mbaMission | MBA Admissions Consultants

If someone is looking to apply to an MBA program, the FIRST thing they should do is contact MBAmission and specifically Krista Nannery. In the beginning, I felt overwhelmed by The MBA application process, but from my first meeting, I was given a roadmap to my end goal. Krista helped me be confident throughout the process, from opening my applications to interview and acceptance. She is prompt, clear, committed to each client, and above all extremely knowledgeable about the admissions process. Working with Krista, I felt genuinely supported, valued, and also pushed to achieve my full potential as a candidate.

I cannot say enough positive things about working with Nisha and mbaMission – highly recommend to anyone seeking to gain admission to a top MBA program!

I wasn’t initially planning to use an admissions consulting service, but I decided to give mbaMission’s free consultation a try (who doesn’t like free things?). After reading through all of the consultant bios, I chose to work with Nisha since her professional experience most closely aligned with my intended post-MBA career plans. After exchanging a couple of emails, I sent Nisha a copy of my resume for review — while I was impressed with her responsiveness, I was still skeptical that I would get much out of our session. BOY WAS I WRONG! As it turns out, Nisha not only provided me with valuable tips and tricks, but she also asked the right questions to help me better articulate my accomplishments. I knew within the first 15 minutes of my consultation that I wanted to continue working with Nisha throughout my application process.

I ended up purchasing an hourly package so that I could work with Nisha as I drafted my essays. For context, my essay drafts were in decent shape at the time we began working together, but Nisha really helped me get to the point where I was telling my own story in a unique and engaging way in each essay. I appreciated that Nisha did not try to “change” my story or put words in my mouth that would make my application inauthentic, albeit stronger; she provided insightful suggestions on how I could best articulate both my story and my goals.

Nisha also provided invaluable guidance on what each school was looking for in the essays in terms of the topics/themes to address. I probably would have ended up with very different (read: weaker) essays had we not had those conversations. I really appreciated Nisha’s ability to provide strategic direction when it came to the content of the essays, as well as her attention to detail (e.g, grammar, word choice) when it came to proofreading my final drafts.

Additionally, I was very impressed with Nisha’s quick turnaround time and the depth of her reviews — she usually sent comments and suggestions within 24 hours of receiving a draft. We exchanged several drafts of each essay (average of 3 essays per school, I applied to 5 schools) in a relatively short time frame so that I could meet all of the RD1 deadlines. I was also very impressed (and pleased and thankful) that Nisha was able to clear her schedule, with very little notice, to help me prep for my first interview (which came weeks before I was expecting to hear back). She walked me through a mock behavioral interview and then spent a significant amount of time debriefing my performance and giving me frameworks to make my responses stronger. I was able to apply those frameworks to confidently answer every question thrown at me during my interview!

Ultimately, I gained admission to each of the MBA programs I applied to w/ significant scholarships. I have no doubt that Nisha played an integral role in strengthing my application and making it stand out.

Thank you, Nisha!!

Katy went above and beyond in supporting me through the application process. She spent so much time brainstorming with me and then went through many rounds of review with me on my essays. I couldn’t have gotten into HBS without her!

I booked a mock interview session with Jen to prepare for my interview in Dec and the experience was far beyond my expectation.

Jen is knowledgeable and dedicated. I turned to Jen almost at the last minute before my interview, but Jen still kindly booked a weekend session with me to fit my tight schedule. The Q&A part at the beginning of the session was full of insights, and in the following mock interview part I could clearly tell that Jen reviewed my application in detail and prepared for the mock interview carefully beforehand. We covered all the common questions and the tricky ones specific to my school, and Jen provided very meaningful feedback to each of my answers. The mock interview last longer and was more thorough than I had expected. I was impressed by the session not only because I was technically prepared for the interview, but also because I was emotionally ready. Jen effectively reduced my anxiety and cheered me up.

I would like to give my special thank you to Jen because even though I only booked one mock interview session, Jen gave me so much support during the two stressful weeks between my interview and my offer email. Thank you Jen for being a tremendous consultant and a trustworthy partner!

John is absolutely fantastic — I couldn’t have gotten into my top school (HBS) if it weren’t for his guidance. Working with him is the best decision that I made when applying for business school. He helped me best position my written application by first getting to know me, my goals, and my background. He took a genuine interest in this part of the process and reassured me when I was feeling discouraged. His communication and edits were always thoughtful and prompt. I especially appreciated how honest and straightforward he was with me and the structured nature of his edits, bringing out my story and purpose. I walked away from the process thrilled with the state of my application and essay thanks to John.

From the first conversation I had with Debbie, I knew I was in the right place. I am happy I chose to work on my application process with her. She helped me do a lot of introspection, understand my aspirations and find the best way to communicate them. I can actually say that this process helped me to get to know myself better.
I worked with Debbie on a three school package. I ended up applying to five different schools and got an offer from three of them. Debbie’s feedback was very honest and to the point, and she really helped me to put my best foot forward on my essays. You could really see that she invested time in reviewing them. When it came down to interview preparation, she helped me structure my thoughts and boosted my confidence. Even for the schools we did not work on together, her advice equipped me with a structured process to outline my essays and prepare my application.
Now, I am glad to say that will be attending my dream program at a M7 in 2021!

TL;DR: Debbie helped me get into HBS (my top choice) and MIT Sloan, and got waitlisted for Stanford GSB. I applied to only these three schools, and I have no doubt these results wouldn’t have been possible without Debbie’s insight and feedback on my essays and applications.

