I was very hesitant about spending the money on a consultant for business school. I was working in private equity, had a strong GMAT score & had a solid sense of who should do my recommendations; so, I questioned the value of a consultant for me (especially since I was only planning on applying to 1-2 schools w/ just a few essays). I am still not sure any other consultant would have been worth it, but Liza was absolutely incredible & I cannot imagine having done the applications without her.

At the end of the day, the business school apps are not that long – which means presenting your story in a genuine yet convincing manner is of upmost importance. Liza spoke with me on the phone, read through my brainstorm documents & seamlessly seemed to understand me. She pushed me on reflecting on my experiences, what motivated me & how that translated to my future goals. Without Liza, I think I may have submitted draft 3 of my essay and felt pretty good about – but with Liza’s third party perspective & guidance, the essay was able to get to a much deeper place (think draft 30!) to the point where I felt emotional as I read the essay over again, as I am not sure I have written anything that so truly captured me & my goals. I got into both of the schools I applied to (HBS and GSB) and I honestly am not sure I would be in either without Liza’s guidance.

Liza is fun, welcoming, and understanding, but gives sharp, pointed feedback – which turns into the perfect mix for a mba consultant, you enjoy every moment you work with her but also get real results (in an incredibly efficient way!). Can’t speak more highly of her & the experience I had. Far exceeded expectations and would highly recommend anyone to use her.

(Few more specifics – Liza did more than just the essays. She was also a great resource on helping frame my recommendations, aligning my short stories w/ my essays, and mock interview prep when I received interview invitations. The full end-to-end service! She tailors her feedback with school specific insights which were spot on)

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Not only would I not have gotten in to HBS without Liza’s help, but I wouldn’t even have applied!

I started with Liza in May 2017, shortly after writing my GMAT. I had scored a 720 combined score and at that point started to think I might actually have what it takes to take a run at some of the top American schools. I came from a non-traditional stream of engineering and had a 3.3 GPA from a top Canadian university. Evaluating my own profile, I thought I had a legitimate shot at the top 10 MBA programs – but probably skewed towards the bottom of that group.

Enter Liza!

What originally drew me to working with Liza was her warmth. Frankly, I already knew the process was going to be a grind after studying for the GMAT for 4 months. As I started focusing on essays, the last thing I wanted was to work with someone that wasn’t going to laugh through the pain with me. She was my first call, and I didn’t bother interviewing anyone else. We got along fantastically as Liza helped me start thinking about target schools and the reasons for applying to each. This required quite a bit of research on my part. As a Canadian, I hadn’t been exposed to a lot of American schools/programs before – and Liza was happy to give recommendations based on what I said I was looking for AND what she thought was best for me!

Working with Liza, what I began to realize is that all the numbers (that everyone always seems transfixed on) are really table stakes when you’re applying to the top programs. Yes, you need a good GMAT. Yes, you need a decent GPA. Those are what get you past the initial sniff test and allow the adcom to take a legitimate look at your application.

We brainstormed, and discussed my background and experience in detail. At the same time we thought of strategies to explain it. Going through the process with Liza I began to realize what really set me apart was my history of leadership roles and having a tangible impact on my business. With that in mind, Liza recommended an application to HBS; I was initially reluctant. Reading profiles of successful HBS applicants online felt like reading stories about people who were soon to be canonized. Thankfully Liza knew what it would take. I trusted her and we went for it.

It took us about a month and a half to finalize the HBS essay. An iterative process, we went through countless versions – many of which looked very different than our finished product. It was a quest of sorts, to tell my story with an authentic voice that tried to get a few laughs along the way. She even fended off the last minute doubt after some critical feedback from a family member (brothers are the worst). In that time I added a few more schools to our list which officially consisted of HBS, Kellogg and Sloan.

From interview prep, to advice during the post interview crises (yes more than one!), and then through the unbearable waiting period; Liza was with me the whole way. After all that we’d done enough, and I was in.

I owe a lot to Liza. She is an exceptional consultant and person. If you’re in the market for a consultant, and maybe even a friend, give her a ring.

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Liza was an absolutely amazing mentor and cheerleader throughout the MBA application process and I’m seriously so grateful for all the guidance and support she provided.

Background: female, engineering undergrad, average GPA/ lower GMAT, four years of work experience in healthcare operations, looking for career transition into management consulting

Before working with Liza through the start-to-finish package, I had already heavily researched which schools I wanted to apply to, honing in on four schools that met my regional and metropolitan preferences. However, after taking the GMAT for the first time and starting to read through schools’ essay topics I realized I was going to need some help navigating what at the time seemed like a daunting process. I didn’t have any close friends or coworkers that had gone to business school, so what drew me to mbaMission initially was the extremely helpful free resources they provided (blog, school insider guides, webinars) that gave me insight into what to expect during the application process.

