Gavriella Semaya

Senior Consultant

mbaMission

United States

Net Promoter Score: 9

Consultant Bio

Gavriella Semaya had a diverse career—leading product development and e-commerce merchandising at Kate Spade; scaling production at start-up MM.Lafleur; digital strategy consulting at Barneys New York—but she started out as a writer/editor and found her passion as an Executive Coach. After earning a BA in Sociology from Harvard University, she earned her MBA from Cornell Tech, an entrepreneurship and tech focused program. As an MBA admissions consultant, she combines her three core skills, business, writing, and coaching, to help her clients express themselves strategically, authentically, and most importantly, effectively.

Gavriella’s coaching experience allows her to dig deep into the full breadth of her client’s experiences to identify the stories that best convey what makes them stand out. She relies on my business acumen, extensive school-specific knowledge, and skillful writing and editing to ensure her clients articulate what differentiates them, drives them, and demonstrates their fit with each school. Gavriella’s goal is to create a cogent, insightful, and memorable application that reflects the best of each client. Throughout the process, she utilizes tools she’s developed to make the application experience as seamless as possible.

Gavriella views her clients as partners. From day one, she is fully invested in their success and fulfillment. Nothing gives Gavriella greater satisfaction than hearing her clients have been accepted to their dream schools, except perhaps the follow up conversations evaluating which school to attend! In the past three years, Gavriella’s clients received over $5.3M in scholarships.

Gavriella earned her MBA from Cornell Tech, a division of the Johnson Graduate School of Management where she was twice elected Class Facilitator. She became a certified Executive Coach in 2020.

Company Information

mbaMission is the world’s leading MBA admissions consulting firm and the only one exclusively recommended by Manhattan Prep and Kaplan GMAT. Our dedicated, full-time Senior Consultants work one-on-one with business school candidates to identify and showcase their strongest attributes in their applications.

When applying to an elite MBA program, you need elite experience on your side. mbaMission’s full-time consultants are highly skilled communicators with comprehensive knowledge of the MBA admissions process, and helping you navigate that process to your fullest potential is our sole priority. You can be confident of having our undivided attention, because admissions consulting is our exclusive focus. In pursuing your MBA, you are making an important investment in yourself, so choose a firm whose singular objective is helping you achieve your goals.

Our full-time team includes MBAs from all the top programs. Although you work exclusively with one dedicated consultant at mbaMission, you benefit from the experience and input of our entire team. Our consultants intercommunicate constantly, sharing information, ideas, feedback, and recommendations. We also conduct semimonthly meetings, require ongoing training, and hold an annual full-company conference, where we gather to discuss best practices and continue improving our skills and knowledge base. More than 20 full-time admissions experts combine their know-how and experience to advance your cause. We know that our being at the top of our game means you have the greatest chance of success, and together, our team will find the best ways to strengthen your application.

Menu of Services and Associated Costs

One-on-one consultation services, comprehensive admissions and school-specific guides, a robust blog, free eBooks, essay analyses, and other valuable resources—visit our Web site to find all that mbaMission offers.
FREE CONSULTATION
Want to know your chances of being admitted to business school? Wondering how to differentiate yourself from other applicants? Sign up for a free, 30-minute consultation with an mbaMission Senior Consultant today!

FEATURED SERVICES
Complete Start-to-Finish Package
A la Carte Hourly Services
Mock Interview Sessions
Ding Review
Pre-Application Strategy
RESOURCES
Robust blog
Free Interview Primers
Free Personal Statement Guide
Free Selecting Your Target MBA Program eBook
Free Social Media Primer
Business School Insider’s Guides
MBA Admissions Guides
Free monthly online and in-person events

