Self reflection is hard, and as it turns out, the MBA application process requires a lot of it. Each candidate comes in with different strengths, and it becomes about showcasing them in an interesting and meaningful way. I approached the application process with a lot of determination, but some hesitation because my GMAT score was right on the cusp of what is widely considered a "safe" score for the top programs. John worked with me to craft my story in a way that let my strengths shine, and showed me that the GMAT is only one data point among many in this application. Not only did he help me make my application something that I was proud of, but was always patient and available. He was willing to review everything I wrote, including emails to professors, alumni and current students, as well as talk on the phone regularly for advice. I can honestly say that John was instrumental in helping me gain admission to my top choice of program. I cannot wait to start b-school in the Fall, and am so grateful that John was referred to me. If you are considering using John, you will not be disappointed. Trust me, it is worth the investment!

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Helen was honest and ended up being very accurate about my chances of admissions for the schools I was looking to apply to. She is easy to talk to and has a tough love approach which pushed me to put forward the best application possible. I also had a low undergrad GPA and Helen knew how I could shape my application to put my best foot forward.

She was extremely timely with her responses and it was easy to set time with her to ask any question I had throughout the process. She always had answers and never steered me wrong!

A few HUGE value adds stand out to me:

1. During the brainstorming sessions, when I would get stuck, she always had ideas and examples that got my brain churning. She was honest with feedback about stories and experiences that I came up with which really helped me shape my essays/interview answers.
2. For interviews, she had great advice on how to prepare, tweak answers and make a good impression. With her help, I was confident for the in person interviews which, I believe, made a big difference.
3. Throughout the time I was wait-listed, I was in constant communication with admissions. She helped me come up with talking points for in person admissions meetings and she helped me approach every email and update. All of this really helped me get noticed and I came off the wait-list quickly.

All in all, I don't know if I would be starting at my dream school in the fall without her and I am so thankful.

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I used Katharine Lewis for a 2-school package (all-inclusive). It seems like a lot of money upfront and I didn't know if I 'needed' a consultant at first - some mentors and friends said that my profile is so good, why would I want one? but I am SO happy with my decision, and Katy definitely made it worth it.

From helping me navigate the MBA admissions process, to reading multiple drafts of my essays until they were perfect, to doing mock interviews, to coaching me through the waitlist process for HBS, Katy was absolutely phenomenal and she has truly become a great friend.

Katy has such extensive experience that she knows how to guide the essays, recommendations, application (like what extracurriculars to highlight there vs. other places in essays, etc.). Also, the mock interviews she gave me truly helped me prepare for the real interviews, and she was able to provide significant additional reading for me.

I got into Wharton (with a large fellowship), into Stanford GSB, and waitlisted after interviewing with HBS.

I am pleased with the results and a lot of it is due to Katy!

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When I began evaluating consultants, I was looking for someone with a similar background to mine. On paper, Harshad and I could not be more different. Angela assured me that he is extremely talented, but I still had my doubts about whether or not he would be the right fit for me. Boy was I wrong.

Based on my credentials, I was an underdog in the b-school admissions process. I had a number of prospective consultants break the news that I was a long shot for top-tier schools and they encouraged me to lower my expectations. Not Harshad. From the get-go, it was clear he was in my corner. Instead of trying to convince me to settle for lesser schools, he immediately focused on what I could do to best position myself to be accepted into my top choice programs. This attitude was the primary reason I chose Harshad and it was quite possibly the smartest move I made in the entire process.

Harshad’s approach really worked for me during the essay-writing process. He dug deep into my background, my motivations, and my career aspirations and made sure my essays were a reflection of who I truly am. He was masterful in pointing out my strengths for me and also in encouraging me to think about how my weaknesses could be addressed through an MBA--this self-reflection made for great essays. I was also impressed by how economical he could be with word count--all of the content was my own but he was able to really help me eliminate fluff and say what I really meant to say. Another thing I really appreciated about Harshad was his follow-through. If he said he would get you revisions on a draft by Wednesday AM, I could count on it being in my inbox when I woke up Wednesday morning. He was reliable and always made himself available for me throughout the process.

