Thomas Locke

I worked with Tom for over a year on every stage of my MBA process. He helped me craft my list of schools, weigh in on timing my testing, build out my extracurriculars, choose recommenders, write essays, fill out applications, and revise everything along the way. I applied to both part-time and full-time MBA programs, and Tom went above and beyond to personalize the journey based on my unique goals and preferences.

Tom played a big role in helping me get into several of my top-choice programs and was consistently creative in finding ways to strengthen my overall application. Where he really stood out was with the essays. His help with drafting, editing, and refining made a huge difference. My applications wouldn’t have been nearly as strong without him.

I’ve already recommended Tom to several close friends and people in my network, and I would absolutely encourage anyone considering working with him to reach out.

Tom was a constant source of help and valuable information. He was honest, direct, and generally very easy to work with, and he really brought out the best out of my stories. My MBA applications were a lot of work, but I can absolutely say that Tom helped me put my best foot forward in the process, and is a major part of why I’m headed to Wharton!

Tom was highly recommended by a friend. From our first conversation, he was helpful and clear in setting expectations. I had a GPA below 2.5 and I knew it would be a major hurdle but Tom guided me on how to craft my story. With his help I was accepted into several programs. I’ll be matriculating this fall and would definitely recommend him to other applicants.

Tom was a constant source of help and valuable information. He was honest, direct, and generally very easy to work with, and he really brought out the best out of my stories. My MBA applications were a lot of work, but I can absolutely say that Tom helped me put my best foot forward in the process, and is a major part of why I’m headed to MIT Sloan in August.

Tom was extremely helpful in the MBA admissions process. He tailor fit all his recommendations based on the schools I applied for. He then gave school-focused advice for interviews, grades, and essays, all of which helped me succeed into getting in my target school. I especially liked that for my essays, he gave me insights on my stories that I hadn’t thought of before, and made me realize what story is really most valuable to tell.

I can confidently say I wouldn’t have been admitted to HBS—along with several other top programs—without Tom’s guidance. He helped me find my voice and craft my story in a way I never could have on my own. From refining my narrative to strategically framing my application, Tom was the perfect thought partner, always pushing me to bring out my best. His insights, dedication, and ability to elevate my application were truly invaluable.

If you’re serious about getting into a top MBA program, working with Tom isn’t just a smart choice—it’s a necessity. Future MBA applicants are taking a major risk by not having him in their corner!

I owe my MBA application success to Tom. He is extremely knowledgable on the entire MBA application process and thoughtfully guided me through every step of the way, including curating my school list, perfecting my essays, and helping me put my best foot forward with a low quant score. With Tom’s help, I got into all of my top schools (CBS, Fuqua, Darden), and I’m not sure I could have done this without him. I had a great experience working with Tom and I cannot recommend him enough.

I started working with Tom in early 2024, feeling completely overwhelmed by the application process. He provided me with a detailed guideline to meet the Round 1 deadline and effectively manage my time. As I struggled with my GRE score, Tom connected me with excellent instructors who guided me toward achieving a great score. This demonstrated the incredible resources he has to help students reach their goals, including mine of pursuing an MBA.

The application process as a non-native speaker can be challenging, but Tom supported me every step of the way. He helped refine my essays and ensured I could share my story in the best possible light. By identifying my strengths and teaching me how to weave them into a compelling narrative, he made the entire process feel manageable. Even now, as I look back on my essays, I’m genuinely impressed with how well everything turned out. After being accepted at Booth and Wharton, I was so excited to share my achievements with him, knowing he had been a great part of the process and allowed me to fulfill my dreams.

