Hourly Services Reviews

I started working with Krista unsure if I could get into a top MBA program. I was worried about my subpar GPA and average test scores. Overall, I wasn’t very confident in myself or ability to get in. Because of Krista, I got into my top schools PLUS I landed sizeable scholarships! I’m so happy and 1000/10 recommend!

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From the first interaction, Krista was the ray of sunshine that cut through the fog and turned this murky, arduous process into something very clear, doable, and possible. She is so warm and easy to work with and so knowledgeable. Krista has an amazing process for getting key information out at every turn. The intake was key, she asked what I needed and had a clear process for me leading up to apps. She sent me the right emails at the right times and kept me honest and accountable both over e-communications and in meetings.

Essays were where I struggled most. As we went through, she helped me find the interesting, amazing nuggets and helped me focus on those as I wrote. I gained SO MUCH confidence throughout the process and felt myself growing and communicating better. The edits, ideas, redirects, and feedback Krista gave me were invaluable and she really pushed me to tell my story in a compelling way. The turnaround time for edits was also really appreciated, I knew I was pushing it toward the end of round 1 and she often delivered well before her guaranteed 48-hour window. By the end of it, I knew I had amazing applications and there would be nothing better.

Also, I really appreciated that Krista knew what I didn’t know and then would then ask me about it or nudge me into doing it. This was VITAL because applications are overwhelming and there is so much that you don’t know until it pops up (or you miss it.) Krista prepped me for each turn while also sharing AMAZING resources for anything you could conceive (coffee chats with students, school guides, visits, interviews, etc.) She also answered all my questions and connected me to opportunities I wouldn’t have known about.

One last thing - I really appreciated how Krista is so genuinely kind, pleasant, and wonderful to work with. We all need someone super qualified and good at what they do but you don’t know how much you really need someone who really cares about you, is in your corner, and is there for you on this crazy ride. That’s Krista, truly the best.

Bottom line:
Krista is an amazing coach and person. I got into my schools WITH scholarships and it was absolutely worth it. Invest in yourself. Go with Krista.

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Kate is truly an exceptional consultant/guide/advisor. The MBA application process is very daunting and one of Kate’s many strengths was helping me manage all of the moving parts that go into an application. From our initial consultation, Kate helped me identify areas of my profile that needed attention while helping me identify schools/programs/career paths that would fit well into my profile and story. As an applicant from a nontraditional background (engineering/STEM), Kate was invaluable in guiding me to hit the sweet spot of showcasing my skills and experience without sounding like an engineering textbook. Something that I think really helped with my application was having Kate review my letters of recommendation. Kate worked directly with my recommenders to help them better understand what areas needed to be highlighted in their letters. It made me feel much better knowing that someone as experienced as Kate was reviewing the part of my application that I had little control over. Additionally, Kate helped me prepare for interviews (which I highly recommend) and acted as a sounding board for when I had to choose where to enroll out of the 4 amazing programs I was admitted to. I would not be where I am today without Kate. Thank you so much!!!

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Harold was instrumental in getting me into three top ten MBA programs, including my number one choice. Harold was most effective at getting me from authentic uncertainty in which career path I wanted to take down into a clean and clear narrative that made my case for why I wanted and needed an MBA. He was a calm, direct, and consistent presence that helped me channel these doubts into clarity. Additionally, his vast school specific knowledge was very helpful for expeditiously adapting my “Why XYZ school” essays in a manner that was authentic.

Throughout the application process, Harold went above and beyond to ensure that I had my needs met. When up against application deadlines, Harold made sure to be available even when the policy of MBAMission provided him with extra time to respond, out of concern for my wellbeing and my applications. When it came time to choose a school, Harold was a sounding board throughout the process that I am exceedingly grateful for given the magnitude of a decision like this.

I would highly recommend Harold to anyone, but particularly those that need a steadying hand to keep them on the right track.

