About | Privacy Policy | Advertising| Editorial | Contact Us
Follow Us
Subscribe | Login
Number Of Expert Admissions Coaches: 33
Total Reviews: 315 | 5 Star Reviews: 314 | 4 Star Reviews: 1
Firm Website: https://vantagepointmba.com/
My firm, Vantage Point MBA Admissions Consulting, is passionate about making the MBA application process as productive and efficient as possible for our clients. We focus on high touch, customized consulting services to help you maximize your chances of admission to your dream schools. And we’ve enlisted the help from our trusted partners to provide you a 360 degree experience: in addition to your dedicated consultant, we provide you access to former adcom, current students at your target schools, and post-MBA professionals from top firms such as McKinsey, Google, Amazon, PE firms, etc. who are already pursuing the careers you might be considering. Contact us for a free consultation today!
Working with Caryn was integral to my MBA application process, and I couldn’t recommend her enough. She knew exactly what to advise as I crafted my application materials. She even gave great guidance on how to handle my testing timelines, as I entered into the testing portion of my application later than advisable. Despite my GRE score being slightly lower than my aim, I know that Caryn’s help went the extra mile in securing my admissions. I even got merit scholarship funding at my top program, which I was not expecting! She was a thorough, thoughtful, and reliable application coach.
Caryn was an excellent partner in both my business school applications and overall career reflection and goals. Throughout the application process, Caryn enabled me to thoughtfully reflect on my career to date and identify and articulate my career goals and how business school would serve as a critical step in my path. I was accepted into several top healthcare programs (Wharton, Kellogg) and completed this year with great clarity on my long-term goals. Thank you Caryn for your support!
Melody is not only incredibly knowledgeable about this ecosystem and what it truly takes to get into top tier programs, but is uniquely committed to her clients at every step of the way. I noticed immediately that she was as committed and invested in my success as I was, and I was often very positively surprised at how above and beyond she went when working with me. I consider myself extremely lucky to have found her by sheer chance as she was focal in helping me build applications. I ended up getting into every single school to which I applied including a crazy reach + dream program that I simply never even thought I would have had a shot at! Melody, you’re the bomb!
I used Vantage Point as my consultant and I worked with Anna Baskin. She was an absolute delight to work with! She was tough on me when needed, but also was a friend throughout the process. Where she was the most helpful was in helping me construct my story and think through why I wanted to go to business school. It ended with me being accepted to both Kellogg and Yale SOM. I truly believe that her support and feedback throughout the process was instrumental in my acceptances and am so grateful for her help.
Kristen was a fantastic consultant to guide me on my MBA journey. ability to provide meaningful feedback and framing was unparalleled, largely driven by her experience working in Sloan’s adcom and recognizing key aspects that I should highlight in my story. She laid out a very clear plan of action and was a great communicator on how best for us to use our time together.
I believe that her support and feedback were key factors in my acceptance in my top choice, “reach” school, which I was not expecting an acceptance for.
An added bonus is the emotional and personal investment that she makes in her clients – I constantly felt that Kristen was a supporter and had my best interest at heart.
I first got to know Vantage by reading their MBA preparation package. That package helped me a lot and led me to reach out and get help from Alicia. I have to say that the material pack made my application package a solid foundation, and Alicia helped made them alive. By providing me with perspectives from both a consultant and former AO, she showed me how to build up a material pack to display the real me. Moreover, she was super responsive to my application as it was hers. I really enjoyed the whole process.
Caryn is a knowledgeable and friendly consultant with a good eye for details and opportunities for application improvement. I only worked with Caryn on a single application, but she went above and beyond to offer consultation on my larger b-school application strategy. Ultimately, I was admitted early action to a T15 program following Caryn’s support over the course of several weeks. She helped me round out my essays by filling in certain gaps and by ensuring grammatical correctness. She was also creative in her word count reduction techniques. I would recommend Caryn to friends and colleagues.
From our very first meeting, Melody managed to ease my nerves and help establish a timeline for my application. From the GRE to my essays and recommendations, she made the process streamlined and stress-free, all while being kind and patient. I applied to only one school, so the stakes were high, but Melody helped me frame my story and my post-career goals perfectly. I could not have done it without her, and I highly recommend her to anyone who is intimidated by the process. Thank you, Melody – Vantage Point Consulting was the most worthy investment!
I am so happy I worked with Katie to craft my business school application essays. She was wonderful at helping me shape my story and cater it to each of my target schools. She was always incredibly prompt with her responses and gave very helpful and actionable feedback. I received acceptances to both Booth and Sloan and Katie went above and beyond to help me negotiate what ended up being a $50k scholarship offer. I can not recommend working with Katie enough!
