About | Privacy Policy | Advertising| Editorial | Contact Us
Follow Us
Subscribe | Login
Number Of Expert Admissions Coaches: 24
Total Reviews: 1854 | 5 Star Reviews: 1846 | 4 Star Reviews: 6 | 1 Star Reviews: 2
Firm Website: https://www.mbamission.com/consult-pq/
mbaMission is the world’s leading MBA admissions consulting firm and the only one exclusively recommended by Manhattan Prep and Kaplan GMAT. Our dedicated, full-time Senior Consultants work one-on-one with business school candidates to identify and showcase their strongest attributes in their applications.
When applying to an elite MBA program, you need elite experience on your side. mbaMission’s full-time consultants are highly skilled communicators with comprehensive knowledge of the MBA admissions process, and helping you navigate that process to your fullest potential is our sole priority. You can be confident of having our undivided attention, because admissions consulting is our exclusive focus. In pursuing your MBA, you are making an important investment in yourself, so choose a firm whose singular objective is helping you achieve your goals.
Our full-time team includes MBAs from all the top programs. Although you work exclusively with one dedicated consultant at mbaMission, you benefit from the experience and input of our entire team. Our consultants intercommunicate constantly, sharing information, ideas, feedback, and recommendations. We also conduct semimonthly meetings, require ongoing training, and hold an annual full-company conference, where we gather to discuss best practices and continue improving our skills and knowledge base. More than 20 full-time admissions experts combine their know-how and experience to advance your cause. We know that our being at the top of our game means you have the greatest chance of success, and together, our team will find the best ways to strengthen your application.
Making the decision to pursue an MBA program during the late stage of the application season and with a significantly low undergraduate GPA put me at a considerable disadvantage from the start. Consequently, I began my search for a consulting service to assist me with my application. After having several free consultations with consultants from various firms, I discovered that Debbie was the only one who provided me with honest advice and an effective application strategy, ultimately helping me regain my confidence. Working with her over the past three months has been an enjoyable experience. Debbie consistently demonstrated her professionalism and experience in every aspect, from structuring and refining my essays and resume to preparing me for interviews. She helped me uncover my strengths, guiding me to effectively showcase them in my essays, and she provided me with a newfound clarity in defining my career goals. Moreover, Debbie imparted invaluable techniques on capturing the attention of interviewers. If there were any lingering doubts about committing myself to an MBA program before working with Debbie, they have vanished completely. With her invaluable assistance, I successfully gained admission to Rice Business School. I wholeheartedly recommend Debbie to anyone seeking to maximize their chances of receiving offers from their dream schools.
Gavi was so incredible to work with! She really spent time getting to know me and cared about my outcomes. Something that stood out to me was the amount of care and attention she gave to me, so I never felt like I was one of many clients. She was also able to keep me focused in a pretty overwhelming process whilst being extremely responsive. Her ability to hone into details and aid you in crafting your story is unparalleled. I got into a top MBA program and in the end I felt like she genuinely cared about my success!
There is no question in my mind that John Sisk was meant to be an MBA Admissions Consultant. The level of patience he demonstrated and his commitment to consistent communication made my experience unparalleled. He goes above and beyond during the entire process and makes sure to explain feedback thoroughly. His process is also super easy to follow and work with (especially in tight turnarounds!). I wouldn’t be where I am today without him!
Debbie’s professionalism and expertise throughout the application process were truly exceptional. She demonstrated a deep understanding of the admissions landscape and skillfully guided me through each step. Her personalized strategies and attention to detail greatly strengthened my application.
Debbie’s organizational skills, responsiveness, and insightful feedback were also invaluable. She helped me present my strengths effectively, and her genuine support and motivation made the journey enjoyable. I was worried initially as I was not good at taking standard tests. Thanks to her guidance, I eventually got admitted into M7 – an achievement I attribute to her expertise.
I wholeheartedly recommend Debbie to anyone seeking an admission consultant. Her professionalism, expertise, and personalized approach make her an outstanding choice. I am immensely grateful for her assistance in achieving this significant milestone in my career.
Harold Simansky was immensely helpful throughout the process of applying to early admissions MBA programs. As a student in my final semester of college studying computer science, I was unsure of what exactly top MBA programs were looking for in applicants. Harold helped me focus on the experiences that were most important, while also giving me suggestions on how I should best talk about these events. His perspective was extremely helpful when trying to explain my role in technical projects to a business-focused audience. Harold ultimately helped me get accepted to MIT Sloan’s early admissions MBA program, and I would highly recommend him as a consultant.
Gavriella Semaya is an exceptional MBA consultant who delivered outstanding results. Her expertise, professionalism, and dedication to her clients are truly commendable. From the start, Gavriella displayed a comprehensive understanding of the MBA application process, providing invaluable insights and advice that contributed to my success. Her personalized approach, strong work ethic, and unwavering commitment made me feel confident and supported throughout the journey. With Gavriella’s guidance, I was able to craft a compelling application and secure offers from prestigious business schools. I highly recommend Gavriella Semaya to anyone seeking expert MBA consulting services.
I experienced Jeremy as a fantastic admissions consultant. I did a free consultation with him ~10 months before Round 1 applications, during which he immediately added value by enthusiastically sharing ideas of how I can tell my story (which I struggled to see as unique before the consultation). I did 10-15 other such free consultations with firms and independent consultants, but most were dull and the consultants either lacked interest or I just didn’t feel I would click with them. Jeremy is a straight up person, not a sales person — he even told me he sees no value for me to do his firm’s or any other firm’s “pre application prep/early bird programs” and gave me two takeaways to beef up my profile before applications open. I did not listen to Jeremy and went with another highly rated firm’s program, only to be left disappointed. Fortunately, when I reached back out to Jeremy in May he was willing to work with me on my apps. From May to January, Jeremy always responded on time, offered fresh perspectives and ideas, guided me and asked the right questions, helped me tell my stories in the strongest way possible (the biggest value add for me personally), prepared me for interviews, and ultimately helped me navigate multiple M7 admissions offers, making his fees worth it. I would work with him again in a heartbeat.
I started working with Krista unsure if I could get into a top MBA program. I was worried about my subpar GPA and average test scores. Overall, I wasn’t very confident in myself or ability to get in. Because of Krista, I got into my top schools PLUS I landed sizeable scholarships! I’m so happy and 1000/10 recommend!
More info: From the first interaction, Krista was the ray of sunshine that cut through the fog and turned this murky, arduous process into something very clear, doable, and possible. She is so warm and easy to work with and so knowledgeable. Krista has an amazing process for getting key information out at every turn. The intake was key, she asked what I needed and had a clear process for me leading up to apps. She sent me the right emails at the right times and kept me honest and accountable both over e-communications and in meetings.
Essays were where I struggled most. As we went through, she helped me find the interesting, amazing nuggets and helped me focus on those as I wrote. I gained SO MUCH confidence throughout the process and felt myself growing and communicating better. The edits, ideas, redirects, and feedback Krista gave me were invaluable and she really pushed me to tell my story in a compelling way. The turnaround time for edits was also really appreciated, I knew I was pushing it toward the end of round 1 and she often delivered well before her guaranteed 48-hour window. By the end of it, I knew I had amazing applications and there would be nothing better.
Also, I really appreciated that Krista knew what I didn’t know and then would then ask me about it or nudge me into doing it. This was VITAL because applications are overwhelming and there is so much that you don’t know until it pops up (or you miss it.) Krista prepped me for each turn while also sharing AMAZING resources for anything you could conceive (coffee chats with students, school guides, visits, interviews, etc.) She also answered all my questions and connected me to opportunities I wouldn’t have known about.
