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450
11,300
Graduate: 15 Years
Firm
Columbia Business School
Management Consulting
IBM
Other
English
Founder
The Jaffe Advantage
New York, New York
United States
Net Promoter Score: 9.78
After a seven year career in advertising, I enrolled at Columbia Business School (Class of 2006) – transitioning into a consulting role post-graduation. Over the past eleven years I have held a variety of strategy and marketing roles at traditional consultancies, at Fortune 500 companies, and as an independent contractor.
In 2010 I began working part-time for one of the top MBA admissions consulting firms in the U.S. As an MBA consultant I could make a difference. I could help one person achieve their dream – something that is increasingly hard to do in the corporate world. While the training I received was invaluable my entrepreneurial spirit started to kick-in, so in 2014 I struck out on my own. I had the training; now I wanted to help others in my own way. Over the past few years I have successfully helped applicants gain entry into some of the world’s most demanding schools.
I work with applicants across a multitude of industries, functions, and countries. Though a generalist, I have a particular fondness for global business – having lived and worked in Paris / Singapore in international roles. I often work with international clients.
In my spare time I love to travel – mostly to off the beaten track locations. If we end up working together I might share a story or two….
The Jaffe Advantage is a full service MBA Admissions Consultancy – with a focus on flexibility. As sole proprietor, I have the ability to customize packages to fit your needs. Are you a whiz at the interview? Don’t need a mock and want to save some money? Let’s take it out of the package. Is your application due in two weeks and you know you won’t be able to take advantage of the full service? Let’s modify it so you pay for what you will receive.
I have been advising prospective MBA candidates since 2010 and have helped multiple applicants gain entry to the top U.S. and European business schools. I received my training at one of the top firms in the U.S., where I worked for four years before breaking out on my own. Today I am able to offer you the assurance of a best-in-class product at a lower price point than my competitors. Why? Simply speaking – no overhead.
I offer three products: 1) End-to-End Advisory: I believe in partnering with you through every step of the process to ensure your best chance of success. We begin with school selection and end when you complete your interview. There is no limit to the number of conversations we have or the number of essay drafts you send me. 2) Application Strategy: This option is best for you if you want to go at it alone but would like advice / help on your profile and positioning. It includes: school selection; profile development; and initial discussion around essay topic approach for up to two schools. 3) Hourly Trial: Though I believe in the partnership model, I realize that it is a big committment. To that end, I offer limited hourly help (starting with a minimum of two hours and up to a maximum of five hours) to help you decide if this service is right for you. If you wish to continue after five hours you can convert to an end-to-end advisory package; the cost of the hours you purchased will be deducted from the final price. A free consultation is available upon request for interested applicants.
Pricing:
One School Package: $7,200 Two School Package: $9,400 Three School Package: 11,300 Four School Package: $13,000 Five School Package: $14,500
Location: New York, New York, United States
Phone: 917-473-1665
Email: pamela@jaffeadvantage.com
Website: https://jaffeadvantage.com
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I fear this review cannot adequately do Pamela justice because she was SO invaluable throughout this process and I literally could not have done this without her. I did “end-to-end advisory,” so Pamela helped me through the exploratory phase (I had no idea why I wanted to go to B school) to actually choosing a school. In particular, I appreciated (in no particular order) (i) the QUALITY of Pamela’s edits – my essays would improve immeasurably every time she gave edits; (ii) Pamela’s organization (she set clear expectations so I always knew where we were in the process and when I’d be getting edits back); (iii) Pamela’s candor – she and I could be 1000% real with one another, which led to better applications, and generally made the process smoother and more enjoyable; and (iv) Pamela’s encyclopedic knowledge of every school, its specific essays, and its AdCom’s preferences – SO helpful.
I had a lot of trouble getting a good test score, and by the time I had a score I could submit it was very late in the game for R2, and Pamela was straight with me about what was possible and not possible. (Don’t be me!!! Prepare your applications early!!!) When it came time to preparing apps, I cannot stress enough how quickly she and I pulled together quality essays. This involved day-of turnarounds (I’m so sorry Pamela…) with both of us unable to see by the end of each day. Throughout this very stressful time, it was such a relief to know Pamela was in my corner. And, her edits were brilliant – she just made essays better! She went ABOVE and BEYOND the call of duty during this time. I really felt like I had someone rooting for me as much as I was rooting for me.
I ultimately got a $140k scholarship to UCLA Anderson, as well as an admission to Stern and waitlist at CBS (like most got R2). I’m taking the money and heading to Los Angeles in August!
Pamela is worth the money. I was admitted to 3/4 top tier schools with scholarships at each, ranging from 20K to full ride. I am going to Tuck with a significant merit-based scholarship. Pamela is transparent, always honest, and helps you navigate the entire process end to end. She is a pro!!!
A friend of mine worked with Pamela and highly recommended I do the same. Let me tell you – I am SO happy I took her advice. Before working with Pamela I had no idea how to navigate the MBA application process; it felt like a black box. But Pamela makes it clear, and takes the time to explain everything to you.
If you had told me a year ago that I would be accepted to my top choice with a significant scholarship I wouldn’t have believed you. Pamela is absolutely incredible – so helpful and amazing at providing edits ranging from the big picture story to specific grammatical corrections.
I have an unconventional background, and Pamela took the time to understand this in detail, and then helped me understand what I should focus on to stand out as an applicant. My GRE scores weren’t good enough – Pamela helped me understand where I needed to be. I took the test five times. I struggled with the quant portion – Pamela recommended an amazing tutor. I still didn’t hit the score I needed – Pamela helped me navigate additional coursework to support my application.
When thinking about my personal story and the application essays, Pamela was honest with me, provided strategic feedback, and was clear about what aspects I should highlight to distinguish myself. I feel as though I have gone through a master class on personal branding and clear, insightful storytelling.
In a nutshell: do yourself a favor and work with Pamela. It is SO worth the investment, and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with her. I trust her completely, and she was always available to help me – from the very first call through to scholarship negotiation.
THANK YOU, PAMELA!!!
Pamela is a great consultant who provided valuable advice and helped me from start to finish during my application. As an international applicant with little to no experience in applying to schools Pamela was of great help. She provided insight into the whole application process and demonstrated her experience by helping tailor each application to meet each school´s expectations.
I truly enjoyed working with Pamela and getting to tell my story with her help. Pamela is very structured, and her feedback is always very honest and concrete. Even though I has a very busy schedule working with her was struggle free as I always knew Pamela would deliver her work on time. Pamela even went out of her way several times to help me meet the tight deadlines and she always kept her word.
I really appreciated how Pamela tries, and manages, to understand you as a person and as an applicant. This makes the whole experience easier and makes her feedback much more valuable and specific. Pamela always found areas of improvement of my essays and interview answers, and when something was not working, she was honest about it and helped change/improve it. This personal and honest feedback really makes you craft the best application possible.
I would recommend working with Pamela to anyone who wants to apply to business school. My experience was amazing, and she managed to help me get into two of my top choices!
I did a ton of research to figure out which route to go for a consultant and found Pamela from a personal referral. I am so happy I used her because the experience was extremely personal from start to finish. With some of these other companies, you have to buy “hour credits” or may even work with different consultants throughout the entire process. Pamela is with you every step of the way and really gets to know your story. Pamela is also as direct as it gets. She will challenge you to revise your essays, resume and application responses over and over again until it’s your best work. She also helps you prep for interviews, discuss how to get off the waitlist, and even advises you on specific programs within the business school. Even if you use Pamela for only 3 schools (like I did), you can apply her methodology and feedback to all the other schools you apply to. Looking back I can’t even imagine going through the process again without her. If you’re debating using her…DON’T! She is worth every penny!!!
