I had profile reviews and initial consultation calls with almost 15 consulting firms before Admissionado. These firms could be classified into two categories - those which were quite certain that I should NOT apply to a top-10 school as I would be wasting my time (most were in this category), and those that were just making a sales pitch. Admissionado stood out as there was an immediate connect - they gave me the much needed confidence that my aim should be to get into the best school that I can (I loved this approach - seriously no bull approach! Furthermore, they had a PERSONALITY that appealed to me - all the beautiful ladies (Stefanie, Claudia, Lauren) were people I could talk to quite candidly, and have witty, humorous interactions (helps me be engaged).

The drill was similar to what I assume other consulting companies follow on paper, but the execution was always sincere (I think that differentiates Admissionado from the pack). There was never an issue with timelines or thoroughness of the reviews. It was great to really see that Stefanie shared my goal - to see me get into my dream school, even if that meant going beyond the contract (had multiple, lengthy telephonic discussions, more than 3 iterations on my drafts, etc.). I could see that Admissionado's advice was always genuine; in fact some of it did not even help their own business with me - I really liked the honesty. Make no mistake - the entire admissions process is tiring, frustrating, grilling! As an applicant, one needs to understand that eventually does the consultant have neither a crystal ball, nor a magic wand (contrary to what one would wish).

With Admissionado, I got a great friend to help me through this difficult journey and get me into a top tier school. I would be happy to serve as a reference.

Thanks!

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I had always dreamt of going to a top European Business school and I was decided to do everything possible to make it happen! That is why I convinced myself to give it a try with a consultant. After all, if I were to pay an MBA tuition I was clearly able to pay a consultant fee. 

I arrived at Admissionado attracted by its services. I crossed some e-mails with Claudia and I knew I was ready to seize the opportunity.

I worked with David (Fung) and I feel I was lucky because he is an amazing person that really gives his best into the application. He never stopped believing in me and my dream, and when I had doubts, he was the one to cheer me up and to give me excellent pieces of advice. I remember sending him drafts and getting honest feedbacks on how to approach better some questions in order to push me to put my best efforts into the essays. I also highly appreciated the fact that David was available for me and that he always answered within a reasonable time and in the best manner. Joining forces with David allowed me to pass pre-selection and I then started working with Mark. 

With Mark, I practiced my interviews and I really improved myself. Mark really made me think about how to approach better the interviews and how to tell my story in the best way possible. Interviews are definitely a key part of the selection process and having the support of an expert gave me the confidence I needed. 

In my personal opinion, everyone should work with Admissionado because they really know how to approach the adcom and their expertise allows people to raise chances to get in. 

Finally, I'm really thankful to the Admissionado team because I am going to my dream school and I couldn’t have done it without them!

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I had a great experience working with John at Admissionado. My stats are on the low end (325 GRE, 3.0 gpa), so I really needed to knock my essays out of the park. My background is also pretty unconventional, so I needed a lot of guidance crafting my story. John and the rest of the team at Admissionado really came through. I was ultimately offered admission to my two target schools, Fuqua and McCombs, both with scholarships.

The Admissionado team is very professional. They're also just super friendly. John was always very quick to respond to my emails or to jump on the phone. My edits always came back within 72 hours, and sometimes earlier. I managed to put together two strong applications in only five weeks. Also, the interview prep was KEY. John really got me in shape and boosted my confidence.

I really appreciated that Admissionado provided me with an entire team to work on my applications. John was my consultant, but there were a few other editors who reviewed my resume and gave feedback on my essay drafts and LORs. I think all of the eyes on my applications really made a difference.

If you're in the process of looking for a consultant, I would definitely suggest filling out their questionnaire and doing the one hour consultation. As soon as I had my consult with John, I knew he was the guy to help me through this process. And I'm so happy with how it turned out. Thanks John!!!

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The guys at admissionado were very pivotal when it came to getting me to believe in myself. I always knew I could make it into a good program, but I never considered myself Wharton or Booth material. As an engineer who had quite some deeply technical background, I didn't think I had the type of experience that business school adcoms wanted to see. However, after interacting sufficiently with my consultant, Julie, she was able to articulately summarize her impression of my profile and itemize my strengths and weaknesses. She helped me to better understand what was unique about my profile, and we then worked together to show that uniqueness in the applications.

At the beginning, I had to fill out a rather lengthy questionnaire that caused me to go through some profound moments of introspection. The resulting effect was that it forced me to articulate certain details about my story that I had thought were irrelevant to bschool. As a result, many of the highlights that I used to show my uniqueness were things that I had all along taken for granted. Julie helped me understand what adcoms mean when they talk about being unique.

One thing I especially appreciated was the honesty that permeated all of the feedback I got from my consultant while preparing my essays. There was no sugar-coating or mincing of words, and that gave me a true appraisal of how well and clearly I was communicating. Apart from my consultant, the other Admissionado staff were also there to ensure that the service delivery was swift and smooth. One of them, Claudia, reminds me of what ideal customer service should be like.