I first talked to Debbie over the phone to see which service was the better option for me. Debbie walked me through the details for hourly and package options and in the end, I decided to proceed with hourly service bc of my limited budget.

I started working on the applications around mid-August and was very concerned about the limited time I had until R1 deadlines. Debbie ensured me that I still had time to bring up solid applications if I focused on them. I started working on my essays and had no idea what to write, and even if I wrote something, I was totally insecure and in doubt about the contents and the fact that they might be unsuitable for an MBA application. I went through many rounds of reviews with Debbie—removed many contents from my first drafts, added new contents, and improved whatever I had first—significantly improving my essays at the end. Debbie’s comments and feedback gave me huge peace of mind about both my essays’ contents and their format style. I can safely say that without Debbie’s comments and insight, there’s absolutely no way I could have achieved the results I got from these three schools.

Debbie was very easy to work with, patient, positive, and flexible in the process. As mentioned before, I started working on my applications too late and there were many instances when I needed high-level feedback on the same day. Debbie was ALWAYS open to quick, high-level questions on certain applications questions I had or something specific in the essays I had doubt on. I remember I had MANY high-level questions just 1 or 2 days before HBS, GSB, and MIT deadlines. I sent my questions to Debbie through email and she always got back to me by the end of the same day. This alone was a HUGE help. Also, mbaMission has a policy that they would review the essay drafts within 2 days after sending them to the consultant. There were a few occasions that I needed my draft gotten back to me the same day or in just one day. Debbie showed flexibility on this when it was close to the deadline and gave the drafts back to me earlier than she had to. Again, a great help and peace of mind before final submissions.

In summary, Debbie was a huge help and source of direction both on my essays and my application questions. My experience with an MBA consultant and the results I got couldn’t have been better.

As a reapplicant, I believe that Devi was key to my admission to HBS. Each one of our interview prep sessions were tailored for me, and she truly forced me to think on my feet with questions from different angles. She always gave candid feedback, and showed me ways I could improve my interview skills. What I learnt from Devi will for sure help me beyond my HBS interview: She taught me how better to tell my story to other people. In the end, the interview did not feel so scary anymore, and I truly had fun during my interview. I highly recommend Devi to anyone who is serious about HBS.

I can not recommend Kate Richardson highly enough to anyone looking for an admissions consultant. Coming from a non-traditional field, I was quite nervous about applying to schools, especially during such a competitive year. Kate was perfect to work with as her feedback was very constructive without being too rough. Not knowing anything about applying for an MBA, she was an integral part of any questions I may have had.

I was initially recommended to MBAmission by a colleague, but I was unsure as to who I should work with and a couple of people recommended Michael because of his expertise in translating experience and career aspirations into a compelling application. In the initial 30-minute free consultation, Michael helped me set clear goals, create a work plan, and answered my most pressing doubts. This convinced me he was the person I wanted to work with during the application process. Michael helped me tell my story in the best manner possible and then pushed me to go beyond what I had originally planned, making my application much stronger. In the end, I got into UC Berkeley which was my number one choice for a school and with a scholarship to boot! This would not have been possible without Michael’s dedicated guidance and help. With the scholarship, Michael’s fees more than paid for themselves. I strongly recommend him to anyone looking to get into a competitive program.

Katy is one of the most thoughtful and helpful consultants out there. I was blown away by our initial consultation call (Katy came ready and prepared to discuss my strengths, weaknesses, and how best to position myself for HBS and Stanford—the only 2 schools to which I applied). Though she was already booked for Round 1, she still took the time to speak with me and provide her thoughts on my candidacy. (Tip: do start your search for a consultant early, especially if you want to work with a pro like Katy! She typically fills up by May for Round 1 applicants).

Even though I wasn’t able to work with Katy on my written materials, the advice she gave in both our consultation call and follow-up email exchanges continued to guide how I drafted and positioned my application. When I found out I was invited to interview at both HBS and Stanford, I immediately reached out to Katy to work with her on my Stanford interview prep; she also put me in touch with her firm’s “HBS Interviewer in Residence,” whom she had recommended previously.

The results from working with Katy were the best that I could have asked for – I was accepted to both schools! Katy even offered to be a free sounding board in helping me make the right decision, given her intimacy with both HBS and GSB; she spent over an hour on the phone with me just to take me through her thoughts and her own personal experiences with the institutions.

I could not recommend Katy more highly! She is warm, kind, thoughtful, and truly an expert in this field. She is someone that I will certainly stay in touch with years after business school.

Nisha was a fantastic partner in the application process from start to finish. In our second virtual meeting, we talked through a questionnaire aimed at translating my best experiences into an attractive admissions story. Nisha was great at bringing the storyteller out of me. As I work in investment management, I needed a sounding board to determine which finance jargon to leave in and which to omit in my essays, resume, and interview prep. Nisha helped me strike this balance. I initially chose to work with Nisha because she herself had gained admission to my target school and she is intimately familiar with the program. I did not know what to expect working with an MBA consultant – this was an incredible experience from start to finish!

Jessica really helped my application shine. From my initial consultation, she gave me advice and really took the time to understand my background. I have a 2.9 GPA and never thought I could get into 1 of my target schools.

Jessica’s core skill, besides knowing the ins and outs of the admission process, is storytelling. We spent hours carefully refining the story until it was perfect. Not only is Jessica a great storyteller, but also she goes the extra mile. If it were late responses or fast turnarounds, she was extremely reliable and helpful throughout by 3-school package journey.