Caitlin was incredibly helpful throughout the entire application process. She worked with me to make my application essay more focused to tell my story and post-MBA career goals. We also restructured my resume to more clearly show the results of my work and highlight any experiences that would make me stand out to the admissions committee. With Caitlin’s support, I was able to get into my first choice program. I highly recommend working with her!
Caryn played a pivotal role in helping me assess my profile and write a narrative about my past stint and connecting it with my goals. She pushed me to introspect and highlight parts of my life that are unique and differentiate my profile.
Caryn knew the competition Indian IT males face at B-schools and guided me in a way that my final essays touched on the key areas of my background and future plans while ensuring essays emphasized the areas B-schools are looking for.
Her way of working is such that I never felt that my essays were never lost in the pile of several others that she was working with and got her full attention. Caryn’s approach of being candid about her feedback kept our communication clear and effortless.
I loved working with Danielle! I found her to be extremely thoughtful and knowledgeable. She was great at helping me break down a very long & complex journey into smaller stages. She held me accountable on key deliverables. Specifically, the discovery work that she did helped me understand the motivation behind my goals, which was key to the application process.
In addition, Danielle truly looked out for me, checking in before and after my GMAT attempts, congratulating me after completion of all my submissions, and even helping me decompress when I got anxious.
I will be attending Ross School of Business in the fall!
I was originally referred to Molly and Vantage Point through a friend who had previously worked with her and the group. Molly did an excellent job keeping me on track throughout the GMAT and application process. She reviewed my essays in a timely manner and provided insightful commentary as we were approaching deadlines. Molly was patient with me throughout the process and was open to any and all questions that I had as I decided where to apply and what round.
I was a reapplicant who had tried to navigate the daunting process by myself before and had not gained admissions to the schools I had my heart set on. I had never considered working with an admissions consultant and found them generally intimidating until I met Melody. I was referred to Melody by a long-time friend who had just worked with her and valued her high standards of excellence, promptness, and kindness.
Melody was thoughtful and challenged me to do things differently, pushing me in the best way to stay motivated and make it through the finish line (through testing, the applications, and interviews). I appreciated her expertise and how she equipped me with the tools and knowledge to empower me to make decisions throughout my application process. Over time, I added more schools to our comprehensive package as I was impressed by our work together.
Ultimately, I had the opportunity to choose between my top 2 school choices, both Ivy League business programs that offered me scholarships, and I accepted the offer to my dream school. I’m confident it was because of my carefully crafted application and profile with Melody’s guidance. I highly recommend working with Melody or Vantage Point MBA to maximize your chances of success in your application journey and make your MBA dreams come through.
Early in my application process, I originally hired a consultant from a very well known firm that I’ve heard a lot of other people use. After sending that consultant my application materials, I was shocked by not getting feedback that was substantive – whether good or bad.
That’s when I found Melody. She gave helpful insights into my essays – their strengths, areas I could provide more clarity on, areas that might sound too cliche, and so on. She was always open to working around my schedule and definitely went out of her way to make time for me, whether it be via email, a phone call, or through comments in essay drafts. Her feedback was always encouraging, but she didn’t hesitate from being honest and frank in her delivery. Thanks to Melody, I earned admission and a scholarship to Wharton, where I will be attending this fall. Thank you, Melody!
I came into the MBA admissions process with a good GMAT score but a subpar GPA(2.91), and average work experience at a small company. I knew I needed help with conveying my life story and future aspirations so I decided to work with Anna from Vantage Point. The patience, insight, and guidance that she provided through this process was a big part in me obtaining an almost full-ride to my top-choice school(T-20)! She really took the time to understand me from a personal level, and I think that set me up for success when I was working through the application process. I would recommend Anna to anyone who wants to learn how to craft together a compelling personal story or wants to maximize admission success. We all have our own unique journey in life, but sometimes it takes some deep-dive reflection to convey that in a clear way!
Sarah was an instrumental part of my MBA application process. More than a consultant, she was a thought partner and someone who was truly invested in seeing me succeed. Sarah pushed me to be introspective and pinpoint elements that best represented my true self. She supported me every step of the way from story ideation, and resume revisions, to most importantly, nailing down the essays. She has a unique gift for highlighting the best elements of an individual and finding creative ways to convey their ‘why.’ Ultimately if it weren’t for Sarah, I would not have had the courage to apply this upcoming application cycle. Largely because of her support and constant encouragement, I was able to secure acceptances from multiple T10 schools, one of which offered a full-ride scholarship. I strongly recommend Sarah!
