I applied to business schools two years ago without success. Needless to say, I wasn't very optimistic when I decided to apply again in 2018. I had used a consultant for my prior attempt as well and wasn't too pleased with their services (I could be biased since it didn't work out that time) as they didn't even review my short answer questions.

This time around, I wanted someone who would work with my to make sure I had a holistic, well-rounded application. I'm glad I found Katy. Once again, I applied to four schools (three of the same schools as before and one new school). This time however, I was admitted into Booth, Kellogg, and Tuck. I can honestly say that Katy's help was invaluable. She guided me from the very beginning brainstorming sessions, to reviewing every single aspect of my application multiple times, and finally to preparing my for video essays and interviews.

Business school admissions are a binary result, you either get in or you don't. Even if you think you can put together a decent application on your own, that extra bump your application will get from using a consultant (especially Katy!), might be what pushes you over the dividing line. If you tend to be a little risk averse like me, or even if you aren't, I highly highly recommend Katy!

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Jen was a pleasure to work with. She was timely in responses and provided expedited reviews to meet tight timelines, even when not required to do so. She provided valuable perspective and ideas in framing “my story”: highlighting strengths and mitigating potential “weaknesses”. She was also caring and personal. I would definitely work with her again.

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I was skeptical about paying for an admissions consultant until I visited with Katy.

I worked with Katy on a two school package - HBS and Stanford - and could not have had a more positive experience.

As a re-applicant, I was hesitant to reapply. I spoke to 10 different consulting firms and was still torn until I talked to Katy. Katy actually made me excited to reapply and explained her approach to reapplications (she wasn't prescribing the quick "how about you volunteer for the next few weeks?" - she was rethinking how I told my story). After a few short minutes I really felt like she "got me."

Katy was the only consultant I talked to who had real experience at both HBS and Stanford. I always considered the admissions process a bit of a black box and Katy was always there to answer my endless questions about process and strategy.

In terms of working together, Katy was incredibly quick, sharp, patient, and thoughtful. I was stumped on what I could possibly write about after already going through the process once, but Katy was extremely good at coaching me to approach this application differently. I was most surprised by how she was able to help me craft my story during our brainstorming session. Throughout the process, she took a holistic approach to my application (thinking about the essay in the context of my resume, my transcript, my short answers, etc.) and gave helpful feedback in that context. Katy made the process fun and easy.

Overall, my only regret is that I didn't know Katy when I first applied!

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I started my search for an MBA advisor about two years before applying searching for someone who could truly understand my story and help me come across as the person I see myself. Katy has been spot on from day one and was key to my acceptance to HBS, Wharton & Lauder, Columbia and LBS.

Being an engineer who started my career as a consultant, I was afraid I would not be able to differentiate myself from the highly qualified applicants pool. Katy was very thorough in working to truly understand my story and help me choose the best stories to reflect my profile. She was a perfect mentor and friend helping me with my numerous questions and my insecurities, for example the fact that my GMAT score was not exceptional.

Katy believed in me from the start and is today someone I truly hold dear. Coming from Brazil, being able to relate to someone even never having met in person is incredibly helpful and provides comfort to really open yourself which is key to the success of the process of working with an advisor. I am very grateful to her and have no doubt that she will be able to have the same impact in your application.

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I worked with Helen Summers at mbaMission for a two-school Complete "Start-to-Finish" Package and was accepted into my top choice. I recommend MBAMission, and HIGHLY recommend working with Helen Summers.

The MBAMission program is comprehensive and guides the applicant through a series of brainstorms and reflections. It keeps the applicant moving along the application process and completing critical tasks (like the school application, personal statement, interview prep...etc.). I was very pleased by how thorough and rigorous the program was and felt well-organized and prepared throughout the process.

