Strengths:

Detail oriented, Great Brainstorming sessions, attention to timelines, realistic in developing story + why MBA

I came from Consulting industry and had a 3.82 GPA with 329 GRE. I needed help crafting my Personal Statements and supplemental essays.

I was accepted at multiple M7 and T15 programs with a scholarship ($$) and cannot recommend Greg more. Working with Greg was the smartest thing I did during my admissions process. He invested a ton of time and went above and beyond to help craft my stories and essays. The investment in his hourly services definitely paid off and was worth every penny.

The one application that I did not use Greg for was the only school that I was not accepted to - go figure.

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Strengths:

Incredibly tailored recommendations, expert advice, personalized, high value.

Background: Female, International, GMAT: 655, 2.5 years work experience at a boutique investment bank.

Greg was such a pleasure to work with and I wholeheartedly recommend Avanti Prep to anybody looking for career coaching or MBA consulting services. I started working with Greg on the Columbia Business School application 2 months before the R1 deadline and got accepted! Unlike larger consulting firms, Avanti Prep adds a personal touch and has exceptional service and dedication. Greg goes above and beyond and roots for your success. I've spoken to many current MBA students and most of them did not have the same experience with other consultants at other firms so I feel incredibly lucky to have found Avanti Prep!

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Background
- White Male (US)
- GPA: Above a 3.5 from Top 20 Liberal Arts College
- GMAT: Above 700
- Previous Role: US Military Officer

When I initially considered applying to business school, I spoke with one of my friends, also a former US military officer, who had been accepted at LBS. He highly recommended that I work with Greg, who was the “best in the business.” I took my friend’s advice, and I am extremely grateful that I did. Greg helped me develop a narrative about my accomplishments and my unique strengths that differentiated me from other applicants. That is the most valuable aspect of having Greg as your consultant – he understands what resonates with admissions officers at individual schools, and he can help you structure your application to highlight your best attributes and show that you can add value to a specific MBA program.

Greg put forth a great amount of time and effort to learn my story: my GPA / educational background, my test scores, my work experience, my interests outside of work, and my past community outreach. He worked with me on several iterations of my resume to make sure it captured all of my relevant and unique experience. His mock interviews reflected the tone and style of each individual school, and he provided feedback that allowed me to craft insightful responses to potential interview questions. Greg’s efforts had an enormous positive impact on my applications, and the results reflect this.

Results: I applied to 6 schools, received interview invites at 5, was accepted at 4 (HBS, Booth, Ross, Darden), and withdrew 1 (LBS) after being interviewed. Greg’s effectiveness was demonstrable throughout the process, from start to finish. It is also worth noting that I received scholarships at 3 of the 4 schools to which I was accepted.

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Xin was not just an MBA consultant—he was a guide who helped me craft essays that truly reflected my journey and aspirations. His thoughtful approach went beyond just polishing my words; he helped me discover my core story, encouraging me to connect with my authentic self. Xin's support was invaluable in helping me present my best self, and the impact of his mentorship extended far beyond just the application process. I’m grateful for his expertise, which not only strengthened my application but also helped me grow as a person. I greatly appreciate his help, especially given the very short period of time we had.

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As a non-traditional background applying in R2, Greg had successfully elevated my profile for top business school, leading to dual admit to GSB and HBS + misc. offers and waitlist (most are M7)

Greg analysed my background and story diligently and provided very useful feedback to elevate my profile. He is also not afraid to be frank about his comment and approaches, which contributed the good chemistry between the both of us.

Greg is always looking to improve my whole profile, including essay, additional essay, interview answers, even in the smallest possible way to ensure there are no rocks left unturned.

although he has a proforma for certain things, he remained very flexible and would patiently listen to my recommendation and incorporate them into the end product (Eg. essay). He is also not afraid to criticize my approach when needed, making him not just a great consultant, but also a tutor.

Overall, I would definitely recommend him to anyone who wants to aim high. But a reminder is that - be ready to put in the work to complement his hard work!

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Background
• Age 30
• Asian male (raised in China, now a US citizen)
• GRE 325 (low for my schools and demographic)
• 3.6 GPA in a T-20 US university
• 5 jobs in 6 years across multiple industries
• Applied in Round 2

I decided to apply to business school in the summer of 2023, having done no prior preparation. Once I committed, I realized I would miss the round 1 deadline, and with only 5 months until round 2, I needed guidance. An HBS alum highly recommended Greg and Avanti Prep, which was refreshing since many of my friends felt their MBA consultants added little value besides grammar editing on the essays.

Consultation and Services
Before meeting Greg, I had met with five other consultants, but I knew immediately after our intro call that I wanted to work with Avanti Prep. Greg had clearly put in significant effort to understand my background and suggested schools that would be a good fit. I left the call feeling confident I would be in good hands.

I chose the 4-school package and added 18 more hours of service for extra schools, high-touch recommendation feedback, and comprehensive interview prep. Greg was my lead consultant, but given the extent of our engagement, he put together a team customized to my background and career goals, and I also worked with Xin, Sarah, and Fahad during the process. The team exceeded all my expectations.

