Date: April 1, 2013 (Booth EMBA app is due at 11:59pm CST)
Time: 9am CST
"I was ready to submit my application to Booth, the only school I was applying to. As a final check I called Square One to request one quick review of my essays and resume. Upon reading them, Square One's owner, Kathryn, called and told me I had no chance of getting in with what I'd written. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. She asked why I had waited until the deadline to call her, saying that I failed to understand how competitive the process is and what admissions officers want. When she told me I needed to start over I was upset, but also relieved, as the deadline was still almost 15 hours away. She had other client calls that day, but cleared her calendar because she felt strongly that I could put together a strong application with her guidance. Unbelievably, for the next 14 hours she got to know me and helped me craft work that was phenomenal. The transformation my materials underwent is hard to explain. I was still telling my story, but it was so much sharper, fuller, and on-point. She worked with me up until the moment I submitted my GOLD STANDARD application one hour before the deadline. What Square One did for me that day was nothing short of amazing.
One week after submitting I was invited to interview. I did the mock interview with Square One. Once again they helped me push myself further, this time to tell even more than I was sharing in my written application. I got accepted two weeks later and know that I wouldn't have gotten that call had I not made the call to Square One!!
If you are looking for a complete analysis of your candidacy and a true partner in the process, I highly recommend Square One."

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Applying to business school is a daunting and overwhelming process but I was fortunate to have Square One Prep guide me through it. First, after my consultant helped me understand my candidacy relative to the overall pool of candidates, an endeavor that took three phone calls that totaled more than 8 hours, she helped me decide which schools were the best fit for me. In fact, she convinced me to aim higher than I originally planned to aim. I was aiming really low due to my 560 GMAT score. Second, my consultant was unbelievably helpful with reviewing all of my application materials to make sure they were as strong as they could be without losing my voice and intent. Third, she was always there for me if I had any questions about the process---any questions at all. Ultimately, I was accepted to every school I applied to - Babson, Baruch, Northeastern, University of Illinois . I definitely could not have successfully gone through this process without Square One Prep's help and sincerely recommend them to anyone applying to business school. Thank you!!

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Square One Prep was exactly what I needed, when I needed it – and the results speak for themselves. I got into the school of my choice, Yale SOM, with a full scholarship!

I am an older candidate with average grades and a low GMAT score. I further put myself into a difficult position by not starting the application process until late in the fall. A friend of mine attending Kellogg strongly recommended Square One Prep and I am so grateful that he did!

Using her wealth of knowledge, my Square One Prep consultant helped me narrow down my initial list of business school programs to those that really fit my interests. She also suggested that I add a few I hadn't seriously considered. Once my list was set, my consultant crafted a schedule for ALL of the schools I was applying to (even though we weren't partnering on all of them together) and helped me stick to it throughout the entire process - all while reassuring me, offering encouragement, and dispensing strategic advice.

Square One Prep’s personal approach is what really made the difference. My consultant took the time to really get to know me, which enabled her to give me the advice I needed so that I could write the essays that highlighted the best facets of my personal and professional life while helping me articulate goals for my new career path.

Thank you Square One Prep!

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I can say with 100% certainty that I would not be going to a top 15 business school without the assistance from Square One Prep.

After my initial phone assessment, Kathryn, the company's owner, put into perspective both the challenges I had ahead of me in my application process and what her company could do to help me overcome those challenges. As a military applicant, I was unsure of where I stood relative to my peers. Kathryn explained to me the value that business schools place on military experience and encouraged me to apply to schools which I perceived to be beyond my grasp. After months of resume building, countless essay revisions and mock interviews, I admit that I was drained. But if you're serious about attending the best business school you can get into, that's exactly the feeling you want at the end of the process and is the mark of an great advisor that pushes you past your limit. With help from Square One Prep, I was able to secure a scholarship to every school I was accepted into, including a $40,000 scholarship at Johnson!

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“My experience with Square One Prep far exceeded anything I could have hoped for. By the end of my first conversation with my consultant, I knew I had found the perfect admissions consultant – her optimism and positive energy were hopelessly contagious, she was genuine and sincere at heart, and her upfront feedback regarding my candidacy was sharper and more actionable than any I had ever received. I had already begun the Round 1 applications to my 5 schools of choice – HBS, Chicago Booth, Wharton, MIT, and Yale. Although I had only paid for a consultant’s help with HBS, she offered me advice for each of these schools when I asked. Her most special trait was that she cared a lot about me on a personal level – she believed in me as a person, not just as an applicant; she wanted to see me succeed not because she would share credit, but because she knew it would help fulfill my dreams. She celebrated my acceptance to HBS with as much the enthusiasm as my parents! I’m blessed to have crossed paths with Square One Prep and to now be heading to HBS in the fall!"