There is no person that I would have rather had on this journey alongside me than Pam Jaffe. If you want someone who is going to write your essays for you and help you do the least amount of work to submit a decent application, then help is best found elsewhere. But if you are willing to devote the hours, if you are ok receiving honest (and extremely helpful feedback), and if you want to submit the best possible application that you can and put your best foot forward at a critical juncture in life, then Pam is the person for you. Working with Pam is not always rainbows and butterflies. Throughout our seven months working together (from crafting my narrative through help with three interviews), Pam challenged me and asked me to go one step further with my story, be one word clearer in my essays, and have one more thing highlighted in rec letters. At times, I spent more mental energy parsing through 400 word essays than I did at my actual job. But when I finally clicked submit on every single school that I applied to, I knew, with certainty, that I submitted the best application I could and that I could not have gotten there without Pam. As an aside, I wrote most of my essays about my sports/entertainment background, and even though Pam didn’t know a huge amount about the industry broadly, she still found a way to help me tell the perfect story (bonus points for anyone who may have a non-traditional background!). Working with Pam is like working with another superstar on an NBA team. Playing styles might not always match, and when things get stressful during a long season, there may be a modicum of friction. But friction makes fire, and eventually you will emerge a champion (CBS ’26 for me!). If you are willing to put in the work and want the best application you can possibly submit, Pam is the person you want in your locker room.
One of the best things about Pamela is her honesty – she’s not afraid to tell you where you can improve or if a draft isn’t quite cutting it, which is the best use of a client’s time and money. She picked up on many elements of my story right away and helped me tie it all together in an expert way. Thrilled to be going to GSB next year.
I started with Pamela because I was struggling on where to start with my MBA application process. Pamela helped me narrow down my target list of MBA programs and helped me brainstorm “my story”. She’s highly strategic and provides a framework that helps take the complexity out of the application process. Pamela helped keep me stay on track on a very tight timeline and provided highly actionable feedback. She helped me ensure I was efficient with my words which enabled me to paint a picture of myself in my essays. Pamela is highly responsive and efficient. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking to better tell their stories to MBA adcoms and improve their chances of attending a target MBA program.
Working with Pamela Jaffe was truly the best experience. Her process ensures you are organized, calm, and on-track during what many consider to be a stressful and busy time.
She de-mystified the entire MBA application process and made me feel supported while also pushing me to ensure my application was the best it could be. Her knowledge and expertise is unmatched and she truly knows what is needed to make sure you stand out within the pool of applicants.
Beyond the MBA investment, she is absolutely the best investment I made! If you’re thinking of working with a consultant, Pamela is the only one to consider.
Pamela went above and beyond in assisting me throughout the admissions process. Given my non-traditional business background and a comparatively lower GPA then other applicants, I anticipated challenges in getting into b-school. However, I am pleased to share that I successfully gained admission to one of my top-choice programs. Pamela consistently exhibited prompt responsiveness and personalized attention, tailoring each essay to effectively resonate with admissions professionals. The collaborative experience has been highly gratifying, and I am eager to continue our professional relationship with her as a career consultant.
Pamela was my consultant when I worked on 6 applications for Round 1. What struck me about Pam from the first call I had with her is how direct and honest she is. I wanted someone who was going to share their opinions so I could keep a realistic focus on the application process. Her suggestions and thoughts were vital to me efficiently completing thoughtful applications. Additionally, her extensive knowledge of each school helped me adjust each essay/interview to each program. Out of the 6 programs I applied to, I got into 5 including Wharton, Haas, Yale, Darden, and Duke. I would recommend Pamela to anyone who is planning on applying to MBA.
I did a ridiculous amount of research when looking for consultants as it was a large financial investment for me and was aware that getting into a top business school could have been an uphill battle for me: I was a nontraditional applicant with a less than desired GRE score. When I first spoke to Pamela, it was clear that she knew her stuff and gave candid advice about my likelihood of getting into certain programs. She encouraged me to shoot for the moon, which I did not hear from the other consultants I spoke to who said I did not have the GPA or test scores to apply to schools like CBS. Pam always had time to speak on the phone and was extremely diligent while going over my essays. She was a strong, supportive sounding board and gave honest advice without trying to sell me on applying to more schools. Our work together paid off – I got interviews at all 4 schools I applied to and was accepted to my top choice, CBS.
I KNOW I would have not gotten into CBS without her help. I would recommend her without question to anyone looking for an MBA consultant.
Before choosing to work with Pamela, I did a lot of research and had consultation calls with a couple of different firms/consultants looking for the best fit. I chose to work with Pamela based on her extensive knowledge, candid advice, and professionalism. I couldn’t be happier with my choice, and her help in getting me admitted to CBS. She is very organized and always meets her time commitments and deadlines, always happy to talk things out if the point wasn’t coming across or I was missing the mark, and above all her advice/comments were always effective, clear, and helpful.
After working on my applications for a while, I realized that it would be helpful to have a second set of eyes on my essays. I was referred to Pamela by somebody who had previously worked with her and received admission to CBS. Pamela and I worked on applications for 3 of my 6 target schools as there was a lot I could transfer to the applications for the other schools. She was honest and transparent in her pricing. Her process is well thought out and she provides brutally honest feedback, which is exactly what you need for the MBA application process. We hashed out a discovery process to find out what truly differentiated me as a candidate, which ultimately provided me with a very compelling and comprehensive application. After getting interview invites, Pamela provided very helpful mock interviews that got me ready and comfortable with the interview process. I got into 2 of the programs we worked on together and pulled myself from the waitlist at Kellogg to pursue a dual-degree program at Duke with a substantial scholarship!
Pamela came highly recommended to me by a close friend, and I could not be thankful for all her guidance throughout my application process. I decided relatively late in the application cycle for fall 2023 admission that I wanted to apply to Kellogg’s Evening and Weekend program. Pamela was incredibly understanding, patient, and empathic as I navigated this difficult process on top of my daily responsibilities as a management consultant. With Pamela’s guidance, I was able to submit an application that I was incredibly proud of in just under two months!!
I’ve included just a few of the many ways that I believe Pamela had an immense impact on my application process: 1) Pamela does an incredible job helping to create a tailored story for your application based on her in-depth understanding of what each school is looking for. It was evident from our beginning conversations that she knew the exact things in my background that I needed to highlight in my application based on the preferences of my target school. 2) She is incredibly organized and creates an easy to follow structure that helps to facilitate quick turnaround of essay edits. 3) Pamela pushes you to write the best possible version for each essay within your application. The feedback is very no-nonsense, which helps to streamline much of the brainstorming/idea generation piece of essay writing. 4) Pamela was very accommodating, having worked in consulting herself, and would make herself available to me during slow periods of work so that we could accelerate my application.
Could not give her a higher recommendation!
I’m so glad that I worked with Pamela throughout the MBA process. While we started working rather late in the R2 process, her guidance kept me on track to set me up for success. Pamela digs deep to get to truly know you and help craft your story, which helped me tremendously in crafting incredibly personal essays that showcased my professional journey.
Pamela was extremely prompt in her assistance and always provided detailed and actionable feedback. When it was more helpful to talk through a point, she was always open to scheduling a call. She used her years of experience to give me a preview of how to best explain my technical experience to an admissions committee. I really appreciated how she embraced my background to provide direct feedback; I think her frankness allowed me to position my application as best as possible in the eyes of the admissions committee. Even looking back on my applications now, I don’t think there’s anything more that could have been improved about them. With Pamela’s assistance, I received multiple M7 interviews and offers and ultimately decided to attend CBS with a significant scholarship.
I would highly recommend Pamela to any considering applying to an MBA program.
I worked with Pamela for end-to-end advisory to complete my application for R2, and received admission into my top choice, Wharton. As a reapplicant, I was initially uncertain about how much to evolve my application. Pamela provided critical guidance throughout the brainstorming, essay writing, and interview prep stages to help me refine my story while still maintaining my voice and the focusing on the topics about which I was passionate.
Pamela provided clear guidelines at the start for what to expect when she reviewed any written work, and was available whenever I needed her. Her feedback was direct, honest, and encouraging, and helped me to see myself and my application in a different light. Her interview prep in particular was invaluable; I entered my interviews feeling confident, prepared, and excited for the opportunity.
I cannot recommend Pamela enough.
I cannot recommend enough working with Pamela if you are looking for a very professional consultant. She went above and beyond to help getting admitted to my top-choice MBA program when my chances were not the highest. Working with her not only was a preparation for my MBA journey but also was an enlightening experience. I really learned a lot from her.
Her methods work like a charm, even if I was getting off track, she always found time (and patience) to help me identify areas of improvement in my application. She was very flexible, and I still cannot thank her enough for that. As a non-native English speaker, she made sure that the work we prepared, still sounded like myself.
If you are looking to get admitted to your top-choice University program, I would enthusiastically and emphatically recommend Pamela. She, without a doubt, is the best of the best in the consulting market.
