mbaMission | MBA Admissions Consultants

In my free consultation with Harshad, it was clear that his candid and honest feedback was a match with my personality. Working with Harshad was a fantastic experience. As an American engineer working in industry, Harshad helped me portray my stories in such a way that brought out my unique character traits and leadership skills, and in such a way that flowed logically and smoothly. Harshad is extremely organized and professional, always editing faster than promised and responsive to questions no matter the day or time. Harshad even went the extra mile when I was unexpectedly laid off from my job a couple of months before applications were due, by serving as a mentor in the process of finding another job that would tie into my application package nicely. Overall, Harshad is a terrific person and consultant. I would 100% recommend him to anyone looking to apply to a top MBA program!

I am a middle market private equity associate in NYC. Julie-Anne’s strength is getting the best product out of her pupils. She really encourages introspection and doesn’t let you stop short of your best work. She is very responsive and will take time at a moment’s notice to respond to a call or address a minor question. For these reasons, she is certainly in the top 1% of consultants. She has worked with me as well as a number of prior applicants from my firm and we’ve all gotten into great programs.

In my particular case, we needed to find a way to balance the struggles I’ve faced with not sounding too negative. We needed to find a way to position things positively and tie in evidence from different parts of my life that supports the thesis that I’m learning and growing. Julie-Anne worked tirelessly with me to really understand my story and prioritize what data points best convey who I am.

Rachel is wonderful and the most helpful consultant you could ask for! She is so thoughtful and communicative. I didn’t have a very clear, straightforward story ahead of applying and she was immensely helpful in distilling all my experiences down to a cohesive story on my application. Whether or not you have an obvious reason to be going to get your MBA, Rachel would be a great person to work with. I feel so lucky to have been able to work with her and I couldn’t recommend her more highly! It all culminated in me getting into all 5 of my top choices, and got a scholarship from my top top choice as well. 10/10 recommend!

To provide some background, I started my career in engineering and continued through a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University (NCSU) while working on energy development projects for both research institutes/agencies as well as utilities. Upon graduating from NCSU, I briefly worked in tech and then joined a utility in an internal engineering consultant role.

It was last summer that I met Harold who was transparent with his advice and background. Immediately, I could tell that he was the real deal. Harold asked the right questions to draw the path of my transition from engineering, into an MBA degree, and then how my goals and background could contribute to the atmosphere of post-MBA careers such as consulting, which fascinated me. Not only was Harold supportive and optimistic, but Harold added some real value to which MBA programs would best suit my specific background.

It’s no doubt that Harold is one of the best MBA consultants that I could have asked for to guide me through this process and I could not be more appreciative of his valuable time. Not only in choosing and applying for an MBA program but helping me make a transition from engineering into the business arena. What truly set Harold apart was his distinctive approach during our initial phone call — an approach that showcased his dedication to understanding my aspirations and tailoring guidance accordingly.

Harold was very friendly and a valuable resource during my MBA application process. Harold assisted in my MBA application process from our initial consultation through when I landed the interview for my top choice program. Harold was personally invested in my case being from similar backgrounds and was supportive through adjusting our focus time geared toward my preferences for what I wanted to get out of an MBA program, which programs were the best fit for my goals and which programs I wanted to apply for the most. Harold assisted through every step of the application process: Initial discussions as to why I want an MBA and which programs would be the best fit for my goals, recommender selection, resume review, essay review and interview prep.

I HIGHLY recommend working with Susan (and have referred her to several of my friends who are applying), as she was a tremendous help to me during the applications (got into HBS and GSB).

Susan was an incredible resource during the application process, from helping me formulate my application strategy, to helping me tell my story in a crisp, concise way, to preparing me for the interviews. She provided valuable input and feedback every step of the way, and is incredibly knowledgeable about the application process and the specifics of the MBA programs I applied to.

I could tell that she is very invested in my success, and made sure that I was feeling comfortable and confident throughout the process. She is also very responsive to email questions, feedback, etc. I could not have asked for anything more from an MBA Consultant.

