I cannot recommend Square One Prep enough!!!
I was coming from a non-traditional healthcare background, and like many applicants, I had doubts about how competitive my profile really was. But Kathryn, Allison, and Horatiu never wavered — they believed in me even when I was unsure, and they helped me bring clarity, structure, and confidence to my story.

Kathryn and Allison pushed me to refine my narrative, think critically about my goals, and elevate my applications with intention and precision. They were willing to work around my late shifts at the hospital and were always available for a quick phone call. They truly cared about getting to know you to help discover your story. Horatiu was instrumental in helping me develop a thoughtful career narrative that felt both ambitious and deeply personal. He empowered my voice and helped me connect the dots between my past experiences and future aspirations.

With their support, I was admitted to six top MBA programs, including Kellogg, Columbia, and Stern, and received generous scholarships. What stood out most was how hands-on and tailored the process was. This was not cookie-cutter consulting — it was a true partnership that helped me become a stronger, more self-aware applicant.

If you’re looking for a team that challenges you, believes in your potential, and brings out your best, Square One Prep is that team. I’m so grateful to all of you!

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Working with Square1Prep was one of the best decisions I made during my MBA journey. At the beginning of the process, I really had no idea where to apply or how to approach the applications strategically. Square1Prep guided me in identifying the right programs to target and pushed me to reflect deeply on my motivations for pursuing an MBA (something every applicant will absolutely need to articulate). Through that process, I was able to refine my "why MBA" and craft a clear and compelling narrative that connected my goals and past experiences.
As decisions started coming in, I was waitlisted at several programs. This is where Square1Prep's support was invaluable. They helped me build a thoughtful and actionable waitlist strategy, connected me with current students, and kept me focused and optimistic. In the end, I not only got off the waitlists but also received a scholarship to my top choice program.
Throughout the entire process, it never felt like I was just a client. Square1Prep genuinely cared about my success and was fully invested in helping me reach my goals. I highly recommend their services to anyone pursuing an MBA because the application process is far more than just a strong GMAT score and a few AI-generated essays.

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I began the MBA application journey knowing very little about what to expect—what schools I should apply to, how to position myself, or how to efficiently navigate the process. A close friend encouraged me to hire a consultant and specifically recommended Square One Prep. Admittedly, I was skeptical about hiring a consultant at first. But after meeting with Kathryn, my perspective quickly changed.

That first meeting was incredibly thorough. Kathryn was patient, took the time to truly get to know me, and asked thoughtful, personalized questions that guided the conversation in a meaningful way. She never rushed me, and I felt seen and heard. I met with a few other consultants after that, and the difference was immediate. What stood out about Square One Prep was clear: this team genuinely cares. You’re not just another number.

Like many applicants, I struggled with defining what I wanted to do post-MBA. At times, the question felt overwhelming. Wendy’s process for building a career narrative helped me gain clarity and uncover new insights about myself. It pushed me to explore paths I hadn’t previously considered and to connect the dots between my experiences, values, and long-term goals.

The GMAT/GRE was not my strength, and I was genuinely worried about how that might affect my outcomes. My advisor, Allison, challenged me to bring my best to every other aspect of the application. Her support, guidance, and encouragement were invaluable—and ultimately critical to my success.

Looking back, the application process felt like a long and challenging period in my life. But Square One Prep’s guidance made all the difference. Their support was instrumental in helping me stay focused, confident, and ultimately successful. I can’t recommend this team highly enough.

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When I decided I want to pursue an MBA, I did research on the admissions consulting companies out there. I scheduled a few consultations and ultimately decided to go with Square One Prep. That has been one of the best decisions I ever made (not exaggerating.)

Fast forward to today, I got accepted into my top choice school. The journey has not been smooth sailing though. I began work with SOP a few years ago, but paused it due to a new job and move. When I moved back, I picked up where I left off with SOP. I kept the same advisor, Allison. For the work I had to redo, I paid the current hourly rate. I paid for a 3 school package with SOP (and I applied to one without.) I got access to a portal to track my progress in the application process and access documents.

With a full time job and things happening in my personal life, I struggled to meet all the deadlines. Allison and Kelsey kept me on track (I’m sure I tortured poor Allison.) There were hiccups with my process (not at all SOP’s fault) leading up to submitting school apps, but Allison and Kathryn was there to advise and guide me through it. The advice they gave me allowed me not burn bridges yet also keep my progress going with an alternative approach. The year I was applying to B school, I was quite anxious all the time. Fortunately, SOP’s quick response time put me at ease. They are truly experts in what they do. They provide honest feedback and some much needed encouragement along the way.

If you are considering working with an admissions consultant, I recommend Square One Prep. Definitely at least schedule a consultation with them, you may end up choosing them, like I did. I couldn’t have done it without Allison, Kathryn, and the rest of the SOP team. I am forever grateful!

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I cannot recommend Allison and Kathryn highly enough! Thanks to their expert guidance, I was admitted to two M7 MBA programs—Columbia and Kellogg.

From the very beginning, Kathryn demystified the application process, helped me identify the right schools for my goals, and gave me an honest, strategic assessment of my profile. As an Indian male engineer, I knew that standing out in a competitive applicant pool would be crucial. Both Allison and Kathryn pushed me to dig deep, reflect on my journey, and highlight my unique strengths to craft a compelling and authentic narrative. Their honesty was invaluable—not only in refining my story but also in recognizing my potential to improve my GMAT score and encouraging me to give it another try.

