I’m a woman working at an investment firm. It was fairly late in the cycle when I decided to apply to business school. I was introduced to Liza through a friend who worked with her and got into HBS. From our very first call, Liza had my absolute trust! It couldn’t be any clearer to me that she was someone who was truly dedicated to her job, and she was extremely experienced and knowledgeable. I actually interviewed five other admission consultants from top firms, and she was by far the best – there was no comparison. Unfortunately I was too late in the process and Liza was booked up for the start-to-finish package, and wasn’t able to take me on. So I somberly settled for my second pick at a competing firm. Unfortunately, my second pick full-time consultant regularly missed deadlines which weakened my trust in him along the process. Although Liza was booked up, she graciously agreed to work with me on an hourly basis – even though we were so close to the deadlines. We worked together for about 6 hours, including essay reviews and interview prep. Through the process, Liza encouraged me to dig deeper and reflect more on each of my experiences. She really helped me transform my essays: we removed all the cliche statements and the final product was much more unique and reflective of me as a person. Even once my purchased hours were up, Liza was still available as a resource and answered my emails generously in her own time.

Another thing I would highlight is that MBAmission has a two-day turnaround policy, and they do not miss deadlines. I initially didn’t realize how important this would be. But remember that applying to school is a very stressful period, and you should work with someone who is reliable and who will be there for you when need.

At the end, I ended up getting into both my top choices – and I’m very grateful to Liza for her help. Not only she helped me with my application, but also she was absolutely there for me along the process.

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Hollis was incredibly helpful at helping me articulate my "why MBA" story. It was incredibly valuable to receive her essay commentary, and she successfully narrowed down my essay to its most succinct format. Her advice on what information to highlight in my overall MBA application (and what to exclude) was also critical.

Finally, she added value when it came to navigating the do's and dont's of the application that are less obvious ("informal letters of rec", which letters to use, post mba goal crafting, etc.) Ultimately it is worth using her service if you want to feel like you put forth the best application possible.

I would highly recommend her as a counselor!

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Profile:
Male, Caucasian, 730 GMAT, Top-50 Undergrad College (non-ivy), Large Corporation

Results:
Accepted: Stanford, Kellogg
Waitlisted: Harvard

If you are looking to get into a top b-school, my advice to you is to partner with Liza Weale (and do it early before she reaches her capacity for the year…which she will). She will make you work your butt off because she cares so deeply about seeing you succeed. Be ready to self-reflect. Be ready to take feedback in stride. Be ready to give your all to this process. If you do, you will not be disappointed. You will walk away more self-aware, more self-confident, and with a better idea of how you want to leave your mark on the world. And if you do these things well, there is a good chance you’ll find success in the application process.

In my opinion, the hardest (and most important) part of the application process is getting to know yourself inside and out-- what makes you tick, why you do the things you do, what you want to do with your life—and then communicating this clearly and effectively through essays and interviews. This is no small task; in fact, it’s really really hard and I think it is impossible to do well without someone else pushing and challenging you throughout. Whether it’s a close friend, parent, or a consultant like Liza, find someone to fill this role. I would be hard pressed though to find many friends, parents, or other consultants that care as much as Liza does and that put in the kind of effort to help you put your best foot forward as Liza does (it’s crazy because she starts as a stranger and quickly becomes your biggest fan).

Liza first had me fill out a brainstorming document to help her get to know me (essentially 20+ pages of my life story) and then spent hours on the phone asking me question after question about it. From our very first conversation, I was struck by 1) how good of a listener she was, 2) how much she wanted to authentically get to know me, and 3) how fast she picked up on what was most important to me and how well she was able to think of essay ideas around these things. I had been spinning my wheels for months leading up to our initial conversation and after talking with her it was amazing how I left finally feeling a sense of direction. I then remember sending my first draft of HBS’s essay to Liza for feedback the week after this, thinking that it was pretty great. She turned it around a couple days later basically ripping it to shreds (in the most constructive and polite way possible!). 8 drafts later, I could not have been prouder of how far it had come and how it spoke to who I am and how I want to make my mark on the world.

