Brian Birdwell

Brian took me on as a client with only a few weeks remaining before Round 2 deadlines, after a thorough vetting process that ensured we were both fully committed to the journey ahead. From the start, he struck the perfect balance between kindness and empathy and direct, honest feedback, an approach that helped me present the strongest and most authentic version of myself in both my essays and interviews.

Brian clearly takes immense pride in his work, and it shows in the results he delivers. He consistently pushed me to improve and challenged me to think more deeply and communicate more effectively. I initially had reservations about working with a consultant, having heard mixed reviews, but Brian far exceeded my expectations. His insight into the admissions process and his strategic guidance proved invaluable, and his impact on my candidacy was truly significant. After applying to only three M7 schools, I was admitted and achieved results that exceeded anything I could have imagined.

Even beyond the application process, I will carry forward many of the lessons he shared, particularly around communication and interviewing, into my professional career.

I cannot recommend Brian highly enough. I am confident in his ability to positively impact any candidate through his expertise, dedication, and thoughtful approach.

Thank you, Brian!

I am thrilled to be headed to Michigan Ross this year, and Brian played a pivotal role in that success. His feedback on my essays and resume was meticulous. He ensured every bullet point highlighted my impact and represented my achievements in a precise and powerful way. Brian also gave me great advice as I was working on my application. Following his lead and trusting his directions led me to success. Highly recommend his services!

When I started this process in early 2025, I was an engineer at a demanding company, and I was feeling burnt out from test prep. Since none of my peers have MBAs and my network in the MBA world was sparse, I didn’t just need someone to edit essays — I needed a strategist and counselor who could help me spend my time and energy deliberately.

Before working with Brian, I read what felt like every review on Poets & Quants and other admissions sites. I agonized over the decision and at some point I started to become skeptical…how could every consultant have glowing testimonials?

Well, Brian is the real deal.

The process with Brian and Career Protocol started off with heavy introspection and a structured effort to catalog as many life stories as I could. From this, Brian helped me frame and sculpt a cohesive, powerful story from my first blob of word vomit. The essays are unquestionably me — just clearer and more confident. Before, I felt that I could only articulate pieces of my story, though I knew there was something there. But for the first time, I was able to fully articulate it. My positioning didn’t change dramatically; it became clearer, sharper, more dignified.

Brian’s approach is a rare combination of genuine curiosity and pragmatic strategy. He is deeply interested in people and their lived experiences, but he also knows how to frame those experiences with discipline and purpose. Sharing with him parts of my life that I had previously hesitated to write about felt warm and human — never transactional. He pushed me to explore topics I might have avoided and encouraged me to think about my experiences in ways I hadn’t before. Whether it was guidance on networking or perspective on communicating with the adcom, he offered both practical advice and steady judgment.

What surprised me most was how much this process affected my confidence at work. I started showing up with more intentionality and clarity. I felt more grounded in who I was and where I was going. I was promoted after submitting my application but before receiving my admission decision…I genuinely believe the mindset shift from this process played a role.

With Brian in my corner, I applied Round 1 to my top-choice program, was admitted, and ultimately chose not to apply elsewhere because I had already gotten into the school I wanted most. That outcome speaks for itself. I actually paid for two applications and only needed one and would happily do it again for the clarity and confidence I gained.

If you’re analytical, skeptical, or don’t fit the typical MBA archetype — especially engineers or those navigating imposter syndrome — Brian is exceptional. He brings rigor, childlike curiosity, and grounded optimism that’s hard to beat.

I decided to apply to business school rather late in the process – about two months before the R1 deadline. I had strong work experience in private equity and a solid GMAT score, but knew nothing about the application process and realized I was going to need expert support to craft quality applications on the short timeline I had.

Brian was enormously helpful in supporting my application. He was genuinely invested in my success and his expertise shown through in his knowledge of each school – he helped me write to the personality of each school, crafting unique essays for each prompt rather than trying to cram one or two concepts for prompts that didn’t fit.

Most valuable was Brian’s commitment to intellectual honesty. Multiple times, I wrote drafts that simply weren’t up to snuff and needed full rewrites – he didn’t hesitate to tell me so when they did, and my applications were much better for it. He pushed me to write personal (and occasionally difficult) stories that conveyed my personality and connected with the reader. What’s more, Brian went above and beyond to help me hit deadlines while juggling a tight timeline and busy work schedule, often turning drafts multiple times in a day as we came down to the wire.

With Brian’s support, I was admitted to 4/6 schools to which I applied, including $100K scholarships at Wharton and Booth and $80K from Kellogg. Brian is a skilled, high-integrity expert and I can’t recommend him enough.

I could not have done it without Brian. He knew exactly where to challenge me and exactly where to provide support. Brian was truly a steady hand from day 1, all the way until the 11th hour the day before submitting!

As a former investment banker / current private equity associate, I thought I had a very “basic” story that was going to be a large hindrance for my admission into top schools. Not only that, my test scores were below median. However, Brian challenged me to dig deep and helped me tell my story that shined in my essays and eventual interviews. I ended up going 2 for 2 and getting significant scholarship from both Booth and Kellogg.

Throughout the entire process, I was extremely busy with work. Brian kept me on top of my deadlines (with several reminder emails!) in order to avoid a final jam job at the end. Without Brian, my application process would have 100% slipped into Round 2 and created additional stress.

Lastly, and most importantly, Brian was an absolute pleasure to work with. He always answered extremely quickly, and it was always fun to hop on the phone with him. Brian was 110% worth it!

I shopped around a bit to find an admission consultant that I felt would help me do my best, and felt an immediate connection with Brian. In our intro call, Brian showed knowledge of some relatively niche interests of mine that I didn’t expect any admission consultants to know anything about. His intellectual curiosity stood out to me, and I knew that he would be the right choice for me. This proved valuable, as Brian consistently made sure he was informed on various niche topics that I wanted to work into my essays.
While I’ve always considered myself a decent writer, Brian went above and beyond to push me towards some of the best writing I’ve ever done. I never thought I’d write about my middle school years spent on World of Warcraft, especially in an MBA admission essay, but Brian catalyzed my creative juices, urged me to make bold choices, and the WoW story in one of my intro paragraphs ultimately landed me an offer from a dream M7. My admission essays ended up being some of the most personal writing I’ve ever done, and I would not have had the courage to write the stories that I did without Brian’s coaching.

