Working with Kelsey was an exceptional experience from start to finish. She’s thoughtful, detail oriented and a master storyteller. Our initial brainstorming sessions were invaluable - they helped us align quickly and build a clear, compelling narrative for my applications!

We applied to 8 schools, and I received interview invites from all 8, along with admits from 6, including CBS, NYU Stern, LBS, and Yale, plus 2 waitlists! I was also fortunate to receive over $360K in scholarships. During my LBS application, we even pulled an all-nighter together, and Kelsey’s unwavering support helped me cross the finish line!

Kelsey helped me weave my story beautifully for all applications. Her sample resumes and essays, drawn from a wide variety of backgrounds, provided great context on how different candidates position themselves. She is incredibly responsive with feedback and edits, and her candid approach made the entire process more efficient and transparent.

If I had to do it all over again, I would 110% choose Kelsey! Would highly highly highly recommend working with Kelsey!

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I couldn’t have gone through the MBA application process without Kelsey. Coming from a non-traditional background, I didn’t have many peers or mentors who had gone through this process, and I wasn’t sure how to position my story in a way that would resonate with business schools.
We worked together across every aspect of the application through the comprehensive package - resume, extracurriculars, and essays. While I consider myself a strong storyteller, Kelsey brought a completely different lens. She knows exactly how to shape and frame experiences in a way that aligns with what top MBA programs are looking for.

The biggest improvement I saw was in how cohesive and intentional my story became. What initially felt like a collection of experiences turned into a clear, compelling narrative about who I am, what I’ve done, and where I’m going.

Ultimately, I was accepted to Columbia with a scholarship. Beyond the outcome, what I found most valuable about this process was how much it forced me to reflect deeply on my own journey and clarify what I want in the next phase of my career. That level of introspection is something I’ll carry with me far beyond the application process.

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When I started the MBA application process, I was overwhelmed and concerned about where I wanted to go and how I would get there. Kelsey was recommended to me by some close acquaintances and I decided to reach out in March 2025. She was patient and understanding of my goals and together we set reasonable expectations from the very beginning.

This year, I got accepted at places like LBS, Wharton, Columbia, and Booth and will be attending HBS in the fall! Kelsey was a crucial part of this journey and I highly recommend her to anyone looking to get organized and apply to any and all MBA programs. Thank you Kelsey!

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If I had to describe my experience working with Square One Prep, I would simply say it was “Excellence.” As an international student, the MBA application process can feel overwhelming and unfamiliar. Square One Prep made it structured, organized, and manageable in a way that suited my working style. Even through the highs and lows of the process, they maintained engagement, pushed me when necessary, and remained fully committed to helping me achieve my goals. I genuinely believe they played a vital role in helping me secure my spot at Columbia Business School. I can attest to the great team that Kathryn has created.
From the very beginning, what stood out most to me was their transparency and honesty. During my initial consultation with Kathryn, she took the time to genuinely understand my background, goals, and perspective as an international applicant navigating the U.S. MBA process for the first time. What I appreciated most was that she didn’t tell me what I wanted to hear; she told me what I needed to hear. Her candid assessment of my chances at top programs provided me with a clear, realistic starting point and ultimately convinced me to work with Square One Prep. From there, the process felt highly structured and purposeful.

Working with Horatiu on my career narrative was a pivotal moment. He helped me organize ideas and define the purpose behind my applications, “what story I was telling and why it mattered”. This clarity made everything that followed more focused and effective.

Pat also played a crucial role in keeping everything on track. His consistent follow-ups, attention to deadlines, and willingness to step in when needed ensured I was always progressing and aligned with the plan.

But above all, I want to highlight the work I did with Kelsey. We spent countless hours refining essays, reviewing details, and elevating every aspect of my application. Her dedication, patience, and attention to detail are truly exceptional. I often joked she was a “wizard” when it came to admissions. She has an incredible ability to break things down, show exactly what schools are looking for, and guide you in presenting your story authentically and distinctly. What sets her apart isn’t just her expertise but her honesty and precision in the work we deliver. She never sugarcoated feedback and constantly pushed me to improve while ensuring every word, idea, and angle of my application served a purpose. She helped elevate my resume, all essays, and ultimately, but most importantly, how I saw myself as a candidate. There are not enough words to show my gratitude for her work.