Comparison with Other Consultants
I have a unique vantage point on different consultants because my wife also applied for an MBA at the same time as me. She chose one of the "big name" consulting firms with a higher price tag, and despite their flashy advertising, her consultant did not go into the depth they promised compared to the tremendous degree of attention and care I received from Greg and Avanti Prep.

For example, when my wife worked on her resume with the other firm, her consultant helped her with only two rounds of edits: one for format and one for content. In contrast, Greg and Xin conducted five extensive reviews, including both calls and document reviews. During these, they went through my resume line by line, asking detailed questions about my experiences and finding the best ways to convey them. My wife’s consultant mainly polished the language, without much guidance on the resume content itself, which is what distinguishes a great resume from a mediocre one.

Avanti Prep’s thoroughness was equally apparent during the essay process. They helped me work through multiple drafts, with each draft showing significant improvement, while my wife’s consultant focused mainly on two iterations and then shifted towards grammar edits. Whenever I told her about the processes I was going through, it was like night and day to her experience with the other firm.

Resume
Before starting my resume reviews, I believed my resume was in excellent shape, having recently applied for jobs. However, after meeting with Xin, I realized an MBA resume is different from a traditional job-seeking resume. Xin's extensive experience in resume editing, both as a former Career Management Fellow at CBS and as a resume screener for one of the largest consulting firms, was invaluable.

Xin quickly identified the key highlights of each of my experiences and selected those with the most effective evidence to support my overall story, painstakingly employing a situation-action-result approach for every single bullet point on the resume.

After my sessions with Xin, I thought my resume couldn't improve further, but Greg's subsequent reviews helped me perfect it. This was the first instance where Greg’s signature "above and beyond" approach made me feel extremely confident that we were putting the absolute best forward in my application, and little did I know, it was just the beginning of many such instances in the pursuit of success.

Essays
Greg and his team helped me tremendously with my essays, and I could never have expected my final versions to be as strong as they turned out. Applying to five schools with essay prompts ranging from deep self-reflection (where Sarah’s storytelling expertise was pivotal) to professional ambitions (where Fahad’s experience in my target industry was pivotal) was no easy task.

Each essay began with a brainstorming session that sparked new inspiration and provided me with an actionable outline. After the initial stages of essay development, Greg gave detailed comments, ensuring each sentence served its purpose, methodically refining each essay like a surgeon. Greg is a terrific coach and communicator, and his passion for helping you tell your best story is evident throughout the process.

Another hidden value was Greg’s help with planning my essay sequencing, which was especially important given the number of essays I needed to write. We strategically tackled the most foundational essays first and then adapted them for each school, making the process efficient. I sometimes felt like they had a PhD in the nuances, potential for overlap, and customization between different essays.

Conclusion
Working with Avanti Prep was worth every penny. For me, the ROI was felt in the quality of their process; in that I was accepted to Booth from an overrepresented group, with a subpar GRE, and multiple pre-MBA job changes; and in the $60K scholarship!! Their dedication, attention to detail, and personalized approach far exceeded my expectations and far exceeded my wife’s experience with a well-known, big name consulting firm. Greg's commitment to excellence was evident every step of the way. I wholeheartedly recommend Greg and his team to anyone seeking a consultant who truly goes above and beyond to ensure success.

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As an Indian male reapplicant in my 30s, I achieved my dream of getting into a T15 MBA program with a strong scholarship, and I highly recommend Greg for his pivotal role in this achievement.

I am a finance professional with 10+ years of experience across multiple functions in financial services and a GRE score of 331. I had previously faced multiple rejections from T20 schools. My stories likely weren't strong enough or were too technical for the admissions committees, which led to dejection and frustration, especially given the stiff competition as an over-represented applicant.

After hearing good things about Greg from a colleague who got admitted into an M7 school, I decided to reach out to him. From our first meeting, Greg was very accommodating. As a reapplicant with multiple essays from previous applications, he suggested that hourly packages would be more cost-effective for me.

We worked together for around 25 hours on both my application materials and interview preparation. Greg was patient in understanding my story, prompt in his replies, and detailed in his reviews. He helped me make strategic changes to my application, and even during deadlines, his turnaround time was quick. One of Greg's best qualities is his approachability. He was considerate in counting the minutes, often not charging me for small queries and only billing minimal time for brief reviews.

Greg was also a supportive mentor. During our conversations, he motivated me when I felt low on confidence. In our interview preparation sessions, he guided me on intangibles like articulating myself without losing the listener, structuring my thoughts, and communicating effectively through gestures. He helped me adapt my interviewing skills specifically for admissions interviews.

These multiple adjustments made a huge impact! I applied to nine T25 schools with Greg's help and received admits from four, each with strong scholarships. One school even offered me a full ride. I will be attending a T15 program with a strong scholarship this fall. This was a massive improvement from previous cycles, when I was not accepted anywhere. Remarkably, I was a reapplicant to three of these four schools, and despite no significant improvements in my scores or profile, I not only gained admission but also received generous scholarships.