I began working with Tom in May 2023, anxious to get the R1 and R2 process right (and coming from a family that knew everything about law school and nothing about business school), and Tom absolutely exceeded my expectations. First, he’s not only an incredible storyteller but a great facilitator of your own creativity and ideas. Whether or not writing is your strong suit, he’ll help you find new ways to think about and frame your story, your goals and your strengths in the right light. Second, he’s a true partner in every sense of the word, unafraid to call out when you might need to reconsider part of your approach. For example, my GRE quant score wasn’t quite as high as we wanted, and I needed to strengthen that part of my application. Tom not only had me sign up for MBA math, and pushed me to retake the GRE before my Round 2 applications, but he also helped me research how to take the Executive Assessment to submit those scores in Round 1. I was incredibly hesitant to do so, but in the spirit of a true partner, he laid out the pros and cons and helped me make the right choice. Third, he’s just plain fun to work with – he’s bright, he makes interesting connections, he brings concrete examples to the table to help you understand what he’s saying, and he’s got very little in the way of ego or scare tactics. I can say with certainty that I would not have gotten into my program without his counsel, and I’ll recommend him to anyone who’ll listen.

Tom was fantastic as a consultant and was able to help me write detailed and successful applications. Throughout the entire process, Tom was able to help me craft my career story and pull out the key details and stories that I may have overlooked. He has extensive knowledge of not only the business schools but also the application and interview process. Tom uniquely was able to drive my thoughts forward into a clear, concise, and authentic application.

Tom was simply excellent. He does not have the background of the admissions reps, and that is a good thing. It’s a good thing because he will listen to each story from the beginning and help you craft your best narrative, whereas other commoditized consultants will force you into a “proven” mold (does not work). The tailored approach focused on storytelling is differentiated and successful. Would strongly recommend!

A fellow veteran recommended Tom to me by-name after he assisted him with his Darden application, so I reached out to conduct the initial assessment and was pleasantly surprised at just how thorough and personalized it was – despite the fact that I hadn’t paid for the service yet. After working with him for the better part of a year in applying to multiple T20 schools, he helped me overcome the imposter syndrome that might’ve otherwise held me back, and he walked me through some of the more esoteric nuances of the MBA admissions process. He was also completely candid with me and wasn’t afraid to highlight the weaknesses in my candidacy before helping me refocus to overcome them. I’ve recommended Tom to everyone I know who’s starting their admissions journey, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed fostering this personal and professional relationship with him over the past year.

Tom helped me expertly craft my applications when they were lacking cohesion, clarity, and brevity. He takes his expertise in film and applies it to an industry where the story you tell matters. I applied as a deferred candidate and was overwhelmed with how to portray myself to top schools. But with Tom’s guidance, the story became clear. I’m grateful to have been admitted to UC Berkeley Haas thanks in no small part to his expertise. I would highly recommend him as an MBA consultant.

From the beginning of my application process Tom was extremely diligent. He understood and was accommodating to my very specific needs and application restrictions because of geographical constraints. If you are looking for a personalized consultant experience and help in crafting an interesting story around your application, Tom is the consultant for you. Tom goes above and beyond, even after initial school decisions. with help during the waitlist or reapplication process. I eventually got into my top choice with a lot of support from Tom.

I could not have asked for a better advisor during my MBA application process. I come from a non traditional background (Comm major undergrad, music industry), and immediately felt at ease with and supported by Tom. Other companies did not seem to understand how to leverage my background the way he did. Tom also encouraged me to take the EA instead of the GRE which was invaluable advice – I ended up getting below my target score on the GRE and above my target on the EA. He was invaluable in helping me getting my essays down to under the word count and preparing for my interviews. Most importantly, Tom was there late at night to talk me off the ledge when I realized I’d made a mistake on one of my submitted applications, and helped me figure out next steps (and I still ended up getting accepted to that school!)

Tom worked directly with me all-in on just two schools (Wharton and Chicago), but the story that I developed with Tom was generalizable to all 6 of my M7 deferred admit applications, and through his help I was accepted to 4, including Wharton, MIT Sloan, Chicago Booth, and CBS. I honestly could not be happier with the results.

In all honesty, I had a hard time trusting Tom’s process at first. He is challenging to work with in the sense that he has really deep expertise but he doesn’t write your story for you. He really pushes you to uncover that which makes your story unique and to find what you really need to show the AdComs. It was hard for me because I had a very strong profile but I was terrible with the emotional intelligence that it takes to write great MBA essays.

Tom pushed me to find and craft my story and I really do believe that the storyline I found with him was the golden bullet that made me not just another student with great stats who gets rejected.

Trust Tom’s process, believe in it, and put the work in with him and it works out. Tom is a storywriter at heart and so he has a different style, but IT WORKS.

