Heidi was a game changer for my applications. I walked into this process unsure of what I wanted to pursue, what schools I was targeting, and questioned if I was “good enough” to apply to the top programs. Right away, Heidi eased my anxiety by breaking down the application process into manageable, bite-size components and creating a step-by-step strategy for how we would tackle every part of my application from start to finish. Additionally, Heidi’s level of professionalism and responsiveness to my messages was exceptional. What I valued most about working with Heidi was her introspective approach. She helped me gain real clarity on my career vision by starting with my core values, what genuinely drives me, and connecting that to the “why” behind my decisions (both professional and personal) and future goals. That foundation made my entire application feel both compelling and cohesive. It created a clear, consistent narrative thread that tied everything together, making it easy for admissions teams to understand not just what I’ve accomplished, but why I’m pursuing an MBA and where I want to go next.

I chose the 3 school package and Heidi was there for every step of the process from advising me on where to improve my GRE score to helping me identify the right recommenders and negotiating my scholarship offers. Not only did Heidi help me achieve acceptances to Columbia, MIT, Kellogg, and Booth (all with significant scholarships), but she helped me become more confident and empowered me to believe I can achieve something that seemed impossible.

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From early in the process, Heidi knew exactly when to advise me to focus on other initiatives (like the GMAT) and when to push harder on applications. She struck a perfect balance between encouraging me to dig deeper to find the answers within myself and taking a more proactive approach to help craft my story. I applied to MIT, NYU, Stanford, and Kellogg, and was admitted to all but MIT (where I applied in Round 2 as an international student—something they generally recommend against). I am certain I wouldn't have achieved these results without Heidi’s guidance. Highly recommend!

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Heidi helped me immensely to refine my story, my why MBA, and career vision. She had a regular pace of asking probing questions that helped me think through so much more about my career, experience and self. We spent a lot of time on the first application, and it was so apparent with the next applications that all of that work paid off. Obviously the process was stressful, but I always felt confident that I was making the best choices and putting together the best application I was capable of. Heidi bent over backwards to make sure I felt as confident as possible submitting every application and going into every interview. I ended up getting into my second choice, and was just accepted off the waitlist to my top choice! I cannot recommend working with Heidi enough!

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Working with Heidi was one of the best decisions I made during my MBA application process. She helped me articulate my thoughts more clearly, understand my strengths at a deeper level, and embrace my own voice rather than fitting into a standard template. Her guidance was thoughtful, honest, and consistently focused on authenticity.
Heidi showed genuine faith in my potential and encouraged me to present the strongest version of my own story. Her support played an important role in my admission to Columbia Business School with a full scholarship, and I would highly recommend her to anyone navigating the MBA admissions journey.

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Working with Heidi Hillis was one of the best decisions I made during the MBA application process. From the very first conversation, it was clear that she genuinely cared about me as a person, not just as an applicant.

Heidi is an exceptional listener. She took the time to deeply understand my background, my values, and where I wanted to go, and then helped me translate that into applications that felt honest and grounded. She challenged me when needed, pushed me to be clearer and more reflective, and consistently gave feedback that made my writing and thinking stronger. I never felt rushed, boxed into a template, or steered toward someone else’s version of success.

What truly sets Heidi apart is the trust she builds. Throughout the process, she was a steady and calming presence, part admissions consultant, part career coach, and part sounding board. She inspired real confidence in me, both in my applications and in myself, and helped me show up authentically in a high-stakes process.

I cannot recommend Heidi highly enough. The experience was absolutely worth it, and I am deeply grateful for her guidance and support.

She helped me get into all three of my applied schools (HBS, GSB, Berkeley).

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After speaking with seven consultants, I decided to work with Heidi based on an instant connection around how to structure my application, as well as strong recommendations from coworkers.

As a candidate with a traditional background, I was looking for a way to stand out from my peers. Heidi helped me articulate my story in ways I had not previously considered. She is incredibly responsive and a true thought partner, taking the time to deeply discuss how best to present my candidacy, rather than focusing on surface-level grammar edits, which I have heart to be common with other consultants from peers.