Harshad pushed me really hard, but I appreciated all of his feedback. I knew that he was challenging me to be better because he genuinely cared about my success as an applicant. Harshad was the first person I emailed when I got my GMAT score, the first person I notified when I received invitations to interview, and the first person I pinged when I got off the phone with Admissions Officers letting me know I was in. He was more invested in my success than some of my closest friends. Applying to B-school is an arduous and humbling process; there were many times I questioned my worth along the way. Harshad was always there to pick me back up when I was knocked to the mat.

I have serious doubts about whether or not I would have succeeded in this process without Harshad. In fact, I’m almost positive I wouldn’t have gotten into my top schools. With Harshad’s help, I got into my dream schools, Wharton and Columbia, but had other excellent options like UVA Darden and NYU Stern as well. I was waitlisted at Kellogg but I’m pretty sure that’s because I opted not to have Harshad help me with that one in an effort to save money :)

I can’t recommend Harshad highly enough. I direct anyone I know who is about to embark on this process to him.

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Jessica Shklar is an amazing advisor.

- She helped me elevate my story and application. I thought I knew it going in - but she helped me really interrogate my goals, arguments, and narrative. She never directed me on what to write - rather, her wealth of experience about the application process helped me identify what to emphasize and what was missing based on what each school is looking for. She sharpened and refined, helping me present to each school the best version of myself.

- Hugely effective use of time. She's incredibly efficient both in the hourly services, but also in writing editing. She didn't just elevate my work - she taught me how to be a crisper, more effective writer in general. Hard to overstate how important that is for business school applications.

- Most importantly, Jessica is a kind, thoughtful person and made me feel good about my candidacy. B-school apps are tough and there are lots of people ready to tell you why you won't get in or play down your goals and expectations for yourself. Though I wasn't confident about myself going in, Jessica helped me embrace my strengths and be confident in my overall candidacy. I actually think this is a necessary factor in being successful. Your consultant should be your cheerleader!

I will now be attending a top 5 b-school in the fall. So, so grateful for her support. Working with Jessica was the best investment I made this year and 100% confident it wouldn't have happened without her.

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I am so glad that I decided to work with Kate - she is fantastic! She was instrumental in helping me craft my story for my MBA applications. She took the time to truly understand my story - my career aspirations, professional experience, personal achievements, interests, and my personality. She started by having a consultation with me in which she provided very honest and direct feedback, which was critical to my decision about which programs to apply to. She is very knowledgable about the top MBA programs, so she could speak to my fit with each program and helped me craft my story for each application.

I was initially hesitant to work with a consultant because I did not want my voice to be lost in the crafting of a narrative or the editing process. However, Kate is very thoughtful about how she provides feedback. She helps guide you in the right direction, but she does not take away your unique voice. In fact, she helps you bring it out in your application in ways you may not have identified. She also does not push her opinions on you - she shares her suggestions, but lets you decide what is best for you.

One very important part of why I had such a great experience working with Kate is that she never made me feel like our time together - whether on the phone or in email - was ticking away without moving the needle forward. It goes without saying that purchasing consultative hours or a school package is a big financial investment, so you want to be confident that you're getting the most out of it. I absolutely felt that way with Kate.

In the end, I was admitted to my top choices! Thanks to Kate for all of her help!

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I was incredibly fortunate to work with Heidi Granner on my business school applications. I purchased the start-to-finish package for two schools, which I used to apply to HBS and Stanford GSB. With Heidi’s help, I was accepted to both, and this fall will be attending my dream program, Stanford GSB.

A bit of profile background on me: I am a white male working in finance (two years in IBD followed by two years in PE); 3.9 GPA; 730 GMAT.

Going into the application process, I knew one of my biggest challenges would be distinguishing myself within a highly overrepresented pool of applicants - white males working in finance. Heidi offered invaluable advice that helped me craft my unique story. As with any mbaMission pair, Heidi and I kicked off our partnership with a brainstorming session. I was skeptical going into the session that I would come out of it feeling good about my essay topics (after all, this was our very first call), but two hours later I had outlines for each one. I was blown away by Heidi’s perceptiveness in picking up on common themes across my life and developing them into powerful stories I hadn’t considered.

