About | Privacy Policy | Advertising| Editorial | Contact Us
Follow Us
Subscribe | Login
400
9,400
Graduate: 19 Years
Firm
School Admissions or Administration
English
Spanish
Consultant
Accepted
Los Angeles, California
United States
Net Promoter Score: 9.95
Iāve been on the other side of the table for over 10 years, sitting in admissions committees and holding the final decision of āacceptā or ādenyā for thousands of MBA applicants. I know what it takes to get into the top business schools. I can differentiate the stellar application from the mediocre, the one with the good story from the one with just high test scores, the one that tells you about their determination to succeed from the one who is unprepared for the challenge of business school.
I have an MBA from Michigan State Universityās Eli Broad College of Business and an undergraduate degree in Business Management from Franciscan University of Steubenvile in Ohio.
Headquartered in Southern California, with talented admissions consultants in North America, Europe, and Asia, Accepted can assist you, no matter where you are. With a staff of former admissions directors, published authors, and experienced consultants, weāve been helping MBA applicants to top business schools for more than 20 years. We know the admissions biz. We know how to help you get accepted.
We offer comprehensive application packages as well as flat-rate and hourly options for “ala carte” services like essay editing, interview prep, resumes, and waitlist guidance. You can also start on a flat-rate basis and then switch to hourly plans for later work. Plus, we encourage new clients to start with a small purchase, like one hour, and then if they like us, purchase more or upgrade to packages. Check out our flexible service options at http://www.accepted.com/mba/services.
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Phone: 310-815-9553
Email: pqesme@accepted.com
Website: http://www.accepted.com/
10=Without Hesitation, 1=I would advise against it.
Select "N/A" if you are a career coaching client only.
The information below is for P&Q verification purposes only. It will not be published. We may email you to verify parts of your review but you will not be added to our email list. Incomplete reviews will not be published.
Please upload a pdf, png, jpg or gif file.
Esmeralda’s support was instrumental in my EMBA application journey, especially given the challenging timeline. With a very busy schedule on my hands, I had limited time for preparation. Esmeralda’s professionalism in refining my resume and structuring my essays, along with her clear guidelines and insightful understanding of business school admissions, were crucial. What makes her truly outstanding is her friendly demeanor and her ability to unearth the best in a candidate.
Initially, my application to UC Berkeley didn’t go as planned, and I faced rejection. However, with Esmeralda’s guidance, I was able to pivot and prepare a new application for Wharton. We worked intensively for just 10 days, a testament to her efficient and effective approach. The result? I got accepted into Wharton. Sharing this success is not just about my achievement but also a tribute to the exceptional coaching I received from Esmeralda.
Esmeralda’s fast and insightful edits for my master’s applications were invaluable! Her responsiveness, clear feedback, and flexible scheduling made the process smooth. Early applications boosted my chances, leading to acceptances at top schools (including an Ivy League!). Highly recommend!
Esmerelda is truly the best and I donāt know if I would have been successful without her. I had purchased the complete application package, and found that Esme was incredibly dedicated to my process every step of the way. She helped me brainstorm essay topics, provided extensive support with writing, editing, and framing my story to make my essays as polished as possible. As such I was invited to interview with 4 out of the 5 schools I applied for. Esme remained an incredibly valuable resource for the interview portion as well, setting aside time for use to do a mock interview for every school. In the end, I got an accepted to UNC and received a sizable scholarship and I couldnāt be happier with my decision to work with Esme. Applying to business school can be daunting but with her help the process went as smoothly as possible.
n the winter of 2023, I had the privilege to work with Esmeralda Cardenal after I decided to apply to an Executive graduate business program. The application process is daunting, and I felt overwhelmed and lost.
My native language is not English, and I was nervous about several aspects including a potential career transition, the financial burden that comes with an academic commitment, the competition and all its related stress, the economic turnaround and its consequences, etc.
Esmeralda was a gift from God in this journey: not only does she know the application process very well but she is also keen on sharing her life experience to offer helpful guidance throughout the difficult process.
I am lucky to have worked with her. Esmeralda was able to point to all the inconsistencies and open questions in my file and made me grow more and more confident as we got closer to the deadline. Esmeralda is rigorous, organized, proactive, fast and results driven.
I was sad at the end of our collaboration because it was a true pleasure to work with her. I would rehire her in a heartbeat because I was accepted in the program of my choice thanks to Esmeralda !
Ms. Esmeralda is one of the most wonderful counsellors I have ever met in the past. Because I could get the admission of EMBA from M7. Although she was a little bit objective comments where I had some negative impressions, she always shared her analysis whether to get the admission or not and visualizes my roadmap to get the admission by supporting of my crafting essay and guiding how to tackle on the interview. I recommend the applicant to experience her service. I am sure you shall be screened by her experiences whether to get the admission. If you gain her negative comment, don’t worry, she can give you the obvious roadmap to achieve the business school criteria for your admitted.
