About | Privacy Policy | Advertising| Editorial | Contact Us
Follow Us
Subscribe | Login
450
10,710
Graduate: 5 Years
Independent Consultant
Said Business School
Finance
Luxury Goods
Bank of America
English
French
Founder
Sam Weeks Consulting
Amsterdam
Netherlands
Net Promoter Score: 9.84
Distinctive writing. It earned Sam an MBA from Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, three scholarships, internships at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and De Beers, and a full-time offer from Société Générale. At Oxford, he was named on the Dean’s list, elected Social Chair, and graduated with Distinction.
Now a top admissions consultant, he was featured in the Financial Times Global MBA Ranking and Poets&Quants Top Consultants of 2022. His edge comes from two factors:
First, you’ll write and edit most of your essays LIVE on video calls with Sam. Verbal communication is infinitely more engaging and time-efficient for busy professionals. No email ping-pong here.
Second, his personal experience at the world’s top business schools lets us tailor your narrative to the exact requirements of your dream school. No generic templates, ever.
Sam Weeks Consulting was founded to add panache to dull business school applications.
Our team brings admissions office experience and MBAs from M7 and top European business schools. At the helm is Sam Weeks, ranked #2 on the Poets&Quants Top 20 Global MBA Admissions Consultants 2022.
As a client, you’ll work with a dedicated consultant, receiving honest feedback and wholehearted support through every step of your MBA or EMBA application. This relationship-based process builds trust and encourages you to uncover your authentic application narrative.
At the same time, you’ll benefit from the experience of the entire team, since our consultants review each other’s work and join forces on critical questions. Successful applications to top US and European business schools are the result.
Such a personal service means intake is limited to ensure quality.
FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION: Schedule a chat via our website to discuss your profile, target schools and application strategy.
SERVICES OFFERED: – School Strategy – Ding analysis – Resume Reviews – Narrative Development – Essay Mapping and Editing – Letter of Recommendation Support – Interview Preparation – Waitlist Strategy – Scholarship Negotiations
PRICE PLANS: All-inclusive packages: Choose how many schools in your package. All-inclusive packages include all services outlined above, with unlimited edits and 3 mock interviews. Pay the full fee only if you receive an interview offer.
Hourly packages: If you’re a late applicant or don’t need an all-inclusive package, you might prefer our hourly packages. These include a flexible mix of any of the above services for a fixed hourly rate. Receive a 20% discount if you book 5 hours or more.
Location: Amsterdam Netherlands
Phone: +31-627547316
Email: sw@samweeks.com
Website: https://www.samweeks.com
10=Without Hesitation, 1=I would advise against it.
Select "N/A" if you are a career coaching client only.
The information below is for P&Q verification purposes only. It will not be published. We may email you to verify parts of your review but you will not be added to our email list. Incomplete reviews will not be published.
Please upload a pdf, png, jpg or gif file.
Sam has been a massive help in finalizing my essays. I struggled for weeks alone trying to find the right tone and succinctness, but with Sam’s help I was able to feel confident with my essays within days.
I came to Sam Weeks on very short notice for help with interview prep. Initially, I had one interview with Jon and then one with Sam. I could clearly see an improvement between the two sessions. During the actual interview with the school, I didn’t feel caught off guard at any point. Additionally, I reached out to Sam for quick advice regarding the school I got into, and he provided valuable insights that helped guide my decision.
I had worked with an admissions consultant during a previous application cycle and I got dinged at every school I applied to. I decided to give up and that pursuing an MBA at a dream school was maybe just not in the cards for me. That was until I met Sam.
Sam was honest with me from the beginning and is genuinely invested in your story and potential. What I liked about Sam is that he won’t take you on as a client if he does not believe in you simply to take your money and tell you what you want to hear. He told me I have a slim chance but that he believes in me and that it was up to me to make the final decision.
I had a weak gmat score, too much work experience and I was older. These were all factors that would count against me but Sam helped me focus on other parts of my application and made sure the strong parts stood out.
In the end I got accepted to two of the schools I had my eyes on with partial scholarship. I will now be attending the full time MBA program of my dream school starting this year and I will always be grateful for Sam’s help. Sam says he speaks two languages (english and french) but I think his third language is GETTING YOU IN! I highly recommend Sam to anyone out there willing to take this journey as he never leaves your side and supports you all the way from the beginning to interview prep to scholarship negotiation.
Helped me create the best version of my story!
With a background in architecture, I was clueless about approaching MBA applications. Sam was a game-changer: his live editing sessions were incredibly engaging and efficient. He made each session productive without the hassle of back-and-forth emails and messages. His honesty and straight-forward approach helped me narrow down and focus my story. And for each response I received, Sam was almost more excited than I was! Right before interviews, the mocks with his team boosted my confidence significantly. Thanks to his support and his process, I was admitted to all four schools I applied to! London Business School, INSEAD, Cambridge, and Oxford; with scholarships totaling 150,000€! Not only did he make this stressful process enjoyable, he also felt like a friend throughout the journey.
I can’t recommend Sam more for anyone navigating the MBA admissions process!
Working with Sam was the best decision I made in my MBA process. I was blown away by his professionalism, efficiency, and his talent for helping put together my story. Each session was incredibly well organized and efficient. Sam showed up to every session energetic and completely present with me and the work at hand. Thanks to Sam’s help, I was confident that I had submitted the best applications possible and crushed all of my interviews. Sam not only helped me explain my story and goals incredibly well, but he also helped me discover the uniqueness of my story and motivations through our sessions.
I worked with Sam to apply to Emory (Goizueta) and Vanderbilt (Owen) with a 720 GMAT. I got accepted into the 2-year full time program at both schools with a $100k and $105k scholarship, respectively.
Without Sam, I believe I could have put together applications that were 75% as good as the ones we submitted – but it would have taken 4x as long and I would have had far less confidence in them. Sam takes out all the guesswork. He really took the time to understand me, and I left each session with complete confidence that his consulting was worth every dollar I had invested. Furthermore, the interview preparation proved invaluable to my success.
To anyone applying to MBA programs, I could not recommend working with Sam highly enough. It’s clear that Sam could have success in any field he entered, and I am just grateful that I got the opportunity to work with him throughout my MBA application process.
I could not have gotten into the three schools I applied to — Stanford GSB, HBS, and Wharton — without Sam. I picked Sam after doing consults with a half-dozen other admissions consultants, and I’m confident now that I couldn’t have made a better choice.
Sam has a unique combination of strengths. He’s honest without being rude — he will say what you need to hear to improve your application, but in a way that’s neither condescending nor demoralizing. He has a strong grasp of good essay structure, which really shone through during some of our live essay editing sessions. And he has a great awareness of the overall MBA applications landscape along with common tropes and themes to avoid. Altogether, these traits make him an extremely valuable admissions consultant, whether you choose a full-service package, or hourly sessions like I did.
I see now why he’s one of the top-ranked consultants on Poets&Quants. He absolutely deserves it, and your application will be much better off by working with him.
Collaborating with Sam during my MBA application journey proved to be an invaluable decision. His insight, reliability, transparency, and exceptional patience during our live calls gave me the confidence to tackle my applications with conviction.
Despite my modest test score, I set my sights on applying to only 11 top-tier MBA programs. Sam meticulously delved into my background and highlighted the qualities that would set me apart as a candidate. He helped structure my thoughts (which filled up 182 pages of notes), prompting me to delve deeper into my long-term goals and capabilities.
Under Sam’s guidance, I was able to craft a compelling narrative that was authentic to my identity, and become adept at articulating my aspirations to interviewers with clarity and precision.
As a result, I was accepted into 4 of the programs I applied to. Sam’s expertise were instrumental in my success, and I highly recommend his services to any aspiring MBA candidate.
Sam was amazing throughout my MBA application to Booth. His personalized approach and attention to detail made my application really stand out and other M7 schools. The live calls we had were super helpful, making the whole process feel really personal, especially given the personal narrative I included in the applications.
We ended up with 139 pages of notes, going through tons of iterations to get everything just right. From essays to interviews, Sam’s expertise was clear, and it led to my acceptance into Booth and CBS. He was dedicated to my success every step of the way.
If you want an MBA consultant who truly cares about your goals, Sam is your guy!
Sam is a highly personable and genuine professional who will help you to get the absolute maximum out of your application. Having not been asked for a single interview with top schools in R1, with Sam’s help I secured interviews with all five of my choices, including admits to 3 and two significant scholarship offers.
Sam put in a lot of live facetime in my hours booked in addition to behind-the-scenes work and was always available for a quick chat if I had any questions about next steps. His dedication and upbeat style really made the whole process extremely easy and enjoyable. I can’t recommend him and SWC enough.
If you are wondering whether to hire a consultant or if you are in between consultants, LOOK NO FURTHER. Let me tell you a bit about my story with Sam:
I am a law graduate from Turkey with a 2.38 GPA. I was dreaming of attending the best business schools, but everyone was either telling me to aim lower or speaking very broadly about my chances of getting into such esteemed schools. I talked with five different top-tier consultants. All of them were in a rush to start my applications to mid-level schools, even though I didn’t even have my GMAT yet. I felt lost and overwhelmed in the process. Then I met Sam.
