mbaMission | MBA Admissions Consultants

The best part about mbaMission is the fact that you can work with all of its consultants. Knowing that I wanted to attend Chicago Booth, I requested Kate (an alum) and could not have been more pleased with the experience. I started with the 30 minute free consultation and quickly realized I would need some assistance reviewing my essays. After Kate described all the available services, I purchased the hourly package due to the flexibility – under this option, the consultants work on anything you need (resume, essays, interview prep, etc.). There is a standard two business day turnaround on essays, so factor that into your schedule.
Kate was personable, honest, candid and extremely efficient (very important in the hourly package option). She not only corrected grammatical issues, but also improved the flow and content of my essays. Kate challenged me to increase the personalization of my essays and I could clearly feel that she was an advocate of mine; she did everything she could to bring out the best in my application to Chicago Booth. After feeling comfortable with my essays, I used the remainder of my time for interview prep – again, this is a great feature of hourly services. Kate had a few practice questions to go over, and shared some of her experiences as an alumni interviewer. Throughout the entire process I learned more about myself and why I am pursuing my MBA – Kate was an invaluable asset during the application process and she is one of the main reasons I will be starting at Chicago Booth in June!

When I first started the MBA application process, I really had no idea where to begin. I was one of the first of my peers to apply to business school and was coming from a somewhat non-traditional background (family business).

After doing some preliminary research, I decided to reach out to MBAMission and set up an initial consultation with Jessica Shklar. In our first meeting, I was immediately blown away by how much interest Jessica showed in my story and how much it genuinely seemed that she cared about my future (and admission to the business school of my choosing). Even in our first consultation, she was already coming up with the best possible ways to tell my “story” and present my accomplishments.

Throughout the admissions process, Jessica was there every step of the way. From reviewing my resume until it was absolutely perfect to going through iteration after iteration of my essays, Jessica was always willing to help and guide me through the process. Jessica was especially helpful during the “waiting” process, always willing to calm my nerves and answer any calls/emails/questions I had (no matter how often and I’m sure annoying!).

In summary, I really could not be happier with the consulting experience Jessica provided for me. I would not be where I am today without her help and truly believe that she is the reason I was accepted to Columbia Business School.

I chose mbaMission and specifically Jessica on the recommendation of a friend who applied to business school the year before me and thought that mbaMission was the reason that he was able to get into a great school and complete his applications on time, and I could not agree more.

I was extremely impressed with Jessica from the start of my consultation and have recommended her to friends already. The consultation is a free 30 min session and I assumed that she would mainly sell me on mbaMission. However, she did so much more than that. I did my consultation 6 months prior to starting the application process and I asked her what I could do to strengthen my application. Because she had spent time looking into my resume and activities, she gave me actionable items which I did over the next 6 months that really strengthened my application with tangible examples – and that was even before I hired her!

I decided to apply to 6 schools and I do not believe that I could have done it without Jessica. The ability to send an essay off to Jessica and have her look at it with fresh eyes and a different and honest perspective was so valuable. Not only did it help me stay on track with timing throughout the process, but she also had a different perspective and would point out when I said something that didn’t make sense due to company/industry terminology, didn’t answer the school’s question or was not my best work.

Her ability to answer quick questions that would have taken me valuable time to research (and who knows if I would’ve gotten the correct answer) and help me with interview prep kept me sane through the process and helped me feel confident and prepared during the interviews.

I think that the brainstorming sessions however, were where Jessica really went above and beyond my expectations. My brainstorming doc was a total of 26 pages full of disjointed random things and stories. I was so impressed how Jessica was able to connect my work, health situation, volunteer, and family experiences all into one strong story full of rich, measurable, tangible examples. She even pulled some great quotes from my doc that I used as my intros to many of my essays! The story she helped me create really painted the best picture of me as a candidate and enabled me to get into one of my top schools which I am so excited to attend!

I considered taking a go-it-alone approach to writing applications. With a solid GMAT score and 6.0 on my AWA, I felt perfectly qualified to write good essays. However, I had a low GPA from a non-prestigious school and felt those red flags might overshadow my strong work experience and extra curricular activities. I wanted to make sure I communicated my accomplishments and goals as effectively as possible so I made the decision to work with a consultant.

Initially, I felt a little apprehensive about hiring outside help. I worried that this person would encourage me to say what Adcoms wanted to hear and submit essays that didn’t truly reflect my voice and personality. I worried that the other applicants working with the same consultant would present similar stories in similar voices. I worried that I might be wasting my money on a service that gets paid regardless of the outcome. I interviewed consultants from multiple companies, asking them specific questions about their experiences with past clients. Besides being incredibly intelligent and articulate, Jessica Shklar stood out as someone who remembers her clients better than anyone and even seemed emotionally invested in their success. As we worked together over the course of several months, at five key times I remember thinking to myself, “wow, working with Jessica was a really good decision.”

Receiving feedback on my first resume draft. I thought my resume looked great, like, if there was one area where she would have little to no feedback, it was this. When she returned my resume covered with red ink, I realized I had a lot to learn about describing my work to readers who are completely unfamiliar my career field. My problem: I was too modest in some areas, not specific enough in others, and a little too qualitative in my descriptions. After five drafts the final resume looked incredible. Nothing about it was embellished or untrue, Jessica’s outside perspective simply helped me describe my own experience – basically giving me full credit for everything I had accomplished.
The initial brainstorming session. Over the course of 2 hours we pored over my nearly 20-page questionnaire and pulled out some of my most interesting and impactful stories. After dreading the application process for so long, I finished that conversation with an overall plan for my apps and couldn’t wait to write my first essay.
Finishing my first essay (one down, a dozen to go). From start to final draft, the first essay ended up taking seven days. I thought my initial draft was terrific and almost good enough to submit. Jessica returned my document with insightful and constructive comments that literally covered the pages. For example, she would suggest that I change one word to make a specific sentence sound more positive. Or she’d tell me to explain things in more detail while suggesting ways to make other sentences more concise. Besides helping me keep the essay within the word limit, this was important because instead of just using one example to showcase my leadership experience, I now had room for two really concrete examples. Looking back at its evolution, that first essay went from good to amazing. Jessica’s feedback made me look forward to revising each draft. Her mentorship has even helped me professionally by making me a more effective and efficient writer at work (though not for this review because I have so much to say).
Finishing all my applications one month before the deadlines. I’m usually the type of person who procrastinates and needs every last minute. With Jessica’s help, I started in July and finished four outstanding applications by September. Rather than feeling stressed out, I actually enjoyed writing my essays to include the “why an MBA and why our school” ones. By telling me when I seemed too cookie-cutter or vague, Jessica prodded me to think more carefully about my short and long-term goals. I took my time, researched more thoroughly, and developed a better sense for the classes I wanted to take, the industry I want to enter, and most importantly, why I wanted to go that direction.
December 20, 2012: getting accepted to Wharton, my target school!
I can’t say for sure that I would have gained acceptance to Wharton had I taken a go-it-alone approach, but in my opinion, Jessica’s guidance was the most impactful factor that turned my otherwise good application into an exceptional one. Not only did I get into my target school, I transformed my resume, learned to write more effectively, and formed a plan for B-school and beyond. Looking back, my decision to work with Jessica wasn’t just a good idea; it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself.

