mbaMission | MBA Admissions Consultants

I worked with Heidi Granner in a two school package and could not be happier with the results having been accepted to both schools. The process was extremely straightforward, organized and stress free during the time that we worked together. Every aspect of the application was thoroughly discussed and Heidi offers extremely personal and direct feedback throughout the process. The full school package exceeded my expectations and made the application process much more enjoyable. I would recommend working with Heidi and mbaMission to anyone that is looking for any type of guidance on the MBA application process. From brainstorming stories about my childhood and life to organizing my thoughts on my career transition, Heidi was critical in guiding my thought process in the right direction towards MBA admission success. There was never a moment when I felt stressed or that I was getting impersonal feedback through our work together. Coming from an atypical background I was nervous to apply to business school but Heidi’s work process ultimately helped me achieve my goals of being admitted to an M7 school.

Harold is a rock star. I’m so glad I decided to go with him and mbaMission, and I truly would not have been admitted to Sloan without him. He was incredibly invested in my admissions process, and since Sloan was the only school I was applying to, he was incredibly pointed and diligent in making sure I put together the best possible application. I never had to worry about delayed responses or missing deadlines since Harold was incredibly timely (oftentimes responding at 5 or 6 a.m. to exceed expectations). He always had a smile on his face and offered his unwavering support during each step of my application.

Harold was also tremendous at editing my essays. I’m forever grateful for Harold and would not have gotten to where I am without him.

It was my dream to attend HBS, and I had been planning my application for years. A few months before the Round 1 application deadline, I interviewed 4 admissions consultants from “top” firms. I had three ‘musts’: familiarity with the HBS admissions process, someone who offered honest and direct feedback, and someone who believed in me. Devi immediately checked all these boxes. During the initial 30-minute free consultation, she provided candid feedback on my resume and helped shape my story. I explained to Devi that I intended to apply solely to HBS, and she was extremely supportive. I had envisioned my HBS admissions essay for years, but without Devi, it wouldn’t have been framed so articulately. As an hourly client, both Devi and I had to be concise with our time, which made her extremely efficient while pushing me to submit my best application.
After receiving an interview invitation, we exchanged a few emails, and I requested a Zoom chat. Her conversation with me a few days before the interview was highly motivating and helped calm my nerves. As a former HBS admissions team member, there’s no one else who understands what HBS looks for better than Devi. While there are many qualified admissions consultants available, when aiming for HBS, Devi stands out as the best possible option. Without Devi I do not know what my application would have looked like – Thank You Devi!!

I worked with Devi throughout the whole MBA application cycle, and I know she was instrumental in my successful admission to Stanford GSB. Having compared my experiences and results with peers who worked with other consultants, I can confidently say that Devi is the BEST partner in the space.

Devi skillfully balanced encouragement with frank advice. This balance between positivity and objectivity was crucial in navigating the highs and lows of the application journey.

Devi’s guidance went beyond surface-level improvements; she played a pivotal role in helping me delve deeper into understanding what truly defines me and drives me. Stanford GSB, known for its emphasis on personal introspection, requires applicants to articulate their values and motivations authentically. Devi’s questions and genuinely heartfelt discussions helped me really understand and communicate the core aspects of my identity and aspirations.

The importance of the MBA in shaping one’s future cannot be overstated, and working with Devi is an investment that pays off. If you’re serious about your MBA aspirations, do your future a favor by choosing Devi as your consultant.

Just a little background about me to make everything easier to understand: I am Chinese but moved to the United States more than 10 years ago. I attended Rice University for architecture and graduated in 2021. During college, I took the GRE and scored 330 (163+167), maintaining a GPA of 3.52+4.0. Rice University awards architecture students two degrees: Bachelor of Art in Architecture and Bachelor of Architecture. After graduation, I worked for an architecture firm in Chicago for three years before applying to MBA programs, accumulating four years of work experience in total.
Strengths of the Consulting Service:
1. Industry Understanding: Harold possesses a deep understanding of my industry, which is crucial for a non-traditional applicant like myself. As a Chinese male in architecture entering business school, I was apprehensive due to the rarity of individuals from my field pursuing an MBA. Harold’s experience in real estate proved invaluable during our sessions. Unlike other consultants, he comprehended the nuances of my industry, providing tailored advice. For instance, he suggested exploring real estate private equity with a social impact focus, aligning with my volunteer work. This insight connected my short-term and long-term career goals in a way that only someone familiar with the industry could achieve.
2. Resume Refinement: Harold excels at refining resumes. He guided the transformation of my architectural resume into a business-oriented one, emphasizing numerical achievements and impacts. Through multiple rounds of refinement, he even sought input from his colleagues, ensuring a comprehensive and polished result.
3. Essay Theme Development: Harold demonstrated a keen ability to identify and articulate the central theme of my essays. After reviewing my extensive brainstorming materials, he promptly proposed a theme that perfectly aligned with my vision. In this case, we nailed down “notion of home” to emphasize my architecture’s identity. Our collaborative approach allowed us to refine the essays further, selecting impactful life stories tailored to each school’s essay topics. Harold’s constant infusion of creative ideas elevated the quality of my essays.
4. Timely Document Turnaround: As a busy architect, I appreciated Harold’s efficiency in turning around documents. Despite my weekend writing schedule, he consistently returned revised essays within 1-2 days. This professional approach provided a steady rhythm for the application process. Please note: Sometimes Harold has gotten documents back to me in less than 2 business days, it is only because he was able to sneak them in. As approaching deadlines, his queue will be at a 2 business day turnaround as indicated in the contract.
5. Recommendation Letter Review: Harold’s proficiency extended to reviewing recommendation letters. Upon evaluating my boss’s letters, he identified the need for concrete examples and communicated this clearly to my recommender, enhancing the letters’ credibility.
6. Emotional Support: Harold’s unwavering support played a pivotal role throughout the stressful application process. Facing moments of doubt and panic, his availability and encouragement helped alleviate the challenges. The importance of a supportive consultant cannot be overstated during such a demanding process.
7. Insider Information: As part of a large MBA application consulting team, Harold provided valuable insider information, including previous interview questions and strategies to help me transition from a non-business background to speaking confidently as a business professional.
In conclusion, Harold’s professionalism and expertise were instrumental in my acceptance to Booth, CBS, Kellogg, Haas with scholarship, Stern, and an interview invitation at HBS. For anyone considering an MBA consultant, Harold is the ideal choice. The application process is a joint venture, requiring both the applicant’s diligence and the consultant’s expertise to ensure success.