Liza helped me in a similar way for Kellogg and Stanford—it took MANY hours of me writing, getting feedback, revising, and re-writing, but I felt incredibly pleased and proud of the essays I submitted when all was said and done. Liza also helped me transform my resume from corporate jargon into something that really packed a punch and helped me think of ways to write short answers in a way that was clear and powerful. She never missed a deadline and always came back with meaningful and thoughtful input. She was the best person to help me prep for interviews because of how well she got to know me. She was the first person after my parents I contacted after finding out from Stanford and Kellogg. Liza is incredible, and she will remain a friend for years to come. In my opinion it is well-worth the money to partner with a consultant, and if you do, you would be a fool to not choose Liza.

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My Profile:
Southeast Asian; Male; 3.60 GPA (Law LLB); 730 GMAT (Q48 V42); 5 years as a construction lawyer; currently, counsel at a hyper-growth real estate / hospitality company.
Admitted to Class of 2021 at MIT Sloan (with Fellowship)

Having dreamed of pursuing an MBA for a number of years, I reached out to a close friend of mine that was admitted to CBS to learn more about his experience with the application process. He gave me a resounding recommendation of Liza's services and was so sure that Liza made THE difference in getting into his dream school! His words were difficult to ignore - I started working with Liza over 1 year ago and have never looked back!

While the past year was absolutely brutal as I had to juggle a new job together with applying to 6 schools, having Liza by my "side" to encourage and urge me on at every step of the way kept me on track! She has been a friend, confidante, career coach, consultant, cheerleader, taskmaster and support system all rolled into one. I had the benefit of connecting with Liza a few months in advance of actually starting work on the applications, and she gave me invaluable advice to make career decisions that ultimately shaped my profile for the MBA applications.

As I worked with Liza, it quickly became apparent that she always put her sincere best in getting to know me inside and out, and was fully invested in helping me to reach my goals. She manages to tease out the best ideas and best version of yourself, and she is extremely effective in helping you to bring YOUR stories to life through the essays. She is an expert communicator and leaves no stone unturned with her practical / honest advice - you will definitely feel assured that you have done your best with her guidance. With interview prep, she made sure that I was so prepared for every eventuality and provided nuanced tips for each school / interviewer. The actual interview was a breeze!

It is all thanks to Liza that I will be travelling halfway across the world to attend MIT Sloan this fall. I can't wait, and I can't speak highly enough of Liza's help in getting me there. Highly recommended!

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My profile:
Asian, Female
~4 years in Consulting
710 GMAT
Chatted with 5+ companies and ~7 consultants and ultimately chose Liza!

The application process is arduous and there's a lot of consultants to choose from. I chose Liza because she is someone who will be there in the trenches with you and help you become a storytelling master. Here are the 2 key reasons yo u should choose her-

1) Best Storyteller I've Met:
A lot of applicants are stellar but can't showcase it on paper. Liza helped me bring my story to life by helping me cut out the fluff to draw on different aspects of my stories that'd pull at the heartstrings more. She helped me see my own stories in a new light and told me how AdComm is likely to view it. You'll definitely need a consultant to help you do this because your everyday friends/colleagues just aren't going to be as invested in you as a consultant would.

2) Unparalleled Thoroughness: Liza always prepped for our calls. In our brainstorming session, she already had ideas on how my story should be structured and explained to me why she suggested each edit. Some consultants could just make changes without explaining....but then you wouldn't learn how to improve for your other apps. Another aspect is that she helped catch errors in my app. She helped catch small nuances and numbers that didn't tick and tie. You'll be so trenched in the app that sometimes it's easy to lose track on what you've updated!

Liza is truly the ONLY person who will dedicate that much effort into helping you achieve your dreams (aside from yourself).

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Background: female, ivy undergrad, BB bank / PE, 760 GMAT.

Round 1 applicant: admitted HBS, waitlisted GSB.

I originally heard about Liza through a few friends / former colleagues who had worked with her in recent years and absolutely raved about her. In turn, I came into the process with high expectations, which Liza fully exceeded in every possible way.

I remember in our initial phone call feeling as if Liza immediately “got me.” This continued during our brainstorming sessions, and I ultimately felt as if Liza knew me better than I knew myself. I came into the process thinking I was a competitive but terribly traditional applicant, but Liza constantly pushed me to reflect deeper about my experiences, why they were important to me, and how they have shaped who I am as a person. She took what I originally thought to be fragmented pieces of my story, cut through all the noise, and showed me how to mold them into a cohesive essay. Her feedback was always honest and thoughtful, but more importantly flexible, allowing and encouraging me to remain completely authentic throughout my story.