During the first free consultation call, Jessica gave me real advice and the real deal while other companies whom I called gave me terrible mum answers, and told me that they wouldn’t really help me until I signed up for their program. This is when I decided to go with mbaMission instead of other companies – I just felt that if the other companies cared so much about making sure that you pay first prior to helping you, then every help will be well-calculated going forward and they would not help you if they don’t see an end-goal in sight.

Throughout the entire process, Jessica was very helpful in helping me craft my story. I had a few paths that I wanted go delve into (including quitting my job to start a startup), but she was direct about what she thought was a good idea and what wasn’t. As I am now actually starting a startup, I’ve come to realize that the things which she shot down indeed were correct (she told me before that I would never have enough time to launch something given I was only 8 months away from application deadlines).

Additionally, although mbaMission has a 2-day turnaround guarantee on all products, she constantly met if not completely shattered those deadlines. Not having enough time on my plate to really focus on these applications, I would often email her questions and thoughts at 10-11pm (when I had a break at work), and she would respond within 15-20 minutes. Of note – she is very direct in what she believes, and would not give you a wishy-washy answer – even if it is something that you might not want to hear at the moment. To me, that was the most efficient method of changing/challenging my thoughts (if they were wrong). As someone who is relatively opinionated, the last thing I wanted was to have someone give me light suggestions which I could easily dismiss.

Finally, I would like to point out that the connection does not end after you get into whichever school you ultimately end up in. It has been almost 1.5 years since I last worked with her on an essay, and she still checks in on me. If you want someone who really cares and is not there just for the carrot, I highly recommend Jessica.

Working with Harshad was very beneficial for me. He challenged me to get introspective on my own experiences to craft a great story for my applications. Like anything else in life- to do great work is going to be hard work. Despite having average scores at best, we worked extremely hard and I was able to accomplish my goal of getting into a top MBA program. As a reapplicant, I wanted to do everything I can to put out the best product and I am lucky to have Harshad guide me. He was a sounding board when I had any thoughts or questions from school selection on through the interview process. He was always available for quick calls and random questions that come up. I highly recommend Harshad to any MBA applicant.

When I started doing my research on admission consultants, I was confused about many things – whether I should go with a consultant or not, which consulting firm to choose, which type of consultant to choose, which schools to target etc. After doing some more research and speaking to different consulting companies, I chose mbamission. I had my initial consultation with Dan and after hearing my story, he suggested that Harshad would be a great fit for me. Initially I was not sure about Harshad but did some research and agreed to have a second free consultation with him and that was the best decision I made to start my b school journey. After speaking with Harshad for the first time, I knew that he was the best fit for me. I had no doubts anymore and went ahead with him. During our initial discussions, he made me realize that the story which mattered the most and which would make my application unique was the one I was not even considering. Then I started remembering more details about that particular situation and was blown away with how fitting it was. That was the moment I realized how lucky I was to have Harshad as my consultant. Believe me, he is unbelievably good. The result, I got into my dream school and that too with a scholarship.

He is not just a consultant who only cares about the business and getting thing done with you. He is more like a friend, a guide, who will always be there for you during the whole b school application cycle. He will support you in every possible way and will always be true and honest without sugarcoating things. I never had troubles reaching out to him and there were times when he reviewed my work and gave comments on a weekend. Even though we were in different countries and time zones, he always gave preference to my schedule.

I got to learn so many things from him which would go a long way in my career and life. I could not have chosen a better consultant and no matter how many times I thank mbamission and Harshad, it would not be enough.

I am very satisfied with my experience with Harshad and recommend him to anyone wanting to apply and be accepted to a top b school.

I had the unique opportunity to work closely with Jeremy on my entire application, and his ability to pay attention to detail while also focusing on the big picture fabric of my application and its message was incredible. But beyond his skillset and abilities, what struck me most from working with Jeremy is just how much he truly, genuinely cared about how my application came together and how important it was for him that my story was conveyed in the most appropriate, and honest way possible. Jeremy truly cares. He is dedicated well beyond his rates and responsibilities to see that each and every client feels like he or she has delivered his or her best foot forward – and in today’s world, that is a rare treasure. I’m proud to have been admitted to my first choice, Stanford GSB, and will be attending this fall.

In July when I was agonizing over which consultant to choose, my conversation with Melissa B. at MBAMission sealed the deal. But when I decided to go with MBAMission, Melissa recommended Kate to me after knowing my background and my target universities. I wanted to work with an admissions consultant especially because I didn’t have many people around me who had applied for business school in my circles.

Right from school selection to first understanding my story before we went into any application, Kate was AMAZING! She was particular that I not set my sights too low and yet be pragmatic about my chances which made me apply to a range of schools in the M7 and few outside of it, especially being an international student. I finally ended up choosing 4 M7 schools and 1 non-M7 school to work with MBAMission.

I got rejects from three schools and got admitted into Booth (one was still pending at the time of writing this). What’s funny is I chose to work with Kate because I thought that it would be an advantage while writing my Booth essays. Yet, Kate’s knowledge and insights on other universities were amazing. She would always supplement my research during my essays.

When I look back at my rejections, I know very well that it was NOT because of my essays but rather a question of profile / fit / round. That said, ‘all you need is one!’ and I know fully well that my applications would be nowhere as good without Kate’s help. Her attention to detail was awesome and it always amazed me how she would transform my essay, with essentially the same story and build-up, into something absolutely different.

During my interview preparation with Kate, she gave me some truly invaluable tips which I know I will be using going forward as well! Not just that, if I felt my essays needed an additional spark, Kate would always reach out to other consultants at MBAMission and get their thoughts as well which was not something I ever expected out of her.

I think what really stood out to me while working with Kate was just how amazing a person she was and was genuinely interested in my successes and failures. That is really important while working with a consultant since you are going and pouring out details of your life story to someone whom you haven’t met before and you need to be really comfortable doing that. My calls and frequent e-mails (trust me when I say frequent!) never disappointed and I always felt comfortable and relaxed during the entire process.

Lastly, the thing that stood out to me most was when I got my rejections, she gave me additional material to prepare for my Round 2 essays if I ever needed them and ensured that I planned ahead even though I wouldn’t be working with her. Before I received my Booth acceptance, I was able to complete my essays for 2 other universities as a backup all because of Kate’s push. Thankfully I never had to use them 😀

As an applicant with a non-traditional background, I knew that I was going to need all of the guidance I could get on the business school application process. I decided to enlist mbaMission’s services, and the company’s founder highly recommended Susan. Working with Susan was the best decision I could have made. She gave me invaluable advice and asked me all of the right questions that I had no idea I needed to be prepared to answer.

