Ivy Groupe | MBA Admissions Consultants

Working with Shaifali has been a fantastic experience and one of the best decisions I made throughout my application process. From our first 20-minute intro call, Shaifali differentiated herself from other US-based top admission consultants with her genuineness, sharp observations of my strengths and weaknesses, and proactive work style. With a clear timeline suggested by her, I started reflecting on my background and story very early in the process and NEVER felt the anxiety to rush through deadlines. Shaifali has been very approachable, supportive, and encouraging. Whenever I had a question, I could schedule some time and speak to her. Especially when I was struggling with my GMAT exams (and I almost lost hope at one point as my scores just wouldn’t improve regardless of all the study), talking to Shaifali really cheered me up and helped me think about the process more holistically. Shaifali was also excellent at interview preparation. Her insights on interview questions were incredible, and with her guidance, I got accepted by all three schools I interviewed for. Overall, working with Shaifali has been a super positive experience, and I would highly recommend it!

Ivy Groupe had a robust approach to uncovering my unique story and dovetailing it with the nuances of what each MBA program is looking for. A key component is the initial reflection/branding exercises that helped uncover formative moments in my personal/professional life and “connect the dots” to tell a compelling, honest story.

Shaifali remained consistently responsive (mostly within the same day with emails) and insightful. She has a two-day content turnaround policy which means you know exactly when you will receive feedback. She also does not bill by hours as most consultants do, so you never feel rushed or shortchanged. The MBA application process can be grueling and stressful (esp. when you apply to 6 schools), so I highly recommend getting a trusted, reliable advisor like Shaifali.

Shaifali was the key differentiator for my applications this year, after a disappointing 2020-21 cycle with another consultancy. Thanks to her help I got offers from Wharton, Booth and Columbia and interview/waitlists from Stanford and MIT! (I applied to 6 schools).
I am from an overrepresented group (Asian male in Finance) and never attended a US institution before and so it was crucial for me to work with someone who was sincere about helping me succeed and knew what schools wanted. Shaifali was all of these on top of being extremely responsive (despite a 14h time difference) and professional. Some things that stood out were:
(1) Making your essay stand out: My previous essay was too focused on finance and would have bored Adcom to sleep. Shaifali improved it by helping me find life experiences that would emphasize personal traits schools were looking for. For each experience, she helped me word it in a simple and effective way while also relaying “What this says about me” and “How this will help me in B-school and my career”. Shaifali helped me portray myself as a caring leader and team player instead of just another finance guy who wants to go to the buy-side. During my interview prep as well, she helped make each anecdote “pop” and display strong soft skills which helped me go into each interview with confidence.
(2) Knowledge about schools: I thought I had done a pretty good job about looking into schools and what they offer but Shaifali gave me several ideas for classes, activities and cultural characteristics for each school that I had not seen on the websites. This was extremely helpful when applying to Booth, Columbia and MIT because I had limited time to work on these apps after finishing H/S/W.
(3) Frugal with time: I signed up for Shaifali’s hourly services. I was at first worried that the hours would mount up pretty fast but Shaifali was very effective and careful with my hours. I recall being surprised when I asked her how many hours I had left and still had nearly twice the amount I had expected.
I consider myself very lucky to have been able to get on her client list for this R1 cycle and HIGHLY recommend her to any applicant, especially if you are from a crowded cohort.

As someone from a technical background, I was initially apprehensive about working with a consultant as they may not understand the details of my work, but Shaifali has exceeded my expectation in every way. On the first call itself, Shaifali and I spoke for more than 3 hours, where she heard my story and gave me advice, such as how I could view some of my previous work experience in Technology from a different perspective. She made me jot down all my experiences and the qualities I had shown in each of them. I saw my work and extracurriculars in a new light when I listed everything down in detail. While writing my essay, she gave me similar recommendations, handcrafted for me and my story specifically. I went through multiple iterations for each school’s essay, and anytime I hit a roadblock, Shaifali was just a call away. After many iterations, I finally got each of my essays to a place where I was delighted. Shaifali was patient throughout, and the quality of advice just got better for each of these iterations. When I got the interview invite from an M7 school, Shaifali conducted mock interviews, which gave me confidence for the final interview. She even guided me when I was nervously stuck on the waitlist. With her guidance, I navigated my way through the waitlist and finally got a seat at my dream school. Shaifali has been a pillar of support through my application process. I would recommend her to anyone applying to an MBA school, regardless of their background. Her USP is that she views every application with a unique perspective and always adds her special finishing touch.

I connected with the Shaifali/the Ivy Groupe after speaking with other top Admission Consulting Service companies, and the Ivy Groupe was the only one where my background, story and desire to pursue an MBA was understood and encouraged.

Right from the initial consultation, Shaifali was very approachable, hands-on and supportive. Throughout the entire application process, she provided guidance and valuable school-specific insight and gave me critical feedback on multiple aspects of my application, which allowed me to truly elevate my candidacy at top business schools.

Working with Shaifali made the application and interview processes far less daunting and less stressful. She went above and beyond and truly exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend the Ivy Groupe for Admissions Consulting!

Shaifali responded quickly to my emails and questions and helped come up with a plan. She was so knowledgeable about resources to supplement quantitative skills tested on the GMAT as well as the evaluation process for business school applications.

Shaifali was such a help in advising me on interviews for the business schools I applied to. She really knew how to elevate my responses by guiding me to explain the decisions behind my story. She knew exactly what to emphasize in each answer and was so kind and patient in helping me piece together the dots of my story and weave in school-specific details. She was very knowledgeable about the values and attributes specifically sought by each business school and knew how to help me tailor my answers towards each unique school.