I would recommend Jessica to any underdog applicant – a great story with Jessica’s help will go a long way.

Nisha was extremely helpful during my application process. She helped me reshape my resume and fine-tune my essays to present myself in the best light possible. Nisha is incredibly responsive and provides honest, constructive feedback.

Stop wasting your time on forums and Youtube videos that claim to reveal the secret of the HBS interview. Work with Devi!

After receiving the HBS interview invite, I spent hours reviewing countless articles and videos to prepare and decided to buy coaching sessions with Devi. I came to the 1st mock with Devi as if it was the real interview and was really confident. I was ready as I asked several friends to review my material and did multiple mock interviews. I thought I did well, but the reality was cruel… the performance was terrible.

Devi went straight to the point and gave me feedback and tips to improve, and most importantly what kind of structured answers I should give. I was using the STAR method but my answers were either lacking details or too long.

Because of her help, I improved over time (she always gave me homework after each session) and really knew how to approach the interview. She imparted practical knowledge to me, and eventually, I became more confident and ready to answer any questions I would be asked.

Thank you Devi for being a tremendous coach!

I worked with mbaMission and Devi Vallabhaneni for the 2020 MBA application cycle (2021 start). I recommend going with a start-to-finish package as Devi was an amazing resource throughout the entire application process.
To begin, Devi and I walked through just about every detail of my personal and professional life and educational background. Devi then helped me to extract stories that would make the most impact in an application, even though I may have overlooked these myself. Devi and I spent the most time on my essays and resume. She helped me to trim parts of essays that would not be seen as important to admissions committees and make my resume more quantifiable and impact-oriented.

I found that Devi’s background and familiarity with the schools to which I wanted to apply and my desired post-MBA career were particularly helpful. It goes without saying that Devi was always punctual and thoughtful. She was straight forward and did not tell me what I wanted to hear but what I needed to hear. Her guidance and help led to being accepted into on of my top program choices, and for that, I am super thankful to her and the mbaMission process. I certainly found the cost of the start-to-finish package to worth it.

I can highly recommend Heidi Granner and mbaMission to any applicant looking for guidance throughout the MBA application process and having doubts about the overall strength of their profile.

For the context, I’m an international student with a number of strengths, but quite a few issues to overcome or mitigate. To name a few, age (I’ll be in my mid-30s upon graduation), non-posh and trendy finance background, number of pre-MBA employers, ok but not stellar GMAT, and non-MBA recommenders were on top of my lengthy list of concerns. Without a doubt, working with Heidi was one of the best, if not the best decision I have made during my pre-MBA journey. She provided invaluable guidance throughout the process, from narrowing down the list of target schools to brainstorming on essay topics, packaging the career story and specific achievements into a comprehensive but easily digestible narrative, and preparing to various interviews. I deeply enjoyed our sessions with Heidi during which she steered my thinking in the right direction without being pushy or making essays and answers to application and interview questions look over-crafted. Last but not least, Heidi’s comments were always spot on, her document turnaround time was highly impressive, and she was always available for calls and extremely responsive via email, regardless of how banal or extravagant my questions were.

By the end of the application process, I had a feeling that I put my best foot forward and managed to develop a personal brand without distorting or embellishing the past. Despite the frenzy of the pandemic, deferrals offered to quite a few international students last year, and my own skepticism about my chances of admission, I managed to achieve an 80% success rate on my applications to T15 schools on the first try.

Of course, using a consultant requires a lot of time and effort invested into the process, but professional support definitely pays off, and I am very happy with the achieved results. I would refer my friends and colleagues thinking about an MBA in the US to Heidi without any hesitation.

I worked with Heidi ahead of my round 1 applications to four schools. I wanted someone to help me thoughtfully structure the process, plan goals and deadlines, serve as a sounding board and just, in general, help me take a very programmatic approach to the daunting task of applying to business school. I also wanted someone who could help me maximize my strengths while minimizing my weaknesses. I can say with certainty that I got exactly what I was hoping for in working with Heidi. She was organized, detailed, thoughtful, responsive, and helpful in both brainstorming/big ideas, interview prep, and the nitty-gritty of essay writing. She was also considerate and just a generally compassionate person, which was really important for me as I had some difficult backstory to explain in my applications. The hard work and effort were validated as I was accepted at 3/4 schools, including 2 obvious reaches in the M7. I would highly recommend Heidi to any prospective student looking to add more intellectual and procedural horsepower to their application process. It made a huge difference.

Michael is literally the best, very professional, never missed a deadline, and overall, just a good mensch. I’m fortunate I got a hold of this guy; he’s helped tremendously and did not shy away from giving me his honest opinion on how I may best present myself, which I very much appreciated — good guy, even better Consultant.

I went through a thorough vetting process with consultants (incl. SB, F) to make sure I found the right person to work with. Other companies told me not to even bother applying to HBS–my profile was uninteresting and average (2 years MBB, 720 GMAT), and there was no way I’d get in. My consultation with Kate was the complete opposite. She believed in me and my story and said I had as good of a shot as anyone else. Kate helped me communicate my story, and brought out aspects of myself that I thought were insignificant that ended up playing a huge role in my interviews. With Kate’s help on 3 Complete Start to Finish packages and some hourly help on a fourth, I went 4/4 with acceptances to HBS, Wharton, Kellogg (with $120K scholarship), and Tuck. Every interaction I had with Kate was positive–always on time, met deadlines, and provided incredibly insightful feedback. The nuance and introspection we were able to pepper throughout my essays was nothing short of spectacular and I went into each interview feeling prepared and confident after all of my practice with Kate. Kate was a joy to work with. I trust her immensely and can’t say enough how much her guidance has meant to me throughout this process. I truly do not think I would have had the success that I did without Kate!

