I am an Indian applicant from one of the leading tech institutes in the country, with a background in technology and computer science. I initially found the applications for HBS and Stanford GSB very daunting, and I spoke to my mentor, an HBS alumnus, about this. He shared his experience working with Katy and recommended that I work with her. From the first consultation call, I knew I had found the right fit - she was honest about the work I would have to put in and the areas in which she could support me. I was also impressed that she had taken a deep dive into my background to ensure that she had the proper context about me. Thus, I decided to work with her, even though I was a bit late with the applications, with barely two months remaining before the deadline.

Once I started working with her, I could take a structured approach to the applications of HBS and Stanford GSB. She ensured that I presented my story and gave me mindful and well-thought suggestions that significantly improved my presentation in the applications. In the end, I was confident that through the applications, I provided a holistic picture of myself and presented why I wanted to join a business school and how the deferred program would benefit my long-term goals. All this while, she was brutally honest about my chances in different schools. When I was rejected from Stanford, she gave me detailed reasons why I might have been left behind. She also provided me the confidence to reapply a few years later if needed. When I was invited to interview within a week by HBS, she went above and beyond to ensure that I would be relaxed and well prepared for the interview.

I have learned a lot about myself and have been able to discover my inner ambitions and motivations. The journey has been transformative, and having a deferred admit from HBS makes the experience even sweeter. I owe a lot to Katy for helping me through the journey, and I would recommend any serious b-school applicant to work with her.

Read More

I worked with Katy for around 4 months on my deferred MBA application and I can very confidently say that she is one of the best consultants to work with. She has always been honest and upfront throughout the process and this really helped me align my expectations. Her knowledge and insights about all the M7’s are difficult to find anywhere else. Her dedication to each of her client is evident in the time and effort she puts in. She is very accommodating with scheduling time to talk and her support in every step of the process, from essays to recommendation letters to interview prep, is unparalleled. Katy’s ability to understand people and form genuine relationships was instrumental in building a powerful narrative for my application. The process can definitely get very overwhelming and exhausting but having Katy really helped me relax and enjoy the process. I was not only able to get into my dream schools, Columbia and MIT, but I also found a mentor whose advice and words shaped my long-term career goals. I wouldn’t have been able to achieve any of this without Katy’s help and working with her is one of the best decisions I made!

Read More

Katy was the only advisor I used when applying to HBS 2+2, and she's all I needed. While I was still deciding whether to apply to any programs (ie, before I even became her client), she stayed in touch - answered any questions I had about the GMAT, whether my score was good enough, helped me decide which school(s) to apply to for deferred admissions, etc. As an HBS alumnae and former GSB admissions officer, she provides key perspectives and critical info that I couldn't have found otherwise (and I scoured all the forums for all available info) and even communicates with recommenders (if they want) to coach them on how to write a strong letter. Most of all, we did a deep dive on my key life decisions and she was able to construct a highly insightful narrative for my application - I was really impressed with how well she understood me throughout this brainstorming session; this was key to the story I shared in my essay.

Ultimately, when I didn't get in, Katy again provided invaluable advice about how to set myself up for success over the next few years before I reapply. We talked for an hour about what strong EC profiles might look like, if/when/how I should think about moving between jobs, and when I should expect to apply again for the best chance. Though I didn't get in, I learned a lot about the process thanks to Katy, and I believe this will help a LOT as I move forward and reapply in a few years.

Overall, Katy definitely cultivates relationships and cares about the person behind the application. She was able to accommodate me anytime I asked to meet, had follow-up questions, etc. - even on short turnaround - and helped me manage expectations and relax when I needed it. This is definitely a very applicant-driven process, and you will need to proactively reach out with any questions you have and create your own schedule, but Katy is an invaluable resource throughout the process, as long as you're able to do that.

Read More

I first heard about Katy through one of my good friends who worked with her and got into HBS. Given the rave reviews that I read online and from my friend, I immediately contacted Katy to see if we can work together. After speaking to her, I found her approach to be candid and sincere, which I enjoyed. She detailed my strengths and weaknesses immediately and we started working on my weaknesses. I found her to be very dedicated and invested in my success. Since I am located in the Middle East, I was initially worried that the time difference might be an issue but that wasn’t the case at all! After receiving an interview invitation from LBS, we spent countless hours practicing for both the video questions as well as the actual interview. All in all, Katy was absolutely fantastic and I am very happy to have worked with her

Read More

Katy is someone whose judgement and advice I fully trust. Since we started working together, she made the effort to fully understand me as a person. I went into our first brainstorming session with a series of disjointed experiences and Katy helped me identify the best parts and form a cohesive narrative. As I started sharing essay drafts, her feedback reflected a deep and specific understanding of the schools I was applying to. At one point, she gave some blunt feedback that I felt was exactly what was needed.

