Kelsey Wise Reviews

From the very first phone call with Kathryn, it was evident that she approached her job with a level of professionalism and dedication that truly set her apart. Her commitment to helping young professionals achieve their dreams of attending a top-tier MBA Program was palpable. As an applicant with a unique background and specific issues to address, I was understandably nervous about choosing the right team to work with. However, after meeting Kathryn and her team of advisors, I was reassured by their experience, intelligence, and organizational skills, which I knew would guide me through the rigorous application process.

Working closely with my advisor, Kelsey Wise, on my resume, scheduling, and essays, and collaborating with Wendy Bagdi-Durrua to refine my career narrative, I felt the authenticity behind their work and knew their support was genuine. Beyond their exceptional guidance, they also provided a
built-in support system that proved invaluable in maintaining my mental health and inner confidence throughout this demanding process. For anyone considering an MBA advisor, the number of options available can be overwhelming.

However, I can confidently say that choosing Kathryn and the Square One Prep team is an investment well worth making. Not only will you receive outstanding value for your money, but you'll also gain access to a support network that will not just make you a stronger applicant but also a better person by the end of your journey. When it comes to navigating the MBA application process, there is no one better equipped to guide you than Square One Prep.

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As someone from a non-traditional background applying to top MBA programs, I am confident that working with Square One Prep (S1P) has been integral to my Round 1 application success. I first connected with Kathryn approximately 8-9 months prior to the R1 deadlines. We had several phone calls in the lead-up to my decision to commit to S1P. During these calls, she was incredibly transparent and encouraging, dedicating a significant amount of time and effort.

After speaking with a few consultants at S1P, I committed to the program and chose Kelsey as my consultant, about 3.5 months before the R1 deadlines. I decided to work with Kelsey because of her energy and dedication to my success. Working with her was truly incredible; she was my champion, sounding board, and editor all rolled into one.

The process of completing the applications with S1P was very structured, which helped me avoid feeling stressed or overwhelmed. It was an essential support system, and I could not have completed eight strong applications for R1 without S1P's assistance.

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Initially, I hesitated to sign on the services of an admission consulting firm for my round 1 MBA applications. However, with over 10 months of collaboration with Square One Prep and the firm’s incredible leader, Kathryn Lucas, I am beyond happy that I did! Currently serving on Active Duty in the military and transitioning to the civilian sector in the next year, my journey will commence at Wharton in August 2024 – in case anyone is wondering about the results! I also secured admissions from Columbia, Tuck, Yale SOM, and NYU Stern.
Square One Prep, along with their remarkable team of advisors such as Kelsey Wise, Kelsey Kephart, and Wendy Bagdi-Durrua, truly brought out the very best in my application through extensive hours of reflection, conversations, and guidance derived from their immense professional and life experience. There are no “time limits” or “work hours” with Square One Prep; they are there every step of the way. Not to mention, my advisor, Kelsey Wise, spent hours on the phone between her busy consulting job, preparing me for interviews as they unfolded, random essay questions, and fielded all my questions and concerns as I went through the application process. Kelsey Wise truly is an insightful, patient, and warming spirit throughout the entirety of the long, nerve-wracking period.
Square One Prep’s team adeptly managed the approach to denials, the dreaded wait list, and the decision-making process for accepting offers whenever the need arose. For military members seeking to transition to the civilian sector through an MBA, Square One Prep will help maximize the content of your application by authentically highlighting the best in YOU. This goes for really any profession as well! Initially uncomfortable with the notion of "bragging" about myself in an application, Square One Prep showed me how to represent myself professionally and appropriately as I managed my transition from active duty to an MBA program.
Overall, Square One Prep holds a special place in my heart for diligently assisting during such a crucial time in my life. Lastly, I not only learned about navigating the MBA application process, but I also gained friendships with an amazing crew of people who are successful in all walks of life. I wholeheartedly recommend Square One Prep; good luck, and I assure you that choosing to work with their team will be a decision you won't regret!

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As an Indian male applicant, who by MBA standards was likely on the older side, I knew the odds of cracking my dream schools were stacked against me. Right from my initial screening call with Kathryn, Square One Prep felt different than other admission consulting companies. I wasn’t nudged to aim lower or outright told that I am being “unrealistic”. It was a refreshing change to end my initial screening call with a consultant without feeling dejected (or questioning whether applying to my dream school is even worth it).
My experience of working with the Square One Prep team was phenomenal. I appreciated the candid feedback I received at each step of the way. While I felt a bit frustrated at times about the second and the third (and in some instances fourth) level of questioning, it’s that questioning that helped me dig deep and answer questions with genuine authenticity. Going through the process of taking a step back and reflecting on what truly matters to me, I learned so much about myself. I’d be amiss if I do not mention my consultant, Kelsey Wise, who was just the best person to work with. Her constant support, guidance, and most importantly, encouragement played an integral role in my application process.
When I decided to choose the “risky” strategy of applying to all reach and lottery schools, Square One provided me with an honest assessment of what my approach entailed. Of the 6 schools I applied to in Round 1, I got interviewed by 4 of them - HBS, MIT Sloan, Booth, and Yale SOM. Having gone through the process of self-introspection throughout the application process (with guidance from Kathryn and Kelsey), preparing for my interviews did not feel daunting. I was able to convert all 4 interviews into acceptance offers. In fact, I received substantial merit scholarships from Booth and Yale (given my background and the competition pool, this was not even in the realm of possibilities in my wildest imagination).
As I gear up to attend my dream b-school, Harvard Business School, in the fall, I cannot thank the Square One Prep team enough to help my dream become a reality. If you are considering getting a consultant for your application process, look no further than Square One Prep – the team will go out of its way to ensure that you are putting your best foot forward!

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As a white accountant coming from the banking industry with GRE scores that were not in the range that I wanted, I knew getting into a top business school would be competitive. I talked to three business school consultants, two of whom simply told me that my target schools would not be achievable with my scores and background. One of them said that they would not even partner with me because they did not think I would be a success. In addition, neither of those other consultants understood anything about how my GRE scores compared to those of students at my target schools. Luckily, I talked to Kathryn at Square One Prep. She was willing to spend an hour with me on our introductory call to address all my questions and concerns. She was the only consultant that understood how my GRE scores compared to those of students at my target schools, and she had the hard data to back it up. She was honest with me that the process of applying to my target schools would be hard work, but she instilled in me the confidence that I could succeed. She knew because she had worked with candidates like me and had also led those applicants to success. Kelsey, my personal consultant at Square One Prep, was immensely helpful throughout the process. She was patient yet responsive, and whenever I needed to work with her on something urgently, she always made the time to be able to discuss the issue at hand. She had a strong eye for detail and her creativity and perspective was immensely helpful in empowering me to craft my story so that I could convey it best in my applications. I ultimately was accepted to a top 10 school along with scholarships to two other top 25 schools. I could not be happier with my results, and I am looking forward to continuing my education to build my dream career!

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My experience with Square One Prep was amazing from start to finish. From the initial conversation with Kathryn, I could tell the team truly cared about helping candidates achieve their business school dreams and that initial feeling never waivered throughout my time working with Kathryn, Kelsey (Advisor), Wendy and Cristina. The team went above and beyond to help me develop my post-MBA goals into a compelling career narrative, compose the most powerful essays while never drowning out my voice and prepare me for subsequent interviews. The business school application process can be incredibly stressful at times and the Square One Prep team helped to keep me on track at during the most difficult parts of the process. I am especially grateful of Kelsey’s help in this regard – she truly made this journey feel like a partnership and she was with me every step of the way to make sure the applications I turned in were the absolute best.

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