Since I didn’t study in the US for my undergraduate degree, and because my home country’s college application process is quite different, the MBA application process was very foreign to me from the start. I knew I needed someone to guide me through it, particularly given the fact that I have a very demanding job and very limited free time. After consulting with numerous admissions advisors, I ultimately chose to work with Katy. Katy stood out as not only highly competent but also as an incredibly caring and thoughtful person, making working with her a true pleasure.

Before I started working on the applications, she suggested retaking the GMAT, visiting schools, and she discussed with me the best way to select and approach recommenders. Once we started working on the apps, she helped me brainstorm the topics of my essays and she also was very thoughtful in the questions she asked, trying to understand the motives behind every action I took in the past. This proved to be very helpful as I never thought that deeply about “my story”. She was always happy to hop on a quick call or to send me back notes and suggestions that were very pertinent (e.g., sometimes she would recall details of my story that we discussed previously that would fit in well in certain answers and that I totally forgot about). Once I started getting interview invites, the mock interviews we did were extremely helpful as they closely mirrored the real experience, and it helped me ease my worries during the real interviews and be “more present”. After getting the admissions, Katy also helped me with the school decision process, leveraging her knowledge of each program and providing insights on what factors other admits had previously considered.

In the end I got accepted to all 4 schools I worked with Katy on: HBS, Stanford GSB, Wharton (with a scholarship), and MIT Sloan. I honestly believe I wouldn’t have gotten into all the schools I applied to without her support and help throughout the process.

Katy played an instrumental role in helping me shape my application and eventually receive offers from HBS, GSB, and Wharton. From our initial consultation to the final application submission, Katy demonstrated unparalleled commitment, exceptional industry knowledge, and shared plenty of her wisdom.
One of the standout qualities that defined my experience with Katy was her personalized approach. She took the time to delve into my background, life context, college experiences, and unique qualities, ensuring that every aspect of my application was a true reflection of who I am. She helped me find the confidence and clarity in shaping my own story, which is arguably the most important part of the process. Katy is also very knowledgeable about various industries and is extremely open-minded. As someone who grew up in Asia, I had absolutely no problems communicating with Katy, and she grasped my childhood experience and family background very quickly. Communication was seamless and efficient, with Katy providing timely feedback and constructive critiques. She was also clear and upfront about the expected turnaround times and her holiday schedules, making it very easy to work with her. Katy’s dedication extended beyond the scheduled sessions, demonstrating a genuine interest in my success. This level of commitment is rare and truly sets Katy apart in the field. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to work with such an outstanding professional, and I have no doubt that Katy will continue to guide and inspire many others on their MBA journey.
Would recommend working with Katy – she gets booked up pretty quickly so I would recommend planning early.

Working with Devi for my HBS interview was an absolute game-changer! As highlighted by other reviews here, her vast and unparalleled experience and expertise, especially with HBS admissions, makes her THE BEST interview coach. She offers a true reflective experience of the actual HBS interview so you feel fully prepared when it comes round to the day. She is extremely supportive and encouraging as well as always being 100% honest and specific when providing actionable feedback – this is invaluable in helping to push you to reach the highest standards in your interview prep.

Perhaps most importantly, she is a word-class coach, teacher and mentor – She did wonders in enhancing my mindset and performance, so I was able to position structured responses, even when being posed questions I had not ‘prepped’ for. Her coaching and guidance meant I was able to truthfully deliver the best version of myself during interviews. I have honestly never had a more fruitful learning experience and had an incredible journey of personal growth even in the very short time we spent together – I know that these skills she has equipped me with, I will be using throughout the rest of my life.

She goes above and beyond and is truly invested and cares about you. She is in a league of her own and outshines everyone else with her quality. She was absolutely instrumental to my success and one of the first people I contacted when the HBS offer came through – Thank you, Devi!

Katy is outstanding! I worked with her as both a pre-applicant in the year leading up to applying, and throughout the R1 application process. I got into HBS, Wharton, Sloan (with scholarship), and Kellogg (with scholarship)!

