I worked with Eric throughout my deferred MBA application process as an international student. I believe I truly would not have achieved the same outcomes without his guidance.

I’m a masters student at a top European university studying a social science, with GRE 167V/169Q. I received interview invites for all three programs I applied to (HBS 2+2, Stanford GSB deferred, Wharton Moelis Advanced Access), and was ultimately admitted to 2/3 programs. I chose Eric after reading a client testimonial much like this one, and I hope mine gives you the same confidence to trust him with your own application.

First, he has an exceptional intuition for identifying what is genuinely distinctive about you, whilst remaining true to you and seeing strengths and connections you wouldn’t necessarily have recognised yourself. He was meticulous about getting to know my background; several of the stories, motivations, and themes he picked up on, that later became central to my applications, were ones I initially hadn’t seen as particularly significant.

Second, I came into the process already considering writing one of my strengths, so I was sceptical about how much value an admissions consultant could really add to my essays. However, by the end, I had no doubt his guidance was essential to how confident and proud I felt of every essay I submitted. His input ranged from upfront structural planning, to precise wording changes that improved clarity, to pushing me on whether an essay was actually answering the prompt (which isn’t always as straightforward as it seems). Eric pushed me to think carefully about why each school made sense given my specific experiences, goals, and values, and helped me connect my background naturally to what each program uniquely offers.

Finally, our mock interview and PIR sessions were also incredibly valuable as Eric asked many of the same types of (and often the exact same) questions and probes that came up in my real interviews, and his feedback helped me develop more thoughtful answers.

Beyond his expertise, Eric was an outstanding partner throughout what is, at times, a pretty stressful process. He was consistently responsive, thoughtful, candid when something wasn't working, and clearly invested in helping me put forward the strongest possible application.

I can say with complete confidence that working with Eric was one of the best investments I made during the MBA application process. I couldn’t recommend Eric more highly.

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Basic info: I went to a top undergraduate university where I studied art history and had a 3.87 GPA. I’ve worked in fundraising operations at nonprofits in healthcare and climate. I got a 735 on the GMAT focus exam.

I had a background in nonprofit fundraising and decided to make a massive career pivot with the help of an MBA, but the application process was wildly overwhelming to me. I knew one other person who had pursued an MBA, and she had worked with Eric and recommended I reach out. I’m so glad I did; he helped me translate my experience to business school terminology and assess what from my story was relevant to the application.

Throughout each essay iteration, he was clear and helpful. I found his resume edits surprisingly beneficial as well – I had made many resumes before for job applications, but I needed a different set of information for the business school applications. The whole time, he helped orient me to relevant information, which was crucial; I’d never heard terms like “CPG,” “MBB,” or “IB” before, to give an idea of where I was coming from.

I was admitted to two top 15 MBA programs, one of which I’ll be attending in the fall, and waitlisted at a third, and I’m elated by the results.

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I worked with Eric during the 2025–2026 MBA admissions cycle and cannot recommend him highly enough.

For context, I graduated from a small liberal arts college with a 3.7 GPA, scored a 328 on the GRE, and spent two years in investment banking, followed by three years in middle-market private equity. I made the somewhat crazy decision to apply in Round 2 in late November, essentially starting from scratch. At that point, I still needed to study for and take the tests, develop my application strategy, craft my personal narrative, and complete all of my essays on an extremely compressed timeline.

From the beginning, Eric brought both structure and clarity to what felt like an overwhelming process. While I considered myself a strong writer, I quickly realized that business school essays require a very specific style and level of self-reflection. One of Eric's greatest strengths is his ability to help applicants dig deeper into their backgrounds and uncover the stories that truly differentiate them. He consistently pushed me beyond my first draft answers and helped me identify themes and experiences that became the foundation of my application narrative.

Eric was also instrumental in streamlining the entire process. Given my timeline, efficiency was critical. He helped me develop a cohesive story that could be tailored across schools while still feeling authentic to each program. His feedback was direct, thoughtful, and actionable, allowing me to complete five applications across five top MBA programs in less than two months while balancing a demanding private equity role.