From the second we met, he was extremely direct, efficient, and attentive. He doesn’t do BS, rounded words, or false promises. He told me exactly, “Don’t waste your time thinking about which school to get into when you don’t even have a GMAT score. Go get a GMAT score, and then call me in a month.” And that’s what I did. I stopped everything and put my heart and soul into the GMAT, and after a month, I called Sam, and we started working on my applications.
Step by step, he prepared me for my dream schools, LBS and HEC, which I never thought I would be able to apply for. He worked wonders in mapping out my essays and editing them to present the best version of my stories. He finds the hidden diamond in you and polishes it until it shines for everyone to see it. He is a true mentor and THE PERFECT coach to navigate this stressful application process. He gives you his full attention and support, prepares you for every single step of the application, and broadens your vision to achieve more.
In the end, I not only got admitted to both London Business School and HEC Paris but also received a scholarship from HEC Paris. It was worth every single cent and every minute we spent together. Thank you Sam, for your dedicated honesty, endless support, and kind personality. You are a sunshine soul, and I am so glad that I went through the most important process of my career with you because it wouldn’t have been the same without you.
I collaborated with Sam for my Wharton TBD mock interviews. Sam curated a group of exceptionally diverse and international students, each bringing unique perspectives unlike my own. His feedback was refreshingly candid, providing valuable insights that greatly enhanced my strategy and bolstered my confidence throughout the process. While my direct interaction with Sam was limited, the resounding praise from friends who have worked closely with him speaks volumes about his effectiveness.
Sam’s assistance was truly invaluable, particularly during the rigorous interview processes for Wharton TBD and Stanford, which presented considerable challenges as a non-native English speaker. His expert guidance and support played a pivotal role in my success, enabling me to excel in these interviews and secure admission to both prestigious institutions. I am deeply grateful for Sam’s expertise and highly recommend his services to anyone navigating the demanding admissions process.
Sam’s support and thought partnership has been absolutely invaluable throughout this process. Beyond just the MBA application, our conversations forced me to dig deeper and define my professional future. Taking a detailed look at through my past experiences really enabled me to understand where I want to go in the future, and I think this clarity in direction will be an accelerator for the rest of my career. Sam is an incredible thought partner/ MBA admissions expert / accountability partner/ editor/ part time therapist throughout it all- I can not recommend him enough!!!
Working with Sam from Sam Week Consulting was instrumental in my successful application to Harvard University for a master’s degree. Sam took the time to understand my background and aspirations, facilitating insightful live calls where we brainstormed and refined essential application points. Utilizing mbaconsultant.com, we polished my resume to effectively showcase my strengths. Thanks to Sam’s expertise, I received an offer from Harvard, and I highly recommend him to anyone pursuing their academic goals.
Sam was instrumental to my success in the application process. Prior to meeting with Sam, I connected with another MBA consultant who stated – “I don’t know if any of the schools you expressed interest in will interview you, let alone accept you”. Needless to say, I chose to work with another MBA Consultant, Sam, and here I am today with acceptances to 2 out of the 3 schools I applied to (HSW).
Sam made me no false promises, he expressed quite clearly that I would have to work incredibly hard if I wanted to achieve my goals. He supported me, pushed me, and helped me unpack a really challenging moment for me in my life for my essays, that I don’t know if I would have had the courage to write about otherwise. He always made availability to chat with me when I needed it and shared a plethora of resources with me such as those found at mbaconsultant.com.
Thank you Sam for supporting me and, perhaps more importantly, believing in me.
Sam’s guidance was instrumental in my MBA application. His personalized approach and attention to detail ensured my application stood out. From essays to interviews, Sam’s expertise shone through, leading to my acceptance into Said Business School. His dedication to my success was evident at every step.
If you’re seeking an MBA consultant who truly cares about your aspirations, Sam is the one.
Before contacting Sam, I hired a big-name consultant and they had cookie-cutter templates for everything. I got rejections w/o interviews from all R1 applications.
Panicking, I reached out to Sam and despite lack of time, he was very understanding and gave me hourly meetings every day until all my applications were complete. We brainstormed and edited essays real-time on the call. I honestly felt that Sam takes the time to refine the stories until he feels good about the quality. Working on calls with Sam and his team was frankly a much better experience. With Sam, I got admitted into a T20.
I highly recommend Sam due to his strength in helping refine stories and essays, prepare for interviews, and be a soundboard for my ideas.
I was on the fence about working with a consultant. Looking back now, I don’t know what I would have done without Sam. He’s amazing. Easy to work with, smart, organized, creative, and EFFECTIVE. He has a plan and it works. I was admitted to my top choice school with a full-ride (NYU). I also received a scholarship offer from UCLA. He is a great writer and knows what schools are looking for. He was amazing at creating timelines and keeping me on track. He gives you his full attention and goes above and beyond to help you succeed. I can not recommend him enough.
I contacted Sam relatively late in the application cycle, and I must say he proved to be an invaluable guide. His assistance was instrumental not only in securing an admission but also in obtaining a scholarship. Sam’s dedication goes beyond the expected, and his personalized approach stood out to me the most. He remains readily available whenever I encounter uncertainties in any other applications. A heartfelt thanks to Sam for his continuous support.
Sam is a wonderful person to work with and he gets things done. Together with him I was able to get admitted to INSEAD, LBS, and Oxford. In addition, I was able to get scholarships for my top schools. I would definitely recommend working with Sam if you are serious about getting an MBA.
Sam is fantastic – high energy, candid advice, and no BS! I attended his webinar on Wharton and also did a mock TBD with him – he was immensely insightful, very willing and available to help, and gave great advice! His mock TBD session also was hugely helpful in preparing me for my interview and the tips he gave were highly insightful and useful. Fully recommend working with him!!!
I have to admit, Sam impressed me from our first meeting. Very smart, very direct, very pragmatic, very professional. He is not just there to help you write better. He is committed in understanding your background and helping you bring out your unique story. I loved the entire experience, and I am incredibly proud of the work done together. I was admitted to the Wharton MBA 🙂
As a repeat applicant I can confidently say I know the effects of Sam’s help. Without Sam I was 0/4 and with Sam I was 3/4 including a full ride offer all at M7’s! He was super thorough and helpful and I truly couldn’t recommend his services more. Super detailed and made the process less stressful. Worth every $ if you want to go to business school.
I got into all 3 schools I applied to (INSEAD, LBS, Oxford) thanks to Sam’s help! We started working together from the very beginning, and Sam did a great job helping me brainstorm ideas for my essay, editing my essay, and recommending folks to talk to for the interview process. He is very easy to work with and I would definitely recommend!
Sam was a brilliant consultant. Advised me through each step, carefully and diligently, knew how to prepare me for interviews, and got me accepted to four top European B-School: Oxford, Cambridge, LBS, and IESE. I have recommended him to a lot of people and will continue to do so. Extremely high quality consulting.
I wanted to share my experience with Sam Weeks Consulting during my MBA application process. If you’re considering an MBA, this is a review you’ll want to read.
Picture this: I was gearing up to apply to my dream MBA program at Cambridge Judge Business School (CJBS). But let’s face it, the whole application process can be overwhelming, and I felt a bit lost.
That’s when Sam Weeks came into the picture. Sam is not just an MBA admissions consultant; he’s a true expert in the field.
From the beginning, Sam had a unique ability to see what made me stand out. He’s not just a consultant; he’s a coach, mentor, and strategist. He took the time to understand my background, goals, and even my quirks. It felt more like talking to a friend than working on applications.
What sets Sam apart is that he didn’t use a one-size-fits-all approach. He personalized every aspect of the application, making sure it truly reflected me at my best. He helped me craft essays that felt authentic and prepared me for interviews with precision.
Sam knows the admissions process inside out, and his insights were invaluable. His support didn’t stop with the application submission. He was there at every step, responding promptly and providing thorough feedback.
The results speak for themselves—I was not only accepted into CJBS.
I was initially very intimidated with the MBA Application process – I tried to apply several years before and got overwhelmed. I was at a point in my career where it was now or never. I knew if I finally got an MBA, I wanted a top school.
I was too busy in my job and raising 3 very active children, so it was going to be a lot of work. To make it more challenging, I only had 1 month before the deadline, and I was starting from ground zero.
After some research, I came across Sam Weeks and never regretted my decision. He made the process very seamless, kept me on track, and calmed my nerves when I thought I was too far behind. Also, his guidance was much better than what I would have done on my own. He brings a wealth of knowledge to the application process.
If you think you’re too busy…you need someone like Sam on your side!
When I first started my MBA journey, I mean it when I say I had no clue where to start. I was an untraditional applicant and did not know where to begin. I can honestly say working with Sam was the best decision I made during this journey. He helped me tell my story and lead me in the right direction. Most importantly for me, he was very responsive. Whenever I had questions, he would always respond right away and help me with whatever I needed. I also did mock interviews with his team and was very happy working with everyone, Samriddhi and Jon, you both were amazing! I highly recommend him and his team.
Sam Weeks or in 3 words: fair, competent and supportive
Fair: When we first met he was really honest to me and said that applying for Wharton, HBS, GSB and MIT is a tough call and I might end up without any offer at all. But he saw potential in me so we agreed to work together. Throughout the application process I appreciated his honesty and his sense for reality. You could see that he does not want to sell you any fancy packages but earn his living by really getting you admitted.