Liza also upheld an incredible balance of professionalism and genuine kindness through the entire process. She was strict on her turnaround times and pushed me to remain on our agreed timelines, as well, which was sometimes difficult with my work schedule. However, we found a way to make it work, even if it required completing tasks in spurts. Liza continually pushed me to stay on track, which I candidly needed. Further, Liza was in my corner throughout the entire process – wishing me goodluck on the GMAT, before interviews, and prior to decisions. When I was apprehensive about interviews, she eased my nerves on more than one frantic phone call and made sure I was able to schedule an extra mock session before my official date. Liza’s genuine kindness throughout all of our discussions made me want to succeed for the both of us.

I would recommend Liza to anyone looking for a top notch consultant to be their partner through the application process. I could not image going through it without her and am so thankful that I had the chance to work with her.

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Simply put, Liza is a rock star.

I initially went into the business school application process with heavy apprehension. While I had solid stats (750 GMAT / 3.9 GPA from a top non-Ivy undergrad), I belong to a competitive cohort (Asian American male in finance) and did not work at a well known company with a history of sending people to top MBA programs. On top of this, I had to balance business school applications with a hectic work schedule (constant travel, long hours). I knew the journey would be lengthy, grueling, and stressful, and that I wouldn’t be able to complete it alone.

Liza was my guiding spirit as I navigated the process. She was patient and knowledgeable, answering my constant barrage of questions both carefully and thoughtfully (no matter how silly the question). She helped me craft my story and essays -expertly providing feedback and guidance -all the while ensuring the voice was still uniquely my own. And she kept me on track, keeping me accountable and on schedule during the frantic road to business school.

While many admissions consultants can do these things, Liza is unique and stands above the competition for a few reasons. First, she isn’t afraid to tell you when she disagrees, but does so in a kind and constructive manner, backed up with countless years of experience and knowledge. In the world of business school admissions, there can be a lot of noise and misinformation, and her honesty and wisdom were so refreshing. Second, she is a genuinely caring person with a deep interest in her clients’ success. Together, we shared some defeats (and of course, victories!) and her empathy and EQ made the defeats more bearable and the victories even sweeter. She always sent words of encouragement during stressful moments -interview days, decision days, etc -that served to ease my anxiety. These little things do matter, and made Liza feel more like a mentor / friend than a consultant.

Thanks to Liza, I will be headed to Wharton this fall! Liza exceeded all my expectations and I would recommend her without hesitation.

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Background: Asian American male, undergrad business school, finance / M&A post-college, 740 GMAT

Just as I started to set out on the daunting bschool process, Liza immediately put me at ease. I spoke to 4-5 potential coaches, and Liza stood out to me for coming into that conversation with clear ideas about my candidacy and my story, and she spoke with the authority and experience she has. I just felt like she "got it." As we started formally working together, she continued to wow me.

She was not only instrumental in helping me shape a tight story for my MBA candidacy, but also in providing the "guard rails" for me as I undertook writing my essays, seeming to always know what needed more explanation, what we could cut out, and how my writing would come across in the eyes of adcoms. She was my trusted advisor and 2nd set of eyes on everything, and I felt like I was able to put a TON of trust in her throughout my process.

Throughout it all, Liza was sharp, responsive, and most of all, genuinely a pleasure to talk to. I left all my phone calls with her at ease and confident in tackling my next essay, resume, etc.

I'll be starting at Kellogg this fall lucky enough to have gotten a sizable scholarship on the merits of my application - something that I have no doubt that Liza's amazing guidance was instrumental in helping me get.

I couldn't have better things to say about Liza. I'd happily recommend her to anyone out there about to start their bschool app process. Go Liza!

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Background: Male, 680 GMAT, service academy grad with a 3.45 GPA, 5 years as a military officer.