The results speak for themselves, and Katy was an absolutely crucial force in the success of my applications. From initial brainstorming calls to essay ideation sessions and interview prep, Katy’s advice and guidance was always specific and targeted, geared towards drawing my authentic voice and perspectives. No question was too small or detail too stupid for Katy, and she tirelessly worked with me throughout several essay revisions. Additionally her boundless enthusiasm and support was so needed throughout a very intense and at time brutal process.

I feel so very lucky to have worked with Katy this application season and look forward to staying in touch with her in the years to come!

It’s hard to overstate what a thoughtful, sharp, responsive, creative, brilliant and kind partner Susan was to me during the MBA admission process. As a non-traditional applicant (practicing physician), Susan was able to quickly identify the most important and impactful aspects of my past and help me weave them into an airtight application. In fact, I refined my own goals through the process of working with her.A Additionally, through helping me put the pieces of my journey together, she helped me feel more empowered about my own story, reminded me of the value of coaching, and helped me to become a better story-teller. As an older applicant, her positivity and encouragement were also instrumental for me. Another highlight was the precise, accurate interview preparation she put me through. With her help, I applied to only one MBA program for Executives, and happy to say I’ll be at Wharton! I feel very fortunate to have been put in touch with Susan.

I worked with Susan throughout the application process secure an acceptance from UVA Darden. I did multiple initial free consultations with different MBA consultants, but Susan immediately stood out as superior. I had concerns regarding work experience, standardized test scores, and narrowing top choices, but Susan quickly identified my strengths and most compelling stories to enhance my candidacy.

While other MBA consultants highlighted deficiencies in my application, Susan recognized opportunities to distinguish myself and guided me in crafting an application tailored to the specific school. Susan was flexible, professional, honest, and had excellent insight into the unique components of each program. 10/10 I would recommend!!!

Heidi took the time to truly get to know me and help shape my application to stand out amongst my peers within the finance industry. She truly brought out parts of my past (professional and personal) that I never would have thought to include. It felt like she knew me better than lifelong friends and that I wasn’t just a number to her. She was also realistic about setting expectations for the schools I was applying to and my chances. Ultimately, she helped me get into three M7 programs, including receiving a scholarship, which I would have never imagined given the overrepresentation of my profile. I gained comfort in selecting Heidi in hearing the ideas she already had for me and my application during our 15 minute intro call.

Katy far exceeded my expectations for working with a consultant in terms of her guidance, attention, and timeliness. She quickly identified the common thread among my experiences and stories and helped me think through, pinpoint, and clearly put into words what I want to do with an MBA, why I want to do it, and how my motivations and strengths have led me here. What I really appreciated about Katy was how she took the time to get to know me first to make sure that my application was authentic and captured the most crucial elements. She also worked with me during labor day weekend, when I know that not all consultants are available during a holiday, and that was very helpful from a timing perspective to make sure my application was well prepared ahead of the deadline.

Devi’s superpower was helping me find my story. I came into the business school application process with very little idea of how to paint a cohesive picture of my life and experiences. Devi was both a partner and sounding board, guiding me through the self-reflection required for me to find my story. Her extensive experience, well-honed instincts, and creative ideas made this process both enjoyable and natural.

Devi also brings a unique tough love approach that motivates her applicants to be the best version of themselves in their application. She pushed me to put in the time, always gave her honest opinion, and never settled for mediocrity.

With Devi’s help, I was admitted to Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton. I couldn’t have done it without her.

I have only the most positive things to say about Susan.

When I started my MBA journey, I was skeptical about working with a consultant (purely from a cost perspective), but I had an initial call with Susan and immediately realized how much value she would add. Throughout the process she was brilliant to work with: very clear, always knew the right questions to ask, and really helped refine my essay topics. The other highlight was the interview prep: this made such a difference to my confidence going into the interviews.

Whilst I’d been thinking about my professional goals for a long while, I basically started my actual application process in mid-August. So this meant I had about a month to do everything, including writing the essays, prep my resume, do all the smaller application questions, and study for and sit the exam twice… The point being: Susan’s advice and expertise helped me enormously in a short time frame!

I’m delighted that I got into every school I applied to: Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton. I’m so excited and grateful. I really doubt I’d be in this position if I hadn’t worked with a consultant as strong as Susan.