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Working with Gavriella was an absolute pleasure and I cannot recommend her enough. I can truly say I would not have gotten into my school, much less a full scholarship, without her support and guidance. She is a highly skilled communicator and was able to help me organize my thoughts in a clear and concise manner, ultimately enabling me to put my best foot forward.

On top of communication, Gavriella was always very quick to respond and provide feedback. I started the application process late in the cycle and as a result had to work into the early morning, but Gavriella would also review and respond well ahead of the mbaMission response times. As a result, I was able to submit 9 applications in a matter of weeks.

Gavriella also has a deep understanding of what AdComs look for, and ways to strengthen applications as a result. Coming from an unimpressive undergrad with an equally average GPA, she advised me to complete MBAMath.com, which was not remotely on my radar. This paid off as the AdCom asked for the transcript prior to offering admission.

Finally, Gavriella was a pleasure to work with. She acted as a partner throughout this whole process, and I felt she was genuinely interested in my success. I fully plan to partner with her in the future for executive coaching (or any other needs that may arise).

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I purchased an hourly service package to supplement Applicantlab. I was able to secure interviews from 4 schools and received 3 acceptances. I am now matriculating in my top school.

I was looking for someone who could bring my story alive and is an excellent writer. I worked with Gavriella on 6 top 20 B school applications. She made a difference without a doubt. She provided great suggestions that helped me achieve the results I did.

Gavriella is knowledgeable, thoughtful, and supportive. She knows how to present candidates in the best light possible without misrepresenting or embellishing achievements too much. She understands the balance and never shies away from challenging your thought process or providing critical feedback.

I could not have asked for a better consultant. It was worth every penny.

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I signed up for hourly services with Gavriella after doing an initial consultation (30 minutes - Free). After talking through my options and focus schools and laying out a potential game plan together I purchased a 4 hour package. I was initially nervous about spending money on a consultant to help but I am so glad I committed to making use of our time together. After an in-depth brainstorm session that I completed on my own, I felt like Gavriella truly had an understanding of some of my background, successes and motivations and was able to point to specific examples that would be beneficial to highlight. We made sure my goal schools were realistic and also some opportunities to stretch to some that may be more challenging.

After each essay draft (which she reviewed on her own and kept track of time) I would receive feedback/edits back within 2 days and was able to see the track changes made in each version. It was helpful to get such concise feedback that better set me up for future drafts and future schools I hadn't started yet.

The best part of the experience was during interview prep. MBA Mission has an incredible database of former questions to help you prepare for what to expect. Every school interview I had was unique and because I was able to get some potential questions in advance I felt very confident answering.

Couldn't recommend the hourly services more for any future applicants!

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Harold was a committed partner to me throughout the entire application process. I am Australian and the MBA application process is largely foreign to myself and my peers, so it was great to have someone on the ground I could field my questions with and better navigate the application process.

We started our partnership with Harold helping refine my list of application schools based on my character, what I was looking to get out of an MBA and where I was likely to be competitive given my CV and GMAT score. He was super knowledgeable about the nuanced difference between schools and was candid and pragmatic with where he believed I was likely to have a shot.

He was prompt always in turning around essay feedback and helping me hero my strengths in a way that translated clearly to admissions. He was also always available for ad hoc requests and queries around interviews and processes.

Harold is a really great guy who is truly invested in seeing his clients succeed! With Harold, I got 3/5 interviews and 2/5 offers from my dream list of schools.

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Debbie is the rockstar you need to get you into your dream business school. She will be brutally honest with you because she has one single goal - to get you accepted. And trust me - she knows what she is doing so do listen to her. I did and this fall I will start my MBA at the only school I applied to - Chicago Booth.

