At first I was really nervous about getting into any MBA program – although I considered my overall GMAT score to be okay, I thought my background was not unique and good enough to get admitted. I am not a top athlete, don’t work in a bulge bracket bank or attended an undergrad program at a top university. I was aiming for business schools that had average GMAT scores 20-30 points below my score, just to make sure I’ll get admitted.

All of this changed, when I talked to Kathryn for the first time. Unlike the other admission advisories, she saw that my background was much stronger than I thought and she told me to stop playing safe and aim much higher. She convinced me that I was capable of doing better although it honestly took me some time to think the same way. But I had a great feeling after our call and soon decided to work with SOP. One of the reasons for my decision was the track record of SOP – why would she try to convince me to apply at much higher ranked schools, if that could mess up the numbers. This is the kind of transparency you need to evaluate the services of an admission consultant!

I worked with Ryan as my day-to-day advisor and he was just great! He is a really nice guy, responded immediately whenever I had a question and worked hard so we could meet the tight schedule. He always encouraged me to give my best and I’m very thankful I had him on my team.

Kathryn and Ryan both pushed me to create a strong narrative and write outstanding essays. They helped me a lot with the brainstorming for essay topics and were really candid if they liked the topics or not, but they were also very supportive to keep me going – and trust me, the MBA application process is not an easy ride, so you better have a great team to support you!

Looking back on this journey, I don’t regret a single decision, from choosing SOP as my advisor to the target universities. Even if other admission consultants will offer lower rates or discounts, don’t fall for that and hire the best from the best – it’s really worth it.

Read More

Initially I wanted to DIY my application to b-schools, but after an entire month wasted in brainstorming essays with no clue, I decided to use some professional help and my friend introduced me to SOP. The first ever call I had with SOP was with Kathryn, an amazing lady who spoke nothing but the blunt truth about my profile, my strengths and potential weaknesses. After the initial call, there was one thing that I was certain: the application process would be less daunting if I worked with SOP.

It was not an outright commitment at the beginning, as I was comparing SOP with another agency. Though I leaned towards SOP, I did not feel as much chemistry as I expected with the two advisors I scheduled free calls with. I spoke to Kathryn honestly about this, and she was fully supportive to let me speak with a third advisor, Lee. After my call with Lee, everything felt right and I signed up for SOP right away.

Lee was another truly amazing lady. I had the best application process I could ever hoped for together with Lee - though with frustration and setback at times, but more importantly with encouragement and care from Lee at each step along the way. She was always on top of my needs, correcting every version of my essays with great details, and making sure that each of those corrections did not divert from my original meaning, but instead empowered the overall delivery of my story. She was highly professional, friendly approachable and also showed great empathy. When I think of what kind of person I wanted to be after MBA, I hope I could be just like Lee.

As happy as I am to have received an offer from my dream school, I would like to give my most sincere thanks to the entire SOP team. The victory today would not have been possible without you guys, and I wish all of you a Merry Christmas, and may you continue the good work to help more young people achieve their dreams!

Read More

After my 30 minute phone consultation with Kathryn, I immediately knew her experience and knowledge would be invaluable in my MBA application. She was direct, straight to the point and understood the importance of application process.

Following my call with Kathryn, we would only have 4.5 days left until the application for Johnson was due. She connected me with Lee Kaplan and we developed detailed a game plan. Creating a strong application is difficult regardless of the individual and it was especially difficult with my below average GPA and GMAT score. To overcome this, Lee and Kathryn did an amazing job tailoring my resume and essays to reflect my personal character and work experiences. They were diligently over this short time period and were responsive at all times of the day.

I could not be more excited to be attending Cornell Johnson next year.

Read More

At first I wanted to go with another company because the costs were slightly less, but I am glad I didn’t! I am 2/2 on admissions right now and still waiting to hear back on 2 more. What makes Square One Prep unique is that you are not only getting your main admission’s consultant, in my case Jeannice, but also you are getting Kathryn and her team. The team exceded my expectations on all accounts. The most rewarding part for me was the career planning call. In the call you will be with main consultant, Kathryn and a career planning coach and everyone will give input and challenge any points you make on your post MBA plans to make sure they are bulletproof. At the end of every call they will give you points to research and solidify on. If they feel you are not ready for the next steep they will set up another call, I had four calls.