To start off, I would say the time and money invested with Melody and her team is one of the best investment decisions I have ever made! I switched from hourly service to an all-inclusive package with Melody after realizing her professionalism, experience, and passion could be of great help in my application process. She would challenge me all the way until the application materials exhibited exactly who I am and what I want to express. As a non-native speaker, I received tons of help to shape my essays in line with the American culture, while retaining their authenticity and bringing out key nuances of my stories.
The self-reflection process is key and the hardest part of the process, but thanks to Melody’s patience and guidance, I finally have a much clearer picture of my goals and desire, as well as the motivation behind them.
The journey can be exhausting and suffering, but you can always believe hard work pays off: I got into Kellogg and Yale and received full ride scholarships at Stern and Anderson. I don’t think I would achieve these without Melody’s help. I would highly recommend Melody and Vantage Point to anyone who wants to give their best shot to the application process.
My journey with Vantage Point started with a free consultation phone call with Melody, after I found out about the company on GMAT Club. The amount of insight Melody gave on the call, her knowledge and passion for the entire MBA application process stood out, and shortly after I signed up for her company`s comprehensive package.
The package was worth every penny because Melody doesn`t approach what you do together as just another job. She is very hands-on and an experienced and wise guide, not agreeing to any subpar ideas. It was very easy to reach Melody. She is open to always giving feedback, and all conversations with her are very genuine: no sugar coating, brutal honesty – the right recipe that encourages you to think outside the box and inspires you to compose the best essays you possibly can.
If you are ready to do the hard work to decide between the multiple offers you`ll get at the end of the road, I recommend you work with Melody. After a lengthy thought process, I decided that this fall I will be joining Tuck`s class of 2024.
Working with Katie has been an incredible experience. Katie opened my eyes to several aspects of the MBA Admissions process that I didn’t truly understand at the time and clearly defined the strategy behind each assigned task which led to developing a comprehensive application. I was a nontraditional applicant, and Katie’s personalized approach made all the difference in developing my unique interests and experiences into an effective MBA story! Additionally, while working around my extremely unpredictable work schedule, Katie remained unbelievably patient and flexible in order to work in a style that was best for me. Katie’s responsiveness is something that simply cannot be overlooked. Regardless of the significance and/or time sensitivity of my inquiry, she was always eager, thorough, and prompt in responding.
Utilizing the comprehensive package with Katie not only helped me appropriately express myself within my application but also allowed me to gain a better understanding of what I hoped to accomplish during my business school experience. I am so thankful for the time and effort that she devoted to helping me find success during this process and I am grateful for the opportunities I have been presented with because of her support.
I worked with Kristen on applications for two schools. I was accepted into my top choice and waitlisted at the other. Throughout the application process, Kristen provided invaluable help every step of the way. I was most impressed by her taking the time to really get to know me and learn my story so that she could help me craft my essays in an authentic and compelling manner. Kristen made my applications so much stronger by providing thoughtful notes and insights into how the ad coms think about applications. Best of all, her guidance took much of the stress out of the process and allowed me to focus on putting together the strongest application possible.
I worked with Caryn and she was instrumental in helping me craft a cohesive narrative around what I had done in the past, how it prepared me for business school, and what I wanted to do in the future. Caryn pushed me to highlight areas of my life that were unique and set my application apart. Caryn made huge differences throughout each draft of my essays by making sure they really touched on the key areas of my background and future plans that we’d decided we wanted to highlight, all while ensuring we emphasized the areas MBA programs are really looking for. Aside from the enormous help I received on the essays, Caryn also helped me go through each aspect of the application in depth, even going so far as to review my descriptions of my extracurriculars to ensure they adequately touched on leadership. It was truly front to back support throughout the entire application process. The only regret I have is that I didn’t start working with Caryn sooner!
Caryn was instrumental in helping me through the application process. I had an average GMAT score and a below average undergraduate GPA, but Caryn helped me craft my story to highlight my strengths and make every other portion of my application shine. There was a very stark difference between my first drafts of the resume, essays, and short answer questions and the final drafts after several rounds of revisions with Caryn and in the end, I was very proud of what I submitted. Caryn’s help was also vital in preparing for the admissions interviews where she asked questions I hadn’t considered prior to our practice interviews but that were asked in the real interviews. I ended up receiving offers from 3/4 schools I applied to, Kellogg, Tuck, and Darden with very generous scholarship awards. Overall Caryn was very helpful, encouraging, and responsive. I could not be happier with my experience!