However, the most important factor in the process was Helen. From day one, Helen was passionate, friendly, helpful and innovative. I'll never forget our initial brainstorm phone call: She was well-prepared, easy to speak with, and we had an "a-ha" moment that set us off on the path towards what became my personal statement. What set her apart for me was that she helped uncover my personal story and I always felt like Helen was in the trenches with me, which was comforting when we approached the application deadlines. Helen brought her passion, experience and insights into each discussion, was always available to speak live via phone, and responded to all inquiries and draft documents in a timely fashion.

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I was very back and forth on hiring a consultant for quite a while - obviously, it is a financial commitment, but then again so is B-school! After speaking with a few consultants I was pleasantly surprised by mbaMission's honesty and integrity. I saw great reviews for Rachel Beck, so I requested to have her as my consultant.

I signed up for an hourly rate and I think this was the best decision for me. I felt confident in my writing abilities and felt that I mostly needed help with determining a direction for each of my essays. I was glad I had Rachel to help me with everything along the way, from responding quickly to questions to brainstorming essay concepts. Rachel was very knowledgeable about the application process and always had creative ideas when we spoke.

It was helpful for me to take thorough notes when I spoke with Rachel to refer back to later, and Rachel was always very direct about what tasks should be done between our conversations. The application process is long and tiring - don't underestimate it! You will have to put in a lot of time, but having a consultant can accelerate the process if you are committed.

I would highly recommend using Rachel Beck if you are interested in hiring a consultant!

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When I considered taking the first steps in the MBA admissions process, the only word that accurately describes my feelings at the time is “intimidated.” From reading online posts about the process to talking with others who had gone through it, it felt as if everyone had some great story, some “golden ticket,” that I simply didn’t have. I didn’t come from a traditional finance or consulting background, was not sure my academics were up to snuff, and genuinely felt overwhelmed by the prospect of researching schools, writing essays, and soliciting recommendations. I decided to request a free consultation with mbaMission given that extremely positive feedback on their consultants was pretty universal.

When I met with Jen, I immediately felt at ease. I shared my general sense of trepidation, and she immediately, even during a 30-minute consultation, asked questions about my professional and personal background that forced me to understand that every person has a valuable story that is worth telling. Her natural ability to make me feel confident in the story I could tell, without creating unrealistic expectations on admissions results, was critical in my decision to work with her.

Throughout working together, from a 2.5-hour brainstorming session to (many), “Hey Jen – I’ve got a quick question” emails, Jen always made me feel like I deserved to be part of the MBA admissions process – like I deserved to participate and give it my best shot. She did this by always making time for me, by answering my questions both promptly and thoroughly and never giving the impression that I was just “one of many clients.” During our brainstorming session, for example, she asked questions that forced me to think about how very personal details of my upbringing that I had shared with her impacted the way I approached a project at work that I had mentioned. She is able to make this less-than-obvious connection and ask these types of questions because she genuinely cares about her clients as people and is committed to their success.

In terms of essay and interview preparation, Jen forced me to critically analyze each school’s essay prompts to figure out what from my story would naturally fit into what they were looking to learn about a candidate, as opposed to forcing something unnatural in for the sake of trying to impress them. Her comments on my essay and resume drafts were always precise and actionable – they allowed me to move forward and make improvements as opposed to creating additional questions for the sake of asking more questions. Her feedback on mock interviews was similar – “You discussed Topic X well – go into that more” or “Try to phrase Topic Y differently.” Her feedback was always valuable, well thought-out, and allowed me to make meaningful improvements.

Jen’s action and people-oriented approach immediately made me realize I had a worthwhile story to tell. I went into the process and applied to five schools, hoping to get interview invites from one or two at best. With Jen’s help, I received invites at each of these five, including three M7 schools. In the end, I was accepted into four of the five schools, including two M7’s (one of which was my top choice) and two others with significant scholarships. I am extremely thankful for Jen’s guidance and support and wholeheartedly recommend her for others looking to put their best foot forward in the MBA admissions process.