Competent: Over the next couple of weeks we had at least 3 meetings each week and worked relentlessly on essays, videos and also possible topics my recommenders could write about. He was there every step of the way and when time was valuable he was also willing to fit meetings in shorthand. Working with him really felt like a partnership – our talks were eye to eye and we both together created an application that we were very proud of once we saw the final version. I could have never done that without him. I always felt that he knew what he was doing also considering Early Admits are not the regular application types. During the time we divided the work very fair such that at times I did more of the writing when he was on travel and other times when I had exams he contributed the majority.
Supportive: Considering I’m still in college and only earn little money each months by doing internships, hiring a consultant was not an easy step. But I don’t regret it a bit. Especially since Sam did everything in his capabilities to enable me to afford it financially. That’s what really stood out to me and increased my respect for him drastically. I know how it is in business. Working together is fine but when it comes to the issue of money even the friendliest clients can become quite sturdy. Not Sam, he allowed me to defer payments for a months or two when I was nearly broke. Moreover, when I felt I was not ready but told him I could not afford another mock interview he threw in one for free considering I’ve already paid him a large sum for my 4 school package. With every application you will likely experience setbacks such as in my case the rejection from GSB or Wharton. But also in those situations Sam was there to help you not getting dragged down too much.
Summary: I would recommend Sam for everybody in my environment that definitely wants to pursue an MBA at an Ivy League School in the US. His application support is unbelievable helpful and you have a partner that takes you by the hand and guides you the way. I’m very happy with Sam and my result of getting admitted into HBS and MIT as an International from Europe from a first generation background that always dreamt of Harvard but never actually believed he could make it.
Despite my below average GMAT and GPA, as well as my run of the mill working experience, Sam has managed to help me craft a compelling story that brings out my strengths (which I don’t even know I had) and ultimately landed me an admit from Cornell Johnson. This definitely would not have been possible without Sam’s guidance and I strongly recommend Sam to anyone that is looking for a MBA consultant.
If you are looking for an MBA consultant, I would definitely recommend Sam! I applied to 4 schools and out of that I was admitted to Wharton, Booth (with scholarship), and LBS! I spoke to several consultants and Sam was the only one who really stood out to me. He spent an hour talking to me and made it clear that I would be working with directly with him on every step of the process. Sam was also available to help, whether it was hour-long zoom brainstorming sessions, a few minutes on a phone call discussing a draft of an email to send to admissions committees, or interview prep. Through out the whole process he was approachable, friendly, encouraging and honest! Work with Sam- you won’t regret it!! 🙂
Sam was a pleasure to work with. He provided very thoughtful advice and it was clear he truly cared about my application and career motivations. He made the essay drafting process enjoyable and was super helpful in preparing for interviews as well.
Would strongly recommend Sam as an MBA consultant!
Sam is a very approachable person and an excellent professional. I worked with Sam to tailor my application to Said Business School and he gave me critical advice that helped me succeed in my application. I also used Sam’s services in interview preparation and had 2 sessions that helped me prepare for the interview. Sam gave me actionable feedback that I found really useful during the final interview. I recommend Sam 100% as your MBA consultant because he will be there for you and help you get admission to your dream business school.
I am not exaggerating when I say that Sam has been transformative in my MBA application journey. Without him, I wouldn’t have even applied to top US schools, never mind being admitted with over $300k total in scholarships. In the end, I’m going to NYU Stern with a full scholarship!
When I first met him at an Access MBA fair in September 2022, I had literally decided under 48 hours prior that I was going to apply to MBAs. I didn’t know anyone with an MBA; I had never heard of the GMAT; and I certainly didn’t know how to write an appropriate CV or admission essays. I decided to look at schools ranked 50-75 on global MBA rankings and my heart sank when Sam began our initial conversation with “I’m going to be brutally honest with you”. I thought he was going to tell me not to bother applying at all, that I had no shot at an MBA. But he actually said, “I LOVE your profile, and you’re aiming too low”. I spoke to 6 other consultants that week and none of them had told me that – they were happy to take my money to “help” me secure a top-75 business school admission, without actually learning about me as a person or challenging my lack of confidence.
That conversation with Sam was the beginning of a WILDLY different journey from what I had planned. He totally changed my perception of myself as an MBA candidate, building my confidence and helping me pull out what was unique and great in my story. He helped me to conceptualize everything I was insecure about as a strength, not a weakness, with the result that my applications felt like ME, rather than who I thought I should be but gave practical advice to fill in the knowledge gaps I had so that I could show the schools what they were asking to see.
In terms of working style, having Sam around felt more like having a lovingly-critical friend who was there when I needed them but kept me in the driving seat, than someone leading me through a cookie-cutter guide on how to be a perfect MBA candidate. After I had used his guide on resumé-writing to overhaul my resumé, we had an initial couple of chats where not only did he convince me to apply to higher-ranked schools, but he got to know me, my goals and background, and could almost magically come up with suggestions of how these might fit into a narrative right on the spot. Then I went away and wrote my essays, shooting him messages to clarify what each prompt at each school meant. I felt like he had a real insight into my schools (all but 1 were in the US) and how to craft an essay that fits with their brief. Once I had a draft, he’d make some comments in the doc but also call me to edit the essays live together. This was ideal because when you’re on a roll and the writing momentum is high, you don’t want to wait several days and then come back to make changes to what now feels like a dead document. He was fantastic at keeping MY voice and ideas in the essays, but giving practical tips like “get rid of this thing, but remember to include something about your professional goals instead”. I especially appreciated that his advice was sometimes “This is risky. If you want to take a safer bet, I would recommend this other thing. But if you want to take this risk, do.”. He also had a way of pep-talking me through the low points in the journey, including two less-than-ideal GMAT attempts and my getting made redundant right around the Round 2 deadlines, so I could always get back on track quickly.
Overall, Sam’s deep knowledge of the MBA world, his creativity, his kindness, and his down-to-earth attitude and communication style were key to me producing five strong applications, four admits with various scholarships (full ride at NYU Stern, half ride at UVA Darden, $25k per year at Georgetown McDonough, €8k at ESMT Berlin) and one waitlist after the interview (Columbia – but hey, there’s still time on that one!). I can’t imagine having a better experience with what was once a terrifying process.
I reached out to Sam in 2020, seeking guidance around improving my overall profile and discussing target schools. Since then, I have been in touch with him throughout my application process. In 2022, I started working with him for Fall 2023 intakes and it has been one of the best investments I have made so far in my MBA application journey. I particularly liked how Sam was available to help me even with small, minute-to-minute inquiries. I received an offer from a top UK school. THANKS, SAM!
Sam was instrumental in helping me prepare for my Wharton TBD. Upon receiving the TBD invitation, I approached Sam for assistance and he provided exceptional support throughout the process. Sam organized a comprehensive mock TBD, which was an exact replica of the actual assessment. To add to the experience, he also invited a current Wharton student who provided valuable insights on how to navigate the TBD. The mock TBD experience was a game-changer for me, as it allowed me to feel more comfortable and confident on the final day. Sam’s guidance helped me approach and tackle various situations with ease. In addition to the mock TBD, Sam also helped me prepare for the 10-minute interview that followed. He provided me with clear guidance on how to structure my answers and emphasized the key points that I needed to focus on. His detailed and actionable feedback was invaluable and gave me the confidence to perform well on the final day Sam’s approachability and generosity of time were welcome changes, especially during the highly competitive application process. He also went out of his way to assist me with other parts of my application, such as managing waitlists and negotiating scholarships. Sam’s exceptional character shone through in his sincere desire to see me succeed. He is not only an amazing coach but also an incredible human being who genuinely cares about his clients. I highly recommend him to anyone looking to excel in their MBA application process.
I want to thank Sam for helping me throughout my MBA prep journey. I booked a session with Sam to assess and analyze my profile and chances of getting into a top B-School. Sam suggested a few useful insights in the session which I kept in mind while writing my essays and compiling my application. He was always responsive to my queries and doubts and always volunteered to help. His website has many useful free resources that I referred to while preparing for the interviews and negotiating scholarships with the schools. I am glad that I reached out to him as it added value to my applications.
I just received an acceptance from Scheller MBA with a full scholarship, and I am still waiting on decisions from other top schools such as Berkeley and UCLA. That said, I thought I’d write this review now.
I reached out to Sam only a few weeks before round 2 deadlines, and he completely turned things around. I had worked with other consultants, and I was not happy at all with what they offered. Sam’s approach was completely different; clear communication, straight to the point, extremely efficient, and most importantly, he truly cared about my success.
Sam reviewed and added comments to my essays before our session, and this made our conversation much more efficient. He is truly brilliant with live edits – he knows how to pick the right words to bring the essays to life. At first, some of my essays lacked coherence and simply did not speak to the story that I was trying to portray. He challenged my ideas and quickly made me realize that there is a better way to express my thoughts in essays.
In only two sessions, Sam was able to substantially improve my overall application. Even after the deadlines, Sam reached out to offer further assistance. He gave me tips on how to approach the interviews (free of charge).
I honestly cannot recommend Sam enough. Even if you think your application is ready, reach out to Sam. His input will most certainly be valuable.
If I was to go through this process all over again, I’d hire Sam in a heartbeat.
Sam made me feel like I was his only client from the get-go; he was honest, and realistic, and encouraged me to aim higher than the targets I had set for myself. His approach helped me understand what made me unique and why I was a good fit for each program.
