Liza was an absolutely amazing mentor and cheerleader throughout the MBA application process and I’m seriously so grateful for all the guidance and support she provided.

Background: female, engineering undergrad, average GPA/ lower GMAT, four years of work experience in healthcare operations, looking for career transition into management consulting

Before working with Liza through the start-to-finish package, I had already heavily researched which schools I wanted to apply to, honing in on four schools that met my regional and metropolitan preferences. However, after taking the GMAT for the first time and starting to read through schools’ essay topics I realized I was going to need some help navigating what at the time seemed like a daunting process. I didn’t have any close friends or coworkers that had gone to business school, so what drew me to mbaMission initially was the extremely helpful free resources they provided (blog, school insider guides, webinars) that gave me insight into what to expect during the application process.

After an incredibly helpful conversation during my free consultation with Liza, which included choosing between retaking the GMAT or taking the GRE and potential highlights from my resume to use in my target schools’ essay questions, I knew this was going to be a great partnership. Throughout the application process Liza provided insightful suggestions and was patient with me through every step. She would often help me trim down my overly wordy essays to meet word counts and practiced interview questions with me until I felt 100% confident about nailing my interview. She also really took the time to get to know me and my personality and as a result was able to help me highlight qualities about myself that I didn’t even know would be seen as strong attributes to an admissions committee. But above all else, my favorite part about working with Liza was all of the little things she would do to make me feel like I had someone who was truly invested in my success. From emails wishing me luck on test days to helping me put things into perspective while anxious about application results, I knew I always had someone to turn to and time after time Liza always made herself available to chat.

I can honestly say that at the beginning of this journey I was just hoping to get into one of my target schools, but thanks to Liza’s partnership and pushing me to put my best self forward I was able to get into several great programs and my top choice school with a scholarship. Choosing to work with Liza was definitely one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and I would enthusiastically recommend her for anyone who is looking for a consultant who is going to go above and beyond and be with you throughout the highs and lows of the MBA application process. I really am going to miss her infectious positivity and enthusiasm but I know we’ll definitely be keeping in touch in the future.

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Based on my personality and my budget, I knew that I wanted to do most of my own research on the application process. I was initially resistant to hiring a consultant. However, I have a pretty standard background (banking then mid-market PE, white male, east coast city, mid-20s), and I wanted to make sure I put my best foot forward. MBAMission’s a la carte hourly services and Liza were a good fit for me. I choose the company after going to a seminar hosted by the company founder Jeremy, reading their free school guides (they’re so helpful – go download them), and doing my free consultation. I liked the company’s philosophy of trying to make your story come through as best as you can. The way I figure, that’s all an essay can really do. Other consultants were more pushy/salesy and tried to act like they were the magic snake oil to get into every school. Plus, the hourly structure allowed me to ask Liza to focus on areas I knew I needed help, for several schools, all while making it affordable (and hey, with my scholarship money to several schools, it was really a net positive for me).

Liza reviewed my resume and my top school essays over the course of a few hours. She offered helpful suggestions that resulted in me changing the whole narrative structure of one of my stories. By the time I submitted “v32”, it was a much more powerful essay and more clearly reflected who I am. However, by far the most helpful part of working with Liza was my mock interview (with her) and my mock team based discussion (with a colleague of hers). Admission interviews are very different from professional ones, and I frankly did much worse during my (practice) first iteration of each format than I did during the real things. I feel like working with Liza filled in the gaps in what I would’ve been able to learn on my own through the internet and cold emailing current students. She definitely helped make sure I feel like I gave my best effort in applying, and I have a result with which I’m very happy.

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Overall - great experience and made a tough process very manageable. Liza was incredibly positive, encouraging, and responsive - all incredibly critical factors when going through the application process. She consistently makes you feel as though you are her only candidate, though am sure she has many, many others. Firstly, she responds quickly to address any questions, or even just to let you know she is reviewing your work. Secondly, she is very thoughtful in her assessments and in her reviews. She provides suggestions which are practical and helpful coming from her extensive experience, and which simultaneously allow and actually encourage you to express your voice. Finally, Liza is incredibly encouraging and positive - she calmly and happily handles mood swings, tough timelines, changes of plans, and she checks in consistently to make sure you're ok! She exceeded my expectations and was incredibly helpful, so would definitely recommend her to anyone choosing a consultant.