The cherry on top was the support that Brian gave me when I failed to achieve the test scores that I wanted on the first go around. He linked me up with a GMAT/GRE tutor whom he used to coach with, and 4 weeks after my initial test, I achieved the exact score I was aiming for.

Applying to MBA programs is one of the most time-consuming, anxiety-inducing, and stressful experiences that one can possibly go through. Brian talked me through the lowest points, and made me feel understood when nobody else in my life knew quite what I was going through. In the end, I was admitted to two M7 schools (one with some scholarship $), and two T15 programs (both with substantial scholarship $$$). I absolutely could not have done this without Brian, and I highly recommend him to anyone considering an MBA admission coach!

Repeat with me: “I. Want. Brian.”
With Brian, I was admitted to 5 out of 6 MBA programs with $150k+ scholarships: Booth, Kellogg, Yale, Haas, and Ross (and was invited to interview at Wharton as well).

I’m an international future student who has been working in Marketing and Sales for the past 5 years. From the very first call with Brian, I could immediately tell that he’s not only an amazingly professional and trustworthy person, but he’s also the chillest, most fun guy I’ve met in years. And trust me: you really want someone you can fully trust and who lifts your mood during this process – especially when you’re doing it on your own and most friends and family won’t fully grasp the amount of work ahead.

Brian will not forget a single detail of your personal and professional story. He has remarkable emotional intelligence and an incredible ability to highlight your persona in the strongest, most authentic way. With his help – made of lots of laughter, some shared tears, and tough love – I developed the most compelling stories in my essays, without ever settling or feeling like I wasn’t myself.

But the work we did went far beyond essays. We rebuilt my resume from scratch (even though my previous one had already helped me get into FAANG companies), strategized on the best recommenders, and carefully selected the portfolio of schools that best fit my goals and dreams. Most importantly, Brian was always there: ready to answer questions of all kinds and to offer thoughtful, honest advice whenever I needed it.

You just cannot go wrong with Brian. And, in the end, he’s someone that will always root for you as long as you are willing to work hard, be authentic, and have fun. I already miss working with him, but I’m sure I’ll keep in touch for the rest of my life.

“I. Want. Brian.”

TL;DR: I was a reapplicant with one offer who sought a high touch, yet personal, consultant to counsel me through the reapplication process. Brian was exactly who I needed and now I find myself this time around with multiple top 10 offers and serious scholarship support. Brian, and the larger MBA Protocol team, have been nothing but an asset and I would highly recommend partnering with them through your process.

In 2024-2025, I applied with little to no guidance to four schools with a below average GPA, strong GRE score, and strong work experience. I was accepted to my safety school, waitlisted at a top 10, and rejected outright from the other two top 10s.

I was tempted to take the offer from my safety school, but felt a nagging feeling to apply again. I knew if I was going to do the whole application process over again, I’d have to have the helping hand of a consultant who truly knew how to overcome the hurdle of my poor GPA.

I shopped around the major consulting firms and was no doubt impressed by their track record and extensive resources, but there was a lack of personal touch that I knew would be important in this very people-based process.

I had previously stumbled upon MBA Protocol and their marketing, filled with unicorns and rainbows, stuck out to me. When I reached out, I felt that personal touch that had been absent with some of the other consulting firms I had spoken to. I was blown away by the initial support and energy the MBA Protocol Team had for my profile. I signed on hoping for the best.

What I received was even better than I could have hoped for. Brian. the MBA Application Wizard himself, sat down with me for two hours to chat through my 10+ page Discovery process and identified all of the great stories I could tell. We went through 19 iterations of my resume and another 19 versions of my target school’s essays. The level of personal touch, expertise, and care was pretty incredible. There were multiple times I came to Brian with near paranoia and he was able to say “we got this dude.” Sure enough, he was right.

I sit here now, mid December 2025, with three top 10 acceptances, $120K of scholarship, and waiting to hear from my final four schools. The MBA admissions process is nuanced in ways you won’t understand unless you have a guide. Working with Brian and the MBA Protocol Team was a fantastic decision for me and my journey as a reapplicant. The time, effort, and capital committed to the process is well worth it with Brian and the MBA Protocol team.

I applied to Kellogg and Booth for part-time MBA programs and Brian helped me with both applications. He brought honesty, empathy, and strategic clarity that made the entire application process structured. With his help I received admits from both schools.

From our first brainstorming session, he pushed me to think beyond surface-level stories and uncover the real motivations and patterns behind my experiences. His feedback was always direct, helping me sharpen my essays into clear, authentic narratives. His writing and storytelling advice continue to help me well beyond the MBA applications.

Beyond essay guidance, his mock interviews and networking insights were instrumental in building my confidence and refining my communication style.

I’d strongly recommend Brian to anyone looking for a thoughtful, candid, and results-driven consultant.

12 months ago I was down in the dumps. After 8 years of riding the self employment rollercoaster my business was getting quiet once again. I had just lost a parent, I was lacking direction and knew I needed a factory reset. I was seeking a path to a more purposeful existence that offered stable employment and long term financial prospects.

I was a 32 year old immigrant with a BA in Communications from a European university and I had no direct corporate experience. I had worked in media production for 8 years taking whatever work came through.

After spending many nights going down rabbit holes looking for inspiration, googling “how to get a good job”, I discovered Career Protocols YouTube page and benefited from a wealth of information that I felt was leading me in the right direction. I had never heard of an MBA or a GRE!

I recognize the ridiculousness of pursuing a $150k degree without a specific career goal but the employment reports were promising and I knew with the right guidance this could be an opportunity to get back on track. I was open to new challenges but didn’t want to completely start from scratch competing with 22 year olds for entry level jobs. I was willing to make the investment in myself to learn new skills which would help me to compete for coveted roles at amazing companies that I currently had no access to. I rolled the dice, made contact with Career Protocol and was matched with Brian Birdwell, aka The Wizard.

Within the first week of working together I knew my investment with CP was going to pay off. The first round of essay edits opened my mind to a whole new way of storytelling and I can’t believe I ever thought I could do it alone. We did a deep dive into my entire background and not only did Brian identify the most impactful events of my life, he wove them into a framework that helped me rediscover my confidence, recognize my achievements and inspired me to reach for the stars.

