Strengths:

From the consultant to the company - everyone is invested in you to succeed.

Would make the product better:

None

As I studied for my GMAT, I often lurked on Reddit and P&Q to read up on consultant reviews. But the decision couldn’t have been more challenging when the time came. After talking to 7-8 consultants, I couldn’t find a fit with anyone. Some would often sell themselves, while others would try to sell me dreams. So, I decided to talk to more consultants. This is when I stumbled upon Harshad. An individual who was genuinely interested in my story rather than trying to sell me his services. So much so that after talking to consultants for over 2 weeks, I decided to work with Harshad the same day I spoke to him.
One thing was obvious: Harshad mentioned he is “very direct,” and he means it. He understands that time is of the essence in MBA applications, so there is no time to beat around the bush.
The process was straightforward. Brainstorming sessions, school selection, Resume, essays, interviews, etc…
While looking for a consultant, I also assessed the “firm” they worked for. This became obvious when Harshad sent me the Brainstorming document to fill out. Mbamission’s brainstorming document is long, but filling it out in its entirety allowed Harshad to really get to know me. This made our essay discussions easier because all of my stories were laid out, and Harshad could pinpoint exactly how I could approach the essays.
Things weren’t always easy. Initially, I thought that I had hired a consultant, and with his guidance, I had written my essays, and my job was done. Harshad put a stop to this in our very first essay. What I had written was nowhere close to what we had discussed. He was “direct” in his approach and quick to get on a call to re-discuss, just in case I had missed any details in our initial essay call. It again became evident that Harshad wasn’t willing to settle for less. Even if it meant additional time and resources, he went above and beyond for me to craft the best essays possible.
I also liked Harshad’s “one-school” at a time approach. With 2 months to go for app deadlines, I was wary of this and thought I couldn’t submit it on time. However, he assured me that we would meet the timeline, and we did. The time we invested in our initial essays on one school, made it easier for us on the subsequent schools.
After submitting my applications, Harshad suggested I get some rest, but the job wasn’t done. Slowly, the interviews trickled in, and Harshad quickly set up mock interviews, provided resources on Mbamission’s Ontrack, and assured me I was in the best place possible during my interviews. I enjoyed Harshad’s mock interviews because he threw hard questions at me, ensuring I could think on my feet.
From the interviews to the decisions, Harshad checked in often to ensure I was doing well. He even took the time to check in on my parents during our regular essay calls, showing genuine care and understanding of the personal challenges I had shared about their health. While he is undoubtedly direct and professional, he has a very high emotional intelligence.
I knew hiring a consultant was expensive, but I couldn’t have been happier with my decision to work with Harshad. With Harshad’s help, I was admitted to Yale (with a 50% scholarship), Tuck (with a 50% scholarship), and Darden.
Also, a special shoutout to Jen (also from the mbaMission team), who connected me with Harshad!

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Strengths:

Super systematic process with strong consultants, saves a great deal of time

I did 3 school package and worked with Debbie. She is absolutely fantastic! Before, I always considered B school applications to be an incredibly time-consuming endeavor. I really didn't have a lot of time for application materials and Debbie made my application season so easy and smooth! She is incredibly organized, and her system of work saved me a great deal of time. While I know my friends who did 15 versions on the same essays, most of my essays are done within only 1-3 rounds of edits. Debbie is able to guide you through the entire process with the clearest instructions and easiest actionable assignments but able to deliver amazing results. Would never thought application could be so easy yet getting such good offers!

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Strengths:

- Quick turnarounds
- Pointed and tailored advice

Would make the product better:

- N/A

Nisha is an excellent admissions consultant and I would highly recommend her! She provided pointed and tailored advice to ensure my unique assets and qualities were able to be effectively conveyed in my MBA applications. Throughout the MBA application process, Nisha provided quick turnarounds and helped me achieve the necessary polish I needed for a well-rounded and holistic application. She consistently worked with me to understand who I am as a person and how that can be effectively conveyed in order to showcase my authenticity in addition to my academic and community-based accomplishments. Nisha's work style is very upbeat and positive - it was a pleasure collaborating!

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Strengths:

Thoughtful, tailored, 1 on 1 advice and coaching to really make you the strongest applicant you can be.

Would make the product better:

N/A

Rachel is the epitome of what you want in a business school advisor. She takes the time to get to know you and your story so that she can truly approach your application process as a unique applicant, rather than just provide general help. She was instrumental in helping me define my goals and how to put my best foot forward for each of the schools I applied to. She came up with ideas that I could not even imagine, and was able to turn my weaknesses into strengths that were authentic to me and my story. Rachel knows what these schools are looking for and how to get their attention - she provides tangible advice and guidance and made an incredibly stressful process a smooth one.

