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.
April 02, 2020
mslmba

Joined: Apr 02, 2020

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
740 Q45 V47

Work with Kate is your MBA admissions

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I worked with Kate using mbaMission's hourly services to apply to four schools this past fall (Round 1). Kate was amazing to work with, and I would highly recommend her to anyone looking to apply! Whichever package you decide is right for you, Kate will be a source of encouragement of guidance throughout the application process and help to bring out YOUR best story to the admissions teams.

I'd initially reached out to another admissions consulting company, and when I told her my target schools (HBS, Stanford, Wharton and MIT) they were discouraging and dismissive based on the names on my resume (I went to a state school for undergrad and work for Accenture). During my initial call with Kate, she was encouraging in pointing out the strengths she noticed (triple major, high GPA, unique project experience), while straightforward with me in identifying weaknesses I could address (like re-taking the GMAT to bump up my score slightly above average).

I decided to use mbaMission's hourly service package for a lower cost option, and I found this to be of great value. I worked with Kate early on to brainstorm and strategize, prep my recommenders, and write essays. Kate worked with me to craft a unique and strong story that got me interviews at 3/4 of the schools I applied to (HBS, Wharton and MIT)!

I'm planning to attend Wharton next fall, and I could not have done this without Kate!!!

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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 and confirmed that this reviewer indeed took the GMAT, is unique, and has not submitted multiple reviews.
April 01, 2020
mjgrady4

Joined: Apr 01, 2020

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
740 Q49 V41

Very Helpful!

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Harold was extremely helpful throughout the application process. I appreciated that he could focus on the fundamental building blocks of an application (short-term/long-term goals, program fit, etc.) rather than get bogged down in minutiae. He helped me focus my story from a slew of different ideas.

This was my second year applying, and I found his advice to be invaluable around what to change from the prior year application. He was able to make a time-condensed hectic process more straightforward. Overall, he is very conversational and a pleasant person to work with. Would recommend to anyone going through this process.

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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 and confirmed that this reviewer indeed took the GMAT, is unique, and has not submitted multiple reviews.
April 01, 2020
pte5

Joined: Sep 08, 2018

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
730 Q47 V44

Savvy and Insightful

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When I started considering my applications for business school, I knew I needed to not only flesh out my story but also position and deliver a meaningful message. Harold was integral in both the brainstorming and composition of my application profile both of which helped to round out my message and overall candidacy.

I think one of Harold's best traits is his ability to understand your background and help you conform your story into a tight narrative. This was evident to me during our first correspondence in which we brainstormed all of my experiences I could potentially draw from. I appreciated all of his assistance and guidance and would definitely recommend him to a peer.

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March 31, 2020
ksh304102

Joined: Aug 26, 2019

Posts: 4

Kudos: 1

Self-reported Score:
710

Highly recommend!

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by school email address [?]

I used hourly services for Nisha Trivedi, after getting a recommendation from a current b-school student. She is worth every penny. She was timely with her reviews and really strategic with the feedback she provided. Business school applications are all about being strategic, and as important as it is to be authentic with your story, it is equally as important to be strategic to put yourself in the best light. Nisha's expertise truly shines here, and I was able to get into two of my dream schools - NYU and UCLA, thanks to her. Also, in addition to the essay help, she helped prep for the interview in a real-life scenario, with direct, actionable feedback that helped me succeed.

Unless you understand b-school application strategy (which not many do), HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND using MBAMission, but more importantly, Nisha Trivedi.

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March 27, 2020
bpb101

Joined: Oct 28, 2015

Posts: 2

Kudos: 5

Verified GMAT Classic score:
730 Q49 V41

Incredibly Insightful Essay and Interview Tips

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

I had already written first drafts of my essays, but I wanted some professional help to edit them. I turned to Susan Kaplan, whose advice was incredibly insightful and absolutely instrumental in ultimately achieving success. She worked with me to perfect my writing while maintaining my own voice and ideas. This was what I was most impressed by with Susan - she was able to help me overhaul my essays while preserving my own identity within the writing. I also leaned on Susan for help when prepping for one of my first interviews, and her advice there was equally insightful.

I was ultimately accepted to 3 of the 4 schools Susan assisted me with, including Kellogg, Wharton, and Haas. Without Susan's help, I do not believe I could have possibly achieved these same results. I'd strongly recommend her to anyone looking for help throughout the application process.

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March 26, 2020
alexkors

Joined: Sep 06, 2018

Posts: 2

Kudos: 5

Nisha is a delight to work with.

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

Nisha is a delight to work with.

I decided to apply for a business school last September. After some basic research, it was apparent that I needed a consultant to guide me through the intricacies of the process. There is a myriad of consultants online, and I’ve spent some time reading through their resumes on P&Q and GMAT Club.

At first, I hired a “highly-reviewed” company that turned out to be a money pumping machine. (I can give you more details if you’d like). After spending some time with them, I decided to go a different route. That’s when I talked to Nisha.

