mbaMission | MBA Admissions Consultants

I had the pleasure of working with Devi for Round 1 of HBS application process during the interview stage. I cannot recommend her highly enough. She is all things you could want in a consultant: extremely knowledgeable about HBS and its process (which leads to really interesting insights), gives very thoughtful feedback that you can actually work on to improve your chances, and is honest and friendly.
Devi’s interview coaching was fantastic. We set up two sessions which mimicked the real life HBS interview. Devi does her homework: she fully researches and analyzes your entire application beforehand, coming up with tailored and specific questions to interview you with, similar to how an actual HBS interview would. Devi has the benefit of being a former HBS interviewer herself and applies the same dedication and prep to the mock interview. After the interview, Devi gave really valuable feedback on everything from style, to other questions they could ask me, to the actual answers and structuring of the answers. Because her advice was really tangible, I could actually use it, improving myself and my chances by the second mock interview. And by the second mock interview, I definitely noticed a significant improvement thanks to Devi’s advice and feedback.
Another great point about Devi – beyond her knowledge, her dedication to mirroring the actual interview, her sharp and practical feedback – is that she is truly committed to making you as confident and comfortable in the process as you can be. She never capped our time because she wanted to ensure I got all my questions answered. Beyond the mock interviews, she was always prompt on email should I think of a question offline.
When it came to my actual HBS interview, I felt it was more similar to my mock interviews with Devi than my primary consultant. In fact, one question in particular she told me to watch for actually popped up in the interview! Moreover, her coaching on ‘how’ to answer a question was particularly helpful.
I can’t recommend Devi highly enough – if you want to seriously see a significant improvement before your HBS interview and want someone who knows the process inside out to coach you, definitely go with Devi.

I worked with Krista on five applications (all round 1) during the 2018-19 cycle, and was admitted to my top choice program. I started working with her fairly early in the year (March/April), which helped get school selection, visits, and resume writing done well ahead of deadlines. This helped me focus on essays alone in August and September, and finish all my applications on time without any last-minute scrambling.

Krista’s experience with the admissions process and her passion for working with clients truly came across at every stage of the process. She was incredibly responsive through the process, from turning around drafts to answering minor questions about application form details, and she usually was ahead of the promised two-day turnaround as well.

Krista helped me in three key aspects on my essays:

1. All my work experience was at a boutique consulting firm where the work is complex and difficult to explain to a layperson. As a result, my initial drafts contained a lot of detail that was not necessary for the admissions committee. Krista helped me trim this down to the essential points only, leading to a much tighter story and providing additional room to bring out other facets in my essays.

2. She helped my own story and personality come through in my essays – when my drafts lacked specificity, she helped me brainstorm original ideas to pull in, rather than shoehorn me into anything boilerplate. Some of my friends who have worked with other consultants had a bad experience on this front, where they were simply told to say certain things instead of getting support to find the ideas they believed in.

3. Lastly, going into the application process, I was a little concerned about two weak spots in my profile – some past academic issues and being on the lower end of the work experience spectrum. While I knew I would have to address these in my essays, my writing wasn’t effective in discussing any emotions or feelings in those situations. Through several discussions and rounds of editing, Krista really helped take craft portions of my essays to a more compelling story.

After application submission, I prepared for video essays and interviews with Krista as well. Aside from fine tuning the content of my responses, Krista noticed certain certain behaviors/ response patterns that I consistently fell into while answering interview questions. With her advice, I was able to avoid these during application interviews (and also improve my overall interviewing skills for recruiting in business school and beyond).

I’m thrilled to be attending my dream program soon and I’m very grateful to Krista for all her help and support through the process – I’ve already recommended her to some of my friends and would do so unhesitatingly to any other applicants!

I worked with Kate on for guidance and brainstorming on several essays for top MBA programs, and she provided great feedback throughout the process. I especially appreciated that she brought some different perspectives and frames to think about how to present my story and background. She was great to work with on a personal level, and I would recommend her to anyone considering applying!

With a somewhat scattered career trajectory, I needed someone very skilled in helping me draw out compelling career and personal narratives (the essays), and present myself in a beautiful package (the whole application). John’s previous reviews share a theme of exceptional storytelling, and he did exactly that with me. It was nice to have John as a partner who cared about the results. I was admitted to Columbia Business School!

Researching Consultants: Quantitative measures aside, the key to a successful MBA application is undoubtedly compelling career and personal narratives, which are also by far the most challenging. As I read detailed reviews of consultants, their key strengths became apparent. John’s previous reviews share a consistent theme of him helping applicants put together compelling applications and stories (he does have a journalism background after all).

Working with John: I went with the hourly package. As I think back on the application process, there were several things John did that maximized the efficiency and results:

1. With hourly services, John is very efficient with time, but most importantly, the feedback that he sends back is direct and actionable. This allowed me to make drastic improvements to my essays between each iteration. The final product was an essay that read so smooth and conveyed so, so much in 500 words.
2. John clarified how I should tackle each essay, which was so helpful given the prompts are vague and cut out the many extra drafts I would have had to do.
3. I found it super helpful to have a call with John, especially when I hit writer’s block, to bounce ideas off of him. These sessions were extremely productive in moving things along rather than spending days stuck on something.
4. Lastly, I will say that the road of an MBA application is a lonely one. John was a partner who cared about the success of my application, and his professional and calm demeanor kept me going and focused.

Result: Acceptance to Columbia Business School!

I was referred to Jeremy by my GMAT tutor as well as by multiple friends and relatives who had great success with Jeremy and were admitted to T5 MBA programs. The common theme when speaking to every single referral was that Jeremy is a magician and each individual credited Jeremy’s inquisitiveness, work ethic, honesty, and patience as a major reason why they were admitted to their respective programs. I must admit that hearing those recommendations set the bar high, but I was not disappointed! Jeremy was extremely understanding and hit the ground running since we only had 4 weeks before the application deadline. Jeremy was able to help me tell my story in a way that not only got me admitted to my top choice, but in a way that made me feel proud of my previous accomplishments and excited for my future. When my apps were submitted, Jeremy continued to push the process forward, prepping me for my interview and being a sounding board for my anxiety throughout the wait for acceptance at my T5 choice. I unequivocally recommend working with Jeremy! If you are willing to work as hard as Jeremy does, you will be admitted to your dream school as well!

A Lifetime of Difference:

As Jeremy Shinewald’s first client, I now have many years to look back on his impact on me. I applied to several schools on my own, some of which were unranked, and failed to get in. I really just did not have the proper guidance to apply appropriately. When I brought my applications to Jeremy, he pointed out missed opportunities in various places. I was showing a narrow view of who I was and my skill set. Upon discussing it with Jeremy, I changed my approach and started over with him. I applied to only one school with Jeremy and he worked with me through a long waitlist process. In the end, I was the last person admitted to Chicago GSB that year (before it was Chicago Booth). After Chicago, the doors opened at a top i-bank and then I entered the world of hedge funds. I consider myself very lucky to have had this outcome. Needless to say, it would not have been possible without Jeremy who was the creative “well” I needed and the supportive coach and friend that made a stressful process far more fun. I have since recommended him to many friends, including trusting him with a very close friend who got into several top European schools and also continues to thrive. I can’t say enough…

I was introduced to Jeremy through an acquaintance who used him for MBA applications. My daughter needed assistance with her college application essays and I asked if Jeremy would work with her. He was upfront in stating that he was an MBA admissions expert and that college application essays were not his area of specialization. However, my daughter was immediately comfortable working with Jeremy and asked if he would provide advice to her. Jeremy agreed to take this and was a valuable resource for her as well as a source of confidence. The experience of working with Jeremy was very positive for her and the outcome was successful.

