After three painful rejections with previous consultants, I was hesitant to try again. Working with Kathryn completely transformed not just my applications, but my sense of self. As an Indian applicant working at a T-1 Venture Firm in the Bay Area applying to elite programs a third time, I was burned out. I needed someone who could energize me as well as help me find the authentic voice that had been missing from my previous attempts.

Kathryn flipped the script in one cycle: Harvard Business School + Stanford GSB admits and a 50 % tuition scholarship. I cannot recommend her enough! As I told her at the end of submitting my applications, the new sense of self and professional clarity were worth enough to me. The dual admit later on was just a cherry on top.



Many things set Kathryn apart from my prior consultants:

First, she has a rare balance of empathy and decisiveness. Rather than simply polishing my essays, Kathryn guided me through a process of self-discovery that clarified my personal narrative, professional direction, and unique value proposition. *She spent 8 hours getting to know me over the first 2 days*. I felt deeply heard, and challenged, by her. She asked me “Why?” until we unearthed two foundational personal stories I’d never have put on paper. Those moments became the spine of every essay and ended up being quoted back to me in my HBS interview and by the GSB Dean of Admissions on Admit Day. Compared to prior quick rejections, I was thrilled with this outcome.

Kathryn often reminded me what my prior apps, and most people miss: that admissions committees and alums are human. They want to _feel_ something when they read your work and sense that they are truly getting to know you (fun fact: we even included little personal, emotional tid-bits even in formal places like my resume). This is just something my prior apps were missing. The materials Kathryn and I created together moved even my parents to tears - capturing an authentic, graceful power in remarkably few words.

The end result: During my collaboration with Kathryn, I experienced a profound shift in confidence that friends, family, and professional colleagues noticed before I did.

Second, Kathryn makes surgical, candid edits and has a “pen-down” discipline. Every draft—resume, essays, even recommender packets—came back dripping with color-coded notes. Some tweaks, some brutal truth. Zero guesswork. When she felt I was over-working pieces, she stopped me. For example, because we completed our work well in advance of the deadlines, I kept unnecessarily re-working essays. I still recall making some 2 a.m. perfectionistic revisions and sending them to her, only to get an immediate reply: “Stop and realize it is time to trust what you have created: Submit tonight.”

Third, Kathryn went the extra mile at every stage. From those initial calls when I was on the fence about reapplying to working with me painstakingly and patiently on my application components ," to coaching me for the interviews – three rounds that were tougher than the actual interviews. Her guidance was both comprehensive and precisely calibrated to my needs.

The results speak for themselves: admits to both Harvard and Stanford after previous rejections. But like I’ve said, the true value transcended admissions results. After trying two other consultants who charged $10K each, I am so glad I went with Square One Prep. I enjoyed their unique approach to first build a stronger me, transform how I look at myself in the mirror, and only then use the newfound clarity and confidence to write a winning application.

Read More

SOP has been instrumental in my MBA Journey. Kathryn and her team are very thorough in their approach; I was impressed by their involvement in every step of the process from the career narrative construction, essay brainstorming, to the prep interview. I am very satisfied with their professionalism, their commitment, punctuality and work ethic. Moreover, their platform has been very useful to keep all of my schools’ application processes (what must be constructed and submitted) organized; it would have been very tough for me to manage all the moving parts and requirements for each school, especially given that each school’s requirements are different. In addition, SOP’s emotional support in this stressful time has been invaluable. For example, I struggled with my GMAT grade, and they helped in several ways, from recommending a specialist, to giving me the confidence and strategies to approach the whole application process even if my grade was not ideal. I truly recommend them.

Read More

Kathryn changed my life, and I am so grateful for her guidance! I did a discovery call with her in 2021 even though I couldn’t afford her firm. I’d read that she gives amazing, honest consults. So I wanted to take advantage of the 30 minutes she offers. She didn’t spend 30 minutes with me. She spent almost two hours. She encouraged me to wait and apply later since it was the last round and I didn’t have a test score yet. But I was eager to try now. Her team offered to work with me at an extreme discount, understanding that I was financially supporting my parents and 5 younger siblings. We built a strong application, but I couldn’t get my test score where I needed it (not even close). I applied anyway in the last round. I was rejected. I then worked on getting a much stronger test score and reapplied last year – again the last round as I managed to get a decent test score, but too late for R2 – this time Kathryn and her team worked with me for free – yea, free. I got waitlisted.

Kathryn then worked with me directly for R1 and while she didn’t work with me for free, she gave me a generous discount. I applied to fulltime programs this time instead of part-time. All in Texas as I want to stay close to my family.

From the very beginning in 2021, Kathryn and her team was not only motivating and honest but also amazing human beings who genuinely cared about my success. They took the time to understand my story, background, stats, and potential, helping me identify where I would be the best fit. I especially appreciated how deeply she pushed me to think about my career narrative, challenging me to reflect and articulate my goals with clarity.