I was incredibly proud of all the applications I submitted as Rachel was there to help me from Step 1 to submission - answering every "stupid" question along the way to make sure I felt as confident as possible. When it came to the interviews, Rachel prepped each and every one with me - making sure I was in the best position possible to do a great job and vetting my interview answers to make sure they resonated.

I ended up getting into 3 of the M7 schools with scholarship offers at 2 of them, none of which would be possible without Rachel, and am ending up at my dream school, Wharton - all thanks to her help! You would be silly not to use her!!!

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Jessica was an incredible partner throughout my MBA application journey. She was fully involved in every step, helping me deeply reflect on my personal and professional experiences. This not only led to strong, compelling essays but also gave me greater clarity on what I want from my MBA and beyond.

Her honesty, directness, and efficiency were invaluable in navigating the stressful application process with confidence. She kept me focused, challenged me to think critically, and ensured that every part of my application was as strong as possible. Thanks to her guidance, I received four offers, including from three M7 schools, out of the five applications we worked on together.

If you are considering working with an admissions consultant, I wholeheartedly recommend Jessica as the ideal companion for this journey. I can't imagine being so successful in this endeavor without her.

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Kimberly Hoey was an INCREDIBLE partner in my MBA application journey and was critical in my admission to all of the schools I applied to: Kellogg, Darden, and Fuqua! I am incredibly grateful for her partnership, listening skills, and intelligent guidance - I cannot recommend her enough.

I was very unsure when beginning the application process in March 2024 (intending for Round 1) if I wanted to use an MBA consultant, but the 30 minute consultation sold me with Kim. Throughout the entire process, Kim helped me to really think deeply about my story, trends that existed in that story that I had never considered, and how to ultimately make this story cohesive. But what I appreciated the most, and was surprised by, was her ability to help me remain authentic to my true self and let admissions understand me (in X number of words or less)!

Kim became an expert on my story and I was so grateful to have such an intelligent coach to bounce ideas off of through the process and keep me accountable, as applying for an MBA can be a full time job in addition to an existing full time job. When it came to interviews, Kim made me feel confident in an area where I historically would be very worried. She was able to provide questions from past years and really simulate the interview environment - giving me tips on what to focus on for each school based on their core values and how it aligned with mine. Even though there were some questions I hadn't prepped directly, I was never caught off guard in an interview because of the way Kim helped me prepare and I am so grateful for the support she provided.

Kim was particularly helpful for me as my goal was to attend Kellogg and ultimately become an Assistant Brand Manager post-grad - which perfectly aligned with Kim's professional history (Kellogg grad and ex-Brand Manager!). She was able to counsel me so well within the specific industry I am hoping to pivot into from consulting.

I was also concerned that as a consultant applying among so many other consultants, my application would look somewhat stale - but Kim was able to really help me stand out even among many peers applying due to her expertise.

Overall, I can't recommend Kim enough as an MBA coach and friend! She was as invested as I was in the process which made me feel so supported through what can be a very scary and nerve wrecking application cycle! Completely worth the investment and I am excited to stay connected with Kim throughout my journey at Kellogg and beyond.

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I was referred to Gavriella by another consultant at mbaMission who thought we would be a good fit, and it was the luckiest thing to happen to me during the MBA admissions process as I would not have gotten in without her! Even before I received updates on interviews/admissions, I had learnt so much from Gavriella during the process that working with her had already more than paid off. I received 6 interviews and ultimately 5 acceptances from my top choice schools with significant scholarships from all - including HBS which I will be attending in the fall. I would wholeheartedly recommend working with Gavriella, as you will not only be in the strongest position for admissions, but you will also develop so much throughout the process.

From the start, she was great at ensuring that I was comfortable with the timelines and had specific milestones to aim for so I didn’t get overwhelmed in the lead-up to deadline day. I always felt she was very invested in my success and she went above and beyond in helping me craft the best applications. Her perceptive questions and insights during our brainstorming session were critical to generating creative and unique ideas to write about in my essays, and she was a trustworthy partner in refining my drafts to ensure that they were polished but still true to my personality. I had been on the fence about applying to some competitive schools, and Gavriella’s ability to offer straightforward advice whilst having your best interests at heart was invaluable in enabling me to feel confident in the choices I made.

Gavriella is very supportive, responsive and great at ensuring you stay motivated throughout what can be a long and gruelling process. No question is too small or silly for her to respond to; even when I was anxious about minor details of extra-curricular activities on the online forms she was happy to read through them multiple times.

Her support didn’t stop at the application form, as she dedicated a lot of time in interview preparation including putting me in touch with former clients to learn more about the various schools. From pre-interview preparatory questions to mock interviews with rigorous and detailed feedback, I felt very prepared for the real thing and this undoubtedly helped me relax and perform my best.

Gavriella is amazing, and I am incredibly thankful that she was by my side for the admissions process. She is more than just an admissions consultant - she is a coach, mentor and partner, and you will not regret working with her!