Tom is an absolutely terrific consultant and I feel lucky to have been referred to him by a friend. On a personal level, Tom is gregarious, supportive, and always easy to have a conversation with. During our introductory session, he assessed my business school candidacy in clear terms, highlighted the strongest aspects of my application and succinctly explained areas that might have room for improvement. This was in stark contrast to several other consultants I considered, many of whom over emphasized negatives to try and show just how much I needed their services. Tom’s honesty and clear, rational communication skills were a constant throughout my application process. He was able to synthesize an enormous amount of information about me as an applicant and person and draw out the best themes to serve as the basis of my essays. Beyond his abundant storytelling talent and editorial abilities, Tom served as a calming voice throughout the many highs and lows that invariably occur during any application process. He is a tremendous consultant and has a wealth of knowledge to put his clients in the best position to succeed. More importantly, he is a great person that made what can be an extremely stressful process much more manageable.

Working with Tom took was a top notch experience from start to finish. From the first call he helped guide me and get an understanding of the application process, which gave me confidence to ultimately get into my top choice program. Tom truly knows what schools want to see and helps you to create the right narrative throughout all aspects of your application.

I made it clear to Tom that I had one goal, and one goal only: get in R1 to Kellogg. Together, as of last month, that dream became a reality, and I doubt I could’ve done it without him.

Tom is incredibly diligent, thoughtful, experienced, and an all-around awesome MBA consultant. He helped take some very vague ideas for my essays and turn them into nuanced storytelling that I felt communicated who I was and why I wanted an MBA beautifully. I shudder to think what my essays would’ve looked like without his help. If you have the chance to work with Tom, I cannot recommend it enough! Thank you, Tom!

Tom is an talented and insightful coach whose strength comes from forging a deep personal connection with his clients. I found this to be the case both in terms of our warm working relationship, and also from his knack for guiding my thinking in a direction that helped me best tell my story, where my writing might otherwise have fallen into listing goals and accomplishments with less structure. His mentorship is not only valuable for the structure it provides, but also for the ways in which he pushed me to think more critically about myself along the way, strengthening my overall candidacy beyond the written application. Tom is also Forster Thomas’s resident interview expert, and I had multiple moments in interviews where I directly remembered and applied guidance that Tom provided me to bring the most polished and focused version of my professional and academic history to the table. He truly set me up to tell my story well in every sense of the word!

Tom is truly the best consultant and I am so lucky to have had him as mine. I don’t even know where to start with how great he is….first off, Tom had the ability of making me feel extremely comfortable throughout the whole process. This allowed me to effectively share my ideas, thoughts and concerns to come up with the best essays and applications. He served as an amazing support system from the beginning and guided me through every key decision. His ability to pull thoughts and ideas out of me was remarkable — we ended up with essays that I was not only proud of but that spoke to my true character and allowed the schools to get to know me on a deeper level. Tom made himself available at all times especially when it was crunch time. I don’t know what’s a better testament to his success than me not only getting into my dream school but to 4 other schools to which I applied. While the process can be stressful, Tom made it light, fun and enjoyable. I would HIGHLY recommend him to anyone who is looking for a consultant, there is NOBODY better!

I would certainly recommend Tom as a consultant.

Tom helped me to get accepted into HSB and Wharton, my top 2 schools. He had deep expertise about all aspects of the application process and always answered my questions knowledgeably.

I started working with Tom about 9 months before I submitted my MBA applications. The MBA application process requires a ton of work and is intentionally open ended in some aspects (essays, framing of story, etc.). Tom’s understanding of the process helped me work through every step of the process efficiently. He helped me coalesce my personal and professional experiences into an application that was not only truly me but also highlighted why business school was right for me + why I was right for each program I applied to. Tom is at his core a storyteller, and that, more than anything else, is exactly why he is such a great partner to work with on MBA applications. His ability to help you think through and craft your story allows your application to stand out among the many qualified candidates that apply each year. He is an honest, hard working, attentive and to-the-point worker. He made what I’m sure would typically be a stressful process into an enjoyable self reflection exercise by pushing me to dig deep and think about why business school was truly the next best step for my career.

