Susan McInerny

Working with Susan was one of the best decisions I made in my MBA application journey. I came in with a traditional background in investment banking and private equity, and an okay GPA, so I knew I had to find a way to stand out. From the beginning, she was polite but firm. She consistently pushed me to dig deeper into my experiences and background and think critically about how to frame my story in a compelling and differentiated way.

She helped me uncover stories from my personal and professional life that I hadn’t even considered including. These stories ultimately made my application to HBS not just strong but authentic. When it came to writing and refining my materials, her communication was incredibly prompt and professional. I’m very detail oriented (borderline obsessive) and she matched that at every step.

She challenged me to get clear on my goals, go deeper in my research, and connect everything together. She helped me tie my family history and past experiences to my future ambitions in a way that felt thoughtful and strategic. I truly believe that her guidance played a huge role in helping me get into my dream school.

I would wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking to apply to highly competitive MBA programs. She is a great fit for someone who wants a partner who will hold them to a high standard and help them uncover the best version of their story.

A great MBA admissions consultant is a subject matter expert, intellectually rigorous thought partner, and emotionally attuned cheerleader. Susan is all of these things and more. She’s whip smart, an expert in her field, generous with her time, and just fun to work with. I got in to every school I applied to, including Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton — a homerun outcome for which Susan deserves a great deal of credit. I’m so glad to have worked with her and be able to now call her a friend. I highly recommend her.

Working with Susan was hands down one of the best decisions I made during the MBA application process. She wasn’t just an advisor—she was a true mentor, confidante, and champion from day one. Susan brought a unique blend of warmth, candor, and strategic insight that made me feel fully supported at every step, and her guidance played a pivotal role in helping me gain admission to Columbia Business School. Her ability to help you uncover your authentic story and frame it in a way that resonates with top programs is unmatched. With her incredible career experience across sectors and her genuine investment in your success, Susan brings a perspective and level of care that’s incredibly rare. Even after hitting “submit,” she remained a steady source of encouragement and advice, showing just how much she cares about her clients beyond the application. If you have the chance to work with Susan—take it. You’ll walk away with not only a stronger application, but a lifelong mentor and friend.

I cannot recommend Susan enough—if you’re looking for an MBA consultant, she’s truly the best! After several free consultations with other consultants (one during which the consultant made me cry), I immediately connected with Susan during our first conversation and knew she was “the one.” I came in unsure of how to tell my story, and within 10 minutes, she helped me craft a compelling narrative about why I was pursuing my MBA.

Throughout the entire process, it was clear that Susan genuinely cared—not just about me, but about each of her students. She took the time to deeply understand my background and goals, and the level of thoughtfulness and care she brought to every draft, phone call, and email was beyond anything I expected. Sometimes I honestly wondered how she balanced so many students with the level of personal attention she gave me.

Despite my lower GMAT score and thanks to Susan’s incredible guidance, I was accepted into a few top-tier programs and will be heading to UChicago Booth this fall! I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked with her and know that she will remain a lifelong friend and mentor.

I met Susan after experiencing a devastating rejection from HBS following an interview. This was my third attempt at top-tier schools, and needless to say, I was feeling defeated. However, Susan’s approach was a game-changer. She was incredibly patient, offering a fresh perspective on my story. She took the time to review all my past applications—something my previous counselor didn’t do—including those from 2019 deferred admission applications.

Susan went above and beyond to understand my long-term plans and truly pinpoint what I wanted the admissions teams to know about my journey. She helped me refine both my short- and long-term goals, crafting essays that resonated with the values of HSW. While I didn’t gain admission to HBS, I did secure interviews at GSB and Wharton, thanks to her guidance.

What stood out the most was how accessible and supportive Susan was. Whether it was through emails or late-night phone calls when I was overwhelmed, she was always there, providing calm, thoughtful advice. She even went the extra mile by advising me on what other schools were looking for in essays and interviews, even though she had no obligation to do so. Thanks to Susan’s expertise and unwavering support, I received offers from 9 colleges including CBS, Booth, and Kellogg, was waitlisted at 4, and had only one rejection.

When it came time to make my decision, Susan was again instrumental. She was candid and insightful, helping me evaluate the cultures of the campuses and guiding me toward the right fit. In fact, she knew which school I’d choose before I even realized it myself!