Location: United States

Email: info@mbamission.com

Website: https://www.mbamission.com/

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P&Q Consultant Reviews

  • Accepted At HBS & Wharton!
    3 weeks ago
    It was a great decision to work with Gavriella! I was accepted at both HBS and Wharton. She was a tremendous help in putting together my application, and particularly in effectively using the essays to tell my story. I reached out to her under a time crunch, and Gavriella was able to quickly identify the unifying thread in my past experiences and help me highlight the accomplishments I was most proud of. She is timely and attentive. Not only is she great at what she does, she is also kind, encouraging, and supportive. Her support extended beyond my admissions - I was torn between the two schools and she gave me helpful advice in making the decision that was best for me. I would highly ...
    Read the full review
    Class of 2026 Admit
    All reviews are independently verified by Poets&Quants staff.
  • Amazing, Successful Partnership - Acceptance & Scholarship To CBS
    1 month ago
    Working with Gavriella was incredible and I recommend her a consultant for a couple of reasons: 1. Professional and timely responses - Gavriella was extremely professional and responded to my emails, gave me resume feedback and edited my essays all in a timely manner so that I could follow the timeline we sett and make sure I was happy with my application well before the deadlines. 2. Relevant feedback - Gavriella gave me relevant feedback based off of my post-MBA goals and what schools I wanted to go to. She didn't try to fit me in a box but worked with my story and helped me shape the right version of me that I wanted to present to the admissions committees. 3. Comfortable & Friendly - Some consultants ...
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    Class of 2026 Admit
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  • Accepted To My Top Program - HBS!!!
    1 month ago
    Working with Gavriella was the single best decision I have ever made! She helped me out every step of the way during my application process. I signed up for the 3-school package - GSB, HBS, and Wharton. With Gavriella's help, I got interview invites from both HBS and Wharton, and I ended up accepting the offer from HBS. Gavriella was extremely supportive and helpful throughout the process. She helped me stay focused and responded quickly during the overwhelming application process. She's great at paying attention to details and shaping your story. Plus, she genuinely cares about your success. Not only is Gavriella amazing at what she does, but she's also really nice to work with. She listens to you and values your ideas, making sure they ...
    Read the full review
    Class of 2026 Admit
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  • Gavriella Made My Dream Come True - Stanford GSB Admit
    1 month ago
    Working with Gavriella is one of the best life decisions I have ever made. In 9 short months (all inclusive package), she not only helped me secure admission into my dream school - Stanford GSB (and other M7 schools) but has also evolved into becoming an advisor, friend and confidant for life. Such has been the transformative impact of Gavriella and no amount of words will ever do justice to how highly I recommend her to any applicant planning to embark on the MBA application journey. Allow me to sum up her differentiated attributes that made her an absolute game changer in my path towards my dream school across 5 themes: 1. Highly Personalized - In our time working together, it always felt like ...
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    Class of 2026 Admit
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  • Work With Gavi! You Will NOT Regret It
    1 month ago
    I worked with Gavi for a 5 school package (all M7 schools), and I have no shortage of praise for Gavi! Gavi helped me convert all 5 of my applications into interviews, resulting in 3 acceptances all with scholarship / fellowships. I will be attending Wharton this fall with a fellowship thanks to her support! While the MBA application process can be a grueling challenge filled with uncertainty, anxiety, and stress and Gavi operates as a true partner to help break down the application process into a tenable journey. Gavi has an incredibly deep toolkit to help prepare you for the application process. As an attentive listener, strong communicator, and deep empath, she takes the time to deeply understand her clients so that she can tailor ...
    Read the full review
    Class of 2026 Admit
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  • Accepted To My Top Program - Gavi Is THE BEST!!
    1 month ago
    I can only speak positively about my experience working with Gavriella. Candidly, I did work with a consultant other than Gavriella during majority of my application process. Once I submitted my applications, I was fortunate enough to be invited to interview at several programs. At the time, my original consultant was inundated with work, so he recommended that I prepare the interviews with Gavriella. He spoke highly of her and felt that she would provide fresh and objective feedback. Gavriella exceeded my expectations in every possible way. I was nervous pivoting to a different consultant on such short notice, especially before what felt like the biggest moment in my application process. Gavriella accommodated my tight schedule in every way possible. She provided helpful technical advice ...
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    Class of 2026 Admit
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  • Accepted To Boston
    3 months ago
    While looking for MBA programs, I found the MBA Mission's website and got excited about their offer of a free 30-minute consultation. That's where I discovered Gavriella. In her profile video, she said something that stuck with me: "There is a puzzle in every piece of your life that you want to showcase in your application." I knew I had the experience and passion, but I was unsure how to tell the story of my 10 years of work in a clear way. Gavriella turned out to be a fantastic listener and super responsive. I always appreciated how quickly she replied to my emails and gave feedback. What stood out even more was the quality of her work and how she invested time in me, sharing ...
    Read the full review
    Class of 2024 Admit
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  • Got Into HEC Paris & IESE
    3 months ago
    Gavriella was very helpful and would communicate very promptly for all of my needs for essay writing + interview prep. Her patience and nurturing nature was definitely something that I needed for the stressful MBA journey. Thanks for your help once again!!
