Cat Ho at mbaMission was an exceptional, empathetic, and knowledgeable MBA admissions consultant who guided me through every step of the application process. From the start, Cat was enthusiastic to understand my personal and professional story. From the intro call up until the last essay, I felt at ease sharing about my upbringing and motivations as if I was catching up with a childhood friend. This comfort helped me express an authentic version of myself through my essays that I was proud to submit. My test scores and GPA would not be considered a standout profile by the numbers, however, she had faith in my story and patiently supported me through countless rounds of deliberations on which schools to apply to when I didn’t get the test scores I wanted.

Before working with Cat, I spoke with several MBA consultants who were skeptical of my post-MBA goal of moving to Asia. In contrast, Cat was both encouraging and realistic. She supported my aspirations while helping me develop clear contingency plans, allowing me to pursue ambitious goals with confidence and a practical path forward.

Cat always provided honest and constructive feedback on my essays. She pushed me to articulate my desire in my essays and interviews about why I needed an MBA, especially the granular details about why my goals and the experience offered at the school were a perfect fit. During our resume reviews, Cat was meticulous with the structure and each word in my resume. It was easily the best resume I’ve ever had.

Cat was punctual throughout the entire application process. She always provided her feedback in a timely manner and made it a priority scheduling the mock interviews.

With Cat’s expertise and guidance, I was accepted into the University of Michigan’s Ross MBA program with $60K in merit scholarships. I was so ecstatic to be accepted that the scholarship money came as a big surprise. I fully believe that Cat is the reason I had such a positive result with Ross. I am extremely grateful for Cat’s guidance, and I would highly recommend her to anyone seeking to achieve their dream of enrolling in an MBA program.

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I reached out to mbaMission after being waitlisted Round 2 at Wharton, and they promptly put me in touch with Cat Ho, a Wharton alumna. She advised me on my waitlist strategy and update letter. Without her guidance, I do not think I would have been accepted. Here’s what made the difference:
• Candid feedback: Cat immediately identified the gaps in the application I submitted and conveyed exactly what signal to send the adcom. Cat guided my narrative so that every detail came together in a way that would be most compelling for the adcom to read.
• Strategic insight: In addition to helping with the waitlist update letter, Cat provided advice on the actions I should take to stay engaged in Wharton’s process and the respective timing for each.
• Professionalism: Cat was direct but encouraging, was always prepared, and exercised exceptional judgment in determining which ideas to push me to write about and which ideas to avoid.

I submitted my update letter about 3 weeks after being waitlisted, in early May. In July, I was admitted off the waitlist to Wharton’s Class of 2028. In hindsight, I wish I had worked with Cat on my application itself, rather than wait until getting waitlisted. In any case, credit for my outcome is due to Cat and mbaMission.

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Thanks to Cat’s guidance and help, I got admitted to Wharton, the only school I applied to in Round 1. I 10000% recommend Cat to anyone targeting HSW or other top MBA programs. Her professionalism, structure, and deep admissions insight will significantly elevate the application. Beyond admission results, this process also helped me better understand myself, such as my achievements, strengths, weaknesses, and long-term direction. Working with Cat was not only an application journey but also a meaningful period of personal growth.

Initially, I did thoughtful research on many mbaMission consultants to collaborate with. Cat came to my mind for three main reasons: 1. We both come from a sales & trading background; 2. Wharton was my first choice, and Cat is a Wharton MBA graduate; 3. As an ABC who is fluent in Chinese, I believed we would share similar perspectives and communicate efficiently throughout the process, which turned out to be very true.

We started working together in May, which I initially thought was quite early since I was only applying to one or two HSW schools and was busy at work. However, Cat never took a relaxed approach. She designed a very structured weekly schedule for me to follow. I am naturally a procrastinator, so having clear deadlines made a huge difference. Cat’s disciplined process effectively eliminated my tendency to delay work. Whenever I was slow to respond, she would proactively check in to see how things were progressing. I really appreciated this level of accountability and support.

And for the essay part, I am grateful to Cat for her guidance on my essays. Because of her Wharton background and deep understanding of the school’s culture, the essay drafting process was both efficient and enjoyable. One method I particularly loved was her request that I started with bullet points rather than fully written sentences. This approach made it much easier to generate authentic content before refining the narrative. Another thing worth mentioning is although Wharton opened its Class of 2028 application in mid-July, Cat asked me to begin drafting essays as early as June. This early preparation allowed the entire process to progress smoothly. Thanks to her familiarity with Wharton, my essays became highly polished, professional, and clearly aligned with the school’s values and culture.