As for the waitlist process, I cannot emphasize enough how crucial Susan’s support was. After being waitlisted by MIT, Wharton, and GSB and facing the added challenge of losing my job, Susan provided invaluable support in helping me craft compelling updates to strengthen my applications. Her guidance during this difficult time was crucial.

In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend working with Susan. She genuinely cares about her clients, takes the time to understand them, and builds meaningful connections. I’m confident that even though my MBA application journey has ended, I’ll stay in touch with Susan for years to come. She truly is amazing, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without her.

Working with Susan was one of the best decisions I made during the application process. I truly believe I wouldn’t be where I am without her insight, guidance, and unwavering support.

From day one, Susan went above and beyond. She knows my target program inside and out, and guided me through every step with clarity and confidence—from early brainstorming to interviews and even after admission results were announced. She was always just a message away and consistently made herself available to review materials and emails, provide thoughtful feedback, or help me work through decisions. For someone unfamiliar with the process, that level of accessibility and reassurance made a world of difference.

What truly sets Susan apart is how deeply she invests in getting to know you. She doesn’t just focus on your resume or career milestones—she genuinely takes the time to understand who you are as a person. She asked thoughtful questions and really listened, which allowed us to craft an application that felt both authentic and compelling. That personal connection showed through in my materials, and I believe this is a true differentiator as it helped my story resonate with the admissions team on a deeper level.

Susan also supported my recommenders—both seasoned executives—with tailored guidance that they found incredibly helpful. They both told me how much they appreciated her insight in helping them understand what the school is truly looking for and how to best frame their recommendations, making the process more strategic and focused.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with Susan. She’s thoughtful, respectful, and genuinely committed to your success. Most of all, she’s someone you can trust to walk with you through what can be a very personal and high-stakes journey. I can’t recommend her highly enough.

I cannot speak highly enough of Susan. With her support and expertise, I was accepted into all the schools I applied to! Her wisdom, mentorship, and guidance made the application process so smooth and enjoyable.

I decided to work with her after meeting with a multitude of admission consultants. She was the only one who gave me tangible and impactful advice during my complimentary consultation. Also, I could tell she genuinely cared about my overall success. Not only did Susan show her deep knowledge of navigating the MBA process, but she also was the kindest and nicest consultant I met.

I am beyond thankful for the opportunity to work with Susan! She helped me craft a meaningful and real story when writing essays. Susan gave me valuable advice when reviewing various aspects of my application portfolio. With her feedback, I was able to confidently submit my applications. She made the entire process stress free and fun! I truly feel blessed!

I definitely recommend Susan to anyone looking for an MBA consultant! She will truly make your life better when applying!

I cannot recommend Susan enough! Throughout my MBA application journey, she was more than just a consultant—she became a lifelong friend and trusted advisor. With her guidance, I was accepted into five incredible MBA programs, even though my GMAT score was slightly below average.

What truly sets Susan apart is her ability to deeply understand your story and help you convey it authentically and powerfully to admissions committees. She worked tirelessly with me to hone in on my narrative, ensuring that my applications reflected not only my accomplishments but also my unique passions and values.

The process of applying to business school can be overwhelming, but Susan removed so much of that anxiety. Her personalized approach and constant encouragement made the process feel manageable and even enjoyable. From strategizing early on to reviewing countless drafts of essays, she provided thoughtful and actionable feedback every step of the way.

Susan goes above and beyond in every aspect of the application process. Whether it was brainstorming essay ideas, preparing for interviews, or just being a sounding board when I needed reassurance, she was always there.

Thanks to Susan’s expertise and unwavering support, I’m heading to a top MBA program and feel confident about the journey ahead. If you’re looking for someone who will invest in you and truly elevate your MBA applications, look no further!

Working with Susan has been nothing short of life changing —and I mean that wholeheartedly. After two years of feeling lost in the MBA application process as an international EU student unfamiliar with its complexities, Susan illuminated the path-my path. She empowered me to believe in myself, own my narrative, and boldly tell my story.