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Liza was an invaluable resource for my business school applications. Although parts of my profile are fairly typical for MBA applicants (I started in investment banking and currently work in PE), I also have a Master’s degree and worked at a family business. I needed to explain my non-linear career path and Liza helped me articulate the common themes that connected each of my decisions.

Liza came highly recommended to me by my friend at HBS. My conversation with Liza in my initial free consultation was honest and productive, confirming she was the right person for me. I ended up applying to four of the top five programs in the US and getting accepted to three of them. Liza guided me throughout the entire process – brainstorming, essay writing, recommender selection, and interview prep. She was candid in her feedback, clear in her directions and suggestions, and supportive. She challenged me to give more and highlighted what I did well to keep me motivated.

mbaMission structured the application process to help me stay on task and on schedule. They provided helpful materials to provide background and explain the different components of the application. The first assignment was a lengthy brainstorming exercise. The questionnaire took several hours to complete but became the source for essay topics, short answer responses, and interview answers used later. This questionnaire and the in-depth phone call helped Liza get to know me and refine the message I chose to communicate to schools.

I began my first essay with an outline then went through six iterations of my essay. Liza would comment on the drafts, asking for clarification or making suggestions on where I should dig deeper. She guided how the essay flowed but made sure I kept my own voice. After the first essay was close to finish, I began working on essays for other schools. These subsequent essays were much easier to write because I was able to leverage parts of my first essay and was more familiar with the essay-writing process. Liza was great in explaining why she made certain suggestions so I could use the same logic in other areas of my essays and applications going forward. In addition to the essays, Liza reviewed my resume and responses to the short answer sections of applications and mock interviewed me.

Choosing to work with Liza Weale was a great decision and I would make the same decision again. The MBA application process is full of highs and lows and Liza was there for it all. I’m grateful for Liza’s feedback and support. I strongly recommend working with Liza.

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Given my frequent work travel and unpredictable schedule, I knew I needed a consultant to keep me on track as I did not have the time to research the various parts of the application and come up with a comprehensive strategy. Liza came highly recommended from friends who successfully got into several top U.S. programs. I must admit I was skeptical about enlisting a consultant at first given the hefty prices and the numerous consultant ads I saw online. However, after I spoke with Liza over our 30-min initial consultation, I was blown away by her professionalism, knowledge, and most importantly, her enthusiasm. Immediately after we spoke, I signed on for the “Start to Finish” package for three schools.

I am a male international applicant with 4 years of experience in private equity ( a few years split in the U.S and Asia), graduated with a degree in business with a >3.8 GPA and a low 700s GMAT. I felt that my profile was rather typical and hence required a tremendous amount of work to highlight my unique attributes.

Liza was immensely helpful when it came to helping me distill my diverse experiences into what truly mattered as some of the stories I initially felt were compelling were actually not the ones that reflected my authentic self. Not only was Liza extremely patient and easy to talk to, her wealth of experience meant that she knew exactly which stories were worth drilling down on. I believe being able to convey an authentic (and cohesive) story is one of the keys to success and should not be overlooked. Everyone has unique experiences (however unimportant they may seem at first) and Liza was critical in helping me uncover them.

Though Liza is your biggest cheerleader (she never forgets when you are scheduled to take the GMAT or interview), she is also realistic when it comes to setting expectations. For example, she told me that my chances were much slimmer at my target schools with a 650 GMAT vs. a 700+ and encouraged me to persevere (even if that meant pushing my applications back by a round). I heeded her advice and was ultimately successful.

Working with Liza was a breeze. Her responsiveness and efficiency was incredible. She always met the pre-determined deadlines and made time to respond to my incessant “Quick Question” emails. Though admissions teams try to make the process as clear as possible, minor questions are bound to surface. The questions ranged from essay formatting and short answer responses to the inclusion of internship experience and GPA scales. Though these seemingly secondary questions could have been answered via emails to the schools, Liza was able to address them almost instantly. Liza knows the answer to almost everything, and if she does not know, she makes sure she finds you one.

