Kathryn Lucas

Kathryn changed my life, and I am so grateful for her guidance! I did a discovery call with her in 2021 even though I couldn’t afford her firm. I’d read that she gives amazing, honest consults. So I wanted to take advantage of the 30 minutes she offers. She didn’t spend 30 minutes with me. She spent almost two hours. She encouraged me to wait and apply later since it was the last round and I didn’t have a test score yet. But I was eager to try now. Her team offered to work with me at an extreme discount, understanding that I was financially supporting my parents and 5 younger siblings. We built a strong application, but I couldn’t get my test score where I needed it (not even close). I applied anyway in the last round. I was rejected. I then worked on getting a much stronger test score and reapplied last year – again the last round as I managed to get a decent test score, but too late for R2 – this time Kathryn and her team worked with me for free – yea, free. I got waitlisted.

Kathryn then worked with me directly for R1 and while she didn’t work with me for free, she gave me a generous discount. I applied to fulltime programs this time instead of part-time. All in Texas as I want to stay close to my family.

From the very beginning in 2021, Kathryn and her team was not only motivating and honest but also amazing human beings who genuinely cared about my success. They took the time to understand my story, background, stats, and potential, helping me identify where I would be the best fit. I especially appreciated how deeply she pushed me to think about my career narrative, challenging me to reflect and articulate my goals with clarity.

When I worked with Kathryn directly this time around, I realized why she owns a company, Shea unique ability to connect with you on a deeper level, ensuring your voice and vision shine throughout your application. With my latest application Kathryn guided me step by step from refining my resume and crafting thoughtful essays to securing impactful letters of recommendation and preparing for interviews. Through this process, I not only grew more self-aware but also discovered insights about myself that I never realized before. Kathryn’s patience and responsiveness kept me on track. She never let me lose sight of my potential, constantly cheering me on while providing constructive feedback. Her approach is rigorous yet incredibly supportive, and it felt like she was as invested in my success as I was.

For me, this journey became much more than just submitting MBA applications, it was a transformative experience. Thanks to Kathryn and her team, I was admitted to top programs with scholarships! If you’re looking for someone who will challenge you, guide you, and help you achieve your MBA dreams, Kathryn and the Square One Prep team are unmatched. They will take care of you, hold you accountable, and ultimately set you up to win, not just with your applications – with life.

Kathryn and the SOP team truly provide the most thoughtful advising throughout every step of the application process. Even if you are working with a different consultant, Kathryn follows along and provides support and advice no matter what. SOP under Kathryn’s passionate and brilliant leadership is THE best way you can prepare yourself for MBA admissions.

Kathryn provided insightful feedback on five of my essays, improved my resume, and conducted a great HBS mock interview. She provides honest, constructive, and encouraging feedback that will help improve your application package. She also has numerous reference samples to assist with the formulation of your essays. Highly recommended!

My team at Square One Prep did a phenomenal job helping me navigate the MBA admissions process.

From the very beginning, I felt like I was receiving personalized and detailed feedback tailored to my own profile. I really appreciate all the time my team took to understand my goals and my interests – from the initial intro call with Kathryn, to the SOP assessment call with my advisor Kelsey, to the career narrative brainstorming I did with Horatiu.

The SOP process might initially seem time consuming, but I promise it is 100% worth it. Thanks to the countless hours my team spent working with me, I was able to write unique and engaging essays that not only conveyed my career goals, but also showcased my personality and my interests.

I couldn’t have asked for a better advisor than Kelsey. For each school, we’d have a kick-off call to brainstorm ideas for the essays. These brainstorming sessions felt easy and productive, due to all the time we had spent introspecting into my goals and my formative experiences. Kelsey was also super responsive throughout the whole process and gave me essay feedback in a timely manner, which allowed me to iterate quickly and try out many essay ideas.

The help from the team didn’t stop after I submitted the applications. Kelsey and Kathryn were very helpful in preparing me for the interviews. Interview prep also helped me realize the value in the career narrative writing process that I did earlier with Horatiu – during the interviews, I was able to explain my career goals and justify my thought process with clarity and confidence.

I have to give Kelsey a special shout-out for helping me prep for the HBS interview, based on her own HBS admissions experience. We did multiple rigorous mock interviews, and she gave me endless tips on the types of questions to be prepared for. I’m happy to say that all my interviews went well and resulted in acceptances!

I’ve already recommended Square One Prep to my friends interested in pursuing an MBA, and I’ll continue to do so in the future!

Certainly applying to business school is such an intense process. If I were in the same position starting my application process, I would blindly partner with Square1Prep again. You really need the right people by your side.