The whole process can also at times be an emotional rollercoaster. She was there to support me every step of the way, including when she advised me to make the difficult, though ultimately right, decision to postpone my application to round 2.

I was accepted to my top choices, including HBS and MIT. I honestly believe that I would not have had this outcome without her support. If you get the chance to work with her, it will be one of the best decisions you make!

Read More

I approached Katharine over a year ago regarding my rather nontraditional background and application. I was instantly impressed by her knowledge of all the top programs and her proposed strategy for my application. Katharine encouraged me to apply to the top programs, Harvard and Stanford, and laid out a timeline for us to work together. After considering my options, I decided that Katharine would be the best fit to advise me on my application, and I am so glad I did. Katharine was an admissions officer at Stanford, (my target school) and has a thorough understanding of how Stanford evaluates/reviews applications. She helped me think through every detail of my application -- personal narrative, extracurriculars, etc. -- and she kept me on track for the deadlines. Katharine is an expert when it comes to the details; I am certain that her thoughtful approach was the tipping point for my application, and the result was exactly what I hoped for -- I was accepted to Stanford GSB! Thank you Katharine for all the time and effort you put forth working with me. I would highly recommend that anyone work with Katharine to achieve their MBA goals!

Read More

It’s hard to imagine how I would have navigated my business school application journey without a coach and true supporter like Katy Lewis. The first person I called to share the good news of my acceptances and the last person I consulted right before hitting “submit,” Katy was with me every step of the application process, and we grew to be exceptional working partners. Her professionalism and dedication to her clients are unmatched. A lifelong musician outside my banking day job, I immediately saw the value she could bring to my candidacy when she said that she’d be taking on the role of “conductor” behind the scenes, helping to push me to reflect, work hard, and display my best for the admissions committee to see. She did exactly that.

My eyes are set on Wharton, where I’ll be attending with a full-tuition merit scholarship.

I cannot recommend Katy highly enough!

Read More

I am very happy to have been recommended Katharine by a work colleague. I have been working in hospitality for 17 years and was apprehensive about even applying for the Columbia EMBA Global Program. After my first initial consultation with Katharine, she not only gave me the confidence to apply but reassured me that I was a good fit for the program. Katharine was very helpful at every stage of the application process and really helped me to highlight the best attributes of my career and personality in my application. Katharine is able to provide the insight of an admissions person having worked in admissions herself and I would not have wanted to go through the application process without her insight. Highly recommend!

Read More

I did an extensive amount of research on MBA consultants and chose Katy Lewis for her fabulous reviews and expertise with top schools (Harvard / Stanford) and applicants with "traditional" consulting / finance backgrounds like myself. In all aspects of the process I was extremely impressed by her - she was incredibly helpful in the brainstorming / narrative formulation component and was also invaluable in providing feedback on essays. After receiving interviews at Harvard and Wharton, I did multiple mock interviews with Katy and found them to be extremely representative of the real interviews. She is an expert at positioning candidates for top schools and is also a wonderful coach and cheerleader through what can be a very stressful process.

I was ultimately admitted to Wharton with scholarship, but chose not to attend for a few reasons (mostly COVID uncertainty and a compelling other work opportunity). Katy went out of her way to advise me professionally and also to help me position myself as a reapplicant. This year, I applied again and was admitted to GSB and Wharton with significantly more scholarship than last year. Would highly recommend working with Katy, particularly if you're targeting top business schools!

Read More

At first, I was very hesitant to work with a consultant on my MBA applications, however, I believe that one of the best decisions I made during my application journey is working with Katy!

Katy takes admissions consulting to the next level and goes the extra mile for her clients. Not only did she help me brainstorm ideas and recall impactful events for my story, she had me look at myself from another perspective, deeply connect with my passions and interests, and be a much more optimistic person.

I purchased the two-school package with Katy, and for both schools Katy put in significant effort with me through hours of calls and emails, answering my questions diligently and uplifting my spirits whenever I had any doubts or felt anxious. On top of that, Katy never failed to add value by providing unmatched insights on the various aspects of the application process from school picking to interview preparation.

I am very grateful for Katy's help and I am very lucky to have met and worked with her. I would advise those who are looking for an MBA admissions consultant to definitely consider working with Katy. Working with Katy has changed my life. It could change yours.

Read More