Liza also consistently goes out of her way to help her clients. There are many instances of this but some of the most memorable ones would be when she reached out to her colleagues for additional feedback on my candidacy, application, and essays (especially when I pushed back on some of her comments). Aware that I was struggling with my GMAT, she helped find and recommend a few tutors. Liza also works with her colleagues to ensure the mock interviews were customized to address my weaknesses (so that I was prepared for the real thing). Lastly, even after the acceptances rolled in she took time to walk me through each program and help me think through which program best aligned with my ultimate career goals (at this point she probably knows me better than I know myself).

In the end, I was accepted to H/S/W and could not have done it without Liza’s help!

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My Background: non-traditional STEM undergrad, <5 years of start-up experience (business ops / analytics)
Post-MBA Goal: product management / entrepreneurship

I first had the chance to connect with Liza three years ago when I signed up for a free 30-min consulation with mbaMission. Frankly, I was not expecting much as I had already gone through the same process with consultants from a couple of other firms. However, Liza's genuine, client-focused attitude was a pleasant surprise, something I personally did not notice elsewhere. During our 30-min call, she quickly recognized that, while I had potential, it's best for me to work for at least a couple of years before applying. That turned out to be the best professional advice I've ever received and summarizes her well. The sincere approach she brings to her clients is a unique quality that made her a wonderful partner through my journey.

So when I felt ready to apply last Fall, I reached out to Liza again without hesitation and signed up for the Complete Package. Yes it is expensive, but I personally believe it is worth every penny and insignificant considering how much full-time MBA programs end up costing IF you can find the right consultant for you. What Liza offers is much more than just helping you get into the highest-ranked program. From the beginning, she will help you learn more about yourself by asking incisive questions and make sure that you apply to the right programs. When you get to your essays, her constructive feedback will improve your structure/grammar/etc while ensuring that you don't lose your authentic voice. Her comments are very specific and actionable. They will make you reflect on your past experiences rigorously and help you develop more compelling narratives. This was extremely important for me as I was coming from a non-traditional (i.e. non-consulting/finance) background.

Personally, the most impactful moment happened last Summer, about two months before the Round 1 deadlines. I had planned to apply to five schools in Round 1, but was still working on my first application and falling behind very quickly due to my busy work schedule. During our check-in call, Liza expressed her genuine concern and made it clear that 1) I would not be able to apply to all five unless I pushed harder and 2) she was in it together and would do whatever she can do as my partner to help me succeed. Thanks to her guidance/support, I was able to submit all my applications successfully in Round 1 and will be going to my dream school this Fall!

In short, Liza is a caring and flexible leader with a significant amount of experience/knowledge in this field (served on the “Bain-MIT Sloan” recruiting team/volunteers with the MIT Sloan Alumni Club/5+ yrs as MBA consultant) who will go above and beyond for the benefit of her clients. She is someone I admire and highly recommend.

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I’m an American female working in management consulting abroad, and I had a great experience working with Liza through the start-to-finish package for all schools to which I applied. I originally decided to work with a consultant to provide a more knowledgeable perspective on the process and help me effectively communicate my slightly unconventional career path and experience abroad. After being referred to Liza through a colleague that raved about her, I took advantage of free 30-minute consultations at two companies, including one with Liza at MBAmission. It was important to me to find a reliable partner in the process, and from the call I was immediately convinced that Liza would be an excellent fit. I loved her enthusiasm, honesty, and excitement about getting this journey started.

Liza proved to be a valuable partner throughout the entire process. She helped me narrow down my target school list, brainstormed with me on my key stories, provided comments and guidance through multiple iterations of 10 essays, and prepped me for four different interviews. Now that I’ve received offers from multiple top schools, she is working with me to negotiate scholarships and weigh my options.