In the end, I was confident in the applications I submitted and was thoughtfully prepared for my interviews. (Quick note, I was given less than a week to conduct an interview by one school; Sam’s team successfully coached me through the process in less than five days.) Given the quality of his services, I could’ve easily paid twice the amount at one of his competitors. I recommend Sam to anyone interested in pursuing an MBA.
Sam is a rockstar.
In starting my application journey, I talked to a few of the top consulting companies but after talking to Sam I was convinced by his hands-on, “live”, approach to applications and it clearly was for the best — he helped craft a compelling application, putting together nuanced tidbits from the hours of conversation we had in the process.
What stands out to me in particular is that while he challenged me on my thoughts and approach to the application, he was also just as willing to listen to my feedback on how we approached each application.
In the end, we got 4/6 interviews from the M7 schools and 3/4 post-interview acceptances.
I started my MBA application process in mid-May of 2021 for R1 2021. I did intro consultations with 12 different consultants and Sam really rose above the rest. Not only did I feel that I connected better with him on a personal level, but he was immediately able to present to me how he thought my story should be structured. His take on how to pitch me to B-schools was unique compared to that of all other consultants. With my low GPA, I knew that getting into a good school would be a long shot. Sam took the time, 3 times a week on average for a full hour, to get to know my background. The stories he was able to extract from this month-long process I hadn’t even considered using for my application. He was able to craft a narrative that I can confidently say I would never have been able to put together. Sam also provided phenomenal response rates to any questions or concerns I had. I thought at first that the time difference might be a problem as I’m based in the US, but Sam was seemingly awake 24/7. Whenever I would message him on Whatsapp he would immediately answer. Without Sam’s help, interview prep, and guidance, there is no way I would have gotten into 1 M7, 1 T10, and 3 T15s. I had initially hoped for 1 T15 acceptance and maybe 2 if I was lucky. I am still in disbelief that I was able to get into CBS, which was my dream school.
I reached out to Sam due to a personal referral. Of all the admissions consultants I talked to, he was the only one who was willing to answer ALL of my questions in a way that made me comfortable with how we would be working together. Here are a few of my favorite things about working with him. 1. I greatly appreciated that we worked on essays, etc. live together via video chat multiple times a week (2-4). Outside of that, he also spent time between sessions reviewing/editing things I was working on. I never felt disconnected throughout the process. 2. He spent ACTUAL time getting to know me, my story, and making it all make sense. He did not encourage me to write stories or make connections that weren’t authentic to who I was and what I wanted to achieve or do with the MBA. 3. He was there THROUGHOUT the process. We worked on every single essay together, and he even helped me with a review of some items that weren’t a part of my package.
Overall, Sam helped me find and share a story that was authentic to who I am, in a way that really made me a candidate I was proud of. I could not have imagined going through the application, interview, and decision journey without him! I fully believe my outcomes would have been different without him.
Over my MBA application journey, I went through multiple time-consuming and mind-challenging exercises and I am glad that Sam helped me along the way.
Before engaging an MBA consultant, I had multiple introductory calls with many top-rated consultants, but only Sam gave me the impression that for him I will be THE client as he was able to reassure me that whenever needed he would be available. And I have never regretted my choice. Since our first meeting, Sam dived into my story. We had multiple live retrospection sessions into my childhood, upbringing, education, career, values, and short-term and long-term career goals. Through these interview-alike discussions, I had been able to come up with various stories that became integral parts of my whole profile. Block by block we were able to build a clear path from my investment banking past and present to a career in impact investing and non-profit. Although exhaustive this approach was always fun and productive. I was able to sharpen my story and together with Sam, we prepared six applications in less than three months!
During interview preparation, Sam showed significant empathy and drive to build the process around my own needs. I realized that due to multiple hours of one-on-one discussions, Sam knew my profile so well that it could be difficult to simulate a blind interview. In order to immerse me into a situation similar to real life, Sam set up a mock with his colleague Jon Cheng who simulated a blind interview. But what really shows Sam’s passion for his clients is how he approached preparation for Wharton’s team-based interview. He offered several mock sessions with his other clients – this is a benefit that you should never refuse, because of the unique nature of Wharton’s interview process. I was able to participate in two mocks, one of which was assessed by a current Wharton student, a client of Sam from a year ago.
In December this whole application journey through which Sam chaperoned me came to a wonderful conclusion. I received offers from four US top MBA programs: HBS, Wharton, Yale, and MIT. This could never happen without Sam’s support and the structured approach that he brought into the application process. If you value time efficiency and are ready to work hard, Sam is definitely the right person to guide you through your MBA admission process.
I approached Sam for EMBA application coaching when I found myself hitting writer’s block. All the elements of my story were in my notes but I was not satisfied with the quality of my essays. Sam understood that EMBA applications are different from full-time MBAs and worked with me to bring out the best version of my story. This is important because most resources and coaches focus on FT MBAs only and the needs, time constraints, and experience of EMBAs are different.
I appreciate Sam’s agility in working with me in a bootcamp style – we worked on all the essays over a 2-3 week period and then took another week for mock interviews when the invitation letter came in.
Sam is a strong communicator and writer; he has the ability to cut through the noise and hone in on your narrative.
Getting accepted into my dream program at INSEAD GEMBA was the culmination of our work together, but I fondly remember the day I hit the “submit” button on the application. That task was symbolic of the journey and reflection that I was in fact ready for the next chapter. If you find yourself stuck or struggling, I recommend working with a seasoned coach like Sam to bring out the best version of your narrative.
I engaged Sam’s services as part of my exploration of MBA courses at either Oxford or Cambridge. I had been interested in studying at one of these universities for some time and therefore wanted to leave no stone unturned in my preparation for the application process.
Sam’s knowledge and experience were invaluable in this regard. Having completed his own MBA at Oxford, he was very familiar with the process for both schools and was able to guide me through each school’s different approaches and explained what separates successful applicants from unsuccessful ones. Through this process, Sam was able to alleviate many of my anxieties by giving me an honest assessment of how my profile and application would be viewed by the schools and how I could reposition and refine specific elements to improve my prospects.
I had felt that my applications were reasonably strong, but with the benefit of Sam’s feedback and pointers, I was able to elevate my applications in a way that made me feel I really stood out and would be considered a “must interview” by the assessors. Sam also helped me better understand the differences of an MBA vs EMBA, which ultimately helped me see that an EMBA would be a better fit for me if I chose to undertake a business degree.
Note: I ultimately chose not to proceed with my application after successfully landing a role in the industry I was pivoting into without the need for an MBA.
Sam helped me prepare for the Oxford MBA interview: I reached out to him after receiving the interview invitation. I had three mock interviews with him and the last one with Jon Cheng, who works with Sam. His mocks are superbly tailored to my specific profile and school of choice, making them very similar to the actual interview. Sam gave me thorough feedback after each session, which allowed me to significantly improve my skills in a very short time (just two weeks). Being a foreign applicant with an unusual background for an MBA candidate, preparing with Sam proved invaluable as it made me better understand dynamics I was up until then completely clueless about. The exact first question the interviewer asked me was one that Sam had asked me during our mocks. At that moment I realized that the interview would be very similar to what I had trained for, and thus I felt relaxed and everything went smoothly. I strongly recommend him: Sam definitely knows his business, gives great and detailed feedback, and makes the candidate feel the confidence that is required to do well on interview – which is just a consequence of being really well prepared.
Sam helped me with the INSEAD application and was very knowledgeable about what the school is looking for, how to turn my story into a strong essay as well to provide overall support with my admissions application and interview. It was great to do all work during LIVE sessions vs. email chains that get lost in the inbox. A very personalized approach that worked well for me. And the process was fun, which is important.
I used Sam for advice and guidance during the MBA admissions process and got admitted to INSEAD. I have six years of work experience which he helped me compile into a clear story. I loved that we met on Zoom and Sam was super friendly and helpful. As an added benefit, my partner also worked with Sam and got admitted too! If you’re looking for an MBA admissions consultant GO WITH SAM!
Doing MBA was a dream and still hard to accept the fact that I got into M7!!! Sam is not a consultant who sends a task through the mail but a great friend who supported me throughout the application process in one on one sessions. Starting from selecting the right school to negotiating the scholarship, with his help I received an acceptance letter from Yale with a $30k scholarship and Chicago Booth with a $60k scholarship. His method of deep soul searching resulted in stunning essays.
Before knowing Sam, I worked with a previous consultant in the US who was well known in the industry, and I can fairly say I wasted my time & money until I looked up Sam on Poets&Quants. To me, Sam was more than a consultant. His approach to slowly knowing the applicant was EVERYTHING! I was able to discover more and more about myself while conducting the online sessions with him. Sam’s flexibility and attention to detail are what helped me to secure an interview with MIT Sloan. He helped me to connect my personal stories to my professional career and then to my goal to pursue an MBA at MIT. He helped me with the application, video, and interview prep. I was lucky to work with him and know him in person when I visited the Netherlands a few months ago. I recommended Sam to my best friend and he got accepted to his “dream” Ph.D. program. Hence, I can confidently recommend him to everyone who’s seeking a seat in top MBA programs.
Sam was fantastic. I reached out to Sam after extensively engaging (and spending a lot of money) with a much larger admissions consultancy in the US. After a great initial call, they handed off my account to relatively inexperienced consultants who provided an exceedingly low quality of work on a regular basis.