Brian balances being an absolute professional while also being the chillest dude. He’s a sage and has an unbelievable memory – 2 months into the process he was still recalling details of my background that I had mentioned during our initial discovery call, making for an incredibly personalized experience.

Aside from my age, lack of corporate exposure and unclear career goals, I hadn’t taken a math test in 14 years. I self studied over the Summer and improved immensely but ultimately managed to score below average on the GRE. In hindsight I should have sought professional help here as well. I subsequently took the Executive Assessment, scoring above average, and I used that test score when applicable.

Brian helped to identify programs for which I was a competitive candidate but encouraged me to apply to a range of schools. Despite the initial challenges with my profile we stuck to the plan and I ended up getting admitted to Michigan Ross, NYU Stern, Georgetown, the University of Washington Foster with a scholarship and I was waitlisted at Columbia!

I am immensely proud of what we achieved, particularly because I crafted truly authentic, soul bearing stories that are entirely original and unique to my experiences. Before connecting with Brian I interviewed 2 other admissions consulting firms. One of them told me I didn’t have a chance at top programs and the other pitched a scenario where their team of writers would interview me once and then write my essays for me – a ludicrous proposition. During one MBA school interview the admissions director told me I was one of the best storytellers that had ever applied to their program – wow. Without Brian’s expertise that would never have been possible.

This service is so much more than just essay support. It’s part admissions consulting, interview training, resume refining, school selection, career guidance, community support and at times, therapy. I achieved what I set out to do and learned an arsenal of new skills that I will take with me into my MBA and beyond. I am eternally grateful to Brian, Angela and the Career Protocol community!

After working with Brian, I was accepted to 4 out of the 5 schools I applied to with over $400K in scholarships — I am going to Wharton with a $120K scholarship. Coming into business school applications, I didn’t know where to start or what range of schools I could feasibly target. Brian was a great help in guiding me through the entire process from helping me choose schools to really clarifying my personal story and narrative in my application. He is very silly and kind to work with which really helped me deal with my stress and anxiety while also making sure I met deadlines. He also genuinely gets to know you as a person and references anecdotes from your conversations when talking through essay edits. Brian stands out from other consultants because he makes the process feel fun and exciting and doesn’t take himself too seriously while also acknowledging how significant of a milestone and opportunity applying to business school is. I am so glad I worked with Brian – I would have been lost without his guidance!

I was a re-applicant sitting on 4 waitlists from R2 in 2024, and it was quite a challenge to say something new altogether while putting my application together for R1 again! I had maxed out on GMAT/ GRE, and I felt I needed a fresh approach and perspective for my stories. A friend introduced me to Brian in May 2024 and rest is history – I’m thrilled to say I’m now admitted to Kellogg!
Although I revisited many of the same stories I had already shared, I learnt so much about how to tell my story, the concept of “SHOW, DON’T TELL”, my accomplishments, and my values. The fresh approach and a new lens made all the difference!
Another thing I really appreciated was how organized everything was with Brian. His standard 48-hour turnaround kept the momentum going, and he matched my pace perfectly – a stark contrast to the experience I had with the consultant from previous year. And to top it off, Brian’s direct feedback helped me better prepare for interviews as well. By the end of my submissions, I felt a genuine sense of satisfaction and fulfilment that had eluded me in my prior applications.

I cannot recommend working with Brian enough! When I started the process of applying to business school, I was feeling burnt out and unconfident. I had spent the better part of a year securing a GMAT score that I felt I could apply with. I ended up getting a decent GMAT score, but I knew that I was still at the low end of scores for the programs I was applying to. I was seriously worried that I would not get into any program, let alone any of my top choices.

Cut to 6 months later. I ended up getting into 5 out of 6 schools I applied to (all top 20 programs) and received over $300,000 in scholarship offers! I’m confident that I would not have had so much success in my MBA applications without working with Brian.

I immediately felt comfortable and confident working with Brian. His experience in MBA consulting was evident from the first call when he clearly laid out the plan for how we would tackle Round 1 applications together and was able to recall specifics about the schools I was applying to on the fly. He kept me organized and on track throughout the process and was always available for a quick question or to talk through any concerns. Brian also helped me to do the important self-reflection necessary to tell my story throughout my applications. He made the process fun and exciting, and I think that energy really showed in my applications.

Working with Brian gave me the peace of mind that I was doing everything I could to get into business school. I knew from our second meeting that working with Brian was worth every penny when he was able to recall every detail from my Discovery Document (the first step to working with a coach Career Protocol) that outlined essentially my entire life story. Not only did this show me that I was in capable hands, but also that I was working with someone who genuinely cared about my future success. Brian helped me shine throughout the application process and I cannot thank him enough for that! I know that he will do the same for you too!

I worked with Brian Birdwell at Career Protocol, and it was the best decision I could have made. I was coming from an over-represented demographic and an overrepresented industry with less than dazzling test scores, so I knew that story telling would be the key to my success. I was confident that I had an interesting story to tell, but I didn’t know how to tell it, and that’s exactly what Brian and career protocol helped with. They really focused on me writing authentically and truthfully about who I am and what I want to do rather than what the schools “want to hear.” I was admitted to 3 of the 5 schools I applied to (two with over 50% scholarship) including my top choice. I am 100% confident that I would not have gotten the scholarship money or maybe even the acceptance if I was not working with Brian and career protocol. If you believe you have an interesting story to tell and need to find a way to express it, Career Protocol is the place for you.

Let me start with the headline, Brian was instrumental in me getting into 5 of 6 schools I applied to and merit scholarship to 4 of those! These schools were Harvard, Kellogg, Tuck, Darden and Emory. He starts with a Discovery process that in itself is worth the cost. It really helped me think more deeply than I ever had before about who I am, what truly motivates me and what I want to do with my career. Using this a jumping off point he helped me write my absolute best business school essays that were also 100% authentic to who I am (not some version I thought ad coms might want to see). On some occasions, I would think the essay was finished and he would say “this is a good start!”, truly only allowing me to submit my best work. Ultimately, this paid off and my HBS interviewer even remarked on how much she liked my essay at the beginning of my interview. Brian was so so helpful along the whole process and was a great friend on top of that. Could not recommend enough!

