As an Indian applying to US B- Schools, I spoke to a few other consultants before deciding to work with Helen. What really caught me was her optimism and confidence in helping me put up my best foot forward in my application. While other consultants might push you to target more "safe" schools and be skeptical about targeting "reach" schools, Helen always encouraged me to go after the schools of my preference. She was EXTREMELY responsive throughout the process, which is why I never faced issues with deadlines. I also want to highlight that she will not let you put up a feeble application in any case and will keep pushing till you produce a solid output. We had hours of brainstorming calls that enabled me to really think about the experiences I wanted to present to the admission committees. I got a few admits with fellowship as a result of her efforts and have decided to attend Yale. I very strongly recommend Helen as an amazing consultant who not only will help you sail through your entire application process seamlessly, but will also constantly help you stay positive and on track.

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Let me begin this by stating that before I decided to work with Krista as my consultant, I held free consultations with a handful of other consultants/companies. I knew the application process would be long and grueling, and so I looked at it as a learning experience and a chance to grow. I really did my research to ensure I’d pick the right consultant: I wanted a consultant who would challenge me to be the best version of myself – thereby putting me in the best position to get accepted into a top business school – and who at the same time I would actually enjoy working with.

I decided to go with Krista because I felt that she would do both. And I was right.

Krista guided me through the long journey – always there to answer difficult questions (or even the most basic ones), motivate me, and provide mental support – and she really challenged me to think hard about my story and to continually improve my work – whether it was my resume, essays or interview answers. I applied to eight schools – the first four with Krista and the last four on my own – and once I worked on those first few schools with Krista, I had a great feel for the entire process and was able to do very well on the last four by myself.

Ok, so what made Krista so amazing?

1. Krista’s advice on school selection was excellent. We slightly altered my school choices based on things that came up throughout the process. In fact, I wasn’t even planning on applying to the school that I’ll be attending this Fall until Krista suggested that I apply; she knew that it was a great option based on my career goals and that I would like the school’s culture. I ended up choosing it over another school that she helped me get into that I had originally considered my top choice. I probably would not have considered the school I chose to attend had Krista not been there to offer her guidance!

2. Krista really knew which aspects of my story should be highlighted so that they would shine in front of the admissions committees. While it’s not always obvious at first, everyone has a story, or something that makes them unique – and Krista knows exactly how to pinpoint it and then come up with a plan for creatively showing this to the adcom.

3. Krista was a pleasure to work with! I knew that I was progressing every time I received her input – whether it was edits to an essay or feedback during a mock interview. But it’s not just about the results – it’s about how you get there. It was Krista’s wonderful presence that made me truly enjoy working on my applications. I would be at work and when I saw her emails come through, I’d stop everything to read her feedback – because I knew it would be enjoyable to read. And I loved chatting on the phone with her – she brought energy and enthusiasm every time we spoke.

Krista was truly invested in my success, something that motivated me to always work harder and come back stronger.

Another thing that I appreciated while working with Krista is that she never told me that I had to do something – she only gave me her advice, and left it to me to decide the best route having been told what the possible outcomes or consequences might be. Krista has worked with tons of applicants and knows the ins and outs of the process, so whatever advice she gave me I knew it was coming from years of experience.

I think the most valuable takeaway from working with Krista, however, is that not only did her expertise and guidance help me to get into top business schools, but it prepared me for business school itself and I’ll carry what I learned from her with me throughout my career. I learned how to craft my story in a convincing way and really understand which of my accomplishments to highlight in what situation, and to present myself the best way possible.

This is a valuable skill that I’ll use on resumes, cover letters, and job interviews for the rest of my career.

If I were to do it all over again, I wouldn’t think twice about who I’d choose to guide me through the process – without a doubt, it’s Krista Nannery.

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I worked with Kate Richardson from mbaMission for my applications. I knew a lot of people who graduated from different MBA schools, felt that I needed a person who is in the know, day to day, and could alleviate some of the stress.

I don't want to say MBA application process wasn't stressful but mbaMission team and Kate made it as easy going as possible, almost enjoyable.

My process was slightly unconventional, I had left my full time job and have been working on my own consulting gig. Kate helped me position that best for all the applications.

