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Product mbaMission School Package
Consultant Jessica Shklar
I had a lot of apprehension starting the MBA admission process. I was targeting the top of
the M7, nervous about getting the right GMAT score and uncertain about making my
application stand out. I was a consultant passionate about public service and faith, and didn’t
know how to tell my story. Not only this, but I was unsure about investing significant
financial resources into the process. I approached coaches with a bit of skepticism,
somewhat jaded after reading hundreds of admissions consultant reviews. But then I met Jessica and
everything changed. I am now on my way to HBS after receiving multiple M7 offers. I can
confidently say I wouldn’t be here without Jessica’s support. If you are reading this and have
your sights set on a top school, look no further than Jessica.
See below for a few examples of
the exceptional value Jessica provided:
1. Jessica got to know me deeply as a human, well beyond my resume. She repeatedly
pushed me to lean into stories that had shaped my life- stories of love and loss and
oftentimes not associated with the corporate world. I cried after writing down some of the
life experiences that I eventually used in essays- we got that real. I don’t think my application
would have been remotely as powerful as it was with these lived experiences included and I
believe that Jessica is in the top .1% of coaches that could draw this emotion and depth out
of someone.
2. Jessica encouraged me to avoid a “brand”. I was ready to structure my package squarely
around something I thought schools would want- an MBB consultant on sponsorship, ready
to share stories of board meetings in class. Jessica quickly dispelled this. Instead, I found
myself leaning into passions I would never have considered bringing up (cycling, painting)
and my package became all the more reflective of who I actually was.
3. Jessica was extremely honest. Sometimes painfully so 🙂 She said from the beginning that she would react honestly to content because it would lead to a better product, and she held true to that. This too lead to a better outcome than otherwise.
4. Jessica (and mbaMission) was comprehensive. Jessica provided outstanding support across my package for multiple schools, and mbaMission went above and beyond with interview prep. All of this (besides one-off 1:1 interview deep-dives) was included in my package. I felt like this was excellent value and reflected the outstanding caliber of mbaMission as a whole (though Jessica stands alone in her caliber as a coach).
5. Jessica was timely, thorough and pushed me to stay “ahead of schedule”. Jessica consistently turned content in under two days and always was thorough. She encouraged me to lean in, even after long weeks or late nights, and dig deep to complete my packages early. Without this push I know I would not have been as prepared as I was.
6. Even after I submitted my applications, Jessica was there every step of the way. She provided immense reassurance in times of doubt, responded thoughtfully to anxiety-induced emails, and even counseled me on what to wear to my interviews. I am confident that I would have had many more sleepless nights if it wasn’t for her.
Working with Jessica was the one of the wisest decisions I’ve ever made – and it would be for you too.
Product mbaMission School Package
Consultant Jen Kedrowski
When I began working with Jen, I knew very little about the MBA application process. Jen was patient and thorough, and I felt comfortable going to her with any questions I had. She helped to keep me organized and on schedule to submit 7 R1 applications. Jen made herself available to me whether it was answering a quick email or scheduling a last minute call. While she reviewed my resume and every application and essay, she provided feedback and comments that helped keep my submission individualized. Ultimately, I was accepted to multiple reach schools and offered generous scholarships to many programs. I would highly recommend Jen as your MBA admissions consultant!
Product mbaMission School Package
Consultant Katharine Lewis
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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Product mbaMission School Package
Consultant Jessica Shklar
When I started working with Jessica, I had completed my GMAT and thought my “MBA story,” honed over 4.5 years in the same industry, only needed a bit of polish. Jessica, however, envisioned a more reflective approach. She encouraged me to introspect deeply about my life, got to know me intimately, and reshaped my narrative into something beyond my imagination. Had I stuck to my original plan, I doubt I'd be heading to HBS today.