My partner and I worked with Melody on an hourly package and we both got admits to all the 4 schools that we applied to including Kellogg, which was our top choice school. Melody is simply the best – she challenged us to get out of our comfort zones and motivated us to put our best foot forward. She helped us shape our essays in line with the American culture, all the while retaining their authenticity and bringing out key nuances of our stories. We loved how she always gave us direct and honest feedback on our essays. We would not have been able to craft our essays as well as we did without her guiding us through the self-reflection and essay writing process.
The process was sometimes overwhelming as my partner and I wanted to get into a school together. But Melody kept our morale high and motivated us at every step. Even when my partner struggled with GMAT, she not only encouraged him but also went out of her way to provide him with great resources for his preparations. She is the nicest person to work with. I would highly recommend Melody and Vantage Point to anyone who wants to give their 100% to the application process.
I worked with Molly to prepare for the Chicago Booth interview. The mock interview was super, super helpful! She customized the mock to the school specifically, provided very constructive feedback on my answers, didn’t sugarcoat anything, and provided insights about the school. For example, when I said I wanted to create a new club, she pointed out that there is already a similar club at the school. When she provided feedback, she included specific examples and also gave me ideas on how to make the answer better. Molly was very patient, really calmed my nerves, and gave me the confidence for the real interview. Her mock interview was very similar to the real interview. I am so grateful I had the mock interview with her! Beyond that, Melody, one of the founders at Vantage Point MBA also answered a lot of my questions and gave me a lot of advice throughout the application process, which is totally out of the scope of the service. She was so sincere and patient, just as if I was her own comprehensive package client. Because of Molly and Melody’s help, I was admitted to Booth! I really wish I knew Vantage Point MBA earlier, and I highly recommend them!
My words are short of describing how incredible Alicia and Vantage Point are!! I spoke to many consultants and they were all about money and very cut and dry. Vantage Point and Alicia were GENUINE!! They gave me honest feedback on my application, timelines etc. When I had to shift from Round 1 to Round 2, Alicia was more than supportive. She was more of a thought partner and a guide and directed me not just on the process but actually on how to think about my application with the broader scheme of things. I would recommend them in a heartbeat!!
Kim helped me with 4 applications during crunch time for Round 2 and with mock interview prep. She was so timely in reviews of my essays and provided very valuable feedback every step of the way. Her support definitely enhanced my essays and rounded out my overall applications. I got into 2 of my top programs and I genuinely think I may not have received admittance without her input. I 100% recommend working with her on MBA applications!
Ilana truly exceeded all of my expectations while working with me during my MBA application process. She helped me craft my story and truly dig deep into my experiences and why I want to pursue my MBA. Additionally, I felt that Ilana was always honest with me throughout the process, providing helpful and insightful feedback. I worked with her on my ‘story’, resume, and essay. There were important elements of my essays that I would not even have thought of if it were not for Ilana’s guidance. Ilana’s support really helped me throughout all pieces of my applications. I do not think I would have applied or received admission to certain programs if it were not for Ilana. And most importantly, she was extremely personable and genuinely invested in my success.
Working with Melody, Jaime, and the rest of the Vantage Point MBA team was an amazing experience from start to finish, and I wouldn’t have received acceptance to multiple top 20 full-time MBA programs without their invaluable knowledge, expertise, recommendations, and insights. Going into the round 1 applications I knew I had some noticeable gaps in my overall application. The Vantage Point team worked with me throughout the process to give me the confidence to follow through with the applications, highlight my strengths, and demonstrate to admissions committees I have what it takes to be in their programs. They believed in me even when I doubted myself, and I can’t thank them enough for their consistent support and help. I couldn’t have done it without them, and I highly recommend them to everyone!
There were several things in mind when I looked for an admissions consultant: vast experience, strong communication skills, and being from an overrepresented group (Big 4 International male management consultant) the ability to help tell a story. A lot of the other admissions consultants I spoke with seemed interested in either force-fitting me into their box, but not Jaime and Melody, who more than fit the criteria I was looking for. Working with them was truly a joy: we collaborated on first discovering, then weaving a narrative that was compelling. So compelling in fact, that I got a $150,000 scholarship to an M7 school, as well as an admittance with a scholarship to another Top 10 school! Jaime also went above and beyond during the process, whether it was proactively taking my HBS essay for complementary, final round of edits to answering several of my panicked emails. I wholeheartedly recommend that if anyone is seeking an MBA consultant to try out Vantage Point and their amazing team!
