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Product mbaMission School Package
Consultant Helen Summers
I worked with Helen Summers at mbaMission for a two-school Complete "Start-to-Finish" Package and was accepted into my top choice. I recommend MBAMission, and HIGHLY recommend working with Helen Summers.
The MBAMission program is comprehensive and guides the applicant through a series of brainstorms and reflections. It keeps the applicant moving along the application process and completing critical tasks (like the school application, personal statement, interview prep...etc.). I was very pleased by how thorough and rigorous the program was and felt well-organized and prepared throughout the process.
However, the most important factor in the process was Helen. From day one, Helen was passionate, friendly, helpful and innovative. I'll never forget our initial brainstorm phone call: She was well-prepared, easy to speak with, and we had an "a-ha" moment that set us off on the path towards what became my personal statement. What set her apart for me was that she helped uncover my personal story and I always felt like Helen was in the trenches with me, which was comforting when we approached the application deadlines. Helen brought her passion, experience and insights into each discussion, was always available to speak live via phone, and responded to all inquiries and draft documents in a timely fashion.
Product mbaMission Hourly Services
Consultant Rachel Beck
I was very back and forth on hiring a consultant for quite a while - obviously, it is a financial commitment, but then again so is B-school! After speaking with a few consultants I was pleasantly surprised by mbaMission's honesty and integrity. I saw great reviews for Rachel Beck, so I requested to have her as my consultant.
I signed up for an hourly rate and I think this was the best decision for me. I felt confident in my writing abilities and felt that I mostly needed help with determining a direction for each of my essays. I was glad I had Rachel to help me with everything along the way, from responding quickly to questions to brainstorming essay concepts. Rachel was very knowledgeable about the application process and always had creative ideas when we spoke.
It was helpful for me to take thorough notes when I spoke with Rachel to refer back to later, and Rachel was always very direct about what tasks should be done between our conversations. The application process is long and tiring - don't underestimate it! You will have to put in a lot of time, but having a consultant can accelerate the process if you are committed.
I would highly recommend using Rachel Beck if you are interested in hiring a consultant!
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Product mbaMission School Package
Consultant Jen Kedrowski
When I considered taking the first steps in the MBA admissions process, the only word that accurately describes my feelings at the time is “intimidated.” From reading online posts about the process to talking with others who had gone through it, it felt as if everyone had some great story, some “golden ticket,” that I simply didn’t have. I didn’t come from a traditional finance or consulting background, was not sure my academics were up to snuff, and genuinely felt overwhelmed by the prospect of researching schools, writing essays, and soliciting recommendations. I decided to request a free consultation with mbaMission given that extremely positive feedback on their consultants was pretty universal.
When I met with Jen, I immediately felt at ease. I shared my general sense of trepidation, and she immediately, even during a 30-minute consultation, asked questions about my professional and personal background that forced me to understand that every person has a valuable story that is worth telling. Her natural ability to make me feel confident in the story I could tell, without creating unrealistic expectations on admissions results, was critical in my decision to work with her.
Throughout working together, from a 2.5-hour brainstorming session to (many), “Hey Jen – I’ve got a quick question” emails, Jen always made me feel like I deserved to be part of the MBA admissions process – like I deserved to participate and give it my best shot. She did this by always making time for me, by answering my questions both promptly and thoroughly and never giving the impression that I was just “one of many clients.” During our brainstorming session, for example, she asked questions that forced me to think about how very personal details of my upbringing that I had shared with her impacted the way I approached a project at work that I had mentioned. She is able to make this less-than-obvious connection and ask these types of questions because she genuinely cares about her clients as people and is committed to their success.
In terms of essay and interview preparation, Jen forced me to critically analyze each school’s essay prompts to figure out what from my story would naturally fit into what they were looking to learn about a candidate, as opposed to forcing something unnatural in for the sake of trying to impress them. Her comments on my essay and resume drafts were always precise and actionable – they allowed me to move forward and make improvements as opposed to creating additional questions for the sake of asking more questions. Her feedback on mock interviews was similar – “You discussed Topic X well – go into that more” or “Try to phrase Topic Y differently.” Her feedback was always valuable, well thought-out, and allowed me to make meaningful improvements.
Jen’s action and people-oriented approach immediately made me realize I had a worthwhile story to tell. I went into the process and applied to five schools, hoping to get interview invites from one or two at best. With Jen’s help, I received invites at each of these five, including three M7 schools. In the end, I was accepted into four of the five schools, including two M7’s (one of which was my top choice) and two others with significant scholarships. I am extremely thankful for Jen’s guidance and support and wholeheartedly recommend her for others looking to put their best foot forward in the MBA admissions process.