I am not from a traditional background and have to admit I don’t know much about MBA initially when I decided to apply. From a 30-minute call with Debbie, I was able to create a rough plan for my MBA application journey. Since I got in touch with her early in the cycle, Debbie provided some good advices on how to enhance my profile with more extracurriculars.

During the brainstorm session, Debbie helped me find a unique story out of my ordinary background, which was a result of multiple deep conversations. It’s the most critical step when I worked with Debbie since it settled the whole theme of essays. Throughout the essay drafting process, Debbie is very responsible, and reply within the timeframe as always. We devoted quite some time to the essays together, and I am very happy about how the essays turned out.

I’ve been working with Jen for the past few months and my experience with her was amazing. Firstly, my situation was very nuanced (I was considering forgoing a part-time US program and applying for a European full-time program). Second, I did not have too much time applying when I started working with her and wanted to apply for the R1 deadline. Jen took time to get to know me and did not get scared away with my special circumstance. Instead, she called out several areas that I had never thought about before that I thought were super helpful for my application. Once I started working with her, a few things stand out as well. First, she is very knowledgeable about the whole process and especially on European programs. Her expertise and knowledge make my application more efficient. Second, she is real friendly, patient, and effective. For each of my draft she spent thorough time to review and comments. Her feedback was honest, but also help me unlock ideas and stories for future drafts. She always deliver on time, and even went above and beyond. I treated her as a thought parter and coach, and really appreciate her advice. Eventually, I’ve received offer from both Cambridge and Oxford. Without her, I think getting my dreams programs will be much harder. Thank you Jen!! 🙂

I recently had the pleasure of working with Michael Guttman for my round 1 application strategy. I bought a two-hour package with MBAmission and feel that despite the high price tag, it was money well spent. Michael made great use of my limited time, advising me on how to present myself as a non-traditional candidate and providing helpful feedback to my recommenders.

Michael helped me clarify my story and significantly improve my resume, pushing me to dig deeper and highlight my best leadership accomplishments while cutting unnecessary details. I feel that this was very high impact work – I think anyone would benefit greatly from working with Michael. I ended up with admits and significant scholarships from Booth ($80k), Haas ($100k), Ross (full-ride), Anderson ($120k), and Kenan-Flagler (full-ride)!

Katy is phenomenal at what she does – I would highly recommend her if you are thinking about applying to top MBA programs. I worked with her for my round one applications and got accepted into the MS/MBA Biotechnology program at Harvard as well as the MBA programs at Stanford GSB, Wharton, and MIT Sloan. What stands out to me about working with Katy is her highly personalized approach and deep expertise in every aspect of the admissions process across schools and programs.

During our brainstorming session, Katy did an excellent job of guiding me to reflect on and weave together different elements of my life story to develop the outline of what would become my main essay for Harvard and Stanford. Then, we worked together on dozens of drafts of these essays. I have a penchant for writing a lot, and what I loved about working with Katy was the way in which he helped me whittle down words while keeping the essence of my voice and making my essays even more compelling. When I read my final essays, I was left feeling more inspired and motivated to pursue my dreams.

She did the same thing for the many short answer questions I had to complete, meticulously reviewing them and providing sage advice on how to harness them as an opportunity to bring to life my whole personality and range of experiences to the admissions committee. When I got invitations to interview, Katy prepared detailed mock interviews tailored for each school and did a stellar job of preparing me to feel confident and natural in all my interviews. Because of the coaching Katy provided me, I genuinely enjoyed all my interviews – I have never felt this way before.

Overall, I absolutely loved working with Katy. She is very smart, empathetic, kind, honest, strategic, and generous. In addition to being an exceptional MBA admissions consultant, Katy is a wonderful life counselor given all the wisdom she has amassed from working with so many accomplished clients and her rich and diverse career experiences (McKinsey, law, education, government) and educational background (Harvard JD/MBA).

My main advice to applicants who want to work with Katy – speak to her as soon as you start thinking about business school and start the application process very early. The more time you have to reflect on your story and aspirations, shore up your credentials, and work on preparing your applications, the better the outcomes you will achieve.

With Debbie’s support and guidance, I have recently been accepted to 2 M7s and 1 T15 programs!

Debbie is the supportive, methodical, and insightful consultant I knew I needed when I first started out on my MBA application journey. Just a few reasons (of many!) that made her stand out…

1. Confidence – Going into this process, I had felt this pressure to stand out against a sea of applicants and feared that my background / experience was too “average.” Debbie helped me build the confidence to present my authentic self and share my unique story. I loved that she never tried to change my voice as I was writing essays (one of my biggest fears when I was first considering a consultant!) but rather focused on asking probing questions or highlighting opportunities for improvement – without sacrificing my personal color.