Cat’s professionalism and deep familiarity with both the sales & trading industry and Wharton admissions were also invaluable in refining my resume. After multiple revisions and detailed feedback, I can definitely say this is the best resume I have ever had. She reviewed my resume from an admissions officer’s perspective, frequently asking for clarification when something was unclear and encouraging me to provide additional details. She then helped me restructure sections to make my experience more impactful and easier to understand. Most importantly, Cat leveraged her own sales & trading experience to guide me in presenting measurable achievements, including strong performance metrics. These insights were super valuable and played a strong role in strengthening my application.

For the interview preparation, I had a great experience conducting mock TBD discussions with two mbaMission consultants. In addition, Cat provided very detailed guidance for the ten-minute personal interview following the TBD. Her preparation helped me stay focused, confident, and calm throughout the interview process.

Additionally, I also enjoyed working with Cat on other parts of the application. Her meticulous attention to detail ensured every section reflected my best self. Even for activities and awards, she asked thoughtful questions and helped refine the wording to maximize clarity and impact.

And during the entire application season, I had some concerns about my application and performance of interview, I emailed Cat and Cat always reassured me and provided thoughtful encouragement, which largely helped ease my anxiety. So I’m super glad and lucky to work with Cat and highly recommend Cat to anyone who targeting an MBA program.

Thank you again, Cat!

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Cat worked with me around my schedule and specifically tailored our time to my personal strengths and weaknesses. She was extremely knowledgeable about the process and helped to ensure the timeline was well within parameters to optimize chances of success: Fantastic service, constant contact, real actionable insights in a structured a timely manner. Personally, the application would be the place where I would have the greatest comparative advantage in writing; but Cat was able to help tailor my responses to compensate for some difficulties in my undergrad experience as well as a less than perfect GMAT math score. Her help was instrumental. Fantastically professional and would 100% utilize their services again, and specifically, Cat Ho in particular! 10/10 would recommend

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I worked with Cat Ho at mbaMission as my consultant for Wharton/Lauder, and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. I was admitted to Wharton/Lauder, my top choice, with a significant scholarship as both a Lauder Fellow and a Wharton Fellow.

Choosing Cat was an easy decision. She's a Wharton/Lauder alumna herself, so she brought real, firsthand insight into the program. Not just generic advice, but a genuine understanding of what the school is about and what it looks for.

What set Cat apart was how thought-provoking she was. She asked some genuinely great questions that pulled out stories and angles I never would have thought to use in my application. She helped me see how my own values aligned with those of Wharton/Lauder, and she had a real talent for surfacing things about myself that I didn't realize were application-worthy.

As an international applicant, I especially appreciated how she helped me align my story to bring out my international strengths rather than letting them get lost. She understood how to position that background as an asset.

Cat was also excellent at managing timelines. She followed up whenever I had a delayed task, which kept everything on track and meant I was never scrambling before a deadline. We finished my application a full week early, which gave me time to do final checks at a relaxed pace.

Finally, Cat is genuinely encouraging. I came in with a few potential weaknesses, and rather than glossing over them, she worked closely with me to understand them and figure out how to address them. That combination of honesty and support made all the difference.

I'd recommend Cat without hesitation to anyone serious about their MBA applications.

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Cat was something else. She truly cared about me and believed in me from the start despite me coming from an unconventional business sector, still needing to do my GMAT, and starting to apply for Round Two in early December to M7s only. Being in a hurry and having doubts towards the effectiveness of hiring a consultant, I found signing up for a free consultation with her very useful. Transparency, honesty, and flexibility were a must for me, and she had them all, and to me it is fundamental when you pay an expensive hourly service like hers. It was worth every penny, not only because she was able to guide me and calm my nerves, but also her editing never twisted the personality of my voice, but just made it more appealing and concrete. Per my request, she didn't waste time on my strengths and her constructive feedback enabled me to never make the same mistake in my writing, thus fostering budget savings and constant improvement. Cat's international perspective and deep knowledge of the US, Europe and Asia was another added value to have her understanding my needs and wants quickly as an international applicant. I got an interview in most of the 5 M7 schools I applied to. We did not leave anything to chance in our mocks because she was able to get to know the people behind the process and prepare mock interviews based on the specific identity of each interviewer and business school. In the end, I got into my #1 choice, the GSB, and I couldn't be happier. If you have high aspirations and high expectations, Cat is the consultant you want.