Why I liked Nisha:
1. We had a 30-minutes no-charge fit call.
This was the call that allowed us to “feel” each other’s communication style and see if we could work together. It was a huge advantage, in my opinion, because I’m a very opinionated person and I don’t easily get along with just anyone. My timeline was very short and needed to find the match ASAP. (First company wasn’t offering fit calls).
2. Nisha asked me the right questions.
During that call, Nisha was immediately providing value by asking the right questions and setting my thought process in the right direction. (First company charged me $425 and wasted that hour completely, we had to re-do the discovery process one more time afterward. With charges applied, of course).
3. Nisha delivered on time and went beyond my expectations.
When we started working together, we set up the objectives, deliverables, and timelines. I never felt like we lacked progress because the communication was constant, concise, and clear. (The other consultant took precisely 47 hours between our communications. Regardless whether it was a 5-second or a 30-minute answer).

To summarize:
Your consultant will not be doing things for you. You will have to work hard as well. But it is much easier to be putting in the work when your knowledgeable coach is guiding you carefully along the way. Nisha certainly was that coach for me.

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March 24, 2020
nycapplicant2020

Joined: Mar 24, 2020

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Rachel Beck - Dream Consultant and a Must Hire!

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I decided to apply to business school in late December, having not taken any tests, started any applications nor reached out to any recommenders. Most of my friends thought I was crazy that I could get my application in by the January 15 deadline. Rachel proved that my ambitious dreams were possible.

I reached out to Rachel after she was recommended by a friend. I decided I was only applying to Columbia and Stern, so I opted to buy a 5-hour package with Rachel to really perfect my applications. It was the best decision I have ever made.

Rachel helped me start and finish two applications in just three weeks. When I reached out to mbaMission, Rachel got back with me within the day and we scheduled our free consultation. I gave her quite a challenge: not only did I have a fast approaching deadline, but I am a journalist and an untraditional applicant. Yet Rachel helped me brainstorm effectively and allowed me to bring out my strengths throughout the process. She helped me clearly tell my story throughout my application, and highlighted why I would be a great addition to an incoming class with my unique background. Even though writing comes naturally to me, she was a brilliant editor who allowed my personality and skill set shine through in every part of my application, from my resumes to my essays . We would exchange drafts back and forth, and though she had a guaranteed 48-hour response time, she would often get back to me within the day.

When I received an offer to interview at Columbia, Rachel conducted a mock interview with me that allowed me to further sharpen my answers and explain why I wanted to attend business school. Shortly after my interview, I was accepted to CBS.

To be clear: I don't recommend anyone apply to business school in such a short amount of time. However, I know I wouldn't have gotten into my dream school without Rachel's invaluable assistance. I'm lucky to have her as a cheerleader and friend.

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March 23, 2020
ecgoldstein

Joined: Mar 21, 2020

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Knowledgeable, Empathetic and Straight Forward Mentor

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

Harold was an excellent advisor during a very stressful time. He was very clear on expectations of what he needed from me to do his job which made the process go very smoothly. I felt that he genuinely cared about my progress and was there for me via email and phone call if necessary. When we got to crunch time and submission deadlines were approaching he put the extra time to accommodate my needs and was an invaluable asset. He has incredible industry knowledge and provides objective/specific feedback on how to tell your most effective story. From the school selection process to the essay writing he was realistic and supportive and made this incredibly stressful process much more manageable.

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March 17, 2020
cWong889

Joined: Jan 26, 2019

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
700 Q47 V38

Everything you need from a consultant!

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

My experience with Harold exceeded my expectations. I hired Harold as my consultant to help me through the admissions process because I was short on time. Initially, I was having trouble with the GMAT and once I got a satisfactory score, I had about two weeks to get my applications in. Harold really helped make this process as seamless as possible. He was both realistic and professional. Before we got started, he outlined what I could expect from him and didn't oversell me, which is something I could really appreciate. He was very good on his time with me and was very prompt with his responses, considering I was going into the weekend to get my application in.
Harold helped me with resume editing, articulating my responsibilities (especially important if you work in a relatively small company wearing multiple hats) , the application process, and interview prep.
Harold is really an expert at really help you put into words ideas that you have trouble expressing, which is especially important in the essays and interview. If you have trouble with this, I cannot recommend him enough.
I was also able to get some face to face time with him during our interview prep and I can say that he is very friendly and genuine. During our prep, he really tried to steer me in the right direction of the things I should and should not talk about. I can say that the interviewers were quite impressed with some of the ideas we came up with.
Overall, Harold doesn't have many reviews but I can attest to the fact that he is a very well-rounded consultant and I can recommend him without any reservations.

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March 13, 2020
eakey5028

Joined: Feb 18, 2017

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Recommend!

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by school email address [?]

This is my 2nd time applying. I've work with a consultant when I first applied two years ago, so I am able to compare my experience.
Harold really stood out in two ways
1) Clarity - Harold has helped restructuring my stories in more concise ways for readers. He doesn't just tell you it is not working; he suggests here is how it may work.
2)Encouraging - Harold made the application process less stressful and more positive. He delivered his comments in a cheerful but constructive way.
3) I like the network Mbadmission provides. When I have tricky questions Harold can’t answer, he tapped into his colleagues network and got additional perspectives/feedback for me.

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84 Older and Non-Verified Reviews for mbaMission