Another great thing is that everything I did got reviewed by Jeannice first and then once we thought it was ready it get’s send it off to Kathryn. I was impressed by how the content of the reviews, and Kathryn is not afraid to tell you to start over if she feels it’s not on the right path, something I really liked. It gave me a peace of mind knowing that when she says my essay is ready, it really is ready. The process was definitely a lot of work, but I learned a lot about myself thought the process. I am very glad I chose Square One Prep!

Read More

I used Square One Prep on a seven school package (M7 - Stanford + Tuck). After an initial call with Kathryn, I was given the opportunity to "interview" 3 consultants to select from as my dedicated resource. I eventually selected Mary Winograd.

SOP was invaluable in developing my strongest candidacy. We spent hours over several calls hammering out my experiences, interests, and goals. The end product was a narrative which was consistently leaned on to develop my story and motivations for obtaining an MBA.

One thing I really valued about SOP is that they are not "yes men". They will challenge you, push you to think deeper, and call you out on things that will not pass muster. If you are looking for a "yes man", SOP is not the one for you. The entire MBA application process requires an incredible amount of self-reflection to really get at the root of who you are and what you want. As a result, feelings and egos may get stepped on, but it is never (ever!) with malice - they are trying to present you in the best possible light. The competition for a place in the most coveted business schools is fiercely competitive. I've never regretted my decision to go with SOP.

Kathryn and Mary are phenomenal and went above and beyond my expectations. I really can't put into words how much they helped me. Mary spent hours at a time reviewing my resume, essays, interview prep, etc. Inquiries via email or text were addressed within 24 hours (but usually within just a few hours). During my application process, I ran into obstacles with my recommendation letters. Mary was with me every step of the way offering guidance and emotional support.

The MBA application process is incredibly intimidating and challenging. SOP does a fantastic job at making this as smooth a process as possible, while challenging you to push deeper into your self-reflection. I can't imagine hiring another consultant to go through this journey.

Read More

cannot thank Kathryn and her team enough for guiding me through the application process. Day in and day out, the team put forth 100% effort to help put me in the best possible position to succeed. Kathryn and my personal advisor, Rob, were not afraid to challenge me and always told me what I needed to hear, rather than what I wanted to hear. Their prompt reviews and valuable insights into my application were much appreciated, and their relentless pursuit of excellence did not go unnoticed.

Most importantly, the team produced results. Not only did I get into a great MBA program, I was accepted to my first choice, which is awesome. Initially, I was unsure whether using a consultant would be worth it, but looking back I'm very glad I did. Being accepted to a top MBA program was a huge step in my career, and the Square One team pushed me and made sure I put my absolute best effort into my application. I trusted the process, and I encourage anyone who is looking for an MBA to do the same.

Read More

I started working with SquareOne Prep after I took my GMAT, a few months before R1 applications were due. The highly personalized nature of their process was what made it stand out from all the other consultants I talked to (Veritas, Stacy Blackman, ARINGO, VantagePoint, etc.)

I was paired with a consultant that was my primary point of contact, and my consultant was responsive pretty much 24/7. It felt like an actual partnership where we were working on these applications together. I brainstormed my career narrative with Kathryn, the founder of SquareOne, and my consultant. The fact that SquareOne publishes their track record made me feel reassured.

My big challenge was that my GPA was 2.7. They worked with me to help me tell my story, so that admissions committees would understand me and my application. I can’t emphasize this enough but the level of individualized attention and time they spent made me believe they were extremely vested in my success.

Be ready to commit time to working with SquareOne though. They were flexible with my demanding work schedule as well. I would get answers within a few hours to any email I sent.

Also we didn’t just do one or two drafts of my essays. Some essays went through 8 iterations. With SquareOne, it felt like my applications were truly top-notch. Beyond that, working with SquareOne was fun. I would definitely look forward to group calls and working with my consultant.

Another thing is that SquareOne covered every step of the process from the brainstorming essay phase to the interview phase. We spent almost 2 hours of preparation per interview.