Heidi’s interview preparation was also outstanding. The mock interviews she conducted were nearly identical to my actual interviews, which made the real experience feel much easier as I was adequately prepared.

As an aside, I had previously applied to HBS and was rejected, and I genuinely believe Heidi was the difference-maker this time.

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Heidi’s support was instrumental to the success of my business school applications. Two things worth highlighting:

1. Heidi was incredibly dedicated to my personal story. She helped me uncover unique, impactful experiences that I would have overlooked on my own, bringing a level of depth to my essays that made them truly stand out.
2. Despite having gaps in my profile such as low GPA and average GMAT, Heidi never discouraged me from aiming for top-tier schools. Instead, she worked tirelessly to pivot the focus toward my strengths. I am deeply grateful for her belief in my potential and her relentless work ethic.

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I chose Heidi based on glowing recommendations from peers who had gone through the process, and it has made all the difference! All in all, working with her throughout my MBA admissions process was an incredibly positive and transformative experience. She consistently went above and beyond to guide me, challenge me, and help me present the best version of myself.

Above all, Heidi encouraged me to dream big and have faith in my capabilities. During moments of self-doubt or when I considered completely changing course, she reminded me why I was excited about my goals in the first place. Her ability to keep me grounded and focused was invaluable.

Heidi also spent significant time helping me clarify my career vision. She provided a structured approach to researching roles and industries, which required me to think deeply about my passions and how they translate into tangible career paths. Her guidance on reaching out to alumni and building connections was a particularly helpful sequence that strengthened my understanding of potential opportunities.

Coming from a traditional consulting background, I worried about standing out. Heidi was instrumental in brainstorming ways to make my story unique and authentic. She pushed me to think creatively and tailor my narrative so that it reflected my individuality rather than blending into a common profile.

Finally, Heidi provided a clear roadmap for the entire application process. We began by focusing on Stanford, which made sense given my goals, and used that as a foundation before moving on to other schools. This structured approach kept me organized and ensured that each application built on the strengths of the previous one.

To anyone on the fence about working with a consultant, I could not recommend Heidi enough - her depth of expertise having been in the industry for so long (and on both sides), creativity, and unwavering support made a daunting process feel manageable and even exciting! Heidi has made all the difference, and I will miss our conversations!

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I chose Heidi based on strong recommendations, and she exceeded my expectations from the very beginning. With an unpredictable work schedule, I needed to complete much of the preparation early, and she was incredibly flexible and responsive—diving straight into life story reflection, career positioning, resume work, and essays.

Coming from a traditional background, I was concerned about differentiation, but Heidi helped me identify and articulate unique aspects of my profile through extracurriculars, career goals, and cohesive storytelling. Her ability to synthesize ideas and uncover a clear narrative during brainstorming sessions was invaluable. Her feedback is candid, sharp, and highly effective, and the final essays reflected a level of clarity and polish I wouldn’t have achieved on my own.

Interview preparation was equally strong, with thoughtful, application-specific questions that closely aligned with what I encountered in real interviews. I was fortunate to have a very successful application cycle and highly recommend Heidi to anyone seeking a strategic, honest, and invested MBA consultant.

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There is absolutely no shot I get into the Stanford GSB without Heidi's guidance. Heidi not only helped in the ideation of my essays and short responses, but also was essential in refining my wording and tone to best convey my thoughts. She provided the essential outside perspective that was needed to make sure what I intended came across to the AdCom's. Perhaps even more impactful than her thoughtful and diligent work on my essays, was her ability to get me to spell out, in my own words, exactly why I was unique, what my "career vision" was, and how that specific school was integral to my success. This was especially impactful for me as someone who had an extremely traditional / "non-unique" PE background, as after working with her, I truly believed I was a differentiated candidate that had a lot to offer and to gain at these programs.

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