When I started with Susan this past fall, I was very late in the admissions process. I intended to apply to schools for round 2, but was still studying for the GMAT and deciding which schools to apply to at the same time. Right off the bat, Susan helped me set realistic expectations for studying/working full time/applying to schools in a short time period. She helped me cut down my school list to schools that would be a good fit for me and that I could realistically get into. She advised me to stick with previous GRE scores (and helped me realize that these scores would get me into b schools) so that I would not waste any more time studying for the GMAT and actually start focusing on working on my applications.

Susan also made sure that every single minute of my time with her was spent wisely. For example, during our first brainstorming call, Susan realized that I needed to do more research on my short term and long term post- MBA career goals; specifically, how my target school would support me in these goals, before we could proceed any further. She stopped the conversation short so that we would not waste any more time, and gave me guided questions to think about as I did my own research on these topics.

Susan never missed a deadline and usually returned any items I sent to her for feedback early. Susan’s feedback was always thorough and insightful.

Susan provides very blunt criticism (as others have touched upon), but without her help I know I would not have gotten into my top choice school. She makes you work really hard, but it will pay off immensely!! She sincerely wants to make sure that you have the best application possible. I am a better business school candidate because of working with her.

Self reflection is hard, and as it turns out, the MBA application process requires a lot of it. Each candidate comes in with different strengths, and it becomes about showcasing them in an interesting and meaningful way. I approached the application process with a lot of determination, but some hesitation because my GMAT score was right on the cusp of what is widely considered a “safe” score for the top programs. John worked with me to craft my story in a way that let my strengths shine, and showed me that the GMAT is only one data point among many in this application. Not only did he help me make my application something that I was proud of, but was always patient and available. He was willing to review everything I wrote, including emails to professors, alumni and current students, as well as talk on the phone regularly for advice. I can honestly say that John was instrumental in helping me gain admission to my top choice of program. I cannot wait to start b-school in the Fall, and am so grateful that John was referred to me. If you are considering using John, you will not be disappointed. Trust me, it is worth the investment!

I am an international applicant and decided to work with mbaMission all based on the google research. I was originally looking for someone native and experienced that could help me polish my essays but what happened after was a fantastic and rewarding life experience.
I was matched with Kate Richardson, a very experienced associate from mbaMission. She was very nice and patient from our first talk. I felt so comforted that I found someone I could ask for help and expressed my anxiety during the application process. Kate helped me so much on my self-positioning of my choices for schools and gave me helpful advice on my future career planning. Even standing from the point of an international student, I felt Kate very professional handling all the questions, which truly helped me a lot during the application. My application process was not as smooth as I expected and I got waitlisted and rejected from my dreaming schools but Kate was always there helping me analyze and get out of the desperate situation. Finally, the advice I got the offers from several schools out of my package. And Kate was very nice to help me list the all the pros and cons and gave me advice objectively.
I appreciate her very much for everything she has ever done for me during the process and now I would like to recommend her as the first choice of MBA consulting associate for all the international students.

I’m what an Admissions Committee might call an “unconventional” MBA candidate – I took no math classes in college, and my career experience was entirely creative. As a result, I decided that having some sort of professional assistance during the application process to help me construct my narrative was going to be a good decision.

After speaking with a few different consulting companies, I came across mbaMission, and more specifically, Kate Richardson’s profile. The reviews for both Kate and the company were overwhelmingly positive, and I was pleased to discover that an “Hourly Services” option was offered at a competitive rate; I basically knew what I wanted to say in my applications and where I wanted to apply, so I didn’t need a “package” deal with tons of additional services. I really just needed an additional form of guidance, and more importantly, a voice of reason.

Once I began working with Kate, I found her to be direct, a clear communicator, realistic about my school prospects, and very fast in responding to my questions (of which I had many!). She didn’t try to sell me anything unnecessary, and overall, we created a winning application essay that represented me in my best light.

Ultimately, I earned admission to a Top 25 program, and even received scholarship $$$. There is no question that I couldn’t have done it without Kate’s professional expertise and moral support through such a grueling application process.

If you’d like to find someone to help you with your MBA applications who is extremely knowledgeable about many different programs and will respond directly to your needs with no time wasted, look no further than Kate Richardson.

I used Katharine Lewis for a 2-school package (all-inclusive). It seems like a lot of money upfront and I didn’t know if I ‘needed’ a consultant at first – some mentors and friends said that my profile is so good, why would I want one? But I am SO happy with my decision, and Katy definitely made it worth it.

From helping me navigate the MBA admissions process, to reading multiple drafts of my essays until they were perfect, to doing mock interviews, to coaching me through the waitlist process for HBS, Katy was absolutely phenomenal and she has truly become a great friend.

Katy has such extensive experience that she knows how to guide the essays, recommendations, application (like what extracurriculars to highlight there vs. other places in essays, etc.). Also, the mock interviews she gave me truly helped me prepare for the real interviews, and she was able to provide wonderful additional reading for me to help me in my preparation

I got into Wharton (with a large fellowship), into Stanford GSB, and waitlisted after interviewing with HBS.

I am pleased with the results and Katy was instrumental in all of this! Katy has become more than a consultant for me- she helped calm me down, maintain confidence during the waitlist process, and encourage me in every aspect! I am looking forward to staying in touch with her well beyond this admissions cycle.

I worked with Kate on the Chicago Booth Full-Time application and found her to be of great help during the whole process, especially with the essays and application form. Kate was very responsive and helped me incorporate my unique experiences into the application in ways I wouldn’t have thought of myself. Kate was great at helping me navigate this stressful process, and I can say with confidence that I wouldn’t have achieved the same outcome without her! I was accepted to Booth with scholarship $$$ and cannot be happier!

When I began evaluating consultants, I was looking for someone with a similar background to mine. On paper, Harshad and I could not be more different. Angela assured me that he is extremely talented, but I still had my doubts about whether or not he would be the right fit for me. Boy was I wrong.

Based on my credentials, I was an underdog in the b-school admissions process. I had a number of prospective consultants break the news that I was a long shot for top-tier schools and they encouraged me to lower my expectations. Not Harshad. From the get-go, it was clear he was in my corner. Instead of trying to convince me to settle for lesser schools, he immediately focused on what I could do to best position myself to be accepted into my top choice programs. This attitude was the primary reason I chose Harshad and it was quite possibly the smartest move I made in the entire process.

Harshad’s approach really worked for me during the essay-writing process. He dug deep into my background, my motivations, and my career aspirations and made sure my essays were a reflection of who I truly am. He was masterful in pointing out my strengths for me and also in encouraging me to think about how my weaknesses could be addressed through an MBA–this self-reflection made for great essays. I was also impressed by how economical he could be with word count–all of the content was my own but he was able to really help me eliminate fluff and say what I really meant to say. Another thing I really appreciated about Harshad was his follow-through. If he said he would get you revisions on a draft by Wednesday AM, I could count on it being in my inbox when I woke up Wednesday morning. He was reliable and always made himself available for me throughout the process.

Harshad pushed me really hard, but I appreciated all of his feedback. I knew that he was challenging me to be better because he genuinely cared about my success as an applicant. Harshad was the first person I emailed when I got my GMAT score, the first person I notified when I received invitations to interview, and the first person I pinged when I got off the phone with Admissions Officers letting me know I was in. He was more invested in my success than some of my closest friends. Applying to B-school is an arduous and humbling process; there were many times I questioned my worth along the way. Harshad was always there to pick me back up when I was knocked to the mat.