Alicia and the Vantage Point are INCREDIBLE! I had a 15-minute consultation with one of the “big named” firms and they were short, dismissive, and generic. Vantage Point was the complete opposite and I’m so grateful I put my trust in this team! From day one, Alicia was all in and made the entire application process easier, clearer, and actually enjoyable. I was a challenging applicant in that I had to overcome some undergrad obstacles, had only 3 months to apply last round, and was also studying to take the GRE one week before apps were due. She was honest and constructive but continuously encouraging throughout the process. I’m a unique candidate and Alicia made sure that I embraced my quirk and showed my personality throughout the apps. Her extensive knowledge and experience with b school admissions were also incredibly helpful.
Alicia and Vantage Point are more than just consultants – they truly care about the applicants they work with and are always available to answer questions or help. I mean it. They go above and beyond to help you submit the best application you can. Highly recommend! **PICK ALICIA AS YOUR MBA CONSULTANT!!**
Alicia has been amazing to work with. She takes time to truly understand your goals/story before delving into how to best shape your application and position your application for success. Was a re-applicant and utilized the Ding Analysis + Hourly Services to gain acceptance to a top 7 school. She makes herself readily available to ensure you meet deadlines with a final product that you feel truly exemplifies your best qualities/you are happy with.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
I had the absolute pleasure of working with Melody Jones on a comprehensive package for my application to Columbia Business School and NYU Stern. Melody was an incredible resource and advisor throughout the entire process. Her guidance and support enabled me to optimize and highlight the strengths of my candidacy, eventually leading to an acceptance to my first choice and dream school, Columbia Business School.
Due to the fact that I applied as both a round 3 applicant and a reapplicant to CBS, I had the pleasure of working with Melody for over six months.
While the business school application process is naturally a long, introspective, and stressful time, Melody did an amazing job of being a true partner throughout the whole process. She constantly impressed me with her ability to provide direct, honest feedback in a polite manner. She responded to essay drafts and general questions very reliably and timely. Separately, I was pleasantly surprised with how much time Melody spent with me digging deep into my personal and professional background to help me effectively present my goals and story.
After being rejected by CBS following the submission of my round 3 application, Melody provided clarity as I was not fully sure if I wanted to reapply. She was not pushy and provided encouragement during a time when I was very discouraged.
During my reapplication process, her advice drove me to seek ways to improve my candidacy both professionally and through extracurriculars. After receiving an interview invite during my reapplication process, Melody thoroughly prepared me for my interview. I entered the interview fully prepared and I subsequently received an acceptance to CBS within a week.
In addition to Melody’s guidance, the Vantage Point team also provided phenomenal resources that supplemented my research and preparation phase. The Vantage Point team’s effective admissions committee trial run also provided amazing feedback from the perspective of an experienced former admissions committee member.
Overall, I highly recommend Melody and the Vantage Point team to anyone looking to apply to a competitive MBA program! Even if I had not received admission into my dream school, I believe working with Melody and her team put me in the best position to apply to my programs of choice. I cannot thank Melody and the Vantage Point team enough for helping me achieve my goal!
I believe Hannah was one of the main reasons I got into a B-school. As a younger, less traditional applicant, I needed someone who knew how the game is played to give structure to my resume and application – she certainly provided this. Hannah helped drastically improve my resume and was particularly helpful in remedying errors with my essays (e.g. don’t say that because it conveys this to the adcom). Later in the process, as I remained on the waitlist, I felt that Hannah’s tendency to play it by the book didn’t necessarily fit my situation. Nonetheless, I managed to get off the waitlist, likely due to her advice and edits. I’d recommend Hannah to younger applicants who are unsure about the process and to applicants with non-standard resumes.
The only regret I have about working with Katie McQuarrie and Vantage Point is that I didn’t engage them sooner in the application process. It’s worth noting that I reached out to Vantage Point in December of 2020, several weeks before R2 applications were due. Despite this challenging timeline, Katie coached me through six top-ten MBA applications, resulting in a full-ride scholarship at NYU Stern and admittance to Northwestern Kellogg’s MMM program. Katie provided expert advice that went far beyond mere grammatical essay critique. In fact, while her comments on my essays were always insightful and prompt, she was most helpful in refining my broader applicant narrative before I even set pen to paper. She helped me navigate the shifting sands of various career goals, even suggesting certain paths based on my background that I’d never considered. Nudges like this expanded my perspective and enabled me to present a very compelling “why” behind my application, which helped my essays and interviews stand out. Katie’s style is tactful but direct. She encouraged me to lean into my strengths, but also candidly pointed out when she knew something wouldn’t resonate well with admissions committees. Katie and Vantage Point played an indispensable role in honing my applicant story, preparing for interviews and negotiating competing scholarship offers. If you’re serious about getting into a top MBA program, do yourself a favor and hire Katie McQuarrie at Vantage Point ASAP.