Nisha was everything I needed and more. She was so thorough, contentious of my time, money, and needs, and supportive the whole time. I was under a lot of pressure at work and felt really limited with my time in the application process and Nisha worked with all of my challenges. She was really good at helping me schedule and make deadlines for myself and keeping me accountable. Nisha helped me from A to Z with defining my “why” and forming my story in a genuine way that would resonate with others to guiding me through the waitlist process. She was so strategic with what information I should share and when – I would not have been able to do that part on my own. She was also so enthusiastic about my prospects and truly wanted the best for me. She was honest about my application and helped me gain perspective when needed. Nisha was so clutch in preparing for my interviews – I didn’t think I was as rough as I was, and she was able to help me refine my skills and answers to typical questions. MBAmission has tons of resources to use and she was able to leverage them for me. I can’t thank her enough, especially since I ended up waitlisted (and thankfully accepted) to my top choice and had more work left to do. I was so frustrated and she was really there for me and helped me through it. I am so thankfully for her guidance and working through everything with me. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Nisha!

I signed up for the Complete Start-to-Finish package with mbaMission and Kate Richardson was my assigned consultant. Kate supported me in applying to two schools (both Top 20) and I was thrilled to have received an offer from one of them! Kate is a very passionate and caring consultant. She guided me through the admission process and was very responsive – which helped take a lot of pressure off the process. It all started with a brainstorming sheet, which enabled Kate to understand my background and my career aspirations. She was very thoughtful and always gave me advice based on the points I wrote in the brainstorming sheet, which greatly helped me in crafting my unique “why MBA” story. I would definitely recommend Kate to anyone applying to a top MBA program!

I applied to HBS twice. The first time I didn’t use Jeremy and the second time I did. Needless to say, Jeremy was the key difference in my second application. Jeremy was very focused on letting the real me shine through my application. He did not focus on perfecting my story but rather a true genuine telling of who I am and what motivates me. Jeremy was extremely approachable. I was comfortable asking him absolutely any question. His answers were to the point and clearly from a perspective of experience. In my first application, I utilized the services of the HBS guru. He was difficult to work with and ultimately pushed me to write an application that in no way reflected my character. As mentioned, Jeremy is very focused on highlighting your authentic self – this is what HBS is looking for. Jeremy also provided a mock interview that was very helpful. I did not have to over prepare for the interview because again, Jeremy had me focus on authenticity. What’s easier than being yourself? I have Jeremy to thank my admission to HBS.

John Sisk is an outstanding MBA admissions consultant and a pleasure to work with. He really knows what he is talking about regarding each facet of the application process. From start to finish, John was highly professional, easy to talk to, and driven to help me succeed as an MBA applicant. Regarding essays, I could not have been prouder of the final drafts I produced under John’s guidance. John has such a great understanding of how to write in a clear, compelling manner, he was able to really bring out the best in me as a writer, and help me frame my story using parts of my background I would not have initially thought to use. Regarding application strategy, recommendations, short answers, resume, and any questions that came to mind about the admissions process, John also provided expert advice and insight. John’s calm, supportive style also significantly increased my confidence throughout the process. This was invaluable when it came time for interview preparation. John not only anticipated the exact kinds of questions my interviewers ended up asking, but also was able to get me in the right frame of mind going into the interview: to approach the process with an enthusiastic and positive attitude, which I think really came through in terms of making a great impression on my interviewers. This showed in the results. In the end, I got into my dream MBA program: Columbia Business School. I could not have done this without John’s guidance, and I highly recommend him to anyone who wants to gain admission to a top MBA program.

Nisha helped guide my application journey from start to finish. With her help I was able to leverage my personal story and get into my target school. What I loved about working with her is how she pushed me to dive deep into my ‘why’ behind pursuing an MBA. She helped me communicate my purpose to the adcom in a way that was efficient and descriptive. Nisha is extremely thorough. I noticed this during our introductory consultation call. Her eye for detail was present throughout the entire process. She always had a great attitude, which was refreshing since applying to B-school can be draining at times. mbaMission also has a bunch of great resources, like their guides. I HIGHLY recommend Nisha to anyone who is serious about applying to business school. I didn’t realize how badly I needed her help until I started working with her. The monetary price I paid pales in comparison to what she provided. Thank you Nisha!!!

I was in the process of making a difficult decision: I had practiced law for 6 years but knew this wasn’t my path. I wanted to refocus my career and basically start fresh, but I didn’t really know how to start the journey and in which direction I should go. Thankfully a friend pointed me to Jeremy Shinewald who was my guide on this journey. He counseled me on which schools I should be applying to. He helped me craft my story and he gave me the advice and direction I needed. I found his rates competitive with other consultants, but more importantly I felt that I was getting good value. Here was an expert who was available for me, fought for me and brought out the best in me. Jeremy Shinewald was worth every penny.

I worked with John on 2 applications. He was highly recommended by a friend and I quickly discovered why. John didn’t waste any time — After I filled out an extensive questionnaire, we instantly got on a call to brainstorm potential ideas for my essays and craft a cohesive, compelling “story” for me. I instantly felt comfortable opening up to John about my life because he’s so approachable and empathetic. I felt like I had a clear game plan after my first call with him, and that feeling was a trend throughout working with John — I always felt like I was in good hands and had a clear, actionable game plan to achieve my goals and get into a top school. John also got back to me very quickly on essay edits, and his edits were phenomenal. I particularly appreciated how he enhanced my essay while preserving my own personal voice. John also helped me greatly with interview prep. He had great feedback during our mock interviews and made me feel confident and well-prepared. I was asked a lot of the questions he prepped me for! I ended up on the wait list at Kellogg, and John helped me navigate that awkward and confusing time — he kept my spirits high and told me what I should do next, and soon after I was admitted!! He was truly a sounding board through the entire process, continued to support me with pep talks and an overall comforting presence, and was such an asset with all application and interview prep!! I highly recommend John!!!

I came to Jessica as a re-applicant and having been through the process before, I was somewhat skeptical that I needed too much more guidance other than cleaning up my story and re-purposing my prior materials. However, it became very clear from our first interaction that she could help me do so much more. During our brainstorming session, she helped bring out both professional and personal experiences that I hadn’t even considered talking about before. What I appreciated most about working with her was her uncommon ability to force me to form a story myself even as she helped me talk through several anecdotes, acting as a guide while allowing me to make my essays and overall application truly personal – this also speaks to her incredible patience. While she is a very nice person, she didn’t let this keep her from being a tough critic of my writing, and she pushed me to go through several drafts of all of my essays, without going overboard and being too picky over minute details. While she certainly helped edit my essays, she generally stayed hands-off when it came to the content, again allowing me to make the story truly mine. Her help was especially important given my background as a relatively traditional applicant coming from finance applying to the top 3 MBA programs, of which I got into one. I truly believe she helped make a difference in presenting myself in the most effective, yet honest way and would recommend her to anyone.

I am in the unique position of having had the chance to work with Heidi twice on MBA applications (once for full time programs and once for part time programs). Prior to working with Heidi, I had elected to work with a “budget” (but still not cheap) service that did not provide the high level of service I would have expected.

