Ivy Groupe Admissions Consulting Reviews

With Shaifali’s invaluable assistance, I achieved acceptance into MIT Sloan, Booth, and CBS, with scholarships—a testament to her expertise and dedication.
As someone who is very particular and picky in my choices, I talked to at least 10 different MBA consultants from all the major and boutique MBA consulting firms. I never really clicked with anyone and with time running out, was ready to just settle with another consultant until I stumbled upon IVY Groupe and Shaifali. From our first conversation, the calmness in her voice and genuine sincerity gave me an instant affirmation, an initial impression that proved to be a consistent hallmark of our entire collaboration. Unlike consultants who prioritize strategic client selection or favor "safe" school choices to ensure yield, Shaifali stands out for her client-centric approach. She doesn’t impose her ideas, opting instead to listen attentively, adapt, and craft tailored strategies to realize your ambitions.
Although I consider myself to be a strong writer, navigating MBA applications presented unique challenges. You need to know exactly what schools are looking for and craft a very strong storyline that logically makes sense in terms of why MBA and why now. I personally think receiving consultation is a must even for strong writers because of this very unique and specific content required within essays and your resume. Shaifali’s guidance proved indispensable in deciphering the nuanced expectations of each school and weaving a compelling narrative that aligns seamlessly with their criteria.
Among the myriad reasons to endorse Shaifali’s services, several stand out:

1. Strategic Positioning: Want an MBA but not sure why? Shaifali helps you draw a roadmap of how an MBA will fit into your career goals. Though the heavy lifting is your job, Shaifali will help you shape those goals in a more MBA-appealing way. This initial strategizing is extremely important as it will be the beacon that guides you throughout. As all roads lead to Rome, all content must lead to the why MBA factor, and Shaifali does an immaculate job of not only setting those strong foundations but also helping you return back to those foundations whenever needed.
2. Personalized Approach: Instead of a ‘one size fits all’ approach, Shaifali really takes customizing to the next level. She respects the distinctive and unique you and crafts that image so that it draws out the individual that B-schools look for but at the same time is uniquely you. While initially, it may seem that all the different B-Schools look for the same characteristics in their candidates, they have very slight but distinct characteristics that each school looks for in particular. Shaifali helps you make that slight shape-shift to ensure that your candidacy resonates authentically with the ethos of each school through her nuanced understanding of each school’s preferences.
3. Exceptional Support: Throughout our extensive engagement, Shaifali demonstrated unwavering dedication, accommodating my schedule and offering steadfast support at every juncture. Most importantly, you can tell that she genuinely cares for her clients and that makes a world of difference in these engagements.
4. Emotional Resilience: The application process was much more stressful than I imagined. Working a full-time overloaded job on top of drafting those applications, with the additional panic factor of the possibility of getting rejected, the overall process was beyond stressful. To have someone to talk to during these times, who understands the process, who is your mentor throughout to guide you through this long dark tunnel, is essential. Beyond her professional acumen, her compassionate support carried me through the entire process, providing solace through the uncertainties of the process.
All in all, I wholeheartedly endorse Shaifali's services. If you are in the process of applying to an MBA program, selecting the right consultant is one of the most important professional decisions that you will make in your career. And to have Shaifali to guide you will be one of the best investments you will make.

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There are admissions consultants and then there is Shaifali … she genuinely believes that every person has a unique story to tell, a story that every admissions committee should read. But I think Shaifali’s greatest strength is listening to you, intently, which allows her to pull the best out in you so you can put your best foot forward as you begin the transformational MBA journey. I was also impressed by how well she acted as a guide throughout the application process from writing essays to reviewing recommendation letters to helping me prepare for interviews. She was patient throughout the process and encouraged me to believe in myself. Finally, Shaifali does not shy away from giving constructive feedback, something I greatly value as it forces us applicants to take a hard look in the mirror … I could not have asked for a better companion for my MBA application journey. With Shaifali’s guidance, I was admitted to HBS and Wharton and I couldn’t be more thrilled.

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I am thrilled to share my experience working with Shaifali Aggarwal, whose unparalleled consulting expertise significantly contributed to my acceptance at both Harvard and Stanford. Shaifali's approach to the MBA application process is nothing short of extraordinary, combining deep knowledge, personalized strategy, and genuine care.

From our initial conversation, Shaifali's profound understanding of what top-tier business schools seek in candidates was immediately clear. Yet, what set her apart was her dedication to comprehending my personal narrative—my aspirations, strengths, and the unique journey that led me to pursue an MBA. This personalized strategy was crucial, as it enabled her to highlight aspects of my profile that were truly distinctive, turning potential weaknesses into compelling strengths.

Shaifali's support was transformative. She wasn't just advising; she was actively engaging with my story, ensuring every application component—from essays to interviews—resonated with authenticity and purpose. Her ability to distill complex life experiences into coherent, impactful narratives was remarkable. This skill was especially valuable given my background, which, on the surface, might have seemed common within the MBA applicant pool. However, Shaifali adeptly identified and articulated the unique elements of my experiences, imbuing my applications with a depth and vibrancy that fully captured the admissions committees' attention.

Her encouragement was a beacon of support throughout the intense application process. Facing the daunting challenge of applying to Harvard and Stanford, Shaifali's confidence in my potential was unwavering. She adeptly turned what I perceived as weaknesses into powerful stories of growth and resilience, which not only bolstered my applications but also significantly improved my self-perception.