2. Structure – MBA applications can feel overwhelming and stressful, especially when you are also balancing professional and personal lives. When I first started, I wasn’t even quite sure where to begin. But Debbie provided the needed structure and kept each of our meetings targeted and efficient with a clear outcome. This made it easier for me to take things in bite-sized chunks.

3. Support – Debbie is extremely personable and supportive! I think it’s important to work with someone you trust and someone who is invested in your success. Debbie has been consistently encouraging and excited about the milestones along the way – from my first interview invite to my latest acceptances – and I’m truly grateful for this level of support and investment.

I highly recommend working with Debbie – she’s the best!

I worked with Susan McInerny at mbaMission as an hourly client while preparing my application to the HBS Class of 2026. I’m incredibly excited to say that I was accepted to HBS and that I couldn’t be stronger in my endorsement of Susan!! She helped me transform my application from good to GREAT. As an HBS alum herself, Susan gave me amazing insight into how to best tell my story in a clear and compelling way. She offered invaluable guidance every step of the way from my resume to essays to interview prep. Not only did she help me strengthen my application, but she also instilled in me a confidence about my background, my story, and what I have to offer at these elite programs. Susan was sharp, professional, responsive, and friendly – I truly felt that she had my best interest at heart which shined through in her guidance and support. I can’t imagine a better MBA admissions consultant! I STRONGLY recommend Susan and mbaMission.

Nisha is truly the most amazing consultant. I was hesitant to pay for an admissions consultant at first, but my time with Nisha was 100% worth it. For the 4 schools I applied for, Nisha helped me get accepted from Harvard, Wharton and MIT, waitlisted from Stanford – seriously the best outcomes possible.

She is extremely warm and supportive – Nisha made me feel so comfortable, ensuring I could get very vulnerable in my applications.

She was an amazing sounding board – to make sure every story and anecdote in my application reflected the best part of me, and also she is an expert at knowing what the schools are looking for.

When it was essay crunch time, Nisha went the extra mile to make sure I had edits as soon as possible. She always responded to emails promptly, scheduled Zoom calls when needed and helped me so much to be concise! With any questions, Nisha gives a firm and kind response – she also will double-check with other mbaMission consultants to get their input, so you get the best answer possible.

Could not rate Nisha more highly!!!

Michael was fantastic to work with throughout the application process. I would highly recommend working with him. When deciding on a consultant, I met with a few different ones to get a feel for how they work. Michael was the only one who looked past my lower GMAT scores and offered solutions to bolster other aspects of my application. He genuinely took the time to get to know me and was hands-on throughout the process. He met me at my needs, providing prompt and detailed feedback on each of my essays, and really dug in to help craft my story. As a result, I was accepted to Wharton and Columbia and will attend Wharton! I didn’t think any of this would be possible just a few short months ago, so I would highly recommend working with Michael.

I worked with Jen on five round-one MBA applications (HBS, Stanford GSB, Booth, Kellogg, and Sloan), and was accepted to every program with significant scholarships at Booth and Kellogg! Before starting my apps, I spoke to a few admissions consultants, and Jen immediately stood out to me as the best. Jen worked with me on an hourly basis and helped me with my essays for all schools. She gave me practical, helpful advice, and really helped me take my essays to the next level. Jen also did a mock HBS interview with me, and this experience was very helpful to prepare for the “real thing”. She asked me thoughtful questions and gave me actionable feedback. Jen was there with me every step of the way, and I believe working with her added significant value to my applications. I highly recommend working with Jen – she is worth every penny!

I would strongly encourage applicants to utilize mbaMission. My experience with Debbie was extremely positive; her expertise was crucial in securing a spot in an M7 business school. She did a phenomenal job of highlighting the best of my experiences, crafting my goals and background into a coherent message, and keeping me on track during all stages of the application process. The brainstorming worksheets and essay preparation meetings were especially helpful in ensuring my essays communicated my strengths to my target schools. I am certain I would not have achieved the same level of success without my partnership with Debbie and the mbaMission team. Given the opportunity to use their services again, I would 100% do so.

I had many concerns and doubts when thinking about pursuing my MBA because of my non-traditional background. For context, I am an Asian American male who dropped out of high school and had to take a nonconventional way to “get back on track”.

I have done my due diligence by looking into different admission consultant services/companies and held many free consultations. Everyone I had talked to set the bar low because of my background (focusing on the risk and the downside). Debbie was different – she was willing to see me and my profile from a different angle. She did not place any limitations on what could be possible. That is when I realized that I found my match.

Debbie is an expert in this field. Not only does she have many resources at her fingertips and is very knowledgeable about the MBA application process, she cares. She went to great lengths to understand me and my story. I can tell she carefully read through my 11-page brain dump of my history because she was able to come up with many strong stories and examples that evidence my competencies. Using what she knows about what MBA schools look for, she helped me strategize the picture I would ultimately paint for adcom. I was often amazed at her ability to not only see my stories from a different angle but also piece them together to highlight the traits that schools care about.

While the process is important, the result is just as equally important — I was able to get into my dream school.

I had the opportunity of working with Harold Simansky on my essay. Harold demonstrated a keen interest in helping me sell my story in a genuine and persuasive way. He was also very responsive and personable. I would readily recommend Harold to anyone. He did an excellent job.