I knew that I had to work hard if I wanted to achieve my dream of getting accepted to a top MBA program. When I finally got the GMAT score I aimed for, I was only 2 months away of Round 2 deadlines. I didn’t know if I was competitive enough or what strategy I needed in order to maximize my chances of acceptance and scholarship. Partnering with Square1Prep was the best decision I took. Kathryn and her team really know the application process and have a very structured and easy to follow planning tool that allowed me to have realistic expectations of which and how many schools to apply. I ended up with a very ambitious but realistic plan to apply to 8 schools. I managed to do it! Not only did I put a lot of effort but also the team at Square1Prep, and Kathryn specially, were really out of their way to help me achieve that goal with incredible results.

Apart from that, I would say that they also helped me grow personally. Self awareness is key in the application but it is not directly proportional with the time you invest in it. Depth and right guidance is crucial. I think that starting with Robin, my consultant, to Horatiu, my career narrative expert, to Kathryn and Kelsey as my Leadership team, all of them were instrumental in making me believe in myself, my story and my ambitions. Their guidance delivered with honesty and kindness was crucial to allow me to really understand how I had evolved over my lifetime and how that was important to who I am as a person and my potential. I stopped feeling that my lack of extracurriculars made me a bad candidate. Instead, I focused on making all those unique things about myself shine and ended up with the most personal and powerful application.

I will be forever grateful with Kathryn and her team for their kindness, honesty and efficiency. They made my application process as easy as possible (though it’s very hard work), my application materials as impactful and competitive as they could get, and, finally, made me a more confident and self-aware person. Thanks team.

Kathryn and her team are great. They are super honest with you about you likelihood of acceptance and are willing to match your risk appetite. Highly recommend!

My journey with Square One Prep was a game-changer. When I found myself in a frenzy of last-minute decisions in late July – no GMAT score, no clear career goals, and a misguided plan to apply to five schools for Round 1 – they brought in calm and clarity. They redirected my efforts towards Round 2, guiding me to define a clearer career ambition and the right list of schools for me.
Their attention to detail was unmatched. Every aspect of my application, down to the smallest detail and the daunting task of perfecting video essays, was meticulously reviewed. Their dedication ensured a final submission that filled me with confidence.
Yet, what truly sets Square One Prep apart is their empathy and support. Their founder, Kathryn, embodies this ethos, forming genuine connections with every student. They didn’t just advise me; they celebrated every success as if it were their own.
If you found yourself navigating the treacherous waters of business school applications, I highly recommend taking the leap with Square One Prep.

From the very first phone call with Kathryn, it was evident that she approached her job with a level of professionalism and dedication that truly set her apart. Her commitment to helping young professionals achieve their dreams of attending a top-tier MBA Program was palpable. As an applicant with a unique background and specific issues to address, I was understandably nervous about choosing the right team to work with. However, after meeting Kathryn and her team of advisors, I was reassured by their experience, intelligence, and organizational skills, which I knew would guide me through the rigorous application process.

Working closely with my advisor, Kelsey Wise, on my resume, scheduling, and essays, and collaborating with Wendy to refine my career narrative, I felt the authenticity behind their work and knew their support was genuine. Beyond their exceptional guidance, they also provided a built-in support system that proved invaluable in maintaining my mental health and inner confidence throughout this demanding process.

For anyone considering an MBA advisor, the number of options available can be overwhelming. However, I can confidently say that choosing Kathryn and the Square One Prep team is an investment well worth making. Not only will you receive outstanding value for your money, but you’ll also gain access to a support network that will not just make you a stronger applicant but also a better person by the end of your journey. When it comes to navigating the MBA application process, there is no one better equipped to guide you than Square One Prep.

I spoke with almost a dozen consultants before landing on Square One. From the moment I spoke with Kathryn on our initial consultation call, I got the feeling that they were the most transparent organization and really had my best interests in mind. I didn’t feel like they were pushing me to buy more services than I needed like a lot of other companies. Additionally, Kathryn gave me the encouragement to pursue my dream schools on our call.

I ended up doing 3 schools comprehensively with Square One and the applications I built with them gave me a solid foundation and the confidence to build the rest of my schools. My results were exceptional given my background, the selectiveness of the programs I applied to, and the competitiveness of the 2023-2024 cycle – I interviewed at 9 out of 12 schools (which included almost all T10 programs) and have been accepted to 6 so far, including two full scholarships, and a few other programs are still pending and/or I’m still on the waitlist for. I’m extremely grateful and lucky to have work with Square One and I would highly recommend applicants to work with them. I could not have done all this by myself.