I had the pleasure of working with Brian on my MBA application and was able to receive acceptance letters from both Wharton (UPenn) and HBS (Harvard)!
I ended up choosing to work with Brian because first, other firms that I’ve talked to felt very much like a factory, where I felt rushed to make a decision to commit to them. Many mentioned fees and deposits before being interested in my motivation behind applying to MBA programs. Secondly, I watched Angela’s YouTube videos and she was so energetic and I loved how she would call out that MBA is not for everyone. From her videos, I could tell that this firm would honestly tell me if this were not the right path, and they would tell me that my essay sucks if it does. Lastly, on the website I found information about how Brian (or any other coaches) will never change your wording, which I really loved. MBA essays are supposed to be an expressive piece of writing that incorporates who I am, but if I sound like an AI/ some mass produced essay, it will not do its job. I felt even more confident committing to Brian and Career Protocol after seeing this.
Throughout the process of working with Brian, he was very responsive and attentive. I loved the discovery process, where we walked through my entire life together and picked out some pivotal moments and lessons. Brian at some point was able to recite my life better than I could because that’s the level of attention to details he has given to my profile, LOVED the sense of deeper connection. He invoked some great questions to extract insights and I think this way of reflecting on my life events is a lifelong skill that I will continue practicing even after MBA applications. In editing the essays, Brian was able to recall any details or comments I have forgotten to edit and he will say that an essay needs more drafts when it does, regardless of how quickly the deadlines are approaching. His level of attention did not regress even after applications were submitted, so he helped me through interview preparations, as well as waitlist process.
I highly recommend 1) to get help with MBA applications to maximize the chances of getting into a program of your dream, and 2) if getting a coach, work with Brian. I enjoyed every single step along my MBA application journey with Brian and happy to have shared the results with him after 9+ months of hard work.

I had the pleasure to have Brian as my MBA coach. I had really high stress levels and was not confident at all with my profile (other MBA coaches rejected me because of my GRE), but he was able to calm me down and help me find the way to build a strong profile, increase my confidence, and have fun while doing it. With Brian’s way of giving feedback ( really objective, direct, and critical) I was able to bring out the best of me and reflect it in my application. At the end, I was able to achieve more than I expected, I got in to my dream school and I even got a 50% tuition scholarship ( in a school that doesn’t usually give scholarships). In addition to the amazing coaching experience with Brian, I was surprised by all the resources available in the Carrier Protocol platform. I found this a really useful tool that allows you to go as deep as you wish (and 24/7 availability) in learning how to strengthen your profile and abilities. This platform complemented Brian’s coaching in a perfect way.

I still can’t believe how meaningful and game-changer Brian’s counseling was for my MBA admission process. The bottom line: I got a scholarship of $70k at Haas and admission to my dream program at London Business School.

My MBA admission process started with another consultant who was very discouraging because of my low GRE scores. He told me not to even waste my time with LBS and suggested Florida instead…

But then I met Angela and Career Protocol. She matched me with Brian and my journey started. Working with Career Protocol and Brian was a transformative experience for me – they coached me to know myself better and my self-esteem grew a lot through the process. I started unsure of what value I would add to the class and I finished with a clear understanding of what matters to me and the value that my experiences have to offer to my classmates.

The Awesome Sauce call (or kick-off call), where Brian presented my life story back to me, was particularly meaningful. It helped me realize how much people mean to me, how passionate and also empathetic I am, and how one of my biggest strengths is in connecting with people.

Brian also gave me the best advice for handling the GRE and helped me stop going crazy with it.
During the whole process, he was optimistic and realistic. Not discouraging and not just a cheerleader for taking the biggest risks with the schools I applied to. Brian pushed me to chase my dreams and also to hedge with some other schools (though not Florida).

One thing I’d say to people getting started with applications is to change their mindset from “how can I make these adcoms like me” to “how can I be most myself”, and that was one of the most important mindset changes that I developed thanks to Career Protocol.

I will forever be grateful to Brian and Angela.

Thanks CP!

If you are reading this and debating whether you should work with Brian, let me save you the trouble and just say, sign up ASAP! If you don’t believe me, the results speak for themselves. I got admitted at Kellogg with a $20K scholarship and I’m still waitlisted at Booth and Columbia (I already know where I’m going :P)

I come from one of the most over-represented cohorts on the planet – hello, my Indian engineering brothers out there!- and being a reapplicant with just a 710 GMAT, I know that if it weren’t for Brian, I don’t think I would be going to Kellogg.

But beyond the admit, I’m most grateful to Brian for changing the way I write and express myself. It is something my friends and family have noticed about and is something I’m going to carry for the rest of my life. So, if you are in a time crunch and need to get to it, please set up and introductory call with Brian, if you want to learn a bit more about my journey read on!

I decided to give the M7 dream another shot this round, and I knew I needed help. Career Protocol caught my eye with their quirky website, but more importantly, I resonated deeply with their focus on authenticity. In our first call, it was clear that Brian had taken the time to understand me and my interests. I found talking to him was comfortable from the get-go, unlike some other consultants who offered templated answers.

I struggled to improve my GMAT score, but Brian’s optimism and unfiltered advice helped me keep my sanity. He encouraged me to switch to round 2 and switch to the GRE. It was uncomfortable, but his clarity and conviction convinced me it was the right move. He was my cheerleader, and eventually, I hit a 335 on the GRE. Suddenly, I felt like an M7 was within reach, something I wouldn’t have dared to apply to with a 710 GMAT.

Even though I’ve secured admission to Kellogg, I’m grateful to Brian for helping me change my storytelling ability and guiding me on writing in the right voice. I’ve learned so much about myself, becoming a more capable professional in the process. When my mom and sister read my final drafts and said, “you actually sound like a human being instead of a robot,” I knew I had a real shot.

From being a sounding board to a guiding light to helping me transform professionally, I truly thank Brian for being a part of my application journey. In this confusing space of MBA applications, he made sure that I crossed the finish line, motivating me when needed and providing clear, direct feedback.

I genuinely believe that Brian is an actual wizard! If anyone wants to make their MBA application journey truly worthwhile, do an introductory chat with him—I promise you’ll be in excellent hands. I couldn’t have done it without Brian!

