Farrell Dyan

“After finishing college, I worked as a trader for a few years, but realized that that my understanding of the business world was actually quite limited. I spent considerable time looking for a position in another industry, but realized I was extremely pigeon-holed to finance. My Ivy league undergraduate degree often got my foot in the door, but I didn’t have any hard skills I could bring to the table. I decided to submit Round 3 business school applications. I needed to differentiate myself, being overrepresented as a white male with a finance background. I started looking for GMAT Verbal tutors and found Farrell on Craigslist. Farrell raised my Verbal score from 48 to 51 within only 8 hours; I would have spent more time studying but was short on time. Her way of tackling questions was extremely helpful and made me think a lot harder about what I was trying to answer. It was certainly challenging, but Farrell’s combination of motivation and reassurance helped me over that mental block. As a result, I was able to increase my score from 690 to 760 after just one month of studying. I chose Farrell to also serve as my consultant for the entrance applications. Given our previous time spent together, I felt assured that she would give me honest feedback. Farrell challenged me time and time again and pushed me to do better. At the same time, she encouraged me; always stating that I had what it took, and would be accepted to a top 5 MBA program. My originally unfocused essays later became well-developed narratives. With Farrell’s guidance, I was better able to articulate who I was, who I wanted to be, and how I was going to get there. Perhaps the greatest value that Farrell brought to the table was her conciseness; she knows how to say anything in less than 10 words. This proved to be extremely helpful in revising my business school resume, and for future resumes (we still have an ongoing relationship.) We spent a considerable amount of time developing my personal brand. Having a well-developed resume by the time I arrived at business school served me quite well. I found myself ahead of the curve when it came time to write resumes for internship applications, and only needed to make superficial changes. Most of my colleagues at Booth were highly impressed by the quality of my resume. Armed with a 760 GMAT and some well-crafted essays, I was admitted to Kellogg with the offer of a 60K merit-based scholarship, and to Chicago Booth with a merit-based scholarship of 50K. Everyone here at Booth says that getting a merit-based scholarship in the 3rd Round is impossible! I could not have been more fortunate, and I am extremely grateful to have worked with Farrell. She pushed me to do my best, but also provided support and reassurance that I could do it. It was certainly a challenge and required an investment of time, but I am extremely happy to have completed my first year at Chicago Booth. By rebranding myself, and attending a top 5 school, I am now positioned to transition into any industry I so choose. This summer I will be taking part in the Coca-Cola Management Leadership Development Program, which was my first choice among internships.”

This time last year, I had just exited a software startup that I co-founded. After considering my options, I decided to go to business school and started to study for the GMAT. When I had finally taken the test three months later, it dawned on me that my first Round 1 application deadline was only four weeks away! That’s when I called Farrell. I knew I needed help with my application essays. Even though I am skilled at writing technical documents for work, I had no clue what would make for a good personal essay. I was also in the dark about what essay content would capture the attention of the admission committee. And, although I didn’t realize it when I first called Farrell, I wasn’t exactly clear on why business school was the right choice for me. Farrell would always push back on my vague essay drafts, and instead forced me to explore the ‘why.’ She gave me tools and exercises that helped me learn more about myself. These all helped me get clear about my motivations for pursuing an MBA, motivations that shined through in my essay drafts. I was able to attack the essays with more confidence. However, what I valued most was her coaching, and her insistence that I get absolute clarity on my purpose for obtaining an MBA. This helped me frame excellent answers to the “why MBA” essay and interview questions. Thanks to Farrell’s coaching and unforgiving eye for detail, after interviews, I was down to a final decision between Stern and Ross. Farrell graciously arranged for me to speak with her previous clients who had attended each school. Today, I’m proud to say that I’ll be attending NYU-Stern this Fall. I couldn’t be happier, and I couldn’t have done it without Farrell!