I was laid off from a global technology company earlier this year and decided very last minute to apply to business school. I knew I needed the help of a seasoned advisor to guide me through the already daunting MBA application process – especially one who could provide focus and insight in a very short time. Esme was responsive, adaptable, and encouraging. She worked with me to apply to 3 schools in less than 2 months (I wouldn’t recommend doing this, but if you do, you’ll need Esmeralda’s help!)
If you are looking for an advisor who keeps it real and is supportive and patient – work with her! She provided me with very succinct and structured insights throughout while also allowing flexibility to bounce ideas and brainstorm. Unlike other consultants, she was very aware and thoughtful about using our time (and my investment) efficiently which I really appreciated.
I was accepted at Cornell Johnson (with significant scholarship), Oxford Said, and was waitlisted at Kellogg thanks to my time with Esme. Her results speak for themselves!!
The best decision I could have made was to work with Esmeralda on my application. Esmeralda is a brilliant consultant with an impressive ability to bring out the best of you in your application. Her work method allows you to navigate through the process in an efficient way, starting on identifying your strengths all the way up to the interview preparation. As an international applicant, I felt very supported during the whole process. Personally, I had to face tough situations with my family, but the supportive attitude of Esmeralda was essential to keep forward through the process. At the end of the process, I was accepted into Yale SOM. Finally, I highly recommend Esmeralda to anyone who wants to increase their chances of getting accepted
I wholeheartedly recommend Esmeralda if you choose Accepted. She will help you from the beginning and will be there for you helping you shape your applications. Esmeralda’s coaching style and flexibility have helped me commit to my application at the same time I was balancing my work and other responsibilities. She is truly the best! Choosing Accepted has been the best investment I have ever done and I never looked back!
I was recommended to Accepted by a friend who had previously worked on his application with them. I have to say that I was more than satisfied with the entire process of reviews and suggestions. Esmeralda knows the admission process inside and out, and she is absolutely clear in what the Admissions committee wants to see in the essays. While I was a bit late in starting my application process, she was very quick with the turnaround and for a particular application, she even made an exception and reviewed my essay within a day as I was short on time. The quality of feedback was very pertinent and tangible. Esmeralda helped me with applications for 3 schools and I got an admit from all 3 of them!
I 100% recommend everyone to contact Esmeralda for a B-school application!
I cannot say thank you enough for the help I have received from Esmeralda! I initiated my master’s application process in a rush without much mental preparation. It was Esmeralda who has been always on my side to give me the support and advice I needed. I can always depend on Esmeralda when I need her and she will never disappoint you! Thank you so much for everything!
Where do I even begin? Firstly, this isnāt my first time working with Esme on grad school applications. She also helped me get into Duke Fuquaās MMS and UT Austin McCombsās MSM programs last year. During my grad studies at Duke, I realized that I wanted to take on another, more specialized field of study, so I decided to try for a Business Analytics degree. Naturally, I asked Esme to help me with the process again. I chose to apply to three schools this year (I got gold packages for guidance throughout the entire process) but got my acceptance to UCLAās MSBA before I submitted the last application. Frankly, we were a little less confident this year about applying in general, since there are so many applicants and I already have a masterās degree under my belt. I also donāt have a math/engineering/computer science background, which is what a lot of MSBA programs are looking for. But somehow, almost magically, I got into UCLA on some merit scholarship. All I can say is, Esme is AMAZING at what she does. The UCLA app was tough, consisting of four 500-750 word essays. I started applying a little less than a month before the second deadline, and upon seeing the length of the essays I was pretty put off and thought that it would be better for me to submit by the last deadline to have more time. However, Esme encouraged me to apply asap, saying that she had confidence in me to turn out an outstanding application. Sheās so incredibly responsible in the sense that she doesn’t stop pushing you until the essays are as good as they can be, not to mention she’s extremely patient and understanding, so there’s no shame in being a poor writer. Even after three, four, or sometimes even five rounds of editing, sheāll still look for ways to improve upon the writing. She knows what these business schools want in their applicants and will adeptly bring out all your strengths. Her experience with business-related graduate studies makes her the perfect consultant to go to because she also provides valuable advice on which programs and schools would be the best fit for you. I can say with confidence that if it wasnāt for Esme, I definitely would not have gotten into Duke or UCLA (again, both on merit scholarship (even though my undergrad GPA was not hot)!!) I donāt anticipate Iāll be applying to graduate school again anytime soon, but if I did, you know for sure Iāll ask for Esmeās help again, and if I have any friends who are applying, Iāll send them to Esme with no hesitation. Trust me when I say that itās one of the best investments youāll ever make toward your education!!