One of the best aspects of working with Square One Prep is the dedicated team supporting you at every step. My career goals coach, Wendy, played a key role in sharpening my post-MBA aspirations, while Kelsey kept me organized and on track with deadlines and essay drafts. This level of structured support was instrumental in boosting my confidence and generating ideas for the many essays I had to write. When it came time for interviews, the entire team celebrated each invitation, helped me prepare thoroughly through mock sessions, and encouraged me to be my authentic self.

I’m incredibly grateful to Kathryn, Allison, and the entire Square One Prep team for their guidance and unwavering support throughout this journey. If you’re looking for expert consultants who are truly invested in your success, I highly recommend working with this team of superstars!

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Started off with a quick intro call with Kathryn, who actually made it not-so-quick - she really spent the time to understand my profile and give guidance, the call ended up being more than an hour!

My consultant was Allison - and I also got the entire team of Wendy for career narrative, Kelsey for application management, and Kathryn to sign off every material! Not just Allison, whose support was obviously crucial for my admission to M7 schools, the entire team has also been extremely supportive from day 1. Some key things I like from SOP:

1. Specific and insightful advice: Guidance and comments are always clear and (positively) prescriptive, with clear explanations why doing X is better than Y. From recommendation letters to essay writing, step-by-step guides and thought frameworks are provided for you. For someone applying with a tight timeline and a busy work schedule during the day, this was extremely helpful.

2. Willingness for thought partnership: I often bring different approaches to the table, discussing pros and cons, and probe the "why" behind the team's advice (especially Allison!). Definitely not because her advice is questionable, but because b-school applications can go so many ways. And Allison has never once failed to spar with me and help me arrive at a satisfactory answer.

3. Going the extra mile: I was running behind schedule most of the time. Apart from the team constantly monitoring the schedule and giving pushes, Allison also sped up her turnaround time (at least 2x the normal review speed) to help me meet the deadline, working days and nights and weekends! Really really appreciate this.

In short, SOP has your best interests at heart and I would definitely recommend them.

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I was referred to SOP by a friend’s sister who had an amazing and successful experience with them. My intro call with Kathryn took much longer than 30mins. She listened to my story, asked thoughtful questions, and gave me a lot of encouragement. I also chatted with 2 other top consultancies but the conversations were short and disappointing. I went with SOP because I feel valued and heard - they are not just here to do business, but to really help you achieve your dreams. I ended up not applying that year, but Kathryn still occasionally checked in on me.

My whole team at SOP - Kathryn, Allison, Horatiu, Kelsey, have been super supportive since day one. They were very responsive despite time zone challenges. They were extremely honest when I needed them to be. I felt like we were a well-oiled print machine, constantly churning out amazing ideas and stories. They kept me on my toes, gave me an extra boost when I was feeling stuck or unmotivated, and helped me push through every challenge along the way. Looking back, I had so much fun writing the apps with them. I didn't feel exhausted but mentally stimulated. I also learned more about myself and really understood what shaped me and what I want.

Besides my team, the resources at SOP is also top-notch. They have so many sample essays and interview materials. The online portal is also managed well that all you need to do is to focus on your tasks, whether it is essay or letter of recommendation or prepping interviews. Although it is not a cheap service, but it is so worth it in my opinion.

My results were beyond expectations. I applied to 5 schools, secured 4 interviews, and received 3 offers (HBS, Sloan, CBS). I could’ve never done this without SOP. Thank you all :)

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Square One is incredible. The entire team has deep industry knowledge and is exceptionally dedicated to their clients. They are patient, happy to answer questions, and engage in lengthy discussions. They work nights and weekends. Most importantly, they will push clients to be introspective and will provide you with their candid thoughts. They also take the time to get to know you personally - no one feels like a cog in the system. This is evident even from the free consultation that they offer. I highly recommend Square One. They are excellent; their expertise and dedication is second to none!

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Working with Square One Prep was amazing. Horatiu helped me think through my career goals and tie them to my past experiences. We explored two different paths I was interested in and ultimately decided on a healthcare route. Even though the purpose was to create a story that made sense for applications, I actually learned a lot about my own strengths and career goals and am much more prepared for business school.

Once I finished the career narrative, Allison helped me write amazing essays. It took many attempts and I changed topics multiple times, but we landed on a great story that helped me get interviews at 6/7 schools.

I’m excited to attend Chicago Booth next fall on a full ride scholarship! I couldn’t have done it without Square One. Thank you Kathryn, Allison, and Horatiu!

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From the beginning, Square One Prep really impressed me. They took time on the front end getting to know me and sharing strengths and weaknesses about my application. Before reaching out to SOP, I felt so lost and indecisive about my application, but when SOP entered the picture, their confidence and decisiveness truly made the process stress-free and enjoyable. They have incredible professionalism, care for clients, competence, and structure. At any point, I knew my timeline and what next steps were required. SOP kept me accountable with reminders so that I din't fall behind. Also, the order that we went through each aspect of my application was super helpful, making the entire process served as a a very powerful reflective experience. Through a combination of Zoom calls, phone calls, and emails, SOP was very responsive and always guiding me with confidence. In hindsight, I can’t imagine having applied without the experience and help from SOP--worth every single penny! Before getting accepted, I felt so proud of my applications and felt that nothing was held back; I portrayed my authentic story, and if ADCOMs didn't like it, then at least I was confident that they know who and what they’re saying “no” to. All thank to Kathryn and Allison at Square One Prep for helping to synthesize my story and my future in a concise, meaningful way. I will be referring every single one of my friends to Square One Prep and if you're reading this, stop what you're doing and reach out ASAP!!!

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