I choose Career Protocol after speaking with several other consultants because of the welcoming and contagious energy that Angela has throughout the Career Protocol brand and her contents. When I spoke with Angela for the very first time, my hopes of getting in to the top schools jumped up way more than I thought initially. I didn’t feel this with other consultants.

Then I met Brian to start out the application process. Besides having an impressive and cool background himself, my favorite thing about Brian is that he is genuinely interested in people, and you will feel that he cares about you and your story more than anybody else. He gives you the floor to make you feel heard. Having somebody know your story is quite special. It felt like we were in this together, my story was being heard and that we were in this together, to win, and win we did! The essay revisions with him felt challenging and tough but when I saw the final draft, I realized the growth in my personality. I learned so much about the art of storytelling. I thought I had my goals figured out but working with Brian made my WHY so much more concrete that it boosted my confidence even more. This is exactly what you need in this difficult time. He has been a self-discovery architect to me, and I feel privileged to have known him and felt his energy as a coach and now as a friend.

I think one of the most special parts of this journey is filling out the Self Discovery document that forces you to self-reflect on your life, values, and goals. This is unique to Career Protocol and arguably one of the best things you will do at a pivot point in your life. The MBA journey is about more than just getting admitted to your dream schools. It is a self-development and self-brand journey and I truly believe that Brian and Career Protocol’s content have set me up with a strong foundation to face the challenges that lie ahead. I would do it all over again!

For reference, I applied to 8 schools, interviewed with 6, got accepted to 4 with 3 scholarship offers (including a full tuition at one), and waitlisted at 1.

In my previous life, I was a Division 1 athlete. I know well that the best coaches can help the bottom of the barrel, average, and the best athletes become world-class champions. This is Brian. He has helped many people (no matter their ability level) get into the very top MBA programs including Harvard and Wharton. He helped me overcome a major weakness: my GRE score. Many other consultants and GRE tutors told me I wouldn’t be able to get into the top 10 MBA programs. Brian didn’t blink. He was honest but also believed he could help me reach my goal. For that, I’ll forever be grateful. The result was more than I expected, I had choices to make and each school I got into offered me great scholarship amounts.

In addition, Brian not only helped me achieve my dream but also helped me grow as a person. I wasn’t going to work with any consultant, however, when I met Brian, I knew I would gain something more than an MBA admission to a top program. Brian helped me work through challenges I had at work, coached me on how to advocate for myself, and taught me how to convey my results with confidence yet humility. All are skills I will use to build a successful career beyond my MBA.

His feedback was amazing. He asked me a lot of challenging questions, which made me think deeply about my past experiences and life events. It helped me put to words past successes and failures. In addition, it really helped me understand how my past has shaped where I want to go in the future. It also helped me appreciate my most painful moments as I grew the most during those times. The essays we produced are something I’m proud of and will read happily again in the future as I reflect back on this process.

Lastly, he helped me believe in myself. He believed in me when I didn’t and encouraged me to keep going. This process is tough and to have someone in your corner who deeply cares about your success was something I’m beyond grateful for. I couldn’t have done it without Brian!

I began working with Brian at a vulnerable point in my life. I was recently unemployed with no expectations of getting a new job before applying. I also didn’t have a test score yet, I had no recognizable brands on my resume (schools or employers), I knew my post-MBA goals would need a lot of fleshing out and explaining, and that I’d only attend business school if I got a large scholarship.

What I did have was a lot of free time and a unique life story that I thought could lead to good results. I spent weeks interviewing a dozen or so of the top-ranked consultants on this site. A few told me what I wanted to hear to try to get my business. Most didn’t want to work with someone who had such a messy story. One of the most prominent groups went as far as to say that I probably wouldn’t get into any T15 schools and that I had a “0% chance” at M7 schools.

When I met with Brian, he didn’t say anything about potential results. All he promised was that we’d work tirelessly to tell my story in a compelling and authentic manner. Recognizing that that’s all anyone can promise, I signed up and never looked back.

Our first task was to go through my entire life and career to date, diving deep into stories that I had never thought would be relevant for applications. It didn’t take long to realize Brian is otherworldly intelligent (780 GMAT/99th percentile GRE and LSAT). But he’s not just intelligent in a fill-in-the-bubble kind of way. He’s intelligent in a pierce-through-the-nonsense (like my initial essay drafts which were flowery garbage) kind of way.

Brian quickly connected the dots between my life events in a way that I hadn’t connected in my head, and together, we worked on a story arc that fit my school’s essay prompts.

When writing this review, I looked back at the very first essay I ever sent Brian and then at the final draft of that essay that I submitted months later. There were eleven revisions in between. And, goodness, I’m surprised it only took eleven revisions. The difference between the two essays is enormous.

About seven or eight drafts in, I really thought the essay was done, and that it couldn’t get any better. It would’ve been easy for Brian to agree with me and for him to move on with his day, but he didn’t. I’d be shocked if Brian has ever used the phrase “it’s good enough.” Brian’s high standards, while tiring at times, led not only to incredible results (more on that later) but also taught me to communicate better which has been valuable even outside of the application process.

Brian is unique in that while he’s not laid back with the work itself, he’s very laid personality-wise. I didn’t realize how important this would be when I was interviewing admissions consultants. The application process is long and stressful, and it’s super valuable to have someone in your corner who doesn’t add to that stress.

I worked with Brian on three schools, two M7s and one T10. I got full rides from all three. I also applied to eigh schools on my own and got into six of them with five full scholarships and one-half scholarship. In total, I received $1.4M in scholarship offers and will be attending an M7 school on a full ride this fall. None of this would have been possible without Brian. Working with him changed the course of my life and I’ll always be grateful for that.

I really enjoyed working with Brian. Even though honestly it can be costy to work with an admission consultant or coach, I have absolutely no regret signing in up with Brian for this daunting journey. The results speak themselves – I got admitted into 3 out of the 5 schools (no “safety school”) that I applied to, with $$ from one of them. Later on, Brian helped me draft a letter to get a scholarship from my dream school (a M7), and we made it!