I received admission to Fuqua GPA and I am waiting on decisions to other schools as well.

I have told my brother and close friend to use SquareOne, and I highly recommend SquareOne to anyone who wants a highly personalized MBA consultant that wants you to get in as much as you do.

Read More

After two failed attempts (12 submissions over 2 years) at getting into a top-10 business school working with another admissions consulting firm, I almost gave up on my business school aspirations. Every time I spoke with an admissions consultant about my candidacy, I was given the same diagnosis… Your story is compelling! Your scores are incredible! Any business school would be lucky to have you! But, no one could give me a concrete reason I was rejected without interview at every single school I applied to - only that the top schools are all extremely competitive and it is sometimes just luck. When I came to Square One for their thoughts on my previous applications, I expected the same response. And then I spoke to Kathryn.

My initial 30-minute consultation turned into an almost 2-hour long conversation about every part of my application. She gave me 3 specific areas where my previous applications went wrong, and unlike the other consultants, Kathryn said she could see why I was rejected. She was direct and didn’t sugar-coat any of her thoughts. Everything she said was spot-on and I appreciated her candor about how I needed to improve my applications. I was sold. Kathryn paired me with one of her consultants, Julia, to rush out round 2 schools after my round 1 rejections. Julia was supportive, creative, and pushed me to dig deeper on every aspect of my applications. She helped me finish 5 school applications in less than a month (even through the holidays), and I received 4 interview invitations out of the 5 top-10 schools I applied to in round 2.

This September, I will be starting at Michigan Ross with a full-tuition merit scholarship! After 17 applications over 3 attempts, I almost lost hope, and certainly never expected to have the life-changing opportunity to go to an amazing business school debt-free. If you are looking for an admissions consultant, I highly suggest you work with Square One. I cannot recommend them highly enough!

Read More

I started working with Square One Prep this summer in order to apply for part time MBA programs at both Kellogg and Booth. I have recently been accepted into both programs, and I would highly recommend Square One Prep to both full-time and part-time applicants who are looking for ample one-on-one attention and a personalized approach to the admission consultation process.

I chose Square One Prep specifically as I could tell from my initial phone call with them that I would not be overlooked or lost in the shuffle, which was my hesitation with choosing a large scale company. My cousin also used Square One Prep last year and was accepted full-time into Booth, so I knew they had a successful methodology.

My application had its own set of unique challenges. I was a re-applicant, had a low quant GMAT score, and recently made a significant industry change in my career. Within the week of choosing Square One Prep, I was paired with a consultant that specifically focused on my application. While she was my primary point of contact, I also had access and was helped daily by the owner of the company, an essay specialist, a career narrative specialist, among others who have all been actively involved in the admission committees at top tier business schools.

Together with this team, we took a deep dive into my prior experiences, spanning from my professional to personal life. They helped me identify my strengths and develop essays that would truly make me stand out as a candidate. Most importantly, the team at Square One Prep was never afraid to challenge my pre-conceived notions in the application process. For example, many of the topics I thought I would write about in my applications were ultimately not used, as we found better and more unique experiences that crafted a much stronger narrative.

In conclusion, I would highly recommend Square One Prep to anyone looking for a highly personalized approach to the admissions process.

Read More

As I had heard many positive reviews of Square One Prep from my friends long before I started applying for my MBA, the decision to work with SOP came instinctively to me. I worked with Kathryn and Lara from the scratch - from assessing my profile and drafting my narrative to writing and proofreading the components of the application. The entire process was run by SOP in an enthusiastic, methodical and disciplined manner. Kathryn's optimistic approach with school selection instills confidence in the applicant. She has an impeccable knack of crafting tightly-knit narratives and ensuring that they are neatly reflected in the essays - She knows what the schools want. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Lara as well. She was creative, efficient, and patient throughout (we did numerous iterations!). Most of all, she is a very compassionate person because of which I could comfortably share my stories with her. During my first call with Kathryn when I asked her about my chances of making to a good business school, she told me, "You should come out of the process very happy". I most certainly have! I am grateful to Kathryn and Lara for their assistance in the process, and would strongly recommend Square One Prep to all MBA aspirants.

Read More