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I can't thank Square One's team enough. I got into my top choice school - I applied to only one - HEC - and got a scholarship, even though I was a traditional IT applicant, from India no less, trying to make a bold career change with no grounding for it.

My advisor, Erik, was so attentive and sharp as was Square One's owner who reviewed my materials at the end to ensure they were as strong as possible. I was astounded by their focus on my success. As a team, they pushed me to learn about myself, express myself, and then articulate myself in ways through my application that marveled me.

I shopped a lot before selecting Square One. They weren't the least expensive, but they were most interested in listening to me and strategizing with me on my free call to help me think about my positioning. They also didn't time the call. I talked well over an hour with the owner and not once did she seem eager to end it. That level of service only increased once I signed on with them.

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"Work with Square One Prep."

That is the best advice someone gave me before starting my application journey. I had shopped around and decided to go with them because of their professionalism and structure. It was definitely the right fit for me. They were instrumental in providing a structure, schedule and strategy to the process of putting my applications together. My consultant was invaluable in providing critical and very insightful feedback as well as pushing me to meet tight deadlines. Every single comment or insight my consultant gave to me was so on point; I truly believe it made me a stronger applicant. The invaluable advice went further than just the applications. A week before my HBS interview I had my mock interview and my consultant told me: "If you say this you won’t get in. You are not prepared”. Together we dissected my approach and she helped me realize that not only do you need to be a strong applicant, you also have to be able to concisely, confidently, and consistently portray that image. At the end, I ended up getting into Wharton-Lauder and Sloan with scholarships AND I got into my school of choice, HBS - with a scholarship. I couldn’t be happier!

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In April this year, I was rejected by the only business school I applied to, without even being invited to interview. It almost destroyed my self-confidence. Full of anxiety, I decided to try one more time and hire a consultant to help me apply for the INSEAD January intake program.

Knowing little about Square One Prep, I had a conversation with the founder of the company over the phone. She immediately pointed out the potential reasons why I was rejected by the school. I felt her strong willingness to help me and she made me believe that I would succeed this time. So I appointed Square One Prep.

During my first meeting with my consultant, Manisha, she immediately proved how serious Square One Prep is about helping their clients. She was highly skillful and well organized. She pushed me very hard throughout the whole application process, in the right way, always questioning my essays and encouraging me when I felt exhausted. Sometimes, because of her effort, I felt like she was preparing her own application. She challenged me up to the deadline, even engaging the founder who put my new application through the wringer and pushed me even further.

The story has a happy ending - INSEAD offered me a seat in Fontainebleau. In two months I went from rejection to admission. It was a rough journey, one I would have been lost on without my tour guide – Square One Prep. Square One Prep not only helped me get the offer; they also changed the way I think. I now realize how far I can reach. Thank you. I fully recommend you in every way!

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Hiring Square One Prep to help me get into my #1 choice, Wharton-Lauder, was the best decision I could have made. I also got into Kellogg and McDonough (I applied there as I really didn't think I had a shot at Kellogg and Wharton: I thought wrong thanks to Square One Prep).

My consultant knows what the top business schools are looking for. Her insights into how to best market myself were thoughtful and intelligent, allowing me to play up my strengths and minimize my weaknesses, which included being an older applicant who had a major career shift that on the surface may not have made sense and a year long career gap that made me veryt nervous (but not my consutlant). She also provided a detailed timeline to make the process less stressful and ambiguous and was always available when I needed to talk about any issue---any. She pulled back the curtain and enabled me to feel confident as we navigated the process as a team. I definitely recommend hiring Square One Prep!

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Last year I applied to Harvard Business School and was rejected. I had taken the GMAT seven times - never getting it where I wanted it. I didn't know what else I could do to improve my profile, but recognized that my approach wasn't working. I turned to Square One Prep for guidance. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

I am proud to say that I got offer from Wharton and Columbia, AND will be joining the HBS Class of 2016!

I couldn't have done it without Square One Prep. My consultant was an amazing resource - her knowledge, experience, and guidance through all aspects of the process enabled me to share my story in the most compelling manner. I learned how to craft my resume and essays to make me memorable to the admissions committee, and that is what made all the difference. Square One Prep has enabled me to attend the school of my dreams.

If you are serious about applying to business school, then look no further than Square One!"

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