Shaifali Aggarwal Reviews

Shaifali was a godsend during the stressful B-School application process! I came to the process rather late in the game (end of October without a GMAT score) and she helped me craft a game plan to bring my best Round 2 application to life. She also took the time to really dive into my story and help me "connect the dots" in places I didn't think of and always had spot on advice for taking my application materials to the next level. I was especially grateful for her curated advice on interviews--what to highlight/emphasize for each school and arming me with responses to those "tough questions" before the interviews. I cannot recommend Shaifali enough!!

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Early in 2019, while reading an article on US News, I came across Shaifali's profile. I visited ivygroupe.com and signed up for 20 mins free consultation. The very next day, Shaifali contacted me, and we scheduled the call. That 20 mins call itself was very informative, and Shaifali recommended me to study for GMAT instead of GRE. She even highlighted strengths and weaknesses in my profile and suggested schools that I should target. A year went by, I had switched my job, moved to a different city, and then appeared for GMAT. I contacted her again and again had 20 mins free consultation call. We agreed to work on an hourly basis. I worked with her for the round 1 application, and now I have received admits from 3 of my desired schools.

I prepared the first drafts of my resume and general essays, and then she helped me provide the finishing. She helped me highlight my achievements on my resume and helped me tell a story through my essays. She is direct when needed, and her little nudges put you on the right path. I greatly benefitted by preparing for interviews with her. Being an Engineer, I had never prepared for a behavioral interview, and talking with her helped me bring my experiences and learnings in my interview answers.

Overall, I highly recommend Shaifali's consulting for anyone looking for guidance in their MBA journey. It is also easy to schedule an appointment with her, and you get prompt replies to your emails. Most importantly, you know the person who is going to guide you. Whereas with other companies, you signup and don't even know who will work with you.

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When I started looking at MBA consulting services, I wanted to find someone who 1) would be available and accessible throughout the entire application process, 2) understood my background in finance and could help me navigate the process as a "finance candidate", and 3) would be honest and give constructive feedback that would help improve my application. After talking with many other consultants, Shaifali stood out from our first conversation. We discussed how consulting is her full-time job, the challenges I would face in my application, and what I could do to stand out – and all of that in just the free 20-minute consultation.

After engaging Shaifali, we discussed which school options were realistic. I ultimately ended up applying to five schools, and Shaifali helped create a schedule that outlined every step I needed to take along the way to be prepared. I was admittedly demanding and asked a lot of questions throughout the process, and Shaifali was always responsive and happy to help.

Having come from a traditional finance background (investment banking to private equity), I feared being able to distinguish myself from other finance candidates. From the very beginning, Shaifali helped me craft my resume and essays to focus on some of the non-traditional experiences I had in my career. Highlighting the skills I developed through these experiences, and relating them to my potential as a student, vastly improved my application.

Shaifali’s most valuable quality was her ability to provide honest, insightful feedback. My job situation precluded me from seeking advice from colleagues who had attended the schools where I was applying. Shaifali gave realistic feedback throughout the process and knew exactly how to utilize my strengths to put the best application forward. I could not imagine going through the application process without her guidance and support.

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I could recommend the Ivy Groupe and Shaifali more highly. Even the initial consult felt very collaborative - Shaifali listened to my story and goals intently, and suggested that the hourly services were most likely the best fit for my needs (really appreciated no attempt at any point to upsell). Her critical review of my win themes and essays enabled me to put the best possible application together, in the most streamlined fashion possible. She was able to tailor her schedule to my needs and provide timely and helpful feedback. I credit her for my successful M7 applications and admissions, and have recommended her to my friends and family applying this upcoming cycle. I do not feel you can go wrong with the Ivy Groupe.

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Having been neglected many years prior by undergraduate admissions consultants, I was very cautious in selecting someone trustworthy. I interviewed three consultants and Shaifali stood out to me because she demonstrated the capacity to listen to my story rather than trying to fit me into one. The MBA application process is introspective and places the applicant in a very vulnerable position. Shaifali made me feel safe and comfortable to share everything that was on my mind, and helped me put words to thoughts I couldn't quite place to complete my story. She was communicative and reliable - never failed to meet a deadline once we agreed on it. She was genuinely encouraging and pushed me to exceed my own expectations with each review of the applications - she did not hesitate to ask the difficult questions and forced me to continuously reexamine parts of the applications that were not yet exceptional. I was accepted to my dream program at SBS, and it was an absolute pleasure having Shaifali on my side. I sincerely recommend MBA hopefuls to at least interview her and see for yourself what a difference she could make.

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Key Strengths:
Focus on authenticity
Connecting the dots in my story
Knowledge of schools
Responsive
Strong editor
Honesty


I worked closely with Shaifali through the entire application process and she has been invaluable in gaining acceptance to prestigious institutions, navigating waitlists, and negotiating scholarships. A consummate professional, Shaifali continuously went above and beyond and provided top-tier results. I put complete trust in her and she did not disappoint.

From the initial call with Shaifali I knew I had found the correct admission advisor. Her focus on authenticity, ability to connect the dots throughout my story, and calm demeanor immediately stood out. She was accessible, kind, and insightful throughout the engagement.

We started with a structured deep dive into my story to help define my brand. These exercises laid the foundation for an authentic, holistic story. She was able to quickly hone in on my strengths and goals, giving me a framework to apply throughout the process. Another exercise helped me learn and internalize what I loved about each school and which offerings I was most excited about. This was critical information that I weaved into my essays and in my interviews.

