Strengths:

The perspective Alex brought to my Stern application was incredible! Here were some strengths:

- Specific and impactful suggestions that strengthened my narrative.

- Quick to respond and accommodating with tight deadlines, which was reassuring and very considerate.

- Helped me organize my experiences into a compelling, cohesive story.

- The feedback clearly demonstrated expertise in knowing what MBA programs look for.

- He pushed me to improve certain elements of my application without being overwhelming and offering constructive critiques that could be easily implemented.

Would make the product better:

One small thing that could have maybe been improved:

- A little more clarity on the services provided would have been nice (just feedback, no edits) - but it's understandable that it's just feedback given the nature of the review

Working with Alex for my Stern application was a highly valuable experience! He took the time to understand my background and goals, and quickly identified how I could position myself in my application. His detailed, structured approach to storytelling was exactly what I needed to organize my essays, goals, and resume in a way that connected each aspect of my journey to my aspirations.

One of Alex's greatest strengths is his responsiveness. With the deadline quickly looming, it was reassuring to know I could rely on him to review and provide feedback on such short notice. The feedback I received, backed by both his personal experience and professional expertise, were small enough so that the edits were quick, but impactful enough to make a huge difference to my application.

Overall, I would definitely recommend ARLee Consulting, especially for applicants who want focused, honest feedback that challenges them to refine their story. Alex will provide that guidance with a thoughtful, no-nonsense approach!

Note for transparency: I won the "Last-Minute Application Review Package" from the GMAT Club Olympics.

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First things first, I have received an interview invite but no confirmation of acceptance to Insead yet. Regardless of the outcome though, my experience with Alex has been nothing less than great.

I think you get a general idea of his expertise from the other comments, but for me, in particular, what stood out for me was his ability to really understand the application requirements and pose insightful questions that helped
me connect the dots. I have a military background and struggled to translate my achievements/experiences there onto the essays - that's where his guidance really shone through for me. Without a doubt, without his advice, my essays would be nowhere near interview-invitation worthy.

One more aspect that I valued was his effort to really understand my profile and background properly. He prompted a fair bit when we first spoke, and he definitely tapped on that knowledge he formed of me, sometimes even suggesting points that I had mentioned but forgot to include in the essays.

Of course, I went ahead with Alex with his INSEAD background a factor in consideration, and while not necessarily crucial, I valued the INSEAD experience he shared too.

Ultimately, as I have said, even if I do not get accepted, my experience with Alex was top-notch, and I can only recommend his services.

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Alex was a pleasure to work with and his advice had real results. I applied to 7 of the top 10 programs and was accepted to 6 of the programs and waitlisted for one.

I was hesitant at first about using a consultant, but Alex proved me wrong. He was thoughtful and thorough with his advice which led to materials that helped me tell my story in a unique and impactful way.

If you are looking for someone that will provide an excellent service at reasonable cost, Alex is your guy. His experience will take you to the finish line. I couldn't have done it without him!

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With the deadline for INSEAD applications looming and a hectic schedule at work, I knew I needed assistance in making sure I put my best foot forward. I have also made some interesting choices in my career, so telling my story was always going to be challenging. What I had in mind was someone to read over my essays and provide feedback - what works and what doesn't. I sent a few cold emails and Alex was the first to respond. I had read the testimonials online, so thought it was worth a try.

Alex's services far exceeded my expectations. He invests a lot of energy to understand your story and pick vulnerabilities. He is critical and yes, the feedback keeps on coming but I think that is the beauty of the flat fee model he offers. His experience as a HR professional also shines through. The whole experience of working with Alex felt more like a partnership in trying to get to the best product in time for the looming deadline.

One of my biggest concerns in hiring a consultant was ending up with a generic application. But Alex is more like a coach who prompts you by asking questions and things to think about when writing your responses. The final product sounds very much like me. It does mean it is a bit more work through. So if you are looking for someone to just write the application for you, then maybe he is not the one.

Highly recommend!

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I started working with Alex roughly 1 week before 2 of my applications were due and I really enjoyed working with him. It was very daunting and stressful for me at first because of the tight timeline but we were able to get several iterations done which ensured that I submitted my best applications. In total, I worked with Alex on 3 applications including my essays, resume/CV and LORs and was accepted to all 3 schools with scholarship; including a top 15 MBA program.

We worked on crafting my story to be consistent with all aspects of the applications. Alex coached me throughout the entire process and was very responsive, prompt and easy to work with. From my research when looking for a consultant, I discovered that some of them only communicate through email and while this works for some people, I knew I needed a more open and less formal style. Alex made me feel comfortable in reaching out with any queries along the way and I liked that he made himself available where I could easily bounce ideas off of him.

My overall experience was very positive and I would highly recommend him to anyone interested in working with a supportive and knowledgeable MBA consultant.

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