Pamela did a great job focusing on results. I found her late in the process (end of R1 beginning of R2) and she was able to help me work through road blocks in my application strategy by being candid, proactive, and helpful.
I’d highly recommend her if you’re serious about getting results and need to manage your time while working a full time job. She’s results oriented and serious about the process.
She helped me get into CBS (even though I didn’t apply as early as recommended) and several other of my top choices by serving as a true thought partner on the narrative components of my application. If you’re coming from a non-standard professional background, or simply need some help figuring out which of many of your life stories you want to share with AdComs, Pamela can help you.
I was lucky enough to get connected to Pamela to assist in my application for the Columbia Masters of Science in Real Estate Development (M.S. RED) program. Pamela offered sound, structured, and straight-to-the-point advice on how to approach the application. Pamela was mindful of my time and budget and was flexible with meeting dates/times. With her assistance, I was accepted to the Columbia M.S. RED program! I would recommend Pamela to anyone looking to apply to the Columbia M.S. RED program.
Pamela was positively fantastic to work with – I would recommend her to anyone who is looking for an MBA consultant. With her assistance, I am now planning on attending Kellogg this fall.
Originally, I was unsure if I wanted to apply for business school. I felt like I needed to make a career change but struggled with the fact that I loved my job. I was originally introduced to Pamela by a friend of mine who was also a former client of Pamela’s. To help with my decision, Pamela spent the better part of a year discussing with me the pros/cons of business school, the GMAT/GRE and potential career paths. I was often difficult to get in touch with, as the decision itself gave me anxiety. I appreciated that Pamela saw through this, and thus continued to reach out and check-in. Eventually, I decided to apply, and Pamela was with me every step of the way. Pamela encouraged me to apply to top programs, even though I was unsure if my GMAT/GRE score would gain me admittance. Further, when I suggested to Pamela that I should be applying to tier 3 schools for fear I wouldn’t get into my top choices, she suggested that we wait, as she didn’t want to make me pay for schools I hopefully wouldn’t need. To put it more simply – Pamela didn’t try to overcharge me but instead saw the potential in me that I didn’t see in myself.
Pamela was extremely professional, very available, and flexible with my schedule. When I began writing my essays with Pamela, I couldn’t begin to think about what I would write. Pamela was able to pull nuances out of my life that I had cast aside and found unique stories from my life that would draw in business school admissions representatives. Further, having come from a liberal arts background, I was a very flowery writer. Pamela worked with me to tighten up my writing. When submitting applications, Pamela had a fantastic system of having us both set aside the essays for two days or both take a break from writing editing. . This allowed us to each review each component of my application with a fresh set of eyes and ensured that every piece made sense together.
Today I have been admitted to two of my top three schools and wait-listed at the other. Now that I have choices, Pamela has been great with coaching me through next steps – considerations to keep in mind when deciding where to accept and where to reject, career path ideation and finalizing my resume so that I’m ready for fall recruiting. Further, Pamela has helped me start to think of some supplemental course work I can take in advance of matriculation so that I set myself up for success once on campus.
I have already referred 5+ individuals to Pamela, and plan to refer more to her. I cannot thank or emphasize enough how fundamentally instrumental Pamela was to my MBA process.
Pamela was fantastic to work with as I navigated the unknown process of transitioning from an Army Officer to an MBA candidate. Given I am from the DC area originally and that is where I want to return to, I only applied to McDonough. However, with a low GPA and middle-of-the-road GMAT score, I knew I would need to stand out in all other areas of my application to be accepted.
One of the best things about working with Pamela was her willingness to ask questions when there was something she didn’t understand about the military. In the military, there is the terminology we use that I would have had trouble translating to a civilian resume, but Pamela spent a tremendous amount of time helping me craft my resume in a way that best communicated my military experiences. As for my essays, she ensured she understood everything about my background, and because of it, she was able to help me come up with essay ideas that I wouldn’t have thought of without her. She also is very honest when she thinks something needs to be changed, without sugarcoating anything, which is exactly what I was searching for in an admissions consultant.
Lastly, when it came time for the interviews, Pamela was able to simplify the behavioral interview in a way that I could not find anywhere else. She is willing to do as many mock interviews as necessary for you to succeed in the MBA interview, and because of her, I felt very confident on interview day. I am very thankful for her help throughout this entire process and she has continued to stay in touch with me after my acceptance, giving me guidance as I’ve started thinking about post-MBA careers. All in all, I 100% would recommend her to anyone looking for an admissions consultant. Having her in my corner put my anxiety at ease throughout the application process, and I knew I was presenting the best version of myself because of her help.
I would highly recommend Pamela to anyone looking for an admissions consultant. What immediately struck me was Pamela’s ability to provide a structured approach to the application process, but in a way that was personalized to me. Coming from a non-traditional background, I was hesitant to even apply to an M7 school, but Pamela gave me the encouragement to apply to my top choice MBA programs.
As soon as we started, she spent a lot of time getting to know me and made sure that I was able to tell my own story. Early on, I struggled with the amount of work that came with writing essays. Pamela continually checked in on me during this time and challenged me to dig deep. This introspection really made my story shine in the essays. Throughout the process, her feedback was honest and actionable, which allowed me to improve each iteration. She even went above and beyond to give me last-minute feedback when I was falling behind on my first application submission. As a result of Pamela’s emphasis on retaining my personal voice, I really felt as though I was submitting my strongest and most unique application for each school.
Pamela’s guidance was also vital during the interview process. After my first practice interview, it was clear that I needed to improve. Pamela gave me clear areas to work on and was flexible to hop on zoom calls until I felt confident in the lead up to the actual interviews. Thanks to her support, I have now been admitted to CBS, my dream business school. Pamela is incredibly hard working and friendly. It is clear that she cares a lot about her clients, and I am very thankful for her mentorship over the past few months.
I cannot recommend Pamela more highly. Her input at every stage of the process was incisive, honest, and actionable. She was a true partner throughout the process – it really felt like she was “in the trenches” with me.
Most importantly, Pamela constantly pushed me to improve my essays, but *never* in a way that changed my writing style, voice, or story. From the first draft of an essay to the final draft – I could always recognize it 100% as my own. That was my big concern about using a consultant – that my voice and story would be warped in various directions. Pamela did the opposite of that – she helped me discover and amplify the best portions of my background, identity, and experiences.
10/10!!
Coming into the admissions process I had very little knowledge and understanding of the amount of work that was ahead of me. I talked with a few consultants, both the traditional companies and some independent consultants. My initial conversation with Pamela provided all I needed to make a decision – additionally, I had received Pamela’s name from a friend who had tremendous success with Pamela in a previous cycle which helped me feel very comfortable in my decision to work together.
Looking back on the process, working with Pamela was the best decision I made. Pamela’s structured approach helped me ensure I was targeting the correct schools, and tailoring my essays to each school with her detailed school-specific insights. From our initial brainstorming session to mock interviews and many essay iterations in between, Pamela’s honest feedback and genuine care for my unique background, experiences, and goals helped me produce the highest quality applications possible. When I began working with Pamela, I had below-average GRE scores and generally struggled with standardized tests. We were able to problem-solve and come up with a plan that allowed me to be successful without sacrificing my initial list of top schools. It is also important to add that Pamela provides invaluable knowledge on all things related to the entire admissions process: how to approach interviews, test tutors, discussions with alumni, and general questions that arise where you need an extra set of eyes or ears to bounce ideas off of. She helped my application come to life and I am very grateful that we got to work together. I look forward to recommending Pamela to friends, colleagues, and anyone looking to pursue business school in the future.
I was selected for interviews at all of my top schools (but withdrew my applications upon my CBS acceptance) and eventually received an acceptance to Columbia Business School, my top choice which I will be attending in the Fall! Pamela is very easy to talk to, extremely accommodating, and utilized a working style that was very effective and in line with what worked well for me with quick turnarounds. Pamela is an excellent consultant who is enthusiastic, detail-oriented, honest, caring, transparent, and truly wants the best for each and every client. 10/10 would recommend Pamela and I am incredibly thankful for her support and mentorship throughout the process.
While I was initially unsure whether a consultant was right for me, my first conversation with Pamela made me confident that she could help me best articulate my story. Her expertise, empathy, and genuine interest in my success stood out among the consultants with whom I spoke.