Heidi is incredibly easy to get along with. Applying for MBA programs is a fairly emotional process - applications force you to dig deep and show a vulnerable side of yourself on paper. Heidi’s friendly and approachable demeanor made this process much more comfortable. She was easy to open up to, which allowed me to probe topics I otherwise wouldn’t have considered and write about myself and my goals in an honest way.

Heidi’s feedback on my essays and resume was always prompt and clear, allowing me to efficiently edit my materials throughout the process. We stuck to each deadline she set, and she graciously made herself available for ad hoc calls. In what can often be a hectic and stressful process, I never once felt like I couldn’t rely on Heidi to provide timely, thoughtful feedback.

All of this is to say that you will get far more than your money’s worth working with Heidi. She was an invaluable guide and sounding board to me. While I’m happy to be done with the application process, I will truly miss our partnership together, and I couldn’t have accomplished what I did without her. I cannot recommend Heidi highly enough!

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I highly recommend Melissa as well as mbaMission.

Melissa is wonderful to work with! She is a skillful listener and communicator. She is honest and professional while still being very encouraging and positive. I felt that Melissa genuinely cared about my success and inspired confidence in me throughout the process.

She helped me be effective with my time by providing perspective on the aspects of my application on which I should spend the most time and energy.

Melissa is also patient and responsive, and always answered my questions (big or small). If she didn't know the answer (which rarely happened), she would consult others at mbaMission. It gave me comfort that a team of experienced consultants was supporting me throughout the process. This is a key reason I would also recommend the school package and believe it was worth the extra money. The process was more stressful than I anticipated --and I found that many questions arose during the process. It was a huge time-save to not have to research every question on my own.

Overall Melissa exceeded my expectations!

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I had the pleasure of working with Jen on an hourly basis to help with my MBA applications. I first called Jen for the 30 minute free consultation in a total panic about my future (ha) to which she was not only helpful, but also a friend. Jen and I maximized our hourly services together and her strength was really noticeable in shaping my story into something each b-school I applied to would resonate with. Together we worked on a strategy for schools, essays and applications, and mock interviews. I come from a very technical background (geologist!) and Jen was able to translate my industry specific experiences and jargon into a relatable story for admissions.

Even on an hourly basis, I felt that Jen really knew my story inside and out, and was rooting for me the whole way. She fielded more than a few panicked phone calls/emails during the process (especially after my HBS interview!). But more than a consultant, I feel that Jen was a friend who had been through the process herself in the past, could understand the tough nature of it, and had my back the whole way through. She believed in me when I needed it most.

With Jen, I was invited to interview at 5/6 schools to which I applied, and ultimately was admitted at most of them. I've accepted my offer to attend HBS in the fall and truly couldn't have done it without her.

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The best thing that I could have done about my MBA application process it to find Katy. I knew I wanted to apply only to Stanford and Harvard so I was looking at someone that has been in touch with both schools. I found Katy and reached out to her, had my 30 min call and was very pleased. Unfortunately I didn't apply that year to MBA, but I still had Katy in my mind and told her that I still want to work only with her but I need to move this to next year and please save me a spot because she is the only person I want to work with. I touched based again with her when the next year came and I was struggling a lot with GMAT. She suggested that I take GRE and gave me the pros and cons for each, and that was a great choice for me.
I had the brainstorming session with her and it felt that she understood my story so well. She has gone through this so many times that she knows exactly what these 2 schools are looking for. Long story short: Katy made the application for me a breeze. Everything was very well structured, step by step and Katy's comments are to the point and very easy to grasp.
The essays looked so easy to get around. When I first read the essays titles 2 years before my application I was so lost, and when I worked with Katy, it was so easy to put my thoughts in paper immediately.
In the end I got accepted to both schools and I couldn't have done without Katy.

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