I am immensely grateful to Square One Prep for their invaluable guidance throughout my MBA application journey. Their expertise and personalized approach were pivotal in helping me define my goals and develop a compelling narrative that resonated with the admissions committees. Their unwavering support and attention to detail ensured that I presented the strongest possible version of myself. But more importantly, their encouragement and calming presence helped me maintain focus and composure during what can be an incredibly stressful process! Take a deep breath and relax! I highly recommend Square One Prep to anyone seeking comprehensive and effective guidance in the competitive MBA admissions journey.

Kathryn, Kathleen, Wendy and team have been phenomenal in supporting me through my MBA journey. I still remember my first call with Kathryn back in 2020 when I was first exploring pursuing an MBA – it has been an extremely fulfilling journey from then to today, having received 2 MBA admits from my dream schools. Throughout this process, Kathleen, my first point of contact, ensured I was comfortable with the pace of my applications. Kathleen and Wendy pushed me to think critically about my post-MBA goals. The team helped me bring out extremely unique aspects within my application that I would not have otherwise been able to do on my own. Lastly, the team always went above and beyond to support me during this process – be it early morning/late night calls, quick turnaround for review of essays, reviewing additional elements beyond essays or moral support every time I questioned my own abilities. Even now that I’ve secured my admit, Kathryn has been extremely graceful in guiding me as I decide between schools. All in all, you can’t go wrong with Square One Prep! 😊

Happy to report that I have been accepted to the MBA programs at Oxford SBS, Cambridge Judge, and INSEAD! I got rejected by LBS – which Kathryn let me know was the school that I was least likely to obtain acceptance for ahead of time. She’s a pro!

Kathryn was referred to me by a Haas MBA grad who attributed a significant amount of secured scholarship to Kathryn’s insights. I’m so glad she was!

I couldn’t have had as competitive of an application without them! Their direction and timely guidance was super valuable, all with the attention and care of a close confident.

I am so thankful that I chose to work with SOP!

From the first minutes on the free consultation, I knew that Kathryn was 100% passionate about supporting applicants achieve their goals.

I used Square One prep’s premium and hourly service for my Master’s in Real Estate program application. I am very satisfied and impressed with the results.

I am a very skeptical person when it comes to these types of services, feeling as if they just direct you down a path that you could find by just doing research online. In fact, I don’t think I would have ever used a service if my colleague didn’t recommend me the one that he (Accepted to Stern) was using. He told me that he interviewed MBA mission, Menlo and Square 1 prep. I did the same.
I sent emails requesting to learn more about MBA mission, Menlo and Square 1 prep’s services around the same time that day. Kathryn Lucas responded the same day to set up a one and one call. To me, a fast response time is not really impressive but to have the founder reach out and set up a call her self really showed me a level of care, leadership, and attention that I would later deeply appreciate.

Our call was good and humbling. I have done a lot of research myself on these programs and academic intent and credentials needed. I briefed Kathryn about myself, why I wanted to get a Masters in RE, and where I stood in the application/preparation process. She asked some easy questions to get the juices flowing but she soon started digging deeper, making me question if my application story was convincing, well – researched, and “big picture” enough. It was evident my application at that moment in time had many cracks. I am unsure if it was due to Kathryn’s extensive experience as a MBA admission advisor or in real estate development, but I immediately knew, despite all my research and prep, that my application just won’t be enough for the top Masters in Real estate programs in the US. The call was very personable, direct, and unapologetic. I liked it.

My calls with Menlo and MBA mission were overall good (given that they are successful firms), but lacked that personal touch and care. I knew that my situation of applying to a Master’s in Real Estate program was unique and wouldn’t not fully form into any cookie cutter MBA plan. My application would have to be tailored towards to real estate.
I decided to go with Square One, premium service.

I was given the option to choose my advisor and to interview them. At the time I began using Square One, most of the of the senior advisors were fully booked for round 1 MBA applications. I appreciate how Square One does small batches but I was nervous. I was looking for someone who had real estate experience, time, and energy for my application.

I ended up choosing Cristina Castellano, a senior advisor and partnership manager. To me, her background was the strongest. I enjoyed interviewing her and talking about real estate with out having to use too many layman terms. A concern of mine was her responsibilities as Square One Prep’s partnership manager. I was afraid that her partnership manager duties as well as other work may impede on the level of attention and care she would give my unique application. This was not the case at all.

After many calls to nail my story, purpose, data points and career progression down (thank you Horatiu Stefan! ), Cristina and I got to work on my essays. In hindsight, I feel a little bad for the amount of work I put Cristina through. I am most definitely not a concise person when it comes to writing, believing that every detail matters and nor am I the most eloquent. Instead of writing essay drafts, I wrote dissertations. Cristina was great at compressing my mountains of ramble into purposeful diamonds. In other words, we vibed.