If I had to describe Jessica in one sentence – she knows how to instantly make you memorable to the Admissions Committee. Her exceptional storytelling skills, professionalism, efficiency, and amazing mentorship make her the best consultant. She is undoubtedly the highlight of my MBA application process.

– A non-traditional background
– Low GPA
– Waitlisted or previously rejected
– An older applicant
– International applicant

Guess what? These all apply to me. Before my free consultation with Jessica, I spoke with a few other consulting firms. Due to these so-called “red flags” most consultants left me dejected and told me to lower my expectations. But my call with Jessica was different – Her calm confidence, willingness to tease out my strengths, and her high EQ left me incredibly impressed. I still remember her follow-up email after this call not only summarized our conversation efficiently but also prompted me to be more confident.

Jessica is a phenomenal storyteller and has an impeccable ability to draw out relevant information from you to create a unique narrative. During our first brainstorming call, I saw Jessica’s magic come to life – she had tied up all the disparate ends of my story which believe me where all over the place into a strategically articulated beautiful piece. She really had found the thread to connect all the dots! It was awe-inspiring and I couldn’t believe how happy I was with the outcome. During the essay writing process, her intelligent questions encouraged me to think differently, which ended up reflecting creatively in the essays.

Jessica was also immensely helpful in my interview prep. She helped me hone my story, offered tangible feedback, and also boosted my confidence going into my interviews, which was perhaps the most important part!

Don’t think twice about working with Jessica – she’s the best MBA coach you can work with, without any doubt! I don’t say this lightly, as I have worked with other consultants previously.

Harold was extremely helpful for me in my MIT application process. He is extremely knowledgeable about what it takes to get in, and how to nail the interview. He is a great communicator, excellent at explaining the complex details of the MBA application process, and overall great to work with. I highly recommend working with Harold!

The free session with the MBA Mission team was an unbelievably helpful starting point for me on my MBA application journey. We covered so much ground in the 30 minutes, and it really helped me clarify how to proceed. In addition to the call, Jeremy directed me to the free resouces on the MBA Mission website, which were super helpful. I used them at every step of the process, including application writing and interview prep. In particular, the school by school interview guides are awesome. I previously prepped for an interview for the HBS 2+2 program, and this interview prep guide gave me so much more clarity on what to focus my prep on compared to the last time I had an interview. I also found the videos succinct and helpful.
I could not recommend Jeremy and MBA Mission enough!

Nisha was just what I needed to put forward the best possible application – positive feedback, thorough and speedy edits and recommendations on writing components, considerate collaboration, etc. She was always answering questions in a timely manner, no matter how silly or minute they were. If I hadn’t had her in my corner, it would have been way harder to get into my dream school, let alone receive a partial scholarship! Nothing but good things to say!

I knew Debbie was the right consultant for me during the initial consultation. In 30 minutes, Debbie was able to quickly assess my profile and accurately point out how I could highlight my strengths in my application. Her insights and instincts are on point. I purchased the hourly service and each hour was well spent with her giving constructive feedback to the papers that I wanted her to review. Debbie provided great suggestions for my career goal and really helped me highlight the uniqueness in my applications. She really set the foundation for my successful admission – I highly recommend Debbie!!

I only wanted to apply to one school—Ross. I consulted Nisha for help on the essays, resume, and interview. She was very helpful and provided awesome feedback with fast turnaround times. It was a great value!

I cannot recommend Nisha enough! I came into the MBA application process feeling overwhelmed and lacking structure. From the moment I connected with Nisha, I knew I made the right choice. Her inviting personality and optimism made this process a lot less daunting. I was grateful for all the upfront brainstorming and collaboration Nisha partnered with me on that helpful shape my story. From reviewing essays to answering one-off questions, Nisha was there for me at every step of the process. I truly would not have been accepted to my top choice program if it was not for her support. If you are considering a MBA consultant, look no further – Nisha is a rockstar!

I was very confused when starting the journey of applying to MBA programs, my dream was to go to a top MBA program but I didn’t have anyone in my network who I could reach out to, even for basic/simple questions let alone the tougher ones.

I wasn’t sure if I would be able to achieve this dream and given the short time I had on hand I was very worried.

Kate was a constant support throughout this journey, it wasn’t just the support in terms of the work but also the mental & moral support which helped me though, knowing that I could reach out for guidance for anything even for small issues really helped. With her help, I was able to send out MBA applications in less than a month while working full time.

At times I was late with sending my materials in for reviews but Kate got back with her comments ahead of turnaround times. She was there with me every step of the way.

Besides getting my MBA school offers, I learned valuable lessons beyond the MBA application.

As a re-applicant, I am glad that I chose to work with Harold Simansky from MBAmission this year.

Compared to the consultant I worked with from another boutique shop last year, Harold definitely surpassed my expections and gave my schools applications a 360 turn.

First of all, Harold has tremendous experience to offer and knows how to put together a compelling personal package for different schools. For example, the brainstorming session with him always gave me a new angle, idea or inspiration as to how to improve my essays.

Another thing I appreciate is that he is personally invested in my case. While typical turnaround time for a consultant is 2 business days, Harold does not care that much at all. He would get back to me asap and even work on weekends if situation was urgent. His dedication is on a different level, which I truly appreciate!

Overall, I enjoyed working with Harold for his undivided attention, invaluable coaching and mental support. He is definitely one of the best!