I can wholeheartedly recommend Square One Prep. They truly are a firm like no other, just as they state. Kathryn, Kelsey, Horatiu, and Pat are an exceptional team whose professionalism, honesty, and dedication to their clients truly set them apart

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Working with Kelsey was truly one of the best decisions I made during my MBA application journey. From the very beginning, her sincerity, depth of knowledge, and unwavering patience made all the difference. She guided me through every step — from brainstorming essay topics and refining my story to interview preparation and the exciting post-admittance stage — with exceptional insight and care.
What stood out most was Kelsey’s ability to both challenge and encourage me at every turn. She not only helped me put forth the strongest possible application, but also made me feel confident and grounded in my own narrative. The process felt seamless because she was right there, offering thoughtful feedback, steady support, and genuine belief in my potential.
I can honestly say that my MBA success and the confidence I carried throughout the process are a direct reflection of Kelsey’s guidance. She’s not just an outstanding coach — she’s a truly great human being who invests wholeheartedly in her clients’ goals. I cannot recommend her enough.

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Working with Kelsey felt like having an elite coach in your corner during a championship boxing match. From the opening rounds, she helped me define clear goals, assess my strengths and gaps, and build a strategy to compete at the highest level of MBA admissions. She knew when to push, when to recalibrate, and when to focus on fundamentals, from shaping essays and refining my narrative to intensive interview preparation. That interview prep paid off directly. After being admitted, I received feedback that my interview was one of the strongest they had conducted, which spoke directly to how thorough and effective her coaching was. As the process moved into the later rounds, Kelsey was equally valuable in helping me think through scholarship strategy and negotiation, ensuring I understood my leverage and options. At every stage, I felt supported, challenged, and confident knowing I had an elite coach fully invested in my success.

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Kelsey was invaluable in helping me navigate the EMBA process confidently and efficiently, leading to results that surpassed my expectations.

I spoke with a couple of consultants to find the ideal fit, and was drawn to Kelsey because she did not use fear of inadequacy to secure clients. Instead, she built my confidence from day one, affirming that I was qualified for programs that felt unattainable to me, and that all I had to do was be myself.

In our initial discussion, Kelsey helped me narrow down my target schools, persuading me to focus on 3 applications instead of the 7+ I had originally planned. After spending some time preparing my applications independently, I hit a wall and knew I needed to work with Kelsey to get my essays just right. Her expertise helped me accelerate brainstorming on each essay topic, her discernment allowed me to avoid topics that wouldn’t be compelling to the admissions committee, and she truly does cut words like a machine. Rather than spending hours agonizing over how to streamline to meet word counts, Kelsey could identify and remove irrelevant content in a matter of minutes.

Ultimately, I was accepted into all three programs I applied to, with a fellowship at each one. I credit this to Kelsey’s guidance and support in helping me convey who I am in a way that stood out to the admissions committee. Between the time saved on applications and the scholarships I received, the ROI from working with Kelsey is off the charts.

Most importantly, she was my cheerleader throughout the whole process and was genuinely invested in my success. I cannot recommend her enough!

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My journey to business school was far from conventional. I’ve worked full-time since I was 17 years old, including while earning my undergraduate degree later in life at 27. From the beginning, my profile didn’t fit neatly into the traditional MBA mold, and Kelsey understood both how unusual that was and how much care it would take to present it honestly and effectively. She never tried to force my story into a template. Instead, she worked alongside me to make sure my path was communicated with clarity, integrity, and confidence, while keeping my voice fully intact.