After an incredibly helpful conversation during my free consultation with Liza, which included choosing between retaking the GMAT or taking the GRE and potential highlights from my resume to use in my target schools’ essay questions, I knew this was going to be a great partnership. Throughout the application process Liza provided insightful suggestions and was patient with me through every step. She would often help me trim down my overly wordy essays to meet word counts and practiced interview questions with me until I felt 100% confident about nailing my interview. She also really took the time to get to know me and my personality and as a result was able to help me highlight qualities about myself that I didn’t even know would be seen as strong attributes to an admissions committee. But above all else, my favorite part about working with Liza was all of the little things she would do to make me feel like I had someone who was truly invested in my success. From emails wishing me luck on test days to helping me put things into perspective while anxious about application results, I knew I always had someone to turn to and time after time Liza always made herself available to chat.

I can honestly say that at the beginning of this journey I was just hoping to get into one of my target schools, but thanks to Liza’s partnership and pushing me to put my best self forward I was able to get into several great programs and my top choice school with a scholarship. Choosing to work with Liza was definitely one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and I would enthusiastically recommend her for anyone who is looking for a consultant who is going to go above and beyond and be with you throughout the highs and lows of the MBA application process. I really am going to miss her infectious positivity and enthusiasm but I know we’ll definitely be keeping in touch in the future.

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Based on my personality and my budget, I knew that I wanted to do most of my own research on the application process. I was initially resistant to hiring a consultant. However, I have a pretty standard background (banking then mid-market PE, white male, east coast city, mid-20s), and I wanted to make sure I put my best foot forward. MBAMission’s a la carte hourly services and Liza were a good fit for me. I choose the company after going to a seminar hosted by the company founder Jeremy, reading their free school guides (they’re so helpful – go download them), and doing my free consultation. I liked the company’s philosophy of trying to make your story come through as best as you can. The way I figure, that’s all an essay can really do. Other consultants were more pushy/salesy and tried to act like they were the magic snake oil to get into every school. Plus, the hourly structure allowed me to ask Liza to focus on areas I knew I needed help, for several schools, all while making it affordable (and hey, with my scholarship money to several schools, it was really a net positive for me).

Liza reviewed my resume and my top school essays over the course of a few hours. She offered helpful suggestions that resulted in me changing the whole narrative structure of one of my stories. By the time I submitted “v32”, it was a much more powerful essay and more clearly reflected who I am. However, by far the most helpful part of working with Liza was my mock interview (with her) and my mock team based discussion (with a colleague of hers). Admission interviews are very different from professional ones, and I frankly did much worse during my (practice) first iteration of each format than I did during the real things. I feel like working with Liza filled in the gaps in what I would’ve been able to learn on my own through the internet and cold emailing current students. She definitely helped make sure I feel like I gave my best effort in applying, and I have a result with which I’m very happy.

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Overall - great experience and made a tough process very manageable. Liza was incredibly positive, encouraging, and responsive - all incredibly critical factors when going through the application process. She consistently makes you feel as though you are her only candidate, though am sure she has many, many others. Firstly, she responds quickly to address any questions, or even just to let you know she is reviewing your work. Secondly, she is very thoughtful in her assessments and in her reviews. She provides suggestions which are practical and helpful coming from her extensive experience, and which simultaneously allow and actually encourage you to express your voice. Finally, Liza is incredibly encouraging and positive - she calmly and happily handles mood swings, tough timelines, changes of plans, and she checks in consistently to make sure you're ok! She exceeded my expectations and was incredibly helpful, so would definitely recommend her to anyone choosing a consultant.

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Liza was an invaluable resource for my business school applications. Although parts of my profile are fairly typical for MBA applicants (I started in investment banking and currently work in PE), I also have a Master’s degree and worked at a family business. I needed to explain my non-linear career path and Liza helped me articulate the common themes that connected each of my decisions.

Liza came highly recommended to me by my friend at HBS. My conversation with Liza in my initial free consultation was honest and productive, confirming she was the right person for me. I ended up applying to four of the top five programs in the US and getting accepted to three of them. Liza guided me throughout the entire process – brainstorming, essay writing, recommender selection, and interview prep. She was candid in her feedback, clear in her directions and suggestions, and supportive. She challenged me to give more and highlighted what I did well to keep me motivated.

mbaMission structured the application process to help me stay on task and on schedule. They provided helpful materials to provide background and explain the different components of the application. The first assignment was a lengthy brainstorming exercise. The questionnaire took several hours to complete but became the source for essay topics, short answer responses, and interview answers used later. This questionnaire and the in-depth phone call helped Liza get to know me and refine the message I chose to communicate to schools.