I chose to work with Career Protocol because their philosophy aligns with my value. I wanted to stay authentic in the application, and let the schools decide whether they wanted me. Before deciding to work with Brian, I researched about him online. He didn’t go to b-school and never worked as an AdCom member. Some people might think it’s a downside. However, he has very diverse experience in life and career. I personally believed a coach like him could help me better extract the essence of my stories and ensure connections to my true self, instead of trying hard to fit me into a box that looks pretty to AdComs. And I was right. Brian fully respected my voice. At first, I worried that I didn’t have great stories to tell. But he helped me dig deeper to reveal my value and highlight the leadership potential in me by asking critical questions. During assay writing, I learned how to make a bridge between my stories and who I am and connect them with the qualities that schools are seeking in applicants. This skill is valuable beyond b-school application.

In addition, as a person who tend to amplify all the little imperfection and possibility of failure, I was extra stressed and anxious working on applications. Brian acted as my anti-paranoia pill. If he told me to not worry about something, even my below average GMAT score, I was able to have a more peaceful mind and focus on more important things. And later the reality proved that he was correct. The confidence I gained by talking with him carried more weight, as he didn’t sugarcoat anything. I probably wouldn’t be able to stay mentally healthy as I did, if not because of him.

Personalized introspective MBA application experience with stellar outcomes.

One of the amazing things about Brian and the Career Protocol team is that they helped me whittle the many vast ideas in my brain down to concise essays that got results. Results including acceptances from 7 out of the 8 programs I applied to, with 5 of them offering me scholarships totaling $500,000. I went from worrying about not getting in anywhere to getting in virtually everywhere I applied. Acceptances included: Wharton, Booth, Kellogg, Columbia, Ross, Johnson, Fuqua. Brian helped me through the process end to end, and I wholeheartedly recommend Brian Birdwell at Career Protocol.

But since essays are done, here are some bullet points that describe how amazing it was to work with Brian:
• When I initially decided to apply to MBA programs and work with Brian and the Career Protocol team, I didn’t know what I was getting into but took a leap of faith. I am so glad I did.
• When I decided to go forward with applying to MBA programs, I felt behind. Brian accelerated my process to apply to 8 schools during ONE ROUND. He helped me through the journey by meeting me where I was at. He knocked it out of the park.
• Brian keeps it real. He is very down to earth and easy to talk to. This was so helpful for me to be able to be authentic with him, the process, and my applications.
• He was firm when needed and encouraging when I felt down.
• Brian knows and has in-depth experience with the application process, enabling him to help me maintain the right mindset and avoid overthinking.
• Brian is organized, thorough, sharp, and really knows his stuff. He’s extremely talented and smart. He kept the process lighthearted, which helped me relax. I definitely needed the humor and those laughs!
• He is RELIABLE. I would hear back from him quickly with updates. Communication felt easy.
• Scheduling video calls was easy, even with my busy schedule. Him being based in the United States / the time zones worked well for me.
• He was one of my biggest cheerleaders throughout this process and helped motivate me to keep pushing forward. This helped me cross each hurdle, especially when it came time for interviews.
• He focused on me and who I am rather than using a school focused lens throughout the process. It helped me reframe my thinking toward what I have to offer and who I am vs. trying to say things that I think the school wants to hear. He genuinely cares.
• He offers great practical advice that I took to heart. Also, lots of great wisdom that I’ll cherish.
• As we combed through the details of my life, the ups and downs, and dug into who I am as a person, I noticed his incredible attention to detail and story crafting abilities. When we would brainstorm together, he would bring up things about me that I was sure that he wouldn’t have remembered. Goes to show how much he cares and how personalized they make this experience.
• Somehow Brian knew the right way to support me… pumping me up when I’m down, reminding me that I really don’t have to be so self-critical, also sharing KEY ADVICE to act as if each interview is my only interview…. Totally immerse myself in the school’s program for the 48 hours prior to the interview and only think about that school (because he noticed I was getting distracted thinking about other schools). SERIOUSLY such good advice that stuck with me and I adhered to it!!!!
• Truly listened to me. Got to know me and focused on looking at this as the whole package.
• Built my confidence to meet people, talk to admissions, talk to other candidates. Made friends!!!
• Networking, campus visits, school research… guided me through it all! All the materials were so helpful.
• Resume – killer job helping me with one of the things I dreaded and put off THE MOST.
• Stories – many times I wanted to give up. But we kept going.
• Knew how to cut the right corners for me and focus on the right things at the right times.
• Brian offered encouragement and praise where he saw I was progressing. It may sound funny, but not only did it help motivate me, but it also demonstrates how much he cares and how much attention to detail he is giving. To be able to comment on someone’s improvements takes time and it takes knowing the person to have something to compare against.
• Brian offered critiques and was a straight shooter when I was way off (e.g., stories, essays, video essays, interview mindset & approach)
• Short responses / mini essays – they sneak up and can be a lot. Did a great job working through this with me and really the whole package end to end.
• Interviews + Mock Interviews – practiced interviewing with Brian over video calls. Very helpful to get in the right headspace and think about how to approach it. By the time interviews came around, we had done so much self-reflection and digging deep into my values as a person that the interviews were an easier lift than I expected. And more enjoyable 🙂
• I had some atypical interviews but rolled with them. Brian would check in on me, provide his thoughts on my reflection, etc. He was there every step of the way.
• Strategized applications together for 4 schools that I applied to independently. Got into all of them! Got into 3 of the 4 I worked closely with him on. This was where the real leg work was done.
• This process revealed a lot about myself and pushed me to grow. I didn’t know how hard it would be. I also did not know how much I would get out of it with them. Truly 10/10.
• These are good people that I trust. I have already recommended them to my friends.

Last words. I had the rare opportunity to work with both Brian Birdwell and Angela Guido. You both amaze me. The speed at which you’re able to think, your relaxed demeanor, the enthusiasm you have. I hope it never dies for either of you. You are both such wonderful, talented, kind people. I can never share my appreciation enough.

Thank you both for taking a chance on me. Brian, I really cannot thank you enough for your thoughtfulness, wisdom, kindness, empathy, enthusiasm, and downright hard work. You really went above and beyond for me when I know you didn’t have to.

I remember showing my significant other one of your emails, and him being really impressed. Several times he has mentioned that it seems like I’m getting exceptional value for the investment.