I had the immense pleasure of working with Tom Locke recently, and I can confidently say that he is an exceptional consultant who possesses an incredible talent for transforming the impossible into reality. As a R3/R4 applicant, starting my MBA journey in early January, I was doubtful that I could do all that I needed to in time for application deadlines. Tom made that possible and turned what felt like a very overwhelming amount of work into an enjoyable and feasible journey.

Tom’s expertise and dedication are truly remarkable, and I am extremely grateful for the invaluable guidance he provided throughout our work together. He is truly an expert when it comes to crafting your story and provides incredible insight and guidance throughout the process.

Throughout our collaboration, Tom consistently demonstrated his dedication to my success. He went above and beyond in understanding my goals, aspirations, and personal circumstances. His empathy and genuine interest in my journey were evident in every interaction we had, and as a result, Tom was always one of the first people I wanted to share news with as I was admitted to programs. His unwavering support and encouragement gave me the confidence to push through challenges and pursue my dream of going to business school.

Working with Tom is having a true partner going through the admissions process. He was always available to address my concerns, answer my questions, and provide timely feedback. His responsiveness and guidance created a sense of dependability and trust, which made the entire experience smooth and enjoyable.

Thanks to Tom’s expertise and guidance, what initially felt impossible gradually transformed into a tangible reality. I achieved outcomes that exceeded my wildest expectations and even after we finished working together, Tom still offered guidance as I struggled to choose between top MBA programs – options I never would have had without his help. Tom is truly the best MBA consultant out there!

Tom is amazing!! I didn’t understand much about the MBA application process. Tom walked me through every single step and taught me how to draft a unique story from my personal and professional backgrounds. Tom is always creative, responsible, and responsive, and he prepares me well for all aspects of the application. I couldn’t have done it without him! Highly recommend him if you are looking for an MBA consultant!

Every person who applies to a top-tier MBA program is hard-working, intelligent, and accomplished. You have to differentiate yourself—and Tom allowed me to make that difference. MBA programs differentiate applicants by learning about who they are as a person. Tom teaches you how to tell your story during the application essays and interviews. As a veteran, I had plenty of stories to tell but no experience with expository writing. Thru numerous emails and phone discussions, Tom coaxed my writing to show my values as a person and leader. His unbiased and professional opinion also gave me the confidence to take calculated risks in order to differentiate myself. My Wharton essays highlighted shortfalls in the school’s curriculum. My friends and family felt the criticism was too big a risk. I was already a highly qualified candidate. Why risk torpedoing my only chance to attend my dream school? It was Tom who pointed out that my constructive criticism demonstrated the exact qualities that top MBA programs desire. He was right, and I will be starting my MBA journey at Wharton this summer.

I could not have asked for a better consultant than Tom. I found him to be different from other consultants I spoke with – he was kind, supportive, and constructive, which gave me the confidence I needed to complete my applications. I also saw great value in his background as a writer (vs. former admissions rep). His emphasis on story telling was crucial to helping me craft the best and most authentic application. With Tom’s help, I got into my top-choice school – I could not have done it without him! I would hands down recommend Tom to anyone seeking an MBA consultant.

Tom is a fantastic MBA consultant. He is encouraging, supportive, always responsive, and very knowledgeable. Tom takes the time to help you craft your story and determine which aspects of your unique profile should be highlighted in the application process. Personally, I found Tom’s input on my business school “fit” to be one of the most valuable aspects of our partnership. He helped me align my interests and values with a select group of business schools in which I could thrive. This nuanced approach helped me gain acceptance to a top program that suits me perfectly.

I was introduced to Tom via a friend whom he had helped get into her dream school – as soon as we were introduced, Tom jumped on a call with me to understand where I was in my application process. He has had tremendous success, working with applicants from non-traditional backgrounds – and talking to him, I knew he’d help me get to my dream school. He is a very attentive and keen listener and helped me navigate the roller-coaster ride that was my admission journey. He helped carefully craft my stories, to bring out leadership skills, and business acumen all the while ensuring that the essay helped me sound like my authentic self. He is very knowledgeable about the admissions process and is quick to respond to communication. He ensured that I had all my essays completed and edited well in advance of the deadline. When it came time to interview, he had great tips for me, and ultimately helped me land at my dream school!