A few reasons why Pamela is exceptional: 1. Pamela takes time to deeply understand who you are and why you want an MBA. By the time I began the applications, Pamela and I had already worked extensively to refine my personal brand and achieve clarity on which programs were the best fit. This significantly increased the quality of my applications and ensured that my efforts were focused on the programs that best aligned with my goals. 2. Pamela is a true expert, and it shows. As an AIGAC consultant who frequently attends conferences, she is well-versed in the latest developments among top programs. Her insights were invaluable in forming and executing a successful application strategy. 3. Pamela is highly organized and takes a structured approach to the application process. With so much work to do for every MBA application, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to proceed. Through crystal-clear expectations, prompt turnarounds, and actionable advice, Pamela helped me stay on track and finish my applications with time to spare. 4. Pamela is incredible at giving no-nonsense yet empathetic feedback. One of the most important aspects of the MBA admissions process is acknowledging your strengths and limitations and which limitations you can control. Pamela exceeded every expectation in this regard, providing the perspective I needed to best leverage my strengths and account for my weaknesses.
Thanks to Pamela’s support, I was admitted to my top choice M7 program and a T15 program with a significant scholarship! For anyone looking to put their best foot forward in their MBA applications, Pamela has my highest recommendation.
Pamela’s candid and caring nature is what got me into INSEAD! Unlike most other consultants I had enquired with, Pamela wanted to be as candid as possible and not falsely inflate anything just to get a client. I realized this candidness would help me make the largest improvements and get the best chances possible! It did.
I prepared for my materials very late and made so many mistakes, I thought I would get scolded by Pamela, but what came was nothing but care and encouragement. She extended our contract twice just to accommodate for my needs and mistakes, she wanted to make sure I submitted the best application possible for INSEAD and clearly, I did. Furthermore, during the application process, I had an interview with a top firm, not only did she accommodate this but also gave me tips and we ran mocks that helped me immensely, clearly, she goes above and beyond to ensure her clients receive everything she can possibly offer.
Beyond all this, Pamela is a great and easy person to talk with. She has not only helped me with my application but also improved my writing and communication skills, one of which is how to be precise. Since I know she will be reading this, I will just say it would have been 5x longer before!
But in all seriousness, she’s amazing!
Pamela is an excellent consultant. Her feedback is top quality, and she definitely knows how to tailor applications for each school in terms of essay balance, content, and delivery.
As an international applicant, I encountered many feedback iterations, and I felt how Pamela helped my essays improve in each iteration. Therefore, I would 100% recommend Pamela to anyone but would also recommend her package deals only two months or more before the deadline, as the iterative process can take some time.
I will be attending the Kellogg JD/MBA program with a scholarship.
Pamela was a tremendous support in my MBA application journey, partnering with me on everything from brainstorming to polishing through interviews. I was especially grateful for her school-specific insights and the time she put into making sure I had what I needed to be successful. For anyone planning to work with an MBA admissions advisor, I recommend spending time upfront to meet them, understand their working style, and find someone who is a good fit for you. Pamela is honest and direct, and she pushed me to make the right decisions when tough calls were needed. With her guidance, I decided to shift from my rushed R1 timeline to submitting in R2 – resulting in a much stronger, more reflective set of applications. I was ultimately admitted with scholarships to several programs, including Kellogg, where I’m thrilled to be attending!
I’m attending my dream school (MIT Sloan) on a scholarship thanks to Pamela’s support!
I really appreciated how Pamela cared so much for my candidacy – going above and beyond what I would expect from my admissions consultant. Like a true mentor, she kept me on track, made me excited to receive feedback, and motivated me when I didn’t think I can do better.
Pamela encouraged me to flesh out what is uniquely my story. She made sure my writing was clear for an American audience, while still retaining my own voice as an international student. In the end, I was confident and proud that I submitted the best possible version of my applications.
Despite the small budget, I was working with, Pamela made sure to maximize the time we had together for as many outputs as possible. She helped me figure out which parts of my applications (and for which schools) need more support, and which ones I can polish on my own.
I highly recommend working with Pamela! She will make you shine.
Don’t look any further, you’ve found the best of the best. I cannot speak more highly of Pamela as a person and the capabilities she has as an MBA consultant. With Pamela’s guidance, I was fortunate to be accepted to my two top schools (Booth and Kellogg). I do not believe I would have had this same success without her vast knowledge of the application landscape. Pamela ensured that I was putting my best foot forward throughout all aspects of the application process: Admissions Events, GMAT Strategy, School Selection, Essay Prep, Interview Prep, etc. Pamela is a pleasure to work with. She brings a great attitude to each session and truly cares for each of her clients. I highly recommend Pamela to anyone going through the MBA application process. I would have been lost without her. If I could give 10 stars I would!
Pamela helped me get into 5 of my top programs!!! With her help, I got into Wharton, MIT Sloan, Dartmouth, Yale, and Kellogg!!! I am over the moon and know for a fact that this would have never happened if it had not been for working with Pamela.
Things I loved about working with Pamela: 1) She is incredibly structured. I am also a very organized person, but I can get lazy, so her structured program and nature were exactly the motivation I needed to stay on top of my applications/my timelines. 2) She is detail-oriented. She does not stop until the essays/applications are PERFECT. I appreciate that she is always looking to improve, always looking to phrase something better, and goes the extra mile to ensure I’m putting my best foot forward. 3) Her perspective is invaluable – she knows these schools inside and out. Whether it’s writing essays or doing mock interviews, she knows exactly what these schools are looking for and why they’re asking the questions that they ask.
I could not recommend her more!!!
Coming from a very non-traditional background I knew that I needed the guidance and support of a consummate pro to help me navigate the challenging, sometimes inscrutable process that is business school admissions. With Pamela Jaffe, I found just that — the consummate pro. Throughout the process, I was amazed by Pamela’s inside-out knowledge of business school admissions. Pamela was incredibly astute and indispensable in helping me craft a cohesive narrative that explained my professional journey and why the pivot to business school was a logical next step for me. However, what I admired most about working with Pamela was her honesty. She is never afraid of giving the necessary (and sometimes difficult) feedback that always seemed to take my essays to the next level. Throughout the process, I had the utmost confidence that Pamela’s advice and insights would serve me well, and ultimately my confidence was justified as I was accepted into several top programs. 10/10 would recommend Pamela to anyone and everyone!
Pam was incredibly helpful and invested in my MBA journey. Coming into the MBA application process, I wasn’t sure my application would be competitive enough to gain admission to a Top 25 MBA program as I had a below-average GMAT score. After my first meeting with Pam, however, I knew that she would add tremendous value. Pam helped me develop my personal brand and offered strategic insights that I would have never considered had I not worked with her. Pam is 100% devoted to your success and is willing to be flexible to help you succeed. I decided to apply to six programs with less than 30 days before the application deadlines (would not advise!!). In this short time frame, Pam worked incredibly hard to provide thorough and insightful feedback to my essays. Pam’s straightforwardness was invaluable in making my applications stand out – she provided candid feedback on essays and interview responses that she liked/did not like and why. This approach helped me think more deeply about my story and how best to convey my personal qualities and strengths to resonate more with the reader/interviewer. Her feedback also helped me think outside the box and learn how to best answer the “Why an MBA” and “Why this program” questions. My MBA journey has been a dream come true – I was accepted to 5 of 6 top 25 MBA programs, largely thanks to Pam’s help!
Would 100% recommend Pam to anyone considering an MBA!!
Pamela was so helpful to me in the process of applying to business school. She has a very well-thought-out and thorough process, which starts with her getting to know everything about you. She then works with you to make sure you are presenting the best version of yourself to each school. She is very organized and knowledgeable about what schools are looking for. She helped me get into Columbia, which was my top choice school!
From our initial consultation, I could tell that Pamela was a consultant that I would work with well and that I would be able to achieve my goal. Not only were my instincts right, but she was more than I could ask for.
Pamela is a wealth of experience and someone that could guide me through the MBA process. She shaped her consulting approach to meet my needs and desires. Her established processes and frameworks helped me formulate and frame my experiences into a relevant personal story that would resonate with admission committees.
Pamela took a conversational approach when providing honest feedback. We were able to have constructive discussions on how to create that personal story, both offering and bouncing ideas off each other. Each time we talked, I felt that her feedback always came at the right time, ranging from celebrating the small wins to pointing out areas of improvement. Obstacles came up and Pamela was able to adjust the plans with ease. Her flexibility during this process sparked confidence in myself and my abilities.