Shaifali helped me to differentiate myself during the interview process and ultimately secure a spot at a top business school. I am so grateful for her help.

Shaifali was a godsend during the stressful B-School application process! I came to the process rather late in the game (end of October without a GMAT score) and she helped me craft a game plan to bring my best Round 2 application to life. She also took the time to really dive into my story and help me “connect the dots” in places I didn’t think of and always had spot-on advice for taking my application materials to the next level. I was especially grateful for her curated advice on interviews–what to highlight/emphasize for each school and arming me with responses to those “tough questions” before the interviews. I cannot recommend Shaifali enough!!

Early in 2019, while reading an article on US News, I came across Shaifali’s profile. I visited ivygroupe.com and signed up for 20 mins free consultation. The very next day, Shaifali contacted me, and we scheduled the call. That 20 mins call itself was very informative, and Shaifali recommended me to study for GMAT instead of GRE. She even highlighted strengths and weaknesses in my profile and suggested schools that I should target. A year went by, I had switched my job, moved to a different city, and then appeared for GMAT. I contacted her again and again had 20 mins free consultation call. We agreed to work on an hourly basis. I worked with her for the round 1 application, and now I have received admits from 3 of my desired schools.

I prepared the first drafts of my resume and general essays, and then she helped me provide the finishing. She helped me highlight my achievements on my resume and helped me tell a story through my essays. She is direct when needed, and her little nudges put you on the right path. I greatly benefitted by preparing for interviews with her. Being an Engineer, I had never prepared for a behavioral interview, and talking with her helped me bring my experiences and learnings in my interview answers.

Overall, I highly recommend Shaifali’s consulting for anyone looking for guidance in their MBA journey. It is also easy to schedule an appointment with her, and you get prompt replies to your emails. Most importantly, you know the person who is going to guide you. Whereas with other companies, you signup and don’t even know who will work with you.

When I started looking at MBA consulting services, I wanted to find someone who 1) would be available and accessible throughout the entire application process, 2) understood my background in finance and could help me navigate the process as a “finance candidate”, and 3) would be honest and give constructive feedback that would help improve my application. After talking with many other consultants, Shaifali stood out from our first conversation. We discussed how consulting is her full-time job, the challenges I would face in my application, and what I could do to stand out – and all of that in just the free 20-minute consultation.

After engaging Shaifali, we discussed which school options were realistic. I ultimately ended up applying to five schools, and Shaifali helped create a schedule that outlined every step I needed to take along the way to be prepared. I was admittedly demanding and asked a lot of questions throughout the process, and Shaifali was always responsive and happy to help.

Having come from a traditional finance background (investment banking to private equity), I feared being able to distinguish myself from other finance candidates. From the very beginning, Shaifali helped me craft my resume and essays to focus on some of the non-traditional experiences I had in my career. Highlighting the skills I developed through these experiences and relating them to my potential as a student, vastly improved my application.

Shaifali’s most valuable quality was her ability to provide honest, insightful feedback. My job situation precluded me from seeking advice from colleagues who had attended the schools where I was applying. Shaifali gave realistic feedback throughout the process and knew exactly how to utilize my strengths to put the best application forward. I could not imagine going through the application process without her guidance and support.

I could not recommend the Ivy Groupe and Shaifali more highly. Even the initial consult felt very collaborative – Shaifali listened to my story and goals intently, and suggested that the hourly services were most likely the best fit for my needs (really appreciated no attempt at any point to upsell). Her critical review of my win themes and essays enabled me to put the best possible application together, in the most streamlined fashion possible. She was able to tailor her schedule to my needs and provide timely and helpful feedback. I credit her for my successful M7 applications and admissions, and have recommended her to my friends and family applying this upcoming cycle. I do not feel you can go wrong with the Ivy Groupe.

I worked with Shaifali on applications for 4 schools – a comprehensive package for 2 schools plus the hourly rate for the other 2 schools.

We worked together for a 3-month period leading up to the submission of the applications and later on interview prep. We spent the first month on personal branding, which was helpful in highlighting my most impactful stories. Only then did we delve into the application itself. Shaifali equipped me with the tools required to put my best foot forward in the process – whether through resume refinement, essay feedback, guidelines for recommenders or ultimately interview prep. I received interview invites from 3 out of the 4 schools I applied to.

Working with Shaifali was helpful in not only putting together my applications but also in giving me clarity about who I am and what I have to offer. I think this will go a long way in helping me plan out my 2 years at B-School. I highly recommend working with Shaifali to put together your most authentic application.

Key Strengths:
-Focuses on authenticity
-Connecting the dots in my story
-Knowledge of schools
-Responsive
-Strong editor
-Honesty

I worked closely with Shaifali through the entire application process and she has been invaluable in gaining acceptance to prestigious institutions, navigating waitlists, and negotiating scholarships. A consummate professional, Shaifali continuously went above and beyond and provided top-tier results. I put complete trust in her and she did not disappoint.

From the initial call with Shaifali, I knew I had found the correct admission advisor. Her focus on authenticity, ability to connect the dots throughout my story and calm demeanor immediately stood out. She was accessible, kind, and insightful throughout the engagement.

We started with a structured deep dive into my story to help define my brand. These exercises laid the foundation for an authentic, holistic story. She was able to quickly hone in on my strengths and goals, giving me a framework to apply throughout the process. Another exercise helped me learn and internalize what I loved about each school and which offerings I was most excited about. This was critical information that I weaved into my essays and in my interviews.