Tom is not only an expert on all MBA admissions, the intricacies of the top schools, and how to help you tell your story, but he is also extremely personable and friendly. I came to Tom as recommended by a friend who was admitted into their top school. Tom delivered the same results for me and I was admitted to every school we worked in together. Without Tom’s guidance, I would not have experienced the same results. Tom helped me unlock the creative side of my story and helped encouraged me to write about stories that mattered to both me and the potential application reviewers. He made the process easier and more enjoyable, I actually looked forward to all of our consultation calls. He’s got a great sense of humor and is extremely quick to respond and get back to you in a timely manner. Would recommend him to anyone and everyone.

I was introduced to Tom by a friend of a friend and from there we quickly jumped on a call during which I explained my professional goals and how I thought an MBA could help me achieve them at this stage of my career. I only wished to apply to my dream school and Tom did a great job assisting me throughout my application journey. Tom helped me navigate the entirety of the application and seemed to know well how to best position my candidacy based on my personal and professional story. I am thankful for his overall dedication and commitment. He definitely played a significant role in my acceptance to my dream school.

Tom is fantastic and helped me get into several top MBA programs. As a nontraditional candidate, I didn’t know anything about the MBA application process or where to start. Tom helped me craft my unique background into an interesting story and navigate the process from start to finish. He is responsive, insightful, and realistic but encouraging. I highly recommend Tom!

Tom is simply phenomenal. He executes the fundamentals at a best-in-class level and helps you get into the appropriate head space to find your “why” and unlock the true potential of your application. I had a challenging process but he never gave up on my ceiling and I got into my dream school during my 2nd application cycle. Tom is the best and I would recommend him to anyone and everyone.

I came to Tom with a lot of ideas and excitement that needed to be consolidated into a clear, cohesive story. The value that Tom added to my application was allowing me to talk through my story and distill it into a narrative that was compelling and clear. His background in film showed through as he helped me craft an essay that was like a movie playing in someone’s head, with snapshots of the most salient stories I had to tell, all tied together with a clear takeaway and narrative. Tom’s editing ability, responsiveness, and professionalism are top-tier, but it is his storytelling ability that will get someone accepted into a top school, whether that be business, medical, etc. He helped me gain acceptance into both a Top 5 medical and business school because of his ability to make a candidate stand out and be interesting and memorable. Would not recommend Tom enough and already have to many of my peers!

I reached out to Tom 3 weeks before an Early Decision deadline. Whilst I was concerned that the time constraint would compromise the quality of my application, Tom had a lot of faith in me and gave me the confidence to push through an ED application. During this period, Tom was dedicated to my application. He did a great job in marrying my story with what the school was looking for. He’s confident with his directions, and that approach helped me clear any noise or doubts in drafting my essays and saved me a lot of time. In the end, we were able to produce a strong application that wouldn’t have changed even if I had more time. I strongly believe I wouldn’t have been accepted to my dream school without Tom!

I came to Tom for help in applying to full-time MBA programs. Tom worked with me to come up with a plan to strategize how to best apply to schools based on my scores, background, interests, and goals. He gave candid advice and was very straightforward. This helped me better understand my chances and best prepare my applications. In the end, I was able to get into programs that would help me achieve my goals, this wouldn’t have been possible without the guidance and help from Tom.

Tom could not have been more helpful. He combines an intimate knowledge of the application process (and of each school’s particular considerations) with a true interest in your story as an applicant to best position you for each school on your list. The best part about the approach is that it’s genuine—you give yourself the best chance of admission while becoming more familiar with what you want out of an MBA. As a candidate coming from a relatively uncommon background, his shaping of my story was a crucial component of my application.

The process was a pleasure, and I was admitted to my top choice!

I had my first call with Tom before I started studying for the GMAT. Tom gave me fantastic guidance before I signed with him and gave me a path forward. Over the next few months, Tom would follow up with me to ask about my GMAT and extracurricular work. I spoke with MANY consultants, and Tom was the only one who felt genuinely interested in my success regardless of whether I signed with him. I knew from this moment that Tom was going to be the one.