I had the pleasure of working with Heidi Granner in the summer and fall of 2020. The process of applying was daunting, but Heidi made the process seamless and enjoyable! I was matched with Heidi early on and was immediately impressed by her credentials and knowledge. After the initial consultation, I did not initiate the application process for several months after our initial consultation however, Heidi was immediately responsive and eager to work with me during a seemingly busy time.

Heidi was an insightful, proactive, and professional consultant. Her admissions knowledge led me to discover the right target schools given my professional background, test scores (lower), and career goals. Originally, I thought my “dream” schools were X, Y & Z, but Heidi steered me in a direction that perfectly aligned with my career goals. I had a lower GMAT/GRE score than I had hoped for, but Heidi helped me navigate these waters well. In the essay portions of the application, she provided honest and thorough feedback and certainly helped me to learn more about myself in the process.

Heidi provided the tools to maximize my chances of acceptance each step of the way. This expertise was invaluable and am forever thankful! With her guidance, I was accepted into a M7 MBA program and my dream school. I would 100% recommend Heidi as an MBA consultant and fortunate we had the opportunity to work with her. She is an amazing mentor and person.

Jessica was instrumental in forming my application. As an applicant with ZERO background in typical business industries and no one in my social or professional circles to turn to for advice I was in need of help.

Jessica started by helping me determine my competitiveness at my target school and helped me form a strategy that would maximize my chances of getting in. I ended up determined to go to this one school and put all my eggs in one basket.

Unsure of how to craft my essays to present myself in the best way, Jessica aided me in doing important introspection, thoroughly discussing how to use my professional path and experiences to present a cohesive and compelling story about myself and future goals. Even if I had not been admitted to my target school this step would have undoubtedly helped me progress in my career. Once I was fortunate enough to be selected for an interview, Jessica helped me prepare for some of the tough questions candidates usually receive but really knowing my story, because of her help, is really what prepares you for anything.

Going through this process with her was undoubtedly helped me gain admission to the ONE school I chose to apply to and I have no doubt will help me in the future when applying for jobs or interviewing.

Nisha was extremely professional and helpful throughout the MBA application – she gets my highest marks. I primarily used Nisha’s services in drafting my essays, revising my resume, and preparing for interviews. Without Nisha, I would not have been able to translate my engineering experience into terms and skills that the admissions committee could easily understand. With her help, I was admitted to my number one school destination! Thank you!

At first, I was hesitant to use an admissions consulting service, but after my first chat with Harold, I knew it was going to be worth it. Harold was genuinely invested in me, and wanted to give me the tools to succeed. He gave incredibly helpful insights into what admissions committees might be looking for – for instance, he provided me with lists of clubs and offerings that set certain programs apart so that I could incorporate them into my essays. Harold’s guidance on my essays made me feel all the more comfortable before I pressed “Submit” on my applications.

I would highly recommend Harold to anyone who is looking to bring their application from “good” to “great”. I was admitted to both HBS & Stanford GSB, and Harold was instrumental in helping me both prepare my application materials and rehearse for my interviews for these programs. I know that I could not have gotten to this point without Harold’s expertise.

I worked with Debbie on a two-school package and it was a great choice – I would highly recommend her to anyone! I ended up being accepted to HBS and could not have done it without her help. Debbie provided extremely helpful direction and careful revision for the essays that we worked on, and her ideas and structures translated to other schools’ essays as well, making the entire application process much more manageable. HBS was actually not one of the schools we worked on together, but Debbie was still happy to provide high-level guidance on how to structure my essay, which I deeply appreciated.

Debbie was always very responsive and happy to address specific questions on my essays as nitpicky as fine-tuning phrasing or grammatical issues. I came to Debbie with countless iterations of my essays and she worked with me to refine them until we were both satisfied. I also cannot stress enough how helpful Debbie was with the recommendation process, from selecting recommenders to helping them understand what skills and areas AdComs are typically looking for. Finally, when it came to interviews, Debbie’s advice was spot on. My interviewer actually called me after my acceptance to say that the AdCom was impressed with my answers, specifically in the areas that Debbie told me to focus on. Without her guidance, I would not have been nearly as well-prepared and confident going into my interviews!

More broadly, the MBAMission approach is extremely thorough and sets you up for success throughout the application process. The brainstorming document encourages you to deeply reflect on your experiences across all dimensions and consider how best to present yourself in your application. I ended up working with Debbie because we come from similar professional backgrounds, having both worked in finance and consulting, and also because of her considerate and thoughtful working style. I cannot recommend Debbie enough – she is awesome and will bring out the best in you!

To sum it up:
Rachel is very kind, peaceful, and patient. Yet, she is very honest, straightforward, and blunt. Basically, she is the perfect person to advise you.

The longer version:
Meeting Rachel made my application experience much smoother and thanks to her I got into my dream Ivy League school. The highlights of my admission process with Rachel:
1. Already over our first phone call, Rachel provided me with a lot of valuable information and a strategic plan.
2. Rachel assisted me with some unique insights based on her legendary experience – not only as a consultant but also as a journalist
3. The most amazing part – Rachel did give me the space for being myself and I feel like she assisted me with delivering who I am to the admission committee in the best way possible.
4. Very importantly – the communication with Rachel was FANTASTIC. For me, this was key for succeeding in the admission process.
5. Rachel is not a salesperson or money-oriented. It is very easy to feel that her intentions are pure and that the applicant’s best interest is in front of her eyes the whole time.