Without her guidance and direction, I wouldn’t be able to say that I was admitted into Columbia, my number 1 choice. I strongly recommend anyone looking at MBA programs and a consultant to work with Pamela!
Pam is an exceptionally competent MBA advisor. At the end of the day, she knows what she is doing, and trusting her gained me admittance to my first choice school, Wharton. She is reasonable and responsive. When we disagreed on a certain point she was always respectful and truly wanted to understand where I was coming from. I am from a non-traditional background and she was extremely encouraging and embraced my uniqueness. This was a stark contrast to some of the other consultants I interviewed. Pam is the perfect combination of pragmatic and encouraging and I couldn’t recommend her more!
From the very first conversation I had with Pamela, I knew we were a match – her enthusiasm and insights during our introduction call were unmatched. Not only did she form a coherent view of how to best position myself in an application, but also correctly matched what I thought were the best MBA program fit for my personality.
When we did finally begin working together, her experience and perspective on the application process was unparalleled. She illustrated each application’s flavor – from a more personal assessment to a career progression/goal evaluation. Within each application, she had an uncanny knack for what each business school was asking for in every essay question. She actively recommended the best types of programs based on my personal experience (from prior discussions) that she felt would be the best fit.
And above all else, she is devoted. When I struggled with esotericism and vague goals within my essays, she was not afraid to try something new (for herself as a consultant, and for me as an applicant) to weed out the unnecessary prose and focus on the underlying message. She has the ultimate respect for applicants, and demands the very best from you because she believes in you.
Pamela has been transformational in how I’ve approached the application, and also a wonderful person to get to know and work with. With her expert guidance, I’ll be attending Columbia Business School this fall – to anyone exploring their options, you can rest assured that you’ll be putting your best application forward, and I would recommend her services to anyone!
Pamela Jaffe was a phenomenal consultant and support throughout my MBA application process. From the initial consultation, she understood my background and connected with me on my challenges in a way few other consultants ever had! She developed a personalized strategy for me that inspired confidence in myself. She also provided valuable assistance in school selection, helping me focus my search and narrowing it down to 6 programs.
She has an established process and her own structured frameworks that did an amazing job at distilling all my past experiences. She helped me take those results and formulate my personal story that was relevant and made sense for MBA application essays and interviews. Pamela understands what the admissions committees look for and her advice was always spot on! She was always accessible and her communication is prompt.
What stood out to me about Pamela: – True, customized approach that was suitable for my application strategy – How well she understands Adcom members on the other side of the table – How invested she is in her clients. This level of care is reflected in her feedback and interactions: quality and detail-oriented from essay reviews to mock interviews – Her expertise not only on the major US programs but also on the European programs I was considering as well
Pamela is a consummate professional and her assistance was truly an end-to-end experience. I bought 6 school packages from her and I received Round 2 acceptances from 5 of them. Best investment I ever made. I am proud IESE Round 2 full-time MBA admit! I would enthusiastically recommend Pamela to anyone.
Pamela was a critical thought partner throughout the application process. Her services were definitely a value add and really helped keep me on track with timing. She shined brainstorming ideas around essays and had in-depth knowledge about the schools I applied to, even helping me mock-interview, leading to admission to both Stanford GSB & HBS. This process is long and arduous and working with Pamela was one of the best decisions I made along the way!
1. Pamela helped me shape my story into something cohesive and compelling. With her help, I was able to get a sizable scholarship at an M7 school. Her experience really showed when it came to editing essays. She balanced her earnest advice with her desire for me to use my own voice, in order to ultimately come up with something that was “me.” She knew what schools look for, and we worked together to craft applications that demonstrated these qualities. She was very timely, sticking to agreed turnaround times (really helpful when things got very hectic at work!).
2. She was a sincere partner throughout the process. She always gave her honest opinion and looked out for clients’ best interests. She was generous with her time and resources, her inputs consistently thoughtful–even on the eighth iteration of the same essay. She truly wants her clients to succeed and even advised me on school applications that we weren’t working on together.
3. Tying back to the earlier point, Pamela was very considerate. All my interactions with her felt genuine, and she was happy to give her thoughts on the other schools that I was working on separately. When I asked to work with her on an application rather late (and during the busy season), she came up with a solution that was a win-win–something that I likely would not have been able to do with a larger firm. Overall, Pamela will take your candidacy to the next level!
Pamela was instrumental in helping me get accepted during this competitive year – if you are considering getting an MBA consultant I would 100% recommend Pamela!!
Pamela truly enjoys her job, wants to get to know you, and really is a partner throughout the process. As I found out about interviews and acceptances I think I sometimes told Pamela before my parents because I really felt like she was invested in this journey with me.
She’s very direct and clearly outlines timelines and expectations but remains incredibly flexible and compassionate (one of the advantages of being a private consultant over what I heard about larger firms) Due to financial constraints, I only had Pamela help me with 2 of my 4 applications. That being said, she went above and beyond to make sure anything we were doing, be it my resume or interview prep, was helpful for all my applications so I would have the best chance of success to get into as many schools as possible. She really wanted me to succeed. I have a non-traditional background and she helped me craft my unique story and know how to best communicate to an MBA admission team.
The interview prep was on point – I really don’t think I would have gotten admitted without this preparation beforehand!!
Familiar with US and European programs – She helped me navigate how to tweak my applications to best suit certain schools and talk through the differences in interviews.
All in all, I initially didn’t know if a consultant would be worth the money, but after going through the process (and let’s be honest, applying for MBA programs is grueling), I would 100% recommend Pamela!
Coming from a more nontraditional background, I was skeptical of admissions consultants and whether they’d be able to help me showcase my experiences and articulate my unique social impact career vision. I thought I’d be lucky to get into a school or two. Needless to say, Pamela was the perfect person to work with during this crazy competitive admissions cycle — I ended up getting into multiple top 15 schools with massive scholarships!! After deliberating between my top choices – Berkeley Haas and Yale SOM – I plan to attend Yale SOM in the fall.
You should partner with Pamela for your MBA apps because she’s: 1) A GREAT listener: Obviously this is fantastic for when you’re developing a narrative, but Pamela pays attention to the smallest of details in your profile and helps you tie them into your essays to stand out. She encouraged me to incorporate unique parts of my background I had dismissed (e.g. becoming a dancer in college). On my admit calls, schools specifically noted that they appreciated that I chose to write about these things in my essays. 2) Highly efficient and thorough: Pamela provides quick turnarounds but does NOT skimp on quality. Whether it’s reviewing your first draft or your sixth draft, she provides invaluable feedback and is truly invested in taking your work to the next level.
3) Genuinely direct: Pamela wants you to shine. This means she will not hesitate to tell you if something is weaker and needs work — which I love! Let’s be real, none of us have time to beat around the bush when we’re working on tons of essay drafts. You need someone to give you clarity.
4) A true supporter: Pamela 100% believes in your candidacy and is invested in you. She has gone above and beyond for me throughout the process and gave me the confidence to apply for schools that I thought were reaches. Right now, as I deliberate between offers, she’s giving me great advice and guidance, even though her work is technically done.
When I reflect on the admissions process, I know that the months I dedicated to narrative development would not have gone as smoothly without involving Pamela. She encouraged me to be myself and allowed me to highlight and sharpen unique aspects of my candidacy. Ultimately, that’s what put me over the top in this extremely competitive admissions cycle. 11/10, would highly recommend 🙂
When I started working with Pamela, I had no idea what I wanted to do with an MBA and she was instrumental in getting me focused on specific target areas that made sense for me. I got into my top choice – NYU – and I would not have been able to do that without Pamela’s expertise and extreme attention to detail.
Pamela’s thoughtful and personal approach helped me sculpt my application into an acceptance at my top MBA choice – Tuck! Her no-nonsense approach kept me on track and laser-focused on reaching my goals. Pamela is extremely detail oriented, providing invaluable feedback on all aspects of the MBA application process. She helped me determine which schools I should apply to, how to best present myself, and prepared me for interviews. Pamela was my key to success during this terribly difficult application season. I could not have done it without her!