When it came to answering questions, Kate was extremely responsive, and thoughtful. She responded to my emails in a few hours at most, and most of the time followed up with more research afterwards.

I also had a long waitlist period, during which Kate cheered for me, always provided me with tips on how to move forward. She would keep me up to date, tell me what she have heard from other schools / places.

And on a personal note, I felt comfortable with Kate; she was very personable, clearly enjoyed the coaching process, and took time to connect on a personal level.

In the end, I got into one of my dream schools and Kate helped me a lot during that too. I can't recommend working with her enough.

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From the first time I spoke with Katy on the phone, the chemistry between us just worked! As a college senior looking into MBA programs, Katy and I identified two major schools, GSB and HBS. Thanks to Katy's experience in consulting and process-management, I put together strong applications despite the short lead time. She listened to my story patiently and was extremely validating to my experiences, positive and negative ones alike. From my storytelling, Katy was quick to distill the essence of my personality which was later carefully weaved into my essays. We spent a significant amount of time working on a common essay body that can be applied to both schools' applications. Katy and I spent hours on the phone trying to tease out the lessons from all my stories to construct a coherent and authentic story.

What really made Katy stand out was how supportive she had been. She never put a word in my mouth. She wanted me to tell my story. Because of her empowering my own voice, the authenticity of my application led to positive results. I was ultimately admitted to HBS' 2+2 program. Thank you Katy!!!

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I signed up for 2 schools with Dan, without having much of an idea how to get started. Dan was very helpful in structuring the entire process and working with me from start to finish. From picking schools, to crafting my story, waitlist guidance, and interview prep, Dan was immensely helpful all the way through. Although the process was stressful at times, Dan was always there with guidance and made the overall application process much easier, helping me gain admission to a top 20 program. For anyone considering applying to any of the top rated programs I absolutely recommend consulting services, and if you can definitely go with Dan. He is the best in the business.

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I signed up to work with Melissa for round 2 applications for a 5 school package with the intention of applying to 8 schools. Melissa was amazing throughout the entire process.

At first, as I was pretty clueless of the process and quickly became overwhelmed. Melissa was always available to walk me thought the unknown and help me organize my thoughts. She advised me on which 5 schools out of the 8 she thought would be best for me to include in my package. We initially started with the background questionnaire that helped me explore every area, accomplishment and goal that would be relevant for my application.

During the essay writing process, Melissa helped me select the best experiences to use for my essays and guided me to tell these stories effectively. She was always ahead of time returning her revisions, which I truly appreciated especially during the holidays. Thanks to her dedication and quick turnaround, I was able to get through all the schools I was applying to before the deadlines.

Melissa went above and beyond to ensure I was presenting the best work. One of my essays subject was a little on the controversial side and I wanted to ensure my tone was not angry. I asked her if she thought it sounded angry. She mentioned it was difficult for her to interpret what I had written as angry because she knew me too well by then and could not read the essay impartially. She then reached out to a colleague and had her read the essay to get another person’s perspective.

Melissa was great prepping me for interviews. One of the people interviewing me even mentioned to me that I was the most prepared out of the 6 people he had already interviewed.

Melissa really was AMAZING! A true advocate. She is friendly and easy to talk to, but also honest, forthright and willing to give constructive criticism when necessary.

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Working with Kate was a fantastic experience. I was recommended her services by a friend (Kellogg admit) with whom Kate worked the prior year and I was not disappointed in our partnership. Kate was friendly, honest and, perhaps most importantly, knew when to push back and how to continually drive the process forward.

Kate constantly provided timely advice and feedback, always willing to answer the smallest of questions at the drop of a hat, which provided me comfort during the process – a process which can easily overwhelm. Further, Kate had us sticking to a schedule that made me feel I was never falling behind.

Kate’s support and guidance were holistic in the process. When I was waitlisted at one of my target schools, Kate’s positivity was truly appreciated and I believe her insights into how to handle the process really did drive the positive result I received – admission!

Just like my friend did last year, I’d definitely recommend Kate’s (and mbaMission’s) services. When searching for consultants this time last year, I remember feeling like just another statistic to each of the firms I had consultations with. The conversations were blunt and almost strictly about the numbers (GPA, GMAT, etc.) – that was not the case with Kate. From the beginning, we built a strong relationship and reviewed my holistic story which I knew would lead to the results I was looking for.