Highly highly recommended. If you want to maximize your chances to get into your dream school – do yourself a favor and work with Rachel.

Heidi is a fantastic consultant who helped me turned around my MBA application. I would recommend her to anyone who’s considering working with an application consultant. I am impressed with her level of professionalism, thoughtfulness, and dedication.

For background, I was a reapplicant at the time, after failing to be admitted into the top programs a year earlier. Although I had great GPAs and GMAT scores, I came from a nontraditional background and had difficulty branding myself. So, I was nervous going into the reapplication cycle.

Heidi first carefully reviewed my applications from the previous year and assured me that I had enough qualifications to be accepted into the programs that I applied to. Then she pointed out mistakes that I made and suggested changes to my application strategy to help rebrand myself. As we worked on my application, Heidi was extremely helpful in our brainstorming sessions and made many suggestions on things to highlight and avoid as a reapplicant. She also suggested a creative essay format for one school where the essay prompt is more open-ended. Lastly, Heidi always provided timely, detailed, and accurate feedback on my application essays.

I got into my dream school eventually with Heidi’s help and I couldn’t thank her enough for that!

To be brief and clear, if you receive an HBS interview, work with Devi. I am inclined to say that it is worth every penny, but it is definitely worth far more. With Devi’s masterful help, I entered my HBS interview prepared and confident, and ultimately was accepted. Prior to our first meeting, Devi read my application materials with care and asked probing questions that were remarkably similar and, in many cases, identical to ones that I received during the actual interview. Most important, she pushed me to “tell my story” in a way that was decipherable by those outside of my particular industry. Her feedback was clear and focused and at the end of each session, I had my homework marching orders to prepare for the next one. During the actual interview, I was comfortable and was able to strike a rapport with my interviewees with plenty of laughter, no “umms” (Devi is good at expelling those from your vocabulary), or awkward pauses. Walking out of the room, I was sure that I could have not performed any better. She does not sugar coat her feedback and is exactly the kind of person you want for this purpose. She attempts to be flexible with her time and knows how important this event is for you. I cannot recommend her more.

Let me start by saying that if I had not used a consultant, and specifically John Sisk, I would not be sitting in the fortunate position I am today with admittance to an M7 school. I worked with John throughout 2020 on a start to finish package for three M7 schools. I am confident that his support, knowledge, and experience are what put my profile over the top.

From the very first brainstorming session, I could immediately see the value John brought to the table. In our first 60 minute conversation, he was able to take my jumbled work/volunteer/leadership experience and my future goals and mold it into a cohesive story that we would ultimately grow into my story for all three applications. I gained the most value out of the multiple rounds of essay review. It was truly amazing to watch my stories in my essays become extremely polished and convey the real explanation of what I am trying to achieve through an MBA.

Lastly, John’s interview prep was also immensely useful, but maybe in a less traditional sense. I am coming from a sales/BusDev work background where I frequently interact with individuals outside my organization. Being able to have someone like John, who knows this process inside and out, tell me to not stress too much because he could recognize that I was prepared and conversationally ready, helped me stay calm and articulate in the real interview.

Every step of the way, John helped take my profile up a notch and I know that without his support, I would not be in the fortunate position I am today. Thanks again, John!

I worked closely with Julie to draft and edits my resume, essays, and other application materials for 3 part-time MBA programs. Julie was a terrific partner who delivered feedback quickly and helped me brainstorm new ideas when I was feeling stuck. I was accepted by all 3 of my target programs, and owe much of my success to Julie’s help. Thanks, Julie!

I worked with Michael using the complete Start-to-Finish package from mbaMission. He really helped in brainstorming all possible scenarios to create the best story for my essays. He was very knowledgeable about the whole application process and knew what I should highlight. I was thrilled with how my essays turned out. Also, Michael was always very prompt in answering queries related to the application. I credit Michael for me admit from Chicago Booth School of Business which was 1st in my list of schools. I definitely recommend him to get the best possible application.

Nisha and I got in touch through mbaMission. I had (2) weeks to put together a full application and Nisha helped review my essays and provide very tangible feedback in less than 24 hours. Knowing how short my timeline was, she wasted no time by working throughout the weekend, even on Sunday, to make sure I didn’t miss my deadline. Despite the quick turnaround, she did a great job helping bring out my stories and personality to the fullest to ensure that what I was trying to get across in the word limit came out. Without her quick turnaround times and great tangible feedback, I would not have been admitted into Kellogg. I highly recommend Nisha to anyone who needs help on their essays.

I had a fantastic experience with Kate! For me, there were 3 things that really stood out: her professionalism, her ability to take you from strategy through execution, and her genuine nature.

Professionalism: Practical, efficient, honest, prompt, straightforward. Really made an effort to understand my story and link back to it throughout the entire process. Offered balanced perspectives and took the time to walk through options.

Strategy through execution: Helped me think strategically / big picture, to create a cohesive application strategy. But as we progressed, she was able to really drill into details and help me position details and nuances in a way that really helped me stand out.

Genuine nature: Kate is really friendly and down-to-earth. She’s the type of person you’d look forward to interacting with through the stressful MBA application process.

Finally, I think the mbaMission business model is pretty compelling. You know exactly what you’re getting upfront… you don’t have a ‘middle man’ situation where someone is trying to ‘pair you’ or [worse yet] gauge how much money they could get out of you.