Results: Stanford (R), Michigan (R), Dartmouth (WL), Yale (A), Cornell ($), UT McCombs ($), Rice ($)

Why Liza: When I made the decision to apply for a full-time MBA, I knew that I did not want to have any doubt as to whether or not I did everything in my power to receive an acceptance. Without having anyone in my family or inner circle that went through this process, I thought using an admissions consultant would be my best course of action. I spent several hours on calls with consultants from different agencies over a few weeks trying to find the right fit but did not feel that any of them were sure bet.

That all changed when I had my call with Liza. I felt a connection with her within the opening moments of our discussion and knew that she was the one with whom I wanted to work. I trust my instincts, but I nevertheless did additional research on her and her previous work with MBA applicants. I was not surprised in the slightest to see that she had a flawless 5-star rating across multiple sites, and her clients reinforced the observations that I noted from my initial consultation. I honestly felt that I would be more prepared armed simply with Liza’s insights in one 30 minute call than I would be with countless hours and dollars spent on another consultant.

Throughout my application season, I frequently traveled overseas for long periods of time so I had to go for a more strategic application approach. I decided on the Hourly Services package in order to focus on brainstorming and unraveling my story with Liza. The work that we did together in crafting my story for the “Why Stanford?” and “What Matters Most to You?” essays was integral to my own ability to articulate why I wanted to pursue an MBA now, and what I could bring to the table if I received an acceptance. She always gave me pointed feedback that was instrumental to my application. Liza is almost like a personal trainer in that she pushes you, never more than you can handle but certainly more than you could do on your own.

The entire process of brainstorming and essay iterations with Liza served as the foundation for the work I did in the subsequent months. In the end I cast a wide net and applied to Stanford, Michigan, Dartmouth, Yale, Cornell, University of Texas, and Rice and received interview invitations to all of them. I was rejected by Stanford and Michigan, waitlisted by Dartmouth, accepted into Yale, and received full scholarship offers to Cornell, University of Texas, and Rice.

Liza has continued to guide me through my decision making process post-admittance, and I am beyond grateful that I had her as a resource. I would undoubtedly and wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone considering using a consultant. I truly cannot thank Liza enough for her time, her guidance, and her encouragement. I always enjoyed our conversations, and I know that I am better today because I worked with her.

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When I began considering whether I should re-apply to business school after an unsuccessful attempt a few years ago, I was referred to Liza by a close friend who worked with her and later received acceptances at every school she applied to. My friend absolutely raved about Liza, so I signed up for an introductory call, and I was immediately impressed. Liza did her homework on me and had lots of questions and thoughts on my candidacy (for reference, I am a female, Ivy grad, strong GPA and GMAT score, previous work in consulting and now in internal strategy). She addressed my concerns of being a re-applicant and she was real with me from the beginning about how competitive the schools were that I wanted. But, without trying to sell me on anything, she also gave me encouragement that I was a strong candidate and gave me some advice on what considerations I should weigh in deciding whether or not to apply at all.

After some soul searching I decided that applying to business school was the right move for me and I immediately reached out to Liza and bought an unlimited package for 5 schools (all M7). I honestly can say that this was a lifechanging decision for me. I ended up getting interviews at 4 of the 5 schools and then ultimately got into all 4 of those. This was an outcome I could have only dreamed of, and I really feel that I owe so much of my success to Liza for helping me present the best and most real version of myself that I could.

Working with Liza was truly a joy – and I don’t say that lightly given how stressful, time consuming, and intense the business school application process is. Liza came to every one of our brainstorming calls with ideas for us to discuss. She really knew my story inside and out and wanted me to tell it in the most honest way possible - she always encouraged me to go deeper and reflect and would push back if she felt like something I was saying was inauthentic in any way.

Liza is also supportive. There were a number of occasions that exemplified this for me. For one, on the morning of every interview decision day or actual decision day, I would get an email from Liza wishing me the best of luck. Then, when I received a disappointing interview decision at one of the 5 schools, Liza out of nowhere checked in on me a few days later just because she cared. When I was about to hit submit on my applications, I had so much nervous energy that I kept firing off emails to Liza with extremely minute (and frankly, probably irritating) questions about my application. She always responded quickly and patiently and assured me that I had done everything I could to present a strong application. In addition to guiding me expertly, Liza was also like my rock through this process!

I would highly recommend that anyone who is on the fence about working with Liza sign up with her immediately!! She is so passionate about what she does and working with her was truly a highlight of my year.

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