Then came the essays, which constituted the bulk of the engagement. Shaifali was nothing short of incredible in this domain. It’s like she understood what I was trying to say rather than what I actually wrote and helped me to frame it in an authentic, concise manner. Her editing skills are second-to-none, and I was always amazed at how a few changed words and rearranged sentences could make an essay go from good to great. She was persistent in helping me to “show not tell,” something that I continually struggled with but was always professional and compassionate. Beyond the structural bits, she was able to help pull stories out of me and connect dots that I never would have in ways that made me question whether she knew me better than I knew myself!

Mock interviews were next. She was honest and direct about my strengths and where I could improve. I can almost still hear her telling me to include examples with my answers. I quickly came to appreciate her deep industry knowledge, as she tailored the interviews and questions to match what each school asked (with surprising accuracy). She also helped me to draw from a range of examples; professional, personal, and extra-curricular which allowed me to give the interviewer a holistic view of myself.

Shaifali’s services are expensive but I can say unequivocally that they are worth it. I truly believe that without Shaifali, I would not be in the great position that I am in today.

Shaifali was my go-to advisor throughout the entire business school application process. At the outset of the process, I was struggling to know where to start and how to craft a story that could be used in my essays. To get over this hurdle, she helped me organize my thoughts and develop a strategy for all my essays – even providing helpful tips that I was not aware of. I have spoken to friends who have worked with consultants and I can confidently say: nobody helps with essays as well as Shaifali does!

She was also accessible for small questions in between our scheduled meetings. Her accessibility provided me with comfort and made a stressful process less stressful. On top of all her help with the written application, she also was able to provide me with school-specific tips on what to focus on for each interview. At the end of the day, her support gave me confidence that I put forth my best applications and she ultimately helped me get into two M7 schools! If you are looking for a consultant whose guidance you can be confident in, look no further than Shaifali!

Shaifali was very helpful throughout the admissions process. We really did a deep dive into my personal story and how to tailor my application to each school. I came from an over-represented background and she was able to spin my story in a unique way. She knew each of the M7 schools in-depth, and I ended up getting into three of them! I enrolled in my top choice and this was hands down thanks to her help.

I spoke to several consultants before deciding to work with Shaifali. A lot of the larger admissions consulting companies split the workload among different people, which can sometimes work poorly. I had friends take this route previously and therefore I specifically looked for a consultant who would handle all aspects of the application. After speaking with Shaifali for the first time, I had greater trust in her being able to deliver a full and complete application than the other consultants. I was quite skeptical of paying the large sum for an admissions consultant, but it was well worth it and I would 100% work with Shaifali again.

A specific example of her work ethic & product: I applied for a deferral and scholarship, well after I received admissions, and Shaifali happily checked my letters and corrected them. She didn’t pay attention to time or say that the contract was over. She really worked till the end of the line. This speaks volumes about her work ethic. Most other consultants I spoke to were very tight and strict about any additional work. I’m really glad I chose to work with Shaifali and I can strongly recommend her without reservations. All I would say to applicants is don’t leave the applications to the last minute (essay revisions require a minimal number of turns which requires a minimum about of time for a consultant to add comments and applicant to fix changes and send back, couple weeks easy).

Best of luck!

From the start, Shaifali was incredibly helpful! Going into the application process, I was skeptical about all of it and didn’t appreciate the value of the story. Before settling on working with Shaifali, I spoke to a handful of consultants who gave generic opinions geared toward what they thought I wanted to hear. Shaifali, on the other hand, was honest about everything from school choice to gaps and strengths in my application.
After I decided to work with her, the honest opinions, patience, strategic approach, and focus on authenticity showed throughout the process. We spent time early-on developing a holistic application strategy, which really helped me learn how to frame my story, paying dividends throughout the process. Because of her, I was able to submit my best applications and set myself up to get the most out of business school.

Shaifali was fantastic to work with, and I would very highly recommend her services to anyone who is looking for an MBA admissions consultant. I am in an oversubscribed demographic (male in finance) and so was seeking someone who could really help to differentiate me in such a competitive pool. After speaking with multiple consultants, Shaifali and Ivy Groupe clearly stood out to me for the following reasons: 1) the very strong focus on authenticity and emphasis on understanding who I am, 2) Shaifali’s impressive credentials and experience in the space, 3) the importance is given to collaboratively working through the process, and 4) the company’s strong track record and systematic approach.
Throughout the engagement, Shaifali was extremely responsive and accessible, which was important given the demands on my time. She could also always be counted on for honest advice. By digging into my background, she teased out my unique attributes and helped me connect-the-dots in my story – she truly is a magician in this regard. As a result, she was absolutely critical in helping me to position myself as much more than a male in finance. In addition, her feedback throughout the process (essays, recommendation letters, interviews, etc.) was invaluable and always on point. In all of our conversations and her feedback, Shaifali’s robust knowledge and nuanced understanding of the schools were evident.
Overall, Shaifali was the much-needed guide I needed throughout this process, always pushing me to think deeper, which resulted in the strongest applications. There is no doubt that Shaifali was instrumental in taking my applications to the next level. Her approach and work ethic are definitely differentiators – after comparing notes with my peers who used other consultants, it was extremely clear how much value Shaifali brings to the table and how committed she is to her clients’ success.
I was accepted to Wharton and couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome! You will be in excellent hands working with Shaifali!

Shaifali was instrumental in successfully guiding me through my application process to several top business school programs. She was always professional and encouraging. My experience with her is that she is not only a top-level consultant but also genuinely interested in understanding your own story, so as to build the strongest possible application to each school. Shaifali brought tremendous insight as well as a personal touch to my application process. I am genuinely convinced I would not have achieved the same happy results without her help and guidance. I am very grateful to her and her team at Ivy Groupe.