I was referred to Anna by a friend who got into HBS. I had a great experience with her. She was super straightforward and very helpful with my essays, especially because I had some trouble keeping to the prompts while also trying to fit in my own story. The experience of setting your goals at the beginning was also very helpful for establishing a base to write other essays off of. She was also super helpful in getting me to make some important deadlines and she can turn around edits quickly if you need her to! I was super appreciative to have someone take a look at my 11th-hour edits.
I was applying for the deferred MBA admissions and really struggled with my application so I contacted Vantage Point nearly a week before the applications were due. Kim was an extremely efficient, professional, and personable consultant to work with. Not only was she able to answer all of my questions and edit my application with great detail, but she also brought her years of experience to the table. Would highly recommend anyone considering applying to the MBA to work with Vantage Point!
I can’t thank Sarah enough for her invaluable help in helping me craft the perfect application for HBS, my dream school, as well as several other programs.
I began working with Sarah believing that my ‘story’ was fairly generic. Through weekly phone calls and exercises, Sarah was able to guide me through an incredibly introspective deep dive into my key experiences and accomplishments. From our discussions, I was ultimately able to craft a compelling story and well-defined goals that I otherwise wouldn’t have explored. Sarah never wrote for me, but she continuously pushed me each draft to go deeper and question my actions and career choices further until my essays were truly reflective of me.
In addition to my essays, Sarah helped me completely revamp my resume. When we started, I presented Sarah with a jargon-filled, industry-specific resume. Sarah helped me to transform my accomplishments into a descriptive guide for adcoms to understand my career trajectory and impact at work.
Finally, after submitting my applications, Sarah shared incredibly useful materials to help me prepare for the interview and gave me a mock interview, which completely de-stressed the oddities of this year’s Zoom interviews! Furthermore, throughout the entire process, Sarah was immediately responsive to all my ad hoc questions, emails, phone calls, etc.
I wholeheartedly believe I wouldn’t be matriculating to my dream school next year without her help, and I can’t recommend her enough!
I was referred to Katie through another prospective MBA student. I completed a “trial session” with 3 other top MBA admissions consulting firms, but as soon as I spoke to Katie, I knew she was the perfect fit. I decided to apply Round 1 to four schools in July, which only gave us a few months to work on my applications. In the beginning of our time working together, Katie helped me think through all of my past experiences that led me to pursue my MBA. This resulted in a much more compelling MBA story than I ever could have strung together on my own – not only did it help create a much stronger application, but it also helped me thoroughly think through my MBA and post-MBA goals.
Katie was also immensely helpful with my essay writing. She always pushed my writing to the next level, providing both high-level feedback on the overall tone of my essays and, once we got farther into the process, very detailed feedback on syntax, word choice, and grammar. She also gave very customized feedback depending on the school. Another one of my favorite parts of working with Katie was her responsiveness. Even when we were working through resume / essay drafts, she always responded within a day or two (usually even less).
The best part about working with Katie is that I can tell she genuinely cares about my MBA experience. Ultimately, I was admitted to 3 out of the 4 schools I applied to, and we have continued working together to determine how to weigh my options, from scholarships to exit opportunities and overall school fit. I highly recommend working with Katie to anyone who is going through the MBA application process!
I cannot express how grateful I am for the assistance I received from Katie McQuarrie from Vantage Point! I always felt like I had a good sense of what I wanted to do in the future, as well as solid and unique work experience, however, I didn’t quite know how to build my MBA story around my experience and goals in a way that would be compelling to MBA admissions teams. I didn’t even realize how important it was to have a solid “story” until I started working with Katie. I also knew in theory why I wanted to get my MBA, however, Katie helped me to logically and clearly express how I planned to get from point A (now) to point B (short-term and long-term goals) and exactly why an MBA would be so crucial to my success. Katie also helped me identify those specific short-term and long-term goals and how they connected with my past work experience. In addition to that, Katie was honest with me about which schools I could and should target, especially with my non-traditional background, however she was always incredibly encouraging too. I knew that my GMAT score was lower than the average at many of the schools I was applying to, and certain quantitative scores that I received during undergrad could have been higher, but Katie helped me to take advantage of the optional essay and express why that should not be a concern to schools. It was so nice to have someone in my corner who could give me relevant advice, especially since I felt like a deer in the headlights at the start of my application journey! Ultimately, I ended up receiving a full ride to my top choice school through a scholarship that I would not have known about without Katie. I cannot say enough great things! Thank you so much to Vantage Point and to Katie for helping me through the application process!!!