When I worked with Kathryn directly this time around, I realized why she owns a company, Shea unique ability to connect with you on a deeper level, ensuring your voice and vision shine throughout your application. With my latest application Kathryn guided me step by step from refining my resume and crafting thoughtful essays to securing impactful letters of recommendation and preparing for interviews. Through this process, I not only grew more self-aware but also discovered insights about myself that I never realized before. Kathryn’s patience and responsiveness kept me on track. She never let me lose sight of my potential, constantly cheering me on while providing constructive feedback. Her approach is rigorous yet incredibly supportive, and it felt like she was as invested in my success as I was.

For me, this journey became much more than just submitting MBA applications, it was a transformative experience. Thanks to Kathryn and her team, I was admitted to top programs with scholarships! If you’re looking for someone who will challenge you, guide you, and help you achieve your MBA dreams, Kathryn and the Square One Prep team are unmatched. They will take care of you, hold you accountable, and ultimately set you up to win, not just with your applications – with life.

Read More

I was referred to Kathryn and her team by a close friend who had a successful experience with their services, gaining admission to M7 schools. Working with my advisors—Noah, Horatiu, and Kelsey—truly elevated my candidacy. They went above and beyond to help me shape a compelling resume, essays, and career narrative that fully showcased my strengths. Their genuine investment in my success was evident in every aspect of the process. This thorough preparation paid off in my interviews, leading to admissions at both M7 schools I applied to, and a sizable scholarship at one. I couldn’t have achieved this without their guidance and highly recommend their services to anyone serious about pursuing an MBA!

Read More

Certainly applying to business school is such an intense process. If I were in the same position starting my application process, I would blindly partner with Square1Prep again. You really need the right people by your side.

I knew that I had to work hard if I wanted to achieve my dream of getting accepted to a top MBA program. When I finally got the GMAT score I aimed for, I was only 2 months away of Round 2 deadlines. I didn't know if I was competitive enough or what strategy I needed in order to maximize my chances of acceptance and scholarship. Partnering with Square1Prep was the best decision I took. Kathryn and her team really know the application process and have a very structured and easy to follow planning tool that allowed me to have realistic expectations of which and how many schools to apply. I ended up with a very ambitious but realistic plan to apply to 8 schools. I managed to do it! Not only did I put a lot of effort but also the team at Square1Prep, and Kathryn specially, were really out of their way to help me achieve that goal with incredible results.

Apart from that, I would say that they also helped me grow personally. Self awareness is key in the application but it is not directly proportional with the time you invest in it. Depth and right guidance is crucial. I think that starting with Robin, my consultant, to Horatiu, my career narrative expert, to Kathryn and Kelsey as my Leadership team, all of them were instrumental in making me believe in myself, my story and my ambitions. Their guidance delivered with honesty and kindness was crucial to allow me to really understand how I had evolved over my lifetime and how that was important to who I am as a person and my potential. I stopped feeling that my lack of extracurriculars made me a bad candidate. Instead, I focused on making all those unique things about myself shine and ended up with the most personal and powerful application.

I will be forever grateful with Kathryn and her team for their kindness, honesty and efficiency. They made my application process as easy as possible (though it's very hard work), my application materials as impactful and competitive as they could get, and, finally, made me a more confident and self-aware person. Thanks team.

Read More

I am immensely grateful to Square One Prep for their invaluable guidance throughout my MBA application journey. Their expertise and personalized approach were pivotal in helping me define my goals and develop a compelling narrative that resonated with the admissions committees. Their unwavering support and attention to detail ensured that I presented the strongest possible version of myself. But more importantly, their encouragement and calming presence helped me maintain focus and composure during what can be an incredibly stressful process! Take a deep breath and relax! I highly recommend Square One Prep to anyone seeking comprehensive and effective guidance in the competitive MBA admissions journey.

Read More

My journey with Square One Prep was a game-changer. When I found myself in a frenzy of last-minute decisions in late July – no GMAT score, no clear career goals, and a misguided plan to apply to five schools for Round 1 – they brought in calm and clarity. They redirected my efforts towards Round 2, guiding me to define a clearer career ambition and the right list of schools for me.

Their attention to detail was unmatched. Every aspect of my application, down to the smallest detail and the daunting task of perfecting video essays, was meticulously reviewed. Their dedication ensured a final submission that filled me with confidence.

Yet, what truly sets Square One Prep apart is their empathy and support. Their founder, Kathryn, embodies this ethos, forming genuine connections with every student. They didn't just advise me; they celebrated every success as if it were their own.
If you found yourself navigating the treacherous waters of business school applications, I highly recommend taking the leap with Square One Prep.

Read More

After a recommendation from a friend, I sought out SOP to help me find the best way to share my story in my applications. SOP far exceeded my expectations. Working with Kathryn and Horatiu to build my career narrative and goals was critical to my essays and interviews. The career narrative not only helped my applications but will be valuable in shaping my priorities as I start school this fall.

Kathryn went above and beyond with her time and attention to hear my story and answer all question that came her way. She spent countless hours reviewing, providing feedback, and hopping on numerous calls. I can’t stress enough how valuable and thoughtful Kathryn’s expertise was to my applications and the entire process.