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Cat Ho was an incredibly supportive, professional, and constructive MBA consultant throughout my application journey. I feel very lucky to have found her and truly appreciated her support throughout the process. With her guidance, I was admitted to Cornell Johnson as a reapplicant. I would highly recommend Cat to anyone looking for an experienced, detail-oriented, personable and genuinely caring MBA admissions consultant.

Cat’s advice was consistently insightful, practical and tailored to my situation. She asked thought-provoking questions that helped me reflect more deeply on my experiences and present my story more clearly. She understands what business schools value and helped me identify the most relevant parts of my experiences. When unexpected situations came up, she was experienced and resourceful in helping me find solutions.

As an international applicant planning a career pivot to the US, I found it extremely helpful that Cat is familiar with the US culture and values. When it came to presenting topics such as my career trajectory and future goals, she helped me frame them in a way that would resonate with an international admissions audience, ensuring that important parts of my story were recognized for their true value.

Cat was excellent at managing the overall timeline and pace of our work together. Even during urgent moments, she responded very quickly and helped me stay calm. Her turnaround time was consistently reliable and easy to work with. I really came to rely on Cat as my guide in this process, and this faith in her allowed me to relax and focus on what I needed to do.

Beyond her professionalism, Cat was also very encouraging. She was always cheering me on and giving me confidence when I needed it. She believed in me from the very beginning, even when I didn’t believe in myself as a reapplicant. Through our mock interviews, she helped me understand what an actual MBA interview would feel like, prepare strong answers to common questions, and let go of unnecessary worries about unlikely scenarios. She also taught me tips on how to make the meeting settings look professional like in the American workplace. That preparation greatly improved my ability to stay composed, manage the conversation, and speak with confidence.

I can’t recommend Cat enough. If you get to work with her, you won’t regret it.

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I worked with Cat Ho through mbaMission, and she genuinely shaped how I thought about my application, not just the essays themselves, but the whole strategy and how I was presenting myself.
From the start, she was easy to talk to in a way that mattered. I didn’t feel like I had to show up with everything figured out. She gave me room to think out loud, but she also kept things organized and was always flexible around scheduling, which honestly saved me more than once during a hectic few months.
The thing that surprised me most was how much she was able to pull out of my own background. Experiences I’d written off as ordinary, she’d push back on, asking questions until something real surfaced. That’s how themes like curiosity and cross-cultural perspective ended up at the center of my story, rather than just footnotes. It’s genuinely hard to see that stuff in yourself, and she had a knack for it.
She was patient throughout the whole process, never making me feel rushed, but she also didn’t sugarcoat things. If something wasn’t landing, she’d say so, and then immediately tell me why and what to try instead. That combination of honesty and direction was exactly what I needed.
Her turnaround times were fast, which kept things moving during a stretch where deadlines were tight. And the feedback never felt generic; it was always specific to what I was actually trying to say.
By the end, Cat felt less like an editor and more like a thought partner. She helped me see my own story more clearly, and that made the whole process feel a lot less overwhelming.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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I worked with Cat both to prepare for an interview and through ongoing hourly services, and the experience exceeded my expectations. She is exceptionally kind, thoughtful, and genuinely invested in her clients’ success. Cat communicates clearly and without sugarcoating, which makes the process far more productive and impactful. She is also extremely responsive and generous with her time, addressing questions both big and small with care and precision. She also does not waste time providing feedback in areas that are already strong. She uses time wisely to focus on areas of potential improvement. Working with Cat was a highly efficient and confidence-building experience. Anyone would be wise to work with her.

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Coming from a nontraditional MBA background, I had no idea what the application process would look like, or how I could tell my story in a way that would best highlight my strengths. From my first day working with Cat, I felt so much more confident in my application. Her edits to my essays/resumes were extremely thorough and insightful. We went through dozens of drafts of my resume, application essays, and even the short answer section of the application. With each revision I could see my application improving and becoming more true to me. Additionally, Cat was always prompt with any questions I had and was always more than willing to hop on a call to answer the many questions I had during the application process. With Cat's help, I was able to secure an interview with HBS and eventually an acceptance. I can’t recommend her enough to anyone looking for an MBA consultant!

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