One other aspect of working with Eric that I think is worth highlighting is his communication style. In a process as hectic and deadline-driven as MBA admissions, there were never any surprises. Eric was incredibly communicative, clear, and consistently available to answer the countless one-off questions that inevitably arise throughout the application process. Just as importantly, he was a genuine pleasure to work with. His positive attitude and enthusiasm made what could have been a stressful marathon of test prep, essays, and applications feel manageable from start to finish.

The results exceeded my expectations. I got interviews with all five schools and ultimately was admitted to three of the programs I applied to, including an M7 program that I will be attending this fall. I also received a full-tuition fellowship from one school and a significant merit scholarship from another.

Looking back, I do not think I would have achieved the same outcomes without Eric's guidance. If you are looking for an admissions consultant who can help you uncover and articulate your story, elevate your essays, and navigate the process efficiently on a very tight timeline, I would strongly recommend working with him.

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I came into the cycle with a background that spanned finance, tech operations, and medical device R&D. My stats were solid but not in the top percentiles. My undergrad GPAs ranged from 3.6 to 3.9 across two top-20 universities, and I had a 720 GMAT. I planned to apply to both MBA and JD/MBA programs but wasn’t sure how competitive I’d be, especially for the JD/MBA programs which are known for small cohort sizes and dual-admissions hurdles. At one point, I seriously questioned whether I should even apply.

From the start, Eric helped me make sense of everything. He understood the different chapters of my career and helped me see how they actually fit together. When I shared my doubts about applying to a JD/MBA program I really wanted, he didn’t hesitate and encouraged me to go for it. That kind of confidence was exactly what I needed along the journey of school applications. It can be an overwhelming process at times and having someone that is in your corner rooting you on makes all the difference.

Eric has a real gift for finding the through-line in your story and helping you communicate it clearly and concisely while keeping your unique voice. Given how tight essay word limits are, this made a huge difference. His edits were specific, thoughtful, and always honest. When something wasn’t working, he told me directly; when the writing clicked, he acknowledged that too. It was the right mix of tough love and encouragement which was especially helpful for someone like me who doesn’t consider writing a strong suit.

Whether it was talking through doubts or tightening essays before deadlines, he consistently showed up. He checked in before and after submitting applications, interviews, and decision days, and it always felt like he genuinely had my back.

In the end, I was admitted to several M7 MBA programs, including Harvard Business School, and to a top 5 JD/MBA program with over $100K in scholarship funding. Eric’s guidance played a major role in that outcome for which I'm immensely grateful.

If I had to go through the application process all over again, I would choose to work with Eric every time!

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Eric was exactly what I needed as a candidate coming from the most “classic” MBA feeder path imaginable: two years in bulge bracket investment banking followed by four years at an upper-middle-market private equity fund. I had strong numbers (~3.9 GPA from a top liberal arts college and a 755 GMAT FE), but I also knew that great stats and a traditional background can actually be a liability at the very top schools if you don’t have a clear point of view and a differentiated story.

I only applied to HSW, so there was no margin for a generic application. From the start, Eric focused less on polishing and more on strategy. He pushed me to answer the hard questions that top programs actually care about: What’s the throughline in my decisions, beyond “finance progression”? What do I uniquely bring to a class full of high-performing investors? What is the precise problem I want to solve post-MBA, and why am I the right person to solve it?

Where Eric really stood out was his ability to craft a narrative that felt both compelling and true. He helped me identify the more nontraditional aspects of my experience that I had been under-weighting, then built them into a cohesive story with clear stakes, motivations, and direction. Just as importantly, he helped me pressure-test my post-MBA goals until they were specific, credible, and differentiated—so the “why MBA / why now” argument didn’t read like a template.