I would recommend her in the strongest possible terms and without hesitation to anybody. My younger sibling wants to apply for MBAs in the next couple of years and Susan would be my first call. Thanks so much Susan!

She guided me through the process of choosing business schools. I aimed to apply to 20 top schools in a short period. After extensive discussions, we carefully selected six fitting options and prepared the necessary materials. Heidi was accurate and concise in helping me highlight key differentiators in both my essays and resume. Although crafting the first draft took time, it was worth it. My second Kellogg essay was so impactful that made myself cry!
It was a very hard job for me and Heidi to create a unique and impactful story since I used GMAT waivers. Thus, the story should have been very perfect to be shortlisted for an interview and we successfully made it!
I prepared my applications for Kellogg, Sloan, Darden, Ross, Johnson, and Questrom, securing interviews for 4/6. Heidi remained humble and approachable throughout the whole process, patiently answering all my questions. After receiving the interviews, she generously provided a free one-hour mock interview and gave me detailed feedback on how to answer the questions, prepare the logistics, and dress. All helped me secure a seat in my dream school!
In the end, I got admissions to Kellogg, Ross, and Questrom—and a waitlist for Johnson. Truly the best moment of my academic journey!
I truly enjoyed my experience working with mbaMission and Heidi and recommend their service.

Thanks to Katy, I received admission at Wharton Lauder, Chicago Booth, Yale SOM, MIT Sloan, Dartmouth Tuck, and UVA Darden, and also received financial aid from most of those institutions!

Those are the results, but what stands out to me is the experience of working with Katy through this whole process. She has a remarkable career in the grad school consulting world and beyond. Thus, her instincts on where to apply, which schools may be a good fit, and how to go about this process are top-notch. When it came time to construct a narrative, I gave Katy a LOT of material to work with, and yet she expertly picked out the themes that she thought were most important and formative in my life and career, and helped me craft a sharper vision of the future I hoped to pursue. My goals are somewhat unconventional, and yet Katy encouraged me to pursue them.

As we started to write essays, she patiently edited each draft, no matter the scale of the changes I was making. What stood out to me here was her honest feedback, which I am beyond grateful for. Each time, she pushed me to be better, asking me to dig deeper and re-imagine essays when needed, even if I was up against a deadline. This meant that I could trust that Katy’s feedback was always truthful, and that when she said an essay was good, I could believe her! The essays I finally submitted were truly the best work I could have submitted.

When it came to interview prep, she sent me materials for every school I was interviewing at, no matter whether I was working with her on the school or not. Her prep for me was incredibly accurate, and made sure I was ready to talk about my goals and my past eloquently.

This process, of applying to grad school, is not easy, but I am grateful that every time I asked Katy if we could chat through an issue I was having, she was ready to chat, and give me as much time as I needed.

Katy has become a friend and mentor, and I cannot recommend working with her highly enough!

I worked with Heidi on a 4-school package prior to R1 applications. From our first interactions, I could tell she was extremely knowledgeable and more importantly, deeply cared about understanding me and my goals to help me put my best foot forward.

After walking through my background and talking through my post-MBA career goals, Heidi helped me select target programs that were most closely aligned with my aspirations. Once I had submitted my detailed brainstorming document, Heidi came to all of our essay brainstorming calls with awesome ideas on different parts of my background that I could weave together into a cohesive story. She even pulled together a day by day calendar of application milestones I needed to hit over the summer to make sure all my applications would be ready in time.

Heidi was wholeheartedly committed to making sure I submitted the best possible application. I frequently scheduled short check-ins with Heidi to talk through different essay ideas or get some nagging questions answered. We once rewrote the opening paragraph of one of my essays 7 or 8 different times to make sure it conveyed what we wanted it to. She helped revamp and wordsmith my resume and almost always returned documents I had shared for review well ahead of schedule. In the final weeks before submission, she was gracious enough to work with my recommenders to make sure they got all their questions answered about writing my letters. Her flexibility and willingness to accommodate was incredibly appreciated by all of us.