The resume building, Letter of Recommendations, and all the other things you need in your application were done very well. Rather than go into those details, I think its important to highlight the responsiveness I had with my senior advisor and Square One Prep. Kathryn and Horatio were always an earshot away. I knew that I could just promptly call or text Cristina to set up meetings or answer some of my questions or even calm me down I encountered application website issues. Horatio really helped me dive deep into “Why Real Estate” and directly/indirectly helped me think critically on what I want to do and who I want to be. Isn’t that crazy? One of life’s big questions answered. Horatio also went out of his way to do research on Masters in Real estate paths into private equity as well as find some real estate data points for me. Kathryn provided great feedback on final products and even gave me some reviews “on the house” for my hourly service package.

I feel really confident about my application and look forward to my other school decisions. Having already gotten into one of the top programs, I already feel very content. Even if I don’t get into the other schools, I know it will not be because of me or my application but something I cannot control. In combination with the career path and purpose that Square One prep helped me internalize and my own hustle and grit, I know that I can succeed at any school and with any firm.

In real estate, we are all about “value-add” practices. I wholly heartily believe that choosing Square One Prep as you admissions consultant will be the best thing you ever did.

After a recommendation from a friend, I sought out SOP to help me find the best way to share my story in my applications. SOP far exceeded my expectations. Working with Kathryn and Horatiu to build my career narrative and goals was critical to my essays and interviews. The career narrative not only helped my applications but will be valuable in shaping my priorities as I start school this fall.

Kathryn went above and beyond with her time and attention to hear my story and answer all question that came her way. She spent countless hours reviewing, providing feedback, and hopping on numerous calls. I can’t stress enough how valuable and thoughtful Kathryn’s expertise was to my applications and the entire process.

Kathryn is deeply empathetic and pushes you to introspect to get to the root of your story. At the same time, she gives straightforward and honest guidance to bring your applications to the next level. Through our conversations, Kathryn parsed out the multifaceted parts of my story (in ways I didn’t even realize!) and uncovered the unique experiences I brought to the table. This level of detail and understanding only comes through the significant amount of time Kathryn devotes to getting to know you.

This ultimately culminated in building a multidimensional and cohesive story in my applications that attracted top programs and a scholarship! I am incredibly grateful for Kathryn’s expert guidance, and I could not have done it without her!

I was in a tough spot with work and wanted to get an MBA to pivot my career. I interviewed with many other well-known consulting firms, but was blown away by Kathryn’s attentiveness and interest in my narrative from the get-go. Crafting my application narrative required a number of iterations since my background was complicated, but the team was incredibly patient and supportive. The large bank of work from previous students was a huge help, since I could see what worked for other students that were accepted into top programs. In the end, I was admitted into programs I thought were a long shot thanks to the team at SOP. I highly recommend their services to anyone 100% committed to getting an MBA!

As someone from a non-traditional background applying to top MBA programs, I am confident that working with Square One Prep (S1P) has been integral to my Round 1 application success. I first connected with Kathryn approximately 8-9 months prior to the R1 deadlines. We had several phone calls in the lead-up to my decision to commit to S1P. During these calls, she was incredibly transparent and encouraging, dedicating a significant amount of time and effort.
After speaking with a few consultants at S1P, I committed to the program and chose Kelsey as my consultant, about 3.5 months before the R1 deadlines. I decided to work with Kelsey because of her energy and dedication to my success. Working with her was truly incredible; she was my champion, sounding board, and editor all rolled into one.
The process of completing the applications with S1P was very structured, which helped me avoid feeling stressed or overwhelmed. It was an essential support system, and I could not have completed eight strong applications for R1 without S1P’s assistance.

I worked with Square One for my reapplication and they completely changed the way I built the application. Their strategic and thorough process helped me understand the application holistically, and they ultimately ensured that my applications showed the best version of myself. The whole team at SOP was extremely diligent and they demonstrated that they cared for my application, while always being sincere and managing my expectations. Through a lot of hard work, sleepless nights, and lengthy calls, I ultimately was admitted and am attending the Wharton MBA. I couldn’t be more excited and grateful for the work we put in!

