I am a straight Asian male in finance. I am also a triple HSW interviewee who committed to the Stanford GSB Class of 2027 this week. Katharine Lewis is the bridge between those two statements.

When I started my MBA journey, I was intensely focused on finding “the best” MBA consultant to work with. Having heard stories about nightmare consultant experiences from other friends, I compiled a list of the Top 25 consultants I could find and “interviewed” most of them. Katy stood out as the singular consultant who best understood my story, allayed my fears around being an “ORM” candidate (what a ridiculous term), and had the most outstanding reviews. I hope to add this review to her existing pool of glowing testimonials – there is no doubt in my mind that I made the right choice. She is simply #1.

When we first began our essay writing process, I brainstormed and essentially sent her my life biography. While others might have balked at such a large amount of information, Katy simply took it in stride and read the entire thing. During our first session (she even met me in person), she sat down and immediately said, “What stood out to me was XXX theme.” At the risk of sounding cheesy, I heard her suggestion, which I hadn’t thought about myself, and it instantly resonated with me. I stuck with this essay topic for all three school applications, and the results speak for themselves. Just this session alone would’ve been worth the money.

During the actual application process (3 months this summer), I interacted with Katy more than any other human being. By all accounts, I was probably a nightmare client, filled with constant anxiety, self-doubt, and indecisiveness. Through my daily questions, pings, calls, and late submissions, Katy was my emotional bedrock of calmness, strategic advice, and brutal honesty. Katy brooked no bullshit – as a coach, she had a really good sense for when to light a fire under my ass and manage ME, and when to scale back to be patient and understanding. Her advice and edits were always thoughtful and value-additive, without feeling like they were stripping me of my own voice. It was clear she spent real time thinking through my questions and my work, never just offering cursory and generic platitudes.

The day of the Stanford submission deadline, I still had one entire short essay to write that I hadn’t touched. I finished a draft that morning and sent it to Katy, well after our agreed upon final review deadlines. If she had ignored me, I would’ve understood. It was my fault we were in this position to begin with. Instead, Katy spent the entire morning and afternoon iterating with me on this final essay. I submitted my final application at 3:59PM, one minute before the deadline. Katy believed in me when I didn’t even believe in myself. She never wavered in her commitment, even up until literally the last minute. I never once questioned that she was genuinely rooting for my success, well beyond the call of duty.

Then came the interviews – Katy prepared custom mock interviews for each of my three schools. Her mock questions probably covered 75%+ of the actual questions I was asked in each interview. I felt well prepared and confident stepping into the real things. When my decisions came out, Katy was my first call, even before my family and my friends. She was with me through thick and thin, and my successes were just as much hers as they were mine.

Katy is a not an essay copyeditor (although she is good at that too). She is so much more – a strategic advisor, an expert storyteller, a life coach, a therapist, and a friend. Deciding to work with Katy was easily one of the best decisions I made during my MBA process. Coming from someone who was deeply suspicious of paying for MBA consulting, I can tell you that Katy’s services were worth every penny – I could not possibly give a higher recommendation. I simply couldn’t have done it without her.

Katharine Lewis is the Stanford of MBA Admissions Consulting.

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It was a great companion during my application process, from creating my overall story to minute details of different schools. I used it in every step: Learning about schools, story telling about my life and goals, refining story for each school, filling the application form and finally, preparing for the interviews.
Saved me a lot of time with the content that was gathered and curated. Things like Insider Guides, application forms & questions, example of weak and strong essays, examples of interview questions & responses, student contact pages, etc. If I wanted to gather all this info by myself, it would take a HUGE amount of time from me. But thanks to these curated info, I used the extra time to get in touch with students, attend adcom info sessions and online coffee chats etc.
I applied to 10 schools in r1 (I'm EXHAUSTED! :D ), got invited to interview in every school that I applied, except one.

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I had an amazing experience working with Katharine. As I am someone who had very little idea about MBA admissions, her help was pivotal for me to get through the applications smoothly. She helped me straighten my story which showcased not only my strengths but also reflected who I am as a person. She helped me structure my resume which showcased my impact points concisely and effectively. She even helped me effectively communicate with my recommenders which was extremely critical as this was the first time they were recommending anyone to a Business School. She took my mock interview for Columbia and her questions were very similar to the ones asked in the actual one. The mock interview made me more confident to tackle the main interview. Apart from everything working with her gave me a sense of satisfaction and calmness that allowed me to give my best shot without worrying much about the result. From Brainstorming Sessions to Essays to LoRs to Short Questions to Kelogg’s Video Essay to Mock Interviews to Answering all small questions effectively her rock-solid support pushed me through all obstacles. I can confidently say that anyone would be lucky to work with her and she is the best that one can work with for MBA applications. I feel lucky that she was the most critical part of my MBA applications and this wouldn’t have been possible without her.

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When I first began my graduate school journey, I didn’t quite know what an MBA consultant was and began tackling applications on my own. I quickly realized that I had underestimated the degree to which grad school applications needed to be designed/tailored to tell a cohesive and all-encompassing story. As someone who was pursuing a dual degree and about to move to Australia from New York City for a professional rotation, I felt overwhelmed by all that had to be done and the standard that needed to be met.