    Class of 2026 Admit
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  • Accepted To Wharton!
    7 months ago
    Gavi helped me put together two applications to Wharton and Columbia in a very short time period in R3. She made herself available as needed and provided impactful feedback helping bring my existing applications to the next level. I was admitted to Wharton and was invited to interview at Columbia, though I withdrew my application after getting into Wharton. I worked with a different consultant for a prior round and found Gavi much more helpful as she was highly invested in getting to know me as a person, which allowed her to provide more impactful feedback on my applications. Would highly recommend Gavi to anyone applying to business school.
    Class of 2025 Admit
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  • Accepted To Sloan!!
    9 months ago
    I truly don't know where I'd be without Gavriella. I started my MBA journey quite late - realized I wanted to apply in September...and I haven't even taken the GMATs yet! I knew I needed someone who to help me make sure I stay on track, as time was truly of the essence for me. Gavi was able to help me navigate the process so well and make sure I didn't waste any time in areas that I didn't need to. This is so crucial for some who is studying 10-15 hours a week for the GMATs and working a demanding full time job. Gavi helped me plan out my tight timeline, is super responsive, and you really feel like she's engaged and supporting you every ...
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    Class of 2025 Admit
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  • Accepted To Sloan - Gavriella Is A Miracle Worker!
    9 months ago
    Gavi was so incredible to work with! She really spent time getting to know me and cared about my outcomes. Something that stood out to me was the amount of care and attention she gave to me, so I never felt like I was one of many clients. She was also able to keep me focused in a pretty overwhelming process whilst being extremely responsive. Her ability to hone into details and aid you in crafting your story is unparalleled. I got into a top MBA program and in the end I felt like she genuinely cared about my success!
    Class of 2025 Admit
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  • Exceptional MBA Consultant!!!!! THE BEST!
    10 months ago
    Gavriella Semaya is an exceptional MBA consultant who delivered outstanding results. Her expertise, professionalism, and dedication to her clients are truly commendable. From the start, Gavriella displayed a comprehensive understanding of the MBA application process, providing invaluable insights and advice that contributed to my success. Her personalized approach, strong work ethic, and unwavering commitment made me feel confident and supported throughout the journey. With Gavriella's guidance, I was able to craft a compelling application and secure offers from prestigious business schools. I highly recommend Gavriella Semaya to anyone seeking expert MBA consulting services.
    Class of 2023 Admit
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  • Priceless Support - 10/10
    11 months ago
    Working with Gavriella was an absolute pleasure and I cannot recommend her enough. I can truly say I would not have gotten into my school, much less a full scholarship, without her support and guidance. She is a highly skilled communicator and was able to help me organize my thoughts in a clear and concise manner, ultimately enabling me to put my best foot forward. On top of communication, Gavriella was always very quick to respond and provide feedback. I started the application process late in the cycle and as a result had to work into the early morning, but Gavriella would also review and respond well ahead of the mbaMission response times. As a result, I was able to submit 9 applications in a ...
    Read the full review
    Class of 2025 Admit
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  • Great Admissions Consultant
    11 months ago
    I purchased an hourly service package to supplement Applicantlab. I was able to secure interviews from 4 schools and received 3 acceptances. I am now matriculating in my top school. I was looking for someone who could bring my story alive and is an excellent writer. I worked with Gavriella on 6 top 20 B school applications. She made a difference without a doubt. She provided great suggestions that helped me achieve the results I did. Gavriella is knowledgeable, thoughtful, and supportive. She knows how to present candidates in the best light possible without misrepresenting or embellishing achievements too much. She understands the balance and never shies away from challenging your thought process or providing critical feedback. I could not have asked for a better consultant. It was ...
    Read the full review
    Class of 2024 Admit
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  • The Perfect Consultant
    12 months ago
    Gavriella Semaya is an exceptional professional who is highly skilled at helping applicants achieve their academic goals. Her expertise, guidance, and encouragement have proved invaluable. Gavriella helped me rework my resume and shape my essays as a reapplicant to top MBA programs. She was always available to answer my questions and provide feedback on my application materials. She went above and beyond to ensure that I submitted the best possible applications and was successful in achieving my goals. One of Gavriella's strengths is her ability to show initiative and a genuine interest in her client's success. She takes the time to get to know the applicant's unique situation and provides tailored advice and support accordingly. Her passion for helping others is evident in her work and she ...
    Read the full review
    Class of 2027 Admit
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  • Highly Recommend Gavriella For Your IVY League MBA Candidacy
    12 months ago
    Gavriella Semaya was excellent and efficient with our time. She helped frame my essay and connect them together to create my unique story. Gavriella worked diligently with me to meet my tight deadlines and made sure to help me write a strong essay. She provides a questionnaire to get to know more about you and in meetings helps to dig deep into what makes your experience unique and make sure it's being tied together and presented in your essay to provide a highly competitive and unique essay. I would highly recommend Gavriella for your IVY League MBA candidacy. Also, shout out to Jermey, the founder, who made himself available and provided advice tailored to me.
    Yuval Halperin
    EMBA Class of 2023 Admit
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  • Best Coach Ever!
    12 months ago