When I was finally ready to start on my essays, I signed up for a multi-school program, and Tom helped me choose schools that he felt fit my background and what I was looking to do in the future. The essay process was seamless. Tom provided insightful feedback that helped me see my story from a different angle. I work in finance, so storytelling wasn’t my forte, but Tom gave me all the tools I needed to tell my story in a way that answered the questions and showed who I was. I wouldn’t have been able to get my essays to where they ended up without Tom.

After the essays, Tom gave exceptional feedback on all aspects of each application. From short answers to resumes, Tom helped significantly with each portion, ensuring I had everything I needed before submitting it.

Once my applications were submitted, we did insightful interview preparation. Tom gave me guidelines and examples that I needed for each interview, and sure enough, he knew EXACTLY what to ask and what to ask me to prepare.

After all this, I interviewed at every school I applied to and was accepted to my top programs, including my reach schools! I can’t recommend Tom enough, and I have connected him with many prospective friends and colleagues because I know he will help anyone tremendously.

Tom, was instrumental in helping me navigate the complex and competitive MBA application process. Tom offered thoughtful feedback throughout the whole process and strikes the perfect balance of being professional, yet also personable. Tom is a master story-teller and tremendously helped me identify and communicate my unique traits and life experiences in my essays. I don’t know if I would have been accepted into one of my top program choices without Tom.

Tom was an incredible partner throughout my MBA application journey. Not only was he personable and lovely to work with, but he was also incredible support throughout the entire process. I knew I had a story to tell, and I knew that was going to be my ticket in. I was on the younger side of the spectrum for applicants, and my undergraduate grades and graduate entrance exam scores were good enough, but certainly not the best. However, my resume was stellar and I knew if someone could get to know me through the essays, I would have a good shot of getting accepted. Tom worked with me to find the right stories to tell. I am an LA native and was only looking at part-time programs, so I only hired Forster Thomas for support with two schools, USC Marshall and UCLA Anderson, and it was without a doubt worth the price. I was accepted to both programs (received a scholarship at one) and received personal phone calls to inform me of my acceptance. Tom was honest, direct, and skilled at bringing out the best part of my story, which I truly believe was the edge that got me accepted.

Real talk: Forester-Thomas is expensive.

I was applying to graduate school after a considerable length of time away from academics. My undergraduate performance was not exceptional but I considered my work experience in the intervening years to be interesting and possibly compelling for an admissions committee and needed help stitching the story together.

From my first meeting with Tom, he was quick to start helping me connect the pieces of my story. Don’t get me wrong, we went through half a dozen drafts of the personal statement over the course of several months before it (and the application) was deemed complete. Through it all, Tom was a great coach through the process, replying promptly over email or text to provide guidance and sometimes much needed therapy.

I applied to one highly specialized STEM Masters program and got in. If you’re willing to do the work, FT will get you to the finish line.

Tom was extremely helpful in all phases of the business school application process. I got into my #1 option and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without Tom’s guidance and coaching along the way. I strongly recommend Tom to all serious applicants looking to get accepted into a top MBA program.

Over the past few months, I worked with Tom to prepare for my Round two MBA applications. Thanks in part to his experience and help, I will be attending Wharton in the fall of 2022.

In preparing to apply, I interviewed multiple application advisors. What struck me most about Tom was his sincere interest in my story (my “why”) instead of viewing me as a mere dollar transaction or one person on a long list of clients. Tom’s background and talents differentiate him from the former admissions committee members or big, blue-blood MBA consulting firm members and are the reasons why I wanted to work with him.

Knowing that my professional background in investment banking and private equity wasn’t entirely unique from many of my peer applicants, I intentionally sought out an advisor who could help bring those other intangible, but critical, components of who I am to the forefront of my applications. I wanted his unique storytelling expertise, and as I now look back on the months working with him, I can affirm that he delivered exactly what I’d hoped for. He is talented at listening and asking the right questions, and then maintains the highest expectations and standards for all work products.

In summary, I would recommend Tom very highly to any peer, and especially to those who are seeking similar expertise in their applications. He is an incredible advisor and person, and one who you certainly want in your corner through the process!