Shaifali and Ivy Groupe helped me get into my dream MBA program. She knew exactly how I needed to present myself and my experience to display my skills and personality in applications to top business schools. She was extremely accommodating: Sometimes I would send her my draft essays 1 day before the submission deadline and she would get back to me within hours with her comments. In addition to assistance on essays, Shaifali helped me prepare for interviews. I ended up at my number one choice, Harvard Business School. It was a pleasure working with Shaifali, and I strongly recommend her to anyone interested in top tier MBA programs.

Shaifali was my main advisor during my application process to several top MBA programs. She was incredibly knowledgeable about the nuances of each admissions process and was able to tease out the traits of my profile that were applicable to each school’s priorities.

In addition to helping curate the content of my applications, Shaifali was a crucial part of my support network when things inevitably did not go my way in the process (e.g., rejections, waitlists, etc.). She coached me through these hiccups in an elegant and comforting way.

Ultimately, in large part due to her guidance, I was admitted to the Stanford GSB. I HIGHLY recommend Shaifali for anyone looking to put his or her best foot forward in what is a very competitive process.

I highly recommend admissions consulting services with the Ivy Groupe. Shaifali Aggarwal, Founder/CEO of the Ivy Groupe, helped me navigate the business school application process and successfully gain admission to my top schools. I was extremely impressed by Shaifali’s professionalism, thoughtfulness, attentiveness, and expertise. Working with the Ivy Groupe was a true value-add to my application process and I can’t speak highly enough about my experience.

I began working with Shaifali after completing the GMAT and she helped me brainstorm/narrow my list of schools, strategize for my applications, create a manageable timeline, craft my story, complete applications, prep for interviews, and ultimately finalize my school selection. Shaifali provides a highly personalized approach. She spent time getting to know my background, assessing my strengths/weaknesses, and understanding my personal and professional goals in order to provide meaningful consultative advice as we worked through applications. Because she took the time to know me personally, Shaifali’s feedback was always thoughtful and she brought out the best in my applications. I was grateful for Shaifali’s commitment to my applications and her communication was outstanding and she responded promptly to all questions via email or phone call.

Shaifali’s guidance goes beyond the applications. After submitting applications, Shaifali advised me on how to manage the rest of the process in order to best position myself with each school. As a result, I was well-prepared for interviews, campus visits, and conversations with current students and admissions officers. Finally, Shaifali shared her extensive knowledge of the MBA world and specific details about each school that I was admitted to in order to help me determine the best fit. I was admitted to my top school and could not be more thrilled with the outcome.

Shaifali is truly an expert in admissions consulting and she is also personable and very fun to work with. For all of these reasons, I give my highest recommendation for Shaifali and the Ivy Groupe.

Shaifali was instrumental in my business school application process. She was attentive, thoughtful, and insightful in her direction – always helping my voice shine through. Her biggest asset is a deep understanding of what these schools are really looking for and why they ask their chosen essay questions. The resume guidance was also of the highest caliber – she poured over my many iterations to ensure perfection.

I have a background in HR, and so was considered “non-traditional” and was worried about how to present my background in a way that showed I could handle the rigors of business school. We jumped all these hurdles together and I gained acceptance to 5 top schools.

I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say I couldn’t have done this without her.

I had a pre-med background so did not have many peers who were familiar with the business school application process, so I needed a consultant to support me through this process. I had purchased a package from another consultant at the time and did not realize how unhelpful his services were until I met Shaifali. I was blown away by the care she put into my entire application, from brainstorming to choosing between schools I got accepted into. She sent me a questionnaire that not only asked me to outline my main activities at work and outside of work but also asked me to summarize key themes and ideas which really got me to think critically about my background and how it comes together to tell a compelling story. Instead of just doing mere line edits of my essays, which I know from experience many consultants do, she looked at the essay as a whole and advised me on how to thoughtfully proceed.

Besides our brainstorming phone calls, Shaifali was also available via email whenever I had a question, no matter how big or small. Her responses were never automated or generic. She remembered the smallest details about my background when answering my questions, which showed she was invested in each of her clients as unique individuals.

Out of the 6 schools I applied to, I received 5 interviews – Haas, MIT Sloan, Kellogg, Booth and Wharton and got accepted to 3 and will be attending Wharton (my first choice) in the Fall! And my success in this process is definitely attributed to Shaifali’s tremendous support and knowledge about the application process.

I signed up for the comprehensive package for three schools and I can honestly say that it was worth every penny. I’m beyond happy with the results that I have achieved in my application journey and I couldn’t have done it without Shaifali’s guidance along the way.

I had signed up for a number of free consultations with various consultants and it was only with Shaifali that I’d felt a true, comfortable connection. The others would tell me to give up on so-and-so, leaving me completely discouraged. Sure, this approach might work with some, but certainly not for me. During my conversation with Shaifali, she was frank and honest about what my chances are but relayed that as long as I understood where my candidacy stood with respect to my selected schools, you just never know until you try. These words of encouragement helped me to establish a sense of confidence in working with Shaifali, and that sense of confidence only grew as we began to delve deep into the applications.

Shaifali is incredibly patient, very quick on her feet, amazingly sharp, and is somehow always able to magically give the best feedback based on the given situation. During our calls and also our email exchanges, I’m constantly bombarding her with questions, often with a lot of anxiety attached. She would answer those questions and alleviate my concerns one by one in a very straightforward manner, and I’m always left feeling assured after our correspondences, knowing exactly what my next steps should be. Not only this, Shaifali also gives her feedback in a no-nonsense, straight-shooter type of way that doesn’t beat around the bush; trust me, when you’re juggling multiple essays (in addition to the all of the other aspects of the application) at a time, you just want to talk to someone who gets right to the point and tells you exactly what you need to work on. Shaifali’s feedback is always very actionable and provides a clear sense of how to proceed; I’ve never been left feeling stuck after a conversation or exchange with her!

