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Product MBA and Beyond Admissions Consulting
Consultant Andy Fischtrom
I had the pleasure of working with Andy from MBA and Beyond, and I’d be remiss to not highlight the role he and the team from MBA and Beyond played my application journey to INSEAD.
From our very first interaction, it was evident that Andy possessed a great deal of expertise and dedication to helping me succeed. Further, MBA and Beyond as a whole seemed to be THE best when it came to INSEAD admits, and I realized soon why that was.
Andy had a profound understanding of the intricacies involved in crafting a compelling application for INSEAD. He patiently and meticulously guided me through each step of the process, offering invaluable insights from his time with INSEAD, and personalized advice tailored to my unique background and aspirations. Most importantly, whenever I felt underconfident or overwhelmed, he instilled confidence in me. His positive reinforcement not only bolstered my self-confidence but also reignited my enthusiasm for the application process, turning moments of apprehension into opportunities for growth and self-reflection.
The wider team at MBA and Beyond was also super helpful and responsive! Kanishka, my application buddy, kept me on track with ALL the stages of the app. Her constant check-ins and positive words kept me sane and helped me navigate what otherwise was an overwhelming barrage of things to tend do.
In hindsight, I think I made the perfect choice by partnering with MBA and Beyond, especially considering INSEAD was the only b-school I was applying to. I am super grateful for their support – they made my journey so much easier and worthwhile! 😊
Product MBA and Beyond Admissions Consulting
Consultant Andy Fischtrom
Highly recommend, particularly for students with one glaring weakspot in their profile.
The team has a robust process and offer unlimited one to one sessions throughout the application & interview process.
My essays were reviewed by multiple members of the team.
I received multiple responses to my profile evaluation post here on GMATClub and many consultants wrote me off saying INSEAD and similar schools are far reaches but Neha's thorough response saying its a challenge but entirely possible instilled confidence in me knowing their team see something the others didn't.
After the initial onboarding calls with Paridhi, she was also excited when learning more about my profile and knew the team can help me submit a compelling application.
By the time I started my interviews I was confident in myself which helped me translate that into an admit.
Product MBA and Beyond Admissions Consulting
Consultant Andy Fischtrom
a. The content gathering process really structures your story & helps even after essays - personally helped me during the interview process as well. MBA & Beyond really makes you work to get this right.
b. Unlimited sessions - be it for actual consulting, sounding off writing prompts, finalizing essays & interview prep - my consultant Andy Fischstrom was super supportive throughout the process, and managed to make time almost on a daily basis
c. Andy was also able to bring in diverse perspectives - soliciting the opinions of other consultants when we were unsure of what path to take
d. As nerve-wracking as the application process can be, it felt like I had a coach willing me on, even through bleak days, and that is something I'm grateful for
e. Focus on the little things - a lot of hours were spent in making small modifications to the essays, following which Andy and me would step back and look at it as a whole - and over time, the essays got to a point where we were both happy with them. Those little things add up!
f. The supporting team takes care of a lot of work that needs doing to keep applications on track - they let you focus on the essay writing
Product MBA and Beyond Admissions Consulting
Consultant Andy Fischtrom
When I started my journey, I knew where I wanted to apply but I had no idea how to go about it. My search for MBA Consultants started at a time when I was still preparing for the GMAT and had my target schools shortlisted.
MBA and Beyond - Key Differentiator
I spoke to many different companies and a lot of them asked me questions that I felt were being plugged into a foolproof equation that was known to provide results. However, I finalized MBA and Beyond because -
- I felt that my personal strengths and motivations were understood by the team and they didn’t boil my experience and personal qualities down to a math
- I didn't feel pressure to score exceptionally well on my GMAT or that the GMAT score was the make or break for my schools - the encouragement and tone through and through was always to give it my best shot
- Their success rate/ track record in helping secure INSEAD admits for applicants with low GMAT scores
The Application Process
a) The Product
The process itself of starting work on my applications was life-changing. Putting down points in the product in the MBA and Beyond framework gives you so much clarity going into this process about who you are as a person. From start to end the product covers content and instruction for each stage of your application process specific to the schools you are applying for. The content-gathering stage is the most pivotal step in this process in my opinion because it pushes you to think hard about your personal qualities. The team, especially Ayushi in my case, supports you through and through, even when you’re stuck and helps you position your content in unique and powerful ways. I think what comes out of this process is a simplified and more focused thought process that prepares you not just for your applications but also for your interviews.