I began my first essay with an outline then went through six iterations of my essay. Liza would comment on the drafts, asking for clarification or making suggestions on where I should dig deeper. She guided how the essay flowed but made sure I kept my own voice. After the first essay was close to finish, I began working on essays for other schools. These subsequent essays were much easier to write because I was able to leverage parts of my first essay and was more familiar with the essay-writing process. Liza was great in explaining why she made certain suggestions so I could use the same logic in other areas of my essays and applications going forward. In addition to the essays, Liza reviewed my resume and responses to the short answer sections of applications and mock interviewed me.

Choosing to work with Liza Weale was a great decision and I would make the same decision again. The MBA application process is full of highs and lows and Liza was there for it all. I’m grateful for Liza’s feedback and support. I strongly recommend working with Liza.

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Given my frequent work travel and unpredictable schedule, I knew I needed a consultant to keep me on track as I did not have the time to research the various parts of the application and come up with a comprehensive strategy. Liza came highly recommended from friends who successfully got into several top U.S. programs. I must admit I was skeptical about enlisting a consultant at first given the hefty prices and the numerous consultant ads I saw online. However, after I spoke with Liza over our 30-min initial consultation, I was blown away by her professionalism, knowledge, and most importantly, her enthusiasm. Immediately after we spoke, I signed on for the “Start to Finish” package for three schools.

I am a male international applicant with 4 years of experience in private equity ( a few years split in the U.S and Asia), graduated with a degree in business with a >3.8 GPA and a low 700s GMAT. I felt that my profile was rather typical and hence required a tremendous amount of work to highlight my unique attributes.

Liza was immensely helpful when it came to helping me distill my diverse experiences into what truly mattered as some of the stories I initially felt were compelling were actually not the ones that reflected my authentic self. Not only was Liza extremely patient and easy to talk to, her wealth of experience meant that she knew exactly which stories were worth drilling down on. I believe being able to convey an authentic (and cohesive) story is one of the keys to success and should not be overlooked. Everyone has unique experiences (however unimportant they may seem at first) and Liza was critical in helping me uncover them.

Though Liza is your biggest cheerleader (she never forgets when you are scheduled to take the GMAT or interview), she is also realistic when it comes to setting expectations. For example, she told me that my chances were much slimmer at my target schools with a 650 GMAT vs. a 700+ and encouraged me to persevere (even if that meant pushing my applications back by a round). I heeded her advice and was ultimately successful.

Working with Liza was a breeze. Her responsiveness and efficiency was incredible. She always met the pre-determined deadlines and made time to respond to my incessant “Quick Question” emails. Though admissions teams try to make the process as clear as possible, minor questions are bound to surface. The questions ranged from essay formatting and short answer responses to the inclusion of internship experience and GPA scales. Though these seemingly secondary questions could have been answered via emails to the schools, Liza was able to address them almost instantly. Liza knows the answer to almost everything, and if she does not know, she makes sure she finds you one.

Liza also consistently goes out of her way to help her clients. There are many instances of this but some of the most memorable ones would be when she reached out to her colleagues for additional feedback on my candidacy, application, and essays (especially when I pushed back on some of her comments). Aware that I was struggling with my GMAT, she helped find and recommend a few tutors. Liza also works with her colleagues to ensure the mock interviews were customized to address my weaknesses (so that I was prepared for the real thing). Lastly, even after the acceptances rolled in she took time to walk me through each program and help me think through which program best aligned with my ultimate career goals (at this point she probably knows me better than I know myself).

In the end, I was accepted to H/S/W and could not have done it without Liza’s help!

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My Background: non-traditional STEM undergrad, <5 years of start-up experience (business ops / analytics)
Post-MBA Goal: product management / entrepreneurship

I first had the chance to connect with Liza three years ago when I signed up for a free 30-min consulation with mbaMission. Frankly, I was not expecting much as I had already gone through the same process with consultants from a couple of other firms. However, Liza's genuine, client-focused attitude was a pleasant surprise, something I personally did not notice elsewhere. During our 30-min call, she quickly recognized that, while I had potential, it's best for me to work for at least a couple of years before applying. That turned out to be the best professional advice I've ever received and summarizes her well. The sincere approach she brings to her clients is a unique quality that made her a wonderful partner through my journey.