With Heidi’s help, I was admitted to GSB, Wharton, Kellogg, Yale, and Darden, and was fortunate to receive full rides or significant scholarships everywhere. This truly would not have been possible without Heidi’s guidance and support. There is seriously no better partner / cheerleader to have by your side throughout the MBA application process than Heidi. She is simply the best!

I worked with Heidi throughout the summer, and she was instrumental in helping me communicate my experiences and aspirations and organize my materials. First, I was applying during a very busy time at work. Heidi helped put together a calendar for me to effectively draft and review my various essays, while also paying attention to key deadlines and admissions events. Whenever unforeseen circumstances arose which impacted this schedule, she would work with me to adjust the remaining time to ensure no deadlines were missed. Second, Heidi provided invaluable critique on my essays. My writing tends to be verbose, so for multiple applications with restrictive word limits, Heidi’s feedback ensured my writing was concise without sacrificing authenticity or comprehensiveness. Third, Heidi helped me select and prepare recommenders whose responses played a huge role in my admissions. Overall, Heidi masterfully connected where I was, with where business schools look for stude nts to be, and helped me articulate a clear vision for how to get there. I highly recommend Heidi to any prospective student looking to refine their materials to fit their dream school.

Working with Debbie was a great choice. I’m from a traditional background but I started the application process super late. I had less than 2 months to prepare for R1 when I found Debbie. I applied to 4 M7 schools, and she demonstrated an impressive understanding of the MBA application landscape, providing valuable insights and strategic advice. Her expertise in MBA applications, especially at Wharton and CBS, secured my admission with a scholarship. Debbie helped brainstorm and polish my essays. Her guidance on recommendation letters was also invaluable. Her insights and genuine support were key to my application process. While every journey has its unique aspects, my experience with Debbie was positive and working with her has made this process much easier and more manageable than doing it alone!

I had great experience working with Nisha! I was admitted with scholarships to all four schools that Nisha helped me with. Throughout the whole process, she was a great thought-partner and sounding board. She was also always very responsive and turned around essay comments in under 24 hours. I felt like her essay comments and general guidance really helped me shape my story and understand what admissions was really looking for in each part of the application. I also really appreciated that she often checked in with her colleagues to gather additional opinions on some of my questions. I would absolutely recommend working with Nisha!

While looking for MBA programs, I found the MBA Mission’s website and got excited about their offer of a free 30-minute consultation. That’s where I discovered Gavriella. In her profile video, she said something that stuck with me: “There is a puzzle in every piece of your life that you want to showcase in your application.” I knew I had the experience and passion, but I was unsure how to tell the story of my 10 years of work in a clear way.

Gavriella turned out to be a fantastic listener and super responsive. I always appreciated how quickly she replied to my emails and gave feedback. What stood out even more was the quality of her work and how she invested time in me, sharing resources and boosting my confidence in my strengths. Gavriella knew both my professional and personal sides, and I believe that’s why I did well in all three assessments. She became my confidence booster.

Thanks to Gavriella, I’m set to be the first woman from my small town in Nigeria to get an offer from Boston Business School with a scholarship. I can’t thank Gavi enough for this life-changing opportunity.

I had 3 mock interviews with Devi and it was an eye-opening experience. I worked with more than 5 consultants for the interview, but I can guarantee that Devi will prepare you the best.

She does the mock in the exact HBS style, so I was able to experience in advance what the real HBS interview would be like. She scrutinized my applications, and accurately predicted what the my interviewer would ask.

One important advice she gave me is that it is okay to give long answers. Show as much as you can and demonstrate how you can contribute in case discussion! During the interview, I focused on delivering enough explanation and insights so I was able to show how I can be a valuable asset for HBS. She prepared me 120%, so I was able to perform 100% in such a stressful situation!

I would recommend working with Katy to anyone looking to take the MBA application process as seriously as she does. Katy is equal parts thoughtful, motivational, and experienced in the approach she brings as an application partner. The aspects of the process that are most challenging are where Katy shines as an essential resource and guide – co-creating the story that underpins your application, clarifying the dozens of micro-decisions you make throughout the process, and fine-tuning every piece of application content you compose.