I’ve been accepted to my dream M7 and am so grateful to Kate for all her support!

I chose to work with Debbie Choy after she came highly recommended by an acquaintance. I had multiple concerns about applying to business school coming from a niche industry and with weaker EC activities. Debbie’s expertise was instrumental in helping me translate and leverage my experiences to tell a compelling story to admissions through my essays. Her knowledge of the schools also proved incredibly helpful, as she was able to help me lift out particular traits important to each program in my stories.

She is also a consummate professional – communicative, thorough, and organized. Through several rounds of multiple essays for 2 schools, she answered my many questions quickly and never failed to send edits back on time. This enabled me to complete my applications much quicker than originally expected.

Finally, applying to business school can be stressful and Debbie’s support and patience made all the difference in helping me feel confident and prepared. In particular, interviewing is not my strong suit and I was apprehensive about the interview. When I received my interview invitation at my top choice school, Debbie held a mock session with me. She gave me helpful tips that not only came in handy during my actual interview but provided a meaningful confidence boost that enabled me to tell my story successfully.

With Debbie’s help, I got into my top choice school – Columbia. She was a pleasure to work with, and I can’t imagine a better partner for the application process. I highly recommend working with her!

I met Nisha through the 30-min first consultation and I immediately realized she was great. Nisha is clear and helps you get your story and thoughts straight while making your story shine and keeping it your own. She has strong interpersonal skills, and that was a key factor in helping me choose the best ways to show my strengths, weaknesses and leadership skills. I had a tight schedule due to the close deadline of the final round, she was always efficient and thanks to her help, insights and clear feedback I was able to submit all 5 personal essays, job description essays and CV required for INSEAD in time and with the potential to stand out and be selected.

I talked to multiple firms/consultants during my research process for the FT MBA 2020-2021 admissions season. With other firms I was told that I did not have enough WE, no promotion, and that they wouldn’t take me on. I was feeling unconfident, but after my first consult with Debbie I totally changed my outlook. Debbie was always creative and encouraging, and really knew how to bring out the most unique aspects of my background to create a compelling story, and really helped sharpen my “why MBA” answer. I’m now headed to an M7!

Debbie was such a pleasure to work with throughout the entire process. She provided a very structured and seamless process for everything: school selection, resume edits, essay writing and brainstorm sessions. She provided candid feedback for mock interviews and really helped me work on my delivery. Turnaround time for edits was quick and punctual. Debbie really knew how to find connections between my personal background, extracurriculars and my professional accomplishments – connections I certainly would have struggled to see if I had gone through the admissions process on my own. I highly recommend Debbie and would work with her over and over again. A HUGE THANK YOU.

I was paired with Michael Guttman as an advisor for my mba application journey. He helped me from GMAT all the way to being accepted to my top program and everything in between. This process is crazy with deadline management while also working fulltime but Michael helped me stay on top of everything in terms of deadlines and made sure that I completed all my application tasks at an extremely high level. We broke down and re-worked my resume to such a degree that I was able to easily take pieces from our many iterations to complete my new school resume once I was admitted in less than an hour. My school’s resume counselor said that my resume was one of the best-written resumes she had ever seen on the first submission and I was able to immediately get into our school’s resume book, thereby getting a head start on recruiting. That was all because of Michael’s painstaking care when it came to helping me with my resume. Over multiple sessions, we brainstormed everything that could possibly go into my resume and then broken down all of those ideas into well-articulated, perfectly succinct bullets that I could easily plug into my resume depending on what my story was for each school. Ensuring I mastered my resume is just one example, Michael took an extreme level of care with every aspect of my application journey, including devising different personalized questions for each school I applied to and helping me prep for every interview. I can honestly say that the level of my applications was elevated well beyond what I would have been capable of without his assistance, but perhaps more importantly, his guidance gave me the confidence I needed to stick with the process and get into my dream school. If you are serious about putting your best foot forward in the MBA application process, then Michael is your best bet.

I worked with Krista during the 2019-2020 admission season via a 4 school package. First and foremost, I had not even considered applying to Haas (which I am attending) until Krista pointed out how good of a cultural fit I would be. Krista was absolutely invaluable throughout the entire process and went so far above and beyond in terms of keeping me on track and providing actionable, concise feedback. Krista will fill your inbox with a weekly list of to-dos and keep you on track. Her emails are sometimes intimidating, but it’s fantastic how much guidance she provides. She was always a friendly ear and an excellent conversationalist; I felt like her only client. I am also endlessly grateful to Krista for saving my candidacy by encouraging me to take the GRE instead of GMAT. I would use Krista again in a heartbeat; my only regret is that I didn’t take more advantage of her help.

I’m sitting in a different country, at my dream MBA school thanks to Rachel! Trying to get into a top MBA program is daunting! For someone that had never really gone through such an application process before, I didn’t even know where to begin. I was a non-traditional applicant with a low GPA.

I was worried about spending so much money on a consultant, but after working with Rachel on a 5 school program I can tell you that it was worth every penny. There was so much I didn’t know about applying to a top MBA program, and having Rachel there to guide me through the process was a lifesaver. From many essay rewrites to the multiple short answer questions, resume creation and interview preparation – Rachel was there to help me through it all. She did an amazing job on helping ensure my essays had the perfect “flow,” and hit all the key buzz words and topics the admissions committees would be looking for. Rachel was just as invested in this application process as I was and went above and beyond to help me out, especially throughout everything that went on with COVID.