I initially heard about Vantage Point through a friend who spoke extremely highly about the organization. I can confidently say Molly lived up to every expectation and it was one of the best investments I’ve made.
I came to Molly without a GMAT score, succinct story, or methodology for tackling the MBA admissions process. Even more daunting, there were only ~2.5 months till the first round of applications were due. Molly was extremely patient with me and helped me develop a forward roadmap. She focused on one task at a time so that I would not get overwhelmed.
During the story development and essay writing processes, Molly spent countless hours with me brainstorming and revising, each iteration showing tangible improvement. Molly also shared the endless resources at Vantage Point, which greatly helped formulate my own ideas.
The help from Molly and the Vantage Point team did not stop after I hit the submit button on my applications. When I was invited to interview, I was able to schedule a mock interview through Vantage Point, which greatly helped in calming my nerves for the real thing.
I would strongly recommend Molly at Vantage Point. After working with her for my round 1 applications, I was accepted into multiple top-tier schools and received a scholarship for one – an immediate ROI!
When I did my initial consultation with Melody and Katie, I still had a great deal to learn about myself and my professional aspirations. Katie was selected as my consulting because of her familial ties to the military. I was impressed by how quickly she developed a grasp on the terminology and unique environment I plan to transition from. She helped me understand who I am at my core in order to shed a humble and encouraging light on the skills I bring to an MBA program. We worked together to develop a narrative of my past in order to articulate a clear trajectory of my career goals over the next 10 years. Most importantly, I never once felt like I was receiving guidance from a hired consultant, but rather a friend who helped me make some challenging life decisions. If you too are shaky about how to present your story or pursue your next career, Katie and Vantage Point are the perfect solutions. I strongly recommend the Comprehensive Package to get all the time you need to craft your applications to perfection.
I never thought that I would be accepted into my dream school, CBS, for the Aug entry (ED round) when I started my MBA process early this year. But Melody MADE it happen. I CERTAINLY wouldn’t have done it without her help, given that 1) I do not have a stellar test scores/GPA (right at average) 2) my competitive demographics. I feel very fortunate that I was able to connect to work with her from a mutual connection, who also worked with Melody and got accepted to CBS. Not to mention – Melody is also a CBS alum, so she understands ins and outs of CBS and the CBS process very well.
I worked with Melody on the comprehensive package. It is pricey like any other comprehensive consulting packages- make no mistake about it. BUT it’s definitely WORTH every single penny. I chose the comprehensive package vs. hourly or essay services bc I wanted my consultant to be fully engaged and be able to shed his/her insight throughout the process. It turns out to be the absolutely right decision, bc Melody, and I spent a lot of hours discussing my background, personal stories, etc., that ultimately help put together a very coherent application. I don’t think that could’ve happened if I decided to save a couple hundred or thousand dollars opting in for an essay coach/hourly chats services.
While I can’t speak for other services, what I would highlight from my experience working with Melody is that she is extremely encouraging knowledgeable, and responsive. From time to time, she would listen to my vent about my average test scores and anxiety reading about forums, etc. But she has remained reassuring throughout this whole time, motivating me to focus on what I can control. She also shared extensive knowledge of the admission and application process from her previous experience with other clients. During the process, she has also been much more responsive than what I would expect from a consultant, especially at the founder level. She typically responded to my general inquiries/questions/emails/texts in 12 hours or less even though she was extremely busy.
Another thing I wanted to highlight is that bc I signed up for the comprehensive package, I was able to gameplan with Melody at the early stage on the process such as timeline, LoC, and other admission items. Throughout this couple of months, I definitely had a bunch of follow up phone calls, emails, and texts just on items other than the essays.
As far as the services, Melody and her team have a holistic plan that really helps you dig deep into your personal story- and most importantly- challenges you to think about what really matters to you. While the story and working experiences are mine, Melody really did a great job in connecting all the dots and helped me craft a genuinely authentic story. I am extremely satisfied with the final essays that Melody and I worked together on after multiple drafts. I certainly would not be able to come up with the articulate essays/personal stories without Melody’s help. Not to mention, Melody is also an excellent writer! After I got invited for an interview for CBS, Melody and I also had a mock interview, which was extremely helpful.
Lastly, had I not get accepted, would I regret my decision of choosing Melody and VP? Definitely not. Coming into our first call, I expected my consultant to fully invest her time and to be the shepherd of this daunting process. Melody well exceeds my expectation regardless of the result, as she fully invested her time and effort in my application. I truly feel that every dollar is well spent. Of course, the result speaks for itself. I STRONGLY recommend Melody and Vantage Point!