For anyone fortunate enough to work with Shaifali, I can assure you, it's a transformative experience. Her guidance goes beyond mere consulting; it's a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Shaifali Aggarwal is not just an exceptional consultant; she's a mentor, a strategist, and, most importantly, a trusted partner in your quest for MBA admission. Her impact on my journey to Harvard and Stanford has been profound, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

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If you're planning to apply for your MBA, I highly recommend you opt for Ivy Groupe's services, especially with the founder, Shaifali Aggarwal.

I must admit, I do owe a lot of what I have achieved regarding my MBA M7 admissions to Shaifali. I was able to get admitted into two M7 schools, including my number one choice.

What I truly appreciate about Shaifali's philosophy is her stressing on the importance of staying true to who you really are, proving that no matter your background, you can reach your MBA targets using the right strategies.

Over the course of my application process, Shaifali made an effort to become well-versed in my history, strengths, and future aspirations, and supported in building-out my story, outlining and proofreading my essays, going over the online application in detail, and practicing for interviews. In other words, Shaifali has been along-side me every step of the way.

As founder of Ivy Groupe, and as a seasoned admissions consultant, Shaifali's experience and wisdom are unparalleled. She will make your MBA dreams come true, similar to the way she made mine.

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I had the opportunity to work with Shaifali during my MBA application process. After working with her for almost a full year, I can definitively say that she knows how to bring out the best version of your MBA application. Her approach of digging deep into your background, finding the nuggets that are of interest to admissions officers, and polishing them through multiple rounds of review so that they shine is top-notch. Her approach and framework are regimented and valuable. Trust the process, and you will not regret it. She will help you find your story, even when it's not readily apparent to you. Her experience in the space is evident in every conversation, and she is more than happy to answer any question thrown her way. That ability is especially helpful during interview prep as she can help you think through the best way to verbally expand on your story while keeping it succinct and inline with admissions expectations. If you are considering working with someone during the MBA process, Shaifali should be at the top of your list.

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I had the privilege of working with Shaifali as my MBA admissions consultant, and I can confidently say that she is the driving force behind my acceptance into NYU Stern with a full scholarship. From the moment I engaged her services, Shaifali displayed an unparalleled level of professionalism, expertise, and dedication that set her apart from other consultants.

Shaifali's deep knowledge of the MBA admissions process was evident throughout our collaboration. She possesses an intricate understanding of what top-tier business schools look for in prospective candidates and meticulously tailored her guidance to suit my individual profile, strengths, and aspirations. She helped me craft a compelling personal narrative that effectively showcased my unique qualities, experiences, and career trajectory.

I am eternally grateful for her contributions to my success and will always consider her an instrumental part of my journey to achieving my MBA goals.

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I came to Shaifali just with a story, an okay GMAT score, and a lower than average GPA. Even with my weaknesses, she was able to get me into both Booth and Stern! I can easily say that without her help, I would not have gotten into either of those schools. She is extremely helpful and and you can tell that she truly cares about her clients' success. Most importantly, she was able help me tell my story in a clear and concise way. My biggest fear when applying to business schools was translating my military service (US military) into something that business schools can understand and want to see from their candidates. She quickly put that fear to rest throughout the entire process. I cannot thank her enough for her time and support!

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I worked with Shaifali on getting my entire MBA package prepared. The 2 best parts were the resume building, where we spent a lot of time to bring out the management aspect of my profile, and second was the branding exercise sessions, where we thoroughly discussed a lot of important aspects of my professional and personal life and decided on what the steppingstones are out of those. I highly recommend getting her help to make the application better aligned with individual story and knowing oneself better. Her help not only supported in preparing a strong application but I was also able to secure scholarship.

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I am a re-applicant that didn't get into my school of choice last year and wanted to give another shot for H/S this year. I thought I had more to show in my application and was looking for a consultant who could help disclose aspects that I had difficulty sorting out myself.

A friend who worked with Shaifali a year before recommended me to her. To be honest, previously, I was one of those candidates who worked with consultants due to a 'fear of missing out' where I didn't really think they could add much value but needed to work with - since everyone else seemed to. However, Shaifali was different. Not only was she trying to dig in every aspect within my application but she also seemed genuinely interested in listening to and helping structure my story - something extremely difficult for applicants like me coming from an over-represented pool (male candidate in finance/consulting).

Eventually I was admitted to one of the H/S this year and Shaifali was of great great help - I highly recommend Shaifali!

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I worked with Shaifali on applications to three schools and was accepted to two of them (Wharton and Booth). As someone with a significant weakness in their application (low GPA), I truly believe her assistance helped me get into these top schools.

Shaifali begins the process with a self-reflection exercise that is used to create your narrative and identify the experiences you’ll highlight in essays/interviews. This was my favorite part of her process and was key to crafting a cohesive application where each essay and recommendation worked in concert to support my story. She also provided great advice on how to mitigate my GPA and discuss it in the optional essays.

Throughout our time working together, Shaifali’s communication was prompt and her feedback clear. Having her by my side through the application process made this daunting and stressful experience feel manageable and smooth. Overall, I couldn’t recommend Shaifali more!

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