GMAT Club

Hourly Services Reviews

For those who have identified specific needs and require focused advisory services, we offer "A la Carte" services.
5.0 /5 Average Rating
5 star
553
4 star
12
3 star
1
2 star
0
1 star
0
Based on 566 reviews

AI Super-Summary of Customer Reviews for Hourly Services*

These reviews highlight the impactful support and guidance provided by various MBA admissions consultants, who have helped clients shape compelling narratives, optimize application materials, and ultimately gain admission to top business schools. Reviewers consistently praise the consultants for their responsiveness, professionalism, and ability to provide personalized feedback that aligns with each client's strengths and goals. Several clients succeeded in securing admissions with scholarships, and emphasize the consultants' role in addressing application weaknesses and building confidence for interviews. Overall, it's clear that these consultants have made a significant difference in their clients' educational and professional journeys.
9 users mention "Admitted"
  • "With his guidance, I went from being lost and confused to getting into fantastic schools!..." Read more
  • "At the end of the process I got into my top school (Wharton)..." Read more
  • "Thanks to Kate, I was accepted into Kellogg..." Read more
  • "in securing my place at my top-choice program - HBS!..." Read more
  • "I am thrilled to say I got into my target MBA program Darden!..." Read more
  • "I was admitted to my #1 choice, Columbia Business School..." Read more
  • "I applied to Stanford MSx program and got admitted...." Read more
  • "I was accepted into all five of the top MBA programs I applied to...." Read more
  • "I worked with Julie-Anne for the MBA program and was admitted to both Columbia and Wharton...." Read more
5 users mention "Responsive"
  • "he is very quick to respond to emails and often provides detailed and thoughtful feedback on the same day..." Read more
  • "Michael is very experienced, responsive, and knows how to highlight your unique strengths..." Read more
  • "highly responsive to my needs...." Read more
  • "She was also very responsive and I never had to wait long for feedback...." Read more
  • "I was especially impressed with her responsiveness and availability, which were crucial given my tight deadlines and demanding work schedule...." Read more
3 users mention "Scholarship Awarded"
  • "offers of admission and scholarships from all 5 other schools. The lowest amount of scholarship I got was 50% of tuition, and I even got a full-ride scholarship..." Read more
  • "Harold guided me through the scholarship negotiation process, helping me leverage offers effectively to maximize my financial aid...." Read more
  • "I was accepted to an M7 program with full tuition..." Read more
3 users mention "Top-Tier School Focus"
  • "she was helping the clarity of my application through her artful guidance and deft editing...." Read more
  • "Debbie also gave a lot useful tips and strategic comments which allowed me to be more focus on the most important things...." Read more
  • "Julie-Anne has worked on getting many students in different programs so she knew what are good areas to be highlighted in essays and characteristics of different schools...." Read more
2 users mention "Non-traditional Backgrounds"
  • "As a non-traditional applicant, applying to business school was a bit intimidating. When I first met with Harshad, I could tell right away that I wanted to work with him. He is skilled at and passionate about crafting a story that is not only compelling to admissions committees but also speaks to your unique strengths...." Read more
  • "I come from a nontraditional background and knew that seeking the help of an admissions consultant was likely the best way for me to craft the best applications possible...." Read more
2 users mention "Interview Prep"
  • "Her warm personality made the stress and tediousness of MBA applications and interview prep easier to handle...." Read more
  • "Kate was also instrumental in preparing me for the interview process...." Read more
2 users mention "Free Consultation"
  • "I started my process at mbaMission with a 30-minute free consultation with the next available consultant..." Read more
  • "mbaMission offers a variety of service package. I chose the hourly service which allowed me to use the time flexibly and wisely...." Read more
2 users mention "Career Transition"
  • "Kate took the time to understand my unique background, career goals, and personal story...." Read more
  • "I came from financial services and decided I was ready to transition into consulting..." Read more
2 users mention "Value for Money"
  • "The cost is absolutely worth it...." Read more
  • "I believe the hourly service is a great value if you are particularly seeking assistance with the essay portion of your application...." Read more
2 users mention "Supportive"
  • "having someone in my corner who genuinely cared about my success made all the difference...." Read more
  • "providing unwavering support and motivation..." Read more
1 users mention "Reapplication Success"
  • "As a reapplicant, I could easily see how she was helping the clarity of my application through her artful guidance and deft editing...." Read more
1 users mention "Low GPA Success"
  • "Despite my below-average GPA, Harold s strategic insights led to my acceptance at Dartmouth Tuck and Chicago Booth, with significant scholarships, and admittance to another T10 school...." Read more
1 users mention "Industry Specialist"
  • "my professional background is in advertising/marketing, which is where Kim spent most of her career prior to doing MBA admissions and consulting work...." Read more
1 users mention "Career Changers"
  • "provide advice that was best tailored to help me achieve my goals. She was also able to be flexible as I decided what I wanted to do..." Read more
1 users mention "Resume Review"
  • "she felt that my resume was in good shape and it would be more beneficial for her to spend time refining my essays..." Read more
1 users mention "Time Management"
  • "she is really good at pushing you to think through what differentiates you and how you can highlight yourself..." Read more
1 users mention "Essay Editing"
  • "what was unnecessary and what needed fixing, without worrying about sugarcoating something I really appreciated...." Read more
*Review summaries are AI generated from 25 latest reviews in the past 2 years.
May 11, 2023
NoMoreGMAT1234