Product mbaMission School Package
Consultant Rachel Beck
I had my 30 minute consultation with Rachel after reading her reviews, and knew right away that I wanted to work with her. I started my 4 school package with her about 6 months before the Round 1 deadlines. We walked through my stats and timeline and she helped me map out the next few months so that I would be on top of everything.
From our first brainstorming call, I could tell that Rachel knew so much about this process that I would never have figured out. Her experience in the industry is extremely helpful and she is able to make such a hectic process run so smoothly. Through that first call, Rachel helped me figure out my story and which areas of my application I should highlight in my essays. When it came to writing my essays, Rachel already knew me so well from the brainstorming call that we were both able to quickly and efficiently outline each essay. It got to the point where Rachel would suggest using examples from my life that I hadn’t even thought of – a testament to how much Rachel works to get to know each of her clients. She is extremely punctual and often returned drafts back to me within 24 hours. She was my cheerleader throughout the entire process and I can confidently say that I would not have gotten into 3 business schools without her help. I cannot thank her enough for encouraging me and keeping a positive attitude when things did not look like they were going well. I highly recommend working with Rachel and mbaMission!
Product mbaMission Hourly Services
Consultant Rachel Beck
I was originally reluctant to work with an admissions consultant because I consider myself a good writer and thought I could put together competitive applications without spending the money. After working with Rachel Beck at mbaMission for the past few months and getting into my dream school, I realize that her time is 100% worth the cost. Here's a brief list with a few of the many reasons I'd recommend Rachel to anyone hoping to get into a top-tier MBA program:
- She has years of experience navigating the admissions process and has a profound understanding of what adcoms like to see
- She's a highly skilled editor of essays, which can likely be attributed to her impressive background in journalism
- She's extremely organized and responsive
- She's very direct and always 100% honest (even when the truth may be hard to hear)
When I first started working with Rachel, I sent her an essay draft that I had been working on (which I thought was ready for submission at the time). Rachel didn't sugarcoat her feedback, and provided dozens of pointers that would help me improve the essay. Now when I look at that original draft versus the draft I wound up submitting, I realize that I never would've gotten into a top-tier program without her services. If youre a prospective student looking for an edge in applying to your dream school, Rachel is the consultant you're looking for.
Without Rachel, I wouldn't be going to my dream school this coming fall. The money spent for her time and assistance is the best investment I've ever made.
Product mbaMission School Package
Consultant Kate Richardson
I started evaluating MBA Admissions Consultants right after I took the GMAT and had gotten a score I was happy with. I did free intro calls with consultants at several different companies. During that first call with Kate, it was clear she was genuinely trying to get to know my background and my aspirations, rather than pitch the service, which I really appreciated. She spoke with me much longer, and in much more detail than any of the other consultants at other companies I spoke with, so she and MBAmission was the clear choice. I worked on full packages for two schools with her (everything other than GMAT prep). We started with lengthy conversations about which schools to choose based on my interests, and realistic prospects of acceptance. Kate was very upfront about my strengths and weaknesses, and how these could be viewed by different schools. Then, knowing the challenges full well, I decided I only wanted to apply to two Top 20 stretch schools. Kate assured me she would do everything possible to set me up for success, and indeed she did. She was incredibly helpful with essays and application short answer questions, helping to identify my best personal stories to use, and how best to present them. Over multiple months, we had many phone and UberConference talking over drafts, and Kate was extremely flexible in working around my schedule. When the dates came to submit, I felt confident I had done everything I could to put together my best applications possible. Then as I waited, Kate continued to strategize with me about what could be done should different outcomes occur. This frequent communication alleviated much of my stress, as it was great to know Kate had plans of how to assist further, regardless of the outcome. When the interview offer for my preferred school did come, Kate was among the first people I told. We immediately jumped into interview prep, and Kate's wealth of interview resources and experience were invaluable. When the interview day came, I again felt I was as prepared as I could be, and went in confidently and (relatively) stress-free. Afterwards, once again Kate and I discussed ideas for how to set my thinking going forward. But at that point it wasn’t necessary, as just a couple weeks after interviewing I received my offer of admission to my top choice school! Thanks for all the help Kate!