Sam was completely different. From the very beginning of our engagement, it was clear that he was going to take an intensive, personalized approach to my application which wasn’t seen elsewhere. He isn’t afraid to be candid and upfront about the application. Best of all, his approach is highly personalized. You aren’t sent templates and endless examples of successful applications – he takes the time to hear your story and works with you to present it in the best way possible. He is also a top guy – which is important considering the amount of time you spend together!
How I got help to refine my story and join a top school in the USA.
Sam helped me plan and navigate the process of applying to my universities. While I had the GMAT score in place, I needed someone who could guide me in shortlisting Schools that were the right fit for my profile and personality. Through our regular Zoom calls, I found a mentor and partner who helped me articulate my story while I was juggling a hectic job abroad. His no-BS approach to applications ensure I had a safe space where I could be honest, deeply examine and understand my motivations for pursuing my MBA and write my best essays. If you feel overwhelmed with the task of compressing years of your complex life into a few paragraphs then Sam’s your guy.
I reached out to Sam at the beginning of the summer hoping to apply for R1. With my hectic work schedule and travel, I knew it would be a tall task, but Sam kept me on track and helped me break down the process into smaller pieces.
I think the real differentiator with Sam is the time he takes to get to know you at the beginning of the process – it really almost feels like therapy and makes you truly dig for why you want business school and what it is you might want to do with your career. This really pays dividends when it comes time to write your essays not only because you will have strong stories, but you will also actually believe in them.
I came into the MBA application process worried about my high years of work experience (9+) and my relatively low GMAT score. I knew I would be relying heavily on my professional and management experience.
Sam encouraged me to totally transform my career narrative into one that was more personal and genuine, even though it felt like a gamble at the time. But the gamble paid off, and I got admits to every school that I applied to, plus a generous 30% scholarship.
I loved the way that Sam and I worked together live over video calls. We were able to exchange so much more information that way, and I feel like he got to know me properly. That was reflected in the quality of the essays. The mock interviews also played a key role in providing the extra confidence one needs in an actual interview.
I genuinely recommend Sam to anybody looking to apply to business school. The return on investment of working with him is massive.
Sam has been a real differentiator in my application. He has not just amplified my past experiences but found new stories and pieces of my life that he could mold into one succinct storyline. For me, this was exactly what I was looking for and hoping to achieve. He is extremely amicable and stays patient even when things don’t go as planned. He is definitely someone I would recommend to add life to your application!
As someone with a career gap, I was unsure about how to tell my story and skeptical about actually putting in my application. From my initial conversation with Sam, to finally sending in my applications, Sam and his team were instrumental in helping me tell my story in a very compelling way. They helped me build the confidence I needed. Sam is very patient and will work with you to bring out your best work. My mock interview session with him also prepared me greatly for my interviews, and I successfully landed admits to the schools I applied to. I highly recommend Sam! You will not regret working with him.
Indian male with a tech background admitted to INSEAD + Cambridge.
I worked with Sam to apply to INSEAD and Cambridge in the final rounds. I got admits to both. Sam was great at positioning my experience to meet exactly what the adcoms were looking for. When I look back at my essays, it feels like ME TALKING which is incredibly impressive.
I paid hourly rather than committing to a big school package which was good for me. Also, it’s cool that he works live, this isn’t the case with the other consultants I met. Overall highly recommended!
The first thing about Sam is that he loves what he does and carefully spends the time and effort to get to know you and your background before crafting a strategy for the individual schools that you are applying for.
The time spent with him to craft the essays and edits is enjoyable and professional. Dateline management was great in order to keep me on my toes.
The overall experience is awesome, I am extremely happy to have worked with him and highly recommend him.
FYI – I applied to 3 schools and received offers from all 3 (some with conditions).
I knew I had a strong profile but I didn’t know how to make a story that could connect all my life decisions. Sam helped me build that story extremely well. We worked on multiple drafts and at the end of sessions, he used to give me homework that included thinking about major life events and how they matter to me. The best part about his services is that he will never make you feel like this is business – he became a good friend and was very kind with his time and advice even on the smallest matters. I could see that he really wants the best for me, which was important for me when I was looking out for consultants. If you’re looking for someone who can be friendly and candid during your essay process, go for him.
I strongly recommend getting in touch with Sam for guidance at any point during the MBA application process. I got in touch with Sam in early 2022 through a reference. Even though I already had Copenhagen Business School in mind, had a detailed discussion with him about my options for a European MBA. We had a brief discussion about my GMAT scores, job profile, limitations, and the colleges to which I should apply to.
Due to work commitments, I didn’t get time to work on my application. I again got in touch with him 10 days before the deadline, I was skeptical about being able to put together a good application by the deadline, however, Sam was confident about it. Sam was very accommodating with his schedule and efficient with his time as the deadline was close and we were able to complete the application in time with a successful outcome.
I needed a consultant who could take my career achievements and failures and put together a story. During our discussions, I shared my points, and Sam asked questions to extract relevant information and the points I wanted to put across. Sam used all the information together to establish a narrative and put together a coherent story. He gave me a framework on which I had to write the essays, which were later polished to perfection by him. Sam is great with words and identifying stories that make the application stand out.
It wouldn’t have been possible for me to complete the application in time without his help. While going through my application while submitting it I was amazed at the quality of the application that we were able to put together in a short period. It was great working with him, and I highly recommend his services.
I graduated from a public school with a 3.0 GPA, 600 GMAT score, and an ORM. As a consultant, I needed a way to differentiate myself and compensate for my low stats. Sam’s process for storytelling is true and tested. Honestly, I enjoyed the process of self-reflecting with Sam’s guidance. I purchased the 3 school packages and was accepted into Goizueta. The other two were reach schools (1 M7 and 1 T15). I highly recommend using Sam for crafting your story!
I got in touch with Sam in May 2021 even before giving my GMAT to discuss my target B schools. In my first free session, he gave me a lot of insightful information that helped me shortlist my target schools. To be honest, I had spoken to a bunch of other consultants but this was the most fruitful free session I had.
I had initially planned to apply during Round 1 but I got pretty late even for EU Round 3 deadlines due to several failed GMAT attempts. We started working in December 2021 and worked almost every day for an hour (sometimes at odd hours) to work on around 5 applications altogether. Sam was kind enough to even work during his Christmas break!! He was extremely patient with me and helped me find the hidden gems in my profile. He has the unique ability to ask the right questions about your life, background and work. The essay drafting was a daunting task for me as I was applying to a bunch of US and European schools that had absolutely different essay prompts. But with each B-school, Sam had relevant insights that helped me put together a structure for the essays.
What I loved the most about Sam’s working style is that he lets you be YOU in the essay. We started off by discussing my journey from a school kid to an employment lawyer and he deep dived into every aspect of my profile. The live editing service is super fantastic as it lets you have control over your essays which I believe is really important. We also did a couple of mock interviews and it definitely helped me calm my nerves before the D-day!
Sam is a super energetic and fun person to work with. I would 100/100 recommend him to prospective MBA candidates.
Have to say it’s really a highly competitive year. The competition was fierce and admittedly I did not get into my top choice “reach” program, however, I only applied to three programs in total and was accepted into one, which was also an ideal choice for me. I am attending the program this fall and am very grateful for the admit.
I have a unique background that is not typical career-wise, a low-ish GPA from a very generic US state school, and aiming to make a triple jump with an MBA. Most of my batch mates I have met have much stronger career backgrounds and higher GPAs. I am very fortunate to have been admitted with a scholarship amount that is higher than in most cases for this specific program.
Sam was very flexible and easy to work with, willing to work with my tight schedule and ever-changing plans. He’s very professional, respectful, and kind. He also first encouraged me to apply this year when I initially planned to delay for next year. It was a great experience working with him and I would definitely recommend him. The scholarship I ended up receiving more than paid for his services.
I worked with Sam on my full-time MBA applications. Sam is the best consultant you could ask for. He goes above and beyond to help you through the process. For example, Sam was willing to work around my schedule at work, even if it meant meeting on Sundays or at odd hours for him (I am in a different time zone than him). He is extremely hands-on and is 100% present in all meetings. I never found him looking at his phone, or answering an email while we were on a call together.
Apart from his work ethic, Sam is really a brilliant writer and editor. He helped shape my story and present it beautifully. And the results speak for themselves- I was admitted to 4 top schools in the US and UK.
I did a lot of homework when I was selecting a consultant and spoke to almost every big company out there. Sam easily rose to the top. I would 100% recommend him to anybody looking for help with their apps!
I reached out to Sam in the beginning of Summer 2021. I knew I was going to need all the help I could get as a US male with a very low undergraduate GPA (let’s just say below 2.5!). I chose Sam’s 6 school package and he worked with me day and night and provided tremendous flexibility with his time and resources. Sam was extremely diligent and kept me on task. The highlight for me was before I submitted each school we spent an hour confirming every single option of the application in the portal so that I felt sure my applications were as polished as possible. I received acceptances from two top 20 schools and I am waitlisted at a top 10! Something I never thought possible with my stats. If you have a profile that has a weak point I can’t recommend anyone better than Sam.