Applying to business school has been my dream for 10 years and I knew that when the time came, I wanted to do it the right way which meant hiring someone who does admission consulting for a living. MBA Mission is the clear golden standard but I still decided to have a consultation with Stacey Blackman. That consultation reinforced my belief that the best firm you can hire is the one that has full-time consultants with MBA degrees (people who have went through exactly what we are going through now) and has track record of helping applicants get accepted - regardless of whether they have AdComm experience. No other firm can match what MBA Mission offers. After I went through all reviews on GMAT Club and Poets and Quants, I knew Debbie is my consultant - someone easy-going and friendly I can easily connect to. I chose Debbie and MBA Mission instead of someone from another firm who actually was on the admission committee at Booth.

Debbie is genuine, always on time with her feedback and very easy to work with. She would answer all of your questions and guide you through the whole process of preparing your application. Debbie was tremendously helpful in advising me how I should organise my stories and what I should emphasise on in my essays and CV. When I started writing, I came up with so many ideas and in my pursuit of sounding unique, I ended up writing too much and still missing some key points that would help the the admissions committee understand who I am and what my goals are. My first draft of the required essay was too far from where it needed to be, but Debbie was honest enough to tell me the truth so I started from scratch and re-wrote the whole essay. My CEO tried to help me with my career essay but Debbie was honest enough to tell me that my original version was actually better and I should keep my voice and style of writing. Debbie will not write instead of you but she will advise you to how to write better. In the end I'm really proud of all essays I wrote. In addition, thanks to Debbie, I couldn't have ended up with a better, more polished and more impactful CV than the one I have now.

I had a very positive experience with Debbie, I produced a very strong application with her help and I ended up being accepted to Booth. I got all I wanted and I can't recommend Debbie enough. Dreams do come true but you need to put the work needed - hiring someone experienced like Debbie is a must.

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From the perspective of a graduating college student from an African university encountering deferred MBAs for the first time, the MBA application process immediately struck me as a daunting, overwhelming, and expensive experience. I was unsure if I was willing to commit the sheer amount of hours the process demanded.

After meeting Ms. Shklar for a free consultation, however, I felt a lot more confident and had a bolstered sense of belief in myself. Here's why:
1. Ms. Shklar offered very constructive feedback on my resume review.
- She advised me on how to better framing each bullet point on my resume, using an "accomplishments not responsibilities" framework. Combined with mbaMission resources like free insider guides and YouTube videos on how to get into respective MBA programs, this content allowed me to better contextualize my work experience.

2. She offered keen insight to how Admissions Committees work.
- I didn't score as well as I would have liked on my GRE, hence mbaMission's "Acknowledge/Explain/Pivot" came in very handy when explaining why this shouldn't be an issue in my additional information section.
- Ms. Shklar's "WISP" method was also a valuable tool I used to guide my recommenders through the dreaded "constructive feedback" essay. Of course, all these strategies were supplemented with mbaMission's free personal statement and letters of recommendation guides.
- Not to mention, of course, the value of applying regardless of not being accepted in the deferred MBA programs.

3. She offered a personable approach.
- Even as I explained my context and background, Ms. Shklar was exceedingly understanding and gave me practical advice on how I can leverage my "Africanness" in my stories and overall application.
- Even after consultation, Ms. Shklar followed up with a catalogue of resources to supplement my application process and was always open to answering any questions I had about the process.

Regardless of the outcome of my application, I am grateful for the openness and kindness Ms. Shklar showed throughout our interactions and would recommend her to any and all prospective MBA applicants.

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After getting the GMAT score I wanted just about a month before the Round two deadline for the two schools I wanted to apply to and with absolutely no progress in my applications, I got in contact with Kim and she took the challenge of helping me with my application despite the tight timeline.

She was totally invested with my applications. She designed a delivery plan for me to work on and gave me faster than the standard reviews on my work.

After the application, she prepared me for the interviews and gave me tips that definitely made a difference in getting accepted into both schools I applied to.

I really enjoyed working with Kim and I'm 100% sure she will be of great help to anyone working with her (even if it means working on a tight timeline!!)

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