I have serious doubts about whether or not I would have succeeded in this process without Harshad. In fact, I’m almost positive I wouldn’t have gotten into my top schools. With Harshad’s help, I got into my dream schools, Wharton and Columbia, but had other excellent options like UVA Darden and NYU Stern as well. I was waitlisted at Kellogg but I’m pretty sure that’s because I opted not to have Harshad help me with that one in an effort to save money 🙂

I can’t recommend Harshad highly enough. I direct anyone I know who is about to embark on this process to him.

Jessica Shklar is an amazing advisor.

– She helped me elevate my story and application. I thought I knew it going in – but she helped me really interrogate my goals, arguments, and narrative. She never directed me on what to write – rather, her wealth of experience about the application process helped me identify what to emphasize and what was missing based on what each school is looking for. She sharpened and refined, helping me present to each school the best version of myself.

– Hugely effective use of time. She’s incredibly efficient both in the hourly services, but also in writing editing. She didn’t just elevate my work – she taught me how to be a crisper, more effective writer in general. Hard to overstate how important that is for business school applications.

– Most importantly, Jessica is a kind, thoughtful person and made me feel good about my candidacy. B-school apps are tough and there are lots of people ready to tell you why you won’t get in or play down your goals and expectations for yourself. Though I wasn’t confident about myself going in, Jessica helped me embrace my strengths and be confident in my overall candidacy. I actually think this is a necessary factor in being successful. Your consultant should be your cheerleader!

I will now be attending a top 5 b-school in the fall. So, so grateful for her support. Working with Jessica was the best investment I made this year and 100% confident it wouldn’t have happened without her.

Katharine and I did 2 mock interviews before my real HBS interview – the preparation and practice with her was invaluable! The style of the interview she conducted turned out to be very close to the real thing! Katharine knows the ins and outs of the admissions process and what the adcoms are looking for. Overall, working with her was a big help and definitely helped my confidence and preparedness! I highly recommend working with her if you are applying to HBS.

Debbie was an excellent consultant for my MBA admissions process, and I have now been admitted to a Top 10 business school. Debbie gave me straightforward, no-frills feedback when I needed it. I was particularly flummoxed by the “goals” essay, where I felt confused by what I felt in my gut, the advice I was being given, and what the AdComs were looking for. Debbie helped me simplify all of these messages and ultimately arrive on a story that I felt comfortable and authentic telling, which was also easy and compelling for my audience to understand. Debbie had a really warm and engaging style that also helped me connect with her and feel comfortable sharing my honest perspective. Thanks Debbie!

I was incredibly fortunate to work with Heidi Granner on my business school applications. I purchased the start-to-finish package for two schools, which I used to apply to HBS and Stanford GSB. With Heidi’s help, I was accepted to both, and this fall will be attending my dream program, Stanford GSB.

A bit of profile background on me: I am a white male working in finance (two years in IBD followed by two years in PE); 3.9 GPA; 730 GMAT.

Going into the application process, I knew one of my biggest challenges would be distinguishing myself within a highly overrepresented pool of applicants – white males working in finance. Heidi offered invaluable advice that helped me craft my unique story. As with any mbaMission pair, Heidi and I kicked off our partnership with a brainstorming session. I was skeptical going into the session that I would come out of it feeling good about my essay topics (after all, this was our very first call), but two hours later I had outlines for each one. I was blown away by Heidi’s perceptiveness in picking up on common themes across my life and developing them into powerful stories I hadn’t considered.

Heidi is incredibly easy to get along with. Applying for MBA programs is a fairly emotional process – applications force you to dig deep and show a vulnerable side of yourself on paper. Heidi’s friendly and approachable demeanor made this process much more comfortable. She was easy to open up to, which allowed me to probe topics I otherwise wouldn’t have considered and write about myself and my goals in an honest way.

Heidi’s feedback on my essays and resume was always prompt and clear, allowing me to efficiently edit my materials throughout the process. We stuck to each deadline she set, and she graciously made herself available for ad hoc calls. In what can often be a hectic and stressful process, I never once felt like I couldn’t rely on Heidi to provide timely, thoughtful feedback.

All of this is to say that you will get far more than your money’s worth working with Heidi. She was an invaluable guide and sounding board to me. While I’m happy to be done with the application process, I will truly miss our partnership together, and I couldn’t have accomplished what I did without her. I cannot recommend Heidi highly enough!

I can honestly say that Kate went above and beyond and truly exceeded my highest expectations. I purchased hourly services from Kate and she was instrumental in my MBA application process. Without her I know I would not have been able to craft my story as well and get accepted to a couple top programs. She is responsive, dedicated, intelligent, and truly does care about helping her clients reach their goals. I would highly recommend working with Kate.

I had the pleasure of working with Jen on an hourly basis to help with my MBA applications. I first called Jen for the 30 minute free consultation in a total panic about my future (ha) to which she was not only helpful, but also a friend. Jen and I maximized our hourly services together and her strength was really noticeable in shaping my story into something each b-school I applied to would resonate with. Together we worked on a strategy for schools, essays and applications, and mock interviews. I come from a very technical background (geologist!) and Jen was able to translate my industry specific experiences and jargon into a relatable story for admissions.

Even on an hourly basis, I felt that Jen really knew my story inside and out, and was rooting for me the whole way. She fielded more than a few panicked phone calls/emails during the process (especially after my HBS interview!). But more than a consultant, I feel that Jen was a friend who had been through the process herself in the past, could understand the tough nature of it, and had my back the whole way through. She believed in me when I needed it most.

With Jen, I was invited to interview at 5/6 schools to which I applied, and ultimately was admitted at most of them. I’ve accepted my offer to attend HBS in the fall and truly couldn’t have done it without her.

The MBA admissions process can be stressful – trying to balance work, GMAT prep, and applications is difficult. Nisha helped demystify the application process and worked with me to break down the application steps into manageable chunks so I never felt overwhelmed. She is great at helping you tell a story to the Admissions committee and making sure that your best attributes shine through. I highly recommend Nisha for your MBA applications.

The best thing that I could have done about my MBA application process it to find Katy. I knew I wanted to apply only to Stanford and Harvard so I was looking at someone that has been in touch with both schools. I found Katy and reached out to her, had my 30 min call and was very pleased. Unfortunately I didn’t apply that year to MBA, but I still had Katy in my mind and told her that I still want to work only with her but I need to move this to next year and please save me a spot because she is the only person I want to work with. I touched based again with her when the next year came and I was struggling a lot with GMAT. She suggested that I take GRE and gave me the pros and cons for each, and that was a great choice for me. I had the brainstorming session with her and it felt that she understood my story so well. She has gone through this so many times that she knows exactly what these 2 schools are looking for. Long story short: Katy made the application for me a breeze. Everything was very well structured, step by step and Katy’s comments are to the point and very easy to grasp. The essays looked so easy to get around. When I first read the essays titles 2 years before my application I was so lost, and when I worked with Katy, it was so easy to put my thoughts in paper immediately. In the end I got accepted to both schools and I couldn’t have done without Katy.