This process was not an easy one. We navigated seven rejections together, and a ten-month waitlist that ultimately turned into a rejection just weeks before classes were set to begin. That outcome wasn’t the result of poor preparation or lack of effort, but the reality of presenting a profile that challenged conventional expectations. Through all of it, Kelsey never wavered. She stayed grounded, encouraging, and fully present, even when the results were discouraging and the uncertainty felt overwhelming.

From day one, she felt genuinely invested in my outcome, sometimes even more than I was when I was exhausted, doubting myself, or struggling to stay optimistic. She owned the timeline with me, remembered every critical date, and stepped in seamlessly when things became stressful, whether that meant flagging a portal issue in real time, guiding me through scholarship decisions with honesty and restraint, or reminding me how far I had already come.

What I appreciated most is that Kelsey showed up for the full experience, not just the MBA mechanics. She recognized how emotionally demanding this process can be and met it head-on, supporting not only the strategy and execution, but also the frustration, waiting, and emotional swings that come with it. I never felt like I was navigating this alone.

Today, I’m incredibly happy to be attending an M7 this fall with a significant scholarship, an outcome that once felt very far away. That result didn’t happen by accident, and it didn’t happen in isolation. Kelsey played a major role in helping me stay the course long enough for the right opportunity to materialize.

At the same time, I’m genuinely sad that our time working together has come to an end. That feeling says everything. If you’re looking for an admissions consultant who will fully invest in your story, stand by you through rejection as much as success, and treat this process with the care it actually deserves, Kelsey is exceptional.

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Partnering with Kelsey fundamentally changed the trajectory of my MBA applications. From our very first conversation, she approached my profile with conviction and clarity, never allowing my lower than average test scores or conventional benchmarks to overshadow the substance of my experiences. She helped me surface the themes that truly mattered, connecting my professional growth, personal values, and leadership moments into a cohesive story that felt both honest and compelling. The final applications were unmistakably mine, just sharper and more intentional than if I did not have her guidance.

Kelsey’s has an exceptional ability to translate varied experiences into focused, program-specific goals. Rather than settling for vague aspirations, she challenged me to articulate precise plans for post-MBA. Each school’s culture, strengths, and expectations were reflected clearly in my essays, and that level of tailoring made a meaningful difference in my outcomes.

What stood out most was her level of commitment. Despite juggling multiple clients, she was consistently prompt, engaged, and thoughtful. She often emails me back within 1 to two minutes on a Saturday! During the most intense stretches of the process, her feedback arrived quickly and was always substantive. At no point did I feel like just another applicant in a queue.

Our interview preparation was equally transformative. We ran multiple mock sessions that went far beyond rehearsed answers. By the time interviews arrived, I felt prepared, confident, and genuinely excited to tell my story.

Thanks to Kelsey’s guidance, I was fortunate to earn admission to several top MBA programs, along with significant merit scholarships. I cannot recommend her highly enough to anyone looking for a thoughtful, rigorous, and deeply invested partner throughout the MBA admissions process.

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At first, I didn’t think I needed a personal coach because I was already in a pre-MBA program that helps with applications.. But an alum from the program told me I had to work with Kelsey, and I’m so glad I did.

It’s not only Kelsey’s ability to help you create such a strong story, but it’s her years of experience and knowledge in the industry that make you feel very confident every step of the way. She very much understands the admissions processes because she’s been apart of the team who reviews applications, and therefore is able to point out things you might’ve never thought about.

She supported me through everything, even when I was unhappy at my job and thinking of quitting before getting accepted anywhere. She immediately hopped on the phone with me, answered all my questions, and helped me think it through without pressure.

Whenever I felt stressed or unsure, she was there. I had a 3.1 undergrad GPA and a 310 GRE score, and I still got into Wharton off the waitlist and Duke who gave me a big scholarship. We focused a lot on making sure my essays really showed my personality, and we didn’t shy away from addressing gaps in my application.

Could I have done this on my own? Maybe. But I’m 100% sure I wouldn’t have submitted my best-application without Kelsey. She was my biggest cheerleader and I will continue to recommend her to EVERYONE I know applying!! Very excited that I’ll be going to Wharton and graduating class of 2027!

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