Initially, I hesitated to sign on the services of an admission consulting firm for my round 1 MBA applications. However, with over 10 months of collaboration with Square One Prep and the firm’s incredible leader, Kathryn Lucas, I am beyond happy that I did! Currently serving on Active Duty in the military and transitioning to the civilian sector in the next year, my journey will commence at Wharton in August 2024 – in case anyone is wondering about the results! I also secured admissions from Columbia, Tuck, Yale SOM, and NYU Stern.
Square One Prep, along with their remarkable team of advisors such as Kelsey Wise, Kelsey Kephart, and Wendy Bagdi-Durrua, truly brought out the very best in my application through extensive hours of reflection, conversations, and guidance derived from their immense professional and life experience. There are no “time limits” or “work hours” with Square One Prep; they are there every step of the way. Not to mention, my advisor, Kelsey Wise, spent hours on the phone between her busy consulting job, preparing me for interviews as they unfolded, random essay questions, and fielded all my questions and concerns as I went through the application process. Kelsey Wise truly is an insightful, patient, and warming spirit throughout the entirety of the long, nerve-wracking period.
Square One Prep’s team adeptly managed the approach to denials, the dreaded wait list, and the decision-making process for accepting offers whenever the need arose. For military members seeking to transition to the civilian sector through an MBA, Square One Prep will help maximize the content of your application by authentically highlighting the best in YOU. This goes for really any profession as well! Initially uncomfortable with the notion of “bragging” about myself in an application, Square One Prep showed me how to represent myself professionally and appropriately as I managed my transition from active duty to an MBA program.
Overall, Square One Prep holds a special place in my heart for diligently assisting during such a crucial time in my life. Lastly, I not only learned about navigating the MBA application process, but I also gained friendships with an amazing crew of people who are successful in all walks of life. I wholeheartedly recommend Square One Prep; good luck, and I assure you that choosing to work with their team will be a decision you won’t regret!

I still remember the time when I was researching Admissions Consultants and read a bunch of reviews on GMATClub and other MBA related websites of various companies. In the end, I decided to go with Square One Prep as a close friend of mine had worked with SOP and only had positive things to say. I am glad I took his advice!

SOP are really methodical and thorough when it comes to building applications. Following a structured approach that helped manage timelines effectively, they went the extra mile to ensure that every component of my applications is crafted to perfection.The ideation and brainstorming sessions helped lay a solid foundation for my overall career narrative and essays. The team helped me craft compelling stories and really differentiate myself.

Throughout the process, they were super responsive and always available to address any concerns. With their support, I felt the utmost confidence submitting applications and performing in interviews.

I couldn’t be happier with my results as I got my first choice university! I’m extremely grateful for this partnership and would highly recommend their services!

As an Indian applicant with just 1 year of work ex at the time of application, I knew that my chances of getting into my dream business school were abysmal. After talking to many consultants who echoed my doubts and recommended me not to apply at the time, I had almost convinced myself to defer my plans. I vividly remember the night when I, dejected after one more disappointing call, stumbled upon Square One Prep through reviews on GMAT Club and decided to schedule this one last call to assess my chances – and I am so glad that I did!

Kathryn, in the first screening call, understood my ambitions and goals (rather than straight away writing them off as unrealistic as some other consultants had) and gave me the confidence to give it a shot, while being frank and objective about my chances given my less work ex. Kathryn’s confidence in my profile and SOP team’s vast experience were the primary reasons why I decided to work with SOP on my applications.

My experience working with SOP has been wonderful. My team, consisting of Kathryn, Kathleen, Cristina, and Horatiu, helped me present my story in the best possible way. The career narrative work with Horatiu helped me flesh out my goals in a logical manner which was not only helpful while writing essays, but in hindsight, played a crucial role in my interviews also. Kathleen, my advisor, was a huge support during the entire process. She was very approachable and always a text away, happy to answer all my big and small doubts. She nudged me in right directions and helped me highlight my best self through my essays and resume to bring together a well-rounded application. Her targeted feedback during mock interviews was pretty valuable too. She is highly experienced, has valuable insights, and is a great person to have by your side during this stressful process – I can’t thank her enough. Cristina, my partnership manager, was very responsive and always ready to answer all of my questions. Kathryn’s final reviews of all my essays and videos, and her interview advice added significant value.

Through the entire process, I appreciate how SOP emphasized on authenticity – be it in my career vision, personal essays, resume, or interview prep, my team made sure that I let my authentic voice, candor, and vulnerability come through.

Had I not talked to Kathryn, I might have not even applied, and now I have an admit from my dream B-school – Chicago Booth, that too with a $40k scholarship. This would not have been possible without SOP’s help and I am so glad I got in touch with them! I highly recommend all prospective B-School applicants to reach out to SOP.

Kathryn is an awesome admissions counselor and person. She was so easy to work with.

I wanted to apply to only one of the top schools. Kathryn had worked with my wife to help her get into a top program and before that had helped her brother also get into a top school. So I was confident in her skill as an awesome counselor. I didn’t know she’d be such an awesome person, so easy to talk to and trust.