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Background: 31M, India, 760 GMAT Classic, Non-traditional engineering background

I can’t emphasize how much value Greg provides for your money and the depth with which he helps craft stellar applications. From the very first introductory call, I knew Greg is the guy I want to work with. He provided me with so many more services that he charged me for. I wholeheartedly recommend Greg. He is super friendly, warm and actually is fun to work with.

I took Greg’s hybrid comprehensive package for 5 schools and later added 3 more schools, waitlist support and interview prep on hourly basis. With every aspect of applications- essays, resume, actual application, interview prep and waitlist support, he makes you go super deep, dig the best stuff and help shape the best version out of them. He doesn’t only focus on the big picture but gives every word importance.

Outcome – Accepted and going to an M7 school, waitlisted at another M7, got into 2 T10 schools and 1 T15 school. Total scholarship (includes scholarship from an M7): $240,000.
Lastly, I am just going to say- “Do not go anywhere else or go after big names. Greg is your guy”. Some of the other companies that I talked to were charging more and do not provide the same hands-on service that Greg does. One of them straight away said no for NYU stern as the deadline was close but Greg said let’s do it and we will put our best foot forward.

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Background: 31M, military veteran, good GMAT and GPA

I cannot overstate how much Greg enabled my success as an applicant. I think a previous review described him perfectly when it said, “he’s like your friend that really wants you to get into your dream school.”

Greg came strongly recommended by another military veteran who attended HBS. Together, we worked on essays, resume, recommenders, interviews, and navigating the waitlist. Here are some of my highlights.

Essays – Greg’s greatest asset was helping me develop overarching themes that tied together different elements of my life, career, etc. He had me write up five or six short stories that I felt were significant and was able to see the larger themes that tied them together. It led to an “a ha!” moment when I realized my “why” behind the decisions I’ve made throughout my life.

Resume – Another theme of Greg’s is attention to detail, and he lets nothing go unnoticed. He helped me translate my military experience into language that was easy for admissions board members to understand. Instead of just quantifying everything, his technique offers a nice combination of descriptive language that speaks to the applicant’s values and skills while still being quantifiable and easy to read. He analyzed every word, sentence, and even the spacing between lines!

Interviews – My HBS interview went smoothly because 90% of the questions asked by the interviewer were questions that Greg had prepared me for.

Pricing – Greg’s rate is a steal for the value that he offers, and he significantly rounds down on his hourly tracker. He doesn’t charge for routine email queries and even offered free service on a part of my application because he genuinely wanted to see me succeed.

Military vets – Greg has established himself as the go-to consultant for vets applying to top B-schools. Even though he doesn’t come from a military background, his ability to understand my experiences, roles, and skillsets was remarkable. He was able to offer a different point-of-view on almost every element of my application. For example, I thought I was going to lean heavily on my role as a military pilot, but Greg convinced me to highlight my leadership, mentorship, etc. Turns out, he was right!

Outcome – Accepted to HBS!

Greg challenged me to think deeply, and I feel confident that he helped me craft the absolute best possible application. I must highlight one last time that Greg is not only talented at what he does, but he is also a pleasure to work with. He is approachable, patient, honest, and detailed, and the quality and commitment of his work are unmatched.

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With just a 720 GMAT, Greg helped me get an acceptance to HBS and a waitlist at GSB. He's hands down the best admissions consultant / thought partner / writing coach / interview coach I’ve ever worked with. I actually began this process by signing up for a couple of hours with a few well-known firms before diving deeper with Avanti Prep. Working with Greg was one of the best decisions I made during the admissions process. Here are just a few (of the many) reasons why:

Great for non-traditional backgrounds: I studied liberal arts at a non-target public university, had a fairly non-traditional background, and super non-traditional career aspirations. Greg was the only consultant I spoke with who actually "got" my background and helped me craft a really unique and cohesive story out of it. He struck a brilliant balance both supporting my goals, and challenging me to take them to the next level.

Financially favorable: Avanti Prep offers some of the best deals across the consultant landscape. (If you do your own hourly rates benchmarking you'll come to the same conclusion!). I did a 20 hour package, and added an additional 10 hours for interviews. On top of all of that, Greg was extremely generous and gave me a lot of complimentary time.

Personality: I genuinely had fun during this admissions cycle, in no small feat due to Greg's constant humor, warmth, and integrity. He's just an overall incredible person to work with.

Essay expert: Greg has deep expertise in school programs. His essay guidance was thoughtful, direct, unique to each school, and extremely constructive. I often thought of myself as a strong writer, but Greg's suggestions were always on point, mirrored my writing style, and significantly elevated my own voice.

Interview prep: I spent many hours with Greg prepping for HBS, GSB and a few other M7 interviews. He knew the interview style and nuances for each school, which can vary significantly, especially with HBS and GSB. He delivered highly personalized prep sessions and helped me significantly polish many of my answers unique to each school. In fact, many of his interview questions ended up being nearly verbatim to the ones I actually received!

If you're on the fence and you've read up until this point, just take this as a sign to sign up. It’s absolutely worth it.

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