Square One Prep Admissions Consulting Reviews

I highly recommend Square One Prep to anyone that is in the process of applying to business schools. I initially decided to hire Square One Prep after being waitlisted by my preferred schools and decided to work with Kathryn and her team at Square One Prep to improve my chances of being accepted. During my initial consultation with Kathryn, she took the time to analyze every part of my business school applications and provided a thoughtful explanation as to why I was waitlisted. I really appreciate her candor about the weaknesses within my applications and what I needed to do to improve my chances of getting off the waitlist. One of Square One Prep’s consultants, Luis, worked with me extensively to clarify and refine my career goals and reasons for attending business school to craft a professionally written career narrative. Another consultant, Mike, worked with me for over four hours to improve and restructure my resume to make it more business school friendly. This proved to be an invaluable asset as I come from a nontraditional background (military) and had no idea how to write a business school resume. Overall, I enjoyed my time working with the entire team at Square One Prep as I found that they were all extremely friendly and dedicated, always going above and beyond to ensure I was able to drastically improve my chances of receiving a matriculation from my top choice for business school.

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I got to know about Square One Prep (SOP) through my spouse who got into a Top 10 FT-MBA program a few years back after working with SOP. Her experience working with SOP was really positive and that was why I decided to speak to Kathryn from the leadership team regarding my plan to pursue PT-MBA. My first call with Kathryn was great and she helped identify some themes from my story that I could highlight in my application. One concern I had was that my GMAT score was on the lower side, but Kathryn's call really motivated me. She dug into why I was struggling on the GMAT and suggested taking up the EA as an alternate. I ended up taking the EA and got a great score. I believe this really helped my application a lot.

For selecting an advisor, I had a chance to talk to a few of SOP's consultants and I decided to work with Jeannice Tse. Jeannice was very down-to-earth and empathetic. She pushed to understand my story and my background at a deeper level even in our intro call. She was extremely organized, which I felt was very helpful given that I was having a busy work schedule during that time.

SOP's process was very streamlined - the process had an initial assessment call (2-3 hours), career narrative development, LOR recommender selection review, and Resume/LOR/Essay review. The initial assessment calls with Jeannice really gave me an opportunity to introspect my story and provide all relevant information that could help my application. After these calls, I got an assessment report which served as the backbone for the entire application process. The next step was to define the careen narrative and I worked primarily with Luis. He spent several calls helping me identify what I wanted to do after my MBA and helped translate that into clear and differentiated short-term and long-term goals that I could use both for my essays and in my interview. Throughout the resume, LOR and Essay review process, we had several iterations and I have to say that the final versions of LOR and essays could not have explained my story in a better way. Jeannice's and Kathryn's updates to my drafts were quick and made sure that we made definitive progress in each iteration. Jeannice's inputs - whether selecting a topic for an essay or fine tuning the draft - really helped me craft unique essays which could be differentiated from other applications. Overall the SOP team (Jeannice/Kathryn/Luis) really helped me make my ambition to join a top part-time MBA program come true and I highly recommend SOP if anyone wants a personalized experience in crafting your FT/PT MBA application.

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I would highly recommend Square One Prep to anyone applying to business school! By the time I went to submit my applications, I had no doubt in my mind I was putting forth the best version of my application I could. The entire team at SOP is extremely thorough and thoughtful and does not leave any stone unturned throughout the review process. They really gave me great peace of mind from start to finish. I initially came to SOP because I had a lower quant score and they were able to help me position all of my materials in a way to showcase my quantitative strengths throughout other facets of my application. I ended up getting into both top ranked part time MBA programs I applied to and could not have done it without SOP!

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Before I talked to Kathryn I had already started a bunch of applications for an MBA, however I didn’t even know if I really wanted to pursue a business degree at that point of my career and life. It took one phone call with Kathryn to define and legitimate my goals and their alignment with the pursuit of an MBA and to feel empowered beyond what I thought was my actual capabilities.

From that point on, I started building my own career narrative and thought of my past achievements from a different perspective, finding new values in my experience and knowledge, and validating my desire to make significant and everlasting change.

I worked on a brand new resume and then constantly challenged myself to dream bigger, even though my chances of success were really low given a low GRE score and a bit different background than most, as an international MD working in clinical research. I was able to focus on only a few, prestigious school and built a strong application, which was the result of a deep understanding of my own self and perspective. Don’t get me wrong, it was a lot of work! But my advisor and all the SOP staff I interacted with made it a smooth and motivating experience. At the end of it all, I did tell my interviewers who asked about the application process that it was almost like “therapy” because it really was!

I was admitted to Booth, Kellogg and UNC and all of the qualities that I believe they all appreciated were all part of me already, but they would not have been able to be surface without the help of SOP.