From day one, Jessica was methodical, initiating our process five months before application deadlines. She required a detailed account of my upbringing, family, hobbies, and work experiences—a task that seemed too excessive with its 50-60 hours of introspection. Yet, this groundwork proved essential. It enabled Jessica to identify what made me unique and weave my most compelling stories into each school's application. I still remember my sense of relief during our first brainstorming session. Jessica had done her homework, knew my story inside-out, and proposed a clear-cut strategy for the coming months. I was onboard and it was the first time I felt that I might actually have a shot.
Applying to top MBA programs is a grueling process. Schools evaluate every aspect of your life and expect you to “bleed on paper” to convince them of your candidacy. The best MBA essays are compelling stories where you, the author, happen to be the hero. For even the best storytellers among us, that’s an awkward thing to write. Fortunately, Jessica finds it easy. She’s a professional who knows what schools are looking for and, as long as you’re willing to put in the work, her expertise will bring out the best in you.
Product mbaMission Hourly Services
Consultant Gavriella Semaya
It was a great decision to work with Gavriella! I was accepted at both HBS and Wharton. She was a tremendous help in putting together my application, and particularly in effectively using the essays to tell my story. I reached out to her under a time crunch, and Gavriella was able to quickly identify the unifying thread in my past experiences and help me highlight the accomplishments I was most proud of. She is timely and attentive. Not only is she great at what she does, she is also kind, encouraging, and supportive. Her support extended beyond my admissions - I was torn between the two schools and she gave me helpful advice in making the decision that was best for me. I would highly recommend working with Gavriella - you will absolutely not regret it!
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Product mbaMission Hourly Services
Consultant Gavriella Semaya
Working with Gavriella was incredible and I recommend her a consultant for a couple of reasons:
1. Professional and timely responses - Gavriella was extremely professional and responded to my emails, gave me resume feedback and edited my essays all in a timely manner so that I could follow the timeline we sett and make sure I was happy with my application well before the deadlines.
2. Relevant feedback - Gavriella gave me relevant feedback based off of my post-MBA goals and what schools I wanted to go to. She didn't try to fit me in a box but worked with my story and helped me shape the right version of me that I wanted to present to the admissions committees.
3. Comfortable & Friendly - Some consultants are really hard to approach and can be really intimidating. Some of them I even felt discouraged from applying or I felt that I wasn't good enough! But Gavriella never made me feel that way. She was supportive and a friendly face through out the whole process. It felt good that I could rely on her to answer any of my questions.
Not only did I get into my dream school of Columbia, I also got a scholarship!
Product mbaMission School Package
Consultant Gavriella Semaya
Working with Gavriella was the single best decision I have ever made! She helped me out every step of the way during my application process. I signed up for the 3-school package - GSB, HBS, and Wharton. With Gavriella's help, I got interview invites from both HBS and Wharton, and I ended up accepting the offer from HBS.
Gavriella was extremely supportive and helpful throughout the process. She helped me stay focused and responded quickly during the overwhelming application process. She's great at paying attention to details and shaping your story. Plus, she genuinely cares about your success.
Not only is Gavriella amazing at what she does, but she's also really nice to work with. She listens to you and values your ideas, making sure they come through in your application. She's a great communicator and really understands where you're coming from.
On top of helping me with these 3 applications, Gavriella also gave me some great advice for my Sloan MIT application, which I was working on by myself. Thanks to her help, I got an interview invite for Sloan MIT too!
Overall, Gavriella was amazing to work with, and I'd definitely recommend her to anyone looking for help with their applications.
Product mbaMission Hourly Services
Consultant Gavriella Semaya
The MBA process can be very intimidating and overwhelming, but Gavriella made me feel at ease and ultimately helped me secure admission into my top choice, Columbia Business School!
She provided very quick feedback on any and all questions that I had and even supported me through higher-level conversations about my future career, I have always been a bit skeptical about MBA consultants from other reviews by friends, but Gavriella truly went ABOVE AND BEYOND to help me! She genuinely cares about her students and truly wants to see them succeed. I highly recommend you work with her, she's the best!!!! 10/10
Product mbaMission School Package
Consultant Nisha Trivedi
Nisha helped me during my Round 1 applications to three M7 schools - I was ultimately accepted to all three, including a scholarship offer from one school!
