Dear Prospective Student,

You are so lucky you found Square One Prep. I called them, along with many other consultancies, when I first considered business school. I was unclear about what I really wanted to do, but thought it was the logical next step. Square One Prep stood out because they were the one company that encouraged me to find clarity in my mission and objectives--they inspired me to think before I act. Ultimately, with their help, I decided I wasn't ready for b-school. They put my readiness above their profits, and that didn't go unnoticed by me. A year later, when I felt ready to pursue an MBA, Square One Prep was the only company I reached out to.

With their guidance, I beautifully transformed my resume and essays. My consultant knew exactly what the admissions committees wanted to see. By asking insightful, probing questions, she guided me to truly discover my passion and purpose. She then helped me create the right language to convey those messages, which led me to get accepted into my top choice program!

Congratulations of your decision to pursue an MBA. Trust me when I say that your next decision should be to work with Square One Prep. They will inspire you just as they did me. Their investment in you will lead you to succeed with this most daunting process, just as I did!
Genuinely,
Lauren

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It was really the initial consultation and the follow-up that sealed the deal for me to work with Square One Prep. In our first conversation, they did not pressure me to sign on with them or to apply right away. Rather, they encouraged me to take a step back, get prepared, and figure out my own timeline for applying to business school. The owner checked in periodically to see where I was with my GMAT studying and general pre-application prep, but never pestered. She really showed that she wanted me to make the right decision to apply on my own terms.

My biggest concern in applying was the seemingly incongruous nature of my past work experiences. I come from a background that included economics/finance education and work in the
telecommunications and mortgage industries and I didn't know where to begin in explaining this.

I signed on with Square One to work with them on my resume, as the owner explained that if my resume wasn't strong, the admissions officers wouldn't make it to my essays and LORs. They then drew out both connections and strengths in my
experiences and truly helped me craft my story. They were very direct with their guidance and edits.

My resume would be nowhere near the quality it is today without their help. The work put in on my resume paid dividends when I wrote my goals essays and when I went to my interviews - as I was able to tell my story with continuity and conviction.

Thank you Square One Prep - with your help I'm now heading to McCombs!

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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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"Working with Square One Prep was amazing. There are three key things to highlight about my experience.

Firstly, I was impressed by how my consultant educated me about the process (from the admissions committees' perspective) and helped me see that my dream school of Wharton was not out of the question despite my GMAT score (mid 600s).

Secondly, I appreciated my consultant's desire to get to know me as a person. Before we even began work on my resume and essays, she spent a substantial amount of time just talking to me about my background and motivations to attend business school. She raised a lot of questions I had not considered, and helped me craft applications that I felt were a true and holistic representation of me as a person.

Thirdly, since the first ‘get to know’ call, I was surprised by the very positive energy of my consultant, which was consistent throughout the process. In moments where I was feeling down, I got a lot of support and encouragement. In other moments (when I needed it), I received ‘tough love’.

This helped me stay focused and productive. I was also impressed by how sensitive my consultant was to my feelings during the whole process. For instance, when I was waiting for the results, she got in touch with me to make sure I was feeling fine.

Like I said, Square One Prep was amazing. The results prove it! In at Stanford and Wharton!"

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"Prior to contracting Square One Prep (SOP), I had worked with another admissions consultant and failed to get the desired outcome - acceptance to an MBA program. From my initial free consultation, I could tell the SOP difference. SOP didn't just review my entire application package and assess my profile, they challenged me in a professional manner to aspire for more than I imagined possible. I originally approached SOP with the goal to apply to NYU Stern. Thanks to SOP I was offered admission not only to NYU Stern but also to Columbia Business School. I consider SOP an investment in myself with an invaluable return.

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Square One Prep provided me a new perspective on what it means to write a quality admissions essay. I never thought of myself as a weak writer, but Square One showed me the fundamental difference between how/what I WAS writing and how/what I SHOULD be writing for business school admissions committees. Without that insight, I’m not sure I would have been as fortunate as I was with my admissions outcomes. I highly recommend using them regardless of how good you think your application is or how confident you are about your abilities as a writer. (admitted to HBS / Harvard Kennedy School joint-degree program)

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