Personal background: International applicant, Female, BB IBD, liberal undergrad, low GMAT (720, which is a weakness compared to the Asian pool), Re-applicant (first tried in R2\’2017 but failed), Accomplished a few work and non-work initiatives between R2\’2017 to R1\’2018 and also got a stronger endorsement from current / previous supervisors School package – worked on 3 schools (Booth-reapplicant; Wharton-reapplicant; Columbia-Early decision) with Rachel. Rachel is very helpful and patient in helping me go through the application process in 2017. After the “disaster” in the R2\’2017, Rachel helped me regain the self-confidence and reshape a better appearance before the AdCom. Just like what I’ve done in investment banking, there are a few investment highlights that you should choose Rachel as your admission consultant. – Efficient and effective working pattern: Rachel is very punctual on turnaround time, which is less than 24 hours. She always uses efficient tools to track our back-and-forth edits and comments; also she is very helpful in addressing any application-related issues and ideas that came into my mind. – Professional writing as an ex-reporter: As an intl. applicant whose mother tongue is not English, I was worried about my writing. Rachel helped me a lot on this part – she would help rephrase my ideas into a more succinct and native way. – Great communicator in brainstorming session: Rachel is very proactive in expressing her ideas and comments which she concluded from my prior experiences. I have to admit that applicants would sometimes neglect those shining points which are very valuable from an Adcom’s perspective. Rachel is very helpful in giving me guidance to “plunge deeper” into myself. After initial setback / ding from Columbia Early Decision, Rachel assured me to remain confident and carry out the plan. I feel grateful that our joint efforts finally won me the ticket to four bschools – Kellogg, Berkeley Haas, INSEAD, and Darden. I have decided to go to Kellogg!

When I started applying in 2016 for class of 2019, I wasn’t sure if I wanted a consultant and wasn’t ready to invest ~$4k-5k. I ended up not taking the full package, instead just an hourly service with Jessica as she was the most encouraging and impactful out of everyone I spoke with. She helped with the following: 1. School selection – she recommended schools that she thought I’d make a good fit for 2. Reviewing my resume – she helped conform it to the STAR format 3. Reviewing draft 1 of my essay – this was the most helpful as she gave me a strong foundation to build on I did not get through any of the (albeit highly selective schools) that I applied to that year. I applied to more schools next year, including one from her recommendation that I hadn’t previously considered and got through. I ended up using my current-MBA friends as my reviewers instead of going the consultant route, but her initial recommendations on how to shape my story to make it more impactful were crucial in helping me put the best foot forward. The best aspect about working with Jessica was her encouragement. She was great at following up even though I wasn’t her regular client and seemed genuinely interested in making sure I got a school that I wanted. The only reason I knocked off a star is that I did not get one crucial piece of advice from her, that for a trained consultant should’ve been easy to spot (please note, that this is NOT on her, just something I feel) – to improve my GMAT score to be more competitive. I was supposedly a poster story for a “non-traditional” applicant with high chances to get into HBS (my dream school, where I got interviewed and waitlisted, but ultimately rejected), and with the benefit of hindsight, my GMAT score was the only thing that held me back (I know that because when I called HBS for a review, they encouraged me to re-apply as my application was very strong.) In conclusion, I have the most respect and gratitude for Jessica for being a supportive mentor during a very daunting (and long) process!

I can’t say enough great things about working with Melissa. I did 30 min consultations with a couple of different consultants/companies, and I instantly felt like I “clicked” with Melissa. She was so encouraging and supportive throughout the entire application process- from helping me narrow down my list of schools to apply to, edit my essays, prep for interviews, and come up with a waitlist strategy. I felt like Melissa really knew the ins and outs of the different programs, and took the time to learn my stories/strengths and how they could be applied to each individual application. I really looked forward to each conversation we had – she was such a cheerleader and advocate and truly a joy to work with. I think the results speak for themselves: out of the 6 programs I applied to, I was dinged from 1, waitlisted at 1, and accepted to 4 amazing schools (Fuqua, Ross, Stern, Anderson)! Working with Melissa was definitely the best decision I made throughout the business school application process.

I was extremely happy working with John Sisk. I purchased 4 hours and used all of that time on application/essay review. He always responded quickly to my emails and questions. He was very honest and always provided constructive criticism which was important to me. He helped me nail down to the specifics in the essays which made them unique to me, which was key. He helped me see things that I was not always able to see. It was not an easy process, but John helped me through every step of the way. I felt very supported by him. Overall, I greatly enjoyed my experience with John and got into my top choice – a top 10 MBA program – because of him.

I chose Jessica because, after phone calls with several other consultants from other companies, she—easily—made the best use of the time on the call and had the strongest impact. I was really impressed and inspired and felt confident that she was someone who would provide the most value added. She did not disappoint and was consistently helpful throughout the contract. Even though I was rejected from all seven schools (the most selective, was waitlisted with one of them) that I worked on with her, I would still highly recommend her services, as I was able to take the application materials that I worked on with her feedback, and leverage them successfully for multiple other selective schools. Jessica is professional, gives you honest, experienced, and objective feedback and I believe that her services helped me get accepted to a top choice of mine and with excellent scholarship opportunities at multiple schools. If you have the money, Jessica can help keep the application stress to a minimum which will help keep your work performance and relationships (because of less stress) healthy. Working with her and mbaMission provides a structure that will help you balance work, applications, volunteer work, and your social life. Jessica was always quick to respond to questions and was reliably committed to the two business day turnaround in mbaMission’s contract. Jessica is an intelligent and experienced professional and was a strong asset to have on my team when it came to putting forth the best version of my self during the application process. In hindsight, partnering with Jessica made my application process more deeply introspective, objective, fun, memorable, and meaningful.

Melissa was an invaluable resource for me throughout application process, from brainstorming how to tell my story, to helping me craft compelling essays, to helping me successfully navigate the waitlist process. She knows each school inside and out – I was blown away by her deep knowledge of what differentiates each program and what each admissions committee looks for as a result! When reviewing my essays, Melissa provided specific feedback from the perspective of the AC, whether calling out an experience that I did not explain in enough detail or helping me narrow my focus in shorter essays. She also helped me recognize how highlighting specific elements of my story created a more powerful explanation for “why Kellogg”. When I was originally waitlisted at Kellogg, Melissa guided me through the difficult process, providing me with tactical next steps about how I should approach each waitlist update strategically and continue to express my interest. Her advice proved to be accurate and invaluable – I was successfully pulled off of the waitlist and admitted to my dream school! The perfect balance of high level feedback on my story, detailed feedback on essay wording, and moral support through what can be a grueling process – I cannot recommend Melissa highly enough!

