ApplicantLab On-Demand Admissions Guidance Tool Reviews

Using ApplicantLab was a miracle that saved me in my application to B-schools! I was so concerned with studying for GMAT that I started working on my essays only one week before the first school's deadline (and I didn't score very well on GMAT either).
I applied to 8 top business schools over 15 days and I got admitted to 6 of them. The only rejections were from Harvard and Stanford, which were absolutely understandable.
If it weren’t for the step-by-step guide and helpful tips at each step of the process, I would definitely not be able to join LBS with 70% scholarship. ApplicantLab guided me at each step from brainstorming to creating a compelling resume and writing essays. In addition, the hidden humor in the explanations and Maria's smiling face at the videos made the process of preparing application materials way easier!

One of the important aspects of the lab was its psychologically-optimized process. I had a writer's block, but the smooth steps of the lab helped me to overcome this issue by helping me to do a single task at a time.
For me, the flexibility of the service was super helpful. Having limited time, I used the lab at any time of the day, from early morning to late at midnight. It was like having a consultant by my side at each time of the day.

And one the surprises while using the lab was that when I asked Maria a question, she answered my question with great detail, her email was about 1-2 pages long! I did not expected such an attitude

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I'm like most who was extremely skeptical about online MBA admissions prep especially since ApplicantLab was less money compared to other platforms out there. Overall, I was extremely impressed by the format, responsiveness, and quality of the ApplicantLab. I spent a fraction of what would of have paid at one of those other expensive competitors but felt like I got my monies worth. The turnaround feedback for the resume + essay review was a very quick around (24-48 hours) and each document was marked up with the comments of the reviewer. Another highlight is that everything was pretty simple to navigate and go through online. I would recommend the platform to anyone who is looking for a cost effective option to online tailored MBA admissions help.

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I signed up with ApplicantLab just before R2 and applied to 7-8 schools (M7 & T15) using it. Absolutely loved the interesting and funny way in which Maria presented the relevant tips and guidance through her videos and how the tool provides very handy pointers to approaching the essays and other parts of the application.

The success ratio of my applications with ApplicantLab (4 Admits including Stanford, 1WL, 2 Dings) was better than the ratio with a much higher paid traditional consultant (1 Admit, 1WL, 4 Dings).

So highly recommend ApplicantLab over other traditional consultants. The low cost of the tool is just an added bonus!

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This product is amazing, you can use as much or as little as you like. Maria lays out EXACTLY how to think about essays and interviews with specific discussion for a TON of schools. Even more impressive, I had a specific question or 2, and they took the time to give me good guidance/talk me down from stress by chat (the time that they were online) or email (the time that they weren't). I was pretty convinced that my low undergrad GPA would require me to either hire a $10K consultant or accept potentially ending up somewhere other than my dream school. I couldn't be more glad that I saved my money and went with Maria- you don't have to make either sacrifice!

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When I first decided to apply to business school, I had no idea where to start. But after some internet research, I saw that Applicant Lab has a huge following. I was a little unsure initially but the price point was what got me to sign up.

Maria is brilliant! I immediately got hooked from the start because of how user-friendly the site is (there are modules laid out very clearly about how to get started, the checklist you should have ready, etc). I especially loved her advice personalized to each school. She has clearly gone to great lengths to research each program, and because of her I was able to effectively tailor my essays to each school. I rewatched her videos multiple times and followed her advice. She was the voice in my head throughout the process. She gives you very pointed, honest and no-nonsense advice but she's also kind about it. Her jokes and sparkly personality also added much needed levity during such a stressful time. She felt like a true partner and friend in the process. She is also very quick to reply to emails if you have queries. Her replies are always thoughtful and insightful.

As an over-represented older candidate with below average test scores and an employment gap, I decided to keep my expectations low but I got into multiple schools with scholarships and will be going to a Top 10 school (one of my top choices) this fall thanks to her advice. I'm extremely grateful to her for making such an overwhelming process so accessible and affordable. Don't hesitate to sign up. It's well worth the investment. Highly highly recommended.

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I couldn't afford the $10K+ USD that private consultants were charging, especially on an international currency, so I am so glad that Maria created ApplicantLab, a democratic product that evens out the playing field and is a great value for money. Applying to business school is an art, and Maria teaches that art, ensuring that it doesn't remain the domain for the rich who can afford the equivalent of some countries' annual living expenses.

I was a risky nontraditional candidate with no business background, little Q background, odd professional circumstances, and a GRE below my schools' averages/medians, but I credit ApplicantLab to be the single most important reason why I was able to secure interviews with 4 of the 6 schools I applied to and will be attending Fuqua with a merit scholarship and Forte Fellowship! The admissions officer who called me said the team "loved" my application and found it "refreshing" after reading so many others.

I came into the process lost and without knowing a single thing about personal branding, resume, recommendation packets, application writing, or interviewing from a business perspective--I'd never even interview prepped in my life before--and ApplicantLab walked me through every single aspect, explaining the hidden logic behind B-school admissions and essay questions, before providing structure and examples to tackle everything through efficient notes and videos. I could build a comprehensive strategy, write strong essays, and prepare for interviews on a compressed timeline. I was impressed by the in-depth dive into each essay question--each essay module offered everything I needed. If it weren't for ApplicantLab, I legit would not have made my deadlines or submitted applications I was proud of.