From our kickoff call to starting at my MBA program, I worked with Rachel for a year and the entire process was fantastic. I can honestly say I probably wouldn’t be in the MBA program I am without Rachel’s guidance. When I was choosing an MBA consultant I was worried about making such a big financial commitment, but believe me hiring Rachel is definitely worth it!

Michael was a fantastic consultant all around. Right from the start, I could tell Michael was experienced and understood all facets of the business school application process. It felt like I gained an ally, who was responsible for keeping me focused, and who could help weigh in on the difficult decisions that can arise during the application process (which aspects of my resume and past experience to emphasize, what my GMAT score implied, how to best construct an explanation of my future plans).

While all of the above was important, the thing that really stood out about Michael was his commitment. I had a bit of a unique experience, where I needed to get my application turned around quickly to try and meet this year’s deadline. Michael made himself available throughout the process, providing feedback on my essays and helping me to work through all the details. I will always remember that level of commitment from Michael, and can’t imagine what I would have done had he not been available. I am pleased to report that after submitting the application, I was accepted to my first-choice school. I would whole-heartedly recommend MBA Mission, and specifically Michael, to any prospective students looking to take their business school applications to the next level.

I chose Debbie Choy after I talked with a couple of MBA consultants. As a result, I am so glad I made this decision. She is a great mentor. I cannot imagine that I could get my dream school offer without her help.

Debbie is very professional and provides structured services. In the beginning, she helped me set up a clear strategy and timeline, making sure I could finish every milestone on time. Every time, she could deliver her feedback on my applicant materials without delay.

Debbie is considerate and familiar with the financial industry and any concern of international applicants. My background is very non-traditional and did not work in a big name, but Debbie could discover my sparkle points to show on essays. I believe that those unusual points helped me a lot to get the offer.

I highly recommend Debbie, especially for those international applicants with financial backgrounds.

As someone completely new to applying to Business school, I was relieved to be able to lean on Michael for his expertise. Even though I had a subpar undergraduate GPA, he helped me craft an incredibly effective story to maximize my chances at my target programs. He was amazing at listening to me throughout the entire process and didn’t sugarcoat anything, which I appreciated. In the end, he came through in the biggest way. I was admitted to 4 out of 5 programs that I applied to. He always went above and beyond to help me and I would highly recommend his services!

Katharine was so incredibly helpful as I approached the MBA process in figuring out how to tell my story and position my candidacy. Her thoughtful and honest feedback was extremely constructive, especially regarding how to address past challenges in my application, and her encouragement was critical for me as I figured out where I could apply under tight deadlines that might be a good fit. Would strongly recommend her help!

I am an international applicant. I am also a re-applicant to business school. I had known Katharine Lewis (Katy) for two years before starting our engagement. The first time I applied to business school, I applied on my own and I did not receive a favorable response. The next time around, I knew that I needed an expert by my side to guide me through the process. So, I engaged with MBA mission, knowing that I specifically wanted to work with Katy. I registered for the following services: the Ding Review and the Complete Start-to-Finish package.

As for the Ding Review, Katy saw things in my application I had never really paid much attention to. She went above and beyond to study my previous application to examine potential issues and errors. Afterwards, we had an extensive conversation where she pointed out to me some areas that needed improvement in my application, namely some parts of the essays and the recommender selection. Given that I come from both a startup and nonprofit background, it was very important how these applications were executed and how my story was portrayed to admissions. Katy helped me do just that!

After the Ding Review, I knew the areas that needed to be addressed. From there, the process and my engagement with Katy was just as seamless. She shared the Brainstorming Document, which would serve as a valuable resource for writing the essays, working with recommenders, and ultimately preparing for the interview. It was upfront leg work that would pay off down the line. Once I shared this document with Katy, we had an incredible introductory call where we fleshed out the main stories and themes in my application. This session was critical to laying the foundation for my essays, and it will be equally important for everyone else.

From there, working on the essays and the rest of the application was seamless. Katy has an eye for detail that I have not seen in anyone. She is also extremely creative and knows exactly where each piece of information belongs. The whole essay, resume, and application iteration was seamless, with many rounds of edits. Every time Katy sent back a document to me I knew that there was significant value added to my application!

After many revisions, the application was ready for submission. About 1 month later, I was invited for an interview. For the interview, Katy shared incredible preparation material – material general to MBA interviews, but also those specific to CBS. We had a mock session where Katy covered all the different types of questions that could come up in the interview. Having passed the interview with Katy, I knew I was ready to walk into my interview.

I received the offer from CBS and I truly have to thank Katy for this. She is the best MBA consultant out there!

I would also like to speak personally about Katy. Katy is an absolutely wonderful person. She is loving, caring, and will go above and beyond for her clients. I have been able to build a wonderful personal bond with her. If you are fortunate enough to work with her, you should feel very, very lucky because you will be in extremely good hands.

As an HBS 2+2 applicant, I knew that every little thing could make the difference between being accepted and rejected. I contacted Katharine after doing thorough research on basically every consultant available. I probably did 15-20 free consultations with different firms and consultants before deciding to go with her. Already in our first call, she showed that her knowledge about what HBS is actually looking for is remarkable. During the process, she helped me craft my application to make sure I really stood out – and that I didn’t just look like the usual male/econ undergrad/incoming consultant.

I can confidently say I think Katharine made the difference for me – and I would recommend her to anyone who wants to increase their odds of admittance to a top school!