If you are looking for the absolute best MBA consultant out there, do not look further than Jeremy. From the initial draft, to interview prep, to decision day my experience working with Jeremy was an absolute pleasure and completely seamless. From the “kick-off” call, you can quickly distinguish the knowledge Jeremy has in all things MBA, the ample experience and school insight that he’ll use to help you get wherever it is you want to go and more importantly the willingness to understand what makes you unique as an MBA applicant. You’ll rapidly see that the extra dollars you are spending to work with Jeremy are worth it given his extraordinary attention to detail, his dedication to making you feel like his only client and his proneness to think outside the box and adapt his knowledge to your story rather than force your application into a traditional mold. You truly will get the best MBA advisor out there and you’ll get to closely interact with a great guy who will most likely become a friend. Even though Jeremy has his own MBA Advisory company, you will not only get the best one-on-one, around-the-clock personalized help out there but also great support on choosing schools that will be the best fit for YOU and your goals. Jeremy was on top of every single aspect of my story and constantly came up with ideas on how to improve my application. Contrary to some other consultants, he encouraged me to apply to any school I wanted to and I didn’t get the sense that he was worried about his overall “batting average”, he just wanted to help me get into my top choice. What makes Jeremy the best is his dedication to your story personally and how he will dive deep into your life and your story and help you craft it into the best application possible. With Jeremy’s help, I got into TWO top-5 schools and will attend my dream school next fall.

As I prepared for the gauntlet that is the MBA application process, I weighed the option of enlisting the services of an MBA admissions consultant. These packages, or hourly services, are a significant investment. It’s important to know what you want to achieve through hiring a consultant. One way to practically ensure you will have a good experience with admissions consulting services would be to work with Melissa Blakeslee. Melissa was an outstanding partner to me throughout the admissions process and was a critical driver of my acceptance into an M7 program. I feel it is common for top MBA applicants to believe in their own infallibility — I myself fall into this trap at times — so let me spell out specifically what value Melissa brought to my process: Melissa helped me clarify my goals. Conversations with Melissa helped me move beyond surface-level goals and drill down with specificity into what I really wanted, what schools would fit those goals, and how to spell those goals out with impact in admissions essays. Melissa challenged me. Like I said, lots of top MBA applicants have had success in their careers and believe in their own infallibility to an extent. When you come to realize the quality of talent in the applicant pool, it becomes clearer how an admissions consultant who will push you to perfect your application in all aspects can be a competitive advantage. For me, Melissa struck the perfect blend of cheerleader and coach — supportive of my progress but critical of my application where I needed it. Melissa has a keen eye toward storytelling — Her past as a brand marketer is evident in her work. She has a natural ability as a storyteller. In my opening call with her, Melissa was able to pick out unique stories from my professional and personal past and perfectly flesh them out into ideas for compelling essays. Absolutely invaluable. Beyond all this — Melissa was timely, efficient, and flexible to work with. I highly recommend her and can’t thank her enough for her role in helping me achieve this dream!

I was hesitant about hiring an admission consultant due to the cost, but decided to sign up for the three-school package after speaking to some of my colleagues and friends. Working with Jen was one of the best decisions I made throughout my MBA application process and I am confident I would not have been admitted to my top choice program if it wasn’t for Jen’s guidance and encouragement. I come from a non-traditional background and Jen took the time to understand my story, helping me develop a competitive application. From the beginning, Jen invested time to really understand my background and experience, which was extremely helpful as we started to review my application essays. Jen was honest and would let me know if she thought a section of application needed improvement. Her support, insight, and genuine personality made the application process less chaotic and working with her was enjoyable. Each email or phone call I had with Jen made feel better about the application process. She truly cares about the people she works with and even took the time to reach out to me when I was impacted by Hurricane Irma (I live in Florida). Jen’s turnaround and response time are incredible and she would provide detailed recommendations and advice within a couple of days. This was especially helpful when I received an invitation to interview. Due to my interviewer’s availability, my interview was in three days and Jen scheduled a mock interview the next day to ensure I was fully prepared. Her guidance and advice was a major value throughout my application process and I highly recommend Jen to anyone applying to an MBA program.

I worked with Susan for nearly the entirety of the past year, through 2 rounds of b-school admissions (which might sound like a bad thing, but read on to learn why!), and highly recommend that you give her a call if you are in the early stages of applying to business school. Your applications will be better for it. I initially applied in the last round of admissions for the Class of 2019, and hired Susan after a 30-minute phone call with another mbaMission consultant who was no longer accepting third round candidates but who heavily endorsed Susan. Going into this final round, Susan was super-candid about my odds of getting accepted (spoiler alert: they were not great). This candor and honesty has been a theme of my work with Susan, and I really appreciated it. I decided to proceed with the final round apps, and Susan was with me every step of the way. She held herself accountable to promised turnaround times, and was often open to expedited reviews as I got into crunch time for certain apps. I applied to three schools in this last round, and was waitlisted at two of them (rejected from one) – which, all things considered, was a pretty good outcome. The brainstorming / career goals exercise, which then flows into outlining first drafts of essays, are such helpful steps that I think set mbaMission and Susan, specifically, apart. Susan pushed me to set realistic and specific goals by tying in my past experiences (personal / professional), identifying knowledge / skills gaps that I needed to fill, and highlighting how specific resources at my target programs are going to help me realize my goals. One of the best parts of working with Susan is how much she pushed me to go one level deeper – always getting to the “how” and the “why” vs. just stating the “what”. Pointing to specific resources and identifying why I want to pursue them and how they fit with my goals made my story much more compelling than just saying which specific resources I was excited about. I would not have gotten to this level without Susan’s guidance. Susan’s feedback not only helped ensure that each aspect of my applications was individually strong, but also that there was an almost tangible common thread / consistent story running through the entire application. I applied again in Round 1 for the Class of 2020, and – after kicking around the “is it worth the money”-question – decided to work with Susan again on my second attempt. Her feedback on my essays and other materials, as well as video components and interview prep was invaluable. I am thrilled that I will be attending a top-10 program (my top choice) in the Fall!

I used Jeremy to apply to 5 programs and was extremely happy with the service i received throughout the entire process. Beyond Jeremy’s professionalism, what impressed me most was his responsiveness and his ability to guide me throughout my essay writing and help me best convey my personality despite not having met me in person even once. Jeremy took the time to understand “my story” and by the end of the process, I truly felt like Jeremy had been a friend of mine for years. It felt like Jeremy was just as invested as I was which made the process that much easier. Jeremy helped me create a timeline in which I could effectively manage my time and submit my applications to each school, which helped alleviate any stress about getting my applications in on time. Jeremy’s intimate knowledge of the school’s programs helped me cater my essays to more of what they’re looking for and I can say with certainty that I would have gone a completely different direction without his guidance. Finally, I appreciated that Jeremy was blunt and realistic and helped set proper expectations. Moreover, Jeremy is just a genuine and good guy. These factors made him easy to trust and it ultimately helped position my essays to be as good as they possibly could have been. Jeremy made himself extremely available, from essay writing to interview prep, and undoubtedly added value in every step along the way. I got admitted to 2 of the schools I applied to. I could not have asked for a better consultant.