    In the short amount of time, I've known Gavriella through this MBA process my life changed. While this statement may sound hyperbolic, it's not. As a coach, Gavriella really helped me make some critical life choices I had to face when applying to graduate school. I really experienced growth in my essay writing, enhanced my interview skills, and even had a more clear vision for the direction of my career. She made our conversations a safe place with no judgment. I was able to gain more confidence in this process which was conveyed in my application and led to an acceptance into my top school. Gavriella really cares when coaching me -- she took a deep holistic dive and pushed me in a positive, constructive ...
    Read the full review
    Class of 2023 Admit
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  • 5 Stars Are Not Enough, Seriously
    12 months ago
    I legitimately do not have anything but incredible things to say about Gavriella. When I decided to embark on this MBA application journey, I started with an idea for a business. I knew that it was a bit of a crazy concept and I was leaving the comfy job for a chance to start a company from scratch. This idea was not simple and when I explained it to Gavriella she was very intrigued, but most importantly, she saw the potential that my story had and immediately knew how to navigate the applications with me. She helped me craft a consistent story on how my architecture background prepared me for MBA with a focus on entrepreneurship. We narrowed down the schools together and then worked ...
    Read the full review
    Class of 2025 Admit
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  • Gavriella Is The Best!
    1 year ago
    Starting my MBA application was a process that really scared me. I didn't feel confident in my ability to put together an application that would show my best strengths, and I didn't know what schools I could really get into. I found Gavriella and after our first preview interview, I felt like she would be a wonderful advisor through my application process. She has an incredible breadth of knowledge that I was able to utilize. I was able to ask her questions at any time and on any topic and she always responded with a helpful and thoughtful response. She was optimistic and gave me the emotional support I needed to get through the ups and downs of applying to multiple schools with a variety ...
    Read the full review
    Class of 2023 Admit
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  • Just The Best You Can Hope For!
    1 year ago
    Coming from an industry where an MBA is not a common choice, I decided to rely on a consultant for my applications. I chose the 5 Schools package and I couldn't be more satisfied with it. I met Gavriella the year before actually applying, but due to low GMAT scores (also suggested by her), I decided to postpone and worked further to improve it. When I got the score I needed, I was still convinced she was the perfect fit for me. As I started working with her, not only it became clear I was right, but I also discovered her pristine commitment to the process and to you in particular. She supported me from screening business schools to understanding really who I was. She ...
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    Class of 2025 Admit
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  • She's The Reason For My HBS Admit!
    1 year ago
    Out of the 5 schools I worked on with Gavriella, I received interview invites from 4 and will now go and attend HBS! I got multiple offers and scholarships (Applied to 6 M7 schools(Of which I worked on 2 schools myself) and LBS) My guide and mentor - The Guru who made it happen. As traditional Indian saying goes, Guru guides you to your destiny, so bow to the Guru even before you bow before God and she is the mentor who made it happen for me. Unsure of my candidacy for HBS, she instilled confidence in me and pushed me to introspect until I found out why I believed in certain things or choose to behave a certain way. The MBA journey is far ...
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    Class of 2025 Admit
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  • Outstanding!
    1 year ago
    Gavriella was great! The MBA application process is long and difficult, so having someone as experienced and supportive as she is was crucial to my success. Professional, intelligent, and articulate, she consistently demonstrated genuine care for my application. Gavriella is particularly talented at helping applicants with their essays: her insight enabled me to tell my story in a way that highlighted my personality and professional goals in a manner that was both coherent and engaging. Extremely responsive and willing to go the extra mile for her clients, she exceeded all expectations and has my highest recommendation for any prospective MBA student.
    Class of 2025 Admit
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  • Excellent Work!
    1 year ago
    I worked with Gavriella and had a great experience. I had solid stats but, in my opinion, pretty average work experience and extracurriculars. With Gavriella's help, I was able to get into multiple M7's. She was very prompt in communication and offered tons of extra advice via emails. She was especially helpful with the essays. She really helped me nail down the story I wanted to tell about myself and what points to touch on in each of the essays. I don't think I would've had the same success without her!
    Class of 2025 Applicant
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  • Unbelievable Professionalism & Dedication.
    1 year ago
    Working with Gavriella was an amazing process. She was always extremely prompt in responding to me and encouraging as I worked through my application. Her help allowed me to adequately prepare a couple of compelling essays, perfect my resume, and feel comfortable in my interview. Her ability to get to know you and then personalize your message is unparalleled, and I can't imagine how I would have navigated this process without her. Oh yeah, and the most important part: I got admitted into my first-choice program. I majored in accounting 9 years ago and was a good student through undergraduate studies, however, I had spent the last 7 years as a fishing guide and skiing patroller. Due to my work history, I had a unique background ...
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    James Teal
    MBA Class of 2023 Admit
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  • Gavriella, the Miracle Worker!
    1 year ago