In particular, I think there are four reasons why Liza was such a great partner in this process:
1) Liza is experienced and knowledgeable, and she really knows what the admissions committees are looking for across the resume, essays, etc. I started the process unsure of which of my experiences/skills I needed to highlight, and Liza worked closely with me to identify the right examples to include.
2) Liza is a great writer, and she helped me adapt my writing style to be more effective in the admissions essays. She encouraged me to bring out the details in my stories that would create a compelling narrative, and this ultimately made my essays stronger.
3) Liza was extremely professional and timely in managing my essay iterations and responding to my various questions, concerns, etc. She always gave me plenty of time on the phone and never made me feel rushed, even if we went over. She was also flexible to my timing (several hours ahead of New York) and busy work schedule. When I was behind on one essay, she even made herself available on a weekend for a final review.
4) Liza is a very easy and fun person to work with. I always looked forward to my chats with her, and I found her enthusiasm to be a great source of motivation, especially during stressful periods in the process.

Overall, I highly recommend Liza. She not only made the process easier to handle, but I do not believe I would have been as successful without her support and experienced, honest advice.

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Liza was a brilliant coach and mentor throughout the MBA application process.

I was a fairly traditional applicant: female, liberal arts undergrad, good GPA, solid GMAT, three and a half years of work experience in consulting.

I reached out to Liza through LinkedIn at the suggestion of my cousin after a particularly stressful scramble to meet my first application deadline. Initially, I was a little apprehensive about the value that an MBA consultant could bring to my application. In hindsight, working with Liza was the best investment I made.

Why Liza was AWESOME:

1. As a last minute applicant, I had very tight deadlines for each of my schools. Liza was incredibly organized and clear about her internal timelines. She was upfront with her expectations of me and helped outline an application strategy that allowed me to meet the deadlines I was aiming for with minimal stress.

2. Liza’s efficiency in reviewing and providing feedback on my essays allowed me to maximize the value of the hours I purchased. She very quickly got a sense of my writing and storytelling capabilities, and pushed me until I reached that level in each of my essays. Liza was very transparent about where I should spend more of the hours I purchased and where I could save some time.

3. Liza was a pleasure to work with. She brought energy to our conversations and really took the time to get to know who I was and what made me unique. I always felt like I was getting customized advice and that Liza was truly invested in the outcome. When I got the first “Accepted!” phone call and emailed Liza, I received an enthusiastic response within minutes.

With Liza’s help I applied to two additional schools, and was accepted to both. Liza brought perspective, experience, and some much needed sanity to my applications and final enrollment decision. Highly recommended!

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Over the past 6 months I took full advantage of mbaMission's start to finish package for three schools, Duke, Texas, and Michigan. I also applied to MIT, but did not buy a package for this one. I started out with 1 and ended up buying two more. Below is my background and overall experience working with mbaMission.

Background: I am a 29 year old male with an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, which I received in 2010. I have spent 6 years in the IT consulting industry, 2 of which were for a smaller firm (400 people), and the past 4 working for one of the big 4 consulting firms. My undergraduate GPA was 3.7 and my GMAT score was 670. Note - I took the GMAT 5 times (660, 590, 660, 640, 670)

Consultation: I started to look into mbaMission in May 2016, the year I applied, when I participated in their free consultation, which I highly recommend. You are going to be spending a lot of time working with your respective consultant so it is very important that you gauge the working style and personality of the consultant on your call. Make sure you take full advantage of this call to fully understand what you are buying and the effort you will need to contribute in the coming months.

School Selection: One of the very first items you hit with your consultant is a school selection call, which is a 30-60 min discussion about what schools you should be applying to. Note - make sure you do your homework and you use the consultant as a sounding board versus expecting them to tell you where to apply. The great part about the consultant is that they work closely with schools during the off season, meeting with admissions teams, and getting to know the programs at a more detailed level. Although this feedback can be found online, it will be invaluable to have it applied directly to your situation. My consultant did an outstanding job providing candid feedback about how my profile aligned with the schools I had selected. In my situation, I spent the past 6 months cold calling students and visiting programs to truly determine where to apply. To truly find your perfect school you will need to do much more than the 30 min call mbaMission offers. I would consider this call a final sounding board.