Kathryn helped me prepare everything and was there whenever I needed her. I told her that I am not a strong writer. She was incredible at listening to me and then taking my words and helping me write work that perfectly captured my intent. This was really hard work for me, but she made me feel at ease, even though I was just applying to one school.

When I got in, after telling my wife, Kathryn was the first person I told. I strongly recommend Kathryn to anyone trying to get into a top program. Kathryn holds you accountable. You will be glad because you learn more about yourself that way and that helps a lot when you’re in your interview and even, for me, at my work. I’ve become more confident and clear about my goals.

Kathryn and her team were invested in my success and throughout my journey, they went beyond their roles as mere consultants, assuming the roles of career and life coaches. Rather than writing the application for the applicant, they assist in bringing out authentic stories in the applicant’s own voice and are candid in their feedback. Their guidance and support played a pivotal role in refining my professional vision, gaining clarity on my motivations for pursuing an MBA, and understanding the unique attributes of the schools I wished to apply to. They tirelessly motivated me to perfect my essays, offering unwavering support during the demanding final weeks leading up to the deadlines. Overall, my experience was exceptional, and I would highly recommend their services to anyone. Even after admission has been granted, Kathryn personally remains available to address my needs deciding between the options I had.

As a white accountant coming from the banking industry with GRE scores that were not in the range that I wanted, I knew getting into a top business school would be competitive. I talked to three business school consultants, two of whom simply told me that my target schools would not be achievable with my scores and background. One of them said that they would not even partner with me because they did not think I would be a success. In addition, neither of those other consultants understood anything about how my GRE scores compared to those of students at my target schools. Luckily, I talked to Kathryn at Square One Prep. She was willing to spend an hour with me on our introductory call to address all my questions and concerns. She was the only consultant that understood how my GRE scores compared to those of students at my target schools, and she had the hard data to back it up. She was honest with me that the process of applying to my target schools would be hard work, but she instilled in me the confidence that I could succeed. She knew because she had worked with candidates like me and had also led those applicants to success. Kelsey, my personal consultant at Square One Prep, was immensely helpful throughout the process. She was patient yet responsive, and whenever I needed to work with her on something urgently, she always made the time to be able to discuss the issue at hand. She had a strong eye for detail and her creativity and perspective was immensely helpful in empowering me to craft my story so that I could convey it best in my applications. I ultimately was accepted to a top 10 school along with scholarships to two other top 25 schools. I could not be happier with my results, and I am looking forward to continuing my education to build my dream career!

I was recommended to Kathryn by my supervisor/recommender who was also an MBA student ten years ago (!!) and he would still recall many memories of his work with Kathryn – that spoke a lot about his positive experiences back then. Many of the other MBA consultants from different regions that I talked to recommended me to apply the next year given my shorter working experiences, it was Kathryn who highlighted my accelerated career exposure and gave me confidence that I also have my unique life stories. I also like how Kathryn focuses on my personal experiences and motivations beyond my professional life, which provides a more holistic picture of myself. Kathryn’s extensive experience in dealing with clients from all over the world and all walks of life is very valuable as well.
I enjoyed each and every step in this “soul-searching” journey (though not easy): career goal setting, resume, school assessment, life story brainstorming, essay editing, engaging with recommenders, interview preps, scholarship negotiations… We would have debates from time to time but it was wonderful: I really appreciate Kathryn’s candid and convincing thoughts on when it was ok for me to pivot, or when she would recommend otherwise; She provided me great prep for the interview but also warned me not to “over practice”… She knows how to find the right balance!
I am really thankful for the journey with Kathryn and SOP.

When I contacted Square One, I didn’t think I had what it takes to get into business school. But admissions firms offer free consults so I spoke to some to confirm my suspicion. All of them did, except Kathryn. My call with her was different. Kathryn asked me questions other firms didn’t. For example, she was the only admissions advisor to ask me WHY my GPA was what it was, and then ask more questions as I probably didn’t give a very clear answer at first because I was embarrassed and shy. My GPA was terrible, a 2.48/4.00. I also left college after two years with a sub 1.00 GPA and had just graduated in May 2021 at age 34. Here too, she asked me WHY my path was what it was. She didn’t just tell me that my GPA and path were problems. Other firms did. They did not talk to me. They talked at me. Kathryn talked to me for close to 2 hours, not just the prescribed 30. She told me that she believed in me and would help me believe in myself.

What I gained from working with Kathryn – how I think about my past and my future, and how I can make the most of business school, is invaluable.