Before moving from the US abroad, I had a 30-minute consultation with Katy, who immediately impressed me with her knowledge of the different graduate school programs (beyond MBAs), practicality and confidence in the guidance she provided, and her ability to be candid with me straight off the bat. I requested her support immediately and have never once regretted it.

Living in a new country, you naturally want to spend as little time at home on the weekends, although hard work and dedication are what graduate school applications demand. Katy helped me save tons of time on the 10 applications I submitted to MBA, MPP, and MAIR programs. Not only did she turn around essays, resumes, etc. incredibly quickly, but she also provided candid feedback on the content, made direct edits, and ensured I was telling my story in the most effective/strategic way possible by making the most of every section of the application. Katy was also receptive to my schedule, as I had to complete and submit 10 applications in 2 months (from mid-October to mid-December) due to work and personal travel commitments surrounding that time frame. From the beginning of the process through to the weeks following decisions, Katy was super open and excited about hopping on the phone, even for 15 minutes, to chat through my decision-making process and answer any questions I had top-of-mind. Even then, she remained straight-forward in her guidance and gave me her genuine opinion, rather than simply laying out the pros and cons.

I purchased the 3-school package with Katy for HBS, HKS, and Wharton. Of the 10 programs I applied to, I was accepted to 7 – MBA (UPenn Wharton, UChicago Booth, MIT Sloan, Dartmouth Tuck); Master of Public Policy/MPP (Harvard Kennedy/HKS, UChicago Harris); Master of Arts in International Relations/MAIR (Johns Hopkins SAIS Europe). I will be pursuing a joint MBA/MPP degree starting this fall – an MBA from Wharton and MPP from HKS.

I am steadfast in my belief that I would not have reached the same outcomes if it weren’t for Katy. I could not be happier with my decision and our partnership, and would recommend her to anyone considering additional support throughout the process. It’ll be more than worth it – thank you Katy!!

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Katy is the key to a successful and positive MBA application process. I found a friend and mentor in Katy -- I came out of every one of our conversations with insight and food for thought that was pivotal not only in my application process but also in my personal and professional development. Katy is one of the most patient and generous people I've met - she will give you as much time as she has no matter how often you need to talk, or how many times you need to talk through the same subject. She is honest and won't be afraid to tell you the truth but is also incredibly compassionate in her delivery. Katy has incredible insight on the MBA process, schools, and overall knowledge of industries. I was consistently impressed at how much Katy knew about different topics and how well she was able to help me pivot to make my story more and more robust and creative.

With Katy, I was able to achieve admission to one of my top schools. With the work we did together, I used that writing for my four additional applications where I was admitted to each one with scholarships up to 140k.

Without Katy, I would not have known where to start in crafting my story and knowing how to write properly for an MBA application. I am so thankful for the opportunity to work with her. Consider yourself lucky if you are able to snag a spot working with Katy!

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I am an international student from Russia, working in tech. I’ve been working with Katy for Round 2 application cycle, and I could not wish for a better partner to guide me. There are several points to support this statement.

First, Katy is incredibly knowledgeable about the subject area and realistic. I first contacted Katy in late May, looking to apply in Round 1 and she, having realized that I had not had my GMAT taken at the time, discouraged me from applying in Round 1, because I simply won’t be able to craft a strong application, juggling GMAT prep, applications and full-time work. Also, before we kicked-off Round 2 application, she made sure that even with a high GMAT score I keep my expectations realistic. She helped me to brainstorm the application strategy and select schools I would be better off given my career ambitions.

Second, Katy is incredibly dedicated. She really delved into my background from the get-go, and took time to understand me, my personality, my motivation and career journey — and she managed to did it better than I understood it myself. She helped me to look at my career as a side observer and pick up the themes about me that I had not realized myself. That new perspective was really instrumental in the preparation process as it helped me to write candid and personal responses to the schools’ essay questions.

Third, Katy is very structured and methodical with her approach to work. She has all the materials ready to help you think about yourself, she is upfront with turnaround times and her work/holiday schedule months in advance, relentless in constant quality improvement (if time permits), she helps you to gather the thoughts in the right form in preparation for the interviews, and, finally, provides relevant consideration points as you get the good news from several schools.

Finally, Katy has an amazing personality, she is very open, kind and funny. I considered several other consultants, and I am so happy that I decided to proceed with Katy. I applied to 5 schools, got accepted into 4 (with scholarship in Wharton) and waitlisted in Chicago Booth, I certainly would not be as successful without her.

Be prepared to work a lot with Katy, but it’s worth it.

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Initially, I started the MBA application process without considering an admissions consultant. After speaking to seven different consultants, including another from mbaMission, it became clear that Katy resonated with me most, and I clicked with her working style immediately. Her schedule was fully booked when I spoke to her, so I had to be patient and persistent to get a slot. But for me, it was Katy or no one. Thankfully, I was able to become her last R2 client. I’m glad I chose Katy because I firmly believe I wouldn't have achieved the same results without Katy's guidance.