One last thing – I really appreciated how Krista is so genuinely kind, pleasant, and wonderful to work with. We all need someone super qualified and good at what they do but you don’t know how much you really need someone who really cares about you, is in your corner, and is there for you on this crazy ride. That’s Krista, truly the best.
Bottom line: Krista is an amazing coach and person. I got into my schools WITH scholarships and it was absolutely worth it. Invest in yourself. Go with Krista.
Summary: Jessica’s exceptional storytelling skills, professionalism, efficiency, and phenomenal mentorship and coaching, which will impact your personal and professional life beyond the MBA application process, make her the best consultant. She is undoubtedly the highlight of my MBA application process. I highly recommend contacting Jessica if you plan to apply for business school.
Jessica is an amazingly incredible mentor, coacher, motivator, and so much more than just an MBA consultant. Before my free consultation with Jessica, I spoke with a few other consulting firms. Coming from a non-traditional background, most consultants asked me to complete pre-MBA courses or study/work abroad before applying to Business School. By the time I was going to have my call with Jessica, I was already demotivated by how all the other consultants talked about my weaknesses and how I won’t be able to get admitted to any Business School without signing on with them. I was incredibly impressed by how Jessica went more in-depth, sought to understand my strengths, and helped me promote those rather than looking for my weaknesses and trying to scare me into signing on with them. I was surprised how Jessica used the 30-minute window to encourage me and give me a game plan without waiting till I signed up with her, unlike the previous consultants who always ended the conversation mid-point, prompting me to sign up with them to hear the rest. She highlighted that there is no universally accepted “ideal candidate” for a business school, and I am indeed a unique applicant, but it shouldn’t be a bad thing but a good thing. She even emailed me after our meeting explaining why she thought I should apply and even went above and beyond to share my story with a couple of her colleagues to support her feedback.
Her work ethic makes you comfortable relying on her. She reviewed some of my urgent materials even though she was on vacation. She got back to my quick questions within minutes and always gave feedback on my application materials well before the deadlines. You notice her love and passion for what she does immediately after starting to work with her. The dedication and effort she put into my application made me feel she wanted me to get into my dream school as much as I did. Sometimes I felt like I was her only client with the attention she gave me. This proves how dedicated she is to each of her clients and how exceptional she is in managing her time among all her clients to ensure no one is left behind.
Jessica is an astonishing storyteller and has an impeccable ability to draw out relevant information from you to create a unique essay. Once you sign up with MBAMission, you will be given the “Brainstorming” document, among other things. The brainstorming file is where you will get the chance to tell your life story. All the significant events in your life from childhood to now so the consultant you are working with will learn about you and strategize how to articulate your story to the admissions committee. After completing the brainstorming file, which was a 22-page file in my case, my stories were all over the place, and I couldn’t have been more confused about what I should write in my essays. I had so many different stories which I wanted to tell in my application, but I couldn’t imagine how all these would fit in or how the flow would be. During our first brainstorming call, I realized how in-depth Jessica had studied my story and even had many follow-up questions. The story, which I once thought was all over the place, was creatively and strategically articulated into a beautiful piece by Jessica at the end of our call. She raised many questions during the essay writing process, which prompted me to think differently and creatively. Her intelligent questions encourage you to think about your life differently, which will reflect creatively in your essays.
Don’t think twice! She’s the best MBA coach you can work with, without any doubt!
My spouse and I were fortunate to work with Katy as our MBA admissions consultant. Our goal was to attend an M7 program and pursue an MBA together in the same city, and we achieved it!
From the beginning, Katy demonstrated a deep understanding of the MBA application process. I called her two years ago, and she spent over an hour speaking with me, way exceeding our allotted time. She quickly grasped my story and identified key themes. My spouse also had a pleasant consultation call with her. Katy sent each of us a thoughtful debrief, and I immediately knew I wanted to work with her. Despite still having over a year before applying to business school, Katy welcomed my numerous questions and provided thorough answers. She even advised trying the GRE if I struggled with the GMAT. Although switching from GMAT to GRE was challenging due to my prior investment, I’m grateful I made the move. I enjoyed studying for the GRE more, and my score, while not extraordinary, was sufficient for admission to the schools I applied to.
Katy is a highly sought-after consultant who only works with applicants she genuinely believes have a good chance at their desired schools. My spouse and I appreciated her honest feedback throughout the process and trusted her advice completely. Working with the same admissions consultant as your spouse makes it so much easier to create a cohesive story.
Katy worked closely with us from start to finish, thoroughly brainstorming ideas, refining essays, preparing for interviews, proofreading thank-you notes, and assisting with recommenders and scholarship applications. I went through 10+ drafts for almost all my essays, and Katy never discouraged me. She provided unwavering support and helped me refine my essays until I felt comfortable.
Katy’s assistance extended beyond application essays. She provided exceptional guidance and interview preparation. Mock interviews were instrumental in boosting our confidence. Thanks to Katy, none of my interviews were a surprise. I knew exactly how to approach them and had prepared for 90% of the questions asked. Katy provided a list of past questions, conducted mock interviews, and helped refine our answers to align with our true selves, making interview preparation effortless.
Additionally, Katy’s support and expertise were instrumental in securing strong recommendation letters. She guided all our recommenders, particularly those unfamiliar with writing recommendation letters for top MBA programs, to understand the letters’ importance. Katy helped us draft thorough memos highlighting our accomplishments, ensuring our recommendation letters showcased our full abilities. I truly believe my recommendation letters compensated for my less-than-stellar GRE scores.
Katy’s dedication to helping us secure scholarships exceeded our expectations. She willingly reviewed our scholarship essays, even months after I completed my business school applications. As a result, I received a full ride at Kellogg and scholarships from other M7 programs. My spouse also received a generous 40% scholarship from Kellogg. As a first-generation college graduate from a low-income background, the financial investment in a consultant felt extremely daunting. However, for fellow MBA hopefuls in similar circumstances, I assure you that a consultant like Katy is worth it.
Completing the application process has been a long-awaited dream, and we’re overjoyed to have achieved our goals and more. The MBA application journey demands a lot out of you, and having Katy by our side, someone truly committed to our success throughout the process, will pay dividends in the future. We were expecting to pay for our MBA at a sticker price, and I can’t believe I get to say that my spouse and I are going to Kellogg together and I get to go for free! We are immensely grateful to Katy. I wholeheartedly recommend Katharine Lewis to any aspiring MBA candidate seeking a knowledgeable, honest, dedicated, and results-driven admissions consultant. Good luck!
I had a wonderful experience working with Jen Kedrowski. I first spoke with Jen in November of 2022 after reading about her expertise in advising applicants to leading US as well as international MBA programs. It was clear during our first consultation that she was engaged and interested in learning about me on a personal level and was able to ask probing questions that allowed me to expand on experiences that shaped who I am as a business professional.
I was entering the MBA application process slightly late, so her expertise helped me create a curated timeline that took into consideration my upcoming testing dates as well as key application milestones. As someone from a non-traditional background, her process insights and timeline tips were extremely helpful. Her approach made me feel supported and confident that I wouldn’t miss any surprise or mystery variables at the end of an application.
Jen was highly responsive and provided clear instructions on how best to contact her based on the urgency and types of questions that arose. She took the time to help me identify specific program qualities I was looking for and provided insight into the optimal time in the application cycle to apply, given my test scores and specific work experience. With Jen’s help, I was admitted with merit-based scholarships to my top choices: Darden (UVA) and Cambridge University’s Judge Business School. I am truly grateful for the support Jen provided and would highly recommend working with such an experienced and thoughtful “coach” throughout this process.