Anyway, I could go on and on and on about what an amazing experience I’ve had working with Shaifali. For those who are considering working with an MBA consultant, I cannot recommend her enough! Thank you for all your help, Shaifali!

I worked with Shaifali as an applicant to the 3 top US business schools. From day 1, Shaifali brought tremendous thoughtfulness and knowledge to the table. She was always available to talk on short notice whenever I asked (always within 24 hours), and she tirelessly reviewed essays (always within 48 hours and usually faster) until we both felt that they were ready – even if it took endless revisions until the last possible day. She also knew an incredible amount about each school – culture, classes, career paths, student activities, etc.

What I found most helpful however was Shaifali’s ability to draw out the best in me, which made working with her remarkably easy. She asked questions that helped me clarify themes in my background, connect the dots, and articulate the motivations that drove my past actions and choices. Pulling themes out of a life story in a concrete and coherent way is a rare skill and I felt that Shaifali did a tremendous job of asking the questions that helped me do that. Most importantly, when my essays were done, I felt deep pride that they captured my authentic values, aspirations, and story – my materials were true to me.

During interview prep, Shaifali helped me understand common interview themes and gave me really actionable feedback on how to improve the way I speak and tell my stories more effectively. I left each real interview feeling that I had represented myself well.

Ultimately, I was admitted to 2 of the 3 MBA programs I applied to, and received a merit scholarship from one of them. Shaifali’s structure, knowledge, and natural ability to bring out the best in people was a major asset in the process and I’d highly recommend working with her.

I partnered with Shaifali on a writing a GMAT waiver letter, a couple business school essays as well as reviewing my resume and LinkedIn profile. She is a great listener, extremely responsive, and an invested partner in your own success. Her personal HBS experience and admission process expertise was invaluable. I was accepted into my number one choice and received a healthy scholarship. I largely attribute this to Shaifali and her ability to help me construct a well written and truly authentic personal narrative. Thanks to Shaifali and the Ivy Groupe, I’m one step closer to achieving my professional goals.

With Ivy Groupe’s help, I was accepted into my first choice MBA program at the University of Michigan (Ross School of Business)!

In our initial consulting call, Shaifali honed in quickly on the weakest part of my application (undergrad GPA) and suggested specific ways to offset it by emphasizing my graduate school and work experiences.

I was impressed with her experience and insight throughout the month-long process! She helped me write compelling essays that were extremely authentic, without ever suggesting that I change my voice or the narrative. Her feedback is honest and direct- it helped me feel both confident and self-aware going into the B School interview.

I chose the hourly package as I was only applying to one school in this round, and Shaifali was very accommodating. She was prompt with essay feedback and was available for phone calls throughout the week. I’d recommend Ivy Groupe to any of my friends applying to B School!

As an international applicant from an overrepresented pool, I knew I wanted an admissions consultant by my side during the application process.
I set up introductory calls with multiple consultants and the call with Shaifali stood out to me for a few reasons:
1. I would be working directly with Shaifali at every stage
2. Our conversation was very clear and straightforward, with no frills
3. The call was not stressful and was largely focused on my background and goals

During our first few sessions after signing on, Shaifali spent time getting to know me and my short-term and long-term goals in more detail, in order to create a compelling application strategy. She laid out a schedule for the upcoming months and guided me while narrowing down my larger school list based on my profile. She also reviewed my resume and provided valuable feedback. This was particularly beneficial to me; coming from an engineering background, my resume was more technical and less business oriented. During the process, Shaifali helped me highlight important leadership areas and cut down the more technical sections.

I signed up for the Comprehensive Package for my 2 top schools. Once I had created initial versions of my essays, Shaifali reviewed them and provided feedback on how to articulate my thoughts better. We went through multiple iterations until I was happy with my application, which I was very grateful for. Additionally, Shaifali was very helpful during the interview preparation stage – she set up mock interview sessions with me and provided feedback on what areas of my answers to emphasize. Her in-depth knowledge on different schools and their programs really came through here.

I highly recommend Ivy Groupe. Shaifali gave clear advice, was very committed, and was very easy to talk to. Shaifali’s responsiveness also differentiates her from other consultants. I was able to reach out to her with questions anytime of the week and would get a prompt and detailed response.

The support I received during the application season was invaluable. Thanks to Shaifali and Ivy Groupe, I was able to get into my top school.

Shaifali is amazing!! She worked with me on one full MBA application and then a couple of essays for other schools. I ended up at my top choice school in the double MBA/Public Policy program.

The full MBA application package was 100% worth it. Shaifali guided me through a thoughtful and nuanced process to craft my narrative on every part of the application. From guidance on my resume to selecting references to prepping for interviews, Shaifali always provided insightful advice. She even helped me wordsmith my emails to the Admissions office after I was waitlisted! I felt like I got much more than my money’s worth from Shaifali.

Additionally, as a traveling consultant, Shaifali was super responsive and flexible to my schedule. She helped me plan for application deadlines while I was on the road and was always available for a quick phone call.

Even though we worked together five years ago, I still send all of my friends/mentees to Shaifali for their MBA application process. Thank you Shaifali!