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I first found Square One Prep after being blown away by the students SOP has worked with and the impressive success rates they've had over the years. As a re-applicant, I initially did not plan on using an admissions consultant, but I knew I needed to ensure that my future applications were as bulletproof as possible and that I was not risking the opportunity of pursuing an MBA. Almost immediately after submitting an inquiry to SOP, I heard back from Kathryn, and she instantly reassured me on the overall process and instilled confidence regarding my profile and targeted schools. I can't emphasize how important this was - after receiving several rejections, being able to connect with someone almost immediately (and on a weekend!), hearing that we could turn things around was very encouraging. SOP was clearly the right partnership from the beginning to finally help push me over the finish line.

After connecting with SOP's very impressive and extensive list of advisors, I went on to work with Horatiu, who has been one of the most thoughtful, detailed, and patient advisors I could have asked for. He clearly has deep knowledge and experience after working with various students. He was able to work with me from day one to mold and shape my overall story into something compelling and persuasive, and one that has provided me with a more well-defined career vision as I move forward with my MBA. The focus, dedication, and input he has been able to provide throughout the entire process has been invaluable.

I'm extremely happy to report that, with SOP's help, I have been admitted to Booth, and I'm confident I would not have been able to achieve this admission without them. For anyone who is on the fence about using an admissions consultant or is unsure if one is even needed, I strongly recommend one as someone who was in that place myself. An MBA is one of the most important life investments you'll make and you need to make sure that you're not selling yourself short. SOP's structure, support, and experience will make the entire process much easier than facing on your own.

I more than wholeheartedly recommend SOP to any and all upcoming and prospective students, and I can't thank Horatiu, Kathryn, and the entire SOP team more for helping me to achieve this truly life changing admission.

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My experience with Square One Prep has been more than I can ask for. I was initially torn between doing a less comprehensive service (hourly or piecewise) and going with Square One, but I am very glad that I went the route I did! My sessions have been invaluable, from the deep dive in my career narrative to the long essay calls I've had with my advisor. I have always felt that they were trying to get the best out of me instead of saying "good enough". They were able to intuit when I was leaving something or when the dots weren't connecting. Because of their diligence, I had a very successful cycle -- ended up with a difficult decision between HBS and a full ride + stipend at another top 5 school. Thank you all!!

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My experience working with SOP was so wonderful, and I highly recommend their services to anyone applying to bschool. Firstly, their process is incredibly stream-lined and well thought through. I felt very supported and informed every step of the way. Having access to a portal that tracks each step of the application along with receiving an email every Monday morning with the week's plan really helped me stay organized. Second, I loved that I got the chance to speak with a few different advisors before choosing my day-to-day advisor. I ultimately ended up working with Piersten, who is absolutely phenomenal! She is so easy to talk to and really took the time to get to know me. She gave me such insightful and helpful feedback throughout the process and was so generous with her support and encouragement. I always looked forward to my check-ins with Piersten as its such a great time talking to her. Another great thing about SOP is the career work they do with you. Working with Wendy, the career coach, was transformative. Wendy is so kind and encouraging, and beyond business school, she really helped me figure out what exactly it is that I want to do with my career and how I can get there. She gave me a long term vision to aspire to and a methodology to go back and effectively research new paths if I ever feel like pivoting later on, and for that, I am so grateful. Finally, Kathryn, the founder, is 100% someone you'll want to have on your team when applying to school. She is one of the most honest, kind, and knowledgeable people I've ever met. She's always available to help you and replies to any questions or requests you may have with a truly unmatched promptness. She is so generous with her time and there is no limit to the support and care she provides to help you craft the best application. She reviewed each of my essays several times to make sure they were perfect and gave me multiple interview prep sessions to ensure that I was as prepared as I possibly could be. Thanks to SOP, when I hit submit on my applications I felt such a sense of peace knowing that they were the best they possibly could be and that there was nothing more that I could do. Looking back at the first draft of each of my essays versus what I submitted, it's truly magic what the SOP team helped me do. They allowed me to keep my unique voice while strategically bringing out so many more components of my story that I would have overlooked or dismissed if I was working alone. Ultimately I was admitted to a top choice school and could not be happier! For anyone looking for an MBA admissions consultant to partner with, you cannot go wrong with SOP. Simply put, they're the very best!

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Heading into the MBA application process I knew I had some gaps in my profile and could use all the help I could get. I spoke with all the top admissions consulting firms and ultimately settled on Square One Prep. I had an initial consultation with Kathryn to discuss my interest in pursuing an MBA. She was inquisitive, provided feedback on my candidacy, and addressed my concerns - employment gap, no professional managerial experience, and slightly below average GMAT. She walked me through their services and process. At no point did she pressure, make it feel like a sales pitch, or make me feel like I had no shot. Following the call, Bailey followed up with detailed information on their process as well as a sample application task timeline. What sold me was their structured team of experts and flexibility to add additional schools later in the process.