The main reason I decided to get consultant service was that I felt I needed direction to prepare a strong success story and to deal with the whole process smoothly. I had 30 minutes free consultations with multiple consultants, however I easily made my decision as I realized that mbaMission and specifically, Jen was the best person to jump into this process with. I started working with Jen in November for R2. We were preparing the whole applications for 2 B-schools. Each of our sessions was very productive and helpful. Working with Jen was very nice and comfortable, she provided all the materials I needed during the process, she was open to answer any questions and to discuss any topic together, which was really helpful for me to make some decisions during the process. She has always been considering of my timeline and offered a flexible timeline for meetings. She was responding to all my emails and was returning all the documents we worked together on time, within the agreed timeline, which is essential, especially when you have so many things to do concurrently in a short period of time. Jen helped me to prepare for interviews. I think our mock interviews were super helpful and really close to the real ones. She gave very specific tips and made the preparation process much more easier. Her rich experience in this field, coupled with her motivation and hard work to deep dive into my story, helped me achieve the results, I could not even imagine. Thanks to Jen, I was admitted to both schools (one of them was my dream Business schools, LBS) and got scholarships from both of them. Besides all the professional things, I think she is a very honest and super kind person. I felt her support and cheerleading on each step. It was great pleasure to work and communicate with her. Having MBA consultant during the application journey is an important investment, however it is totally worth it.
After rigorously interviewing nine highly-recommended MBA admission consultants (not an exaggeration), it became evident from the outset that Debbie was, by all means, the superior choice: her efficiency, support, and results-oriented approach made her stand out. She adeptly identified the most compelling aspects of my narrative and professional track record, and accurately helped my find out which schools I would resonate most with.
Churning out that final draft with Debbie was no walk in the park – it was hard work but it was worth it! Debbie was always a step ahead, spotting improvements that I’d honestly never have thought of. She’s got this mind-blowing expertise for finding the little tweaks that make a huge difference – did I already mention that she has a HUGE attention to detail? And each time, her suggestions were spot on, adding some serious improvements to my application. Honestly, by the time we pulled our final masterpiece out of the “oven”, it was an MBA application that I felt super proud of – Which helped me get accepted into Booth!
I started the application process very, very late (late October/early November for Round 2) relative to what seems to me to be the standard timeline most take, so I knew I needed help (and maybe a little bit of discipline/tough love). Additionally, I come from a non-traditional, albeit international, niche family business background, so I had hesitancy around how to tell my story and describe why I wanted to pursue an MBA, even though I intrinsically knew.
After our first introductory call, Jessica had already broken my life story into 3 big themes, each of which had their own subplots–as if my life was a novel. (It is evident Jessica is a total bookworm, which I think contributes her remarkable ability to tell a great story–where you are the protagonist.) From there, Jessica helped me build my story as it should be best told in essay(s) form, giving me optionality along the way.
Jessica does not make you fit an “ideal” MBA candidate mold; there is no shoehorning you into one of X buckets. Rather, Jessica makes the essays and your profile on paper fit who you really are at heart.
Bluntly, without Jessica I am wholly skeptical that I would have the opportunity to attend HBS this fall. And even if I had been rejected from every school, I at least would have been able to sleep at night knowing I gave it my best shot. Thank you Jessica!
Kate is truly an exceptional consultant/guide/advisor. The MBA application process is very daunting and one of Kate’s many strengths was helping me manage all of the moving parts that go into an application. From our initial consultation, Kate helped me identify areas of my profile that needed attention while helping me identify schools/programs/career paths that would fit well into my profile and story. As an applicant from a nontraditional background (engineering/STEM), Kate was invaluable in guiding me to hit the sweet spot of showcasing my skills and experience without sounding like an engineering textbook. Something that I think really helped with my application was having Kate review my letters of recommendation. Kate worked directly with my recommenders to help them better understand what areas needed to be highlighted in their letters. It made me feel much better knowing that someone as experienced as Kate was reviewing the part of my application that I had little control over. Additionally, Kate helped me prepare for interviews (which I highly recommend) and acted as a sounding board for when I had to choose where to enroll out of the 4 amazing programs I was admitted to. I would not be where I am today without Kate. Thank you so much!!!
Giving a sporting analogy – if you aim to maximize your chances at world level competition, you need a professional coach. Katharine Lewis is not just a business school advisor. Katharine is that professional coach and, in my opinion, she is one of the best in the world.
I came to Katharine with a low GPA, unsure about the future and thinking that getting into a top 10 school would be highly unlikely. By the end of our cooperation, I was at the best shape of my life, knowing exactly what drives and motivates me, having a clear vision of where I want to be in the next 5-10 years and as a result presenting my best self to top business schools. Katharine, as a true coach, honestly identified my strengths and weakness, helped plan strict “training” schedule, set realistic targets and most importantly supported me at the times of failure. Furthermore, years of experience at the highest possible level allow her to understand what each individual school is looking for and thus help you structure your game plan accordingly.
The application process, just like training for the competition, is not always fun and is often demotivating, but Katharine understands her “athletes’” potential, believes in them and genuinely wants them to win. In my particular case, I retook GMAT 5 times and then got rejected from the first school I applied to. I was very close to giving up but Katharine reached out herself and proved to me that I could do better if I kept on going. As a result, I was accepted with scholarship to world’s top business school. To be honest, even more important than the eventual application success are the self-improvement and self-growth that occur through your work with Katharine. These translate into not just a successful business school application but personal growth in work and life in general. I would like to go as far as saying that this cooperation was a life changing experience and apart from advising working with Katharine to my friends, I will be trying to find new challenges on which to collaborate with Katharine again in the future.
I would highly recommend working with Devi for HBS interview prep. Once I was invited to interview, I reached out to Devi right away to schedule two interview sessions. It’s no mystery that the HBS interview is daunting, and Devi’s simulated HBS interviews were much more intense and realistic than mocking with my friends. After each of my interview sessions, Devi and I talked for over an hour about presentation skills and answering questions more succinctly and sounding less rehearsed. Additionally, Devi thoroughly reviewed my profile and worked with me to highlight stories that would help me stand out to an HBS interviewer. As advertised, my real HBS interview got very in the weeds, but I never felt rattled or attacked because I had prepared. Working with Devi gave me an extra boost of confidence and poise that I believe was a critical factor in my admission. Lastly, Devi was a pleasure to work with throughout the process and was truly invested in my success. If you’ve made it this far, you owe it to yourself to work with Devi to best position yourself for the interview! Good luck!
I had the absolute privilege of working with Melissa during a time of immense turmoil in my life, and her unwavering support and expertise proved to be instrumental in my journey towards securing a place in a top 20 business school. I got the 6-school package and from start to finish, she exceeded my expectations and I cannot recommend her enough.
I met Melissa through a former client who was a friend/professional connection who had nothing but incredible things to say about her. After our intro call, I knew that she was going to be perfect for me. Her personality, capabilities, and experiences were exactly what I was looking for in someone to guide me through this process.
One of the standout qualities of Melissa was her exceptional ability to craft a compelling narrative that effectively showcased my strengths and unique experiences. Her experience as former Admissions Director at Rice Jones means she knows what schools want and how to package yourself to best market yourself to admissions committees. I had good scores and grades from undergrad but my work experience was meaningful but I hadn’t worked traditionally in years as I had been at home working for family as a loved one suffered from health issues. While I KNEW this experience was the right thing to do I felt that I had undermined my chances of success by taking such a risk so early in my career. Melissa being the narrative genius that she is, however, took the time to understand my personal and professional background, and her insights helped me articulate my story in a way that resonated with admissions committees. Her guidance was invaluable, ensuring that my application still stood out among fierce competition while remaining authentic to myself and my story.
