I was referred to Melissa by someone in my network, and working with her ended up being one of the best decisions I made during the MBA application process. From our very first conversation, I could tell how deeply knowledgeable and experienced she was, not only from her years at mbaMission, but also from her background working in business school admissions and attending business school herself. She understands the process from every angle, and that perspective was incredibly valuable throughout my journey.

One of the most impactful parts of working with Melissa was our early brainstorming sessions. She helped me clarify my story, identify the strongest themes in my background, and approach my essays with much more confidence and direction. Her feedback was always thoughtful, strategic, and incredibly prompt. No matter how busy things got, she consistently made herself available for phone calls and Zoom conversations whenever I wanted to talk through ideas or refine an angle.

What stood out most to me was how supportive and encouraging Melissa was throughout the process. Coming from a slightly less traditional background, I sometimes questioned whether my profile would resonate at the very top MBA programs. Melissa never doubted me. She genuinely believed in my story, helped me see the strengths in my experiences, and gave me the confidence to present myself authentically and ambitiously. That support made a huge difference during such a high-stakes and often stressful process.

On top of all of that, Melissa was simply a pleasure to work with. She brought positive energy, honesty, and warmth to every interaction, which made the process feel far less overwhelming and much more enjoyable.

I’m incredibly grateful for her guidance and will be attending my dream school (Wharton) this Fall. I truly could not recommend Melissa more highly.

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Working with Melissa Blakeslee was hands-down the best decision I made during my MBA application journey. I applied to three schools this past cycle — Columbia Business School, Duke Fuqua, and UT Austin McCombs — and was admitted to all three, with scholarship offers from Duke and Texas. This fall, I'll be heading to CBS, which was my dream school and very much a reach for me. I genuinely don't think that outcome would have been possible without Melissa in my corner.

What stood out to me from day one was Melissa's communication. She was unbelievably responsive — emails were almost always answered within hours, and she made herself available whenever I needed to talk something through. The MBA application process can feel isolating and overwhelming, but Melissa's consistency and accessibility made it feel manageable. I never once felt like I was waiting on her or wondering what the next step should be.

Her strategic thinking is where she really shines. Early on, I was struggling with the GRE, and rather than just push me to keep grinding away at it, Melissa took a step back and looked at the bigger picture. Based on the schools I was targeting, she suggested I pivot to the Executive Assessment (EA). That single recommendation was a game-changer — it played to my strengths and freed up bandwidth to focus on the parts of my application where I could really differentiate myself. It's a perfect example of how Melissa doesn't just follow a template; she tailors her advice to each client's specific situation and target schools.

CBS was always my top choice, but on paper it was a stretch. When I expressed some hesitation about even applying, Melissa encouraged me to go for it. She believed in my story and helped me articulate why CBS was the right fit in a way that was authentic and compelling. Her interview prep was equally strong — she ran thorough mock interviews, gave me sharp, actionable feedback, and made sure I walked in feeling confident and prepared.

Beyond her expertise, Melissa is just a genuinely kind, thoughtful, and encouraging person to work with. She celebrated the wins with me and helped me stay grounded through the stressful moments. If you're considering working with a consultant for your MBA applications, I cannot recommend Melissa highly enough. She combines deep knowledge of the process with real strategic insight and an unwavering commitment to her clients. I'll forever be grateful for her guidance!

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Melissa is an exceptional consultant, and I would recommend her to any friend going through the application process.

She is incredibly thoughtful and takes the time to truly understand your story and motivations. What stood out to me was her ability to connect themes across our work together. She would reference details I had written about at the very beginning of the process that I didn’t even remember mentioning. This made my essays feel cohesive and genuinely reflective of who I am.

Her turnaround times consistently strong. Melissa seemed to work around the clock to get materials back quickly, and her feedback was always strategic and substantive. She pushed my thinking and helped me elevate my narrative in ways I would not have been able to do on my own.

Beyond her expertise, she was simply a great person to work with. She is thoughtful, hardworking, and provided encouragement throughout what can be a stressful and emotional process. I always felt supported and confident moving forward.

I purchased the three-school package and will be attending Wharton this fall. I received a significant scholarship, which I never would have anticipated, so I am seeing a ~10x return on my investment in working with Melissa!!

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I interviewed four different MBA application consulting firms and spoke to two of them a second time, and ultimately landed on mbaMission, because of Melissa Blakeslee and Heidi Granner. Both Melissa and Heidi were incredibly knowledgeable about the application process, responsive, honest, and clearly had my best interest at heart throughout the entire process. They provided valuable feedback as to schools and programs they felt would be the best match for me, and how they aligned with my short-term and long-term goals. I would highly recommend Melissa and Heidi in mbaMission for either the hourly services or the comprehensive package.

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I could not recommend working with Melissa enough. She not only helped me get my applications together for 3 schools in about a month and half between summer travels and studying for the GRE, but she helped me do it in a way that was manageable without much of the stress and pressure I know I would have felt going through it on my own. If I was ever overwhelmed or frustrated that my essay wasn’t coming out exactly how I imagined it would or I was nervous for an interview, Melissa was always an email or a call away.

Melissa is so deeply knowledgeable about the MBA admissions process and experience. Every interaction I had with her felt unique and tailored in order to really help me to standout in the process — she doesn’t just “copy + paste” essay formats, storylines, or feedback from client to client but provides individualized and detailed consulting services. My essays felt completely true to myself and she helped me tell my own story better than I ever could as she really takes the time to get to know each client on both a personal and professional level to bring your full persona to life for the admissions committee. I almost think Melissa knew me better than I know myself by the end and I could tell that she genuinely cared about how I felt and the outcomes I received.

