Xin Liu

It was an absolute pleasure working with Xin. He was instrumental in my application process and in my ultimate acceptance to Booth with a $60K scholarship.

If you keep reading below, I think you will see that for certain applicants like me, the difference between getting into an M7 versus a non-M7—and in my case also getting a large scholarship despite applying from an overrepresented group with weaknesses in my profile—can come down to how committed, knowledgeable, and skilled your consultant is in pushing you to go deeper, be more specific, and tell your best story.

While those might sound like intangible qualities or abstract benefits, you can absolutely see the difference when they’re there, and the right consultant *will* tangibly change the quality of your application materials and final results. I truly believe that I would not have achieved this outcome on my own or with a common consulting firm. (You can read the comparison to my partner’s much more superficial experience with a large admission consulting firm below.)

Background – I am an Asian male who was raised in China, came to the US for high school and college, and am now a US citizen. I had a 3.6 GPA from a good US university, but I was age 30 at the time of application, had a relatively low GRE (325) for my demographic, had multiple jobs in different industries in the last few years, and was applying in Round 2. Xin helped me overcome these challenges and channel my varied personal and professional experiences into the best possible story.

Professional – Xin’s experience in finance, consulting, and retail helped me translate my chaotic professional background into a coherent career goals narrative. His extensive industry knowledge helped me communicate the relevance of my previous experiences, which heightened the credibility of my goals. His MBA program knowledge helped me highlight very specific resources at each school, connect with key contacts, and articulate not only why certain courses / clubs / conferences made sense for me, but how I could uniquely contribute to them.

Personal – Xin’s own move from China to the US for college resonated with mine. He was therefore able to provide a high level of understanding into the challenges and growth that come with changing countries and cultures at a young age, and he was adept at challenging me to share these stories in an authentic and vulnerable way. Where appropriate, he once again pushed me to convey how I would tap into these experiences to create a unique and specific impact at each school.

Comparison – During our brainstorming and review sessions, Xin took his time and never rushed me. This was very different from my partner’s experience working with an admission consultant from a large firm, who offered little pushback and seemed more focused on getting the essays and resume done quickly. With Xin’s help, I was able to explore and ultimately choose the stories and examples that felt right to me, which gave me a lot of confidence that I was telling my best story, not simply the most efficient one.

Resume – Before our initial session, I thought my resume was in good shape since I had just used it to apply for jobs. But Xin really took the time to help me pinpoint the purpose and communicate the situation, action, and impact of each and every bullet point. His patience and attention to detail once again stood out, and his professional persistence that we probe deeper, push harder, and be more specific was the difference between a typical resume and an exceptional one.

Mentorship – Xin is a genuinely caring person, and I felt a deep sense of trust working with him. I just finished my first year at Chicago Booth, and we have kept in touch and even become friends. I recently met up with him in New York before starting my internship in the Bay Area. He continues to offer great advice as I head into my second year of business school and think more broadly about life.

I am incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to work with Xin, and I highly recommend Avanti Prep to anyone applying to business school.

Xin was not just an MBA consultant-he was a guide who helped me craft essays that truly reflected my journey and aspirations. His thoughtful approach went beyond just polishing my words; he helped me discover my core story, encouraging me to connect with my authentic self. Xin’s support was invaluable in helping me present my best self, and the impact of his mentorship extended far beyond just the application process. I’m grateful for his expertise, which not only strengthened my application but also helped me grow as a person. I greatly appreciate his help, especially given the very short period of time we had.