I’m really grateful for Esmeralda’s help. I still remember how clueless I was when I had my first chat with Esmeralda. She helped me choose the schools, strategize, shape my story, prep for interviews, and everything in between. My GPA and GMAT were below average so my story was the strongest point in the application. In the end, I got accepted into the best MBA program in the US.
Esmeralda was extremely efficient and helpful in all aspects of my application process. She responded instantaneously and helped me thoroughly with my essays and resumes as well as how to make my application as strong as possible. I ended up getting accepted into the #1 Master in Marketing program in the world!! Thank you, Esmeralda.
Esmeralda provided great insight and action to get me into my school of choice!
Esmeralda is great at working with candidates with diverse backgrounds. She provides honest feedback and is action-oriented. These qualities save valuable time in the application process. Esmeralda is always accessible, very organized, and will put in a tremendous amount of effort on your behalf.
Applying as an international applicant is a huge challenge. Expressing ideas in a different structure and in a clear way are not evident when English is not your primary language. Besides that, putting the right traits on one’s profile is not a clear task. Esmeralda and the Admitted team supported me both intellectually and emotionally during the process, maximizing value at each interaction in a very productive way. I am thankful.
I worked with Esmeralda Cardenal during the entire admissions process and applied to four schools. I had worked with consulting services before, but have always been kind of disappointed with the results. I was definitely a little doubtful at first but decided to give it a shot because I wasnāt confident in my ability in submitting an application that brought out my best. I realize after going through the process that I absolutely would not have achieved what I did without her assistance and support. She was an integral part of my applications, especially with the multiple essays required by the schools. I needed help crafting a story that highlighted my strengths and depicted why I need a graduate degree, and thatās exactly what Esmeralda did. Sometimes we sent the essays back and forth four or five times, but she was detailed and patient each time in pointing out the things that could be further improved. I didnāt think I was a very strong candidate because I didnāt have a stellar GPA and have never worked in large companies, but with her help, I got accepted to McCombsās MSM and Fuquaās MMS program. Still waiting on one more, but I already know Iām going to Duke because I also received a pretty great scholarship!! Definitely never imagined I would be a scholarship candidate, especially since I applied during the second to last deadline. Itās hard to put into words how amazing sheās been during this process. If I were to pursue further studies or have friends that are looking for consulting services, I would undoubtedly recommend Esmeralda and Accepted to them. Many many thanks to Esmeralda and the Accepted team. Please continue to do what you guys do so that students like myself are one step closer to their dreams and goals!!
Every year I meet five to eight people that change my life. Esmeralda is one. She has been instrumental in obtaining my acceptance into London Business School and Columbia, and separately, her advice has advanced my career: big kudos to Esmeralda. You want her in your support network.
I could not have done it without Esmeralda! Round 1 was a complete bust for me. I underestimated the MBA process and did not know what I was doing and, I had the results to prove it.
I am so grateful I was matched with Esmeralda for my R2 applications. She helped me strategize and maximize my story to highlight my strengths. I went from receiving rejections in RI to receiving interview invites from every school I applied to in R2, and I will be attending a T10 program with almost a full-ride scholarship this fall!
Esme went above and beyond to help me. She was extremely flexible with her schedule, especially for my last-minute interview prep. She pushes you and encourages you to pull out the gold in your story and will help you polish it to set you apart.
My only regret is that I didn’t find Esme sooner – my R1 results probably would have been different if I had her help.
Working with Esme was one of the best investments I’ve ever made. I highly recommend her.
I worked with Esmeralda on interview preparation, specifically for Wharton’s TBD. The diverse and engaging group that Accepted gathered for the mock group interview efficiently prepared me and made me feel much more comfortable in the real thing. Esmeralda listened in during the session and provided immediate feedback to each candidate right after the interview ended. As a result, I will be going to Wharton this fall!
I am not exaggerating when I say that I could not have gone through the B-school application process without Esmeralda’s help. From the first consultation, I knew Esmeralda was going to be a great fit. She was attentive to my goals, had the experience that I needed to guide me, and was familiar with my target MBA programs. Through Esmeralda’s guidance, I applied through the Consortium first round – something which I would not have thought to do on my own. Esmeralda pushed me to think about my goals and the best fit for my school. She was incredibly helpful in reviewing my essays and helping to make my voice and perspective stand out. I found her interview coaching very helpful as well – I went into all my interviews feeling prepared and confident. Because of my work with Esmeralda, I was accepted to my top schools with full rides at both of them. Esmeralda always responded quickly to my inquiries and was accommodating of my schedule. She even worked on the weekends with me when I needed last-minute help close to my deadlines. I am incredibly grateful to Esmeralda and Accepted. I would highly recommend an MBA consultant – it was well worth the investment.