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I had my 30 minute consultation with Rachel after reading her reviews, and knew right away that I wanted to work with her. I started my 4 school package with her about 6 months before the Round 1 deadlines. We walked through my stats and timeline and she helped me map out the next few months so that I would be on top of everything.

From our first brainstorming call, I could tell that Rachel knew so much about this process that I would never have figured out. Her experience in the industry is extremely helpful and she is able to make such a hectic process run so smoothly. Through that first call, Rachel helped me figure out my story and which areas of my application I should highlight in my essays. When it came to writing my essays, Rachel already knew me so well from the brainstorming call that we were both able to quickly and efficiently outline each essay. It got to the point where Rachel would suggest using examples from my life that I hadn’t even thought of – a testament to how much Rachel works to get to know each of her clients. She is extremely punctual and often returned drafts back to me within 24 hours. She was my cheerleader throughout the entire process and I can confidently say that I would not have gotten into 3 business schools without her help. I cannot thank her enough for encouraging me and keeping a positive attitude when things did not look like they were going well. I highly recommend working with Rachel and mbaMission!

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I was originally reluctant to work with an admissions consultant because I consider myself a good writer and thought I could put together competitive applications without spending the money. After working with Rachel Beck at mbaMission for the past few months and getting into my dream school, I realize that her time is 100% worth the cost. Here's a brief list with a few of the many reasons I'd recommend Rachel to anyone hoping to get into a top-tier MBA program:

- She has years of experience navigating the admissions process and has a profound understanding of what adcoms like to see
- She's a highly skilled editor of essays, which can likely be attributed to her impressive background in journalism
- She's extremely organized and responsive
- She's very direct and always 100% honest (even when the truth may be hard to hear)

When I first started working with Rachel, I sent her an essay draft that I had been working on (which I thought was ready for submission at the time). Rachel didn't sugarcoat her feedback, and provided dozens of pointers that would help me improve the essay. Now when I look at that original draft versus the draft I wound up submitting, I realize that I never would've gotten into a top-tier program without her services. If youre a prospective student looking for an edge in applying to your dream school, Rachel is the consultant you're looking for.

Without Rachel, I wouldn't be going to my dream school this coming fall. The money spent for her time and assistance is the best investment I've ever made.

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I started evaluating MBA Admissions Consultants right after I took the GMAT and had gotten a score I was happy with. I did free intro calls with consultants at several different companies. During that first call with Kate, it was clear she was genuinely trying to get to know my background and my aspirations, rather than pitch the service, which I really appreciated. She spoke with me much longer, and in much more detail than any of the other consultants at other companies I spoke with, so she and MBAmission was the clear choice. I worked on full packages for two schools with her (everything other than GMAT prep). We started with lengthy conversations about which schools to choose based on my interests, and realistic prospects of acceptance. Kate was very upfront about my strengths and weaknesses, and how these could be viewed by different schools. Then, knowing the challenges full well, I decided I only wanted to apply to two Top 20 stretch schools. Kate assured me she would do everything possible to set me up for success, and indeed she did. She was incredibly helpful with essays and application short answer questions, helping to identify my best personal stories to use, and how best to present them. Over multiple months, we had many phone and UberConference talking over drafts, and Kate was extremely flexible in working around my schedule. When the dates came to submit, I felt confident I had done everything I could to put together my best applications possible. Then as I waited, Kate continued to strategize with me about what could be done should different outcomes occur. This frequent communication alleviated much of my stress, as it was great to know Kate had plans of how to assist further, regardless of the outcome. When the interview offer for my preferred school did come, Kate was among the first people I told. We immediately jumped into interview prep, and Kate's wealth of interview resources and experience were invaluable. When the interview day came, I again felt I was as prepared as I could be, and went in confidently and (relatively) stress-free. Afterwards, once again Kate and I discussed ideas for how to set my thinking going forward. But at that point it wasn’t necessary, as just a couple weeks after interviewing I received my offer of admission to my top choice school! Thanks for all the help Kate!

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