Let me begin by saying that when I kicked off my MBA applications journey, I was double-minded on whether I needed a consultant. I got referred to Pamela through a friend and decided to work with her. Fast forward 4 months later and an acceptance letter from my top pick (Columbia Business School), I can confidently say that this would not have been possible without Pamela’s help and support. The best way to describe her style is genuine. Throughout the application process, she provided incredibly candid feedback on everything from my content to communication style. When she says something is “not good”, it’s because she has her clients’ best interests in mind — and I truly appreciated that. I also very much appreciated that she was always open to getting on the phone with me if I needed further clarification on comments or wanted to brainstorm some ideas. She is super-efficient and provides quick turnarounds. All in all, now that I am at the end of the tunnel, I can say with the benefit of hindsight that I understand the value an MBA consultant can provide. That being said, I am sure that “value” will only be unlocked if you pick the right consultant, and I am very happy that I did exactly that.
Last year I was somebody with an average GMAT score and fairly limited work experience but a deep desire and intense need to go to business school, I was skeptical about making it to the top U.S. business schools. Today, It gives me immense pleasure to write about Pamela because she enabled me to secure admission along with a fellowship to Cornell Johnson and four waitlists from top B schools such as Duke, Tuck, Darden, and UCLA. She has emerged as much more than an MBA consultant to me, I have come to see her as a mentor and a guiding force. I started working with Pamela in August of last year. I was already working with a consultant at the time but was extremely unhappy with the output. I remember that in my first call itself, Pamela gave me insights that no one, including my current consultant and the many other consultants and admission coaches I had consulted with at the time, had done. She even agreed to do a trial run for me and agreed to edit an essay as a sample based on which I could decide if I wanted to do more than 1 school with her. I ended up applying to 10 SCHOOLS with her – that in itself should speak to her brilliance. Based on a few conversations with her, she was able to guide me and extract such content out of me that truly reflected my true story for the Adcoms. I was amazed by her candor, her unparalleled knowledge about schools, and most importantly her willingness to go that extra mile for an aspirant which is why I, you and every MBA aspirant need the ‘Jaffe Advantage’. I’m tabulating below some of the points that make her the perfect MBA consultant to help anyone secure an admit from their dream schools:
1. Knowledge and Rare Insights About Various Schools: School selection itself can be a daunting process but Pamela’s knowledge as an AIGAC consultant, about schools acquired from her active network and presence as an MBA consultant made the process much more efficient for me, ensuring that I made well-informed decisions. In addition to my research, her inputs on the employment avenues, extracurriculars, methods of teaching, etc. for each school make her a seasoned consultant. This helped me not just effectively answer the ‘Why a specific school’ question for my essays and interviews but it truly allowed me to identify which schools I wanted to apply to based on a comprehensive understanding of the school rather than just some superficial research, because of which today I’m going to a school, whose community I truly want to be a part of.
2.Focus on Building an Engaging Narrative: While all applicants have their own journey that they might talk about in their essays, the clarity and the finesse required to do that is rare. Pamela’s focus on enabling applicants to develop a coherent story and answer all the Whys and Hows along the way gave my essays a unique essence to convey who I’m as a person and really show the adcoms my motivations, my path, and my goals. As an immigrant, I sometimes struggled with putting across my thoughts in an efficient manner. Beyond the application, Pamela has taught me the valuable skills of putting them across in a succinct yet powerful manner.
3. Structured Approach and Strict Turnaround Timelines: Given the amount of writing involved in applications, it’s essential to have a stringent structure for each essay. Pamela’s approach to effectively answer the questions ensured that I did not get diverted and rather used every last word/character from the assigned limit, judiciously. Another thing I have really come to admire is how throughout the course of my applications, she abided by the 2-day turnaround timeline (In fact on most occasions she would get her edits over to me before the 2-day timeline). This really ensured that all my applications were submitted well before the deadlines while accommodating any additional edits that I required.
4. Honest Feedback and Focussed Problem Solving: Pamela’s feedback is the main factor that helped me hone my story and put across my best foot forward. She questioned and dug through multiple times whenever she felt I wasn’t able to convey something in my writing and had no qualms editing the same thing multiple times till every last word did justice to my candidacy. She gave me solutions and encouraged me to myself address every issue that could have been detrimental to my applications, using a structured approach that transformed my supposed weaknesses to my strengths. Today, I’m done with my applications, but I’m so inspired by Pamela and how she approaches different problems, that I find myself sometimes using her methodology to solve some of my problems and convey my message – I call it the ‘WWPJD’ (What would Pamela Jaffe do)
During the course of my application, before I even got my results, I recommended her to a friend who also worked with her and I recommend her to anyone who wishes to prepare an authentic application. I can whole-heartedly vouch for her not merely as a consultant but as a mentor who has allowed me to attain a goal I conceived five years ago.
The first thing that stuck out to me when I began working with Pamela was her direct approach. She was not afraid to tell me what was realistic based on my profile and wasn’t afraid to be blunt about it. That isn’t to say she is not aware of how to present that information to clients as she never said anything that could be remotely construed as offensive. She is merely looking to best position her clients to best succeed and she is not interested in just taking clients’ money and stringing them along through applications that do not fit their profile. Her insight into the application process and understanding of how to best frame my candidacy was invaluable as I had no one else in my immediate network I could lean on for similar insight. Additionally, my candidacy was a bit unorthodox and Pamela was incredibly accommodating of my unique situation and helped me to succeed in gaining admission into my schools of choice. Bottom line – she knows what she is talking about and will be very honest in regard to how she thinks you can reach your goals but never at the expense of understanding that at the end of the day it’s about the candidate and the applications are theirs. 10/10 would recommend her and can’t thank her enough for her support over the entire process.
It has been my life goal to go back to business school but this dream has always been pushed aside due to other competing priorities in my life. Finally, after 10+ years of work experience across the globe, i knew that the time was right for me to get into the EMBA programs in the top business schools. While preparing for an exam and getting a good score was something that I always excelled in, I knew that the second half of the process – Essay writing, Choosing the right school and most importantly knowing how to get through this was definitely alien to me. Pamela was a recommendation through a friend, who herself had worked with her as an admissions consultant. The first time I spoke to Pamela, she was patient and spent her time trying to understand my profile. There are many reasons why I think she is amazing at what she does but for me personally, I felt immediately comforted and knew right away that she was someone who will be my support system and ally to get me into Business School. That’s why I chose her. 1) Focus on the story and not the content : Very early in the process, she asked me to forget the essays, interviews and spent countless hours trying to make my story and target goals clear. This was invaluable and the right approach as once we finalized on that, all the other components of the application process were easy. 2) Honesty and transparency : Pamela is focussed on sticking by her principles of being honest and is a perfectionist. She is clear that if my work didn’t sound good, she would be upfront to me. Looking back, I’m thankful for her and this inherently made me believe her and trust her more. 3) Experience and well connected : Being an AIGAC consultant, she is part of the industry and makes it a point to attend conferences and keep herself abreast about any changes. Even though my contract with her was focussed on just one school, she did educate me of the other schools which were achievable and encouraged me to try those schools as well. 4) Hard worker who goes above and beyond : I had less than two months to complete my application. Being a full time employee, i had limited time availability to connect. She tried her best to be flexible to make sure that we could connect weekly. There were numerous times when she stretched at her end to make sure that my deadlines were met.
Needless to say, I can vouch for her as an admission consultant and I’m certain that she will be an invaluable asset for you.
Pamela was an invaluable resource during my application process. Her honest feedback and assessment with my essays and applications undoubtedly enabled me to put my best foot forward. Thanks to Pamela’s help and review I was able to get into my top school! I am extremely glad I decided to work with her, and would absolutely recommend Pamela to anyone looking to apply to a graduate business degree program.
I was a little lost (and late) starting my applications, but Pamela really helped me focus my application on my strengths. Pamela’s no-nonsense approach is just what I needed. She let me know exactly where I needed to improve and what steps I needed to take- including re-taking the GRE. Pamela was also incredibly helpful navigating the waitlist and knew the best way to succeed. I would not have been accepted at Tuck without her help! Highly recommend.