It is easy to forget that Melissa is a dedicated Mother and an extremely popular consultant. She delivered feedback and edits well ahead of schedule, allowing me ample time to review and make necessary revisions. Her organization and attention to detail instilled a sense of confidence and peace in me throughout a process that can be discouraging and hectic. I never once felt that I was competing for her attention or that her focus was anywhere else but on me during our times of working together. Her recommendations were never generalized and instead all felt like they were tailored for my personality and situation. It was easy to remain calm knowing Melissa was sweating the details as much as I was
What further sets Melissa apart from others is her ability to create a safe and non-judgmental environment. Despite the insecurities and self-doubt that accompanied this process, she never made me feel judged or inadequate. Her warm and supportive approach made it easy for me to open up and share my ideas or concerns. What is great about Melissa is that she is also going to tell you exactly what you need to hear even if it isn’t what you want at the time. It’s tempting to think your first draft of an essay or initial answer to a practice interview question will be perfect but it is often not and far from it. And Melissa helped ensure only the very best essays and answers to interview questions will be presented when the time comes. Because of our trust and the relationship we developed it was very easy to absorb the message without feeling a need to be defensive. You can TELL just through both her actions and words that she genuinely cares about your success and worked tirelessly to help me achieve my goals.
Working with Melissa was an absolute pleasure, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. If I had to repeat this process I’d hire her all over again without a second thought!
Before I had my initial consultation with Jessica, I met with three other admissions consulting firms. I found those sessions discouraging, as they didn’t like my chances at my target schools, but also frustrating because they based their forecasts on my outdated resume, demographic and the fact that I didn’t go to an Ivy or come from an MBA feeder company. They focused on what I didn’t have. Jessica, on the other hand, took an entirely different approach. She had researched my company ahead of time and took the time to ask me questions about my background. She wanted the consultation to be a value-add for me and took the time to answer my many questions. At the end of the session, she said that she thought I was a strong candidate for my target schools and explained her rationale.
Two days later, I signed on to work with Jessica and she was extremely helpful throughout the entire process. She had confidence in my ability to succeed, which gave me the confidence I needed. Jessica has a wealth of knowledge of all things MBA admissions. Whenever I asked her a question, I got a well-thought-out answer, informed by her experience seeing what worked or didn’t for the hundreds of applicants she’s worked with. Jessica took the time to understand my background by reading every word of my 25 page brainstorming document. She then mapped that to her wealth of experience to give me extremely valuable advice. Applying to business school is a mountain of work on top of a full-time job. Jessica kept me on course. She helped me stay organized to ensure I had time to submit my best work for each component of my applications.
I ended up getting into Stanford GSB, Booth and Kellogg and am incredibly grateful for all of Jessica’s advice throughout my MBA admissions journey.
Choosing to work with Harshad has been a blessing. From the start, he was genuinely interested in my story and believed that I could be admitted into a top school, even though I didn’t have quite the same conviction. He is thoughtful, patient, detail-oriented and direct. Of all his qualities, I most appreciated his respectful directness, as it enabled us to have an open and honest dialogue which increased our efficiency and improved the quality of my application.
Harshad’s belief in my candidacy instilled a sense of confidence I hadn’t previously exhibited. His unique introspective style challenged me to dig deep and create a compelling narrative for my essays, while also helping me realize why I want to truly pursue an MBA. This, coupled with his ability to create a powerful story helped transform my essays and changed the way in which I approach storytelling. He was also able to successfully change my interview style through our mock interviews. These new skills were not only critical in curating a successful application but will be pivotal in my career going forward.
In conclusion, Harshad has been both a consultant and a mentor. Outside of our work on essays, he consistently made time to discuss strategy, give advice and provide guidance on my future. I am certain there are many knowledgeable consultants out there, however very few have the ability to connect personally and share such a genuine interest in their client’s success. Harshad always went above and beyond and helped me get into three great schools – Yale SOM, INSEAD and NYU Stern. These schools would have been quite a reach had I worked alone. The process is undoubtedly pricey, but it has been the best investment I have ever made. I can’t recommend Harshad highly enough!
Jessica has been very transparent, helpful and smart during our collaboration. She is one of her kind because she takes care of every single detail of your profile that could enhance your chance to be enrolled for a top MBA program.
It’s been a pleasure to work with her, she has a great knowledge of all the top MBA programs and what the schools expect from the candidates. She has the ability to make your profile to be seemed stronger by investigating your fully profile starting from your childhood till now. She’s got a great work ethic which makes you relieved that there’s a great support behind you. By the help of her strategy and vision, I’ll be pursuing my MBA degree at one of the top schools in the US.
Krista is the best! She supported me through every step of my MBA application process and imparted invaluable interview, professional, and life advice along the way. I had an overall really positive application experience and ended up getting into 5 of the 7 schools I applied to (including HBS, Kellogg, Booth, Yale SOM, and Tuck)! After completing initial conversations with many consultants, the three things that stood out to me about Krista were (1) her organization and sense of care and urgency when reviewing work/sending comments; (2) her knowledge about different schools, the application process, and timelines; and (3) the kindness she showed throughout our time together while also adequately pushing me to reach my full potential.
I started my process early with Krista – before a lot of other consultants were even willing to take me on as a new client! I appreciated how she was willing to work on a schedule that I was comfortable with (aka very early), and I believe that her working style is a great fit for many types of candidates. She always returned work to me in a timely manner with clear comments on items I needed to revise and how I could frame my thoughts more clearly and succinctly for maximum impact.
She was also extremely knowledgeable about every step of the application process, from attending schools’ networking events to resume formatting to acing various interview types. These are just some of the reasons why I think having a consultant is a valuable resource. Krista is aware of statistics and trends that can overall help candidates approach their applications with an informed mindset. Most of all, she was able to help identify where my strengths lie and impart advice on how to craft the most compelling narrative given my background, experience, and interests.
Lastly, Krista was always compassionate and kind with her advice and suggestions. I definitely appreciate a “tough” approach when it comes to crafting the strongest possible application, but Krista did a great job of challenging me in an uplifting way. She was so thorough, especially with my interview prep, and I felt confident and ready for every part of the application journey.
Krista was not only a top notch consultant, but also a genuine mentor and friend who made what is usually a very stressful process much more manageable. Would 10/10 recommend Krista – it’s a decision you can’t go wrong with!!!
I recently had the pleasure of working with Jessica Shklar as my MBA consultant for the school application package, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. Jessica’s guidance and support throughout the entire process were invaluable, and I am truly grateful for her expertise.
From the beginning, Jessica took the time to understand my background, experiences, and aspirations. She helped me refine my career goals and identify the unique stories that would showcase my strengths and make my application stand out. Jessica’s collaborative approach not only made the process enjoyable but also allowed me to learn and grow during our time working together.
Thanks to the materials we created and the insights I gained from working with Jessica, I was able to apply to other schools with confidence. Although I did not get into HSW, I am thrilled to share that I have been accepted into an M7 school – a testament to Jessica’s exceptional guidance and support.
Jessica’s expertise, dedication, and genuine interest in my success made her an invaluable partner throughout my MBA application journey. For anyone considering an MBA consultant, I wholeheartedly recommend Jessica Shklar. With her help, you will undoubtedly put forth the best version of yourself and maximize your chances of success.
Thank you, Jessica, for your incredible support and for helping me achieve my goals.