When I decided to partner with SOP, they connected me with two advisors, and both were great. It was a tough decision, but Kathryn helped me think through and narrow down my choice. I ultimately decided to work with Matteo Rattighieri. We held a kick off call where I comprehensively discussed my background and he educated me on the application journey and SOP process. Additionally, I had a call with Kathryn to go through school selection and my risk tolerance. I purchased the multi-school package and had SOP work with me on what I considered my "super reaches".

The first two items were the resume and career narrative. Matteo was very prompt with his responses and feedback. He provided numerous revisions and helped me better articulate my experiences. For the career narrative, Wendy drove this process, but Kathryn and Matteo were also involved, providing a dynamic balance. I was initially scattered and didn't have a defined goal, but the team helped me narrow it down and tie my interests with my background. The team asked the hard questions to make sure my story made sense and teased out details that connected the dots from start to finish. Afterwards they prepared me to confidently recite my goals. It was a lot of work, but at the end of the day it solidified my ability to articulate my story. The career narrative served as the base for short-term and long-term goals essays and interviews.

Next was recommendation preparation. SOP has a process that guided my recommenders to save time and filled in the pieces to my application puzzle.

After the LOR we got started on essays. SOP provided a collection of essays to familiarize me with the structure of essays that worked. Matteo was very quick to turn my drafts and provided additive edits and suggestions. He pushed me to connect the dots while retaining key elements and trimming the fat, which made my essays concise but compelling. After many iterations, leadership reviewed and provided comments to wrap it up.

I felt very confident in how my application came together. I was quick to turn drafts and Matteo was equally as quick to turn comments even when he was traveling. Throughout the process Bailey checked in to make sure I was satisfied and sent weekly schedules to make sure we remained on track.

Once the applications were submitted I was provided resources to start thinking about interviews. I waited until I heard back from schools before preparing. Matteo walked me through the interview process and core interview questions to prepare for as well as some curveball questions. During one mock interview, I wasn't in the zone, which Matteo noticed and duly suggested we reschedule. After our last mock I felt well prepared and agreed with Matteo that it was best to not overprepare and come off sounding recited.

Although my interviews went well I unfortunately didn't convert and had to push for R2. I added another super reach and we got to work on preparing materials in a fairly condensed timeline but we were able to utilize R1 materials as a framework. SOP kept rooting for my success along the way.

I was ultimately admitted into a school I considered a super reach. I don’t think I would have been able to tailor my application as strongly without their guidance. SOP kept me focused with their process and their service was well worth the value. I considered pursuing a top-level MBA a real stretch goal, but SOP helped me make it a reality. The entire application process was daunting but I’m glad to have had SOP by my side.

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I would like to thank the entire SOP team for their support and accompany during my entire EMBA application process. I started my search for an MBA consultant around Christmas and filled in the initial free consultation request at 1am one night. Kathryn, surprisingly, reached out in just 10min and confirmed my appointment with her for the next day! The initial 30min talking with Kathryn went for an hour, where she genuinely listened to my stories and needs for an MBA consultant. I'm a bit concerned with my experience being on the "junior" side for top schools like Wharton, and need someone with EMBA application experience to help me polish my application package. Also, I need someone that's hands-on and cares for my success.

Indeed, everyone at SOP team is very approachable and dedicated to me and my goals. They also try their best to work around my schedule. Unlike other big consulting firms, my requests are always taken care of by someone within hours if not minutes. Kathryn got me hooked up with Jennice and another team member right away on Christmas eve so I can kick off asap. Jenny would check in often to make sure I'm on schedule. They also take the EMBA application process as serious as full time MBA. Wendy and Kathryn challenged me on my career plan write-ups a lot even though I thought I had a pretty clear career path in mind beforehand. Thanks to their push, my career goal essay became a lot more sounding. I also have to mention Jeannice, who's also my main point of contact during the process, is incredible. She never rushed me, and took time listening and intaking my stories, and then helped me craft essays that represent my true me. I felt comfortable talking with her on anything.

I would recommend SOP if you are looking for someone that cares about you, willing to spend time on you, and if you are willing to be challenged to get into your dream school(s)!

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I can safely say that I would have not been able to get accepted to Anderson without the help of the
Square One Prep team.
I had the pleasure to work Amalia and the team for about 5 months and was impressed by the amount
of time and resources that was invested in order to make sure that my application was as strong as
possible.
The team took the time to get to know me on a personal level and guided me through the process with
patience, a strict schedule, and extremely helpful feedback, while always listening to my ideas.
The career narrative exercise allowed me to narrow down my short- and long-term goals, which in turn
greatly helped me craft stronger essays and applications.
Additionally, I would have not been able to ace my interview without Amalia’s help, and the interview
resources at my disposal.
I would work with the Square One Prep many times over and will continue recommending them to
colleagues and friends in the future.

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