Nisha was incredibly efficient and usually provided essay comments within a day. She was great at teasing out specific aspects of the narrative to ensure results and implications were clearly highlighted. During interview prep, she helped me identify areas of my profile that were not explicitly described in my written application to give more color to my personality.
The application process was intense and nerve-racking, but I am so grateful that Nisha always provided candid feedback, a fresh perspective, and incredible support. Still in disbelief that I'm actually going to b-school, thank you Nisha!
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Product mbaMission School Package
Consultant Gavriella Semaya
Working with Gavriella is one of the best life decisions I have ever made. In 9 short months (all inclusive package), she not only helped me secure admission into my dream school - Stanford GSB (and other M7 schools) but has also evolved into becoming an advisor, friend and confidant for life. Such has been the transformative impact of Gavriella and no amount of words will ever do justice to how highly I recommend her to any applicant planning to embark on the MBA application journey.
Allow me to sum up her differentiated attributes that made her an absolute game changer in my path towards my dream school across 5 themes:
1. Highly Personalized - In our time working together, it always felt like I was her only client because that is the level of personalized attention she provided. She always went above and beyond without ever counting how many rounds of essay edits have happened or how many interview practice sessions we have done, because Gavriella genuinely cares. During the brainstorming phase, she allowed us to do innumerable zoom sessions (more than typical) to really pin down the essence of the story we wanted to convey. During the essay writing process, she provided thoughtful feedback and edits ahead of the regular turnaround time (and many times over weekends too), which allowed me to work efficiently. During the interview practice sessions, she helped me practice critical stories again and again until I felt confident enough for the big day. If you sign Gavriella up, I can guarantee that you’ll be promised a level of personalized service and responsiveness that will far exceed your expectations.
2. Expert Storyteller and Marketer - One of my core takeaways from this journey is realizing how much of the application process is about effective marketing and storytelling. And that is where Gavriella shines so bright. I’d like to particularly call out 2 nuances of this trait. One, she has a rare ability to connect disparate threads of your life in a uniquely creative yet authentic fashion. And two, her flair with words is simply unmatched. She also possesses a rich awareness of language and tone nuances that different schools like. While she tirelessly helped me level up my essays to a place worthy of submission to highly selective programs, I am also walking away with actionable tips on how to storytell (both written and verbal) effectively in other parts of my life. Working with Gavriella will allow you to go beyond the scope of the application process and permit you to experience a deep sense of reflection and growth.
3. Meticulous and Persevering - Gavriella has an amazing attention to detail. In every redlined essay version I received, it was clear to me that she had read every word thoroughly because she proposed multiple ways in which the same sentence could be written for higher impact and recall value. As I already stated, we went through the same essay draft more than 10 times, because she pushed for perfection. Even when we might have had differing thoughts on things, she used to provide well rationalized and thought out explanations for each of her points, which brought the best out of me. Also, one of the often understated and overlooked portions of this process is the application form itself. She made sure that in addition to extremely strong essays, we went through multiple iterations of application form short answers to curate the best possible overall application we could.
4. Trust and Belief - I had talked to 12 consultants when I was searching who to partner with, but what made me instantly connect with Gavriella was the belief she placed in me and my candidacy. I was a non-traditional applicant from an overrepresented demographic. I was unsure whether I was dreaming too big. But when I talked to her, I immediately felt that she understood me and I got a sense that she would make my dream of getting into Stanford hers, and boy I was right!
5. Friend and Confidant - As I have stated, applying to business school is more than a full time job. More than a consultant, you need a friend who will motivate you when you need it, who will hear you rant when you are stressed and who feels every inch of your emotion all the way. That’s what Gavriella was to me, which made this process all the more easier.
I can go on and on about the indelible impact she has had, but in summary, I would simply not be where I am today without her. I highly recommend you to choose her in a heartbeat for she can single handedly change your life.