I am most impressed by the way they went out of their way to get me ready on time. I applied for four top 10 schools, and due to some unique circumstances I had to wrap up my applications about three weeks before the deadlines in September. My consultant, though she had a 72 hour turnaround period, would give me feedback quickly in order to make sure I made my personal deadline.

Overall, looking at how much it cost me to engage their services, and what I got in return -- multiple admissions and scholarship offers -- it was worth it. I would do it over again.

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I worked with Damon and Claudia from Admissionado and every aspect of the experience was great, from being able to talk to Damon before I committed to buying the package to getting congratulatory follow ups once I got into Stanford! I interviewed all the consulting companies I could find, and felt far more comfortable with Admissionado than anyone else.

The preliminary deep-dive phone conversations were tremendously valuable in terms of reflecting on what really matters to me, what I've done in my life up and how that's shaped who I am, and where I want to go from here. Damon was also extremely helpful in the essay-crafting process, adding clarity and impact while still using my own words. I changed the direction of my essay several times, and Damon stayed agile and flexible in his thinking.

The Admissionado also took a lot of the stress involved with the applications off my plate by providing a clear timetable and regular check points to make sure I stayed on track.

The interview prep was also very helpful in terms of making sure I knew how to clearly get my messages across.

I could not recommend Damon and Admissionado more highly. I'm going to Stanford GSB in the Fall, and I couldn't have done it without them. Five stars!

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I started in late May from scratch with no Gmat, no Toefl, no career plan. The essay part began in August and I was able to apply to three schools in round 1. This would not have happened without the strong support from Admissionado. I'm glad that I walk through all these with such a wonderful consultant!

Admissionado basically excelled in every aspect I expected from a consultant. I can easily list a bunch of their strengths. They have rich knowledge in this whole thing. (This was especially helpful to someone who had little idea about MBA when started, like me.) They are experienced in shaping up the essays and CV. They don't do chit-chat but will check on you when your deliverables are overdue. But here are two things that impressed me most.

They are professional! Not to mention the quick turnarounds on essay edits and prompt email reply, every applicant who have to work full-time would understand how important it is to get useful information and right guidance in an efficient way. There was no back-and-forth on insignificant things between Admissionado and me and my consultant was always there to point right at the core. Personally, I like this style of working, because it removed everything vague and left only things that were important and things that I could change. Just trust their professionalism and you'll be surprised to see how smoothly things are getting done.

They see the bigger picture and have faith in me! More than once I was told by other consultants I approached at the beginning (mainly Chinese consultants) that I had been too optimistic and I should apply to schools that had a lower rank and comparatively easier to get in. But when it comes to position and overall strategy, Admissionado know what they are talking about (me getting all interview invitations from the three schools I applied somehow proved that). Even when I was getting two rejections from the three schools I applied in round 1, they were still confident in the whole strategy and in me. And I got accepted by Wharton in the end! Maybe through expectation management, some consultants try to help applicants get into some schools, but Admissionado help you get into the right and best school!

When I decided to go with Admissionado, I was quite determined to go for an MBA education. I don't need prep talks, deadline reminder or someone to hold my hands. I was looking for guidance and advice that can help me elevate my whole package, avoid rookie mistakes and get things done effectively. If you'are like me, spending time with Admissionado will definitely worth it!

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INSEAD was my dream school and unlike advised by most, I wanted to apply there first.

The idea of going through the essay process alone was however the most intimidating one: scared that I would not answer questions properly/fully, that I would not dig deep enough, or that I would leave out a what would seem insignificant yet impactful detail. To avoid all the above, I decided to get help.

I discovered consulting firms through GMATclub, and once I pocketed my GMAT (700), I decided to get in touch. The first firm I contacted was Admissionado—though it could have been any other as I was also eyeing Accepted and Stacy Blackman, the INSEAD specialist.

I started by answering the bunch of essay-like questions on the website and sending my resume to book the free consultation session with Admissionado.
I liked that the consultant assigned to me, Stefanie Barlow, was from the same industry (Real Estate). During the consultation, through skype, she pointed out what was great about my profile (to be highlighted) and what was not. I particularly liked that she shared my view about INSEAD being a great fit for me. :)
The consultation went well enough that I decided not to get in touch with other consultants. I unbundled the Deluxe package and only went for the essays, the LORS, and the Resume. I later signed up for the interview preps.

Stefanie and I did a massive work on essays, figuring out my hits and my best stories before working on the real thing. I liked the deep introspection process: action (example)/result (example)/learning (example)...
By the time I started writing my essays in July, I already had a lot to tell and during the long ping pong sessions, I concentrated on clarifying my stories and bringing in additional examples.

My recommenders also went through the same process, though to a smaller scale. That said, that was enough to make them eager to see me admitted, so that they wouldn’t have to go through the process again!