When I first started thinking about my MBA applications, I was nervous. The idea of fixing up my resume and writing an essay centered around me seemed like an impossible task. It all turned around when I first started talking to Nisha. Immediately, she gave me the confidence I needed to tackle my MBA applications. She helped craft my story based on the brainstorm document that I filled out and gave great ideas on which essays would contribute to my story. She always turned around revisions super quickly and replied to any questions that I have just as quickly. When it came to the interview, she gave great ideas on how to tackle each problem (also based on the brainstorm document) and how to structure each answer. I got into both my MBA programs with amazing scholarships.
My experience working with Jessica has been phenomenal. She is experienced, perceptive, and dedicated – qualities that make her one of the best partners in the MBA application process. And that’s exactly what working with Jessica is: a partnership. I always felt like I had nothing but her full support every step of the way. While she would provide me with feedback informed by well over a decade’s worth of experience, I very much appreciated how she made it a point to frame them as suggestions and emphasize that I was in the “driver’s seat.” I was looking for someone who would work with me, not for me, and that’s exactly what Jessica does.
Jessica cares deeply about her clients’ success, even before they are clients. From the moment I did my introductory call with Jessica, I was beyond impressed with her willingness to help me, staying in touch with me over the coming weeks as she helped me work through testing strategies and application timeline options. As the application cycle progressed, Jessica was there to provide encouragement and empathy when I’d receive disappointing news, but she was also the first to celebrate my successes.
Throughout the process, I was constantly impressed by how responsive Jessica was to any questions or concerns I had. In addition, she is incredibly organized and efficient, churning through drafts and interview prep sessions all while still providing extremely valuable and specific feedback. It’s important to note that Jessica’s feedback is sometimes brutally honest – she doesn’t mince words. But that’s exactly what makes it so valuable. Jessica has extremely high standards and she holds you to them – but in the end, it’s worth it.
Working with Jessica allowed me to put my best foot forward, and I would highly, highly recommend her to anyone else who’s looking to do the same. I’ll be attending HBS next year, an outcome that wouldn’t have been possible without Jessica’s help.
Harold was instrumental in getting me into three top ten MBA programs, including my number one choice. Harold was most effective at getting me from authentic uncertainty in which career path I wanted to take down into a clean and clear narrative that made my case for why I wanted and needed an MBA. He was a calm, direct, and consistent presence that helped me channel these doubts into clarity. Additionally, his vast school specific knowledge was very helpful for expeditiously adapting my “Why XYZ school” essays in a manner that was authentic. Throughout the application process, Harold went above and beyond to ensure that I had my needs met. When up against application deadlines, Harold made sure to be available even when the policy of MBAMission provided him with extra time to respond, out of concern for my wellbeing and my applications. When it came time to choose a school, Harold was a sounding board throughout the process that I am exceedingly grateful for given the magnitude of a decision like this. I would highly recommend Harold to anyone, but particularly those that need a steadying hand to keep them on the right track.
Working with Gavriella was an absolute pleasure and I cannot recommend her enough. I can truly say I would not have gotten into my school, much less a full scholarship, without her support and guidance. She is a highly skilled communicator and was able to help me organize my thoughts in a clear and concise manner, ultimately enabling me to put my best foot forward.
On top of communication, Gavriella was always very quick to respond and provide feedback. I started the application process late in the cycle and as a result had to work into the early morning, but Gavriella would also review and respond well ahead of the mbaMission response times. As a result, I was able to submit 9 applications in a matter of weeks.
Gavriella also has a deep understanding of what AdComs look for, and ways to strengthen applications as a result. Coming from an unimpressive undergrad with an equally average GPA, she advised me to complete MBAMath.com, which was not remotely on my radar. This paid off as the AdCom asked for the transcript prior to offering admission.
Finally, Gavriella was a pleasure to work with. She acted as a partner throughout this whole process, and I felt she was genuinely interested in my success. I fully plan to partner with her in the future for executive coaching (or any other needs that may arise).
Susan was instrumental in helping me gain admission to my top-choice schools. I opted for the Start-to-Finish package, and Susan provided me with invaluable guidance throughout the process.
From the outset, Susan invested considerable time in getting to know me and my background. She employed a strategic approach to identify my unique strengths and determine the target schools that would best suit my profile.
Susan was adept at crafting compelling narratives that were both creative and coherent. Her ability to distill complex ideas into clear, concise language proved especially valuable, given my tendency to be overly verbose.
With Susan’s guidance, I was able to construct compelling arguments that demonstrated my suitability for each of the schools I applied to. Her keen eye for detail and honest, constructive feedback helped me refine my essays until they were polished and persuasive.
I was impressed by Susan’s responsiveness and the quick turnaround time she provided for feedback. Her candid approach, while challenging at times, helped me to produce my best work.
In the end, Susan’s coaching proved indispensable. Thanks to her efforts, I was admitted to Kellogg and Booth with generous scholarships and waitlisted at Sloan. I wholeheartedly recommend Susan to anyone seeking a thoughtful, caring coach to guide them through the admissions process.
John helped me navigate the challenging process of applying to four of M7 business schools, resulting in being admitted to Booth and waitlisted at Wharton despite below-average test scores for a private equity applicant applying in R2.
What sets John apart is his ability to truly listen and understand unique backgrounds and experiences. In my case, I had a unique life story that included numerous setbacks and challenges. For years, I was unsure how to reconcile various stories and experiences to showcase my strengths in a coherent story that ties them all together. However, John took the time to identify the key experiences and focus areas and helped me develop a compelling narrative that highlighted my resilience, leadership skills, and ability to overcome adversity in personal and professional contexts.
Furthermore, I struggled with standardized testing and despite trying several times, had below-average GMAT/GRE scores that initially made me doubt my chances of admission. However, John was able to help me focus my application on other strengths of my application that demonstrated my academic abilities and potential for success in business school.
John has a rare talent for helping applicants uncover their unique strengths and tell their stories in a compelling and authentic way. Not only did he help me gain admission to the best business school, working together foremost helped me understand myself better.
I’m a candidate from Singapore and I worked with Julie-Anne as an hourly client for one month before I submitted my application as well as throughout the interview process. She was a fantastic consultant and I was admitted to HBS and Wharton.
Julie-Anne was incredibly helpful when it came to brainstorming ideas for my application essays. With her help, I was able to pick out the stories and experiences that had shaped me the most in my life and through her probing questions and willingness to go deep, I was able to find the common thread that tied those stories together, something I had never quite been able to do before. The outcome of our brainstorming sessions ended up being the crux of my essays and enabled me to showcase how I had gotten to where I was and explain what had led me there. If you’re looking for a consultant to help you better understand and craft your story, she’s the one to go for.
She was also great at helping me make my writing more impactful, answering the many many questions I had, and giving me sound advice on how to go about the process. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience that helps to take the uncertainty and anxiety out of the application process – something I found very helpful. My favourite part about working with Julie-Anne though was her constant enthusiasm and encouragement. She was fully invested in the entire process and truly cared about how I did.
If you’re looking for a consultant who is kind, effective, encouraging and highly-skilled at what she does, you can’t go wrong with Julie-Anne!
I worked with Devi to prepare for my HBS interview, and it was game changing. Through her tough love, genuine interest in all her clients, and ability to understand you as a candidate in a matter of minutes, Devi sets you up to be comfortable with any question you’re thrown. She was instrumental in my admission.