I first spoke to Sam in June last year before I gave my GMAT. Since then, Sam has been a mentor, supporter, and cheerleader in my application process. Even though I didn’t work with him full-time, Sam was always there to provide me with the right guidance I needed.
To summarise, I would 100/10 recommend getting Sam’s services in case you’re planning on cracking the top business schools.
Sam is a patient, diligent and meticulous consultant. When we first met in 2020, I wasn’t confident that I would get into a top business school because of my background. However, he worked towards instilling confidence in me and my application by crafting captivating essays which articulated my story quite well.
Sam always makes it seem like your application is the only one he is working on. His attention to detail, structured approach, and genuine interest in my personal life and work experiences made the process so seamless. With his help, I got admitted to Said Business School & Warwick Business School with scholarship offers.
I approached Sam (along with a few other consultants) with the daunting challenge to get admission to a few top M7 schools in R2 this year. I decided to go with Sam because of his sincerity and the reviews I read here but was skeptical given his regional exposure (UK vs. US) and prior consulting experience. I was wrong, Sam helped me get admission to one of my dream schools. Compared with my acquaintances who decided to get help from the big names in this industry, I think I had an advantage using Sam.
My GMAT is around the average acceptance rate and my WE is 4 years, but I’m coming from a developing country with little experience abroad. Since I’m working magic hours in consulting, my extracurricular activities were mostly quite recent as well.
Sam helped me create one of the best essays I have written. His knowledge of the industry, passion, and down-to-earth personality make him a great consultant to work with! We frequently went above our allocated times and he never complained about it.
Some tips as well for incoming applicants: 1. You have to do your homework as well. If you’re looking for someone to simply write it for you, Sam is not the right partner for you. This won’t bring your essay to life and you’ll get into trouble in the interviews. 2. It’s a two-way process. You should do a deep reflection yourself and actively discuss your experiences with Sam, then he’ll help you turn it into a great essay. 3. You should ask friends (non-B-school friends are OK) to review as well if you can. This brought another dimension to my essays and enriched them even more.
Good luck with your future applications!
I touched base with Sam a few months before R1 deadlines. I had already scheduled free consultation calls with other admission consultants but never got the confidence to go full-throttle with my college applications. But the initial consultation call with Sam was a game-changer. He not only gave me confidence but also pushed me to challenge my own perspectives. That’s when I knew that Sam was the perfect mentor to partner with me on my upcoming MBA application journey.
From there on, Sam and I met regularly to iron out my application strategy. During our weekly sessions, he dug deep into my profile, asking me relevant questions and sometimes forcing me to introspect my life decisions. The process was so detailed and structured that it helped me discover myself as a person. The result was beautifully crafted essays that were true to me. Sam also polished my CV and prepared me for the nerve-wracking interviews. Over the course of 3 mock interviews, Sam shared detailed feedback and actionable tips to help me nail the interview process.
Sam’s flexible schedule meant that I could pace the application process according to my professional commitments. With his help, I landed an admit from Saïd Business School – my top choice.
With Sam, you’re not just working with a consultant, you’re working with a mentor and a friend. Can’t recommend him enough.
Sam helped an R3 candidate get into their dream S=school, Wharton (+ $100k).
Working with Sam is a no-brainer. As a panicking R3 applicant with a below-average GMAT score and countless other imperfections in my application, I knew I needed to craft brilliant essays to have any hope of success. I found Sam with the sole purpose of getting help on one essay to help construct my narrative and get the ‘juices flowing.’ However, just a few minutes into our first meeting, I knew I wanted his help on my entire application. Sam’s clear and strategic approach, his direct feedback in real-time and his constant encouragement to dive deeper and highlight the values behind my work were instrumental in helping me get into my dream school, Wharton!
My favorite part about working with Sam was how deeply engaged he was in the brainstorming process. He spent a significant amount of time learning about me, discussing my ‘story’ and the pros and cons of positioning my experiences in different ways. He pushed me to think about my experiences, specifically to determine how they impacted me and others around me and to identify the values that had led me to choose those experiences. In addition, he helped me present my post-MBA goals in an ambitious but also clear and realistic manner that matched my journey. This upfront investment paid dividends in developing a consistent, profoundly authentic and high-quality application.
Sam helped me rework my entire application in less than a week! He also ensured to mark the dates for the interview and final decision so that he could wish me luck and check-in. One of the best things that came out of my MBA application process (other than getting into Wharton with $100k in scholarship) was getting to know Sam. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a consultant who is genuinely invested in your success!
I was referred to Sam by my brother and I scheduled a call with him before appearing for my final GMAT attempt. From the very first call, I could feel the genuine interest he takes in actually knowing the profile. He guided me with utmost sincerity and shared a to-the-point plan, covering everything from target GMAT score to application strategy.
We were working on extremely tight deadlines, but I never felt that he was rushing the application. Sam will make sure that your application is well crafted by covering the most important highlights of your life. He makes the whole process a lot easier and more engaging by getting on a one-to-one zoom call where he asks questions while taking insightful notes. He does such a thorough analysis that after the brainstorming calls, the application essays come naturally. Uniquely, he edits the essay on the face-to-face zoom call so that one can chime in their personal preferences or views.
Overall, I would highly recommend Sam to anyone who aspires to get into a top b-school (and who can do the extensive homework he gives :P). Sam will not only craft the best application for you but will also familiarise you with the DNA of each school you are applying to. Don’t second guess, go for it!
I contacted Sam when my first consultant ditched me and my school’s deadlines were quite near. This was an uphill task but Sam showed confidence in me and convinced me that it was an achievable target. He made every possible effort to ensure his availability within this short timeline and ensured that the best quality applications are submitted to the schools.
The application prepared with Sam’s guidance boosted my confidence as they covered all the aspects and details of my life that I wanted to present. The mock interview sessions with him gave me a realistic overview of the final interview session and his advice and suggestions curated me for the final day. The major positive trait of Sam is that he excels in his field and knows how to prepare, strategize and cover all the aspects in an application. He also helped in building a high confidence level and a positive mindset in me.
Over the due course, I found that he is not at all focused on monetary aspects but ensures that the primary target of application preparation and admission is achieved first. I feel privileged to have found Sam during my difficult and trying times and to achieve my target with his guidance.
I had spoken to multiple admissions consultants before I found Sam – and I chose him immediately. I’m so glad that I did! I love working with Sam for several reasons:
1. He’s genuinely a nice person. I felt instantly connected with him after our initial conversation. 2. He has so much passion and experience, not one of those who work in admission counseling for an easy part-time job. 3. I have to admit – I’m not a disciplined person. Sam pushed me hard and made sure I got things done on time. 4. Sam’s a great writer. I’m not a native English speaker and I owe him a lot for polishing all my essays. He knew how to rephrase my sentences, made them much more concise and yet in a way that my personality would still come out. 5. If you prefer video calls to email comms then Sam is the right consultant for you. He always jumped on Zoom to answer my questions and even edited my essays live on the call so we could discuss on the spot.
I only paid Sam for a one-school package and he got me an acceptance into LBS. Money well spent!
I worked with Sam for my Round 1 applications in 2021 and did the 3 school package. I had intro calls with many consultants and decided to go with Sam because I liked his approach of having live sessions instead of just working through email and Google Docs.
During our calls, he asked a lot of questions and made me dig deep into why I wanted an MBA and what I wanted to do in the future. I knew what I wanted to do with an MBA, but I wasn’t sure how to put it together in words and essays. Through our sessions, I was able to put together a great story that really aligns with my goals and aspirations.
Sam also helped with other parts of the application such as editing my resume and prepping my recommenders. The mock interview sessions we did really helped me prep for my interviews and I got interviews to all the schools I applied to with Sam, including Kellogg, Stern, and Darden. He was always available to answer any questions and would go above and beyond to help calm my nerves before and after interviews and throughout the whole application process.
With Sam’s help, I got a full scholarship of $170K to NYU – Stern, one of my top choices!
I highly recommend Sam for anyone going through the MBA application process and looking for a consultant!
From my first phone call with Sam, I knew he was the partner for me. I scheduled preliminary consultation calls with several admissions consultants but he stood out because he came extremely prepared for the free consultation and gave super honest feedback. He was not scared to challenge me to think differently. He has an uncanny knack to ask just the right questions to really capture your motivation and values.
We have worked together on everything from the essays, touching up the resume, and prepping for interviews… He’s there for everything! Sam was also my rock as I changed jobs only a few months before R1 applications and personal issues came up. His flexible availability and deep care for me meant that I talked to him every day for a week. I learned and grew so much during this application cycle. We submitted an application to three M7s and I got admitted to Kellogg! My career goals and personal mission have never been clearer before starting school in August—and I’ve found a friend. Highly recommended!!!
I hired Sam shortly before R1 deadlines for help with my resume and essays, knowing that we were in a time crunch. I was pleasantly surprised by Sam’s ability as a consultant, and his flexible schedule ensured that my applications would be ready to submit before each deadline.
Sam revamped my resume and completely transformed my essays. I would highly recommend Sam Weeks to anyone who may need assistance crafting essays! Ultimately, I was accepted to 3 of the 5 schools that I applied to with a combined $247k in scholarship funds!! Definitely worth the investment!