I applied to six schools in total: Stanford, Harvard, Wharton Lauder, Columbia, Kellogg MMM, and Booth. Katy worked with me on my applications for Stanford, Wharton, and Kellogg. I got admits to all these schools except Harvard. Additionally, I received over $100,000 in merit scholarship from one of these institutions.

From the outset, Katy surpassed my expectations of a consultant. She generously offered assistance with my Lauder, MMM, and Kellogg Alternate Program essays, even though she didn’t have to do this. I was very grateful for this as it made me feel that Katy truly cared for me as a person and wanted me to succeed. Katy also leveraged her network to connect me with alumni at Stanford, Wharton, and Kellogg. These connections provided unique insights not readily available online. This not only allowed me to craft more meaningful and targeted essays but also helped me broaden my network at these schools – something I'm also incredibly grateful for.

Katy remained readily available for phone calls throughout the process. While her schedule became quite demanding towards the end, she ultimately made time when it mattered most, helping me refine my essays and ensure they were in the best possible shape. The mock interviews with Katy were incredibly beneficial and reflective of the actual interviews I had at each school. I recall that my Wharton mock was extremely helpful in getting me acclimated to the TBD format, boosting my confidence for the actual interview. Katy even provided interview materials for schools beyond my package, ensuring I felt comfortable going into those interviews as well.

One key takeaway from our first session was Katy's emphasis on service-oriented work. She stated her commitment to doing whatever her clients needed. Throughout the process, I truly felt she delivered on that promise. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have worked with Katy. While the results speak for themselves, I'm even more grateful to have gained a lifelong friend who really understood and supported me throughout my MBA journey. If you're considering your MBA journey, I highly recommend using Katy as your consultant. She is the best out there. At the very least, you should consider scheduling a free consultation with her. You'll get a sense of what I'm talking about, and you won't regret it!

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Although I am not a fan of making absolute statements, I can tell you that Katy is by far the best MBA consultant you can work with. She has a truly informed perspective and "insider view" of how MBA admission committees think, is extremely generous with her time, and genuinely helped me prepare as best as I could for my interviews with both Wharton and HBS given her extensive experience. Unlike other consultants I interacted with before making a decision on who to work with, Katy's approach felt very personalised (she was always there to calm me down when I felt overwhelmed) and thorough which I really appreciated given my background from a small country such as Greece. Is it expensive? Yes. Is it worth every penny to maximise your chances of getting in? Also yes. In a journey such as this it is critical to work with someone who knows the ins-and-outs of the admission process. Trust me, work with Katy and you won't regret it.

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Since I didn't study in the US for my undergraduate degree, and because my home country's college application process is quite different, the MBA application process was very foreign to me from the start. I knew I needed someone to guide me through it, particularly given the fact that I have a very demanding job and very limited free time. After consulting with numerous admissions advisors, I ultimately chose to work with Katy. Katy stood out as not only highly competent but also as an incredibly caring and thoughtful person, making working with her a true pleasure.

Before I started working on the applications, she suggested retaking the GMAT, visiting schools, and she discussed with me the best way to select and approach recommenders. Once we started working on the apps, she helped me brainstorm the topics of my essays and she also was very thoughtful in the questions she asked, trying to understand the motives behind every action I took in the past. This proved to be very helpful as I never thought that deeply about “my story”. She was always happy to hop on a quick call or to send me back notes and suggestions that were very pertinent (e.g., sometimes she would recall details of my story that we discussed previously that would fit in well in certain answers and that I totally forgot about). Once I started getting interview invites, the mock interviews we did were extremely helpful as they closely mirrored the real experience, and it helped me ease my worries during the real interviews and be “more present”. After getting the admissions, Katy also helped me with the school decision process, leveraging her knowledge of each program and providing insights on what factors other admits had previously considered.

In the end I got accepted to all 4 schools I worked with Katy on: HBS, Stanford GSB, Wharton (with a scholarship), and MIT Sloan. I honestly believe I wouldn’t have gotten into all the schools I applied to without her support and help throughout the process.

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I’m a middle-career working mom living in a Shanghai. Katy just supported me complete the Wharton EMBA global cohort application a few days ago. It is such a pleasant experience working with Katy in the past few months.

Apart from all the amazing advice Katy provided to me, I would love to particularly highlight a few aspects which I found most helpful:

- Broaden my perspectives to find the right program. A few months ago, I was only interested in GSB MSx. However, my life stage would make going there unrealistic. After talking with Katy, I found the Wharton global EMBA format is the most FIT one for me since I'm a working mom taking care of my three-year old twins. I would not apply to this program if I did not work with her

- Find the coherent life and career story / topic for application. After reading my brainstorm document, Katy captured the powerful storyline, which is exactly what my company is doing and also is what I'm personally interested due to my personal experiences.  

- Being a bridge between my experiences and the application requirements. Katy’s long-term accumulated experience made the application process so effective and efficient!

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