Gavi helped me put together two applications to Wharton and Columbia in a very short time period in R3. She made herself available as needed and provided impactful feedback helping bring my existing applications to the next level. I was admitted to Wharton and was invited to interview at Columbia, though I withdrew my application after getting into Wharton. I worked with a different consultant for a prior round and found Gavi much more helpful as she was highly invested in getting to know me as a person, which allowed her to provide more impactful feedback on my applications. Would highly recommend Gavi to anyone applying to business school.

I met Jen during the free mbaMission consulting session. She was extremely intelligent and understanding of my previous professional career. I had my doubts about my resume and application, but she was extremely supportive and assured me that I had great qualities to be a strong candidate for my desired MBA programs. She was prompt, responsive, and extremely thorough with her responses and suggestions, but also incredibly nice and fun to work with. I definitely could not have gotten into my dream schools without her help and guidance. I would highly, highly recommend working with Jen!

I had the pleasure of working with Julie-Anne as my MBA admissions consultant, and I can confidently say that her guidance and expertise were instrumental in shaping my successful application journey. As someone deeply entrenched in the world of Private Equity, with a GMAT score hovering around the M7 median, I knew that standing out was crucial in the fiercely competitive landscape.

Julie-Anne’s keen insight into the nuances of MBA admissions was evident from the start. With her expert guidance, I was able to strategically accentuate the most captivating facets of my application, which not only complemented my scores but also highlighted my unique qualities. Her adeptness during the brainstorming phase was a game-changer. She skillfully prodded me to delve deeper into my experiences, bringing out the more inventive and creative aspects of my essays.

One standout area was Julie-Anne’s adept assistance in shaping my “Why MBA” essays. Crafting a compelling narrative about my career roadmap was a challenge I initially faced. Julie-Anne’s thoughtful guidance and astute feedback helped me paint a vivid picture of my aspirations, tying them seamlessly to the MBA program’s offerings.

Without Julie-Anne’s meticulous support, I am certain I wouldn’t have achieved such a remarkable outcome. Her ability to dissect my experiences and weave them into a captivating story for the admissions committee was unparalleled. Thanks to her, I secured a spot at my dream business school.

In a sea of MBA admissions consultants, Julie-Anne truly stands out. Her strategic insights, creative essay coaching, and dedication to her clients’ success are a testament to her exceptional skills. For anyone seeking not just an admissions consultant, but a genuine partner in their MBA application journey, Julie-Anne comes highly recommended.

I met Jen during the free counseling call that MBAMission provided and immediately felt that she cared and genuinely wanted to help me get into the best business school I wanted. After my GMAT, I had to fill in a long brainstorming document going through every detail of my life, and we had a call to discuss which aspects would be most relevant to my application. Jen was very creative in finding strengths in me that I did not think of as strengths, but those that would be valued in B-school.

I had initially wanted to apply to the top 15 US schools, but suddenly changed my mind in the middle of the process and decided only to apply to European schools. Jen did not miss a beat and immediately was able to give me recommendations on school choice, deadlines, and the timeline by which I should aim to finish every aspect of each school’s deadline. Even when I missed some of her timeline recommendations, she adjusted her approach to suit me. Her detailed emails and advice helped me stay on track and submit applications to 5 European schools in Round 1, from which I got admits into two top European B-schools.

I truly believe that my application was made much better because of all her advice and that she made a decisive difference in my acceptance chances. I would recommend her to anyone who is looking for a consultant who can identify your own unique strengths and make them shine in your application.

As I am going to apply for the Stanford MSx program, I have been looking for many different materials about the MSx application process and I have met Jessica Shklar’s discussion on Gmat Club, How to Fill out Stanford GSB MBA Application on Youtube.
Her explanation and insights were truly remarkable. I particularly appreciated the essay part, as it shed light on many specific details. Afterward, I contacted her and her consultation was a real game-changer. Thanks to Jessica, I managed to orientate in the application process.

I worked with Jen on a one-school application to London-based business schools, with a view that I could add an application for a second school should my first preference be unsuccessful.

I found Jen to be an extremely valuable ally to have in my corner. Not only was her understanding of the process and application demands a huge leg up, she also provided a sense of structure which helped my meet my deadlines.

Jen helped me develop and focus in on my strengths and clarify my objectives (both for the program and post). Her ability to condense my drafts into a format where every sentence had impact was brilliant and, I feel, something that would have been difficult to achieve without the kind of experience that she brings to the table.

Coming from a non-business background, I was at a loss for how to even to begin the applications for MBA programs. Devi helped me identify my strengths, weaknesses, and how to best express myself in my essays. Working together, we were able to create a strong and focused application. Once I received invitations to interviews, her advice on how to approach and answer each question proved invaluable. Her knowledge, approachability, and unyielding support were assets that helped me navigate the application process. Even though I am at the beginning of my MBA journey, I am already confident that working with Devi was, and will remain, one of the best decisions I made. I could not recommend her enough for anyone thinking of applying to MBA programs.

I had the privilege of working with Jen who truly elevated my application process. Her professionalism and expertise were evident from the very beginning. She showed me the right way to highlight my strengths while skillfully navigating around any potential weaknesses, ensuring my application shone brightly.

Her up-to-date knowledge of the expected interview questions proved invaluable, enabling me to approach the interview with confidence and poise. Thanks to her guidance, I secured a place at the university of my choice.

I highly recommend Jet to anyone seeking to maximize their chances of success in the competitive MBA admissions process.

I am thrilled to share my outstanding experience with John. I purchased a three-school Start-to-Finish Package, and John helped me successfully secure a spot at a top 15 program despite a weak GMAT score.