With patience, candor, and an unwavering sense of purpose, she coached me into someone who stands taller, speaks with clarity, and believes in herself. From the initial brainstorming to the countless essay drafts and eventually, interview preparation, she provided unwavering support every step of the way. Thanks to her guidance, I was accepted into four top MBA programs—two with scholarships. Beyond admissions success, Susan has strengthened my sense of self-worth, deepened my sense of purpose, and sharpened my ability to drive meaningful change.

If you’re seeking an exceptionally smart, knowledgeable, and purpose-driven coach to guide you through the MBA journey, I cannot recommend her highly enough.

Susan was a pleasure to work with. She was candid about my candidacy at The University of Michigan Ross School of Business, and she helped me develop a great plan to eventually get accepted. As someone who made the decision later in life to pursue an MBA, I was a bit out of touch with what admissions counselors looked for in an applicant. Susan was really great at detailing the most effective way to develop my application narrative based on my education and professional history, and worked overtime to make sure I told that story in the best way possible. I was extremely happy with her service and would recommend her to anyone that wants to ensure they put their best foot forward.

Susan was an incredible partner throughout my MBA application journey. I started with a three-school package and later added a fourth school to my list. As an overrepresented finance applicant, I greatly benefited from Susan’s deep expertise and thoughtful guidance. She supported me at every step—from brainstorming essay ideas to perfecting my applications, preparing for interviews, and ultimately deciding which offer to accept. Her ability to highlight my unique experiences and present my story in a compelling way made all the difference. Susan’s dedication and responsiveness were remarkable, and I’m incredibly grateful for her help. Highly recommend!

Susan is the best – I had a complicated story that needed to be told with nuance, and she helped me craft a really compelling narrative for my admissions essays in just a few weeks. She was also incredibly emotionally supportive as I was dealing with some stressful circumstances in the background during my applications. She genuinely cares about her clients, and even after I got my acceptances, she was eager to help me think through the pros / cons of each program.

I worked with Susan on my MBA applications and could not be more grateful for all her help throughout the process!

Susan consistently went above and beyond in providing thought-provoking reviews of my application materials, meaningful feedback, and practice in interview prep. Even more, she was always a friendly and supportive mentor that I could rely on throughout the process when faced with personal dilemmas and family crises. Susan’s support helped me to fully understand exactly why each program was a fit for me so that it became easy to convey a genuine and compelling message. Even after being accepted with generous support from schools, Susan continued to go above and beyond of her own accord in connecting me with students who had similar experiences deciding between these programs.

For anyone considering whether an MBA admissions consultant is the right choice for you, I would highly recommend Susan!

Susan had all the institutional knowledge one would need for the MBA process but paired it with a relaxed and calm demeanor. She was always extremely quick to get back to me with any and all questions I had and was instrumental in helping me craft my story for the various essays.

I could not recommend her enough.

I’ve had the privilege of working with Susan on multiple occasions and across several professional milestones, starting with my admissions process for Wharton, where I am currently an MBA student. From the very beginning, she demonstrated an exceptional ability to understand my individual strengths, clarify my goals, and pinpoint precisely what admissions committees look for. The insights and support she provided were truly invaluable, ensuring that my application was both authentic and compelling.

But Susan’s impact went far beyond that initial admissions guidance. Even after I secured my place at Wharton, I turned to her again for overall career advice and later, for support in applying to a competitive venture capital fellowship in health tech. In each instance, she not only offered strategic guidance but also helped me refine my personal narrative, articulate my value proposition, and navigate the often complex world of professional development.

What stands out most is that my relationship with Susan never felt limited to a single project. We’ve stayed in touch long after my applications were submitted and deadlines passed, and I continue to benefit from her perspective and mentorship. This long-term connection has become a valuable resource—she’s someone who really understands my evolving career path and can offer thoughtful guidance at every new juncture.

Working with Susan has been an investment in my future. She’s proven herself to be not only an extraordinary admissions advisor, but also a trusted mentor and champion, genuinely invested in my success. I’m immensely grateful for her support and can confidently recommend her to anyone seeking guidance through high-stakes admissions, career transitions, or new professional opportunities.

After doing several free consultation interviews, I chose to work with Susan who is extremely knowledgeable. She was amazing to meet, had the best insights and went above and beyond to understand my unique situation and provide advice that was best tailored to help me achieve my goals.