You both always have people’s best interest at heart.

Brian truly embodies the “Under-commit and OVER Deliver” spirit, and the career protocol package is both super-detailed and truly end-to-end (they guide on everything: from deciding which schools to apply for  to now sharing tips on how to maximize the next 2 years).

Top 3 value adds for me: helping me improve my GMAT score from 740 to 770 (V47!!), helping me find my calling and encouraging me to make a pre-MBA pivot from consulting to Venture Capital, and of course, helping me land an offer from my dream school, Booth!
I applied to 7 schools (Harvard, Stanford, Booth, Columbia, Duke, UCLA, and McCombs), got interview invites from 5 of them, and finally got into 3 (Booth + UCLA and McCombs with 50% scholarship).

I’ve had a FANTASTIC experience working with them and would highly recommend them to anyone who’s willing to put in the time and effort. Below are my top 5 reasons:

• Extensive support – When you sign up with CP, you don’t just get a consultant, you get an army of people who have your back and a community of applicants who are driven and supportive. I am someone who asks a LOT of questions, and I can safely say that their team has a wealth of experience to guide you/point you in the right direction. For instance, I was gutted when I learned that I was waitlisted from Booth in R1. Soon enough, another member from the CP team who was a waitlist expert stepped in. She gave me tips on how I can continue engaging with the school and helped me approach the waitlist process with a positive mindset.

• They give you “no-nonsense” advice – I come from an over-represented Indian, Engineer, Male demographic. Brian was honest about what was realistic for me and had enough knowledge and inspiration to help me make a valiant attempt for the top. He didn’t hesitate from telling me if I needed to completely scrap off an essay draft or that I needed to retake the GMAT.

• Their process is painfully introspective – When I signed up with CP, I was completely clueless about what I wanted from my MBA. Their “Discovery process” pushed me to take a pause and reflect on my life experiences: My successes, failures, choices, everything. For someone who’s not as open about their life, Brian created a comfortable environment for me to express myself freely which led to some beautiful essays, and ensured that my applications were 100%, authentically me. (That’s their way of helping you stand out). Beyond the results, their process was transformational for me. Personally, I’ve become much more comfortable owning my story. Career-wise, I’ve been able to join a VC firm. Something I could not have imagined doing a year prior. The clarity I gained on what I wanted motivated me to consider my options and the confidence he inspired enabled me to boldly “go for it” and pursue the change.

• Brian is a GMAT God! – I thought I had maxed out when I scored 740 and didn’t know how to go beyond that. Brian used his expertise to quickly identify what my gaps were (Verbal + taking too much stress) and gave me advice that inspired me to take a fresh approach to the test, which combined with my work ethic, helped me score 770 in <1 month. This gave me a lot of confidence as I approached R1 applications at top B-schools.

• Value for Money! Brian works with only a handful of applicants every year and I could feel that he was genuinely invested in my success. As an international student, their package was well out of my budget. But I can reassure you, that he is worth every penny and then some more. By the end of our time together, Brian knew my stories better than I did. He is very generous with his time and leaves no stone unturned: he happily responded to my countless questions, returned drafts faster than expected as deadlines approached, and things like GMAT advice, and preparing for VC interviews were technically not a part of our MBA application scope. Yet, he did that. (with a smile!)

Lastly, I would like to add that the MBA application process is a long and tedious journey, when you do it with someone like Brian, it doesn’t seem like “work”.

Good luck with your applications! 😊

I was offered admission at my dream school, so I’d say this worked. Brian helped me craft my admissions profile, showcasing the full package that I’d bring to school. I wasn’t the strongest candidate on paper, with an underwhelming GPA and test statistics, so I chose Career Protocol because it helped me believe that my personal story was compelling. As he states above, this is a once-in-a-lifetime process, so I spilled out my most personal struggle, which he helped me turn into an inspirational admissions essay. I trust Brian. This was one of the most reflective periods in my life – I had never thought so deeply about what I wanted and why I wanted it – and Brian was there to support and guide me every step of the way. The process is extremely daunting but having a guide and coach makes it feasible – and successful! See some of you in business school 🙂

Prior to starting my MBA applications, I interviewed a handful of the top consultants and ultimately chose Career Protocol because it felt like a much more personal approach. When speaking with the others, I felt like just a number. I didn’t come from a top undergrad program and the other firms told me to not even bother applying with my test score. My initial call with Career Protocol couldn’t have been more different – it was positive, yet realistic, constructive and encouraging. Ultimately, I got into three out of the three M7 schools I applied to, including Booth with $50k.

Working with Brian was quite the journey. I came to Career Protocol and Brian with three weeks to apply to three top schools (which I do not recommend… give yourself more time if possible!). Brian was efficient and provided flexibility to get the job done. He didn’t hold my hand, but held me accountable and provided honest, clear feedback that was greatly appreciated given the time crunch.

Brian also did a great job of motivating and inspiring me in a short amount of time, giving me a new perspective on the whole process. He taught me that you don’t need to create the cure for cancer to earn admissions to a top MBA program. However, you do need to communicate your own challenges and values while articulating why they are meaningful to you. Beyond learning a lot about business school applications, I learned how to communicate my goals, stories, and ideas with confident humility, which is a skill I will use in many future personal and professional endeavors.

I approached Brian and the Career Protocol team as a re-applicant, after being waitlisted and dinged from my dream school, and having received no interview invites from 5 other schools.

I chose to work with Career Protocol because of their small team and the impression I would be important to them. And it was true! It was clear that Brian really cared about me and my success. From the beginning, he was interested in my story and digging deep into various moments of my life to get to know me. I was surprised by how thoroughly he knew me and could recall all the little stories we talked about in our first meeting, and how to make them relevant to my essays.

I loved how Brian didn’t settle for anything but the best, and how he pushed me towards improving my essays, even if sometimes his feedback was tough to hear. We even had a sort of “father/son” moment when he asked me to throw one of my drafts away and start completely over. It wasn’t easy to hear, but I knew he said it because I could do better and there was genuine support behind his feedback.

Brian is a hard worker, he matches your output, motivates you, and brings out your most original work. He always delivered on time and was there to push me to do the same, and our progress was immense.

