I decided to go with Admissionado after interviewing at least five potential admissions consultants. Admissionado stood out for two important reasons. First, Claudia and the Admissionado team were very helpful. They worked with me to find the support package that worked best for my needs.

Second, and most importantly, I was so impressed with my consultant, Damon. From the beginning, I could tell that he was doing this for the right reasons. He wanted the best for me, and was willing to put in the work and the brutal honesty to help me get there.

To start, Damon laid out a clear and rigorous plan that helped me stay on track. Throughout the process, Damon pushed me to think deeply and tell my story in a rich and compelling way. He provided great guidance and feedback, but ensured that everything I wrote was my own.

Damon was not only insightful with his feedback, but incredibly quick and responsive. He made sure to never be a bottleneck in the process even though we were moving quickly.

I'd highly recommend working with Damon and Admissionado if you're serious about your applications. Thanks in part to Damon's guidance, I now have my choice between two of my dream top 10 programs.

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When I started thinking about MBA application, I spent quite some time on my goal and targeted schools. After I finalized my school list, I decided to get consulting service to sharpen my application, especially with my essay writing. Admissionado was introduced to me by a friend who was previously admitted to a top-ranked MBA programme.
After getting to know Admissionado, I also checked other applicants’ comments on GMAT Club and found most of the comments are rather positive. So I decided to have a try and contacted Admissionado. After I filled out the questionnaire, I got a prompt reply from Claudia. In her email, Claudia also helped me pair with a consultant, John DC Miles, to assist me based on my background. Then I scheduled a time for a video chat with John for a free consultation. I was pretty amazed by how efficiently Admissonado works. In my first conversation with John, he shared with me his thoughts and also proposed a strategy for my application based on my own background. I can tell that John spent quality time on going through the materials I submitted. The first talk lasted for one hour. In this session, John asked more detailed questions about myself and tried hard to understand my strength, motivation and personality. One day later, John sent to me a well-organized report which summarized earlier discussion and formulated an application strategy.
After another call with Claudia, I understood more about different packages and eventually decided to choose the junior Deluxe for two schools. This package is more helpful for applicants like me who needs more assistance in shaping essay writings and does no require more phone conversation.
The essay edits usually took 72 hours or less. It means that you can expect a reply with all the edits within 72 hours once they receive you draft. In my application for the second school, John actually helped return the draft within two days for the last two round edits, just to meet my application deadline. But this fast turnaround does not sacrifice the quality at all. I’m so grateful for the high quality work provided by John and the whole team within such a tight schedule.
After I submitted my applications, I also purchased another interview package to help with my interview, as I believe John will again help me ace my interview.
Long story short, I was admitted to one of the two top MBA programmes I applied for. This is indeed a great result I want to see, but what equally important are all the advice, edits, encourage and experience provided during this long, tedious and painful process. When I walked down this road, I did not feel lonely as I was fighting with the support of a whole team. They want you to succeed and work hard to help bring the best out of you.
I highly recommend Admissionado if you ever think about getting consulting service for your MBA application. I also highly recommended John for his comprehensive experience, excellent advice and patience. I also want to thank Claudia and the whole team for the prompt response and all the support provided to me. Your supports make my MBA application easier and more fun.

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I came to Admissionado after getting dinged without interviews at three schools (Wharton, Yale, and Columbia). I realized that there were major flaws in my profile and I needed help fixing them. My friend worked at Admissionado in their Beijing office as the director of undergraduate admissions consulting. He also applied to business schools the previous year with great success, ultimately landed at Boothe, and he recommended their services.

After an initial consultation and a ding analysis with Yaron, the consultant, we pointed out several shortcomings in my profile:

1. Lukewarm GMAT score of 710.
2. Lack of super employer and high salary. Non-traditional MBA background. With 6 years of work experience, I had worked at 3 different companies spanning education, sales, and HR.
3. Lukewarm undergraduate GPA of 3.45. Liberal Arts degree.

Yaron explained that I didn't have strong enough numbers to be a "numbers candidate" but had potential to be a good "story candidate." He suggested that I play the numbers game and apply to 8-10 schools. I was hestitant to take his advice because the service was very expensive and we would have only 8 weeks to apply to 8 schools. At the same time I also felt dejected from the round 1 rejections but I was committed to going to business school no matter what. I ultimately ran with his advice and applied to 8 schools, all with deluxe packages. And I did not regret it.

Here is what Yaron did well:

1. He overhauled my resume. My previous resume had too much jargon and did not have an extracurricular/community involvement section. He made sure that every bullet point followed an "action + impact" formula. I came to realize that the resume is super important as it is the first thing adcoms look at.

2. He did an extensive analysis of my work experience, extracurricular activities, and personal/family background to find the most interesting things about me and craft them into a compelling narrative.