Eric also brought the kind of candid feedback that is rare and incredibly valuable. He gave tough love when I needed it, called out weak framing immediately, and didn’t let me hide behind strong credentials. That directness made the work better and made me better. By the end, I submitted three applications that I was genuinely proud of—applications that reflected my best foot forward, not just my resume.

The outcome speaks for itself: I was admitted to Wharton with a scholarship. I obviously own the work, but I also know I would not have stood out the same way without Eric’s guidance. If you’re coming from a traditional background and want a consultant who can help you differentiate with substance, sharpen your goals, and tell your story with clarity and edge, Eric is the real deal.

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Eric Hollowaty was a phenomenal advisor throughout the entire application process, going above and beyond routinely to ensure I put my best foot forward in my Round 1 applications. I would highly recommend him to anyone who is debating working with a consultant ahead of their MBA applications.

For background, I am from the Northeast and attended a top 15 U.S. News-ranked university for undergrad (think Duke, Johns Hopkins, UChicago, Northwestern), where I graduated with a liberal arts degree and a 3.9+ GPA. I applied in Round 1 this fall with a 695 GMAT Focus to HBS, GSB, and Wharton with four years of work experience (will be five by matriculation); two years at an investment bank and three years in large-cap private equity. In case helpful context, I had previously applied as a college senior for the 2+2 / deferred admission at HBS / GSB (did not apply with a consultant and had been less rigorous about prepping for GMAT, resulted in rejections without interviews).

I approached the application process with some trepidation about building a profile that would differentiate me from the large pool of candidates applying to the same schools with similar backgrounds. Although I had led a few initiatives outside of my core job responsibilities / through partner organizations over the ~2-year stretch ahead of applying, I wouldn’t say I had some particularly strong non-professional angles (i.e., no Associate Boards, leadership positions with community orgs, etc.). With Eric’s help, however, I was able to build a differentiated application that still described me authentically.

I’d say Eric’s primary value-add can be split across three core buckets, all of which were immensely valuable and critical to my success:
• Initial Ideation: Eric spent hours going through my background with me, teasing out anecdotes and stories that would ultimately form the basis of my applications. Where he is most effective in this process is driving you to think more critically about why something has been impactful or where you have driven change – he doesn’t ‘let you off the hook’ at your initial story, but prompts you to do the second-level thinking that makes your story both unique to you and interesting. Once the essay prompts themselves were released, he would coordinate a 90 minute school-specific ideation session, where we would debate stories to leverage for each prompt. These sessions with Eric were critical – he is unafraid to tell you when an idea is a bad one, saving you the time of writing an essay that ultimately would not land. Further, his excitement over a compelling essay idea is palpable, motivating you to drive forward. In short, he was a crucial sparring partner that helped me land at the best and most relevant narrative possible.
• Essay iteration: Eric was tireless in his support through the drafting process; he thoughtfully reviewed everything I drafted (multiple times), ranging from the long-form essay responses to the 150 character blurbs embedded in the applications. He was unafraid to push me when a draft needed a lot of work, taking the time to even leave voice memos describing where he thought I could improve when a draft particularly missed the mark. Across the three schools, Eric reviewed and commented on nearly 50 iterations of my various essays and short answers – an incredible level of meticulous external review that helped me get my essays into very polished shape well ahead of submission day.
• Interview Preparation post-submission: Eric’s help did not stop after I submitted my applications. When it came time to prepare for interviews, he worked with the same meticulousness, helping me think through both how to prepare broadly and specifically for each school I applied to. Again, Eric was unafraid to give direct but valuable feedback when my answers missed the mark during a mock session. With his support, I walked into my interviews incredibly confident, and even faced several questions that we had gone over in our mocks.

One other note which I think is important in the hectic nature of getting applications submitted – there are no surprises with Eric. He is incredibly communicative, clear, and always available to promptly answer one-off questions that pop up. Importantly, he is also a pleasure to work with, bringing an infectious attitude that made the marathon of MBA application writing feel manageable.