I thought my B-school dreams had come to an end when I scored a 570 on my GMAT on the second try. ‘I thought I was smart’ and ‘It didn’t seem so hard when I was prepping’ were the thoughts going through my head when I received my score. Further, I was running out of time to retake the exam and I needed to submit my application in time for the R3 deadline to be considered for a scholarship/financial aid. I knew if I had a prayer of any acceptances, my essays needed to be strong. I had always thought using a B-school consultant was out of my reach, maybe even unnecessary. I mean it’s just a couple of essays and boom I am in. ‘No, it’s not just a couple of essays. It’s crafting a compelling story that sets you apart and convincingly shows the value you bring to your potential B-school cohort’ – that’s what Sam said in our first meeting. ‘Your first impression is your essays so you have to bring it’ and that’s exactly what he helped me do. He coached me on how to tell my story in an undeniably unique way, as a Kenyan woman, working in consulting with investment and financial experience in Sub-Saharan Africa. Sam and I met virtually every week where we iterated on a live document to craft my essays. During those sessions, he also asked a lot of questions to learn about my personal and professional strengths and unique experiences that we could use to bring those out. He also took some time offline to review my resume drafts. Though I was doing my applications over Christmas and trying to balance this with family obligations, Sam’s support made it feel manageable and kept me accountable to the mini-deadlines we agreed on for different pieces required for the application. Finally, when the writing was done, we had two interview coaching sessions. In these, Sam simulated an interview and had me answer questions that are expected in B-school interviews. This helped quell my nerves and modulate my tone and speaking speed to ensure I exude confidence and poise. I couldn’t have done it without his creativity, push, and belief in me.
I reached out to him to get some help on the preparation for my application to Oxford Said MBA, specifically for the online assessment on Kira. I got accepted thanks to his support! A few points I liked about him.
He is quite knowledgeable about Oxford through his own experience at Oxford and helping out applicants. He gave me a piece of advice that I should mention formal dinners that you attend with a gown and a bowtie. I felt a lot more confident after becoming able to talk about what kind of experiences I’ll have at Oxford.
He’s used to preparing students for the Kira online assessment. The preparation session was highly efficient and he gave me great feedback during the session and also shared notes after the session, which was quite helpful when reviewing the session.
He is truly professional. He didn’t try to make me book multiple sessions by making me feel insecure about the process. He was very clear that I would need only 1-2 sessions from the beginning. We ended up having only one session, but I really appreciate his honesty and professionalism. I would have chosen him as my main consultant if I had known him earlier in my application process.
I wholeheartedly recommend him, especially for those trying to get into Oxford MBA!
I applied in R4 to INSEAD Singapore with Sam and received an offer. I also applied to HBS in R2 and received an interview offer but was dinged after the interview. I am a European male with a GMAT of 700 working in consulting. I really like Sam’s way of working live over Zoom, for me this meant I concentrated on telling my story. He has a no-BS approach, even if it was not what I wanted to hear. Sam spent time understanding my personal details then we worked together on writing the essays, preparing INSEAD’s video essays, and on mock interviews. I’d highly recommend a call with him, even if it’s just one of his free calls to understand your profile and hear how he can help put together your profile. Huge thanks for your help, Sam!!
I approached Sam for help mock-interviewing for Oxford. I booked 2 1-hour sessions with Sam, and it was the best mock I could ask for because:
Knowledge Sam’s depth of knowledge and experience with the interview process comes through in the question bank he asks, the tips he gives about what the interviewer is looking for, and feedback points.
Quality of the feedback The quality of the feedback was so specific and so actionable, that I could easily take each feedback point and see specifically how to improve. The feedback was given for each of my answers, what I did well and what I could change up in order to come across more concise.
Sam also has a way of building up your confidence and putting you at ease. After the session, I felt more confident about the interview process. I have just given the actual interview, which went smoothly because I approached it with an excited mindset, because of the help I’ve gotten from Sam. Would recommend Sam as an interview partner without any doubt!
I scheduled one hour with Sam to practice a mock interview for my MBA and was immediately impressed with how far and beyond he went to give me feedback. Rather than simply telling me what I did/did not do well. He guided me on new ways to answer questions, did on-call research on trends that I should remember and discuss during my interview, and more.
I booked additional hours (including one right before my actual MBA interview that he was so generous enough to open up for me) and I really account these practice sessions to my success in my MBA applications. I would absolutely recommend Sam as a consultant and 100% urge you to book a mock interview session with him!
As someone who takes pride in my client-facing investment banking skillset, I initially questioned the need for an admissions consultant, but I knew from my first consultation with Sam that he was someone I needed to put my best foot forward. I genuinely believe that it was largely because of his help that I was able to receive admissions at both Chicago Booth and Columbia Business School.
Sam has been a fantastic partner throughout the Full-Time MBA admissions process, helping me at every step from the school identification stage to resume and essay creation as well as interview preparation. He constantly pushed me to be more genuine and knew precisely how to help me differentiate myself from the vast number of applicants with similar backgrounds (US / Male / Finance).
Through his 3-school package, we often met both live via Zoom and spoke in some form nearly every day in the month leading up to R2 deadlines. Balancing my hectic work schedule, I was immensely appreciative of his willingness to receive a draft essay late into the night and provide high-value, thoughtful feedback in terms of both content and grammar by the following morning. Additionally, he was extremely flexible with scheduling mock interviews in the few pockets that arose in my schedule, and he prepared me for the exact follow-up questions that I was actually asked.
Without a doubt, I recommend Sam without any reservation.
I approached Sam just a week before the deadline for a top MBA programme in the UK. He was patient enough to understand my background, my strengths and helped me put together a great story and hence a successful application. Later, when I thought that IESE was a stretch school, he pushed and helped me towards applying for the school in Round 4. I can’t be more glad as I will join the IESE cohort come August.
What I found very helpful were Sam’s mock interviews. Like me, if you are a nervous interviewer, I recommend you practice as many mocks as possible with him. My mocks with him helped me understand the SCAR structure very well and I was better able to articulate my stories during the interviews. Don’t worry, he will challenge you as well as guide you during these sessions.
Best of luck with your application!
As a female applicant with an unconventional background, I worked with Sam in my MBA application to IE business school, and I got admitted with a scholarship! I used the 1-school application package. We always met live, face-to-face over zoom and we used a google doc and that we could both edit. Sam helped me in Brainstorming, structuring, writing and editing the essays. Sam also trained me in scripts for my video and Kira Talent coaching. Sam was always there when you needed him, no matter what day or time it is. He was very supportive throughout the whole process and extremely helpful and motivating!
Last month I was struggling between my exams, thesis, and master applications. I was stressed and uninspired and writing a motivation letter seemed to be an overwhelming burden. I contacted Sam, searching for suggestions on how to write a top-notch personal statement that could place me as a better candidate for leading universities.
From our first call, Sam demonstrated to be helpful and qualified. I was surprised by the friendly atmosphere he created, we chatted like old friends and it was very easy for me to open up and tell my story. We worked together to create a structure for my motivation letter. Then we highlighted the strengths and unique aspects of my profile to the admission committee.
Our work was a success and my candidature was accepted. I was selected for one of the top MiM programs in France. I will be forever grateful to Sam. Thanks to his expertise in the field, I will have the possibility to study in my dream university!
As a US applicant from a generic Consulting background and a lower GPA, I knew I would need to craft a compelling story to be competitive in the MBA process. Sam was the perfect partner to help me land admission to three top schools with scholarship offers. I worked with Sam in my R2 application, applying to a mix of European and US schools via the 3-school application package. Sam and I met frequently on Zoom and leveraged a live document to craft my essays in real time. Sam spent a lot of time learning personal details about my background and helping me cull out unique and compelling antidotes that I never would have thought of on my own. I was also working on a tight timeline between finishing my GMAT and submitting my R2 applications and Sam was able to work with my hectic schedule whenever I needed to hop on a call, which was especially appreciated over the Christmas holiday. I attribute my success to Sam’s endless creativity, his extensive knowledge of the MBA admissions process, and his structured and holistic approach to the application process.
Sam helped me get an admit to Oxford Saïd and a £10,000 scholarship in round 4. My background is in the pharma sector. I am Chinese so I’m in a quite competitive group. On top of that, Round 4 this year is more competitive due to the historical high MBA applications and large numbers of deferrals from last year. So I chose Sam to help me. I used his 1 school application package because I only wanted to go to Oxford Saïd. Its social impact focus is important for my future career goals.
Some things stood out for me:
First, he works differently from the other consultants I met. It was only him, and we always met on video. We edited a document together and talked at the same time so we could share ideas. Oxford Saïd also has a Kira talent video interview process and Sam helped me prepare for this. He has a super helpful system where he showed me the real questions and recorded my answers.
Second, is hard to explain but he was more than a consultant for me. He didn’t just help with the essays and interviews, but also was super supportive because I was working in my job at the same time. I felt like we became friends during the application as he really really wanted me to get in.
Thrid, Sam has a top-notch storytelling skill that really helped me to make my stories stand out.
I am 100% sure I could not have done this without his help so I HIGHLY recommend you work with Sam especially if a scholarship is important to you.
I am a US applicant with an unconventional background. I worked with Sam for my applications to top European schools: ESADE, IE, and IESE, and I got admitted with a scholarship. Using Sam was a great investment for me. Some things that stood out while working with Sam: – I was working full time in my job so I worked with Sam during weekends, which was a game-changer for me. He was always available whenever I had any questions. – He was very direct. He asked tough questions to make me think and held me accountable. This meant I got all of my applications done to a super high quality in time for the tight deadlines. – Sam uses stories super well. We wrote my essays around a central narrative and my stories helped to put across the key points. – We changed the narrative for each of my schools because Sam knows the differences between the schools, using his insight from being based in Europe.