I am an international applicant from Asia and I find Susan a great pleasure to work with. She is very thought provoking to enable me to think outside of the box. Her friendliness and emotional support made the entire process not only effective but also enjoyable. From our very first meeting, she encouraged me to think deeply about my goals and how best to present them in my application, which significantly strengthened my overall narrative.

One of Susan’s standout qualities is her dedication. She went to great lengths to help me meet my application deadlines, even when it required late-night sessions or quick turnaround times on drafts. Her commitment ensured that I never felt overwhelmed or rushed, but rather confident and prepared every step of the way.

Susan’s interview preparation was particularly exceptional. She provided a comprehensive list of questions tailored to my specific applications and career goals, along with robust preparation tactics that left me feeling ready for anything the interviewers might throw my way. Her insights and feedback were instrumental in helping me refine my responses and present myself authentically and compellingly.

Susan successfully helped me to get into my dream school in US. I strongly recommend her services to international applicants like me.

I was initially hesitant about using a consultant for the application process, but meeting Susan changed everything. Her exceptional work and invaluable insights were instrumental in securing my place at my top-choice program – HBS! Susan exceeded all my expectations, providing unwavering support and motivation through what can only be described as an emotional rollercoaster. She was always ready to address any doubts and highly responsive to my needs. Her deep knowledge and guidance significantly reduced my stress and the time spent worrying about the “what ifs.” I recommend Susan without any hesitation! If I had to go through this process again, I would undoubtedly choose to work with her once more.

From beginning to end, Susan did an amazing job. There were a few schools I thought about targeting but I wasn’t sure which direction to go. She did a great job helping me narrow them down and then how to go about targeting them. She really helped me tell my story and I can say with confidence I do not believe my essays could have been any better thanks to her assistance and guidance. Even when I had questions towards the end of the application, she was always quick to respond and thorough with her answers. I was honestly skeptical in regard to hiring an MBA consultant when I first started, now I would tell everyone to do it and would recommend Susan McInerny first and foremost. I was accepted to my target school and without her help I am not sure I would have. I highly recommend her services!!

Susan was incredible and I would recommend her 100 times over to anyone who is interested in pursuing a competitive MBA program. She was incredibly attentive, supportive, and encouraging throughout the application process, while also providing candid and realistic feedback during our conversations and brainstorm sessions. Susan is incredibly responsive, and I felt that we built a strong relationship throughout this process. I feel like she took the time to truly learn and understand my story, and helped me translate this into a competitive application (including essays and short answers). Additionally, Susan’s expertise helped me tailor my applications appropriately, and supported me as I was looking to boost my candidacy outside of the application itself (i.e. advice on letters of support, networking, events to attend, etc.). I will be attending Columbia Business School on a full-ride scholarship (along with multiple fellowships), and could not have done this without her. I have personally recommended her to multiple friends of mine, and appreciate her openness to continuing a relationship moving forward.

Susan was the best partner I could’ve asked for to help me navigate the entire application process! We connected fairly late in the process, when I was experiencing significant anxiety and doubting whether I would be able to prepare thoughtful, quality applications in time. Despite challenging circumstances and condensed timeframes, Susan was consistently positive, warm, engaged, and supportive throughout the entire process and gave me tremendous confidence.

She really took pride in understanding who I am, how my experiences molded me into the person I am today, and what matters most to me, and used that to craft an incredibly compelling narrative that helped get me into HBS!

I could not recommend her highly enough – not just for her contributions to my application and sage advice, but also for how supportive and fun she was during the entire process!! I will miss working with her!

Susan has been instrumental in my MBA journey and helped me land admissions into top schools. Initially, the admissions process felt daunting, but Susan was always there to provide words of wisdom and calm my nerves. She helped connect the dots across my experiences and personal interests to draft a compelling narrative. Her initial brainstorming sessions were incredibly helpful as she sought to get to know me on a deeper level. She truly is a gifted storyteller! Susan was super flexible when I fluctuated between schools and ensured I had all the materials provided for a strong application. Despite some of my last-minute edits, she was very responsive. I loved my interview prep with Susan as I felt that it was extremely thorough, and a lot of the questions were also asked during my actual interview.