Pamela was an invaluable asset throughout my application process, resulting in my acceptance at my first choice business school (Stanford GSB). Simply put, I could not have done this without her. Below I will provide some details on Pamela’s approach, and why I recommend her so strongly to my friends and family (and to you):
(1) Unique pricing and approach drove real mentorship throughout the process: I worked with Pamela on my Round 2 applications for the school year beginning in the fall of 2020. We had our first session at the end of November with apps due the first week of January, so a very tight window of time to brainstorm my story, write and perfect my application. Pamela’s pricing and philosophy around the MBA process is unique. She worked with me on only one school (due to financial constraints on my end), and rather than price by the hour, she charges a blanket fee for each school. This model reflects Pamela’s broader approach, which is truly right there with you as a partner throughout the process. For example, when, I struggled with one of my essays, rather than limit or hold back her feedback based on what might fit into an hour, a single email, etc., Pamela worked with me through countless iterations, as committed to my success as I was. She fundamentally believed in my candidacy and that made a huge difference. As a result, working with her was not transactional (as many consultant relationships are), but felt more like genuine mentorship throughout this process to arrive at the best articulation of myself.
(2) Method of advising protected the elevated the authenticity of my application: Not once, ever, did Pamela try to fit my story into a box or template, which is something I was afraid of when opting to work with a consultant. Instead, as we brainstormed, Pamela called attention to accomplishments and perspectives big and small that we unique to me. After an initial brainstorming session, where I was all over the map, she called out the elements of my story where she saw my authenticity shine through. As I wrote, Pamela only provided small copy edits (typos, grammar errors) and substantive edits (e.g. “this paragraph is not working”). She never re-wrote or overrode my personal writing style. This ensured that the tone of my applications was 100% authentic. When my family and friends read my final application prior to submitting for another set of eyes and edits, those who knew me best commented that the applications ‘sounded exactly like me, and authentically summarized who I am.’ I could not have reached that level of authenticity without Pamela’s guidance and distinct approach.
(3) Introduced invaluable, and incredibly sophisticated and insightful expertise as every turn: I cannot emphasize this last point enough. From determining what I wanted to say to perfect the writing, Pamela’s insights were rich and incredibly sophisticated. She took the time to really get to know me — not just through formed templates (as most consultants do), but through deep conversations about how I viewed my accomplishments and goals. She also truly put herself in the shoes of the admissions teams, and of GSB specifically, to shed light on how every part of my application came across. This was particularly evident when iterating on two aspects of my application that were not working well — the climax paragraph in my “what matters most to you and why” essay and the structure of my “why Stanford” essay — which had the right pieces but not necessarily in the right tone. Pamela gave me honest feedback that aspects of the application were not working in their current form and shared a really nuanced view on why. Her suggestions for taking another stab were incredibly productive as I rethought my approach. The areas that I ‘reworked’ were things I think other consultants would have let slip through as “good enough”, without the rich insight that Pamela provided on how those passages interacted with the rest of my application. Both of these areas of my application ended up being among the pieces that I was most proud of.
I decided to hire a consultant because I knew I had strong leadership and work experience but was not confident in my ability to translate it onto paper. I only had about 6 weeks to complete my applications, so I needed someone who could quickly absorb my story and efficiently help me translate it on paper. I decided to hire Pamela because I felt that she really listened to what story I wanted to tell but was also honest about how best to tell that story. I am VERY happy I hired her because I was accepted to 5/5 schools (Michigan, Duke, Darden, Tuck, and Georgetown) with scholarship money at two schools.
Working with Pamela was a seamless process. We had weekly calls where we would discuss the topic of an essay. I would then write a first draft, which seemed to always miss the mark. Pamela would send back the essay with thoughtful and detailed comments. I appreciated that she used what she knew about me to push the essay to be better. For example, she would say “ I like this idea, but I think story X is actually stronger for this question.”
Pamela was efficient, knowledgeable, and personable. She was flexible and clearly put a lot of care into her work. As we were getting down to the wire around New Years, she would send me back essays in a matter of hours just to make sure that we both felt comfortable with the result. What I appreciate most about her is that the essays I submitted sounded like the best version of me. She helped me to craft my voice so that I really felt like the schools got a clear representation of me as a person as well as my professional goals. She would then take her knowledge of the school to ensure that I was highlighting different parts of my experience for the programs it where it would matter most. I would recommend Pamela to anyone applying to school!
Like many others who frequent Poets & Quants, I almost went with a consultant from the top 10 list they publish every year. It was actually through luck that one of those consultants referred me to Pam, as they saw us as a better fit. Unlike most candidates, I was already quite far along in my application process. My initial intention on hiring a consultant was to have a second set of eyes on my essays and someone to tweak my resume. A few sessions into working together, I discovered she would bring immense value that I didn’t even know I needed. She diligently gave me feedback on essays, helped me brainstorm and craft my story on certain pieces that needed to be scrapped last minute and counseled me through school selection. She’s down-to-earth and amicable to work with, but will tell you the blatant truth when you need to hear it so expectations are set. I appreciate her efforts in meeting turnaround times and for giving me a thumbs up ONLY when she believed my work was at its best. During an unfortunate testing crisis, she supported me emotionally and talked me through my options. At the end, I was accepted to Duke with a $60,000 merit scholarship (which I had not expected but thanks to her was made possible). If you are looking for a consultant to guide you, I cannot recommend her enough. She only accepts a handful of candidates every year so I would reach out to her as soon as you feel comfortable starting your application process.
Through this pandemic crisis, Pam has supported me and provided regular check-ins as both a friend and an advisor. She helped me through the waitlist process for one of my schools, giving me helpful feedback on updates I wanted to send AdCom.
When I approached her asking to retry one of the M7 schools I was previously rejected to, she was supportive and transparent. Instead of jumping the gun and agreeing like most consultants would, she carefully reassessed my new profile (with added accomplishments I had achieved since the last round) before giving me honest feedback on my chances of acceptance. Together we decided to move forward in pursuing the opportunity. Like always, she was consistently responsive and gave me invaluable critique on my essays and resume updates. I was working with a tight timeline knowing that my full tuition deposit was due at another school soon, but Pam guided me along the way and told me to reach out to AdCom whenever necessary. Long story short, I received an interview (of which she prepped me for), she followed up to ask how the interview went (as a good advisor would) and a day later I was accepted to Columbia, the school of my dreams.
If you didn’t read anything else above, read this: Advisors like Pam are rare and hard to come by. I hope you’ll be lucky enough to work with her!
After “interviewing” dozens of consultants, I can say with confidence that Pamela offers the most personal and empathetic consulting, while also delivering incredible results. (I was admitted to Kellogg, Tuck, and Darden).
The first time I spoke with Pamela, I was blown away by her likability and her easygoingness. Applying to B school is generally a stressful process and I found it of utmost importance to feel supported by my consultant. Pamela was the first consultant I spoke to prior to R1 season, and I ended up interviewing maybe ~9-12 other consultants. I got lost in all of the conversations (which started to seem more similar than different) and I actually decided to go with someone else. However, after having my first session with this other individual I realized that what they touted in their free intro call turned out to be more of a bait and switch. The individual completely changed his tune about his confidence in my candidacy, and I felt duped. After working through that situation I knew, among the other options, Pamela was the person for me.
Throughout the consultancy process, Pamela was highly responsive, knowledgeable and continued to be supportive. She provided invaluable advice on framing my application while allowing me to still be me. Her essay advice was absolutely incredible, and the interview prep was essential to my success. Even as I was navigating scholarship money from 3 schools, she continued being supportive and responsive even though her work was already technically finished.
I have already recommended Pamela to friends, and would not hesitate to do so in the future.
Pamela has provided thoughtful and essential guidance during the process. The way she prepared me, from the brainstorming to the final essays, was key as she carefully planned the best way to show my skills and experience to the admission team. Pamela was an essential part of my application and without her, I wouldn’t have been admitted. I would recommend her without hesitation.
Pamela was absolutely fantastic. I was extremely skeptical about working with a consultant for the B-school process based on poor experiences I’d heard from friends. They told me their consultants barely provided feedback outside of proofreading and that it was a total waste of money. From the first time I met with Pamela, I could tell just from her voice how genuine she was. I felt that she genuinely cared about me and cared about seeing me succeed. Further, I was so entirely overwhelmed by the process, and Pamela would spend hours on the phone with me answering my questions, addressing my concerns, and coaching me on how to refine my approach on choosing the right programs to apply to. She pushed me outside of my comfort zone when it came to networking, which was absolutely instrumental to my success. I truly feel she went above and beyond her job description in more ways than one, by serving not only as an instrumental and frankly essential source of feedback, but also providing me with the confidence I needed to advocate for myself instead of being consumed by self doubt.