While applying to full time programs a few years ago, I worked with Heidi on an entire three school package and added two additional schools via hourly services. Heidi provided good constructive criticism throughout the process. She was quick to provide responses, positive, and extremely knowledgeable. Over the course of working with Heidi, my essays evolved immensely, creating a cohesive and compelling story. Without Heidi’s guidance, I would have never been as successful in my application process as I was (I was invited to interview at all five schools I applied to, interviewed and was accepted at one, and decided to cancel the remaining interviews). Unfortunately, due to work circumstances I decided not to enroll in a full time program.

Thus, a few years later when I decided to apply to part time programs I did my best to track Heidi down in order to build upon our past experiences and work with her again. Once again, she was prompt and provided good criticism while helping me quickly and efficiently craft new applications from my old and some new material. With her help I was admitted to both programs I applied to.

Overall, Heidi challenged me throughout the process and not only helped my applications evolve but helped me become better as well. Without her assistance, I would have never been able to develop the well-rounded applications I ended up submitting.

Let me begin this by stating that before I decided to work with Krista as my consultant, I held free consultations with a handful of other consultants/companies. I knew the application process would be long and grueling, and so I looked at it as a learning experience and a chance to grow. I really did my research to ensure I’d pick the right consultant: I wanted a consultant who would challenge me to be the best version of myself – thereby putting me in the best position to get accepted into a top business school – and who at the same time I would actually enjoy working with.

I decided to go with Krista because I felt that she would do both. And I was right.

Krista guided me through the long journey – always there to answer difficult questions (or even the most basic ones), motivate me, and provide mental support – and she really challenged me to think hard about my story and to continually improve my work – whether it was my resume, essays or interview answers. I applied to eight schools – the first four with Krista and the last four on my own – and once I worked on those first few schools with Krista, I had a great feel for the entire process and was able to do very well on the last four by myself.

Ok, so what made Krista so amazing?

1. Krista’s advice on school selection was excellent. We slightly altered my school choices based on things that came up throughout the process. In fact, I wasn’t even planning on applying to the school that I’ll be attending this Fall until Krista suggested that I apply; she knew that it was a great option based on my career goals and that I would like the school’s culture. I ended up choosing it over another school that she helped me get into that I had originally considered my top choice. I probably would not have considered the school I chose to attend had Krista not been there to offer her guidance!

2. Krista really knew which aspects of my story should be highlighted so that they would shine in front of the admissions committees. While it’s not always obvious at first, everyone has a story, or something that makes them unique – and Krista knows exactly how to pinpoint it and then come up with a plan for creatively showing this to the adcom.

3. Krista was a pleasure to work with! I knew that I was progressing every time I received her input – whether it was edits to an essay or feedback during a mock interview. But it’s not just about the results – it’s about how you get there. It was Krista’s wonderful presence that made me truly enjoy working on my applications. I would be at work and when I saw her emails come through, I’d stop everything to read her feedback – because I knew it would be enjoyable to read. And I loved chatting on the phone with her – she brought energy and enthusiasm every time we spoke.

Krista was truly invested in my success, something that motivated me to always work harder and come back stronger.

Another thing that I appreciated while working with Krista is that she never told me that I had to do something – she only gave me her advice, and left it to me to decide the best route having been told what the possible outcomes or consequences might be. Krista has worked with tons of applicants and knows the ins and outs of the process, so whatever advice she gave me I knew it was coming from years of experience.

I think the most valuable takeaway from working with Krista, however, is that not only did her expertise and guidance help me to get into top business schools, but it prepared me for business school itself and I’ll carry what I learned from her with me throughout my career. I learned how to craft my story in a convincing way and really understand which of my accomplishments to highlight in what situation, and to present myself the best way possible.

This is a valuable skill that I’ll use on resumes, cover letters, and job interviews for the rest of my career.

If I were to do it all over again, I wouldn’t think twice about who I’d choose to guide me through the process – without a doubt, it’s Krista Nannery.

I worked with Kate Richardson from mbaMission for my applications. I knew a lot of people who graduated from different MBA schools, felt that I needed a person who is in the know, day to day, and could alleviate some of the stress.

I don’t want to say the MBA application process wasn’t stressful but the mbaMission team and Kate made it as easy going as possible, almost enjoyable.

My process was slightly unconventional, I had left my full time job and have been working on my own consulting gig. Kate helped me position that best for all the applications.

When it came to answering questions, Kate was extremely responsive, and thoughtful. She responded to my emails in a few hours at most, and most of the time followed up with more research afterwards.

I also had a long waitlist period, during which Kate cheered for me, always provided me with tips on how to move forward. She would keep me up to date, tell me what she have heard from ot her schools / places.

And on a personal note, I felt comfortable with Kate; she was very personable, clearly enjoyed the coaching process, and took time to connect on a personal level.

In the end, I got into one of my dream schools and Kate helped me a lot during that too. I can’t recommend working with her enough.

I recently worked with Katy on my HBS 2+2 application. I approached Katy with a rough draft of my personal statement about a month and a half prior to the application deadline. Katy was extremely helpful in her ability to brainstorm the ideas I was trying to get across and suggest ways to better articulate the themes. I was especially impressed with how she did not work from a template, but rather devoted time to understand my story and express it on paper. With her guidance, my unorganized amalgamation of thoughts came together as a genuine and expressive essay.

As a college senior who did not have recommenders that were familiar with the business school process, I relied on Katy to help me optimize the impact of my recommendations. Katy advised me on how to provide my recommenders with insightful information about the message I was trying to get across. I am confident that my recommenders would not have been able to speak as well to who I am had I not worked with Katy.

In the end, I was thrilled to get into HBS. Katy went above and beyond to always respond quickly and thoughtfully to my many, many questions. This responsiveness, in addition to Katy’s strong ability to understand the college experience and relate it to business school language, makes me wholeheartedly recommend her to students applying to 2+2.

I was very happy with my result and know that much of it is due to Katy!

I worked with John Sisk on my applications to Haas part-time weekend, Booth part-time weekend, Anderson FEMBA and McCombs Weekend programs. I got responses and admits from both Haas and Booth so quickly that I did not even submit to McCombs and am still a month away from Anderson’s decision date.

I initially had a low GMAT score so I knew I needed to submit a stellar application to be considered by the top schools. John helped me with everything, my essays, resume, recommendation letters and interview preparation. I was worried about my choice of recommenders and low undergraduate GPA (I had a good graduate GPA), but John calmly cleared all my doubts and put me at ease. With his help, I was able to explain the recommendation process to my recommenders and obtain good recommendations. Because I had John’s help for everything related to the application, I was able to concentrate on GMAT prep, retake it and get a high enough score to set me up for success with all top programs. I would recommend John in a heart beat. He was always positive throughout my application process and was more confident in my abilities than I was which in turn helped me make a good impression on my interviewers. He knows the entire process inside out and I could not have done this without his help. I am very happy with how things have turned out for me but I am also a bit sad that I will not have the pleasure of working with John again since he’s become such a good friend in this process.

I got admitted to a top 5 MBA program after applying in round 2. And I couldn’t have done it without John. I started working with John late in the application process. John has so much experience on personal statements and knows what each school looks for and guided me to the right direction for each application. I was not confident about my essays at first, but after many times of discussion and editing rounds with John, I felt confident and was ready to submit my application. Given that I also have a demanding job, John really took a lot of pressure of my shoulders. He was also extremely supportive for any creative ideas. John is very easy to work with. I highly recommend him as an MBA consultant!