b) Working with your Consultant – Andy my Partner
The relationship working with Andy was like no other. For starters, he actually read all the material I had written with a fine-toothed comb – be it my content frameworks, notes, first drafts and of course my final drafts. He helped come up with my branding – who I was as a person, what were some defining qualities/ motivations in my life that got me to where I am, my professional strengths and my contributions to a diverse classroom. I can’t emphasize how important this was for me because at each step of the way, I felt secure in knowing that Andy understood who I was and exactly that person was being presented in my applications. I was truly myself in the applications and not a summation of different variables in a tried and tested formula. Despite being in completely different timezones, Andy was always approachable, quick to respond and a true partner in this journey.
I would also like to highlight that the applications for both schools I got accepted into – INSEAD and IESE were with submission dates on the same day. This was extremely challenging as the INSEAD application is quite extensive and detailed oriented but with Andy’s help I was able to help systematically work on all aspects well in time.
Amidst this process, I would also like to share, that I took the GMAT twice as I scored poorly the first time and it pushed my plans to apply to INSEAD from R2 to R3. However, not once did Andy make me feel stressed or uneasy about my situation. He was a beacon of hope and positivity and encouraged me to take it again and not worry about the outcome. As I said – Andy just understood me and knew that I had a very very VERY bad day and it wasn’t a reflection of me or who I was. He was confident that I would take it again and “smash it” and even if I didn’t get that 700+ score I would still be just okay and we’d give it our best shot. There was never an expectation from me to score a specific number or be within a certain threshold – I was only and only encouraged to do my best. So I juggled preparing for my second GMAT attempt and working on my applications side by side with Andy’s help.
To sum up, I truly believe I made it here only thanks to Andy’s encouragement and support and I would encourage you all to work with him in applying to your dream schools!
The Interview Process
With Andy’s help, I was able to prepare just the right amount for my interviews and I think a key piece of advice that worked for me was to prepare but not over-prepare. Andy gave me the confidence boost and motivation I needed to just be myself during the interview and we went over certain aspects of my interviews in different calls he had set up.
Finally, Shakshi from MBA and Beyond, made sure to check in with me, every step of the way and ensure I was comfortable and all set at each stage. She was always just a call away and proactively helped me with quick responses for any queries that I had, never needing any follow-ups or reminders. So I can vouch for the fact that it’s not just your Consultant but an entire team that is there to support you through this entire lifecycle and the Teamwork truly makes the Dream work.
Thank you for the lovely words. Working with a client like you is truly a pleasure. You were organized, focused, and took my suggestions in the spirit in which they were intended. We were a team, and together we reached our goal that (when we started) seemed to you like a crazy dream, but I always had faith in you. Yes, I coached you, but really the person who got you admitted was you. I am so excited for you to begin your journey at INSEAD, maybe next year I'll return to Fontainebleau and we can drink a glass of champagne to celebrate your success. The world is your oyster now, so go have the amazing year at INSEAD that I know you will have.
When we first spoke and I learned about your profile I said that any MBA program would be lucky to have you, and I meant it. People get fixated on metrics: GPA, GMAT score, etc. but metrics alone will not get you admitted or dinged. For us the big challenge was finding a way to show your amazing personality and passion for life in your essays, and then your interviews. You mentioned "unlimited sessions" and with the time zone issue I sometimes would roll out of bed and be half asleep when we Zoomed, but our conversations were always great fun for me. When you told me you got admitted to your "dream school" I was super happy and proud, but not surprised. I worked at INSEAD for seven years and I can smell MBA candidates a mile away (hint: the Excel spreadsheets you sent me were a big clue.) You'll be on the East Coast of the USA and I am on the West Coast, but I'm sure we will find a time to meet and to celebrate your success.