John was able to guide me through a structured application process that took the stress out of navigating it on my own. This allowed me to stay organized and confident throughout the journey. One of the highlights of my collaboration with John was the insightful brainstorming session and his continued effort to get to know me personally. Through this collaboration, John was able to help me develop a compelling story for me to use in my essays. He was able to uncover and help me present my unique experiences, strengths, and aspirations in a compelling way. In addition, John is a flat-out amazing writer and was able to provide suggestions on how to make my essays pop.

The other key value-add that John was able to bring to the table was his deep knowledge of each of the programs that I was applying for. He gave me direction on how to write my essays for each school that would resonate the strongest with the adcom.

I wholeheartedly recommend John to anyone pursuing admission to a top MBA program.

I worked with Devi to prepare for my HBS interview, and it absolutely made the difference to getting my acceptance.

As a former HBS interviewer, she has unparalleled knowledge of the interview process, combined with her personalized, comprehensive approach enables her to simulate the unique HBS interview process like no other consultant on the market. By the time I did my real interview, it was so shockingly similar to the sessions I did with Devi! As a result, I felt much more well-prepared and felt less much less nervous than I otherwise would have.

Devi’s “tough love” and honest approach also instilled a ton of confidence and resilience in me throughout our practice sessions. She doesn’t merely help you polish your answers, she helps you find your unique voice and express it in a compelling, yet humble manner. Her constructive criticism is insightful and instrumental in fine-tuning your responses, helping you shine.

Having worked with Devi directly, I cannot recommend her enough. With the lifetime impact of a top MBA brand, Devi’s expert guidance pays of in spades – her impressive success speaks for itself and your future self will thank you for it!

Katharine Lewis is one of the finest mentors I have ever met, and one of the most effective – thanks to her, I’m going to Wharton!!!

When I reached out to Katy during my senior year of college, I was concerned about my Deferred MBA chances since I was going into an overrepresented career and had been told by many mentors to wait a few years before applying to B school if I wanted better odds of getting in. But Katy stood out among other consultants because she firmly believed that I stood a fighting chance, and that I should own my authentic story around my passion for pursuing affordable and accessible healthcare, as opposed to weaving or creating a narrative more “catered” to my ambitious list of schools. I worked with Katy to apply to 7 schools via their Deferred MBA programs – Wharton, Booth, Kellogg, Sloan, Columbia, HBS, and Stanford – and it is predominantly thanks to Katy that I got into the first 5 on that list, and had the glorious problem of having to pick from these incredible choices.

Right from brainstorming, Katy pushed me to dig deep and bring out my most authentic, raw stories around what drives me – and her “tough love”-esque commitment to sharing honest and clear feedback (as feedback should be delivered to be helpful), in combination with her enthusiastic encouragement and unwavering support throughout the process, make her the perfect person for the job. I lost count of how many essay drafts I sent Katy (it was easily 50+) – but she patiently edited and sent constructive, valuable feedback on every single one. Her extensive experience in the field of MBA admissions coupled with her analytical ability to distill nebulous, wordy thoughts into short and powerful depictions, often left me thinking “thank the gods I have Katy – there is no way I could have thought to write this in that way!”. When I received interview invites, even for the schools that were not in my “package” with her, Katy went out of her way to send me incredibly detailed interview prep material that ultimately helped me get into those schools too. And whenever I hit a major obstacle, was uncertain about something or downright nervous, I knew a phone call with Katy would instantly fix the issue and make me feel better – and it did, every single time. Now, after working for 2-5 years, I’ll be headed to Wharton – and I KNOW that Katy made all the difference. I’ll always be grateful to Katy for helping me get into B school, but also for being a mentor who I know I can turn to whenever I need sound advice. If you’re thinking of applying to a Deferred MBA program, you MUST speak to Katy – I’m convinced a counselor and mentor cannot possibly get much better than her!!

Jen was instrumental in helping me prepare for my MBA interviews at Harvard and Stanford. She provided me with a clear path to prep for interviews and all the necessary pre materials. I did a mock interview with her for both schools, and her feedback helped me excel in the actual interview, which went similarly to the mock session. I’m very grateful to have worked with Jen!

I have had a wonderful experience working with Harold Simansky, who turned out to be an invaluable asset in my admission to both Wharton and Columbia Business School.

From the very beginning, Harold’s approach stood out as unique and personalized. He took the time to truly listen to my experiences, aspirations, and goals. This attentiveness allowed him to understand my strengths and weaknesses and identify the stories that would resonate most with the MBA admissions committee members. His ability to connect with applicants on a personal level sets him apart from other consultants.

Throughout the application process, Harold listened to what experiences I thought were most impactful, and he helped me to understand that the stories you’re most proud of aren’t necessarily those that will resonate the most. He challenged me to delve deeper into my experiences, ensuring that each essay reflected my true character and potential. Harold’s keen eye for detail and genuine passion for helping applicants was clear in the number of essay revisions we went through.

Not only did I receive several admits, but I was also fortunate to receive two substantial scholarship offers, which I attribute in no small part to Harold’s strategic input.

One of Harold’s most remarkable qualities is his refusal to settle for anything less than perfection. He pushed me to refine my essays and presentations until they were polished to perfection. His dedication to helping applicants succeed is evident in the countless iterations we went through to get each application just right.

Harold was worth every penny, and I have no regrets.

Jen is great! I had a great experience working with her. She is friendly and always available for consultation. She provided constructive feedback on my essays and asked questions that prompted me to think deeper, enhancing my applications. I do not regret getting her help with my application!