Kate really helped me organize my thoughts and bring out the most out of my profile. I really enjoyed working with her and she even went above and beyond to expedite essay draft turnaround times when the deadlines were tight. I knew from the beginning that my work experience was going to hold me back despite decent academics and a good test score. She really opened my eyes to how to explain my accomplishments to the best of my ability, which will carry me far – even beyond the MBA program that she helped me get into! I highly recommend Kate to anyone who wants to apply to any top 20 MBA program, especially if you have to put together 5 or more applications in a two month span facing a time crunch.

I signed up to work with Melissa for round 2 applications for a 5 school package with the intention of applying to 8 schools. Melissa was amazing throughout the entire process.

At first, as I was pretty clueless of the process, I quickly became overwhelmed. Melissa was always available to walk me thought the unknown and help me organize my thoughts. She advised me on which 5 schools out of the 8 she thought would be best for me to include in my package. We initially started with the background questionnaire that helped me explore every area, accomplishment and goal that would be relevant for my application.

During the essay writing process, Melissa helped me select the best experiences to use for my essays and guided me to tell these stories effectively. She was always ahead of time returning her revisions, which I truly appreciated especially during the holidays. Thanks to her dedication and quick turnaround, I was able to get through all the schools I was applying to before the deadlines.

Melissa went above and beyond to ensure I was presenting the best work. One of my essays subject was a little on the controversial side and I wanted to ensure my tone was not angry. I asked her if she thought it sounded angry. She mentioned it was difficult for her to interpret what I had written as angry because she knew me too well by then and could not read the essay impartially. She then reached out to a colleague and had her read the essay to get another person’s perspective.

Melissa was great prepping me for interviews. One of the people interviewing me even mentioned to me that I was the most prepared out of the 6 people he had already interviewed.

Melissa really was AMAZING! A true advocate. She is friendly and easy to talk to, but also honest, forthright and willing to give constructive criticism when necessary.

I started working with Nisha a bit late in the game – meaning I had already taken the GMAT twice, recruited my references and I was only about 3 months out from application deadlines. I was aiming for 4 top 10 MBA programs and had high expectations. Nisha hit the ground running with me for resume and essay reviews and edits. Given that each school had their own 2-3 essay prompts, documents were flying back and forth between us daily. She really knew how to tailor each essay to the particular school and knew the inside scoop on each admission committee.

Nisha not only helped me have amazing essays, but she helped me stay true to myself so that my personal stories captured the admissions committees’ attention. She is a genius at getting word count down without cutting out meaning and creativity. Beyond the written work, Nisha was amazing at making me feel confident in my applications and helped me keep a level head when it was getting down to crunch time. Her calm, collected personality was the perfect compliment to mine as I was often stressed and seriously limited for time.

Nisha was incredibly dedicated to me with time as well. She always made sure to return edits to me no later than the next day, often in the same day. She worked over the holidays with me and even on weekends. It never felt like she was just “doing her job” it truly felt like she was doing anything and everything she could to help me succeed.

Once applications were submitted, Nisha helped me with interview prep, knowing not only the style of the interview but also knowing the exact questions they were going to ask. One killer resume, 10 impactful essays, and several interviews later, I just finished my first year of a full time MBA program at a top 10 program with many thanks to Nisha. I could not have done this without her!

Working with Jen on my MBA apps was an absolute pleasure. She came highly recommended, as she worked with my wife on her apps two years ago, and exceeded even those high expectations.

I had a solid GMAT score coming in, and was relatively confident in my ability as a writer, so I was very much on the fence about engaging with an MBA consultant. However, from the moment I had my 30 minute consultation with Jen, I was sold. I can confidently say, working with Jen was absolutely worth the fees (I credit working with her for a substantial scholarship I received from my top M7 choice, which paid for every penny of her fee many times over).

Jen began by talking through my MBA goals, and discussing the various schools on my list. I had a few ideas regarding potential essay topics, and she walked through the pros and cons of each, along with some suggestions for how to brainstorm my story.

Once I engaged with her (i.e. after the free consultation), she set up aggressive but achievable deadlines to ensure I got my apps submitted in time, and helped keep me on track throughout. Her encouragement was invaluable as I got through the (often quite emotionally involved) brainstorming process, and her critical eye helped me focus my thoughts into several cogent essays. Right up till the moment I hit submit, she helped me fine tune my apps, with the result I could rest easy after the apps flew out the door, knowing they were as good as they could possibly be.

I engaged with Jen in mid-November, and had my apps done before Christmas. After Christmas when I found out my interviews were happening, she went well above and beyond to help prep me for my interviews and put me on the path to success. Even after I got in, she stayed in touch, helping me source pre-MBA programs run by the top firms in the field I am interested in getting into.

Jen truly was a trusted friend to me throughout the MBA app process, using her experience to quell any stress I felt at any stage of the process. I very strongly recommend speaking with her if you have any interest at all in getting into a top MBA program.

My goal going into the application process was to be accepted into a top business school (M7). I spoke with several advisors before Katharine. Each advisor prior to Katharine told me I should shoot for either a part time program, or a school that was ranked outside of the top 10.

I chose to work with Katharine because she listened to my entire story, and believed that someone with my profile could get into one of my top choices. She had confidence in her ability to shape both the positive aspects and negative aspects of my story in order to achieve my goals. I was also drawn to Katharine because of her positivity and deep knowledge of all of the top MBA programs.
After working with Katharine for several months, we were able to surface pieces of my work experience, volunteer experience, and extracurriculars that represented who I am in the best light. She then helped guide me through each step of the application process. We worked together to decide what I should write about in each of my essays, prepare my recommenders, and fill out my applications. She did an incredible job weaving pieces of my background throughout my applications, and making sure I had a well-balanced story when I applied. Her strong knowledge of what each school was looking for enabled me to curate my story to match each school’s desired student profile. In the end, I was admitted to the M7 program of my choice.

I learned a lot about myself through the application process. The process allows you to dig deep and think about who you are and what you want to do later in life. Katharine helps guide you through that journey, and I think that is something very special about her that sets her apart from other advisors. Ultimately, she and I put together a story that was very genuine and represented exactly who I am and what my future goals were. I believe admissions really “got” me, that that’s why they admitted me. I’m certain that Katharine can bring that out in you as well.

I was very fortunate to get in touch with Krista Nannery at MBA Mission through a free 30-minute consultation. Immediately, I felt at ease because I felt like she understood where I was coming from – my background, what I wanted to achieve, and where I wanted to go with the MBA program. To be honest, I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to pursue my MBA when I first got in touch with Krista and the entire MBA admissions process seemed so daunting that I thought about waiting another year to apply. After listening to my story, however, Krista helped me formulate a clear picture of my goals and helped me prepare for the application process even though I was starting just two weeks before the R2 deadlines.

Krista became the biggest advocate and cheerleader throughout the process. Having started so late in the game, I worked on some of the essays just days before R2 deadlines and somehow Krista always turned them around within a business day. The feedback she provided was so instrumental in taking my essays to another level – she encouraged me to think creatively about my experiences and to convey them in a manner that delivers the strongest message to the admissions committee. She was very knowledgable on different programs and what each school was looking for, which helped me determine which aspects of my experiences or personality should be emphasized in each application to ensure it gets presented in the best light. Krista is also an amazing writer – she will be able to pinpoint areas to enhance in your essays in subtle but such effective ways, which is so important when writing admission essays with specific word count requirements.