    I was referred to Gavriella by a friend that had recently been accepted to Cornell's full-time MBA program. I began my journey by scheduling a consultation, during which I laid out my goal of attending Columbia Business School. She began by telling me that given some of my stats, it truly was a long shot. Gavriella will not sugarcoat your situation, but hearing her honest assessment was exactly what I needed and exactly what you will need throughout the process. The application process can be quite grueling - Gavriella helped me through every step, from crafting my essays to perfecting and anticipating every possible interview question. Her suggestions and preparation tips were perfectly catered to my background and to my target program. If you are ...
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    Class of 2025 Admit
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  • I'd Give Her 6 Stars If I Could!
    2 years ago
    It's impossible to overstate how great my entire experience with Gavriella was. She was incredibly insightful and diligent and her expertise showed at every available moment. I looked into a number of consulting services and the amount of attention and care that Gavriella puts into her work was evident from the first time we spoke. Naturally, given the investment level of a consulting service, I wanted to make the best possible choice and I can say with absolute confidence that I did. Gavriella truly gets personally invested in your success and does everything within her ability to help you achieve your goals. I got accepted into my top choice of program and that would not have been possible without Gavriella's help. If you're looking for ...
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    Class of 2024 Admit
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  • Excellent Advisor, Writer/Editor, & Storyteller
    2 years ago
    I decided to apply to B school just 1.5 months before R1 deadlines and Gavriella made the process seamless, taking out much of the stress I would’ve had without her! From setting a schedule for deliverables (making the whole process much more manageable), the in-depth brainstorming, to multiple revisions of my HBS and GSB essays, and brainstorming & editing for the short answer prompts as well, she showed her prowess as an advisor, writer/editor, and storyteller. She also knew many of the MBA programs so well and was able to help me curate my story to uniquely fit each one. She was invaluable in my preparation for my HBS interview, conducting a mock interview, giving me helpful feedback, and sharing other potential questions that could ...
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    Class of 2024 Admit
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  • The Best!!
    2 years ago
    Working with Gavriella was truly an incredibly smooth process! Not only did she support me through the entire process but also made me feel confident through every step of the application process. She was incredibly responsive and detailed with her feedback! She really takes the time to get to know you and ensures your application highlights all your core skills, personality traits, and accomplishments. I was on a crunch time when it came to applying but she supported me tirelessly and made my application a priority, making this process seamless! I do not believe I could have gotten into my dream school without her guidance, support, and expertise! An absolute pleasure working with her!
    Class of 2024 Admit
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  • Gavriella Is Awesome
    2 years ago
    Working with Gavriella has been a pleasure. During my first session with Gavriella, I wasn’t very confident about applying to the top tier business schools. She provided me with a realistic evaluation of my candidacy and the much needed confidence boost to apply to the top tier business schools. Gavriella’s guidance, feedback and insights have been extremely valuable throughout my application process. She pushed me to give my best and build a strong application. Gavriella was very easy to work with; very responsive and always available to answer any questions. She demonstrated a strong understanding, expertise and judgment around the MBA application process. I feel that I wouldn’t have gotten into Columbia Business School without Gavriella’s guidance.
    Class of 2022 Admit
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  • Beyond A Game Changer
    2 years ago
    At first, when I started applying to business school I thought I could do it on my own and I was thinking "how much can a consultant actually help...is it worth the price?" Well on my own I was denied to every school I applied to in R1. Then, I decided to do a free consultation with Gavriella and I knew she would be instrumental in my applications for R2 Man, was I right. In R2 I was accepted to all 7 of the schools I applied to and most with 50% scholarships. Not to mention being accepted at my dream school Ross. I chose to do the hourly services and I was not disappointed. I would turn in essays to her at 2 am ...
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    Class of 2022 Admit
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  • Highly Recommend Gavriella!!
    2 years ago
    Gavriella was a fantastic consultant throughout the entire MBA application process. I could not recommend her more! From the initial consultation meeting, Gavriella soothed my nerves. She quickly provided a clear and thorough plan of how I would work through my apps. We worked very closely from then on, and I appreciate how she went above and beyond to provide quick turns of my essays and make herself available, even on weekends on a few occasions. She provided detailed and very additive edits (grammatically, structurally, and most importantly creatively). The highlight of working with Gavriella was truly the brainstorming / “crafting my story” process – crucial to my application and the pain point of the process for me. She really took the time to understand my journey ...
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    Class of 2024 Admit
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  • Fantastic Experience - Highly Recommend Gavriella
    2 years ago
    Gavriella helped me get into Wharton with a scholarship. She was a fantastic partner to have during the application process and I cannot recommend working with her highly enough. When beginning to apply, Gavriella helped me crystalize my thoughts and develop a tangible story that would stick out through the mass of applications each adcom reviews. When working directly on the applications themselves, Gavriella really shines because of her exceptional ability to guide individuals through the writing process. After submitting the applications, being able to bounce questions off of Gavriella was fantastic, especially considering how many times she has helped people through this process. I would definitely recommend Gavriella. 10/10.
    Class of 2024 Admit