Jeremy is an outstanding consultant. He’s thoughtful, razor-sharp, and most of all, honest. I’m a re-applicant. I applied for 2017 intake to three top business schools, and got no interviews. One year later, with Jeremy’s continued guidance, I applied to four top business schools and was admitted to three, including Harvard and Stanford. If this wasn’t enough, I also received significant five-figure fellowship offers from both HBS and the GSB, which greatly exceeded my investment with mbaMission. Now that’s ROI. Jeremy is not cheap; yet he’s still under priced. I wholehearted recommend Jeremy for candidates who want a thought-partner throughout the application, and need an edge to get into the top schools. He helped at every step: from our 20+ page brainstorming document, through to scholarship applications, and everything in between. Of note, Jeremy is particularly gifted at distilling big ideas into dense, “speedy English”. With each draft of my application, I saw significant improvement. I’ve referred my closest friends and colleagues to Jeremy, and they too now see why I won’t stop singing Jeremy’s praises.

I was on the fence about these consultancies generally. I studied and took the GMAT on my own and, confident in my own story, felt I could do the same with essays/applications. Ultimately I decided to go for it as I connected well with Jessica on our initial consultation and didn’t want to miss out on a leg up other applicants may have. I’m glad I did. Without Jessica’s guidance, I would have produced a much weaker application. If you really nail a question – she’s there to help smooth out the details. If you miss on one, she won’t hold back; she’ll let you know you have to throw it away and start over. And she’s right. Working with Jessica gave me confidence in taking risks with my essays that I otherwise wouldn’t have taken. She was there every step of the way, using all the resources available to her (including other consultants at the firm whose expertise was helpful in specific scenarios) to make sure your application is the best it possibly can be. Don’t skip out on this crucial tool during the application process. Relative to the amount of money you’ll spend on your MBA in it’s entirety, a consultant fee is a drop in the bucket.

I worked with Jessica for the R1 Class of 2020 application cycle. She helped me immensely, particularly with my career essay – how to make it not feel contrived, how to showcase my background as a “nontraditional” applicant. There were lots of things I wouldn’t know to do that I ended up doing because of Jessica’s guidance. More than this, Jessica always made me feel that my unique voice could be heard while also fitting into the “box” of what these essays could and should look like. Her editing was extremely helpful, particularly around shortening essays as necessary. Having her as a reliable and trustworthy partner in the essay writing process made me cognizant of time management leading up to deadlines. Jessica came to me through a referral from a previous client and I would absolutely recommend her to any of my friends applying. She is fantastic!

I went into the application process unsure of whether or not I wanted to spend the money on an expensive admissions consultant with the financial burden of business school on the horizon. One 30 minute (free) consultation with Susan was more than enough to convince me that my applications would be significantly more well-rounded with her help. As a non-traditional (engineering) candidate not surrounded by many top level MBA graduates, Susan’s experience navigating the whole process was an absolute difference maker in my application. The documents that mbaMission provides to get student’s backgrounds are very through, but Susan took the time to really get to know me more than just my profile and my test scores, and was able to even suggest how some of my stories could fit into essays even when I didn’t immediately see the fit. She was also able to quickly identify areas where I was weak (post-MBA goals) and spent the necessary time helping me nail those down. Throughout the whole process, it would have been very easy for her to say that my materials were “good enough” and move on to helping another client, but I am convinced that Susan does not have those two words in her vocabulary. She will not let you settle for “good enough”. Even on your 7th revision of an essay, if there is one sentence that might be able to be tweaked just a little, she will provide that feedback. I must have sent Susan 40 drafts of different essays, resumes, recommendation letters, etc., and never once did she miss her promised 2 day deadline. While she does take 1 week off in the fall for vacation, she still reviews materials and met every deadline even through that time period. She is also always available for a quick phone meeting if you need one, and will push you in all the right directions. In other words, while I am sure she helps a good number of applicants, I never once felt that I was being short changed in anyway so that she could help another client or bring on more volume. She was also really helpful in the interview prep and especially preparing for the Video Essay that some schools required. I was very hesitant about the video essay, but after a session with Susan, I left very confident in my game plan. If you are hoping for someone to actually do the hard part of writing your essays, or for a cheerleader through the process, don’t hire Susan. If you are looking for someone who will always push you to submit the very best materials and application possible and provide candid feedback (she will tell you in your first meeting that you have your friends and family to tell you how great you are, she will tell you what you need to hear) that will add to your application, look no further than Susan Kaplan. With Susan’s help, I ended up on the waitlist at a Top-5 program, and accepted at a top-10 school with a significant scholarship, where I will enrolling for my MBA this fall. I would (and have) highly recommend Susan to anyone starting on the process.

I worked with Rachel on a 4 school package for Round 1 in Fall 2017 and had an incredible experience. Rachel was instrumental in my admission to Wharton and Columbia. I was applying to MBA programs while based in the Middle East and traveling globally, and Rachel was incredibly responsive and flexible to my timing needs. I also had a unique story to communicate to MBA programs and Rachel was adept at helping me craft it effectively in a way that would really speak to AdComs. Rachel gives you 110% of her focus in every step of the application, from brainstorming essay ideas to prepping for interviews to choosing between acceptances. I truly don’t think I would have been accepted to my top programs if it wasn’t for Rachel. She makes a very stressful process manageable and makes it her priority to set you up for the most successful outcome possible.

I had a wonderful experience working with Krista Nannery on my applications. The business school application process is a stressful and sometimes lonely experience. Knowing that Krista was in my corner was the only part of this process that actually made things easier and less stressful. Krista was able to understand my story in-depth and guide me to craft a cohesive narrative. For example, with essays, she helped me assess which stories both addressed the prompt and best illustrated my skill set and experience – and then she’d help me elevate that story in my own voice. Her objective perspective on my career and story was helpful in ensuring my application resonated to an unfamiliar audience (adcom) succinctly. Beyond her coaching (and therapist-like counseling), she also ensured I stayed on track from a project-management perspective. She’d push me along when I was spinning for too long on an essay draft. There are so many pieces involved in crafting a compelling application and Krista helped me juggle it all. Working with Krista was a terrific investment. I was accepted to 3 of the 4 schools I applied to, with a 50% scholarship to one of them. I advise my b-school interested friends that I wouldn’t have done the application process any other way.

I worked with Susan to prepare my school application, and I feel it was a great investment. With work, studying for the GMAT, and a quickly approaching deadline, I had limited time to put all the parts of my application together, and I did not want to waste any of it trying to figure out if I am approaching each step in the best possible way. I wanted to just focus on the content and delivery of each step: essays, resume, short answers, interview, and all the other small things that contribute to your overall application profile. Having Susan guide me throughout the process perfectly fit that goal. I think many of the other reviews already cover her way of working with a client, but I will highlight what stands out. I did all the work, thinking, and writing of the actual content. Susan provided guidance on what a good application would say about an applicant and was able to look at my work and tell me if it’s achieving that goal or not. It also helps to have the outside perspective because you may think what you have written clearly states an idea, but in reality it doesn’t because you, the writer, “fill in” all the gaps subconsciously since it’s coming from your own mind. Susan, though, cannot do that and quickly points out what is not making sense, or you’ll notice if she got the wrong perspective from your work, indicating a rewrite or clarification is necessary. The investment was challenging for me, but I am thinking long-term and believe it will pay off since I got into my target school (and more). Do I think a talented or experienced individual can put together a stellar application without a consultant? Definitely. Can someone find all the application guidance they need through internet sites and forums? Sure. But like any decision you make in life, you need to assess your circumstances and make a well thought-out choice. For my circumstances, it made perfect sense to work with Susan, and she did her part *very well*. I couldn’t have asked for someone better.