Susan was a great consultant. I did the 30min free session with her at the start which helped me understand how many and which universities I should target. After purchasing the hourly sessions, Susan shared a lot of valuable resources she had prepared to help with the essay writing process. She was very efficient with her time, and I got through the majority of essays I needed to with the hours I purchased. In addition, she had a quick response time, enabling me to meet all my deadlines. Her experience shows, and helped my craft a unique story to stand out as a candidate. In addition, she provided great resources so I could prep for the interviews and was easily reachable by mail. In the end, I got accepted into my target school with an entrance award!

I HIGHLY recommend working with Susan (and have referred her to several of my friends who are applying), as she was a tremendous help to me during the applications (got into HBS and GSB).

Susan was an incredible resource during the application process, from helping me formulate my application strategy, to helping me tell my story in a crisp, concise way, to preparing me for the interviews. She provided valuable input and feedback every step of the way, and is incredibly knowledgeable about the application process and the specifics of the MBA programs I applied to.

I could tell that she is very invested in my success, and made sure that I was feeling comfortable and confident throughout the process. She is also very responsive to email questions, feedback, etc. I could not have asked for anything more from an MBA Consultant.

It’s hard to overstate what a thoughtful, sharp, responsive, creative, brilliant and kind partner Susan was to me during the MBA admission process. As a non-traditional applicant (practicing physician), Susan was able to quickly identify the most important and impactful aspects of my past and help me weave them into an airtight application. In fact, I refined my own goals through the process of working with her.A Additionally, through helping me put the pieces of my journey together, she helped me feel more empowered about my own story, reminded me of the value of coaching, and helped me to become a better story-teller. As an older applicant, her positivity and encouragement were also instrumental for me. Another highlight was the precise, accurate interview preparation she put me through. With her help, I applied to only one MBA program for Executives, and happy to say I’ll be at Wharton! I feel very fortunate to have been put in touch with Susan.

I worked with Susan throughout the application process secure an acceptance from UVA Darden. I did multiple initial free consultations with different MBA consultants, but Susan immediately stood out as superior. I had concerns regarding work experience, standardized test scores, and narrowing top choices, but Susan quickly identified my strengths and most compelling stories to enhance my candidacy.

While other MBA consultants highlighted deficiencies in my application, Susan recognized opportunities to distinguish myself and guided me in crafting an application tailored to the specific school. Susan was flexible, professional, honest, and had excellent insight into the unique components of each program. 10/10 I would recommend!!!

I have only the most positive things to say about Susan.

When I started my MBA journey, I was skeptical about working with a consultant (purely from a cost perspective), but I had an initial call with Susan and immediately realized how much value she would add. Throughout the process she was brilliant to work with: very clear, always knew the right questions to ask, and really helped refine my essay topics. The other highlight was the interview prep: this made such a difference to my confidence going into the interviews.

Whilst I’d been thinking about my professional goals for a long while, I basically started my actual application process in mid-August. So this meant I had about a month to do everything, including writing the essays, prep my resume, do all the smaller application questions, and study for and sit the exam twice… The point being: Susan’s advice and expertise helped me enormously in a short time frame!

I’m delighted that I got into every school I applied to: Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton. I’m so excited and grateful. I really doubt I’d be in this position if I hadn’t worked with a consultant as strong as Susan.

I would recommend her in the strongest possible terms and without hesitation to anybody. My younger sibling wants to apply for MBAs in the next couple of years and Susan would be my first call. Thanks so much Susan!

I worked with Susan McInerny at mbaMission as an hourly client while preparing my application to the HBS Class of 2026. I’m incredibly excited to say that I was accepted to HBS and that I couldn’t be stronger in my endorsement of Susan!! She helped me transform my application from good to GREAT. As an HBS alum herself, Susan gave me amazing insight into how to best tell my story in a clear and compelling way. She offered invaluable guidance every step of the way from my resume to essays to interview prep. Not only did she help me strengthen my application, but she also instilled in me a confidence about my background, my story, and what I have to offer at these elite programs. Susan was sharp, professional, responsive, and friendly – I truly felt that she had my best interest at heart which shined through in her guidance and support. I can’t imagine a better MBA admissions consultant! I STRONGLY recommend Susan and mbaMission.