With Eric’s support, I was admitted to both HBS and Wharton this fall. I am 100% confident my applications and profile would have been nowhere near as well-received without his help and support throughout the last year. I feel very fortunate to have worked with him, and strongly recommend him to anyone considering working with him.

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Working with Eric was one of the best decisions I made during my MBA application process. As an engineering graduate with a second upper honor degree from a global top 50 university, I initially felt unsure about how to position myself in the competitive MBA admissions landscape. Eric’s guidance was instrumental in helping me identify my unique strengths and connecting my profile to each school’s distinct strengths.

What set Eric apart was his ability to add value in very specific ways:
He helped me refine my career goals and connect my engineering experience to my post-MBA aspirations in a way that felt authentic yet ambitious. Eric challenged me to think deeper. One of my essays went through multiple iterations, and each time, his feedback sharpened my reflections and made it more impactful.

Thanks to Eric’s support, I was admitted to CBS. I wholeheartedly recommend him to applicants, especially those with non-traditional backgrounds who need help translating their strengths into a compelling MBA application. His expertise and encouragement made all the difference!

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I approached Eric late in the Round 2 application cycle, unsure if I could pull everything together in under two months. As a traditional applicant (white male in consulting/finance/investments) I was also concerned about how to differentiate myself in such a competitive pool. My background included a 3.8+ GPA from a non-target school and a 640–650 GMAT Focus score.

From the very first conversation, Eric was very effective. He quickly assessed my situation, understood the challenges I faced, and helped me focus on the most impactful aspects of my background. Instead of trying to fit me into a one-size-fits-all template, Eric worked with me to highlight the unique elements of my story. He helped me craft a narrative that felt both authentic and distinctive, which was crucial for overcoming the overrepresented aspects of my profile.

Eric’s approach was incredibly structured and goal-oriented, which helped me stay focused and efficient, even with the limited time we had. His feedback was always timely and actionable, allowing me to refine my essays without feeling overwhelmed. Rather than giving me generic advice, Eric pushed me to think critically about how to present my experiences in a way that would resonate with admissions committees. He encouraged me to dig deeper, ensuring my writing reflected my true voice while also making sure I was addressing each program’s unique values and priorities.

What truly set Eric apart was his ability to make the process feel manageable, even with the tight deadlines. He kept me on track with regular check-ins and deadlines, and his strategic insights helped me strengthen every part of my application. Whether it was refining my essays, preparing for interviews, or tackling the application forms, Eric’s guidance was invaluable at every stage.

As a result of Eric’s support, I was admitted to both of the M7 MBA programs I applied to, earning significant scholarships from each. I’m confident that his expertise played a major role in making my application stand out. If you’re looking for someone who can help you refine your narrative, keep you on track under pressure, and present your best self to admissions committees, Eric is a fantastic partner throughout the process.

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As an applicant to HBS and GSB with a very “traditional” background on paper (Ivy League undergrad with high GPA and GMAT scores, followed by IB at a top bank, followed by large-cap PE), I knew that, although my application would be taken seriously by top programs, I would also be contrasted against a very competitive peer group. Therefore, I needed to be very focused on how I could stand out as a unique applicant.

I spoke with several consultants before Eric, but he immediately stood out in our very first conversation. I felt he had a deep understanding of the issues I faced as an applicant from an overrepresented pool. His level of financial expertise, as a former industry practitioner, was evident from the first minute we spoke. This enabled us to have a deep conversation about my specific goals (for example, different types of PE strategies I was interested in pursuing longer-term) that simply would not have been possible with other consultants. Just from that first meeting—which I’d encourage anyone to take with Eric—I left with new essay ideas that I may have otherwise never contemplated. Eric’s initial thoughts on my positioning as a candidate, including pointing out what he thought could be unique differentiators for me, also made it clear that he had plentiful experience working with candidates with my background.