I approached the MBA application process with a lot of confidence and focused most of my efforts on GMAT prep. It wasn’t until I actually got into the application process that I realized I needed guidance. I completed the free consultation at MBA Mission and realized that I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I purchased five hours of time with John and we began working on four school applications but it wasn’t until I began writing these essays that I really figured out what I wanted to do post-MBA. This provided my essays with direction and purpose. Without John’s coaching, my essays were pretty vanilla. Now, whenever I write ANYTHING, I envision John’s comment bubbles popping up, telling me “I need more YOU.” John was extremely patient and easy to work with throughout the process. This really minimized the amount of stress surrounding the entire application process. His guidance resulted in my admission to a top MBA program AND the #3 operations institute in the U.S. I highly recommend John and mbaMission. Trust his guidance and you won’t be disappointed.

Nisha was extremely helpful through the entire MBA process- start to finish. All my questions were answered quickly and she took as much time needed to talk through applications. She was a great resource and always supported the decisions I made on applying R1 vs R2 after giving me all the information I could use to make those decisions in an informed manner. Highly recommend Nisha!

I recently worked with Rachel on a 3 school package for Round 1 in the Fall of 2017. I would strongly recommend using Rachel for any candidate considering using an admissions consultant to guide you through the process. Rachel made what is an extremely stressful and hectic process feel very seamless. From our first brainstorm call through submission of the applications, she helps you stay on top of all of your tasks, which can pile up as the process unfolds, while also making sure you are putting on the best impression for admission committees. For me, Rachel’s guidance on the application essays was most critical. Where my essay’s ended versus where they would have been had I had not worked with Rachel is truly night and day. Now, candidates who plan to use a consultant should be aware that you still need to come prepared to work, and work hard. Rachel and other consultants can guide, navigate and keep you organized and on task, but you need to do the work. I ended up getting into my top choice program (Wharton) and will be enrolling in the Fall of 2018. Surely, Rachel’s help was a huge factor for my being admitted to my dream program.

Working with Heidi was a great experience all around. I knew my statistics were strong enough to get me into at least one of my target schools, but the final piece I needed was to strongly tell my story via essays, online applications, and short answer questions. Story telling is definitely not one of my strengths, but through phone conversations and feedback on the different drafts of my essays, Heidi got to know me very well and very effectively helped me strengthen the written portions of my applications. Heidi was extremely prompt in responding to my emails with quick questions, as well as returning the multiple drafts of my essays. I can happily say that I will be attending one of my target programs, and much of the credit belongs to Heidi’s assistance.

Getting into Harvard has been my dream for the last six years. I was worried, however, that I didn’t have that unique story you typically associate with people that get into these universities. Then came Katy, who helped me take a step back and weave the many seemingly unrelated elements of my life into one cohesive story that both provided me with the standout story I never thought I had and quite honestly helped me understand myself better. What I quickly began to appreciate is that Katy doesn’t take a one-size-fits all approach to MBA consulting, she really took the time to know me and then tailored how we tackled the essays based on my background and goals. Beyond that, she was also very knowledgeable about the process answering my many questions with valuable insights from the view of someone who has been an admissions committee member herself. Even though I read virtually ever piece of MBA advice I could get my hands on over the past six years, everything I thought I knew paled in comparison to the insights Katy provided me. Lastly, I can’t overstate how much Katy truly cares about the people she works with. The MBA process can get really stressful at times, but with Katy’s sound advice and kind words, I never felt overwhelmed by the process. I genuinely can’t recommend Katy enough and after comparing my first and final essay drafts, I honestly don’t know what I would have done without her! (Harvard Business School and Columbia Business School Admit)

My message is simple: John was a major contributor to my recent acceptance to a top 10 MBA program. A lot of candidates have the stories and experiences to be competitive, but sculpting those stories into concise personal statements and essays that directly respond to the criteria of various admissions committees is an art – one that John has mastered. I engaged John on an hourly basis (purchased 5 hours through mbaMission). John was referred to me by a colleague who was admitted to a top 10 MBA program and credited John for his success. I had planned to apply to Booth and Kellogg. John initially sent me a brainstorming document with questions to help generate ideas for essays, short answers, and interview prep. We then scheduled a phone call to discuss essay questions. John’s familiarity with these schools and admissions committees was immediately evident. He provided a framework for the essay responses that leveraged my professional and p ersonal strengths. After drafting my essays, John provided feedback to improve certain aspects of my story and focus the story to directly respond to the essay prompts. John also reviewed my resume and short answer responses to focus on my achievements and clearly state my short and long term goals. After successfully executing and submitting the applications, John and I spent our final 30 minutes prepping for interviews. John asked me general interview questions and again helped craft responses that were focused on why the specific MBA program would help my career progression. To anyone considering applying to an MBA program – this initial investment to improve your application is negligible compared to the overall cost of an MBA. I strongly encourage you to make the investment and engage John.

I would not have been admitted to HBS without Katy’s help. She was phenomenal to work with, start to finish, and it was so fun to work with her because it’s clear that she loves her job as a consultant and mentor. A year before I applied, I hired Katy for a two-school prep package and worked with her closely throughout the entire application process. Katy helped me to position my candidacy; structure, review and edit my essays; provided guidance, edits and thoughts on all my short answers; and prepare for interviews. It was a long and intense process but she worked very hard to provide timely feedback and she always made herself available to answer questions. Perhaps what I appreciated the most about Katy is her ability to listen and ask sincere questions to really get to know me. A good consultant cannot help you if they do not know you, and Katy showed a remarkable ability to understand my story quickly. Her ability was most evident at the beginning of the application process when I was trying to identify how to position my candidacy and articulate what really motivates me. Katy was extremely effective at helping me uncover the real ‘why’ behind many of my experiences and life decisions, which was crucial for how I positioned by application and structured my essays. Katy is also very candid and honest. After several weeks of working on my essays, she reviewed them one day and told me they were really boring. It was true, and I’m really glad she let me know. I then completely revamped them with her help and the end product was far superior to what I had initially. All in all, I found Katy to be knowledgeable, experienced, caring, genuine, and a highly effective ‘thought partner’. I recommend her to everyone I know applying and am so glad I used her in my process.

I applied for Round 1 through the 2-school package. From the beginning, I really liked Nisha’s honesty and candid feedback. Throughout the process, she constantly provided additional resources for my application. I also started my application process relatively late, but Nisha was very quick and efficient with editing my essays with qualitative feedback. While preparing for my interviews, she provided extra support, since she knew I was very nervous.