So when I felt ready to apply last Fall, I reached out to Liza again without hesitation and signed up for the Complete Package. Yes it is expensive, but I personally believe it is worth every penny and insignificant considering how much full-time MBA programs end up costing IF you can find the right consultant for you. What Liza offers is much more than just helping you get into the highest-ranked program. From the beginning, she will help you learn more about yourself by asking incisive questions and make sure that you apply to the right programs. When you get to your essays, her constructive feedback will improve your structure/grammar/etc while ensuring that you don't lose your authentic voice. Her comments are very specific and actionable. They will make you reflect on your past experiences rigorously and help you develop more compelling narratives. This was extremely important for me as I was coming from a non-traditional (i.e. non-consulting/finance) background.

Personally, the most impactful moment happened last Summer, about two months before the Round 1 deadlines. I had planned to apply to five schools in Round 1, but was still working on my first application and falling behind very quickly due to my busy work schedule. During our check-in call, Liza expressed her genuine concern and made it clear that 1) I would not be able to apply to all five unless I pushed harder and 2) she was in it together and would do whatever she can do as my partner to help me succeed. Thanks to her guidance/support, I was able to submit all my applications successfully in Round 1 and will be going to my dream school this Fall!

In short, Liza is a caring and flexible leader with a significant amount of experience/knowledge in this field (served on the “Bain-MIT Sloan” recruiting team/volunteers with the MIT Sloan Alumni Club/5+ yrs as MBA consultant) who will go above and beyond for the benefit of her clients. She is someone I admire and highly recommend.

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I’m an American female working in management consulting abroad, and I had a great experience working with Liza through the start-to-finish package for all schools to which I applied. I originally decided to work with a consultant to provide a more knowledgeable perspective on the process and help me effectively communicate my slightly unconventional career path and experience abroad. After being referred to Liza through a colleague that raved about her, I took advantage of free 30-minute consultations at two companies, including one with Liza at MBAmission. It was important to me to find a reliable partner in the process, and from the call I was immediately convinced that Liza would be an excellent fit. I loved her enthusiasm, honesty, and excitement about getting this journey started.

Liza proved to be a valuable partner throughout the entire process. She helped me narrow down my target school list, brainstormed with me on my key stories, provided comments and guidance through multiple iterations of 10 essays, and prepped me for four different interviews. Now that I’ve received offers from multiple top schools, she is working with me to negotiate scholarships and weigh my options.

In particular, I think there are four reasons why Liza was such a great partner in this process:
1) Liza is experienced and knowledgeable, and she really knows what the admissions committees are looking for across the resume, essays, etc. I started the process unsure of which of my experiences/skills I needed to highlight, and Liza worked closely with me to identify the right examples to include.
2) Liza is a great writer, and she helped me adapt my writing style to be more effective in the admissions essays. She encouraged me to bring out the details in my stories that would create a compelling narrative, and this ultimately made my essays stronger.
3) Liza was extremely professional and timely in managing my essay iterations and responding to my various questions, concerns, etc. She always gave me plenty of time on the phone and never made me feel rushed, even if we went over. She was also flexible to my timing (several hours ahead of New York) and busy work schedule. When I was behind on one essay, she even made herself available on a weekend for a final review.
4) Liza is a very easy and fun person to work with. I always looked forward to my chats with her, and I found her enthusiasm to be a great source of motivation, especially during stressful periods in the process.

Overall, I highly recommend Liza. She not only made the process easier to handle, but I do not believe I would have been as successful without her support and experienced, honest advice.

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Liza was a brilliant coach and mentor throughout the MBA application process.

I was a fairly traditional applicant: female, liberal arts undergrad, good GPA, solid GMAT, three and a half years of work experience in consulting.

I reached out to Liza through LinkedIn at the suggestion of my cousin after a particularly stressful scramble to meet my first application deadline. Initially, I was a little apprehensive about the value that an MBA consultant could bring to my application. In hindsight, working with Liza was the best investment I made.

Why Liza was AWESOME:

1. As a last minute applicant, I had very tight deadlines for each of my schools. Liza was incredibly organized and clear about her internal timelines. She was upfront with her expectations of me and helped outline an application strategy that allowed me to meet the deadlines I was aiming for with minimal stress.

2. Liza’s efficiency in reviewing and providing feedback on my essays allowed me to maximize the value of the hours I purchased. She very quickly got a sense of my writing and storytelling capabilities, and pushed me until I reached that level in each of my essays. Liza was very transparent about where I should spend more of the hours I purchased and where I could save some time.

3. Liza was a pleasure to work with. She brought energy to our conversations and really took the time to get to know who I was and what made me unique. I always felt like I was getting customized advice and that Liza was truly invested in the outcome. When I got the first “Accepted!” phone call and emailed Liza, I received an enthusiastic response within minutes.

With Liza’s help I applied to two additional schools, and was accepted to both. Liza brought perspective, experience, and some much needed sanity to my applications and final enrollment decision. Highly recommended!

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