3. He helped me prepare for my interviews.

4. He was on call whenever I needed him.

Overall, I think the thing to keep in mind when choosing an admissions consultant is that you are paying for an editor. The essays are important because it's one of the few things that you have control over. Although you think you know yourself well, an admissions consultant can tell your story better. Yaron and I went through four drafts of every essay and his edits came back within 24 hours. With every draft, my essays not only improved but I also learned more about myself. Working with Yaron gave me a process and a discipline to work within that I would not have had on my own. There was an ease of mind knowing that all I had to do was follow their process and everything else would work itself out. The MBA admissions process is like wedding planning. You are only going to do this once in your life. If you are unsure of yourself, it's best to get a consultant to walk you through the process.

Here are my results with Admissionado:

1. Cornell Johnson -- On Campus interview --> Admitted with scholarship.
2. Duke Fuqua -- On Campus interview --> Admitted
3. UCLA Anderson -- On Campus interview --> Admitted
4. NYU Stern -- Waitlisted without interview
5. Dartmouth Tuck -- Open interview, on campus --> Dinged
6. Northwestern Kellogg -- Open interview, off campus --> Dinged
7. UMich Ross -- On Campus interview --> Dinged
8. UVA Darden -- On Campus interview --> Dinged

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Admissionado's service was excellent. My consultant was extremely knowledgeable and responsive. Her feedback was candid and strategic. We had an initial consultation phone call, where we went over my target list of schools and she gave me advice on my likelihood of success with each one. We then met in person to strategize on how to best showcase my strengths and explain my weaknesses. We also reviewed my intended essay topics to get sense of how to approach it. I got into 3 top 10 schools, including 1 top 3 school and I couldn't be happier. Their package was the most value for the price and in the end it was absolutely worth it. Thanks Admissionado!

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I had profile reviews and initial consultation calls with almost 15 consulting firms before Admissionado. These firms could be classified into two categories - those which were quite certain that I should NOT apply to a top-10 school as I would be wasting my time (most were in this category), and those that were just making a sales pitch. Admissionado stood out as there was an immediate connect - they gave me the much needed confidence that my aim should be to get into the best school that I can (I loved this approach - seriously no bull approach! Furthermore, they had a PERSONALITY that appealed to me - all the beautiful ladies (Stefanie, Claudia, Lauren) were people I could talk to quite candidly, and have witty, humorous interactions (helps me be engaged).

The drill was similar to what I assume other consulting companies follow on paper, but the execution was always sincere (I think that differentiates Admissionado from the pack). There was never an issue with timelines or thoroughness of the reviews. It was great to really see that Stefanie shared my goal - to see me get into my dream school, even if that meant going beyond the contract (had multiple, lengthy telephonic discussions, more than 3 iterations on my drafts, etc.). I could see that Admissionado's advice was always genuine; in fact some of it did not even help their own business with me - I really liked the honesty. Make no mistake - the entire admissions process is tiring, frustrating, grilling! As an applicant, one needs to understand that eventually does the consultant have neither a crystal ball, nor a magic wand (contrary to what one would wish).

With Admissionado, I got a great friend to help me through this difficult journey and get me into a top tier school. I would be happy to serve as a reference.

Thanks!

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I had always dreamt of going to a top European Business school and I was decided to do everything possible to make it happen! That is why I convinced myself to give it a try with a consultant. After all, if I were to pay an MBA tuition I was clearly able to pay a consultant fee. 

I arrived at Admissionado attracted by its services. I crossed some e-mails with Claudia and I knew I was ready to seize the opportunity.

I worked with David (Fung) and I feel I was lucky because he is an amazing person that really gives his best into the application. He never stopped believing in me and my dream, and when I had doubts, he was the one to cheer me up and to give me excellent pieces of advice. I remember sending him drafts and getting honest feedbacks on how to approach better some questions in order to push me to put my best efforts into the essays. I also highly appreciated the fact that David was available for me and that he always answered within a reasonable time and in the best manner. Joining forces with David allowed me to pass pre-selection and I then started working with Mark. 

With Mark, I practiced my interviews and I really improved myself. Mark really made me think about how to approach better the interviews and how to tell my story in the best way possible. Interviews are definitely a key part of the selection process and having the support of an expert gave me the confidence I needed. 

In my personal opinion, everyone should work with Admissionado because they really know how to approach the adcom and their expertise allows people to raise chances to get in. 

Finally, I'm really thankful to the Admissionado team because I am going to my dream school and I couldn’t have done it without them!

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I had a great experience working with John at Admissionado. My stats are on the low end (325 GRE, 3.0 gpa), so I really needed to knock my essays out of the park. My background is also pretty unconventional, so I needed a lot of guidance crafting my story. John and the rest of the team at Admissionado really came through. I was ultimately offered admission to my two target schools, Fuqua and McCombs, both with scholarships.

The Admissionado team is very professional. They're also just super friendly. John was always very quick to respond to my emails or to jump on the phone. My edits always came back within 72 hours, and sometimes earlier. I managed to put together two strong applications in only five weeks. Also, the interview prep was KEY. John really got me in shape and boosted my confidence.