Katy’s strategic approach is pronounced, as she spends time not only to deeply understand the experiences you have undertaken, but also to facilitate deeper explorations of the thematic motivations behind those past choices – a level of insight critical to effectively distill your candidacy. Beyond the strategic, Katy’s tactical advice is an enormous morale booster. Questions like “Is this the right recommender to choose?”, “How much should I discuss college experiences?”, and “How does this essay structure work for this school?” are ones that many applicants must answer blindly for themselves; Katy’s confident and informed perspective on any question, however big or small, confers much-valued security in the product that you eventually submit.

Katy was always readily available to chat when needed – whether it was an unanticipated change at work, uncertainties that would be challenging to resolve offline, or prepping and debriefing an interview. Her turnaround time for content could be slower at times; however, the feedback was always worth the wait, and I had all my application content very comfortably finalized before the deadlines.

All in all, I would make the decision to work with Katy again, and again. That I do not have to is a testament to the success that she enabled for me. My acceptances to Harvard Business School and Wharton were not assured, and it is with strong conviction that I ascribe major parts of my successful applications to Katy. Most importantly, she was an invaluable source of confidence and moral support throughout a process that has many stressful moments; without her empowerment, I would not have been able to give this process my all.

Gavriella was very helpful and would communicate very promptly for all of my needs for essay writing + interview prep. Her patience and nurturing nature was definitely something that I needed for the stressful MBA journey. Thanks for your help once again!!

Working with Nisha was such a dream! She is flexible in how you structure your hours and sessions, finding what works best for you and supports your goals. We focused majority of the time on essays and short answers, communicating via email and jumping on Zoom when needed. Her guidance was critical in getting my essays where they needed to be, and overall, working with her gave me so much more confidence in my application. With Nisha’s help, I’ve been accepted to all 4 programs I applied to, inclusive of 2 full tuition scholarships.

Currently I am a woman in Consulting who was looking to get an MBA to focus and pivot to Technology. Kate was an incredible resource to help me figure out my MVA goals. She guided me through the process all the way from choosing schools, submitting applications, and writing letters for merit scholarships. Kate’s deep understanding of the various programs combined with insightful discussions about my career goals ensured that I shaped my applications tailored to the schools. Kate’s unwavering support made the MBA application process less daunting – providing a detailed calendar view of all next steps in order to stay on track. Through essay help, mock interviews, and continuous engagement, Kate provided an outstanding experience, and I could not recommend her more.

I honestly have Katy to thank for the amazing results as well as the smooth application process. I applied for the full-time MBA programs at Wharton, CBS, MIT Sloan, Booth, and Kellogg and was accepted to all of them with a generous scholarship package from MIT and Kellogg (~90% full tuition). I’m a Southeast Asian applicant who’s been working in the States.

I had initially talked to Katy a year before applying, and unlike the other consultants, she advised me to wait a year since it will make me a much stronger applicant. I appreciated her honesty and returned to her a year later and was very glad I took her recommendation.

Apart from her amazing credentials, I think what stood out to me was that she really cared about me as a person and not just a ‘client’. After our first brainstorming session I felt like she could see right through me (even though we just got to know each other) and really empathized with my story and who I was. To clarify, this meant that she was not only very supportive, but was also straightforward and firm with her feedback – she felt more like a mentor who had your back and wanted you to truly shine vs. just an MBA consultant. She always went above and beyond to make sure I felt my application was the best it could be. A few examples include doing last minute 2am back and forth edits for one of my MIT essay when I realized I wanted to add one more point before submitting (even though we had already finalized it days before), making time to do several mock interviews with me for the same school when I didn’t feel confident about it, and always trying to make time to go on calls just to talk about any worries/anxiety I had.

Because she put in the time and effort to make sure I personally felt good about my application, I was shocked at how level-headed and confident I felt throughout what could have been an extremely stressful process. I remember going into the decision weeks feeling that I had really done my best and even if I had one extra year, I wouldn’t have changed anything about it, and the results speak for itself!

Choosing Katy was one of the best decisions you can make in investing in your future!

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!