Then came the essays, which constituted the bulk of the engagement. Shaifali was nothing short of incredible in this domain. It’s like she understood what I was trying to say rather than what I actually wrote and helped me to frame it in an authentic, concise manner. Her editing skills are second-to-none, and I was always amazed how a few changed words and rearranged sentences could make an essay go from good to great. She was persistent in helping me to “show not tell,” something that I continually struggled with but was always professional and compassionate. Beyond the structural bits, she was able to help pull stories out of me and connect dots that I never would have in ways that made me question whether she knew me better than I knew myself!

Mock interviews were next. She was honest and direct about my strengths and where I could improve. I can almost still hear her telling me to include examples with my answers. I quickly came to appreciate her deep industry knowledge, as she tailored the interviews and questions to match what each school asked (with surprising accuracy). She also helped me to draw from a range of examples; professional, personal, and extra-curricular which allowed me to give the interviewer a holistic view of myself.

Shaifali’s services are expensive but I can say unequivocally that they are worth it. I truly believe that without Shaifali, I would not be in the great position that I am today.

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Shaifali was my go-to advisor throughout the entire business school application process. At the outset of the process, I was struggling to know where to start and how to craft a story that could be used in my essays. To get over this hurdle, she helped me organize my thoughts and develop a strategy for all my essays - even providing helpful tips that I was not aware of. I have spoken to friends who have worked with consultants and I can confidently say: nobody helps with essays as well as Shaifali does!

She was also accessible for small questions in between our scheduled meetings. Her accessibility provided me with comfort and made a stressful process less stressful. On top of all her help with the written application, she also was able to provide me with school-specific tips on what to focus on for each interview. At the end of the day, her support gave me confidence that I put forth my best applications and she ultimately helped me get into two M7 schools! If you are looking for a consultant whose guidance you can be confident in, look no further than Shaifali!

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Shaifali was very helpful throughout the admissions process. We really did a deep dive on my personal story and how to tailor my application to each school. I came from an over-represented background and she was able to spin my story in a unique way. She knew each of the M7 schools in depth, and I ended up getting into three of them! I enrolled in my top choice and this was hands down thanks to her help.

I spoke to several consultants before deciding to work with Shaifali. A lot of the larger admissions consulting companies split the workload among different people, which can sometimes work poorly. I had friends take this route previously and therefore I specifically looked for a consultant who would handle all aspects of the application. After speaking with Shaifali for the first time, I had greater trust in her being able to deliver a full and complete application than the other consultants. I was quite skeptical of paying the large sum for an admissions consultant, but it was well worth it and I would 100% work with Shaifali again.

A specific example of her work ethic & product: I applied for a deferral and scholarship, well after I received admissions, and Shafali happily checked my letters and corrected them. She didn't pay attention to time or say that the contract was over. She really worked till the end of the line. This speaks volumes about her work ethic. Most other consultants I spoke to were very tight and strict about any additional work. I'm really glad I chose to work with Shaifali and I can strongly recommend her without reservations. All I would say to applicants is don't leave the applications to the last minute (essay revisions require a minimal number of turns which requires a minimum about of time for consultant to add comments and applicant to fix changes and send back, couple weeks easy)

Best of luck!

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From the start, Shaifali was incredibly helpful! Going into the application process, I was skeptical about all of it and didn’t appreciate the value of the story. Before settling on working with Shaifali, I spoke to a handful of consultants who gave generic opinions geared toward what they thought I wanted to hear. Shaifali, on the other hand, was honest about everything from school choice to gaps and strengths in my application.
After I decided to work with her, the honest opinions, patience, strategic approach, and focus on authenticity showed throughout the process. We spent time early-on developing a holistic application strategy, which really helped me learn how to frame my story, paying dividends throughout the process. Because of her, I was able to submit my best applications and set myself up to get the most out of business school.

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Shaifali was fantastic to work with, and I would very highly recommend her services to anyone who is looking for an MBA admissions consultant. I am in an oversubscribed demographic (male in finance) and so was seeking someone who could really help to differentiate me in such a competitive pool. After speaking with multiple consultants, Shaifali and Ivy Groupe clearly stood out to me for the following reasons: 1) the very strong focus on authenticity and emphasis on understanding who I am, 2) Shaifali’s impressive credentials and experience in the space, 3) the importance given to collaboratively working through the process, and 4) the company’s strong track record and systematic approach.
Throughout the engagement, Shaifali was extremely responsive and accessible, which was important given the demands on my time. She could also always be counted on for honest advice. By digging into my background, she teased out my unique attributes and helped me connect-the-dots in my story – she truly is a magician in this regard. As a result, she was absolutely critical in helping me to position myself as much more than a male in finance. In addition, her feedback throughout the process (essays, recommendation letters, interviews, etc.) was invaluable and always on point. In all of our conversations and her feedback, Shaifali’s robust knowledge and nuanced understanding of the schools were evident.
Overall, Shaifali was the much-needed guide I needed throughout this process, always pushing me to think deeper, which resulted in the strongest applications. There is no doubt that Shaifali was instrumental in taking my applications to the next level. Her approach and work ethic are definitely differentiators – after comparing notes with my peers who used other consultants, it was extremely clear how much value Shaifali brings to the table and how committed she is to her clients’ success.
I was accepted to Wharton and couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome! You will be in excellent hands working with Shaifali!

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