Joined: May 09, 2020

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Priceless Support - 10/10

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by school email address [?]

Working with Gavriella was an absolute pleasure and I cannot recommend her enough. I can truly say I would not have gotten into my school, much less a full scholarship, without her support and guidance. She is a highly skilled communicator and was able to help me organize my thoughts in a clear and concise manner, ultimately enabling me to put my best foot forward.

On top of communication, Gavriella was always very quick to respond and provide feedback. I started the application process late in the cycle and as a result had to work into the early morning, but Gavriella would also review and respond well ahead of the mbaMission response times. As a result, I was able to submit 9 applications in a matter of weeks.

Gavriella also has a deep understanding of what AdComs look for, and ways to strengthen applications as a result. Coming from an unimpressive undergrad with an equally average GPA, she advised me to complete MBAMath.com, which was not remotely on my radar. This paid off as the AdCom asked for the transcript prior to offering admission.

Finally, Gavriella was a pleasure to work with. She acted as a partner throughout this whole process, and I felt she was genuinely interested in my success. I fully plan to partner with her in the future for executive coaching (or any other needs that may arise).

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May 04, 2023
MapleSyrup

Joined: Oct 20, 2016

Posts: 53

Kudos: 17

Great Experience with Gavriella Semaya

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by post count [?]

I purchased an hourly service package to supplement Applicantlab. I was able to secure interviews from 4 schools and received 3 acceptances. I am now matriculating in my top school.

I was looking for someone who could bring my story alive and is an excellent writer. I worked with Gavriella on 6 top 20 B school applications. She made a difference without a doubt. She provided great suggestions that helped me achieve the results I did.

Gavriella is knowledgeable, thoughtful, and supportive. She knows how to present candidates in the best light possible without misrepresenting or embellishing achievements too much. She understands the balance and never shies away from challenging your thought process or providing critical feedback.

I could not have asked for a better consultant. It was worth every penny.

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May 01, 2023
Offtoschool2023

Joined: May 01, 2023

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Worth every penny!

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

I signed up for hourly services with Gavriella after doing an initial consultation (30 minutes - Free). After talking through my options and focus schools and laying out a potential game plan together I purchased a 4 hour package. I was initially nervous about spending money on a consultant to help but I am so glad I committed to making use of our time together. After an in-depth brainstorm session that I completed on my own, I felt like Gavriella truly had an understanding of some of my background, successes and motivations and was able to point to specific examples that would be beneficial to highlight. We made sure my goal schools were realistic and also some opportunities to stretch to some that may be more challenging.

After each essay draft (which she reviewed on her own and kept track of time) I would receive feedback/edits back within 2 days and was able to see the track changes made in each version. It was helpful to get such concise feedback that better set me up for future drafts and future schools I hadn't started yet.