I never felt like Pamela was taking the easy way out – she truly went out of her way to get to know my strengths, weaknesses, and details of my overall background to get at the heart of how to best represent and showcase my talent. She was always respectful of boundaries that I had and operated with the highest degree of integrity. I never at any point felt that someone else was representing my story. Rather, Pamela provided me with the exact guidance I needed to show up on paper as strongly as (I feel) I show up in person. She also never provided commentary simply to go through motions – I knew her feedback was targeted and thoughtful and I trusted her input greatly.
What you need to know is this – Pamela is a genuine, go-getter herself, who wants to help other go-getters in making their dreams come true. She is candid in a way that makes you aware of your areas of opportunity, but provides you with strategic feedback on how to tackle your opportunity areas and show Admissions Boards that you are ready to grow and learn from the process. She will not stop helping until you feel fully comfortable and confident with your story. Pamela is truly differentiated from the rest of the consultants out there, and is worth every penny you pay her. Other consultants I chatted with briefly felt too sales-y, Pamela is truly in this business for the right reasons. She has both the heart and skill to help you tackle B-school apps with confidence.
Pamela helped me define my career goal and I got accepted into Columbia. A graduate of CBS herself, she has a deep understanding of the MBA experience and the application process. I know from the very beginning that Columbia is my top choice and I need a lot of help with the applications. Not a native English speaker myself, I am overwhelmed with the application essays. Instead of thinking about what the adcom wants to hear, Pamela really pushed me to look into my past and think about what I want to tell. The result is amazing. I can see my personality and my past shine through the essays in my own words, which would have not been possible without the help from Pamela. I would highly recommend Pamela if you are looking for MBA application advice.
Suffice to say, without Pamela’s help, I never would have gotten interviewed, much less admitted, to a T15 program. Originally, I had planned to embark on the application process alone. After attending an MBA fair and seeing how utterly unprepared I was, I realized I needed help. I chose to work with Pam because she, out of all the other consultants at the fair, seemed to genuinely care about helping the candidate, staying to review résumés even as the fair was closing down around her. Our first few sessions focused on meticulously exploring my stories and dredging through my background and experiences. Her holistic approach, knack for finding strengths, and skill with reframing weaknesses helped me to better understand my own profile and more clearly define my goals and aspirations. I really need to commend Pamela for her patience and her ability to work with my extremely short timeline. Even though I started extremely late in the cycle (mid-November), Pamela was always available to help coach me and prioritize the areas of my applications that needed the most work, and I never got the sense that she grew impatient, or had written me off as a lost cause. Her feedback was invaluable, particularly during our mock interview sessions, and her constructive criticism really helped me to trim the fat and distill my experiences down to a concentrated and digestible format. When the dust had settled and the decisions came back, her advice proved instrumental in helping me convert my waitlists into admits. I cannot recommend Pamela highly enough. Thanks to her, I was able to overcome an otherwise lackluster profile and gain admittance to my top choice school.
I had a great experience with Pamela. The B-school application process can be overwhelming, but Pamela was incredibly responsive and has nuanced information that made me feel on top of the process. She thoughtfully helped me tease out themes in my background to highlight and she guided me as I crafted my applications. Her resources for essay brainstorming and her coaching on how to approach recommenders were both very effective. She also helped me structure my timeline in such a way that I was constantly making progress without any fire-drills. I was admitted to Haas because of the applications that she helped me craft!
If it wasn’t for Pamela, I would never have gotten into my dream school – Said Business School, Oxford! Based on my experience, I want to highlight the following aspects. First is the efficiency and structured approach. When I started the application, I had already missed the first two rounds and the time was very tight. I really needed to work with someone closely and efficiently. At the very beginning, I was worried about whether this was going to work as we lived in different time zones and wouldn’t be practical to meet frequently. However, after a few round interactions, I was convinced that I was in good hands: in the first couple sessions, we spoke over Skype and laid down the foundation rules of how we would work together, and then followed by the structured emails which I found was actually a very effective tool for the communication and coaching. In the whole process, I couldn’t feel any lack of responsiveness and any other kind of latency. This was very impressive! Second is the rich content and helping you get to know yourself. Unlike other consultants, Pamela really focuses on who you are and how you should be yourself and tell your stories. One exercise in her rules was to dig and collect all my attributes and experience no matter how big or small. The benefits are twofold: 1) I got to review my career and my life in the past and get a better understanding of myself. This part also contributed to my interview preparation at a later stage. 2) Depending on the essay topics, I had plenty of options to put down for the response, as people say “a beard well lathered is half shaved”. Last but not least is the mock interview and tips. I really appreciated that Pamela went through the whole process with me, not only in preparing the applications, but also in the interview process. After knowing I had been selected for the interview, I was ecstatic but on the other hand nervous. Thankfully Pamela helped me go through the preparation and gave me a mock interview, which I found was very useful, and finally got accepted! In hindsight, I felt all the steps we went through were well planned and coherent, and there was no redundant or wasted work. For anyone who is looking for a high quality and reliable service, I highly recommend Pamela’s consultation!
Pamela helped me achieved my goal of going to my first choice school Chicago Booth School of Business. Not only that, but she also helped me get accepted to several schools after being rejected when applying by myself for the first time. Coming from Mexico it was hard to understand which school had the culture that best fit with me, Pamela helped me identify those schools and make sure I made the best decision. Additionally, she advised me on improving my chances of getting accepted after having a low GMAT score. The best value added by her is her passion and commitment to achieve your goals, she has a unique approach and strategy to help you create a bespoke story based on your history and curriculum. If you are looking to get into a top 10 school, even with a low GMAT score, she is the best MBA consultant you will find.
I had an amazing experience working with Pamela and would highly recommend her! Like most prospective MBA students, I was balancing a demanding professional and personal life when I began my MBA journey and Pamela’s insight, advice, approach to working together was incredibly valuable. Communication is key in so many aspects of life and is a skill in which Pamela excels. After our initial consultation conversation I felt that Pamela understood what my goals were as a prospective student. We followed up very quickly on a strategy and package that was catered to my needs and objectives. One example of her process that I found incredibly valuable was a clear understanding of the expectations around timing and turnaround for feedback on essays. As we moved through reviewing essays for my top school picks I was able to schedule my time accordingly to ensure I was focused on the highest priority essay at the time, (based on deadline or the essay requiring the most polish). Pamela’s feedback was always on time, succinct, easy to follow and very relevant. Being able to plan and manage my schedule with my MBA work made a very demanding process that much easier. As Pamela and I moved through the process to mock interviews Pamela’s advice really shined, as she provided insights into the types of questions to expect, how to best frame responses and most importantly, how to show off my unique talents, abilities and experiences. At the end of it all, I was focused on programs that would provide hands on experiences in international business and was accepted into one of my top choices in George Washington University in Washington D.C. I spent the following two years building an incredible network of colleagues and friends, working on several consulting engagements in Mumbai, Shanghai and Taipei, and creating memories that will last a lifetime. Working with Pamela was great and will always be a part of my MBA story.
I worked with Pamela while she was at “one of the major MBA consulting companies.” After identifying my first four target MBA schools and taking my gmat, I planned on doing a second round of schools soon after. She helped me develop an application and essay strategy for each program. She also helped me prepare for the interviews. I was able to have interviews at three of the four and was admitted to Columbia. I spent the next two years learning a ton, expanding my network, and was able to switch careers and pursue entrepreneurship through acquisition. Pamela was effective and efficient in providing feedback and coaching. She dove deep into my background and helped me craft an effective and compelling story customized for each school and application. I have no doubt that she was instrumental in my admission to a top tier program
I had an amazing experience working with Pamela. From our first brainstorming session, I knew she was the right choice. I felt very comfortable talking to her about what I wanted to highlight on my application, and I was very lucky to leverage on her experience as an MBA consultant to improve my essays. Her insights on how to approach the applications, and how to get the most out of my life story helped me get into NYU Stern. I applied to five MBA programs, and had just enough time to do it. Her work structure helped me overcome the time constraint, and prepare excellent applications. She was always available, and very flexible when time was of the essence. Whenever I was stuck on something, I could always reach out to her, and she would provide unique recommendations that helped me complete the process. Her guidance throughout the application process gave me the confidence I needed to succeed in my goal. I am very grateful that my brother (who also got into a top MBA program) recommended her.
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