I really appreciated that Admissionado provided me with an entire team to work on my applications. John was my consultant, but there were a few other editors who reviewed my resume and gave feedback on my essay drafts and LORs. I think all of the eyes on my applications really made a difference.

If you're in the process of looking for a consultant, I would definitely suggest filling out their questionnaire and doing the one hour consultation. As soon as I had my consult with John, I knew he was the guy to help me through this process. And I'm so happy with how it turned out. Thanks John!!!

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The guys at admissionado were very pivotal when it came to getting me to believe in myself. I always knew I could make it into a good program, but I never considered myself Wharton or Booth material. As an engineer who had quite some deeply technical background, I didn't think I had the type of experience that business school adcoms wanted to see. However, after interacting sufficiently with my consultant, Julie, she was able to articulately summarize her impression of my profile and itemize my strengths and weaknesses. She helped me to better understand what was unique about my profile, and we then worked together to show that uniqueness in the applications.

At the beginning, I had to fill out a rather lengthy questionnaire that caused me to go through some profound moments of introspection. The resulting effect was that it forced me to articulate certain details about my story that I had thought were irrelevant to bschool. As a result, many of the highlights that I used to show my uniqueness were things that I had all along taken for granted. Julie helped me understand what adcoms mean when they talk about being unique.

One thing I especially appreciated was the honesty that permeated all of the feedback I got from my consultant while preparing my essays. There was no sugar-coating or mincing of words, and that gave me a true appraisal of how well and clearly I was communicating. Apart from my consultant, the other Admissionado staff were also there to ensure that the service delivery was swift and smooth. One of them, Claudia, reminds me of what ideal customer service should be like.

I am most impressed by the way they went out of their way to get me ready on time. I applied for four top 10 schools, and due to some unique circumstances I had to wrap up my applications about three weeks before the deadlines in September. My consultant, though she had a 72 hour turnaround period, would give me feedback quickly in order to make sure I made my personal deadline.

Overall, looking at how much it cost me to engage their services, and what I got in return -- multiple admissions and scholarship offers -- it was worth it. I would do it over again.

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I worked with Damon and Claudia from Admissionado and every aspect of the experience was great, from being able to talk to Damon before I committed to buying the package to getting congratulatory follow ups once I got into Stanford! I interviewed all the consulting companies I could find, and felt far more comfortable with Admissionado than anyone else.

The preliminary deep-dive phone conversations were tremendously valuable in terms of reflecting on what really matters to me, what I've done in my life up and how that's shaped who I am, and where I want to go from here. Damon was also extremely helpful in the essay-crafting process, adding clarity and impact while still using my own words. I changed the direction of my essay several times, and Damon stayed agile and flexible in his thinking.

The Admissionado also took a lot of the stress involved with the applications off my plate by providing a clear timetable and regular check points to make sure I stayed on track.

The interview prep was also very helpful in terms of making sure I knew how to clearly get my messages across.

I could not recommend Damon and Admissionado more highly. I'm going to Stanford GSB in the Fall, and I couldn't have done it without them. Five stars!

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I started in late May from scratch with no Gmat, no Toefl, no career plan. The essay part began in August and I was able to apply to three schools in round 1. This would not have happened without the strong support from Admissionado. I'm glad that I walk through all these with such a wonderful consultant!

Admissionado basically excelled in every aspect I expected from a consultant. I can easily list a bunch of their strengths. They have rich knowledge in this whole thing. (This was especially helpful to someone who had little idea about MBA when started, like me.) They are experienced in shaping up the essays and CV. They don't do chit-chat but will check on you when your deliverables are overdue. But here are two things that impressed me most.

They are professional! Not to mention the quick turnarounds on essay edits and prompt email reply, every applicant who have to work full-time would understand how important it is to get useful information and right guidance in an efficient way. There was no back-and-forth on insignificant things between Admissionado and me and my consultant was always there to point right at the core. Personally, I like this style of working, because it removed everything vague and left only things that were important and things that I could change. Just trust their professionalism and you'll be surprised to see how smoothly things are getting done.

They see the bigger picture and have faith in me! More than once I was told by other consultants I approached at the beginning (mainly Chinese consultants) that I had been too optimistic and I should apply to schools that had a lower rank and comparatively easier to get in. But when it comes to position and overall strategy, Admissionado know what they are talking about (me getting all interview invitations from the three schools I applied somehow proved that). Even when I was getting two rejections from the three schools I applied in round 1, they were still confident in the whole strategy and in me. And I got accepted by Wharton in the end! Maybe through expectation management, some consultants try to help applicants get into some schools, but Admissionado help you get into the right and best school!

When I decided to go with Admissionado, I was quite determined to go for an MBA education. I don't need prep talks, deadline reminder or someone to hold my hands. I was looking for guidance and advice that can help me elevate my whole package, avoid rookie mistakes and get things done effectively. If you'are like me, spending time with Admissionado will definitely worth it!

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