During our two mock interviews, Devi taught me how to discuss the consulting projects I had worked on in a way that revealed my true contributions and demonstrated the work I had put in to achieve my goals. She encouraged me not to shy away from openly sharing my accomplishments and taught me how to do so with humility. And she showed me how to allow myself to be honest and vulnerable in my interview, while letting the best parts of me shine through. Most of all, she gave me the confidence I needed to be able to answer any question. Devi is also genuinely passionate about her clients. She made the time to give me a pep talk call the evening before my interview and that made a huge difference to how I felt on the day!
If you’re fortunate enough to have gotten the interview call from HBS, you can’t go wrong doing a mock interview with Devi. These are skills that are useful not only for interviews, but for how we share our stories and accomplishments throughout our lives. Thank you Devi!
I could not have asked for a better consultant. Nisha was always respond her emails on time and without her comments and feedback, I don’t think I would be in the current situation where I am admitted to my desirable school.
I purchased an hourly service package to supplement Applicantlab. I was able to secure interviews from 4 schools and received 3 acceptances. I am now matriculating in my top school.
I was looking for someone who could bring my story alive and is an excellent writer. I worked with Gavriella on 6 top 20 B school applications. She made a difference without a doubt. She provided great suggestions that helped me achieve the results I did.
Gavriella is knowledgeable, thoughtful, and supportive. She knows how to present candidates in the best light possible without misrepresenting or embellishing achievements too much. She understands the balance and never shies away from challenging your thought process or providing critical feedback.
I could not have asked for a better consultant. It was worth every penny.
I’m coming from a very traditional background – 2 yrs of IB, and 2 years of PE (US based). I needed to differentiate myself through my story and application. I wanted someone who would be very direct and honest with me, and Julie-Anne was. She tells you what you need to hear. She was also super responsive and available – whenever you needed to chat, she found a way to accommodate. I decided to apply in July, with <5 weeks before the Round 1 deadline. While other consultants I spoke to told me I shouldn’t try to make the deadline, Julie-Anne encouraged me to go for it if I wanted to – she helped me ramp up quickly and made sure I was in a position to submit for the R1 deadline. Julie-Anne was a HUGE reason I got into both of my dream schools – I truly could not have done it without her. I' ve recommended her to every single one of my friends so far!
Overall: Krista is fantastic. I cannot leave a more positive or heartfelt review. Working with Krista was the best decision I made during the application process and the result: “The answer is yes!” (I got into HBS, my dream school!) The b-school application process is stressful, time consuming, emotional and overall exhausting. Having a guide like Krista was truly life saver. She is a dream to work with and without a doubt worth the investment.
Bedside Manner: Warm, supportive, honest, insightful, professional, bubbly. Gets to know you as a person beyond your application. Cheerleader, cares about you and is invested in you.
Essay specific: What made Krista really valuable during the essay process beyond just an objective third party’s feedback were 2 things: First, she provided very specific guidance on the structure and content of the essays. After filling out the comprehensive brainstorming doc (~19 pages), brainstorming with her over zoom and proving bullets on my ideas for a particular essay, there was so much content to work through. Krista not only digested all this content, but knew it by heart and came to the session with a blueprint for each essay – 250 words on x, 100 on y, then 400 on Z. This took all guessing away from the essay writing and let me focus on telling my story in the best way possible. It was a huge time saver and took away all of the guesswork.
Second, Krista understands how to speak the language of each school and what resonates with AdCom. Every school has a different culture, different things that they look for in students, different ways AdCom evaluates someone’s story. Krista’s deep first hand knowledge and experience on how to speak to each school and how they’ve historically reacted to someone’s story was invaluable to me. My story never changed, but the way I told it and what I highlighted did depending upon the prompt and the school. This was, for me personally, the single biggest value add. Krista was brilliant in helping me craft my story to speak to my target audience in a compelling way. No 2 essays of mine were alike.
Beyond those two points, the feedback she provided was always spot on. She was extremely responsive and detailed. Extremely adaptable to my feedback and the overall evolution of the essay. And always trying to show you at your best.
Interview Prep: Krista prepared me extremely well for all my interviews (5 in total). There wasn’t a single question I wasn’t prepared for or hadn’t thought about due to our prep together. She also gave very specific feedback to each answer I gave drawing on her accumulated knowledge of me.
I worked with Devi using the complete Start-to-Finish package from mbaMission.
Whilst my work experience and GPA average were strong, my test scores were on the lower end of the range. She really helped me brainstorm all possible scenarios to create the best story for my essays. She pushed me and guided me to find my voice and make sure to highlight my accomplishments, believe in my story, and believe in my applications.
She went above and beyond to support me throughout the application process — even going out of her way to help me prepare for interviews for schools that were not part of my initial package. When I lost faith in my chances, Devi was always there to show me the way and help me reframe, ultimately helping me land a spot at the school that perfectly fits my profile and ambitions — with a scholarship!
Beyond the application, Devi thought me how to talk through my story: how to make sure to bring together all the experiences that make me stand out — no accomplishment is a small accomplishment! I couldn’t recommend Devi enough. Thank you for believing in me more than I believed in myself!
Devi is an outstanding interview coach, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. I had the pleasure of working with Devi to prepare for my Stanford interview, and she helped me tremendously in honing my communication skills and structuring my answers.
What I appreciated most about Devi was her honesty and directness. She never sugarcoated anything, and her feedback was always to the point. Her blunt feedback pushed me to prepare for the interview properly and motivated me to work harder to achieve my goals.
Devi’s expertise in interview preparation is second to none, and her guidance was invaluable. She provided me with a structured approach to answering interview questions, which helped me to be more confident in my responses. She also gave me excellent tips on how to present myself in the best possible light and how to handle difficult questions.
Thanks to Devi’s guidance, I was able to ace my Stanford interview, and I believe I would not have reached this level of confidence and preparation without her help. She truly goes above and beyond to ensure that her clients are fully prepared and ready to succeed.
Overall, if you’re looking for an interview coach who will be honest, direct, and provide you with the tools to succeed, Devi is the one for you. She is an exceptional coach, and I cannot recommend her highly enough.
Devi is exceptional. I worked with her for the HBS interview prep. Her intensive mock interviews were instrumental in helping me feel confident and relaxed during the actual interview. Thanks to Devi’s background and expertise, I was able to anticipate and confidently answer all possible questions, making the interview feel like a casual conversation.
Devi’s approach is highly personalized and thoughtful, and she provided me with detailed feedback and guidance throughout the interview preparation process. She helped me structure my story in a way that conveys my strong suit and full potential.
In just a few intensive sessions with her, I was able to improve and I was admitted to HBS.
After working with current students and the hourly consultant I had been working with to prep, I was still left uncertain about how to foolproof my HBS interview prep. Knew what I wanted to say, but wasn’t sure how I’d convey it within the context of the HBS interview format.
Found Devi after extensive research. She had clearly taken the time to understand my application before our first session and asked all the right questions to push me. She immediately found where I had unease in the presentation of my stories/responses.
Devi then worked with me to expertly tailor my framing and responses to ensure I was answering the questions at hand while demonstrating I had the expertise & a passion that I had worked so hard to convey in my application. After 2 sessions I was left feeling beyond prepared. It’s INSANELY impressive how efficient and targeted she is within the one-hour session (i.e. every minute is worth what you’re paying).
Devi isn’t there to help you fluff your responses, she thinks critically about the actual content you’re sharing b/c she has the business mindset herself. In one case she helped me simplify how I spoke about the business model of my company from 3 minutes to a pithy 1 minute easy to understand response.
On interview day I was able to relax and enjoy the conversation because I was prepared and knew what I wanted to convey. Eventually was accepted to HBS!!! I wish I had used Devi from day 1 of application process!