My application weaknesses could be preemptively addressed and my story and strengths being allowed to shine throughout my entire application, from essays to recommendation packets. ApplicantLab provides an excellent foundation, but of course I also recommend putting in the hard work on your end by asking peers to review your essays and preparing for interviews.

2 nice add-ons:

- You can email questions to Maria, and she'll respond in 2 business days. In late-November, I was still struggling with personal branding, but I emailed her my concerns, and she kindly wrote out 800 words in response, much more than I was expecting or have received from anyone. With that, I was finally able to finalize my personal branding. I was surprised to see this was offered--to have direct access to the founder herself, despite how busy she is running the company and answering everyone else's questions! There are plenty of private consultants who will take your $10K+ but shove you off to a more junior consultant. Even after applying, I still reach out to Maria for advice on questions here and there. Maria is a genuinely good person.

- Candidly, I was miserable while applying to business school, but Maria's fun descriptions and videos were a great source of levity, humor, and joy during this process. While I was sad, cold, angry, caffeinated, and alone in my room during the holidays and Lunar New Year, I found myself bursting out loud laughing watching her videos and reading her explanations. ApplicantLab proves that there can still be joy in the process, and writing essays throughout December alongside her contagious positivity was actually something I could look forward to because of her.

I was part of 2 MBA prep programs, and everyone found her webinars to be the most helpful and enjoyable to watch, and they were also singing ApplicantLab's praises. They've secured acceptances to M7, T15, T25 schools and beyond, many with full-tuition or significant scholarships. I have friends coming from URM and nontraditional backgrounds, who I will be recommending ApplicantLab to.

Thank you, Maria! :)

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ApplicantLab was BEYOND helpful throughout the MBA process and to help me get accepted at my dream schools! Three specific reasons why if I were to do it again I 100% would leverage ApplicantLab's services again:
1) The structured step-by-step process is a huge help in reducing application stress which can certainly be overwhelming. I didn't have any close contacts who had done an MBA, and I was at a loss as to where to even start - ApplicantLab was perfect as it provided the exact steps and "homework" needed. Also the way the content is delivered is super engaging and Maria uses humour to help key points stick!
2) Personalized advice is available! There are additional services available (at a cost) for personalized help such as mock interviews. Maria conducted my mock interview for HBS and it really helped me prep as very similar types of questions were actually asked! I do want to shoutout that she also was very responsive to any specific questions I had over email right from the beginning of the process!
3) Low Cost - Perhaps one of the biggest perks is getting valuable insights and information at a fraction of the cost vs. most places.

Thank you again Maria and ApplicantLab team for your help!

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Overall, FANTASTIC service especially for the really low price. I heard about it through multiple friends with M7 admissions. Consultants are so much money, and as frugal as I am I never would've used them and been much worse off.

The service really walks you through a straightforward formula to frame your vague ideas of your career goals and history and experiences into a concrete overarching narrative, that carried me through essays to interviews to acceptances. I have a non-traditional industry origin/pre-MBA role, and am an ORM engineer, so I felt I needed a lot of help in crafting my vision and didn't have much support from my peers. Maria's service really helped me along the way.

Of especial value was specifically the career vision section, resume writing advice, the essay advice by school, the interview prep questions, and the small one-off content on things like thank you emails. All of these were critical for me to secure my acceptances. While I don't think Maria's advice is perfect and I did get second opinions on several sections and went "rogue" on some of my essays, the broad strokes were invaluable and, as a very indecisive person, gave me the direction I needed to craft the best possible essay I was capable of.

Frankly, I think the results speak for themself and I don't regret the purchase for a second. Of all the money I spent on this process, this was the absolute BEST value. You may not get personal advice, but every consultant will have their opinion- this one is offering you theirs on demand, everywhere, for every possible thing you would need in this process, and at any time you want to access it.

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What a great product! I think any applicant needs it to succeed in their MBA journey. Like many, I believe conventional admission consultants are rip-offs...pay over $1k to get one or two applications wrapped up when you're often applying to more than four in any given round. ApplicantLab does a masterful job of giving you all the content you need to succeed in one place all at a very reasonable price point. The write-up on individual programs allowed me to tailor applications to show I truly familiarized myself with the program. In addition, that familiarization allowed me to hit the ground running for interview prep, so I could show interviewers that I did my work. Also, Carin's "down to earth" demeanor let me know that I was getting the real scoop on what these programs look for and how they differentiate from peer competitors. I would recommend this product to anybody who needs a little help in their application journey...don't waste your money on conventional admission consultants! This is what you need!

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Great advice at insanely low prices. I used Applicant lab for my business school applications this year. I applied to HBS, Wharton, CBS, Kellogg, Booth, and Ross and received interview offers from CBS, Booth, Kellogg, and Ross with final admits from CBS, Kellogg, and Ross. Applicant Lab proved extremely helpful throughout the process. It is even more useful for internationals like me as paying for expensive consultants in USD is not feasible considering the weak value of my nation's currency. Also, Maria makes the process fun. Caught myself laughing hard at her amusing analogies. Can't recommend enough, go give it a try!

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