For me, the re-applying experience was truly transformative. The introspection and coaching I received from Brian helped me set more believable goals and helped me discover how I could combine my passions and skills to find a meaningful purpose in my professional career. And the results speak for themselves. I was accepted to 4 schools with $$, including my admission to Booth, my dream school!

I couldn’t have done it without Brian’s help. He will bring the best out of you and make this stressful MBA application journey much funnier and more enjoyable.

I was in over my head when I started the MBA application journey. I didn’t know what I didn’t know. Brian kept me on task but didn’t inundate me with what I should/shouldn’t be doing. All along the way, Brian always met me where I was on my journey, whether I was really energized and overwhelmed (at the beginning), with lists of lots of schools to research, or anxious or after a few tough drafts when I wanted to throw in the towel and quit, or worried about not getting in, Brian met me where I was at each step of the way.
I needed someone who wouldn’t just be a coach but would also be a reassuring and steady friend.
As I dug into writing essays Brian helped me break down some barriers and challenged me to be more vulnerable in my message. What I think I didn’t know I was looking for but what I got was that Brian helped me get deeper into the stories. Of course, it helped me with the essays and getting into schools, but it has helped sharpen my goals and understanding of why I want to go to business school and what I want to do.
Through my work with Brian, I learned to trust my intuition, especially as I was choosing between schools to which I was accepted — including 2 top ten schools and a scholarship offer. I ultimately figured out what kind of community would make me thrive. Brian helped me understand that.

Coming from an unconventional personal and professional background and carrying an embarrassing test score, I had little concept of just how deeply challenging the MBA application process would be or how I would successfully navigate it. In our sessions together, Brian’s wizard-like wisdom, calm, and love of a good story helped me to focus my energy where it mattered most, and his thoughtful promptings at the right times helped me to better understand my identity and experiences, get clear on my career goals, and think bigger about the impact I really wanted to make. Had I not taken the plunge and moved beyond resources scattered elsewhere, I know I wouldn’t have emerged from this process as my best self. Today, I am expecting an offer from my dream school!

I had initially not planned to work with a consultant, but as R1 approached, I quickly felt overwhelmed with all of the conflicting guidance on the internet and knew that I needed a cheerleader to help me get through the process.

Brian was incredible to work with and exceeded all of my expectations! He is one of the most positive and energetic people I’ve worked with, and truly made my application experience as positive and stress free as it could be. My favorite part of the experience was the guided reflection, where Brian helped me connect my stories to my values, which served as the foundation for my essays and applications. Brian’s prompts were thoughtful and thought provoking and helped me learn more about myself and write my story.

In the end, I received 6 interview invitations, 1 waitlist and 3 admits, including top 10 schools and my top choice!

If you’re looking for a genuine, energetic, and expert consultant, Brian is your guy! I couldn’t have made it through the process without him.

When I started my journey to apply to an MBA program, I didn’t know what I was about to face. I moved from Italy to Houston six years ago and had never applied to an American college before. I knew that I needed some guidance to navigate this long process, and working with Career Protocol and Brian was the best decision ever. I came from a non-traditional background, and I struggled a lot with the GMAT first and the GRE after. No matter how much effort I put into those tests, my score was still low. The test stressed me so much that I often felt that I wasn’t good enough for business school and would have never been accepted to any good school.

In those challenging moments, when you are almost ready to throw everything out of the window (yes, I almost did it, lol), Brian was a real life-saver or, better, the MBA application-saver! He kept pushing me to keep going, and at the same time, he helped me bring out my authentic self in those essays, which is the most important thing (yes, NOW I know!). Brian constantly reminded me that I was enough and helped me realize how unique and special my story is, helping me build the self-confidence I needed to succeed in this process and that I will need during business school.

With Brian’s honest and constructive feedback, even if something uncomfortable to hear, draft by draft, we built the inspiring and authentic essays that got me into 2 great schools with $, one of them in the top 10!!

I couldn’t have done it without Brian! So if you are looking for a genuine and expert consultant but also an easy-going and funny travel companion during this journey; Brian is definitely the right person!

I had read hundreds of “successful” essays and numerous how-to guides. But when I actually sat down with my applications, I had no clue how to put the pieces together in a way that did justice to my profile. I stumbled around with a few attempts and realized that I was going to sabotage myself if I kept trying to go it alone. I needed an experienced sherpa to help me climb this mountain.

Who, though? I decided on Career Protocol because I felt that they were able to articulate a great framework and process, and when I looked through the slate of consultants available, Brian’s profile jumped out at me because it didn’t read conventionally. It felt fun, cool, and grounded, while still being extremely well put together – just like what I wanted my profile to feel like to the adcoms.

And I wasn’t disappointed. Within our first couple of meetings, Brian had looked at the material I had gathered, identified key elements of my story, and TOLD IT BACK TO ME in a way that felt and sounded like the “success essays” that I had read. Now we just had to turn those elements into specific essays for each school I was applying to, and Brian was my rock.

We then fell into a cadence of writing and reviewing once every two business days. We redrafted and redrafted until my essays were in the absolute sweet spot, and never once did I feel that I was getting anything less than 100% from Brian. He was there for ideation, for telling me (nicely) which parts still needed work, and he never let up or compromised on quality until the essays were “submission-ready”. I am 200% sure that what I ended up submitting was a magnitude better than what I would have produced on my own.

My results? Interviews at 2 top-5 schools, and admission with $ to one of them, as well as full-ride scholarships to two of my safety picks.

If you’re looking for a consultant, work with Brian. He’s cool, he’ll get you, and he’ll make sure you deliver nothing but your best self to the schools that you’re applying to.

Brian was an invaluable piece of my MBA application journey and a true pleasure to work with! His guidance directly led to 4 interviews, 3 admission decisions and ultimately my enrollment at a top-5 program. We were on a tight timeline to begin with, and I wondered if we could really pull these applications together from start to finish in just a few short weeks. But despite his cool, laid-back demeanor, he kept me on schedule and accountable to all deadlines throughout the process. Brian also had a knack for asking the right questions, which helped me discover my own personal/professional story, and he challenged me to communicate that story in the best light possible to Adcom. His feedback wasn’t always the easiest to take, but it was sincere, constructive, and I can say honestly that without it, I would not be sitting in the position I am today!