My experience with Esme was absolutely superior. To make it simple I would argue this based on three key pieces of evidence from my own experience. First, Esme was straightforward in our communication. She was honest and clear, two aspects that are fundamental when you are applying to pursue your MBA at a top business school around the world. She was completely engaged in what was best for me, the candidate. Second, she provides top quality comments and advice in a very short period of time. Although we worked always with a good margin of time, this fast pace on working allowed us to make as many turns and tweaks as possible. Lastly, she was always very nice, something valuable as applying to business school might become stressful at some point. I would absolutely recommend working with Esmeralda!
Before I speak any good things about Accepted and Esmeralda, please see my results:
I got accepted by an S16 business school in NY, where I always wanted to start my MBA. I also got accepted by 6 other top 25 schools. I received a full scholarship, 40% scholarship, and 60% scholarship from some schools I applied to. Oh, by the way, I basically finished all these schools applications within two or three weeks.
I was talking to a few admission service providers around mid-Dec 2018, a few days before Christmas. I decided to work with Esmeralda because she appeared more willing to help while other providers’ attitude was like “ok if you want me I will help otherwise I have other customers too”. Also, Esmeralda talked to me about options I could take based on my interest and financial situations. She didn’t oversell me anything at all. So to me, it was an easy decision to make. And based on my final results, I made the right decision.
Esmeralda basically led the entire process when I worked with her. She knew how I should approach the essays, pick my stories, focus on my strength in writing, and simplify certain points on my resume. In summary, she knows her stuff and knows how to utilize those to maximize my odds.
Esmeralda was willing to help during late nights and holidays. Dec is definitely an inconvenient month since many applications are usually due in Jan. But Esmeralda managed to deliver all her thoughts, comments, and corrections in a very timely manner.
I never had a struggling moment, or tension, with Esmeralda. She’s professional and patient, and I trust her with all the decisions and picks. I will suggest any candidates to trust good providers, such as Esmeralda – understand her feedback, respect her comments, and follow accordingly.
A year ago I was desperate looking for help to make my applications and full of stress because I was not able to dedicate all the time I wanted to my MBA dream. Then Esmeralda appear! For the first time, I was able actually to count with someone and to find some guidance during the process. It was the first time that I heard about Georgetown and the world full of possibilities. Unfortunately, I was not able to finish my application, I got “burned out” because of my work and in the end, I was frustrated because besides been sick I had accomplished nothing. But there, it was you who understand and gave the chance of trying again. I have to confess that after finish my last of three applications a couple of days ago, I cry a bit. Finally, I was able to do it, and it was thanks to Esmeralda, and that is why I wanted to s hare this words even without knowing if I am going to be admitted to any school. I wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart and highlight some of the aspects that I consider make Esmeralda’s advice unique, sincere and incomparable. 1. It’s not about making the essays, is about discover our strengths and share them. Here I was not a client that deliver a description and received an essay NO! Here I was a person, advice by another who patiently was guiding the process. Here I learned not only about MBA applications but about how to write an essay, how to make a video, how to handle an interview. 2. This a service of excellence. The knowledge of the consultant is amazing. They know what they are talking about. They can offer new possibilities and suggest new schools and different approaches always through a delicate but very direct feedback. 3. The level of commitment is incredible. I always received my essays on time even sometimes before t he date. I always received answer for my emails immediately, and I never felt alone, I always feel the presence and the motivation of Esmeralda 4. I feel that is worth it. I have, to be honest; it is not easy to pay because it is a lot of money, but it totally deserves it. The help is fantastic. Finally, I would make a special thank Esmeralda. It is hard to describe in words for another language the gratitude that I have for her. Her words were always a motivation to do not give up, to go ahead and try. It did not matter how many times we had to review something; the objective was to achieve the best essay, the best answer. Different from other experience here, thanks to Esmeralda, I never feel like a client, I feel more like a student in a school in which my teacher really care about me. I was surprised how well Esmeralda got to know me, how she was able to memorize all my life, all my goals, all my dreams and have a pool of options ready for a new essay, f or a new school. It was so great working with her, that I have to confess that I am going to miss that!
I hired the essay editing service from Accepted and was assigned Esmeralda as my consultant. She showed a deep knowledge and understanding of the specifics of the business schools I was applying to and helped me realise the aspects of my profile that I needed to highlight. Additionally, her recommendations were very practical, which made things very easy. She also answered my emails extremely fast, it was like having someone dedicated only to me! I felt she was genuinely interested in helping me. I was finally accepted in all of the programs I applied to! Couldn’t have done it without her
Our Partner Sites: Poets&Quants for Execs | Poets&Quants for Undergrads | Tipping the Scales | We See Genius