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  • Love Working With Gavi!
    2 years ago
    I first applied to B-schools back in 2020 to enroll in Fall 2021. However, my biggest mistake was focusing too much on perfecting the GMAT scores that I didn't put as much of an effort into my narrative. As I didn't get into my target school, I decided to reapply again for Fall 2022, while reassessing the strengths of each school. As I was already familiar with the application process, I chose the hourly services with Gavriella from MBAMission. I have spoken with a few other consultants prior and given my low GMAT (640) / GRE (323) scores, all of them told me that I was better off aiming for lower-tier schools and that they are unable to work with me. The first time I had ...
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    Class of 2024 Admit
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  • Absolutely Amazing
    2 years ago
    I came into the whole MBA application process a little bit lost, I didn't know where I would fit or how I stacked up against other candidates. But Gavriella showed how the holes in my application weren't as serious as I had thought and had read from other online resources. She was always quick to point out the strengths in my application and constantly reminded me to continuously highlight those. We worked together from school selection right the way through interviews. She was a wonderful person to have throughout the entire process, and I shudder to think of how things would have gone had I not had her help. If anyone is struggling and in need of help, I cannot recommend Gavriella more highly.
    Class of 2024 Admit
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  • Gavriella Is THE BEST
    2 years ago
    The service and support that Gavriella provided was more than I could’ve ever expected. From our first brainstorming session all the way to interview prep, she was incredibly involved, supportive, thorough, and helpful. Gavi helped me take all elements of my background and mold them into a cohesive and compelling story, which left me confident moving forward with all parts of the admissions process. Especially coming from a non-traditional undergraduate education as well as work experience, it was essential that my story made sense, and Gavriella helped me get there. Gavriella was very responsive and always willing to hop on a call to talk through things as needed. I truly felt like she had my back and pushed me to put the work in so that ...
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    Class of 2024 Admit
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  • Gavi Is The Best!
    2 years ago
    Gavi and I had about three months to put together my applications and she was great to work with. From brainstorming ideas, editing essays, to conducting mock interviews, there is no way I could have made it through this application process without her. She is a wonderful writer and was really instrumental in helping me develop a cohesive and interesting "story" for myself. She is personable, thoughtful, and very responsive. Her feedback was honest and I could tell that she really wanted me to succeed - there were times where I thought the essays were fine but she still pushed me to refine them further. Thanks to her, I'll be enrolling at my dream school in the fall, HBS! I would definitely recommend Gavi's services ...
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    Class of 2024 Admit
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  • Best Decision
    2 years ago
    I got an opportunity to work with Gavriella in Oct - Nov 2021 for my application to the Cornell Tech MBA Program and got accepted with a scholarship. I must say it would not have been possible without her and I give her full credit for that. I do fall into the very traditional and highly competitive pool of Indian male Engineers and a low GMAT score of 680 - another big issue. I had spoken to a couple of other consultants before and most told me my chances to get admitted were almost impossible. When I set up my first consultation call with her, rather than giving me generic feedback like others, she took the time to patiently hear my story and my motivations to pursue the program, ...
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    Jigar Jain
    MBA Class of 2023 Admit
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  • Best Decision To Go With Gavriella!
    3 years ago
    Gavriella helped me get into my dream MBA programs and get admitted with scholarship offers! I opted for a start-to-finish package with 4 schools and am so glad I did. I knew that I really needed to hone my essays to make sure I had the best shot at getting into my goal schools. Gavriella has a very strong writing background and she really took the time to understand my personal story, motivations, and passions to ensure that we were able to create a story that would be appealing to the admission team while staying true to me. I also had a tighter than optimal timeline to meet school application deadlines as I chose to apply later in the year. Gavriella got us organized from the ...
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    Class of 2023 Admit
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  • Unrivalled Admission Consulting Service
    3 years ago
    Gavriella Semaya has helped me with my admission application for Fuqua school of business and the result is that I have been admitted to my goal school. I remember one time I needed urgent help on a piece of work from her. While it was during a 2-day national holiday, she agreed to work and submitted the work in slightly less than an hour with high quality edits. Gavriella was amazingly helpful in rephrasing my story so it became genuine and compelling, removing unnecessary words and sentences to answer the question directly, and redirecting me in the areas of focus during the mock interview. She was proactively engaging with me on every step and super-responsive.
    Class of 2022 Admit
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  • An Excellent Advisor
    3 years ago
    If you are looking to engage an advisor for your applications, Gavriella is the perfect choice. Gavriella helped shape my applications and worked with me to define the strategy, choices and essays that went along with them. Gavriella guided my applications from start to end by brainstorming the topics and inputs to final edits. She is endlessly patient and answered my many many questions with thoughtful, personalized, and useful answers, and provided the right advice all along the way. Without Gavriella's writing skills and editing, my essays would not have been nearly the same (nor as concise and within the word limit) and without her coaching and guidance, I would not be starting my full-time MBA in the fall. Gavriella is a great choice for ...