When I started my process of looking for MBA consultants, I was pointed in the direction of Jessica Shklar at MBA mission.
A friend of mine said that he tried to get on her list, but she was already booked up during the previous application cycle. With that in mind – I hopped on her list very early. I was skeptical at first, but from our first phone call, I realized why Jessica was in such high demand. Her ability to help me open up and reflect on my own experiences to not only create the most comprehensive application but also help me to understand my worth as a professional was something I never knew I needed until I worked with her.

Jessica is incredibly knowledgeable about the application processes at all of the top MBA programs and one of the many benefits of working with her is the consultant/admissions network she brings to the table. Because of her experience in the industry, she can use her network to get the perspective of others when she doesn’t have the perfect answer (which is rare 😊).

In addition to her support in helping me reflect and articulate my thoughts in my application, Jessica also helped me turn around an A+ application in less than a month. Due to COVID-19, I decided to apply round 3 rather than Round 1 this fall. Jessica quickly helped me adjust my game plan, and although she doesn’t usually work with R3 applicants, she adjusted, and we got to work straight away without hesitation. I knew it was a stretch and a rushed process, but with Jessica’s guidance, I was able to pull it off and got into my top school.

Not only was Jessica helpful in guiding me through the process, but she was also able to help me manage my stress and keep me motivated to accomplish the task of finishing a polished application in the shortest time possible. I honestly wouldn’t have been able to get through this time without her.

Overall, Jessica is much more than a consultant – over the short time that we worked together, she became a friend, confidant, and source of support for me. Jessica also knows how to push you out of your comfort zone and gives incredibly thoughtful feedback when reviewing your work. If I had not worked with Jessica, to put it simply, I would have been lost without her given the short amount of time I had to turn a great application around.

If you can get on her shortlist – do it. You will take much more than an acceptance to your dream school away from the experience. Thank you, Jessica.

Heidi is extremely knowledgeable of the MBA process and is a really great partner to work with. She provides excellent feedback and really helps you dig deep and think critically throughout the application process.

As a younger applicant and coming from an overrepresented background, I knew I needed to distinguish myself from the rest of the qualified applicant pool if I wanted to get a coveted spot at any of the M7 schools. Safe to say, Heidi was great at providing excellent guidance in helping me craft a story that would help me stand out.

Heidi is very responsive and her turnaround was very prompt – something I really valued as I was applying on a tight timeline. I can honestly say she was critical in helping me meet deadlines and get quality applications submitted within a quick timeframe. She was really good in helping me highlight my accomplishments and organize my thoughts in a concise manner. Working with Heidi allowed me to feel confident about my application and through the process I felt she genuinely cared about helping me get accepted by my top choice.

In the end, I was accepted by the two M7 schools I applied to and I couldn’t be happier. I cannot recommend Heidi enough to future applicants!

I had an initial phone consultation with Jen and felt her energy and enthusiasm from the start. Jen was fantastic throughout my entire application process. She was extremely detailed in understanding my background and how to best craft my story for my essays. Jen is very personable and is very honest when it comes to feedback. I don’t think I would have been as successful had it not been for her expertise. I would highly recommend working with Jen

Katy was an incredible consultant and mentor throughout the entire process, from the initial consultation to navigating the waitlist process through the summer. I was ecstatic to get off the waitlist for Stanford GSB – my top choice – with Katy’s help, and couldn’t have done it without her! When I was waitlisted, Katy immediately helped me come up with a plan to stay engaged with schools throughout the summer, regularly and proactively checked in with me to see how things were going, reviewed all of my update posts, and gave me invaluable insights and motivation to stay committed to the process. The waitlist process can be nerve-wracking and confusing to navigate at times, and Katy’s endless support and encouragement made a world of difference in helping me ultimately get accepted. Katy is the best and I truly can’t recommend her enough.

Working with Jen Kedrowski was truly a gift and likely the best investment I made for myself to gain admittance to my top choice, CBS.

About me: R3 extended applicant, above-average GPA from a mid-tier undergrad program, untraditional background, employment gaps, strong EA. We completed 3 applications in about 1 month. Jen completely helped me to revisit and revise, taking my applications from decent to a top 10 admittance.

At the core of her is a ridiculous breadth of knowledge on how to best advocate for yourself and showcase your core truths, and thus, your most compelling MBA application. Her ‘make-it-happen’ mentality is peppered in with the perfect amount of urgency and confidence-boosting kindness. During brainstorming, she got to know me well beyond my resume (I even joked saying she would make a great life coach!) and pushed me to dig deep to get to know myself. Jen spent ample time delving into my stories and strengths. I was impressed when Jen would reference stories, I brought up in the first brainstorming session, weeks later!

Jen’s strength is in story crafting, application strategy, and resume editing, which felt like the most daunting part to make everything cohesive. She was always super responsive and thorough, frequently responding into the early hours of the night and on weekends. I think I gave Jen over 15 pages of my scrapped essay material before I started with her. She went through everything meticulously and pulled material across essays, where I didn’t even think of. We cranked through 25+ essay drafts in a few weeks. Bonus – Jen’s years of experience at Kaplan were also helpful for GMAT/EA questions and strategy.

It was easy to lose steam through the application process. Jen kept me going at a strong pace to get through 3 big applications. I loved how sincerely uplifting, yet realistic Jen was; Her positive energy was always refreshing.

My biggest regret is sitting on the decision of whether or not to hire a consultant, wasting precious time spinning my wheels and writing countless essay drafts. If you are already in the headspace to hire a consultant, I can say with confidence that Jen is top-notch and worth the investment. THANK YOU, JEN!