The best part of the experience was during interview prep. MBA Mission has an incredible database of former questions to help you prepare for what to expect. Every school interview I had was unique and because I was able to get some potential questions in advance I felt very confident answering.

Couldn't recommend the hourly services more for any future applicants!

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April 30, 2023
Millo1

Joined: Apr 30, 2023

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
710 Q47 V40

Harold Simansky @ MBAmission = rockstar

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

Harold was a committed partner to me throughout the entire application process. I am Australian and the MBA application process is largely foreign to myself and my peers, so it was great to have someone on the ground I could field my questions with and better navigate the application process.

We started our partnership with Harold helping refine my list of application schools based on my character, what I was looking to get out of an MBA and where I was likely to be competitive given my CV and GMAT score. He was super knowledgeable about the nuanced difference between schools and was candid and pragmatic with where he believed I was likely to have a shot.

He was prompt always in turning around essay feedback and helping me hero my strengths in a way that translated clearly to admissions. He was also always available for ad hoc requests and queries around interviews and processes.

Harold is a really great guy who is truly invested in seeing his clients succeed! With Harold, I got 3/5 interviews and 2/5 offers from my dream list of schools.

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April 29, 2023
Bikov

Joined: Dec 31, 2011

Posts: 1

Kudos: 0

Hiring someone as friendly and experienced as Debbie is a must

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

Debbie is the rockstar you need to get you into your dream business school. She will be brutally honest with you because she has one single goal - to get you accepted. And trust me - she knows what she is doing so do listen to her. I did and this fall I will start my MBA at the only school I applied to - Chicago Booth.

Applying to business school has been my dream for 10 years and I knew that when the time came, I wanted to do it the right way which meant hiring someone who does admission consulting for a living. MBA Mission is the clear golden standard but I still decided to have a consultation with Stacey Blackman. That consultation reinforced my belief that the best firm you can hire is the one that has full-time consultants with MBA degrees (people who have went through exactly what we are going through now) and has track record of helping applicants get accepted - regardless of whether they have AdComm experience. No other firm can match what MBA Mission offers. After I went through all reviews on GMAT Club and Poets and Quants, I knew Debbie is my consultant - someone easy-going and friendly I can easily connect to. I chose Debbie and MBA Mission instead of someone from another firm who actually was on the admission committee at Booth.

Debbie is genuine, always on time with her feedback and very easy to work with. She would answer all of your questions and guide you through the whole process of preparing your application. Debbie was tremendously helpful in advising me how I should organise my stories and what I should emphasise on in my essays and CV. When I started writing, I came up with so many ideas and in my pursuit of sounding unique, I ended up writing too much and still missing some key points that would help the the admissions committee understand who I am and what my goals are. My first draft of the required essay was too far from where it needed to be, but Debbie was honest enough to tell me the truth so I started from scratch and re-wrote the whole essay. My CEO tried to help me with my career essay but Debbie was honest enough to tell me that my original version was actually better and I should keep my voice and style of writing. Debbie will not write instead of you but she will advise you to how to write better. In the end I'm really proud of all essays I wrote. In addition, thanks to Debbie, I couldn't have ended up with a better, more polished and more impactful CV than the one I have now.

I had a very positive experience with Debbie, I produced a very strong application with her help and I ended up being accepted to Booth. I got all I wanted and I can't recommend Debbie enough. Dreams do come true but you need to put the work needed - hiring someone experienced like Debbie is a must.

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April 25, 2023
Walubengo

Joined: Apr 25, 2023

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

From the perspective of a graduating college student from an African university encountering deferred MBAs for the first time, the MBA application process immediately struck me as a daunting, overwhelming, and expensive experience. I was unsure if I was willing to commit the sheer amount of hours the process demanded.

After meeting Ms. Shklar for a free consultation, however, I felt a lot more confident and had a bolstered sense of belief in myself. Here's why:
1. Ms. Shklar offered very constructive feedback on my resume review.
- She advised me on how to better framing each bullet point on my resume, using an "accomplishments not responsibilities" framework. Combined with mbaMission resources like free insider guides and YouTube videos on how to get into respective MBA programs, this content allowed me to better contextualize my work experience.

