and 2) the ways that a given school’s program can specifically enable me to achieve those goals. I think most consultants bring the latter but Alex really pushed me to think about the former. Gatehouse hires consultants who attended top MBA programs and often work in prestigious roles after attending those programs: this background uniquely enables Alex to see the connectivity between the classroom and real world skills.
>Pushing me to identify and highlight impact in my resume. Alex pushed me to really dig out the impact of my work even when I thought a given point was perfect: herein lies a key value driver of a talented consultant. Friends and families will typically read your work and affirm how great it is. No matter how honest you ask them to be, they won’t be because they have nothing to gain.
>Helping me stay on track and organized. Alex sent back feedback meticulously on schedule according to Gatehouse’s review timelines. Having a reliable consultant is so important and it’s so easy for part-time consultants to procrastinate in sending back feedback. However, I always felt that Alex prioritized sending me back comments in a timely manner–I couldn’t even tell that this wasn’t his full-time job!

After submitting my applications, he set aside plenty of time to conduct mock interviews with me (another one of his strengths). I genuinely feel that I became a more natural interviewer after working with him and know that will help me when I’m applying for internships and full-time roles. By the end of the journey, I felt that Alex knew me better than most of my friends and through working together, he helped me discover myself.

Industry: Financial Services (not Investment Baking / Private Equity), 5 Years Experience in Strategy and Product; Test Score: 720 GMAT; GPA: 3.75 @ Ivy+ School, Social Sciences Major, Humanities Minor

I asked some friends for MBA consultant recommendations, and after meeting Liza, I knew I found the best one. In our first meeting, Liza described honestly, based on my high-level stats, my initial strengths and deficiencies, and how I could draft an application that harnesses both.

I truly felt that Liza’s approach as a consultant helped me to write essays that felt as authentic, well-rounded, and captivating as possible. The three most emblematic ways Liza helped me do this were:

1. Making me write an inventory of my entire life experience – childhood, personal, professional, and extracurricular experiences and stories. Writing this out was extremely helpful in reflecting on how my experiences led me to where I was and where I wanted to go next. We used this inventory to have a deep discussion on the points in my career and personal experiences that would demonstrate in applications who I was, why I wanted to pursue a MBA, and why I thought I was the right fit for certain schools. Most importantly, this experience allowed Liza to get to know me, and push me to demonstrate my most authentic self as I wrote essays.
2. Like writing a novel, I was the author and Liza was the editor – only that Liza pushed me like a track coach would push a runner in doing everything they could to hit their best ever time. With each draft I wrote, Liza pushed me for perfect – in choosing the right story, in making sure every sentence advanced the point of the essay, and ensuring my personality shined through. The journey to finishing an essay was so profound that some of my essays (even those that were only 250 words) had 10-15 drafts.
3. In preparing for interviews, Liza hosted a few mocks with me. Her feedback was vital, since she knew both what schools were looking for as well as who I was (especially so by this point in the process). She helped me realize that MBA interviews are conversations where I painted a cohesive picture on who I was within a 30-45 minute time frame.

Lastly, as a full-time professional, I appreciated how Liza helped me set the pace on how often I turned around drafts as well as holding me accountable to deadlines we set. This allowed me to chip away at essays consistently and diligently over months to avoid any significant last-minute work.

I deeply enjoyed working with Liza, who was a coach, editor, cheerleader, and friend all at the same time. I applied to three schools, and was accepted to HBS (attending), Wharton, and Sloan – in huge part thanks to the process of working with Liza!

As a healthcare tech consultant at Deloitte and Brandeis grad with a 3.4 GPA, my MBA journey had its challenges. Despite multiple attempts at the GRE, I couldn’t push my score beyond 306 – not exactly what top programs look for.

That’s where Liza and Gatehouse Admissions made all the difference. Unlike other consultants who glossed over my weaknesses, Gatehouse was refreshingly honest. Liza didn’t just tell me what I wanted to hear – she gave me straight talk about where I stood and what we needed to do to overcome my test score limitations.

What really made Gatehouse stand out was how they helped me craft my story. Looking at my initial essays now, I can see they were completely off target. Through Liza’s guidance, I discovered what actually mattered in my application – not just improving my weaknesses, but highlighting my authentic strengths in a way that made sense for MBA admissions.

Gatehouse kept me organized and accountable throughout the application process for all three schools. The structured approach helped me stay on track with deadlines, and Liza’s positive reinforcement kept me going when things got tough.

Gatehouse’s expertise in storytelling is why I got into Kellogg’s MBAi program despite my GRE score. They didn’t just edit my essays – they helped me find and articulate my unique value proposition in a way no other consultant could have.