Brainstorming Call: Early on in the process the consultant will have you complete a brainstorming document. MAKE SURE TO PUT IN THE TIME HERE. I think mine ended up being over 30 single line pages in MS Word. This is by far the most important part of the process and will help your consultant really get to know you. Don't leave out any detail and be as transparent as possible. I often found my consultant referring back to this document and pulling out the most minute details that I had forgotten about or didn't realize would add value to my applications. At the end of the day, your essays are all about showing (1) here are my goals (2) here is how far I've come thus far (3) here is why I fit into your school and (4) here is proof I'll achieve what I just told you. One of my FAVORITE concepts was "proof points." Everything you tell a school needs to be backed up with some proof that what you're telling them will actually come to fruition and that you aren't just applying on a whim.

Essay Writing: Most of the process you will be working on your essays with the consultant, which is the most critical component. I will say that what you put into the process is what you get out. Do not expect the consultant to provide you content for your essays. They also do NOT write your essays for you. That is entirely up to you. The more you can research the schools, cold call students, visit the school in person, and read student blogs, the better the consultant will be able to help you. I found it invaluable to have brainstorming discussions with my consultant about how to share my story in the most effective manner, while weaving in characteristics about the school. The biggest thing the consultant taught me was that I should NOT focus on trying to write what the school wants to hear, but rather focus on my story and how the school will impact my career journey. The schools know themselves better than everyone else so they don't need us to tell them again. Furthermore, I thought the consultant provided a great outside view on how my stories would be perceived to the admissions committee. Going into the essays I had a few stories that seemed obvious that I wanted to share, but further realized that another story I had was much stronger outcome. Last, the consultant did an outstanding job of keeping me motivated throughout the process. Their ability to provide feedback and constructive criticism was motivating. They always helped me see the positives in what had been written which kept me motivated through a very stressful application season.

Interviews: If you have ever participated in a behavioral interview before you realize that they require a lot of preparation. Having a consultant to do mock interviews with was a life saver. For one of my interviews I had more than 15 behavioral questions back to back. Questions such as: Explain a time when you dealt with diversity, Explain a time when you dealt with conflict, Walk me through a time you motivated a team, etc. etc. My consultant taught me how to be concise, hit the key points, and move on. Without having worked through a few practice rounds, I would not have been as prepared as I was.

Overall, if I had to go through the process again, I would 100% use mbaMission without a doubt. Sure, it can be costly, but it is the future of your career on the line. I had spent over a year studying and preparing for the GMAT and if I put 110% into my applications and didn't get in, I would have strongly regretted not using a consultant. Using a consultant gave me the confidence that I was giving it all I had. At the end of the day you are investing over $100K into a graduate program to further your career. Yes, $100K! It is worth a small portion of that to know that you gave it your best shot at the end of the day.

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My stats: 3.5 years of experience in consulting. GMAT score in the low 700s. GPA above 3.7.

As I started to think about apps, I felt like I was a strong candidate, but didn't know how to best convey that to schools. I decided to hire Liza, because:
* She stressed that it was my job to do the work and tell my story. Her role was to provide feedback.
* She was candid, like she wouldn't pull punches with feedback, but also knew how to deliver feedback in a helpful manner.
* She was super knowledgeable about the schools I was targeting.
* She was just an enjoyable person to interact with.

Other consultants had bits and pieces of these qualities, but none offered the complete package.

A few of the biggest ways Liza helped me are:
* Identifying MY story. Liza persuaded me to address and own a few aspects of my background that are atypical. This made me a non-generic candidate and helped my authentic self come across. In three of my acceptance calls, I was complimented on my thoughtfulness and candor.
*Essay editing. Liza suggested ways to add depth and dimension. She tightened up the prose into something pithy and lucid. There were dozens of drafts, and she always had great feedback.
* Logistics. Liza kept the big picture of deadlines in mind and organized the work accordingly. I was pretty much ready to submit apps a week in advance of their deadlines.
* Interview prep. Liza helped me learn how to tie things back to resultsand to emphasize the challenges faced. She helped me identify my 'best' stories and understand how I came across.

In the end, I applied to five top ten schools, received interview invites at all five, and was accepted into four, including my top choice.

Would recommend Liza to anyone without hesitation.

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