Most importantly, Krista was so supportive and encouraging during the entire process; sometimes I felt like she believed in me more than I believed in myself. She gave me a ton of confidence and helped me stay true to myself during a process that can sometimes be overwhelming to navigate on your own. I really cannot thank her enough for guidance and I would highly recommend Krista to anyone looking to enhance their MBA candidacy. As for results, I was accepted to my top choice program with a significant scholarship and I owe it much to Krista’s help.

Thank you Krista and mbaMission!!!

I was extremely busy at my work during the admission season, and knew very little about admission process when the application deadline was only around 3 months away. So I chose to get Debbie Choy’s help. I summarized some most important insights from Debbie as below, which turned out to be very true and helped me to be very efficient during the process.
1. Recommendation of what schools or programs suit me best;
2. What the admission offices are looking for from applicants, and what makes the applicant different from others;
3. How to write essays that present yourself better;
4. Debbie controlled the application schedules very well. She always gave responses within the time as she promised, and would also check in me when I was a little behind on things that needed to be done;
5. Debbie also had a mock interview with me, which turned out to be very similar to what I experienced in real. It made me very prepared and confident during the inte rview.
Overall speaking, Debbie has a very clear, easy and sense-making process for you to follow in order to complete the admission process. I felt it was just a matter of time and process to get admitted by your dream school, as long as you follow her process. I strongly recommended you to use Debbie’s help if you would like to maximize your acceptance possibility, and make your process as easy as possible.

Harshad is a wonderful consultant for any kind of person. He is dedicated to drive out the greatest story from you and align your story with your strength in application. We talked for two hours during the kickoff session and framed up all essays, super efficiently. His excellent skills in essay editing will help you a lot in language especially if you are not a native speaker. He also helped me on my interview. He arranged a face to face mock interview since I am a local candidate. He pointed out my strengths and weaknesses in the mock and it greatly mitigated my risk to screw up real interview. I would highly recommend Harshad to anyone who is interested in any MBA programs.

To the reader, I’ve sat in your shoes and faced the uncertainty of whether or not I would get any benefit from an admissions consultant after committing a lot of money upfront. I had read the horror stories online and had friends with negative experiences. I did the 30 minute free consultations with a few firms to narrow down my selection. I promise that, if you choose Melissa, you’ll have a terrific experience. I worked with Melissa on a five school package and all five schools I applied to were M7 schools. In addition I was working on a very tight timeframe – we started working together in mid-November and I hadn’t taken the GMAT. Yet with Melissa’s encouragement, support and help I was able to submit all five applications and was admitted to three M7 schools including with a significant fellowship and scholarship. I’m delighted to be attending my dream business school in the fall and Melissa was the driving force behind that. I can’t recommend her highly enough.

This is why you should hire Melissa:
1) Dedication: Melissa is completely dedicated to her clients. Given I was applying to five top schools all in the second round, Melissa and I were working right up to the early January deadlines. She was sending me edits on drafts on 26th December, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. You can ignore mbaMission’s statement that consultants reply in two days and don’t email you on holidays – Melissa replies much faster than that and is very flexible if you have deadlines. She is always happy to have calls. We had everything from two hour long brainstorming sessions to email exchanges over the wording of a 50 word short answer question. We’ve had multiple calls over school decisions and mock interviews. In short, you’re hiring someone who will partner with you through this arduous process.

2) Expertise: Her Kellogg MBA and experience as Executive Director of Admissions at Rice’s MBA program speak for themselves. She has the expertise and track record to guide you through everything from school selection to essay editing to interviewing. She will challenge you and give you frank feedback on your candidacy. She has seen it all and so can always help you.

3) Support and Encouragement: I can promise you that taking the GMAT and applying to business schools while working at a demanding job will be difficult and you will be faced with setbacks. I was concerned because I was an older candidate from a very competitive applicant pool applying in the second round to the best MBA programs in the world. Melissa gave me the encouragement and support to realise that my candidacy could stand-out and that I could be successful even on a tight timeframe. She also gave me the confidence that I didn’t need a safety school.

4) Essay Topic Selection and Editing: The essays are a key piece of the application and it’s where Melissa added significant value. She helped me select topics that showcased my unique strengths. She constantly pushed me in each mock draft I sent her to “show rather than tell” and use examples about how I could have an impact. She tailored each essay to each school I applied to. Melissa is excellent at decoding the sometimes cryptic essay questions to ensure that you’re answering in the right way.

5) Mock Interviews: Melissa is great at giving you mock interviews. I felt so well prepared going into every interview I had. Melissa even gave me a separate mock interview after a mock team based discussion to ensure I was prepared for other parts of the school’s interview. I walked out of every interview thinking I had really excelled and that Melissa had put me in a position to succeed.

In conclusion, hire Melissa. She’s going to be your best advocate in a very trying process. She has the skills and expertise to ensure you put your best foot forward. She has the dedication to meet any deadline and provide her insight on any question, no matter how great or small it is. She has the personality to encourage you to keep pushing ahead. Hiring Melissa was the best decision I made as part of the process and it will be the best decision you make.

Applying to business schools can be a testing experience that requires a lot of self-reflection. I started using Harshad as a pay by the hour consultant to help tighten my stories. After working with him for a few sessions, I realized that I was going to need more help in coming up with my unique stories that would stand out in my applications. I upgraded to the full time package, and it was the best decision and money I spent in the application process.

Harshad has a unique ability to connect with the people he works with. We have only communicated over the phone and email, but I found myself quickly trusting him. I opened up about events in my life that I have told few people. He brought out powerful stories and emotions, some of which I had buried deep down inside myself.

Harshad will also very honest with you and is a great communicator. He will let you know if you produced a strong piece or a piece that needs more work. If he does provide constructive feedback, he does so in a way that never feels personal. I always felt that Harshad was rooting for me every step of the way.

All in all, I cannot recommend Harshad enough. He will bring out the best version of yourself and help you distill that version onto paper.

I was accepted into two great schools, and I have no doubts that Harshad was a big part of me getting into those schools.

When I first started looking into admissions consulting services, I had a specific idea of what I needed. I was confident I was applying to the right schools, but I knew my essay writing skills were a bit weak. I was matched with Kate and my entire experience working with her was very enjoyable. I never imagined how much I would get out of the experience. She was always cognizant of what I needed and was very accountable in the usage of time.

The concise feedback I received on my essays was tailored to my specific concerns. The comments really helped me focus my ideas. By the time I was working on my 5th application, I had a sort of writer’s block. Kate provided the combination of constructive feedback and “cheering section” support that I needed. This 5th application was for the school that I ended up choosing to go to. I am forever grateful for Kate’s help in getting through the application process.

Initially I felt a little intimidated by the idea of working with an MBA admission consultant because I knew that MBA application process is all about deep self-reflection and authentic storytelling. I was not sure if I could truly open up myself to and go through the process with someone I did not know before. But because mbaMission has a great reputation, I decided to give it a try and call them for a free 30-minute consultation. That then led me to Jen, who completely shaped my MBA application experience!