I interviewed several MBA admissions consultants before deciding on Shaifali, and in retrospect, she was the perfect choice for me. As someone with a fairly typical MBA applicant background and a competitive GPA and GMAT, my original primary goal for engaging a consultant was to find somebody who could help me figure out what to write about in my essays. After one conversation with Shaifali, I realized she would be vital for much more than just my essay topics, as she helped me define who I am and then effectively translate that into an application. I was amazed at Shaifali’s ability to listen to my background and quickly tease out my 4-6 most defining qualities and then help create a plan for how to effectively work each of them into my application. Of all the ways Shaifali helped with my application, I think this initial step of creating an “application strategy” was the most helpful for me and something I would not have been able to do successfully without Shaifali.
I was working a demanding job with long hours at the time, so I greatly valued Shaifali’s ability to concisely communicate her thoughts effectively. This is one quality that led me to choose Shaifali over other consultants I had interviewed, and it is a quality that I consider extremely valuable for anyone who is pressed for time (as I believe most MBA applicants are, in one way or another).
I decided to focus all my application energy on applying to Harvard for R1, so I chose the comprehensive, 1 school package from Shaifali. With Shaifali’s help, I was admitted to HBS, my dream school, and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome or the process. I think Shaifali was worth every penny and I highly recommend her to anyone applying to a top MBA program.

I can’t imagine having gone through the MBA admissions process without Shaifali. She is thoughtful and strategic, and a true partner — from start to finish. I had a relatively unconventional work background, and she helped me craft my narrative in a way that I was able to get into my dream M7 school with a less-than-average GMAT score. Her sage advice paired with her timely and constructive feedback at all points of the process — recommenders, essays, interviews — not only kept me sane throughout the process but also gave me the confidence to tell my story and understand how it would be perceived by my dream schools. Shaifali makes you feel like she’s wholeheartedly on your team; I couldn’t recommend her more.

From the start, Shaifali has helped me to find my own voice in my MBA applications. She really listened to my story and helped me distill who I am clearly on my application. She helped me bring all of my experience and my dreams together into a solid application strategy and she guided me through the rather stressful process with patience and support. Whenever I had any questions or doubt, Shaifali always got back to me in a day with her honest opinion. With her support, I was interviewed at four out of the six schools I applied and was admitted into two M7 schools, which includes my dream school. I would highly recommend Shaifali to be a trusted guide on your admission journey.

I highly recommend Shaifali based upon my experience working with her throughout my application process. My application ended with an offer from the best possible school that I could see myself getting into, and Shaifali was instrumental in making sure that I delivered my strongest package. She literally pushed me at every stage of my application process to think broader and deeper about what distinguished myself. She was direct, patient and always prompt in getting back to my questions. Her own experience as well as her in-depth knowledge of the application process has made her an invaluable resource to have for any applicant.

From my first conversation with Shaifali, I was sold on her approach. Applying to an MBA can feel incredibly daunting (especially while you are trying to balance a full time job) and after speaking with Shaifali I felt like I had a partner — someone who not only had the inside scoop on how to approach this process, but also someone who could validate all the little questions and doubts along the way. I opted for one comprehensive package to work through a more detailed and hands on approach to crafting my narrative for one school. From there, I supplemented with a few hourly sessions to review my applications for other schools. Shaifali helped me from Fall through Spring, from the earliest stages of my applications, through interviews, and ultimately acceptance at my dream school. Shaiflai is incredibly organized. She brings structure and discipline to an otherwise hectic process. She’s authentic, helping you to piece together different elements of your story while making sure your application is the best representation of yourself. She is the best sounding board and she’s INCREDIBLY responsive. She always provided comprehensive and timely feedback, answering questions long after typical business hours. Shaifali not only brings her experience applying to and going to HBS, but she also has deep knowledge of the top programs and what they are seeking in each candidate. I felt 100% confident in her knowledge of the schools, the admissions’ committees’ expectations and how I could shape my applications to stand out. I’m extremely grateful for Shaifali and would recommend 10/10 to anyone looking for a partner in the MBA process.

From the start, I felt daunted by the entire business school application process and knew that I needed someone to guide me. After speaking with several consultants, I decided to go with Shaifali because she not only connected with me the most but also came with the highest recommendations from a friend.

I was able to craft a very compelling personal story after completing a comprehensive MBA Application Strategy exercise with Shaifali, who helped me crystallize my career goals and reasons for pursuing an MBA. Shaifali provided excellent and insightful feedback for everything application related including my essays, resume, recommendation letters, and even my post-interview thank you emails and scholarship negotiation emails. She always responded within 48 hours and was always happy to hop on a call with me when I needed more in-depth discussions regarding her feedback.

Ultimately, I received interviews from 5 out of the 6 schools that I applied to and will be matriculating at Wharton in the fall. I could not have achieved these results without Shaifali’s invaluable support and I would highly recommend her for anyone looking for an MBA consultant!

I worked with Shaifali directly on my applications to business school this coming Fall. She came well-referred by friends in the industry and my experience matched theirs’ quite neatly. My main points of concern and motivation for working with a consultant were organization (given my tight timeframe for applying) and time management (given that I was continuing to work full-time in the finance industry while simultaneously submitting applications). Shaifali’s program was extremely thoughtful and guided me naturally along an extremely reasonable timeline that she set forth at the very beginning. I found that having a fairly objective helping hand throughout the process was invaluable, and I really believe I would have seen different results had I chosen to pursue the process alone while working full-time. Her personal approach made all the difference and her willingness to go out of her way to match my schedule relieved a large about of stress and anxiety while I was in the office. With Shaifali’s assistance, I gained admission to 2 / 3 of my target programs and am extremely excited to begin my MBA journey this fall!