I entered the MBA application process with a lot of unanswered questions, knowing it was a daunting process that would require ongoing support from an unbiased third party. I’m fortunate that I had the chance to work with Nisha for almost a year as I navigated decisions on which schools to apply to, how to structure my application, and how to fine-tune my essays. From our first meeting, Nisha listened to my ideas, thoughts, and questions very closely. I could always trust her to respond promptly and make herself available as soon as I needed her guidance, and I knew from her many years of MBA consulting experience that I was in good hands. Nisha understood my goals from an MBA program and could gently suggest new schools or application approaches that accommodated my personal strengths and weaknesses. Her feedback is very direct and constructive, and she knows how to encourage you over a prolonged application process. I’d recommend working with Nisha to anyone considering getting support from a professional. Thanks to Nisha’s support, I’m joining Kellogg’s 1Y MBA program next month and am excited about my future.
Harold was a committed partner to me throughout the entire application process. I am Australian and the MBA application process is largely foreign to myself and my peers, so it was great to have someone on the ground I could field my questions to and better navigate the application process.
We started our partnership with Harold helping refine my list of application schools based on my character, what I was looking to get out of an MBA, and where I was likely to be competitive given my CV and GMAT score. He was super knowledgeable about the nuanced difference between schools and was candid and pragmatic with where he believed I was likely to have a shot.
He was prompt always in turning around essay feedback and helping me hero my strengths in a way that translated clearly to admissions. He was also always available for ad hoc requests and queries about interviews and processes.
Harold is a really great guy who is truly invested in seeing his clients succeed! With Harold, I got 3/5 interviews and 2/5 offers from my dream list of schools.
Debbie is the rockstar you need to get you into your dream business school. She will be brutally honest with you because she has one single goal – to get you accepted. And trust me – she knows what she is doing so do listen to her. I did and this fall I will start my MBA at the only school I applied to – Chicago Booth.
Applying to business school has been my dream for 10 years and I knew that when the time came, I wanted to do it the right way which meant hiring someone who does admission consulting for a living. MBA Mission is the clear golden standard but I still decided to have a consultation with Stacey Blackman. That consultation reinforced my belief that the best firm you can hire is the one that has full-time consultants with MBA degrees (people who have gone through exactly what we are going through now) and has a track record of helping applicants get accepted – regardless of whether they have AdComm experience. No other firm can match what MBA Mission offers. After I went through all reviews on GMAT Club and Poets and Quants, I knew Debbie is my consultant – someone easy-going and friendly I can easily connect to. I chose Debbie and MBA Mission instead of someone from another firm who actually was on the admission committee at Booth.
Debbie is genuine, always on time with her feedback, and very easy to work with. She would answer all of your questions and guide you through the whole process of preparing your application. Debbie was tremendously helpful in advising me on how I should organize my stories and what I should emphasize in my essays and CV. When I started writing, I came up with so many ideas and in my pursuit of sounding unique, I ended up writing too much and still missing some key points that would help the admissions committee understand who I am and what my goals are. My first draft of the required essay was too far from where it needed to be, but Debbie was honest enough to tell me the truth so I started from scratch and re-wrote the whole essay. My CEO tried to help me with my career essay but Debbie was honest enough to tell me that my original version was actually better and I should keep my voice and style of writing. Debbie will not write instead of you but she will advise you on how to write better. In the end, I’m really proud of all essays I wrote. In addition, thanks to Debbie, I couldn’t have ended up with a better, more polished, and more impactful CV than the one I have now.
I had a very positive experience with Debbie, I produced a very strong application with her help and I ended up being accepted to Booth. I got all I wanted and I can’t recommend Debbie enough. Dreams do come true but you need to put in the work needed – hiring someone experienced like Debbie is a must.
I cannot recommend Devi highly enough for anyone who receives an HBS interview invitation or is considering working with a consultant for their MBA application. Working with her was an absolute game-changer for me, and I know that her exceptional knowledge of the HBS interview process and her personalized guidance were instrumental to my success.
When I received an interview invitation from HBS, I knew I needed to bring my A-game. I had the good fortune to speak with Devi during Round 1, but I didn’t move forward with a full MBA package at that time. When I decided to apply again for Round 2, I promised myself that if I received an interview invitation, I would work with Devi. Her credentials, reviews, and experience gave me every confidence that I was making the right choice. And I was absolutely right.
With only ten days to prepare, I booked two HBS Intensive Interview Simulation Sessions with Devi. She took a deep dive into my application, resume, and essays and came up with an incredibly tailored set of questions that challenged me and identified my flaws. But that was just the beginning. Devi provided clear, structured, and actionable feedback that made a real difference in my communication and mindset. Not only that, but she went beyond the “interview mechanics” to build my confidence and help me be my authentic self throughout the interview.
Thanks to Devi’s unparalleled guidance, I felt completely prepared and confident on the day of the interview. It was an incredible feeling to walk out of that building knowing I had done my best.
Devi, I cannot thank you enough for your amazing coaching and mentorship throughout this process. You truly are an inspiring and wonderful person, and I am grateful beyond words for your help in achieving this life-changing accomplishment. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
When I was invited to interview at HBS, I was admittedly a little nervous about the high cost of working with Devi for interview prep. But I wanted to put my best foot forward, and I’m so happy I made that decision. Simply put, Devi is an absolute professional at what she does. She delivers a realistic mock interview that quite frankly matches the intensity and pace of the real deal. Devi comes prepared with thought-provoking and challenging questions and has very high expectations. Her feedback is blunt and to the point, but that’s exactly what makes it so valuable. Devi’s first-hand experience with the process shines through as she provides specific, actionable advice on how to best present your authentic self. Not to mention that well over half of the questions we practiced in our mock interviews were asked (sometimes verbatim) during my actual interview. If you want to walk into your HBS interview knowing that you’ve done everything you possibly could to prepare, work with Devi! I made the same decision, and strongly believe that it helped me secure admission to HBS.
Devi helped me gain admission to the MS/MBA program at Harvard. Just a week before the HBS deadline, I started second-guessing my application materials and was so fortunate to connect with Devi. She was able immediately to discern the shortcomings of my essay; she helped me identify new material to add and reframe the narrative to be much more compelling.
After I was invited to interview, Devi really showed how she is peerless as an expert on HBS. I signed up for two sessions of her intensive interview simulation. Whereas other consultants might know the general types of questions that might come up in the HBS interview, Devi understands the exact mindset that the interviewer takes on when reviewing a candidate’s background and crafting lines of questioning, having done so for many years as an interviewer herself. Walking me through every part of my background, she showed me how, by intimately knowing my own story, I could weather any question no matter how unpredictable. Further, coming in with an engineering background, I had a tendency to get caught up in explaining the technical aspects of my roles and experiences. Devi taught me how to convert my experiences into eloquent stories that would be understandable and resonate with a business school interviewer.
I was actually shocked at how smoothly my HBS interview went; it was by far the strongest of my five MBA interviews. It’s incredible how well Devi is able to prepare her clients, especially those like myself for whom interviewing doesn’t come so naturally. She provides a truly tailor-made prep experience for every single one of her clients, and it’s that paired with her deep expertise that makes her unparalleled as an admissions consultant.
Finally, I have to highlight how much of a pleasure it is to work with Devi. She was so sincerely invested in my success and cared deeply to support me as best she could. I’m eternally grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Devi and look back fondly on the entire experience. I cannot recommend her any more highly to anyone striving for an HBS acceptance!
From the perspective of a graduating college student from an African university encountering deferred MBAs for the first time, the MBA application process immediately struck me as a daunting, overwhelming, and expensive experience. I was unsure if I was willing to commit to the sheer amount of hours the process demanded.