Kathryn is deeply empathetic and pushes you to introspect to get to the root of your story. At the same time, she gives straightforward and honest guidance to bring your applications to the next level. Through our conversations, Kathryn parsed out the multifaceted parts of my story (in ways I didn’t even realize!) and uncovered the unique experiences I brought to the table. This level of detail and understanding only comes through the significant amount of time Kathryn devotes to getting to know you.

This ultimately culminated in building a multidimensional and cohesive story in my applications that attracted top programs and a scholarship! I am incredibly grateful for Kathryn’s expert guidance, and I could not have done it without her!

Read More

I was recommended to Kathryn by my supervisor/recommender who was also an MBA student ten years ago (!!) and he would still recall many memories for his work with Kathryn – that spoke a lot about his positive experiences back then. Many of the other MBA consultants from different regions that I talked to recommended me to apply the next year given my shorter working experiences, it was Kathryn who highlighted my accelerated career exposure and gave me confidence that I also have my unique life stories. I also like how Kathryn focuses on my personal experiences and motivations beyond my professional life, which provides a more holistic picture of myself. Kathryn’s extensive experiences in dealing with clients from all over the world and all walks of life is very valuable as well.

I enjoyed each and every step in this “soul-searching” journey (though not easy): career goal setting, resume, school assessment, life story brainstorming, essay editing, engaging with recommenders, interview preps, scholarship negotiations… We would have debates time to time but it is wonderful: I really appreciate Kathryn’s candid and convincing sharing on when it is ok for me to pivot, or when she would recommend otherwise; She provided me good preps for the interview, but also warned me not to “over practice”... She knows how to find the right balance!

I am really thankful for the journey with Kathryn and SOP.

I applied for other schools in R1 and my dream school HBS in R2. Kathryn was the best mentor and buddy throughout this journey, encouraging me to persevere when I had doubts about myself, and patiently discussing and fine-tuning the narratives many times with me. I love my final HBS application materials: it is really ME! And the answer from HBS was a YES!

Read More

When I contacted Square One, I didn’t think I had what it takes to get into business school. But admissions firms offer free consults so I spoke to some to confirm my suspicion. All of them did, expect Kathryn. My call with her was different. Kathryn asked me questions other firms didn’t. For example, she was the only admissions advisor to ask me WHY my GPA as what it was, and then ask more questions as I probably didn’t give a very clear answer at first because I was embarrassed and shy. My GPA was terrible, a 2.48/4.00. I also left college after two years with a sub 1.00 GPA and had just graduated in May 2021 at age 34. Here too, she asked my WHY my path was what it was. She didn’t just tell me that my GPA and path were problems. Other firms did. They did not talk to me. They talked at me. Kathryn talked to me for close to 2 hours, not just the prescribed 30. She told me that she believed in me and would help me believe in myself.

What I gained from working with Kathryn – how I think about my past and my future, how I can make the most of business school, is invaluable.

She built a schedule for us to follow so I’d never worry about time. She understood that I am busy leading two companies. We did everything as a team. I didn’t know she’d help me as much as she did with all the application components.

In our first week, she spent 10 hours on calls with me so she could build my first draft resume, which was a huge help as I had never built a resume – I’d worked at my family company and then done entrepreneurial things, so there was no need. We then made it stronger as a team, and I was stunned by it by the time we were done. I actually began to believe in myself, just as she said I would.

The attention Kathryn brought to helping me build a strong resume she also brought to helping me build strong essays. I kept trying to sell and brand myself, and so I wrote a lot of bad essays. Some of her edits of my work were more like rewrites except that they somehow retained my voice. Kathryn steered me toward sharing things I couldn’t believe business schools would want to know about me. She connected with my heart. Just like with my resume, as I completed essays I began to feel more optimistic.

Kathryn brought the same attention to my career path work, which we did with Horatio who was my career lead. The work I did with him became even stronger once Kathryn helped me mold my career path into a goals essay. Horatiu was great though. He was patient as I had no idea how specific I needed to be, I thought I could just say that I want to keep growing my business. He asked me a lot of questions to ensure I knew what to research in order to build a strong career vision. Kathryn pushed my further to build it into a real business plan.

Also, with the LORs, we built packages for my recommenders which was important because neither of mine had ever written one, so getting a lot of support was critical. Kathryn was instrumental.

I secured interviews at Columbia, Wharton, Harvard, and Yale, 4 of the 5 schools I applied to! By this time, she knew me, that I could struggle in interviews. She went above and beyond to help me prepare. We did 6 mock interviews for Harvard and full preparation for all the other schools. I saw how much she cared about me and my success. When I got into Yale I was amazed. With Kathryn’s help I almost got into 4 schools and did get into one of the best in the world. I can’t wait to start!

To anyone who wants a guide through the application process, someone you can trust will always be honest and focused on helping you grow and succeed, and will go above and beyond for you, look no further than Kathryn.

Read More