Katie and other ladies from the Vantage Point have been a great support for my MBA application. Katie not only helped me polish the essays and craft interview skills, but also taught me how to highlight the elements that admission teams are looking for in your application. She is very prompt responding to emails and phone calls, very detail-oriented and resourceful. Through working with Katie, I have mastered the skills of how to tell your unique story (less is more!), how to build your own brand, and how to stand out from the pack. It’s been a very rewarding journey working with Katie and I would definitely recommend her service!
Hannah is the consummate professional! She provided a first-class experience during the entire MBA application process and provided top-notch guidance and support across the board. From advising on the refinement of my resume, to really challenging me on the content of my essays, Hannah helped ensure my application was top quality and hung together. Finally, Hannah helped me prepare for the interview over the course of several calls to achieve a successful outcome. Would thoroughly recommend!
I was referred to Vantage Point by a colleague who had previously worked with another consultant. I was initially going to work with that consultant I was introduced to, but she was fully booked, so I was paired with Katie. On our initial call, I could tell she was very skilled at working with people like myself – someone who is set on business school but doesn’t have a clear idea of how to portray themself through the application process. Katie was very patient, but also very persistent with me as she helped me craft my story. Just when I was satisfied with the progress we had made, she wanted to take it another layer deeper and make sure it was flawless and could withstand the scrutiny of an admissions panel.
Katie was exactly the sort of person I needed to coach me through the process. I work in a fairly demanding industry with little personal time. Without Katie, I would have procrastinated and let things slip until the last minute. She was assertive and in a good way. She held me to deadlines and a timeline that allowed us to put a quality product together without rushing. I was amazed and comforted by the amount of time and interest Katie took in crafting my story and getting to know what drives me. Not only did it help me put together the best application I possibly could have, but it also made me look within and think about those personal traits that make me the person I am.
Katie also truly went above and beyond what I expected I would receive out of the comprehensive package. After the applications were submitted, she thought critically about how I could maintain a competitive advantage at the schools I was applying to and how to keep my name top of mind with their admissions teams. She gave personalized advice and was a great sounding board when interviews came around. Buying a comprehensive package should be a personalized, customized service with someone who is very attentive to your process. My experience with Katie was everything and more. I highly recommend her to anyone that is considering a comprehensive service. Very well worth it.
I’m a deferred MBA applicant coming right out of college with zero full-time work experience so I came into the MBA application process completely blind. I would not have been accepted to ANY deferred programs without Kim’s help. Kim helped me cool my nerves about applying, advised me on exactly what I needed to do to position myself as a top candidate, and her editing on my resume and essay worked wonders with regards to highlighting my experiences and making me stand out in the crowd. Kim’s strength is in helping people focus on their stories in their essays and I think I definitely got a lot out of her editing. I also worked with her on an hourly basis but still felt like she was fully encouraging and was 100% engaged with my application. Overall, Kim was invaluable during my MBA admissions process and I was accepted to two of my top choices as a result!
[The following review has been transferred over from the consultant’s previous profile on P&Q with mbaMission]
I cannot thank Kim enough for all her help during the application process. From the first 30-min consultation, she was honest about my application strengths and weaknesses and offered advice on not only how to strengthen my weaknesses, but to emphasize my strengths to overcome those weaknesses in the application. She was very responsive (even with my application timeline being during the holidays!) and can be easily reached via email. With her help reviewing my resume and essays for multiple schools, I was accepted into my dream school! Trust her, she will be honest with you and will encourage you, and that’s exactly what you need.
Kim helped me with MBA applications earlier this year, for the 2020 academic year.
It would be an understatement to say that it was an absolute pleasure to work with her. We worked together on our hourly basis, but I believe I got all the attention I needed to make the best of my application.
Kim was particularly helpful in reviewing my essays – especially in cutting out parts that added little value to my overall story and challenging me to write with greater clarity and substance. I can say with certainty that she helped me improve my essays by leaps and bounds and that I wouldn’t have been able to do that without her guidance.
Even after the entire process was over, Kim has taken great interest in how I fared, across all my applications, and not simply the schools I worked with her on. She’s also been available as a reliable sounding board for questions and ideas I’ve had, long after the process was over.
Overall, I’d strongly recommend working with Kim to anyone who is considering it. The experience was entirely worth it, and was in my opinion, pivotal in getting me to the school I wanted to go to.
Our Partner Sites: Poets&Quants for Execs | Poets&Quants for Undergrads | Tipping the Scales | We See Genius