Melissa was really a great sounding board and cheerleader whether it be planning out essays, preparing for interviews, or debriefing admit day visits and deciding between schools. I always left our sessions feeling more confident and more excited for my journey ahead. Who would’ve thought that I am now sitting here missing our weekly calls!

If I had to do it over again I 100% would work with Melissa every time. I got into all 3 schools I applied to (2 M7s + 1 Top International Program) with scholarships at 2 and I am going into the school year in August so grateful and excited!

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The MBA admissions process can be extremely overwhelming. It is hard to know what schools are looking for from you, and it can be even harder to articulate and thoughtfully express who you are. Melissa was the person I needed in my corner throughout the application process. After only a few guided and easy-to-use brainstorming exercises, Melissa was able to compile and boil down my story to help me present my authentic self in a unique and captivating way. Melissa was always a quick response away and gave me constant feedback, which allowed me to spend lots of time refining and mastering my story. With the help of the mbaMission product features and Melissa's expertise, I was able to finish an application within a month. I don't even kid myself into thinking I could have submitted such a thorough and professional application in that time frame on my own. Now I am admitted to the top business school in Canada, and I know mbaMission was a substantial contributing factor to this outcome.

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Working with Melissa was the single best investment I’ve ever made—both professionally and personally.

I began my MBA journey in mid-November with just one month to apply to seven schools. Despite the odds, I received five interview invites and five offers—including three from M7 schools—and over $300,000 in scholarships. I was even awarded a full ride to one of the M7s. I could never have imagined achieving this on my own.

I booked the 7-school package and completed every application within just four weeks. The results speak volumes.

But Melissa is far more than a consultant—she’s a strategic partner, a mentor, and a fierce advocate who is truly invested in your success. She listens intently, offers direct and insightful feedback, and never lets you settle for less than your best. Throughout the process, I didn’t just craft strong applications—I gained confidence and self-awareness I’ll carry with me for life.

There’s one moment that still stands out to me. At a time when I was overwhelmed and doubting myself, Melissa said:
"Just because you start late doesn’t mean you won’t get in. And just because you start early doesn’t mean you will."
That single sentence shifted my mindset and helped me push through when it mattered most.

I had spoken to other consultants at mbaMission, but Melissa stood out immediately—not only because of her responsiveness and professionalism, but because I felt a sense of trust and reassurance from the very beginning. I told her this was my last chance: I already held a master’s degree, and my GMAT score was about to expire. Melissa never wavered. Her confidence in me never felt forced—it was rooted in her deep understanding of the process and her genuine belief in her clients.

From day one, I was anxious about writing essays under pressure. But Melissa guided me step by step, helping me turn stress into structure and ideas into impact. With her support, I submitted everything just before her Christmas break. Even during that time, she still checked in—proactively, kindly, and consistently. She never once left me hanging or let me feel alone in the process.

She is incredibly responsive—often replying within hours—and her feedback is always clear, thoughtful, and brutally constructive in the best way. I can say with complete honesty: I would not be where I am today without her.

As a future MBA student, I know this was the greatest return on investment I could have made.
And as a person, I feel deeply fortunate to have met someone as talented, compassionate, and committed as Melissa. She believed in me from day one—and never stopped.

If you care about outcomes, growth, and true partnership—choose Melissa Blakelee. You’ll never regret it.

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Working with Melissa was an enjoyable and extremely productive relationship from day 1. She took a very detailed and hands-on approach to ensure I was set up for success, enabling me to craft the best application possible! While the MBA application process is long and arduous, Melissa alleviated much stress and angst that I otherwise likely would have had. Her responses and communication were very consistent throughout the entirety of the process, allowing me to always have something to work on. Melissa's guidance, knowledge, and expertise of the process was evident from day the beginning and ultimately helped me gain admission into an M7 program. 10/10 recommend!

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I truly cannot imagine going through the MBA admissions process without Melissa. I started out completely overwhelmed—nervous, lost, and unsure of where to begin—but Melissa transformed what felt like an impossible mountain into one of the smoothest and most rewarding journeys of my life. She is incredibly organized, always a step ahead, lightning-fast with responses, and somehow manages to balance being upbeat and encouraging with honest, grounded guidance.

But what really sets Melissa apart is the way she connects with you as a whole person. Our calls were never just about applications—they were about life, family, our dogs, and everything in between. She quickly became so much more than a consultant—she was a mentor, a coach, and a true friend. I genuinely looked forward to our meetings, and even after the applications were submitted and decisions were rolling in, she stayed by my side to help me make the final (and very tough!) choice.

Thanks to Melissa, I was accepted to six top MBA programs with over $530,000 in scholarship offers. That number still blows my mind. And it wasn't all smooth sailing—there were major life events, unpredictable GMAT hurdles, and plenty of moments where I could’ve crumbled. But Melissa showed up every single time with empathy, wisdom, and unwavering belief in me. She invests in your story like it's her own, and she never loses sight of what makes you you.

I wouldn’t wish the stress of this process on anyone, but if I had to do it all over again, I would choose Melissa a thousand times over. She is, without question, the best of the best.

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I was fortunate to work with Melissa for my MBA applications. She guided me through the entire process with honesty and her deep insight that made all the difference. Melissa helped elevate every part of my application – from revamping my resume and crafting compelling essays to preparing for the interviews. She also recommended that I take the Executive Assessment (EA), as my GMAT score was on the lower end. That turned out to be great advice, as I performed really well on the EA.

Thanks to Melissa’s support, I was accepted into four top business schools and received a scholarship offer from all of them. The return on investment from working with her has been incredible – ranging from 300% to 900% in scholarship value alone.

Melissa genuinely cares about her clients. She’s not only an exceptional consultant, but also a true friend who makes your dreams come true. She made my applications an order of magnitude stronger. I would highly recommend Melissa to anyone seeking guidance on their MBA journey.

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