Product mbaMission MBA Student Services
Consultant Daniel Richards
I was recently admitted to Wharton R1, which would not have done it without the help and support of Dan Richards.
I began working with Dan in February. From the beginning, he was an invaluable resource and advocate who I was thankful to have in my corner throughout the overwhelming and time-consuming application process. We began working together early on in the application process, and he started by helping me narrow down my target list. Upon completing the brainstorming document, which became my foundation throughout the entire process, Dan carefully helped me position my candidacy. Dan pushed me to connect the dots into a compelling story. In doing so, he helped guide me through the essay process, crafting strong essays that added to my story while addressing key themes. Having Dan there to help edit and tighten the language was invaluable, and my application was so much stronger as a result. He was straightforward and critical, which helped me and my application monumentally.
No task was too mundane or question too small for Dan. He read through all of my in-application, short answer responses and also did a last read on my final application. Dan answered my multitude of questions with great patience and sincerity.
Additionally, Dan’s guidance in updating my resume to be more results-oriented was a game-changer. He pushed me to quantify the results and make it more action-forward, which was critical to my success and will continue to serve me well long after school.
Finally, Dan was incredibly quick in his responses. He often delivered feedback, including substantial essay edits, in a fraction of the typical MBA Mission turnaround window. I am incredibly thankful for his responsiveness and punctuality. It certainly helped move the process along and made things much less stressful.
Dan made what can be an overwhelming, exhausting and intense process a lot less painful. It was nice to have an advocate, an advisor and another person to bounce ideas off of throughout the process. While half the battle was done long before I made the decision to apply, I would not have achieved my goals without Dan. I am forever grateful to him and could not recommend him or his services. He cares about his clients and will help get you in to the top MBA programs of your dreams!
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Product mbaMission Hourly Services
Consultant Kate Richardson
I was recently admitted to HBS, Wharton, Tuck and Kellogg and this would not have been possible without Kate's guidance.
I worked with Kate early on to identify key themes for my essays and to craft my responses in ways that were clear, powerful and tailored to characteristics and themes relevant to each MBA program.
Kate's insights were supportive, directive and timely. Iterating on my essays with Kate allowed me to hone my written responses and in doing so, helped me narrate my story for interviews as well. mbaMission's school specific and interview prep materials were also incredibly helpful in my process and continue to be as I transition from MBA applicant to MBA student.
During a very stressful / time intensive process, I always felt better knowing Kate was "on my side" and felt comfortable reaching out with any question, big or small.
I would recommend Kate's services to any MBA candidates, at any step in their process!
Product mbaMission Mock Interview Sessions
Consultant Michael Guttman
I was recently admitted to one of my top choice MBA programs, and I credit Michael for helping me with that.
Michael and I performed a mock interview and he provided feedback during / after the session that pointed out key areas of improvement to help with my story. He and I covered the most frequently asked questions, and for each question he was able to help me expand on my prepared answers, as well as identify specific points that I should / should not mention. This approach allowed me to better understand the perspective of the interviewer, which enabled me to also properly prepare for a list of extra (less common) questions that he provided at the end of our mock interview.
While going into this mock interview I felt that I had a good grasp on my story, Michael helped me develop my answers to a new depth. I highly recommend working with Michael for your MBA application pursuits!
Product mbaMission School Package
Consultant Rachel Beck
I began working with Rachel after taking the GMAT twice and beginning the application process. I shopped around quite a bit (I spoke to 5 other consultants). Rachel was by far the most genuine - she has a way of being candid without being overly harsh.
Rachel was blunt upfront that she thought I needed to get my GMAT score higher to get into Columbia (my number one choice). But when I explained I wasn't willing to do that she didn't dwell and we immediately got to work doing all the other things we could to make my application as strong as possible.
I really liked Rachel's brainstorming method upfront. It seems like a lot of leg work but it forces you to really think through your narrative, and she helps you highlight things you might not have even thought were noteworthy.
Rachel also has great insight into what information the school actually want you to provide in your essays, which usually isn't exactly what the essay question actually asks.
Rachel always provided prompt responses and was very clear upfront about how to best work with her. My only regret is that I didn't start working with her earlier on in the process since I paid a flat fee.
In the end I got into Columbia, and I think it had a lot to do with the strong essays that Rachel helped me right. She is a journalist in training and she's an amazing editor. She also had great advice with other part of my app, like taking the HBX Core math course to boost my quant profile.
Overall, I would definitely spend the money to work with Rachel again. She was instrumental in me getting into the business school I really wanted to go to.