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    Class of 2023 Admit
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  • Instrumental Advisor
    3 years ago
    I would not be going to business school this fall if it were not for Gavriella Semaya. To say she was instrumental does not come close to capturing how impactful she was in my process. Gavriella is a talented listener, remarkable editor, and an incredibly thoughtful advisor. I was extremely impressed with how quickly Gavriella understood my story and helped me craft a strong and succinct narrative. She did not let me off easy; Gavriella pushed me to think about my goals and articulate how I got to where I am – she guided me down a path of meaningful self-discovery that will serve me well for years to come. In addition to her ability to help me articulate my story and goals, Gavriella has ...
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    Class of 2023 Admit
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  • Amazing Advice & Help!
    3 years ago
    I signed up for mbaMission's hourly services in hopes to enhance and practice my interview skills. I was paired to work with Gavriella and she was extremely helpful! She gave me roughly 10-12 questions that are typical questions in a business school interview for me to prepare for and we had mock interviews with those questions. In the first mock interview, I kept stuttering and I was a mess. Gavriella helped me calm down and put the interview into a better perspective so that I wouldn't be as nervous. We practiced for around 3 hours and I really loved how she was able to show me how to better answer some of my answers and clearly explain what I was trying to say. After the ...
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    Class of 2023 Admit
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  • Consultation Session Provided The Clarity & Confidence That I️ Needed During My Application Process!
    3 years ago
    In our consultation call, Gavriella was very knowledgeable & personable when helping me to prepare my MBA application. Our conversation was organic and her recommendations were always specifically tailored for me. We polished my resume by ensuring that each bullet didn’t merely describe my responsibilities, but actually highlighted the impact of my work and the accomplishments I achieved in each position. Additionally, Gavriella gave suggestions on how to best articulate ambitious & achievable goals in my personal statement as well as how to prepare individualized “context packets” for my recommenders. After our incredibly productive call, she followed up with a detailed email that summarized our conversation, reiterated her key recommendations, and provided additional (free!) resources that would further aid me in my MBA journey. Gavriella’s ...
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    Class of 2021 Admit
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  • Awesome Experience, Highly Recommend
    3 years ago
    I was a little nervous about using a consultant for my application. I started with 2 hours with Gavriella. She is very honest, dedicated, and smart. She never missed any of the commitments. In a 30 mins zoom call; she understood my background goals and came up with great suggestions on where I can improve my application further. I could feel the difference in my application quality right away and felt confident before applying itself. She even helped me with my professional resume. Got admitted to all my dream schools and picked my top choice in G7. I highly recommend her to anybody without a doubt.
    Class of 2023 Admit
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  • A Great Partner Throughout The Process!
    3 years ago
    Gavriella was incredibly helpful in enabling me to pump out 4 last-minute applications in under 7 days...over the holidays to boot! Her effort to understand the distinguishing features of my personal narrative in such a short time frame coupled with her ability to decisively and effectively cull my verbosity were essential to allowing me to convey the most compelling features of my candidacy. The flexibility in structuring the use of my hours was also very helpful as the areas of my application requiring review and the level of depth required were quite fluid. Despite this, we were able to work together to ensure we were able to achieve proper treatment all around. Gavriella was also a tremendous resource in navigating the interview and waitlist processes ...
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    Class of 2023 Admit
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  • Gavriella Made The Impossible Happen! Admitted To Wharton!
    3 years ago
    I genuinely believe I would not have been admitted without the help of Gavriella. I began the MBA process incredibly naïve and completely overwhelmed. I initially enlisted Gavriella's help for a two-school package. However, the immediate value and impact of her services convinced me to expand my package to include a third school. I only wish I could have used her help for all my applications! She is equal parts teacher, strategist, therapist, and friend. She dove headfirst into my chaotic mess of a story, helping turn it into a coherent narrative that accurately depicted me and my experiences. Understanding who I am also allowed her to guide me to apply to programs aligned with my interest and post MBA goals that ...
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    Class of 2023 Admit
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  • Above And beyond. Thank You, Gavriella!
    3 years ago
    I’ve applied for a few T20 business schools’ MBA program in Round 2 for 2023 admission, and I have been admitted to my top choice school with a scholarship offer that is way more than I could ever dream of. My experience of working with Gavriella has been amazing from beginning to end. As an older applicant (mid 30’s) with a non-traditional background, I had a lot of doubt about myself when I started the MBA journey. Gavriella did a great job to be there for me and to build my confidence. She was very caring and passionate -- a very good listener and a genuine friend who made me feel comfortable to share my stories and put trust in her. I felt so lucky ...
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    Class of 2023 Admit
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  • Exceptional Person Who Also Knows Her Stuff!
    3 years ago