If you’re looking for a consultant, you NEED to try Sam! It was worth every cent.
I was referred to Sam by a friend of mine who had received really helpful career advice from Sam.
I came to Sam with two particular problems: I had done really well with my European MBA applications (receiving a scholarship from INSEAD) and not well at all (dinged without interviews) with my MBA application in the US despite high expectations there. This difference in outcomes left me wondering what could explain the difference and whether I should consider reapplying. I also was left in a very tricky situation in deciding between INSEAD and LBS and negotiating scholarship money with LBS (my preferred European school) – this is an extremely delicate conversation and I wasn’t sure exactly how to manage it without damaging the relationship.
Sam had a much more meaningful understanding of what European schools look for (than some US-based advice I had received) and why my profile was naturally better suited to them which helped bring me closure and decide between a 1-year programme vs a 2-year programme. When I followed his advice I received a very decent scholarship offer while maintaining a good relationship with the admissions committee.
Three things stand out for me with Sam: 1. Breadth of knowledge: Sam has a level of knowledge of the US MBA programmes comparable to the best US consultants, but has a *clearly superior* knowledge of the European programmes. This means he is much better able to match specific individuals to the best MBA programmes in the top 20, which includes several European schools.
2. Integrity: While it may very well have been in Sam’s interest to recommend that I reapply with him (and I was definitely prepared to do so), he put my interests before his own and recommended against reapplying, given my outcomes because, ultimately, it was the best choice for me.
3. Time: time is money for consultants. With other consultants (I’ve been around the block), I had a distinct sense that I was up against the clock. This left me feeling uncomfortable probing the advice I had paid a lot of money for in any depth. Sam was comfortable running overtime when I had important follow-up questions about his advice that hadn’t been answered yet, which left me feeling a far more satisfied client!
I would highly recommend Sam to anyone who is considering applying to both US and European schools.
I strongly recommend Sam to anyone needing support and guidance at any point during their MBA application process. I started working with Sam after being waitlisted at four schools I applied to in R1. Sam and I came up with a waitlist plan for each school, hammered out my post-MBA career plans, and did a mock interview for a school I applied to in R3. I cannot stress the importance of Sam’s support during the most difficult months of an almost year-long application process that I had expected would only take three months. The re-application plan we came up with gave me incredible peace of mind, as I realized the mistakes I had made when I was trying to do all of this on my own. I am so thankful I hired Sam before I needed to reapply, however, because I ended up receiving an offer from USC Marshall, the school I applied to in R3, that came with a full-tuition fellowship. Again, I recommend Sam to anyone needing help at any point during the process, no matter how early or how late. He is more than just an admissions consultant.
My experience with Sam was nothing short of fantastic.
I came in undecided on which degree to pursue and Sam not only guided my career path using his broad experience but laid out the specific steps I should take to make it a reality. He gave me his direct and honest advice while empathizing with my struggle as if he were in my own shoes, and helped me narrow down my list of business schools both in Europe and in the US. His help was invaluable in finding the schools which fit me best and complimented my career, which included IESE. His guidance and essay editing are top class, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to anyone hoping for an admit to their dream school.
I worked with Sam on my HBS application in round 1 and received an admit at Harvard Business School.
I applied while working full-time and he was available at short notice whenever I needed him. Most impressive was during the interview preparation when he adopted different interviewer styles, aggressive/slow, general/detailed to prepare me for whatever the interview threw at me on the day. Once I had been accepted, he was very thoughtful in helping me think through my decision, sharing his own experience of attending business school. This illustrated his continuous genuine care for your outcomes.
Since I only applied to HBS that’s a 100% success rate together! Massive thanks Sam, I couldn’t have done it without you.
Sam helped me navigate both the application process and subsequent decision-making when admission offers came in. Early in my search, he outlined the admissions criteria of various schools, such as GMAT thresholds and the profile of incoming cohorts, which helped me tailor my applications.
After I had secured offers from the top three UK programs, Sam talked me through each school’s student experience and the typical career paths of their graduates. He discussed Oxford’s focus on social impact, Cambridge’s strengths in entrepreneurship, and LBS’s substantial alumni network in the fields of finance and consulting as well as its proximity to interviewers in those fields.
His advice, based on his own first-hand experience as an applicant and MBA candidate, helped me choose LBS as the best program both for my career direction and for the MBA experience I hoped to have.
As an Indian IT Male candidate applying to schools for the last two years, I was very familiar with the kind of points I wanted to put forward. However, it wasn’t working and one of the primary reasons for that is my failure to bind them all in a cohesive storyline. Enter Sam. The very first time we spoke over a free consultation, I realized how he genuinely cared. I ended signing him up for Oxford but on one condition – I wanted his entire Christmas weekend as I was pre-occupied with prior commitments until the deadline! He never once complained and was extremely accommodating. We got on a video call and he spent the first few hours only trying to understand me and my motivations better.
Once we got working on the application itself (all over video call again), Sam said to me, “Mate, we could write them down as factual points or we could weave them together in a story. I prefer the storytelling way!”. That’s exactly what I wanted and what anyone should want, really! He seamlessly weaved my community-work and my extra-curriculars with my work experience and my future goals. At the end of the weekend, the application was 95% ready, and boy, did it seem purposeful! Every part of the application was unique and yet it fit in the larger narrative so smoothly. I never knew my story could be presented this well!
His work impressed me so much that I signed him up for MIT the very next day, although I had already written out the application. To me, the essays I’d written for MIT seemed very powerful and after the Christmas weekend of working on Oxford with Sam, suddenly seemed boring. He transformed the MIT essays again with his storytelling ‘elixir’ and they again became wow! What I loved the most was that he did not rely on viewpoints of stories that we’d worked on for Oxford. Instead, he put in a lot of effort to reimagine the stories from other viewpoints to customize the application for MIT.
Further, I worked with him for Carnegie Mellon and by now, my essays looked really refined and sharp. No wonder that I received an offer from CMU!
What really made the stories work was that he always welcomed my perspective. Oftentimes, I’d just narrate to him incidents or speak about my views/perspectives, and he’d have a keen ear to make a note of what I say and he’d incorporate in essays those points that could improve the application. There was once when I felt an essay could be improved and I wrote an alternative one – he took the best points of my version and the earlier version, put them together, and developed a really strong essay!
All in all, Sam is super easy to recommend to anyone wanting to improve their MBA applications. In fact, after the first few sessions, I eagerly looked forward to our calls because talking to him seemed more like talking to a friend than a consultant. That is the best part – he is so easy to get along with! If you’re looking to apply to any top MBA program anywhere in the world, talk to Sam. You’ll emerge richer.
As an Asian engineer breaking into a product management role through an MBA at Haas, I knew that I was facing the highest competition in the 2020-2021 admission cycle. Sam helped me craft an outstanding story that fits the school’s culture and thoroughly touched on every aspect of my application to flesh out my life experience and highlight my personal character and unique strengths. Sam was always available to chat, even with very short notice and across time zones.
The best part about working with Sam was that he genuinely cares about me and wants to help in every way possible to make my dream come true. Thank you so much for all your help throughout the process. I highly recommend Sam for anyone looking for a helping hand in their MBA application journey.
I chose Sam Weeks Consulting’s because I was targeting mostly European schools. I chose the 3 School Comprehensive Package. Sam has already gone through the process himself and knows exactly the type of student profile the admission committees are looking for. We decided I should apply to HEC Paris, NUS Singapore and Oxford Said.
Sam was patient to understand my story and the bits that should highlight in my application. In our first profile assessment call, he spent more than double of the time initially allocated just to understand my profile in detail. He has a knack for story-telling which transformed my experiences to a brilliant and involving essay. He broke up the essay prompts into manageable sections, tailored my response to the school’s specifications and helped me to write well-articulated essays making my experiences shine. He is incredibly responsive and checks up on me to be sure I’m making progress. If you’re applying to a top 20 global program, Sam is an investment you will not regret. Thanks, Sam!
From the outset, Sam provided me with professional advice that was robust, strategic, and authentic. Sam has a compelling story of his own, a proven history of being successful, and an approach that resonated with me.
We spent time together selecting the best choice of business schools relative to my consulting background and future aspirations. Together we discussed how my background would be a great fit for a top business school.
Sam was flexible in his approach and laid out a timeline that worked for me whilst balancing a career in management consultancy and my desire to complete an MBA. We had discussions about which rounds to target based on my personal circumstances, with consideration to scholarships that were applicable to me.
What I appreciated the most was the profile analysis undertaken by Sam. This allowed us to identify areas of strengths, as well as pinpoint areas to focus my energy on, such as the GMAT quantitative reasoning.
In summary, Sam has been an exceptional advisor and counsel to me and is one that I would recommend to friends, work colleagues and client peers. If you want a professional Consultant that has been through the process, thrived during and after completing his MBA at Saïd Business School, then I would highly recommend contacting Sam!
Our Partner Sites: Poets&Quants for Execs | Poets&Quants for Undergrads | Tipping the Scales | We See Genius