Jen challenged me to go above and beyond in my applications: The very first essay draft I sent to Jen was Stanford’s classic and difficult essay. Jen sent me her written feedback in 2 days and I was totally amazed by her detailed notes and thoughtful critique. And then she called me to walk me through her notes and guided me to think deeply about the “why” part of the question. I already put some serious thoughts into the essay but Jen encouraged me to dive deeper and taught me how to do so. I knew then I had to get Jen’s help for my other schools and decided to purchase packages for all my others schools with Jen!

Jen was always there for me: I had about 2 months to finish 6 schools’ applications and each of the schools asked for something different in their essays and interviews. And as an international student, I was also worried about messing up those cultural nuances in my applications. Jen helped me with every step for every school including essay brainstorming, essay writing, resume polishing, interview preparation, and an additional scholarship application process for one of the schools. Jen was so knowledgeable, responsive, patient, encouraging and honest that I felt extremely comfortable to ask her any questions and share my thoughts/feelings/concerns. I remember I would call her before my interviews to practice some questions or just chat about the interview, and then walked into every interview feeling very confident and fully prepared. I could not imagine getting such amount of guidance and support from anyone else!

Finally I was admitted to 4 top business schools! I am so grateful for everything Jen did and she means much more than an admission counselor to me – She is a true friend and mentor.

I worked with Jen for five hours on my application and interview prep for one school (that I successfully was admitted to!) and it was immensely helpful and very worth the cost. I made sure to have my essays and short answers in good shape by the time I sent them to Jen to get a last eye on them. It was incredibly helpful to have a professional look over these and she was efficient- I got a ton out of only five hours!

Starting from my 30-minute free consultation, Jen provided useful guidance on how to approach school selection, the application process, and positioning myself. Through four applications, I found the structured approach the she provided to the early stages of brainstorming and developing a personal narrative to be particularly helpful. Her essay editing helped me to tell a more focused and impactful story and mock interviews always prepared me very well for the real thing. On a more personal level, Jen was friendly and easy to work with and always had interesting insights into what I was saying about myself and how to make that more clear and forceful. I would certainly recommend her services to anyone applying to business school.

Several friends recommended that I hire an admissions consultant for my apps, so I decided to give the free 30-minute consultation a try. My plan was to shop around different companies and consultants before committing, and my very first consultation was with Melissa. After the first few minutes with her, I was sold and knew that I didn’t need to look any further. After our consultation, the actual thought in my head was, “There’s literally nothing I would change about her and our dynamic, so I might as well end my search here!”

For me, the toughest part of the app process was essay writing. There were stories that I knew I wanted to share, but I couldn’t get the messaging down myself, and especially not within the word limits. Melissa helped guide my thinking to dig deeper, and at the end, my final essays were still very much “me” — MY stories, and in MY words – just told in a MUCH more effective way. Her guidance for my resume and interview preparation was also tremendously helpful and insightful.

Melissa is everything you’d possibly want in a consultant – she’s reliable, personable, and knows what the admissions committee is looking for. I couldn’t be happier with my experience, and she’s one of the first people I called when I got into my dream school! I truly think that I wouldn’t have been able to get into all the schools I did without Melissa on my team.

Anyone in the market for an admissions consultant — save your time and end your search here! I recommend Melissa 100%.

It is an understatement to say I would not have gotten into business school without the help of Nisha from mbaMission. Throughout our one year working together, Nisha was a guide and thought partner I could count on. Her thoughtful feedback, rapid turnarounds, and ability to leverage other mbaMission resources made a huge difference in my candidacy.

Nisha got to know me pretty well, despite just working on an hourly engagement. Thus, she was able to give me personalized feedback at all levels: from clarifying and tightening essay language to guidance on how I could improve my overall applicant profile. Nisha provided this feedback consistently much faster than the 2-day turnaround requirement. To drive this point home: Nisha returned feedback on an essay to me within 24 hrs while on the flight to her wedding. Nisha also went above and beyond by pulling on other mbaMission resources to help me. For example, Nisha asked her colleagues for feedback on one of my video essays and shared valuable content on what specific schools look for, which was not something you could find anywhere else.

In summary, Nisha was an essential partner on my journey to business school, someone I could rely on to have my back at a moment’s notice. I can’t recommend her or mbaMission highly enough!

When I decided to apply to B-School, I debated whether or not to use an admissions consultant. A friend of mine recommended I give mbaMission a try for at least the free 30 minute consultation. After speaking with Melissa in that initial conversation and getting a very positive impression, I decided that I would purchase a couple of hours for a second, and professional opinion on some of my essays. This turned out to be the best decision I made during the application process. My coach/coachee relationship with Melissa snowballed from there and I continued working with her throughout the entire application process because I kept getting so much value out of her feedback.

More than anything, Melissa helped me understand my story on a deeper level and in a way that would resonate on my applications. Furthermore, she helped me discover my potential by forcing me to dig deeper on every essay, resume bullet point, interview prep call, etc. Because I could tell she cared about my dreams and aspirations for business school and beyond, I was able to trust her throughout the entire application process. The value of having a coach and loyal friend (who I knew had my best interest at heart) in my corner while navigating the challenging process of applying to business school was immeasurable.

In addition to the soft skills and intangibles she provided, Melissa is incredibly smart and energetic. Her insight, expertise, and passion provided a much needed boost to my applications. I totally (and have already) recommend working with Melissa to anyone considering applying to business school. She helped me get into my dream school and I couldn’t be more excited about what she helped me accomplish. I look forward to sharing future successes with her for many years to come!

Working with Harshad was hands down the best decision I’ve ever made. Since he would encourage me to “highlight the message early”, here’s the key takeaway from this novel of a review:

Harshad will see you more clearly than you see yourself, and will hold up the mirror until you see what he sees. He’s genuine, invested, empathetic, ruthless, supportive, brilliant, honest, and kind. He is more than worth the investment, and you are making an absolutely massive mistake if you don’t hire him immediately.

Okay now I’ll break it down for you:

Statistically speaking, I was shooting far beyond my reach when it came to the schools I wanted to apply to. I spoke with a couple consultants before Harshad who encouraged me to either retake the GMAT (for the fourth time… yeah, no thank you) or lower my expectations. I was pretty discouraged by the time I met Harshad, who had a completely different attitude from everyone else. I knew after only five minutes that if I had any chance of getting into one of these programs, it would be with him. He was nothing but crazy enthusiastic, while still managing to be honest about how it could be an uphill battle.

Harshad and I were in such constant contact during the application process that there were days I talked to him more than my roommate. I’m honestly surprised at the number of ‘Class of 2020’ recommendations on P&Q, because he made me feel like I was his biggest priority and only client. How he managed to have time for my high-maintenance self and his other clients, I’ll never know!

During our initial 1.5 hour ‘brainstorming call’ (i.e. therapy session), he knew just the right questions to ask to break down the walls I had up, and was extremely patient yet persistent with his follow up questions, pushing me to ‘dive deeper’. He then identified a few pieces of my life story that I would have never thought twice about, and helped me realize just how meaningful they were, giving me the tools necessary to craft them into something truly beautiful. I honestly feel like I know myself so much better after this experience – Harshad could easily moonlight as a therapist! He’s not going to let you off easy, and it was like another full-time job getting the essays to the point where they needed to be, but I took solace in the fact that he believed in me so much that he wasn’t going to let me settle for a ‘passable’ essay. He was really ‘in it to win’ with me the whole way, which I always appreciated.