I would also add that the consultant is not there to get the job done for us. He/She will not babysit or send reminder emails to let us know that our deadlines are around the corner and that we should be editing our essays on time. He/She is there to help us produce the best version of our essays, by pointing out what we are doing right and what we are not, and making us work for every bit of it. Stefanie did that “avec brio”!

All in all, I enjoyed working with Stefanie—she was very reactive and lively, and the Admissionado team quite vibrant (Hi Claudia)! There was something bubbly about Admissionado that made the throbbing essay redaction process almost seem palatable!

I got admitted to INSEAD, with a merit scholarship based on the quality of my application ( before I finished my interviews). So I guess spending time with Admissionado was definitely worth it!

So thank you Stefanie!

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Without a clear post-MBA goal and a problematic undergraduate GPA, I knew I had to invest in an admission consultant to build an outstanding application for my target schools (M7/Top 15).
Therefore, I spent a month researching different admission consultancies. My experience with Admissionado has been stellar from the get-go. Of all the consultancies I spoke to, Admissionado was not only prompt and enthusiastic in their responses, but also able to partner me with Damon who specializes in my candidate pool and is well-versed in the admission process. I truly felt I was being valued as a customer and invested as an applicant with Admissionado. I ended up purchasing 4-school deluxe package.

Damon is Stanford MBA himself and has worked on both sides of the admission process. He leveraged his experience and knowledge in working with Asian candidates and worked patiently with me to come up with a unique admission strategy. The goal was to overcome a spotty academic record and make me stand out from a competitive applicant pool. I had all the material - professional progression, leadership and extracurriculars, and a strong GMAT. But it was with Damon’ s help that I was able to weave a compelling story into my essays.

Damon was also skillful in choosing recommenders. Instead of two work references, we went with one work reference and the other from my volunteer advisor, a strategy which further differentiated me.

Damon and Claudia were great in communications. Damon stuck to the 2 business day turn-around and acted as a sounding board whenever I came up with new crazy ideas for my essays. The Admissionado team understand very well the grueling and taxing nature of the application process. They supported and cheered for me when I was close to burn-out near the end.

I had two calls with Damon for interview prep. The first lasted about an hour as an overview and the second a mock interview. Damon drilled me on my story in the mock interview, forcing me come up with better answers. Going through a stressful (in a good way) mock interview with Damon definitely boosted my confidence in dealing with unexpected or difficult situations. Thankfully, my interview went quite smoothly and I was eventually admitted to CBS. I’m very excited to start my new life next year in NYC! I know I couldn’t have done it without the help of Damon and Claudia.

That being said, I would like to add a word of caution to future applicants: Do not expect your consultant/case manager to hand-hold you in the process. At the end of the day, it is up to you, the applicant, to own your application.

I would recommend Admissionado without reservation. Good luck to all!

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Admissionado is easily the best thing that could have happened to the MBA admissions process. After realizing that the consultant I had initially hired was not providing the service I needed, I sought out Admissionado based on the recommendation of a friend. The consultant I was paired with (John) could not have been more perfect. He was knowledgeable about every school’s program and what worked/doesn’t work for each individual application. Not only were his technical skills exactly what someone would want in an admissions consultant (excellent writer, careful attention to detail and an ability to turn my story into a strong application) but the passion he had for ensuring the success of his clients was unparalleled.
John went above and beyond for me throughout the entire process. Being flexible and making time for *multiple* weekend and evening skype sessions was just the start of his dedication. He guided me through the many iterations of my school list, personally helped finalize my resume and essays, prepped me tirelessly for interviews and reviewed every last detail of my applications before they were submitted. While all of these examples are just a few of the many times John served as a sounding board throughout my process, the most telling moment was when I realized I had completely botched the short answers on my #1 school application 3 days before the deadline. I sent John a panicked e-mail letting him know that the 500 word short answers I had written were supposed to be 500 characters. He responded the moment he saw my e-mail and spent the rest of the day (no exaggeration, 5+ hours) re-working the short answers to be ready in time for the deadline.
I could go on for days as to why Admissionado is the right choice if you are looking for a consultant (and why John is the best). I would absolutely recommend the deluxe package even if you only do it for your top 1 or 2 schools – it’s worth the cost!!! The team spends hours getting to know you and your profile, pulling out strengths you don’t even know you have and using those strengths to craft the most airtight applications. All of the effort that John put it to set me apart from other applicants paid off as I was admitted to my #1 school!! I will be forever grateful to the team at Admissionado (specifically John, Claudia and Lauren) and am genuinely disappointed that my process with them is over and I don’t have an excuse to chat with their team regularly!

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Using Admissionado to help me prep for my B school interviews was the best decision I have ever made. Leslie was amazing and her coaching helped me succeed in getting into my number top school. She went above and beyond for me during the interview process- from texting me right before interviews to calming my fears on phone calls after. I really got through the chaos of that time with her help. She was much more than just a consultant, she truly cares about her client's success! Interviews are a stressful time but having Leslie and Admissionado in my corner helped me articulate all of the best traits of my applications.

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