Debbie Choy is great!

I purchased the Start to Finish package with Debbie Choy at mbaMission. Debbie was very helpful in providing insight to make me stand out among other candidates. She did an excellent job delivering an unbiased opinion on which of my experiences were impressive, unique, and most appropriate for my selected school’s essay questions. While I didn’t get admitted to the school of my choice, I did receive an interview at one of my top four choices (still awaiting a response) and I don’t think this would have been possible without Debbie’s help. I do wish that Debbie encouraged me to reach out to students, professors, and admissions members more to truly understand the campus. I didn’t do this as much in my first round applications as I did in my second round applications because I underestimated the importance of this step. Consequently, I felt a notable difference in how well I understood campus life—as evidenced by my second round invitation to interview. I would absolutely recommend Debbie to a close friend, but with the caveat that the friend is driven enough to introspectively reflect and identify their short and long term career goals and ambitious enough to reach out to those on campus to truly understand the atmosphere.

There are a lot of negative reviews out there about graduate school consultants. This is understandable given how subjective the admissions processes are at top B schools, yet this is no excuse to blame the consultant for not providing you with the skill set necessary for admission. Your application is your responsibility and your consultant is there to help you answer questions that develop along the way; peer deeper into your life to help you highlight your unique attributes; offer admissions tips you may not have thought of; and in my case, enforce deadlines. Your consultant is not there to miraculously increase your GMAT score, turn your past into an exaggerated list of accomplishments, or write your essays for you. You must be honest about your previous achievements and future goals. Unless you communicate this information clearly and comprehensively, they cannot help you sculpt your ideal application.

The required brainstorming document provided by mbaMission is critical because it helps you deeply reflect on who you are and what matters to you most. It’s true; you can purchase this document from mbaMission for less than the thousands you will spend on a consultant. Yet the unbiased advice and subject matter expertise a consultant provides in helping you determine your essay content and structure; revising your resume, proofing your recommendations, and identifying the weak points of your personal or professional experiences is invaluable when you think of the benefits a strong MBA program will offer you. Additionally, having the piece of mind to send an essay that you poured your blood, sweat, and tears over, to a trained writer for multiple rounds of edits makes you confident that you’re submitting your best essay possible. I recommend mbaMission as a great resource to complete your applications—and I highly recommend Debbie Choy if you choose to work with a consultant. Her opinions are honest and holistic—and she’s a great teammate!