After meeting Ms. Shklar for a free consultation, however, I felt a lot more confident and had a bolstered sense of belief in myself. Here’s why: 1. Ms. Shklar offered very constructive feedback on my resume review. – She advised me on how to better frame each bullet point on my resume, using an “accomplishments not responsibilities” framework. Combined with mbaMission resources like free insider guides and YouTube videos on how to get into respective MBA programs, this content allowed me to better contextualize my work experience.
2. She offered keen insight into how Admissions Committees work. – I didn’t score as well as I would have liked on my GRE, hence mbaMission’s “Acknowledge/Explain/Pivot” came in very handy when explaining why this shouldn’t be an issue in my additional information section. – Ms. Shklar’s “WISP” method was also a valuable tool I used to guide my recommenders through the dreaded “constructive feedback” essay. Of course, all these strategies were supplemented with mbaMission’s free personal statement and letters of recommendation guides. – Not to mention, of course, the value of applying regardless of not being accepted in the deferred MBA programs.
3. She offered a personable approach. – Even as I explained my context and background, Ms. Shklar was exceedingly understanding and gave me practical advice on how I can leverage my “Africanness” in my stories and overall application. – Even after consultation, Ms. Shklar followed up with a catalog of resources to supplement my application process and was always open to answering any questions I had about the process.
Regardless of the outcome of my application, I am grateful for the openness and kindness Ms. Shklar showed throughout our interactions and would recommend her to any and all prospective MBA applicants.
Jessica is absolutely phenomenal — my only advice is to sign-up ASAP. Right from the introductory call to editing essays to interview prep, Jessica redefined all my expectations. She was the secret ingredient to my HBS and GSB acceptances.
Context: I signed up for the 2-school package: 1. She came highly recommended and had an extremely impressive track record: My mentor and a close college friend had both worked with Jessica, and both had received admission to their top choices 2. Introductory call: Jessica immediately put me at ease as we chatted through my background and experience — even though she had known me for all of 15 minutes, it was clear that I was speaking with someone who was not only experienced but also extremely insightful
Highlights 1. Crafts a powerful story: My favorite part about working with Jessica is that she spent a lot of time/energy in understanding me/my story. My biggest concern was that I had many varied experiences that did not necessarily flow together as a cohesive story. After our initial brainstorming session, Jessica gave me 3 strong ideas for my core essays — I was extremely, extremely impressed. She read ~30 pages on my background and within 12 hours had woven together unique, compelling narratives. The HARDEST part of the MBA process is delving deep and pushing yourself to come up with your narrative — and this is exactly where Jessica shines! 2. Encourages you to stay true to yourself: Jessica will never make you sign-up for extracurriculars etc. to fit a mold; she takes existing accomplishments to build a powerful story! This is rare — other consultants wanted me to take on additional competitions/extracurriculars that were not true to who I was 3. Attention to detail and focus on crafting consistent applications: Jessica is able to zoom out and view your application holistically (which is what AdComm will do). She does full reads of your application and encourages you to pay attention to even the short answers, ensuring that every word in your application conveys something unique and important to the school. I distinctly recall how Jessica noticed that I had highlighted contradictory points in different parts of my application — she knew my application better than I did!. 4. (Patient) accountability partner: I had procrastinated a lot (i.e., did not have the v1 draft by mid-July); Jessica was kind, but straightforward: she gave me the push that I needed to get started on my packet. Without Jessica as my core accountability partner, I might not even have gathered all the application components in time. She moved fast without compromising quality and ensured that I was able to pull together a top-notch application in <2 months. 5. Thoughtful, empathetic, and caring: Since I was running behind schedule, Jessica always made time for me (e.g., she took a call on July 4th despite it being a holiday weekend). Jessica really, really cares about her clients
Jessica has 15+ years of experience (I know 4 people who have worked with her and EACH of them has received admission to one of HBS, GSB, or both); is an excellent writer (her edits/suggestions really “punch” up the story-telling); is insightful story-teller (helps with brainstorming/ideas for every piece of the application); and is a strong communicator (she immediately recognized my weakness in interviewing would be my verbose style).
I was accepted to both schools that I applied to and can confidently say that I would never have been able to achieve this without her. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend both MBAMission & Jessica. Don’t think twice.
Krista is the reason I was admitted into top programs including HBS, Wharton, Tuck, and others, and almost all with scholarship money totaling almost $500,000. Go with Krista, you won’t regret it.
From our very first conversation, Krista believed in me when I doubted myself. I was on the (slightly) older side yet didn’t have direct management experience; I came from a decidedly “non-analytical” background; and there was a long tail of other insecurities I had about my candidacy for business school. Krista saw something in me, and she helped me find and amplify my authentic voice. I was on the fence about hiring an admissions consultant because I considered myself a good (enough) writer, but boy am I relieved I was able to work with Krista.
I could not be happier that I chose Krista after doing many free consultations: Here is what I think she brings:
Krista has a preternatural ability to bring stories to life. As a person with a technical software background, I was concerned about explaining my accomplishments in a way that felt impactful yet understandable to a non-technical audience. It turned out not to be a concern at all. For every technical project that I explained in my resume or in one of my essays, Krista encouraged me to “paint a picture” for the reader. Going from an “I did this” to a “this was the impact” mentality was difficult for me, but with Krista’s help, projects that were so esoteric that I almost considered leaving out of my application were now the strongest advocates for my candidacy.
While Krista guarantees a 48-hour turnaround time for reviewing essay drafts, she consistently over-delivers, providing feedback more often than not within 24 hours. As a chronic procrastinator, I felt solace knowing that Krista had my back and actively supported me even—or rather, especially—when R2 deadlines were fast approaching. I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to iterate on drafts of my essays quickly enough before the deadline, but Krista went above and beyond in establishing even quicker turnaround times that worked with my personal timeline. During times of unbelievable stress, it is a huge relief knowing that your admissions consultant is in the trenches with you, fighting just as hard for you as you are fighting for yourself.
I could go on and on about how she has key insights about specific schools and programs that you can’t find online, how she is always willing to meet with you for even the most trivial of concerns, or how she sends you pump-up emails on interview day because she is so invested in your personal journey, but if you’ve made it to this section of the review, I hope you are already convinced. Krista was able to take an incredibly stressful application process and turn it into a fun and enjoyable experience.
I cannot recommend Krista enough to anyone who is truly serious about maximizing their chances to get into a top business school. I can’t imagine what my application would have looked like without Krista’s help, and thankfully I don’t have to.
When I first started working with Julie-Anne, I had a bunch of jumbled ideas that didn’t fully mesh together. Julie-Anne worked with me tirelessly to help me clarify my message and gain admission to my top-choice school. I have no doubt that Julie-Anne’s help with my essays and resume played a key role in my admission to my top-choice school. I could not recommend Julie-Anne more highly. She is honest, empathetic, and always willing to help – no matter how small an ask. Julie-Anne is simply the best.
After getting the GMAT score I wanted just about a month before the Round two deadline for the two schools I wanted to apply to and with absolutely no progress in my applications, I got in contact with Kim and she took the challenge of helping me with my application despite the tight timeline.
She was totally invested in my applications. She designed a delivery plan for me to work on and gave me faster than the standard reviews on my work.
After the application, she prepared me for the interviews and gave me tips that definitely made a difference in getting accepted into both schools I applied to.
I really enjoyed working with Kim and I’m 100% sure she will be of great help to anyone working with her (even if it means working on a tight timeline!!)
Our Partner Sites: Poets&Quants for Execs | Poets&Quants for Undergrads | Tipping the Scales | We See Genius