2. She offered keen insight to how Admissions Committees work.
- I didn't score as well as I would have liked on my GRE, hence mbaMission's "Acknowledge/Explain/Pivot" came in very handy when explaining why this shouldn't be an issue in my additional information section.
- Ms. Shklar's "WISP" method was also a valuable tool I used to guide my recommenders through the dreaded "constructive feedback" essay. Of course, all these strategies were supplemented with mbaMission's free personal statement and letters of recommendation guides.
- Not to mention, of course, the value of applying regardless of not being accepted in the deferred MBA programs.

3. She offered a personable approach.
- Even as I explained my context and background, Ms. Shklar was exceedingly understanding and gave me practical advice on how I can leverage my "Africanness" in my stories and overall application.
- Even after consultation, Ms. Shklar followed up with a catalogue of resources to supplement my application process and was always open to answering any questions I had about the process.

Regardless of the outcome of my application, I am grateful for the openness and kindness Ms. Shklar showed throughout our interactions and would recommend her to any and all prospective MBA applicants.

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April 23, 2023
Aziztala2

Joined: Jun 25, 2022

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
680 Q44 V39 (Online)

Great experience and delivered on a super tight timeline

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

After getting the GMAT score I wanted just about a month before the Round two deadline for the two schools I wanted to apply to and with absolutely no progress in my applications, I got in contact with Kim and she took the challenge of helping me with my application despite the tight timeline.

She was totally invested with my applications. She designed a delivery plan for me to work on and gave me faster than the standard reviews on my work.

After the application, she prepared me for the interviews and gave me tips that definitely made a difference in getting accepted into both schools I applied to.

I really enjoyed working with Kim and I'm 100% sure she will be of great help to anyone working with her (even if it means working on a tight timeline!!)

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April 20, 2023
M101719

Joined: Dec 24, 2022

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Great Coach!!

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

I had a call with Jessica once I intended go apply for an MBA and she really helped me figure out what I can do, what my points of strength are, what my areas of improvement are and what I can do to capitalize on my profile. She also helped me a lot in figuring out which post MBA opportunities I can leverage to strengthen my profile. I would definitely recommend Jessica for anyone who wants support in the introspection journey finding leadership examples and in developing a career game plan for their post MBA journey. She is very helpful in brainstorming sessions!!

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April 11, 2023
Benjitheboy

Joined: Apr 11, 2023

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Gavriella Semaya helped guide me through the essays like a pro!

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by school email address [?]

Gavriella Semaya was excellent and efficient with our time. She helped frame my essay and connect them together to create my unique story. Gavriella worked diligently with me to meet my tight deadlines and made sure to help me write a strong essay. She provides with questionnaire to get to know more about you and in our meetings help to dig deep into what makes your experience unique and make sure its being tie together and presented in your essay to provide a highly competitive and unique essay. I would highly recommend Gavriella for your IVY League MBA candidacy. Also, shout out to Jermey, the founder, who made himself available and provided advice tailored to me.

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April 10, 2023
GoPens

Joined: Nov 30, 2022

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Can I do more than 5 stars?

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by school email address [?]

I started the process to apply for MBA's around August 2022. I had no idea how intricate and complicated this process was when I started, but when once I started working with Gavriella, she made everything much clearer and simpler. I graduated from a non traditional business major, so this whole MBA application seemed a bit foreign to me.
Thankfully, she was a savior; she helped me with picking the schools right for me, writing essays, editing applications, and even negotiating scholarships. Most importantly, she knew how to craft a good personal statement and story. I didn't have the best GPA or test score, but my purpose and story were strong enough that I was accepted to all the schools I applied for and received a full ride scholarship to all of them except 1! Fortunately, my top choice was one of them and I will be headed there this Fall (full ride + stipend). I can honestly say that having Gavriella on my court was a complete gamechanger. I am so thankful for her help and glad that it all worked out!

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This reviewer has not participated on GMAT Club but it is a REAL person and a REAL review. GMAT Club has verified this test-taker's identity through GMAC/Pearson Vue Score Reporting system or .edu email address and confirmed that this reviewer indeed took the GMAT, is unique, and has not submitted multiple reviews.

84 Older and Non-Verified Reviews for mbaMission