If you’re looking for a consultant that could bridge the gap between giving it to you straight while still being a cheerleader, look no further. Harshad could teach a class on delivering constructive criticism; he ruthlessly tore apart my essays while still managing to make me feel good about it. I’m fairly certain that if/when he reads this, he’d lovingly tell me that this review is all over the place, that he could have relayed the same message in half the words, and that I’m trying to accomplish too much in too little space, but that “I’m an excellent writer and this review has so much potential, so let’s get to work” (how can you not feel good about yourself after that? Seriously, genius).

I ended up getting admitted to my dream school that other consultants previously discouraged me from applying to, and when I got the admissions phone call, the first person I wanted to tell was Harshad. I one hundred percent know that I wouldn’t be where I am now without him. I could not recommend him enough, and feel like this rave review doesn’t even do him justice. Please do yourself a favor and consider this: how amazing would a person have to be to secure this many novel-long rave reviews on P&Q? Schedule your intro call with Harshad and don’t look back – you won’t regret it!

I used hourly services with Jen and it was immensely helpful in my business school application process and a key contributor to my success in admissions! I was initially hesitant to use an admissions consultant, but set up a free 30 minute consultation at the recommendation of a friend. A few minutes into my consultation, I knew I wanted to work with Jen throughout the application process. Right away, she pulled stories out of me to brainstorm essay ideas and provided great advice on which stories I should use for which applications. She was incredibly knowledgeable about the schools I was applying to and helped me tailor my essays, short responses, and resumes accordingly. I am so glad I made the decision to use mbaMission and I would enthusiastically recommend Jen as an admissions consultant throughout the application process!

I had the pleasure of working with Jen Kedrowski for my application to NYU Stern. As someone who was uncertain of his chances into gaining admission, I knew I needed a leg up on the competition. Jen provided me with that extra boost. Her feedback was super helpful in getting my entire application to tell one cohesive story that helped make my overall application stronger. Her work on my essays and resume helped me tell my story while staying within the strict word count guidelines. She also gave me really great ideas on the creative essay that Stern implemented just last year. I would recommend her services to any future MBA applicant looking to help increase their chances of gaining entry into a top tier business school.

Summary: Rachel helped me gain admittance to my dream school, Wharton!  If you are contemplating the benefits of using a consultant, I would tell you to stop thinking about it and begin working with Rachel.  Without Rachel’s guidance and encouragement – I would not have even applied to my first choice school. 
 
My Story:  As I began the application process for MBA programs, I had a few friends suggest that I look to leverage an admissions consultant. Skeptical at first, but figured I had nothing to lose by a conversation, I scheduled two free 30 minute sessions; one with a competitor company and another with Rachel.  As I was pleased with my first conversation with a competitor, I had high expectations before I got on the phone with Rachel.  From the first 5 minutes of my conversation with Rachel, I knew she was the person I wanted to work with.  Not only was Rachel familiar with the information I supplied before my consult – she came with recommendations and suggestions – something I did not expect from a free session. I thought my GMAT score would limit me on gaining acceptance to a top-tier program, but with Rachel’s encouragement, I immediately began working with Rachel on my application and essays to Wharton.
 
Throughout the process, Rachel was my cheerleader, mentor, and personal coach. Rachel was extremely timely on providing thoughtful, candid feedback (in a good way) and challenged me to present my “best self” in my application. Rachel has a brilliant approach to storytelling and creating a coherent narrative.  Rachel took the stress out of the application process for me and helped me achieve my goal of gaining acceptance to a top-tier MBA program. 
 
I cannot thank Rachel enough for encouraging me to apply to my dream school, guiding me throughout the entire process, and helping me gain acceptance.  Rachel exceeded every expectation I had and I would highly recommend Rachel to anyone who is considering applying to business school. 

I cannot express how deeply grateful I am to Jessica for supporting me through the entire MBA process – from the brainstorming sessions, to the essays, and interviews and perhaps more importantly, the life changing conversations. If there is one thing that I can say for certain it is that applying to an MBA program is a journey and not a destination. What Jessica excels at is really allowing you to find your story and craft your journey. There were multiple points in this process where I had to deeply reflect on what my deepest priorities were and Jessica was masterful in helping me through this thinking. In addition, she is an exceptional writer who really simplifies complexity, whilst preserving the integrity of your thinking. As I reflect on my time working with Jessica, I am confident that she has made me a better story teller, but I am as grateful for her endless curiosity, desire and commitment to stretch my thinking, find my deepest values and express them with clarity.

Applied to 5 different schools, four among them were part of the elite M7 group. Not a single ding. Invited to interview from all five of them! Now, I am on my way to enroll at my dream school, Chicago Booth! Yes, my decision to work with Heidi turned out to be a killer deal for me. But the problem with quoting just impressive statistics like these is that they are but a snapshot of a nearly year-long process and very often don’t exactly reveal the entire story. Heidi made me realize that success rates alone don’t define a consultant. It is the experience that counts. Working with Heidi was one of the best and most memorable part of my entire application journey and when I say this I am least guided by the end results. It was a realization that hit me barely a couple of weeks after I started working with her. Patient, diligent, considerate, accommodative, and I can go on with more and more adjectives to describe her. But above all, it was her comforting presence and her cheery outlook that made me feel so self-assured. At no point during the entire process did I even have an iota of doubt about the outcome. Being an Indian male with an engineering background, it was supposed to be insanely difficult to differentiate me from the entire applicant pool. But Heidi managed to do exactly that in style. I still remember the very first call we had, when Heidi, after having read my entire biography, zeroed in on seemingly inconsequential stories of my life as must-haves in all my application essays to differentiate myself from the Indian applicant pool. That statement from her stands out as a remarkable prophecy today. And it was not just about creating quality essays. Being a Booth graduate herself and having been a consultant at one of the Big 3 consulting firms, she’s not just an admissions consultant but a perfect mentor to guide you in your post-MBA goals. I can confidently state today that my business education journey started the very same day I started working with Heidi. Long story short, if you are ever looking for a person who would go beyond being just an admissions consultant and stay with you as a friend/mentor/counsellor to guide you and steer you through the rigorous application process then Heidi is the one you should be looking for. I have extremely fond memories of my application journey only because of Heidi and they are mine to cherish forever!

I am an international candidate and I started working with Kate after recommendation by one of here colleague, and seeing her reviews on Gmatclub and other websites. I can vouch for Kate’s strict adherence to timeline and openness to discuss even the tiniest issue of one’s application. Overall, I can say that Kate has been there for me throughout the season and has been really supportive throughout the process. One advice I would provide to future applicants is that before working with any consultant, do thorough analysis and brainstorming of your goals and reasons for an MBA and then hire a consultant.

Going into the application process, I honestly felt like my profile was fairly mediocre for the schools I was targeting. As a white male from the finance industry and working at a largely unknown company, the competition was abundant/tough and my numbers weren’t anything special. Like many, I was initially reluctant to use a consultant because of the cost; there’s no doubt it’s a big decision. But a good friend referred me to Jessica and told me she was the best in the business and that I had to work with her. The opportunity to go to a top b-school is once in a lifetime and I’d seen it open incredible opportunities for others, so I figured I’d give it my best shot and try to get any edge I could in the application process. After all, I’d already committed to the idea of leaving the workforce for two years and spending my life savings (plus some) on school itself – so might as well do it right.