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My goal going into the application process was to be accepted into a top business school (M7). I spoke with several advisors before Katharine. Each advisor prior to Katharine told me I should shoot for either a part time program, or a school that was ranked outside of the top 10.

I chose to work with Katharine because she listened to my entire story, and believed that someone with my profile could get into one of my top choices. She had confidence in her ability to shape both the positive aspects and negative aspects of my story in order to achieve my goals. I was also drawn to Katharine because of her positivity and deep knowledge of all of the top MBA programs.

After working with Katharine for several months, we were able to surface pieces of my work experience, volunteer experience, and extracurriculars that represented who I am in the best light. She then helped guide me through each step of the application process. We worked together to decide what I should write about in each of my essays, prepare my recommenders, and fill out my applications. She did an incredible job weaving pieces of my background throughout my applications, and making sure I had a well-balanced story when I applied. Her strong knowledge of what each school was looking for enabled me to curate my story to match each school’s desired student profile. In the end, I was admitted to the M7 program of my choice.

I learned a lot about myself through the application process. The process allows you to dig deep and think about who you are and what you want to do later in life. Katharine helps guide you through that journey, and I think that is something very special about her that sets her apart from other advisors. Ultimately, she and I put together a story that was very genuine and represented exactly who I am and what my future goals were. I believe admissions really “got” me, that that’s why they admitted me. I’m certain that Katharine can bring that out in you as well.

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Whether you think you need a consultant or not, everyone, and I mean everyone, should at least have a free consultation. There is no special formula to guarantee admission, but having someone with experience is invaluable. I truly believe that Rachel and I put together my best possible candidacy.

This isn't Rachel's first rodeo and mbaMission definitely takes notes on attributes, application approaches and experiences that has made past candidates successful - so when Rachel makes a suggestion, it comes with insight and knowledge that only someone with experience can provide. It's OK to disagree with Rachel and she is very open to your opinion, but at the same time trust her.

The application process is a marathon, not a sprint, and you two are a team. Rachel takes time to fully digest your life story - from childhood to the time of your candidacy - in order to highlight themes, interesting facts and other strong points. In order for you two to be successful at putting together your best application, the appropriate time is needed for the process to work. Rachel maintains constant communication throughout the process to help guide you as you construct your application(s).

Interview preparation in general is awkward. No matter how bad you want cancel the Skype interview prep with Rachel, fight through it. Nailing the actual interview with the school is so important and there is a fine line between sounding like a robot - and having automated responses - and being well-versed in the practice of interviews. Rachel provides great advice on how to structure responses (yes, even the order for sub-bullets of a response) to help the response flow smoothly or tease future responses, which may help guide the interview in your favor.

Highly recommend reaching out to Rachel if you're new to the MBA application process. Also, starting the application process in April or May will help. You will be surprised how fast spots fill and how detailed this process will be. Most likely you will be working full-time through it all, so allow time for Rachel to do her work and try not submit a first draft a week before the deadline. Rachel and I had 10+ drafts on everything. I think the results from my applications are objective proof of the time and care that the team, Rachel and I, put into everything.

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I was extremely busy at my work during the admission season, and knew very little about admission process when the application deadline was only around 3 months away. So I chose to get Debbie Choy's help. I summarized some most important insights from Debbie as below, which turned out to be very true and helped me to be very efficient during the process.
1. Recommendation of what schools or programs suit me best;
2. What the admission offices are looking for from applicants, and what makes the applicant different from others;
3. How to write essays that present yourself better;
4. Debbie controlled the application schedules very well. She always gave responses within the time as she promised, and would also check in me when I was a little behind on things that needed to be done;
5. Debbie also had a mock interview with me, which turned out to be very similar to what I experienced in real. It made me very prepared and confident during the interview.
Overall speaking, Debbie has a very clear, easy and sense-making process for you to follow in order to complete the admission process. I felt it was just a matter of time and process to get admitted by your dream school, as long as you follow her process. I strongly recommended you to use Debbie's help if you would like to maximize your acceptance possibility, and make your process as easy as possible.

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