Harold is a phenomenal coach and played an invaluable role in my application process. His down-to-earth personality and genuine interest in understanding my pursuit of a dual MBA/master’s in urban planning degree made the experience both rewarding and introspective.

Before I started working with Harold, I had an idea of what I wanted to do in the long term but no idea how to get there. From the start, Harold took the time to get to know me and asked lots of questions to help me understand what I wanted out of an MBA. He then was able to use his expertise in the professional world and as an MIT Sloan grad to present paths that would allow me to achieve my long-term goals. From there, the essay writing came quite easily, and he assisted me in editing and refining my story.

Not only was I able to articulate my goals to the schools to which I applied, but Harold was also there to patiently answer my questions about every aspect of applications. I shared my thoughts and concerns with him openly from our first call until I decided on a school – I always felt comfortable being transparent with him, and he was always quick to respond.

Because of Harold’s support, I got into Wharton, a school to which I almost did not apply because I felt so underqualified, and received a full scholarship from another top 20 school. I know I would not have achieved these results without him and feel so grateful to be in this position because of him. I wholeheartedly recommend Harold to anyone, no matter where you are in your journey of figuring out how you want to use your MBA. Thank you, Harold, for everything!

Working on taking stock of my educational and professional accomplishments up until now was a helpful and interesting experience with Jessica. It was a combination of understanding what my strengths and weaknesses were and phrasing them to outline the accomplishments and filling the gaps of possible shortfalls. Going into the process, I had a solid idea that I wanted to work with Jessica, given how splendid her recommendation was from my closest friends. I chose to go with hourly services as I have previously given thought to what my story was and had limited but solid experience of pitching myself from experiences at US university coupled with working on sell-side at a private equity. Hourly services decision was also driven by me not having GMAT score (never prepped or wrote the exam) and wanting to apply to only UK universities. Should I wanted to apply for prestigious MBA programs in USA, I would have certainly gone for 3-5 school packages.
I have enjoyed fast-paced, to the point discussions with Jessica, honored turn-around times and the outcome was to make it all worthwhile (more on that below). However, where Jessica truly made a difference was taking my application to the next level – making me not a good candidate but an outstanding one for the programs that I was applying for. She identified the questions that based on my profile would be tricky to handle – I had a gap of > 6m before the start of the programme – and we worked on those with more care. Further, she was able to translate for me what the particular questions were getting at – what do your friends and family think about your plans – and identify patterns in my story to exhaustively answer those. My younger sister is considering to apply for MBA/Master’s programs and I would not hesitate to recommend Jessica to assist her in forming a story for the next stage in her professional life.
I have applied to Master in Finance at London Business School, Master in Finance at University of Cambridge and Imperial MBA (where I had a GMAT requirement waived) along with applying to Cass, NYU and Northeastern using the prompts that we have developed together. I have gotten accepted into all six universities and even received a scholarship at two of those.
I would highly recommend splurging on Admissions Consulting Services if you are taking your graduate plans seriously and Jessica if you would like to place your story in the best hands.

If you’ve gotten an HBS interview invite, I highly recommend working with Devi! She had studied my application in and out and was able to ask me very targeted questions, very similar to (if not harder than) the ones I actually got in my official interview. I did mocks with my friends and campus advisers but none quite got the right style of questioning that would prepare me for the actual interview. More than anything, it’s reassuring to have a someone who knows the process, having been on the other side, to demystify what is a very daunting process overall. Thank you, Devi!

Harold is very professional, has a in depth understanding of the MBA application process and individual business schools. Harold cares about his clients. Without his guidance, coaching and encouragement, I would not be able to get into my dream business school. Thank you, Harold! He is the dream consultant.

I started MBA application process two months before round 2 deadline. Because of Harold’s strategic application plan and quick turnaround time, I was able to submit 6 school applications on time. Throughout the entire application, interview, and waitlist process, Harold has always been very patiently answering my questions and providing me insightful feedbacks. Harold is empathetic and very generous about his time. I feel very comfortable just sending him email or call him when I have questions. Harold also provided me insightful outline of the 2-year MBA journey and post-MBA career advices. Harold is more than a consultant, he has became my mentor.

Harold’s service worth every penny. I would recommend Harold to my friends who plan to apply for MBA.

If you’re reading this review, you’re probably asking yourself the same two questions that I did: Is it really worth thousands of dollars to hire an MBA consultant? And if so, is Susan Kaplan the right consultant to hire? I will do my best to answer both of those questions.

As some background…

I was born and raised in a small, Midwest town in the United States. I attended a good (not great) public university, where I played a Division-1 sport and graduated with a 3.9 GPA. I turned pro after college and played for two years at the minor league level. I then spent six months as an investment banking analyst at a reputable “middle market” firm. I scored 700 on the GMAT (48 quant) and I applied to HBS and Tuck, two schools that were at the top of my range.

1. Is it really worth thousands of dollars to hire an MBA consultant?

The harsh reality is that every individual that gets into a top MBA program inevitably takes that seat from someone else. The process is highly competitive, and preparation is everything. It is also binary – you either get in or you don’t – so the reality is that outcomes determine whether hiring a consultant was money well spent. I looked at it this way: Whether a consultant provided me with 50% or 1% improvement during this process, that could very well be the difference between whether I was admitted and not. I wanted my best chance at success, leaving no stone unturned, so I hired Susan as my consultant from start to finish for both programs.