While working by myself last year on my MBA and MS applications, I was disappointed with the initial response from the schools that I had applied to. It is then when I decided to reach out to Shaifali and utilize her experience and expertise in shaping my applications. I am so glad that I did – it was the best decision that I made!

While working with Shaifali, we went through the various parts of each application. As we did so, I could comprehend and see the changes in the structure of my application while making it suitable for business schools. For example, with Shefali’s guidance, I was able to build a unique personal story in my essays while keeping them quite authentic, use innovative methods to concisely relay achievements in my resume and effectively prepare for both in-person interviews and video essays. She also provided extremely valuable advice to help me prep my recommenders so that their recommendation letters were very strong.

Shaifali truly cares about her clients, and it was a pleasure working with her. She was always responsive to my questions both via email and when I wanted to speak with her on the phone, and she patiently worked with me so that I could present the best and truest version of myself in my applications.

Soon after I worked with Shaifali, successful results started coming in and I was admitted to 3 of 3 programs that I applied to. I’d highly recommend Shaifali as an admission consultant if you are looking for a Midas touch in your applications!

I highly recommend Shaifali because, based on my experience, there are three things that stood out as her clear strengths. First and foremost, beyond the one dimensional proof-reading that my friends could provide, her advice was simultaneously both thoughtful and thought-invoking and challenged me to dig deeper into the core of my argument. Having that second pair of eyes to poke at my ideas motivated me to strengthen and polish my writing. Second, being able to bounce ideas off her also served as a source of mental support for me. Lastly, I enjoyed working with Shaifali especially because of her to-the-point and (always) responsive attitude. She is a straight shooter with no frills but great substance.

Shaifali was extraordinarily helpful throughout the entire MBA application process, and I would without question recommend her consulting services. From Day 1, she was helpful in advising on what schools to think about and what those schools look for in applicants. She helped develop my narrative and identify key strengths to include in my essays. Shaifali was very supportive by walking me through different ideas for my essays and ways of positioning myself. She had incredibly quick turnaround times for written pieces and was available to speak with me at any point throughout the process no matter what question I had. Shaifali’s genuine support, her ability to help identify key themes in my narrative and bring those out, and her knowledge of the very comprehensive and, at times, daunting process of applying to B-school, were completely invaluable to me and enabled me to gain acceptance at one of my top schools. Furthermore, her understanding of different nuances in various school’s applications was very helpful. I am extremely grateful for all of Shaifali’s help throughout the process and definitely recommend her consulting services to anyone thinking about business school.

I used Shaifali’s hourly services to help mainly for the essay and interview portion of my MBA applications. I applied to four schools and while I had already identified what I wanted to say in my applications, I had a difficult time conveying this through the essay portion of my application. I spoke with several admissions consultants and decided to work with Shaifali for several reasons. Firstly, the hourly services allowed me to focus on the help I needed. Secondly, of all the consultants, she was most able to help me figure out actionable steps to get me out of my rut and sell my story to schools. Lastly, she was extremely responsive and always willing to get on the phone or respond via email, based off of my schedule. What I found most helpful was the insights she gave me about each of the individual schools and the realistic feedback that she gave me, advice that was invaluable throughout the process and I believed helped me get into two schools and an interview with a third.

Shaifali’s approach to evaluating each applicant’s candidacy helped me differentiate myself within a pool of countless other profiles with similar backgrounds, experiences, and statistics. Her comprehensive package explores every aspect of your life to-date, working to craft a story that is unique to you. For me, the “no stone left unturned” methodology identified the underlying themes that motivated me and turned me into who I am today, and helped me convey this story of development concisely across all my essays. Specifically, Shaifali helped me every step of the way, from constructing my application identity and strategy to school selection and identification of my recommenders. She was a phenomenal resource for my recommenders, providing direct feedback to help them strengthen their anecdotes in their letters of recommendation. Shaifali and I iterated numerous times on my resume and each essay for each school; her feedback was always timely and incredibly precise. After feedback from her Advisory Board on my application, I was confident that my applications were as strong as they could possibly be. I was invited to interview at my top choices. Shaifali helped me prep for my interviews, providing guidance on questions to expect as well as best practices for answering tricky behavioral questions. Ultimately, I was admitted to my top choice and I am very excited to be entering next fall. In the strongest possible terms, I recommend working with Shaifali. Her process and advice made all the difference in my application journey and I could not be happier with the end result!

My time with Shaifali was hands down the best academic support I have ever received.

To begin, she took the time to dive incredibly deep into my personal background. It went far beyond reviewing baseball stats and into understanding who I was as a person, my vision for a career, and how I could contribute to each business school.

As a consultant myself, my schedule was always slammed, so Shaifali really went the extra mile to plan out milestones that would be reasonable given my workload. She was incredibly patient in my frequent need to edit and often “over-engineer” essays but also took the time to let me execute the real changes (word-smithing and otherwise) so I could take full ownership of the finished product.

By far the most useful part of my time with Shaifali was the interview preparation. I was incredibly shaky to start, but she was incredibly encouraging as she regularly worked with me to present myself in the best light to my interviewer. I walked out of my interview with Stanford GSB proud (and with an acceptance a month later!).

Thanks to Shaifali for a wonderful experience and helping me reach this incredible accomplishment.

I’d like to thank Shaifali for the fantastic guidance and support she provided in my b-school application journey. Applying from Africa, I needed an adviser who understood the context from which I was applying. In our first conversation, I gave her a summary of my life journey. She immediately developed 5 strong themes around which I would build my application story to highlight my unique background and experiences. I was very impressed with the vision she had for the application. I knew then that Shaifali was the perfect fit.