Gatehouse Admissions (the agency through which I worked with Eric) does charge a premium for its services relative to most other consulting firms. This was top of mind as I considered whether to work with Eric. Ultimately, given the competitive nature of the schools I was applying to (Harvard and Stanford), and knowing several coworkers from my fund who were not accepted despite strong credentials, I decided the premium price was worthwhile for the peace of mind of getting the best possible advice.

I had a fairly long lead time to work on applications, so I ended up working closely with Eric for around seven months. Throughout that period, he exceeded my expectations in all respects.

In our initial discussions about my background, experiences, and interests, I had an initial view of how to present these qualities to the admissions committees—a view that, in hindsight, would not have been differentiated enough. Like many consultants, Eric took the time to understand my initial perspectives. However, he then pushed me to go a level deeper in terms of my motivations, helping me unearth anecdotes I likely would have never otherwise reflected on. One of these anecdotes, which I first mentioned to him offhand without thinking much of it, ended up being featured prominently in my Why Stanford essay after he helped me see how it tied together many other aspects of my story. Another such story became the basis for one of my HBS essays.

When it came time to draft essays, I benefited tremendously from Eric’s feedback. He is not afraid to tell you when an essay needs serious work, but conversely, his excitement is contagious when an essay hits the mark. As someone with a tendency to overthink, knowing that Eric would give me honest, well-informed feedback on every single draft helped me feel comfortable moving on to the next essay rather than continuing to ponder or rework essays that were already of high quality. With a consultant that I did not have as much trust in, I may have continued to iterate. However, because I knew that when Eric told me an essay was “done,” it was actually done, I finished the bulk of my application a month before the deadline, saving me from the major stress I saw other applicants go through in August.

Beyond the formal application tasks within the scope of Eric’s services, he also gave me great advice on topics more tangential to my application. For example, there were a couple of recent instances where I had a choice between different projects I could pursue, and I appreciated Eric’s willingness to offer his opinion on how each could potentially be featured in my application. I don’t think many other consultants would have offered this input with such generosity given that some of my questions may not have technically fallen within Eric’s agreed scope of work, so I greatly appreciated his help.

I was ultimately admitted to both Harvard and Stanford, and I absolutely believe that Eric’s help was a key factor in that outcome. I’m thrilled with the quality of service I received from him and the entire Gatehouse team, and I’ve since recommended other associates at my fund to Eric because I’m confident they’ll have the same positive experience.

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Working with Eric was an exceptional experience in all ways. I was initially a bit hesitant to make the $$ plunge, but after just a few hours together I was confident that both the time and money spend would be completely worth it. Throughout the process, Eric made me a better writer, storyteller, and communicator - skills that will benefit me throughout my career. I felt incredibly fortunate to work with Eric, and this sentiment was only amplified by my outcomes in December when I was admitted to both Stanford and Harvard - 2/2 schools I worked on with Eric!

In my view, Eric shines the most in essay advice, storytelling, and executive presence. I would come to him with a somewhat fleshed out idea, and he would instantly have ideas as to how make it even stronger. His ability to help bring a story to life is truly unique. His feedback allowed me to identify which parts of a story needed more detail and which could be consolidated or jettisoned entirely. As deadlines approached, he also helped me word smith my essays to meet those tricky word count limits. Additionally, I utilized his feedback on S/H when applying to several other schools where I was also admitted with substantial and/or full scholarships; I'm not sure I would have received such fortunate outcomes had I not worked with Eric.

Eric was always honest; he wasn't afraid to tell me when something was missing the mark. I viewed Eric's honesty as an extremely important quality, as his candor in situations in which I wasn't meeting expectations allowed me to trust him when he said something was "great" as well. He was always attentive and reliable, and I felt confident that he was "on it" throughout the process.

Lastly, on a personal note, I always looked forward to my meetings with Eric. He is incredibly kind and thoughtful, and he made the process meaningful and fun. I would strongly, strongly recommend working with Eric to anyone I know!

For context on my background: white female working in finance, non-Ivy undergrad in U.S., 4.0 GPA, 760 GMAT, strong leadership and extracurricular experiences across college + work + outside of work

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