Tom gave me invaluable guidance through the MBA application process. Tom helped me formulate my own experience and personality into the framework that worked for business school applications. The proof is that I got into one of my top choices of schools. I’d recommend Tom and Forster-Thomas to anyone looking to apply to any tier of business school.

Forster-Thomas and Tom provided insightful guidance and helpful support throughout the application process. It was a pleasure working with Tom – he continually gave thoughtful feedback on my statement of purpose drafts, asking questions that pushed my work to be more concise and cohesive. Importantly, he also made sure I kept the admissions person’s perspective in mind while writing the case study for a specific application. I got into both schools I applied to and have Tom to thank for helping me get to this point.

Tom helped me through every step of the application process, and I am confident that I would not have been successful in my process without his guidance and support. Not only did Tom help me craft compelling, well-written essays, but he pushed me to look introspectively and find what truly made me tick to create the most authentic narrative. Tom’s approachability and genuine interest in me as an applicant made me feel comfortable being vulnerable and ultimately put forward my best candidacy. Tom and Forster Thomas were absolutely critical to me being successful in this process.

Tom helped me craft a really excellent essay that I was proud of and help me tailor it to the few schools I applied to. He inspired me to bring a lot more color to my story–building on his film background, to come up with something that was more compelling than I could have constructed on my own. Importantly, he and the team gave me guidance on what was appropriate for the MBA admissions audience and perhaps was too much. He also helped me figure out what of MBA candidate I was given the historical distribution of backgrounds from incoming students — especially since I was a more unique candidate (older, STEM Ph.D.). He also had data for where I needed to get some of my scores given my grades and what schools I was applying to. I ended up getting into both schools I applied to, MIT Sloan and Harvard Business School, and now attend HBS. Also, I was working full time and decided pretty late that I wanted to apply to business school, so having Tom structure the milestones around my application was an incredible help. I think what made my relationship successful with Tom and Forster Thomas was being open to change and their suggestions.

As I began testing the waters of acquiring an MBA, it was clear I needed guidance to navigate the stressful process of deciding where to apply and how to build a successful application. After deciding to work with Tom, the process became extremely clear. Tom was exceptional in helping me express what makes me unique and attractive to an MBA program. The personalized coaching that I received from Tom throughout the entirety of the application and interview process led me to present this best version possible to the schools of my interest. Tom provided above and beyond support throughout the entire process. I firmly believe I would not have been as successful without Tom’s great help!

I worked with Tom during the application process to a number of top-ranked Executive MBA programs. Tom provided clear, actionable feedback and helped me stand out in a crowded applicant pool.

With his help, I was admitted to every program to which I applied. I am currently enrolled in my second year at Wharton and am grateful to Tom and Forster Thomas for helping me to achieve my goals.

If you are serious about putting your best foot forward, this is the consultant and organization for you.

I worked with Tom last summer and fall during my Round 1 applications to MBA programs. With his help, I am attending UVA Darden in the fall of 2022. What I appreciated most were three things:

1) The level of detail that Tom asks about you and the extent to which he tries to understand you and your life. The pre-assessment that I filled out was one of the most thorough reflections that I’ve ever completed and it was clear that Tom fully understood me and my story even before our first call.

2) He doesn’t accept anything short of excellence and is willing to go to extreme lengths to get there. Five drafts, six drafts, seven drafts, it doesn’t matter. He will work with you until he knows that your products and essays shine from the rest of the applicant pool. He will not let you submit anything short of M7-level quality.

3) Brutal honesty. Tom told me a matter of factly what my strengths were, what my weakness was (and how to fix them and eventually turn them into an asset), and what programs I should realistically be looking at. Coming out of the military, my level of knowledge of MBA programs was almost nil. Tom helped me navigate the field of choices with a straightforward approach that I appreciate. “This school isn’t a fit for your personality”, “These schools are your safeties”, “That’s a reach but it’s possible”, and “This is your sweet spot, you might want to consider this program”, these are all conversations that I know led me to the program that is right for me.

As I said at the beginning if you are serious about pursuing an MBA and want to ensure that you are presenting your best possible application, Tom Locke and Foster-Thomas is the group for you.