She built a schedule for us to follow so I’d never worry about time. She understood that I am busy leading two companies. We did everything as a team. I didn’t know she’d help me as much as she did with all the application components.

In our first week, she spent 10 hours on calls with me so she could build my first draft resume, which was a huge help as I had never built a resume – I’d worked at my family company and then done entrepreneurial things, so there was no need. We then made it stronger as a team, and I was stunned by it by the time we were done. I actually began to believe in myself, just as she said I would.

The attention Kathryn brought to helping me build a strong resume also brought me to helping me build strong essays. I kept trying to sell and brand myself, and so I wrote a lot of bad essays. Some of her edits of my work were more like rewrites except that they somehow retained my voice. Kathryn steered me toward sharing things I couldn’t believe business schools would want to know about me. She connected with my heart. Just like with my resume, as I completed essays I began to feel more optimistic.

Kathryn brought the same attention to my career path work, which we did with Horatio who was my career lead. The work I did with him became even stronger once Kathryn helped me mold my career path into a goals essay. Horatiu was great though. He was patient as I had no idea how specific I needed to be, I thought I could just say that I want to keep growing my business. He asked me a lot of questions to ensure I knew what to research in order to build a strong career vision. Kathryn pushed me further to build it into a real business plan.

Also, with the LORs, we built packages for my recommenders which was important because neither of mine had ever written one, so getting a lot of support was critical. Kathryn was instrumental.

I secured interviews at Columbia, Wharton, Harvard, and Yale, 4 of the 5 schools I applied to! By this time, she knew that I could struggle in interviews. She went above and beyond to help me prepare. We did 6 mock interviews for Harvard and full preparation for all the other schools. I saw how much she cared about me and my success. When I got into Yale I was amazed. With Kathryn’s help, I almost got into 4 schools and did get into one of the best in the world. I can’t wait to start!

To anyone who wants a guide through the application process, someone you can trust who will always be honest and focused on helping you grow and succeed, and will go above and beyond for you, look no further than Kathryn.

I had been applying to B-schools since 2020 and got more than a dozen rejections.

I decided to give myself a last chance in the 2022 application cycle. However, in early 2022, I lost my wife unexpectedly which pushed me into a deep depression. I thought with the passing away of the biggest support of my life, my dreams had also died. I gave up on everything including my MBA dreams.

A friend of mine who had worked with Square One suggested I speak to Kathryn, a request I denied multiple times. But on being pushed frequently by my friend, finally I decided to speak to her. Sure that after doing a free session my friend would stop pestering me and I could continue to stay in my deep depression.

I still remember those 50 minutes with Kathryn, I never felt like I was speaking to an MBA consultant, but rather a mentor who was equally interested in me fulfilling my MBA dreams. She also cared about me as a person. She not only motivated me but pushed me to give my best. She was always there for me as I had tough moments where I doubted myself and felt depressed. Day or night, she was there, getting on calls with me or emailing me. She even helped me build some of my work directly. I never would have expected that. Additionally, she reviewed ALL the materials I built with my advisors, and some essays multiple times. This was not meant to be included in my package.

Writing my applications in the toughest phase of my life brought out the best in me and also created a positive distraction that helped me cure my mental health. Kathryn and her team understood that I’d have some bad days. They were always understanding.

Kathryn allowed me to choose the best advisor from SOP’s several awesome advisors. I decided to work with Rahul Kalita. This guy is amazing; he pushed me hard to ensure I did my best. My career narrative expert was Horatiu who just in one single call helped me begin to build strong MBA goals, which put me at ease. Lastly, Cristina (a very charming lady) was my admin support who helped me stay on schedule. So with this team, I moved forward and secured an admission to my dream school. Not only that; I got a handsome scholarship!

It seems like a dream to me but Kathryn and her team became the messiah of my MBA journey. I cannot thank them enough!

So if you are applying to a b-school just do a free session with Kathryn and trust that everything will follow in line. I did not know there was a team like this out there.

In 2021, I was laid off after having worked in the company for 5+ years. I decided to pursue an MBA on a whim, with only 4 months left to get a competitive GMAT score and submit a competitive application to a top MBA program. With no room for “what-ifs” and “maybes”, my friends suggested that I engage in an MBA Admissions consultancy. Square One Prep was the clear choice after my free consultation with Kathryn because of her experience, warm personality, and commitment to answering all questions without ever looking at the clock. After a few introductory calls, I picked Kathleen as my advisor to guide me through the process.