    I will open this by saying beyond being a great consultant for your application, Gavriella is a wonderful person. I came to meet Gavriella through a free consultation (as I am sure many others do), and I have done this with other consultants, so I had experience in this. What I found was not a pushy salesperson, instead, someone who asked the 'right' questions. She asked me why I wanted to go to the programs I specifically brought up, she asked me what my biggest concerns were and what I thought my unique attributes were (because on paper I was at best an average candidate, if not below average) and at the end of our brief interaction, she candidly told me what she thought of ...
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    Class of 2022 Admit
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  • I Can't Recommend Gavriella Highly Enough!
    3 years ago
    As a somewhat unconventional applicant, I wasn't sure what to expect from an MBA consultant. Any trepidation I might have had vanished after my first call with Gavriella, however. It was clear from the first day that she would be an invaluable asset going forward. She helped weave my disparate work experience into a compelling narrative, hone in on a more curated target list of schools, and provided excellent interview prep which left me in great shape for all of the interviews that subsequently arose. Working with Gavriella went a long way in taking the stress out of the application/interview process, and it was clear to me early on that she was operating with my best interest in mind, not her own. To anyone reading ...
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    Class of 2023 Admit
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  • Best Experience
    3 years ago
    Working with Gavriella totally exceeded my expectations. The process was really smooth and although we were short of time she connected with my story immediately and helped me outline it in the best way possible. She was very detailed-oriented and precise with her contributions… It was the third eye I needed to accomplish a well-rounded application. She was very efficient and we even had the opportunity to check other essays! After submitting everything we kept in touch, a fact that made me notice she was very diligent with her work. I was skeptical of acquiring this kind of service but it was an investment I'll never regret. I totally recommend MBA Mission and Gavriella.
    Class of 2023 Admit
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  • An Excellent All Around Service!!
    3 years ago
    My overall experience with mbaMission and especially my consultant, Gavriella, was excellent! I elected for the hourly service, for the flexibility, and because I knew which schools I wanted to apply to, but in no way did this detract from the highly personalized guidance I received. My busy work schedule and different time zone were also no impediment; Gavriella was able to work around me and help with essay editing, deciding on which stories to discuss and eventually on interview preparation as well. I received first-class coaching for every step of the application, tailored specifically to me. Gavriella was very knowledgeable about the idiosyncrasies of each school's application process and took time to understand my background, my goals and exactly how I should present my narrative. I ...
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    Class of 2023 Admit
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  • Working With Gavriella Was The Best Decision I Made
    3 years ago
    From the beginning of my application process, I had been hesitant about hiring a consultant for a variety of reasons, but now as I prepare to attend Columbia Business School next year, I can very confidently say that working with Gavriella was the best decision I made during the process. I interviewed five consultants and from the get-go I was confident that Gavriella was the right choice. She showed up to our meeting prepped on my background, was very candid about my strengths and weaknesses and proposed a concrete plan to move forward. The minute I knew for absolute sure that I had made the right decision occurred several weeks after we started working together. We were several turns into the all-important goals essay when ...
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    Class of 2023 Admit
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  • Amazing! Highly Recommend
    3 years ago
    I used 5 hours of Gavriella's services to help support reviewing/editing my applications. She really took the time to get to know me and my motivations. She was then able to provide concrete feedback on how I could increase the clarity of messaging across my application. Furthermore, Gavriella was able to offer valuable input on what admissions committees would be looking for. I had a highly personalized experience where I felt she was truly invested in my success. Not to mention the quick turnaround times to review materials. I ended up getting into my two top choices (GSB & HBS). Gavriella was a key contributor.
    Class of 2023 Admit
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  • Gavriella Semaya - Wonderful Advisor, Invaluable Insight, Absolute Star
    3 years ago
    Spark notes: Gavi is articulate, approachable, pragmatic, and incredibly smart. She removed any intimidation I had about the application process, and helped me cement my story and goals in a way that was strategic, calculated, but also nurturing. Working with Gavi was like working with a good friend who wants you to succeed, but is not afraid to step back and be real with an honest, third party perspective. Her knowledge of the application nuances between each school was extensive, and she was extremely accommodating and flexible throughout my somewhat accelerated (my own fault) process. You *will not* regret working with Gavi. I could not have made it through applications and interviews - and into programs! - without her insight, encouragement, and guidance. Full picture: Like many others, ...
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    Class of 2023 Admit
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  • Gavi Roks!!... She Is THE BEST!!!
    3 years ago
    A friend of mine strongly recommended me to hire mbaMission to help me with my MBA application journey. I was having seconds doubts because I've had terrible experiences in the past with several informal coaches. I gave myself a chance and hired mbaMission, and they assigned me Gavriella as my coach after a profile review. I want to congratulate mbaMission's methodology and service. It has been amazing. I was accepted to my #1 and #2 MBA options. I am sure a great part of it was thanks to Gavriella, she rocks, and she has been the best advisor I have ever had. She got to know me perfectly since the first session I had with her. She taught me how to get the best out of ...
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    Class of 2022 Admit
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