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Strengths:

Gavriella's deep investment in your results, high EQ, true thought partnership, nuanced understanding of different schools, and support every step of the way

Would make the product better:

N/A

Choosing to work with Gavriella was hands down the BEST decision that I made during my MBA admissions journey. I only have positive feedback to share from the process, and as someone who is more frugal, I saw the ROI of our partnership firsthand through MULTIPLE six-figure M7 scholarships.

I now understand why Gavriella has such positive feedback from every one of her clients. Gavriella makes you feel supported every step of the way, from brainstorming and storylining to support pre- and post-interviews; however, where she differentiates herself is in her ability to get to know her clients. It was important for me to find a consultant who wanted to get to know me as a person outside of my application. Gavriella went above and beyond and I truly believe that this was essential in putting my best foot forward. It resulted in a successful, cohesive story that I was proud to have as a representation of myself.

In addition to her exceptional guidance, I also appreciated how Gavriella gave honest perspectives (rather than just agreeing to please her clients). She has a deep knowledge of each MBA program and the differences between them, and there were many times where we actively discussed how to shape the direction of my application while balancing my own ideas and personal needs. If you value true co-creation and open discussion, then there’s no better place to go.

I genuinely couldn’t have picked a better coach, and for anyone on the fence, I recommend Gavriella without hesitation.

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Susan is truly a fantastic consultant who is extremely invested in understanding your unique story to help you articulate it in the best way possible.

While I had a good GMAT score and academic background, my years of experience at my time of application was lower than the average applicant. Susan really took the time and was invested in diving into my professional and personal background to help me identify examples that showcased the quality of my work experience, as well as unique personal experiences that set me apart.

Susan was very thorough and detailed in reviewing my essays and really pushed me to demonstrate why aspects of myself and my goals fit well with each of the schools I applied to. After submitting these applications, her support in the form of mock interviews was also extremely constructive. Through every iteration of my essays and interview responses, she was direct in communicating feedback, and the adjustments I made each time ultimately made me confident that we were highlighting my strengths in the best way possible.

With Susan’s guidance, I was admitted to Kellogg and Anderson with scholarships at both, and I’m extremely happy to be attending Kellogg this fall!

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Strengths:

Review of onTrack Product:
- Covers the whole application process
- Provides the overall view and how to position your story based on your background and goals
- Dives deep into each school, its values, culture, academics, location, etc.
- Discusses each school application steps with detail
- Provides interview simulation environment, with questions specific for that school
- Provides curated materials that save a lot of time (e.g. link to student ambassadors pages for each school was very useful when you want to get in touch with students)

Would make the product better:

Cover more schools!

Review for Katharine Lewis:
I come from a background and country where people rarely consider getting an MBA from US, let alone getting into top MBA programs. But I wanted to try. First, I tried on my own and could not go anywhere. So I decided to get advice and see if I have a chance. I had a 30 minutes discussion with Katy and later she reviewed my materials and pointed out the issues in my previous application. She candidly mentioned the risks and realistic chances of someone with my background getting into top MBA schools (which is not that high). I insisted and luckily, she agreed to help despite the risks.

This time, with Katy's help, I managed to get into great schools: CBS, Kellogg, Haas, Johnson, Marshall (Also waitlisted for NYU and 2 others), with scholarships ranging from 25% to 100%.
Katy helped me in almost every step of the way. From listing and reviewing my personal life events and my history, to brainstorming ideas and storytelling, drafting and refining essays, who to pick as recommender and how to approach them, interviews and even asking for scholarships!

Katy is a great coach. Whenever I felt stuck, I asked Katy for her opinion and she would ask questions to explore the situation and then we discussed possible scenarios, fallback plans and strategies. Getting recommendations was one of the hardest parts of the application for me. Katy helped me prioritize potential recommenders and create a proper timeplan in case my first recommenders got too busy or did not want to help.
Katy is also a great friend and companion. Even though the focus of our work was the MBA application, she listened carefully to all my life stories, experiences and she understood my situation. Since Katy knew so much about me and my goals, she offered a lot of useful advice about which schools would match my personality given the culture and network around them.

Review of onTrack Product:
It was a great companion during my application process, from creating my overall story to minute details of different schools. I used it in every step: Learning about schools, story telling about my life and goals, refining story for each school, filling the application form and finally, preparing for the interviews.
Saved me a lot of time with the content that was gathered and curated. Things like Insider Guides, application forms & questions, example of weak and strong essays, examples of interview questions & responses, student contact pages, etc. If I wanted to gather all this info by myself, it would take a HUGE amount of time from me. But thanks to these curated info, I used the extra time to get in touch with students, attend adcom info sessions and online coffee chats etc.
I applied to 10 schools in r1 (I'm EXHAUSTED! :D ), got invited to interview in every school that I applied, except one.

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