As my decision to pursue an MBA was made on a whim, the struggle to fully crystallize my long-term goals felt insurmountable. Fortunately, I had Wendy who set a very high bar and didn’t settle for a run-of-the-mill narrative template. My thought process and ideas were critiqued until I backed up every assumption with industry research and data. Eight drafts later, I not only had a strong logical career plan but also improved my awareness of myself and my target industry.

Such exacting requirements are Square One Prep’s trademark and were placed throughout the process, be it crafting the resume, shortlisting schools, or writing application essays. I’ll admit that there were times it felt disheartening to have my best drafts critiqued and sent back with comments. But Kathryn’s encouraging presence and commitment helped me persevere. Always available to talk, she even accommodated many last-minute requests, despite conflicts with her personal commitments and ensured that I stayed on schedule throughout the process.

And of course, everything occurred under the watchful gaze of Kathryn who never settled for even at par and kept pushing until every deliverable met her exceptionally demanding standards. All in all, I can confidently say that without this grueling journey, I’d never have received admission offers from both INSEAD and HEC Paris.

Square One Prep is an onerous experience for sure. If you desire to build outstanding applications and secure offers to top schools, while also growing as an individual, Square One Prep is a no-brainer. My only piece of advice: start early to make the most of Square One Prep’s amazing team!

Thanks to Kathryn, and the rest of the SquareOnePrep team, I breezed through the application process for business school. Their all-inclusive approach to helping me construct my career story helped me concentrate on what was important to me and enabled me to show my best self to business school admissions committees.

What is the rationale behind SOP?
I spoke with a few MBA consultants from various companies. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t want to work with someone who either overestimated or underestimated my abilities. My first conversation with Kathryn from SOP was positive, but she also pointed me what I needed to improve upon based on the results of my application. Her words of wisdom were a great boost to my self-esteem and were practical in nature.

The four key components of their services are resume, LOR, career narrative, and essays.

Resume: Many hours of phone calls with Annie, my academic adviser, were spent developing my résumé, and she pointed out many aspects of my academic and professional achievements that I had overlooked. In the end, the resume that was created using SOP was quite thorough and compelling in its content.

LOR: Even though I had previously applied to a master’s program and submitted a professional letter of recommendation, this LOR prepared with SOP for an MBA was very striking and had a number of personal & professional tales. The SOP presented my supervisor with a wealth of information to consider when making their recommendation.

Carrier Narrative: The nicest part about SOP is that they take 3-4 separate sessions to set short-term and long-term objectives. This encouraged individuals to look at various career objectives, companies, and the impact they had on society, and eventually, a clear path post MBA short and long-term goal was established.

Essays: Each of my meetings with my adviser was helpful and supplied me with a wealth of useful information, which helped me write more effective essays.

Overall, I’m glad I selected SOP for MBA consulting, and I know it would have been exceedingly tough for me to be in the place I am now if it hadn’t been for their help. Thank you SOP, and thank you, Kathryn!

Kathryn is amazing! She genuinely cares about her clients and works above and beyond to make you successful. I regret not starting my MBA application earlier but Kathryn made everything so much smoother. She is really good at storytelling and soul searching with you. I was amazed by her capability and her insights throughout the process. The relationship does not end at admission, as she goes above and beyond to help you navigate through the whole process. I highly recommend Kathryn.

When I started my MBA application journey I was a mess. I questioned my strength as an applicant and created a list of schools I’d apply to based on what I considered “safe”. This list didn’t include the schools I dreamed of attending. Then I took the free consultation with Square One Prep (SOP).

On that pivotal phone call, Kathryn convinced me to slow down. While I fixated on my weaknesses (GPA, Test Scores, etc), Kathryn instead took stock of my entire background and identified strengths I’d overlooked. With her encouragement we agreed to team up, but only if I agreed not to settle for anything less than my dream list of schools. Kathryn didn’t allow me to sell myself short.

I’d like to specifically recognize the Career Narrative that SOP helps applicants develop. When I was first instructed by Kathryn to commit time to research my dream job, company, sector, and calling I was confused. None of my MBA applications asked explicitly for detailed Career Narratives- this was an “extra” assignment. Was this the best use of my time?

I couldn’t have been more mistaken. The Career Narrative SOP helped me develop has paid countless dividends. Not only did it fuel my essays, but the knowledge I gained researching my Career Narrative also armed me for interviews, and further it has helped me secure a Pre-MBA internship. This “extra” assignment has given me a confident vision of what my future can be.

I implore anyone like me, who might be stuck thinking about weaknesses, to take the SOP consultation. See what it’s like to have someone take a genuine interest in your story holistically and encourage you to push further. Craft your own Career Narrative and step into your future with a thoughtful plan. I hope others sign up with SOP, create their own list of dream schools, and get accepted to each one as I have.