Untraditional candidate? Pick Stefanie!

I worked with Stefanie on Haas, Booth, Wharton, and Kellogg. I received acceptances at Booth, Kellogg, and Haas. I was waitlisted at Wharton, but Booth was my first choice so it worked out perfectly. I purchased the Silver Package with LOR support and Resume support.

I wanted to apply to business school for years but I did not believe I had a chance. I have an untraditional background so I didn't work in consulting, finance, marketing, or any "traditional" business fields. I had a background in nonprofit work primarily, with multiple jobs in random fields on my resume. Additionally, I had low test scores (after 3 retakes). Finding a way to weave all the divergent aspects of my story and background together into a narrative that made sense to an adcom required both creativity and patience.

I really don't like when people blow smoke and I can detect it from miles away. I first approached Stefanie very shakey about applying and vocalized all the gaps and weaknesses in my profile. She didn't disagree with them (because they were objective) but steered the conversation to how we could focus on the strengths that I couldn't see. I knew she wasn't lying to me or trying to comfort me. The application process itself is exhausting and emotionally draining, so I needed someone I felt safe and comfortable with. The connection one has with a consultant is so important because you need to trust the person enough to allow yourself to dig into your true motives, figure out what's driving you versus what you think schools (or other people) want to hear, and be unashamed when you realize you're more lost than you initially realized. Stefanie supported me emotionally when I doubted myself, and also when others expressed doubt toward me.

I really hate writing about myself. Getting me to boast about my accomplishments or get personal in writing feels like pulling teeth. Stefanie pushed me enough that I was able to be vulnerable in my writing, but not so much that I felt coerced. There were countless times when I found major gaps in my story. The questions almost became harder as I started writing, and the more I wrote, the more frustrated I became. Without Stefanie, I would've been stuck in this loop. There were essays I thought were good that Stefanie told me didn't do the trick...and there were ones I thought were absolutely terrible that Stefanie helped me evolve to make them work.

In the end, I really loved the essays that I submitted. I even told Stefanie that even if I didn't get in...I'm still so proud of my essays and I gave it my all. I didn't think the essays could be any better. They were genuinely ME and I was able to vocalize my goals more clearly than I ever had been able to, which showed in my interviews. It's very easy in the process to think you need to fit a certain archetype, especially when you review other people's essays online or look at profiles of people who got into top MBA programs. If you're an untraditional candidate or you have gaps/weaknesses in your profile, go to Stefanie!