She was very responsive to my emails and made time to skype chat even with little lead time. Her feedback was also actionable. After reading her emails or having a conversation, I was clear on next steps. I also appreciated how straight-forward her feedback was, not mincing words. Shaifali was very professional throughout the process and light-hearted when she needed to be.

Having worked together, I had total confidence that I had given the b-schools a full picture of me. We worked on 3 school applications together – I got accepted into 2 (including my top choice) and was waitlisted by 1. She was instrumental in my success.

I worked with Shaifali on three business school applications and was admitted to my dream school, HBS. Shaifali added tremendous value when it came to helping me craft my storyboard, edit my resume, and tighten my essays. I was most nervous about the essays and short responses, as expressing myself through writing does not always come naturally to me. Through multiple iterations, Shaifali helped me tell my story in a way that was authentic and competitive. I also appreciated how she worked closely with my recommenders to provide 3rd-party feedback. I trust Shaifali’s expertise in admissions consulting and if I were to apply again, I would absolutely choose to work with her. I continue to recommend her to my friends.

Shaifali is a phenomenal consultant and resource when it comes to the admissions process. She has a keen eye for detail and keeps the big picture in mind when helping craft your application.

I’d highly recommend scheduling a kick-off call with her – going through the strategy phase of the process with Shaifali was extremely valuable. She listens to your story and brainstorms strategies to position your application effectively in a way that is unique to you, and it is especially helpful if you’re from an over represented group like I was (Indian-engineering).

Shaifali’s insights were crucial to help distinguish my application from the rest of the pool, especially since I had a less than stellar GMAT scores and graduated from a school that wasn’t well known, even in India. She’s fully invested in the process, and works her magic, iteratively chiseling away at refining the application (the resume, essay, and even the data-fields) for as many iterations as you like. The result – I was able to represent myself in a compelling way in my applications and I received interview invitations from HBS, Wharton, Kellogg, and Haas.

She also helps craft a compelling narrative when practicing for the interview component of the application. She provides feedback on each question that’s asked during mock sessions and provides suggestions for improvement. Like the iterations on the essays, she helps you run through several interview “styles” – from simulating extremely stressful-poker-faced-interactions to ones in which the interviewer is much more candid and engaging. When I went into the actual interviews, I took a deep breath, and let the training kick-in, knowing that I’d been through a much more stressful mock interview.

I’m enrolling at Wharton this Fall. I’m immensely grateful to Shaifali, for helping me land a place in the class of 2020 – I’d very highly recommend her services – and hopefully, you’ll also receive a call from admissions, congratulating you on your acceptance! 🙂

Applying to graduate school was a very sudden and deliberate decision. I had less than three months in total to study and take the GMAT before the applications were due. On top of that, I had to keep up with work and my various community commitments. Having taken a first look at applications by myself, I was completely disoriented. I had reached out to my college best friend who had recently started school at HBS and he recommended his MBA Admissions Consultant, Shaifali. Despite the tight deadline, she was able to break each step down into manageable and meaningful pieces, with each step bringing me closer to a polished application. She guided me through the process and helped me assemble a storyboard true to myself. Through various brainstorming sessions and iterations of my essays with her, I was able to paint a story of my life and accomplishments with pride and confidence.

I had disadvantaged my applications by not preparing for the GMAT well in advance and as a result, achieved a below-average score. This may have been a factor to my waitlist status at Stanford. Despite this setback, Shaifali supported me throughout the waitlist process and guided me through each applicant update requested by the school. Ultimately, I was accepted into my dream school off the waitlist and I would not have accomplished this incredible feat of a successful last minute application without her.

I worked with Shaifali on 3 MBA applications for Round 1 for almost half a year, and I have to say that she has been SUCH an indispensable asset for me. I initially tried to complete all applications myself and “cut corners” (eg. only enroll in essay-editing services with another company), but looking back, Shaifali’s full spectrum consulting services is the best investment I’ve made in this process. Right away, Shaifali patiently worked with me on my “story” and helped me package my bizarre employment history into a compelling story that made sense. Shaifali is a magician with this kind of work, and I have to say that this is one of the greatest value-add to my overall applications. After this, we worked through dozens of drafts of my essays, where Shaifali continuously pushed me to elaborate more on my impact and helped me to fill in the holes I couldn’t see myself. She also has an incredible work ethic and quick turnaround times, which makes working with her a flawless process. This all paid off as I was offered interviews to all 3 schools I had applied to as well as a scholarship to the school I will be attending. And needless to say, Shaifali also helped me prepare for my interviews. We worked on each interview question one by one, and she persisted in helping me overcome my nerves and become a confident interviewer.

Shaifali was my guardian angel throughout my business school application process. I started working with Shaifali in July 2017 and from our very first phone call, I felt completely supported and understood. Shaifali listened to my career goals and she created a strategy to overcome my weaknesses (low quant score on GMAT) to get into a top school. With Shaifali’s step-by-step guidance, I was able to dig further into each school’s program and my own MBA goals to build competitive applications for Round 1 deadlines. Shaifali also made herself completely available to me and was quick to turnaround edits for all of my essays. Shaifali and her Board of Advisors meticulously combed through every sentence of my essays to ensure that they were free of errors and clear in meaning. Shaifali also prepped me for all of my interviews so I would know how to prepare for questions and feel confident talking to interviewers. Shaifali took a stressful situation and broke it down into milestones that, with her unwavering support, seemed less daunting. In the end, I received acceptances from Stanford GSB, Wharton, Northwestern Kellogg, and UC Berkeley Haas. I could not be more grateful for all of Shaifali’s help. Teaming up with her for my applications was the best investment I ever made and is already changing my life. I highly recommend Shaifali’s services to anyone who is applying for business school.