Now at Columbia Business School, I’m still pinching myself because just a few years ago this didn’t seem like a possibility. And I can say with great certainty that it wouldn’t have been without Jessica’s help. Jessica helped me tell my story in a way that took my borderline profile and made it a standout one. She’s passionate about getting the best out of her clients, and she understands the application process and the perspective of admissions committees better than anyone. Always a straight shooter, she’ll constantly push you and tell you exactly what you need to hear. It wasn’t always fun or comfortable, but I wouldn’t have wanted to do it any other way because it resulted in the best possible application. She’s truly as invested in your success as you are at each and every step of the process – she was just as excited as I was when I got accepted to Columbia. In retrospect, I can’t believe I ever considered going through the application process by myself. If your dream is to attend a top business school but you think it might be a bit of a stretch, then I can not recommend Jessica enough.

I was a very confused MBA aspirant until I spoke to Harshad over the phone for the first time. Harshad spent a lot of time in understanding everything about me via a long brainstorming session. It wasn’t just about career and achievements but also about who I am as a person. He then very intelligently guided me to tell my unique story in a finest way possible. He would review and let me update my essays a thousand times if it needs be till the time it looked like a true winner. I also wanted someone who can be direct with me and provide the correct feedback without any sugar coating, Harshad does it in his own style. More than a consultant, I always felt like Harshad was my mentor. I had a magnificent experience working with him and would truly recommend to anyone who wants to put up a strong MBA application.

My only regret about working with Jessica through the MBA admissions process is that I didn’t commit to starting with her earlier. I come from a non-traditional background (retail/e-commerce) and had few resources to consult about the process, so I was nervous about where to start. I spoke with Jessica in late September, after 5 other consultations and 2 sub-700 GMAT attempts. Jessica helped me feel confident about my non-traditional background and unique experiences, and I felt encouraged by her realistic yet positive outlook. We spent an hour speaking instead of the scheduled 30 minutes. By the end, I felt like I was talking to an old friend. I was blown away by how sharp she is, by her EQ, and by how much she imparted about the admissions process in such a short timeframe.

For the first stage of the Round 2 admissions process, Jessica helped me choose 6 target programs based on my interests and goals, and encouraged me to keep trying on the GMAT since I’d done significantly better on practice tests. I retook the GMAT 2 more times, scoring 730 each time but with a completely unbalanced score. Quant was way too low. Jessica didn’t let me get discouraged and reminded me what I’d shared with her that showed I could handle quant, and helped me create a strategy to showcase this through my application.

Next, we brainstormed for essays. I cannot overstate how helpful it was to use the MBA Mission brainstorming template with Jessica. I spent 20+ hours on the brainstorm, and Jessica read every word. She helped me take a birds eye view of my achievements and experiences to weave cohesive stories that incorporated my all of most pivotal memories, experiences, and achievements. While Jessica cannot “get you in” to your dream school, she knows how to make sure you’ve pulled every lever to give this process your absolute best attempt, leaving nothing off the table to regret later. Jessica helped me with everything from the obvious long-answer essays, to “hidden” essays (eg how to tell the AdComm in 200 characters what your greatest achievement was at your last job), to the meticulous details such as selecting which industry my company really falls under. When you’re investing this much time and money (and soul!) into a process, it’s incredible to have a sounding board like Jessica.

Simultaneously, Jessica helped me create succinct bullet-pointed guides for my recommenders. Since I was coming from a non-traditional background, no one on my team or within my organization had an MBA or had written a recc for someone applying before. My recommenders greatly appreciated this piece!
After the application stage, Jessica helped me prepare for interviews at 2 of the 3 schools that she had helped me with. (I applied to 6 schools in total, and got interviews at 4). My first interview invite was from a school she hadn’t helped me with; she still sent over a webinar link and resources, and I was admitted to that school with a generous fellowship before even interviewing at the others. The fellowship covered all my GMAT expenses + Jessica’s fee… + travel costs for interviews and admit days… and so much more.
Jessica also helped me through some extremely tough moments: handling an inappropriate interviewer situation at a top-choice program (I still got in!), navigating a waitlist, and moving on from rejection. Beyond this, she has been helping me as I decide which program to attend – shockingly, perhaps the most challenging part thus far for me.

All said and done, Jessica’s help allowed me score admission to a top-choice M7 program, an interview at GSB, and a killer fellowship at a top-15 program. I’m also waitlisted at a program with one of the lowest admit rates in the world (fingers crossed!). Thank you to Jessica for your help getting me one step closer to achieving my dreams!

I knew there were a lot of competitors in the MBA admissions consulting space, so I made sure to do my research. On top of reading multiple external reviews and testimonials, I took advantage of each consultant’s test call to get a gut feel. Out of everyone that I talked with, Krista was really the only person that didn’t act like a salesperson. Instead, she took a full hour to understand my background and my aspirations; it was easy to tell that she was caring and would pay attention to you as a person.

This definitely carried over into the entire process of 1.5 years of working with her, from several months before Round 1 all the way to the end of the waitlist process. Here are the highlights of working with Krista:

1) Thoughtful and probing in edits – She made it clear from the beginning that she was not going to be writing the essay herself, but rather that she would be a guide to help probe out my own thoughts and points. This was to emphasize the originality and uniqueness of my essay. In doing so, Krista was always thoughtful when giving updates and edits by posing various hypothetical questions in how to make a point stronger or why a certain point was necessary.
2) Direct and straightforward – at the same time, however, over 15 deep iterations of an essay, Krista wasn’t afraid to be blunt and give objective feedback when needed. She deleted entire sentences and paragraphs when she felt it wasn’t strong or contributed to my overall message, but was not tyrannical about it – she always explained the reasoning behind her edits.
3) Strong preparation for business school interviews – Krista provided extensive preparation for the interviews, including multiple rounds of mock interviews along with deep feedback. Not only did she help me work on the interpersonal aspect with tone and intonation to guide me with the proper delivery, she also cracked down on the concrete content of the answers to the questions to make sure they were well-structured and concise.
4) Maintained a strong personal relationship even after I got admitted into school – she referred me to MBA internship positions for a large financial services firm that she previously worked with.

I highly recommend Krista to anyone really looking for a personalized consultant with great insights into any industry and school.

Things you shouldn’t do during the MBA application process:
– Wait until 3 weeks before the deadline to start your essay
– Not have schools picked out that fit your profile

I took longer than expected to get my GMAT score to where I wanted it to be and as a result Round 1 passed me by and Round 2 was quickly approaching and I freaked out. It’s been ages since I’ve applied to schools and I wanted someone to help me through this process. With only 3 weeks until Round 2 deadlines, many other admissions consultants said that it was impossible to do in such a short timeframe, which was totally understandable given the short notice. I was luckily paired with Harshad and he was certainly the life raft that I needed to complete my application. We started with a brainstorming document where I listed my background and all my experiences. After reading the document and meeting with Harshad, He had a very good idea about who I was and how to present myself to each school. Since we were on a very tight deadline, he gave me a strict timeline and assured me that if I stuck with the timeline we would be on target. He worked tirelessly to provide feedback and edits; some of his turnaround times were less than 1 day! I submitted all 3 of my applications on time and received interviews from all 3. I can honestly say I could not have done this without Harshad keeping me on track and helping me tell my story in a succinct, coherent fashion.

School update: Accepted to all three schools – including a 50% scholarship at a top 25 school!