This is not a simple process that you can accomplish with little to no effort. A consultant will not complete your application for you. Quite honestly, it would be a mistake to approach it with that mindset, especially considering the financial commitment. If you have the means ($), have the foundation/resume to be competitive, and have the time and work ethic to fully commit to this process, you will absolutely benefit from working with an MBA consultant. If you are halfheartedly invested in the process, your money is better spent somewhere else because you are competing against a group of highly distinguished, fully committed applicants.

2. Is Susan Kaplan the right consultant to hire?

The short answer is, with conviction, YES. Susan was instrumental in helping me better understand the MBA application process, HBS and Tuck’s expectations, and how to best present my application to each program. Initially, we spent a significant amount of time identifying my post-MBA goals and which programs would be the best fit for me, both in terms of culture and career development. We then began to craft my story based on my experiences, tailoring this story to each program. We identified the best options for recommendation letters and then started preparing for my essays and additional responses.

Susan provided critical guidance and accountability throughout the entire application process. She provides direct, efficient feedback and is quick at responding to questions. She has “been there, done that” and, thus, makes sure you are prioritizing the appropriate tasks and staying on track with your set timeline. If you are looking for someone to coddle you, Susan should not be your first choice. If you are looking for someone who is passionate, responsive, accountable, and committed to doing what it takes to get you into your dream school, then you are in the right place. When you hit “Submit Application,” you will know that you have given yourself the best chance at success.

Final Review…

I truly believe I was able to put forth my highest quality application possible with Susan’s guidance and accountability. With that said, I look forward to attending my top choice, the Dartmouth Tuck School of Business, in the fall of 2023.

I cannot emphasise enough how much I recommend Melissa as an MBA admission consultant. Working with her was an absolute game-changer! Her expertise, dedication, and support played a crucial role in my admission to all three programs during the final application round. Melissa truly took the time to understand my unique story, aspirations and goals by deep diving into my background and experiences and ensure it was effectively communicated in every aspect of my application. Melissa’s warm, thoughtful and genuine approach created a safe space where I felt super comfortable sharing my ideas or concerns throughout the process. Her insightful advice were absolute gold. Melissa provided invaluable feedback, helping me refine my ideas and craft compelling narratives that truly demonstrated my unique story. Melissa’s commitment to time is unparalleled. I was working on an extremely tight timeframe for the final application round and she always ensured that we stayed on track. Her prompt responses to my inquiries and availability for calls provided me with a sense of reliability that was very comforting. Melissa genuinely cares, her dedication and belief in my abilities instilled me with great confidence and enthusiasm (especially during interviews) that were instrumental to my success. This is truly one of the best decisions you can make!

When it comes to deferred MBA admissions, the competition is fierce, especially for candidates like me from India with a STEM background. I realized that to stand out, I needed the expertise of someone who truly knows the ins and outs of the MBA admissions world. After exploring various admission consultants, Katy stood out from the crowd. During our trial call, her thoroughness and understanding of my background, strengths, and weaknesses blew me away. My gut told me she was the right person to guide me through this journey, and boy, was I right!

Katy took the time to delve deep into my background, helping me uncover my true motivations and connecting the dots between my life experiences and choices. Together, we worked on multiple essay drafts, and her edits were nothing short of amazing. She possesses a nuanced understanding of what top MBA programs are looking for. Thanks to Katy, I became more confident in my writing and found clarity in expressing my thoughts, which was invaluable since English isn’t my first language.

Throughout the entire application process, Katy made me feel like more than just a client. She genuinely cared about my success and offered unwavering support, even though we communicated through emails and video calls across different time zones.

But it didn’t stop there. Katy also went above and beyond in preparing me for my HBS interview. We conducted numerous mock interviews, and it was incredible how the very first question of the actual interview was something we had practiced. That moment of familiarity eased my nerves and made the interview experience remarkably smooth.

I got accepted into HBS 2+2, and I owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to Katy. Not only is she a brilliant mentor, but she has also become a great friend. If you’re serious about putting your best foot forward and making your business school dreams come true, I wholeheartedly recommend Katy. She’s the real deal!

Harshad was an amazing guide and mentor throughout the application process. He was kind, supportive and encouraging, and I would not have gotten into any of my schools without his confidence in me and my abilities. Highly, highly recommend him.

I truly don’t know where I’d be without Gavriella. I started my MBA journey quite late – realized I wanted to apply in September…and I haven’t even taken the GMATs yet! I knew I needed someone who to help me make sure I stay on track, as time was truly of the essence for me. Gavi was able to help me navigate the process so well and make sure I didn’t waste any time in areas that I didn’t need to. This is so crucial for some who is studying 10-15 hours a week for the GMATs and working a demanding full time job.

Gavi helped me plan out my tight timeline, is super responsive, and you really feel like she’s engaged and supporting you every step of the way. No to mention – she is a FANTASTIC writer/editor. She was able to help me hone in on my stories, think through how to structure a jumble of stories into neat narratives, and edit my essays to keep them concise and focused.

Lastly, Gavi is your biggest cheerleader and never made me feel like I’m falling behind even if I was. Only with her support I was able to make a last minute decision to apply to one more dream school with an essay that ended up being my favorite.

Definitely recommend working with Gavi!

I really enjoyed working with and getting to know Jeremy over the course of my MBA application journey. He made me feel more confident as an applicant and his insight and input helped to make the process more streamlined but also more fun. He is highly experienced amongst peers in this field and it was easy to click with him right from the beginning. He is a great confidant, teacher, cheerleader, expectation-setter, and friend. There are many MBA consultants out there to choose from, but what made Jeremy stand out was that he seemed to believe in my goals and was excited to help me get there. His services are a higher premium to pay, but he made it well worth it.