Ten months ago, I knew almost nothing about the world of business school. Now, thanks to Square One Prep, I’m admitted to Michigan Ross with a $100k scholarship, Cornell Johnson with a $30k scholarship, and Tuck! Clearly my investment paid off, and I am so happy that an MBA is in my future.

I first spoke to Kathryn in June 2024, ahead of starting my Round 2 application process in October. At the time, I knew little about what to expect, what these schools looked for, or how to properly steer my career. Kathryn patiently walked me through Square One’s process, which I could tell would be both rigorous and thorough in solving the gaps in my knowledge, while taking a big load off my plate with prepping the materials. One of the first things that struck me was how quickly Kathryn and her team would respond to me, and how generous they were with their time when it came to answering my questions and reviewing my work.

I selected Square One’s premium tier, and after being onboarded, I worked with Kelsey, who I felt both understood me as a person and who had deep expertise in what business schools look for in their applicants. This made it easy for me to be forthright with her about anything that came to my mind and to trust her advice. Much of this was also thanks to a thorough assessment she did with me where she learned every detail of my undergraduate, extracurricular, and work experience. As we created my resume, my essays, and my application, I felt like she was my second brain. Her edits made sense, we were able to move the process along with each school efficiently, and I felt comfortable reaching out to her whenever I had a question. I especially appreciated how we were able to integrate my artistic background into my application materials, leveraging them as a strength. Our interview prep went just as smoothly given our rapport.

After creating each application component with Kelsey, Kathryn’s second layer of tweaks would give my materials an extra sparkle—ensuring that my strengths as a business school applicant stood out, even to someone just skimming through the materials. Occasionally Kathryn would send back an essay for rewrites, having me and Kelsey revisit the drawing board. But even this was something I ultimately appreciated because I could feel that the entire team was invested in giving me the strongest application possible.

What really brought it home was how I continued to feel both Kathryn and Kelsey’s investment even past the school acceptance stage. They helped me negotiate higher scholarships and they even met with me to discuss a waitlist strategy for two business schools that I am trying to convert into acceptances. They help review the monthly updates I am writing to those schools. I feel that this is well beyond what I might normally expect from an admissions consultancy, and I am deeply grateful for their dedication well past the time of my acceptance. I still feel like I have access to both of them, and am able to hear back about any questions very quickly.

I also want to give a special thank you to Horatiu, who helped shape my career narrative and guided me on what to research to become a knowledgeable and credible candidate for the industry and function I hope to enter. His insights were essential not only for my goals essays but for my interviews as well.

Honestly, I can’t imagine an admissions consulting experience more comprehensive than the one I had with Square One. They helped with the whole journey, and then some. There should be no doubts in your mind. Working with Square One was one of the best decisions I’ve made.

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When I decided I want to pursue an MBA, I did research on the admissions consulting companies out there. I scheduled a few consultations and ultimately decided to go with Square One Prep. That has been one of the best decisions I ever made (not exaggerating.)

Fast forward to today, I got accepted into my top choice school. The journey has not been smooth sailing though. I began work with SOP a few years ago, but paused it due to a new job and move. When I moved back, I picked up where I left off with SOP. I kept the same advisor, Allison. For the work I had to redo, I paid the current hourly rate. I paid for a 3 school package with SOP (and I applied to one without.) I got access to a portal to track my progress in the application process and access documents.

With a full time job and things happening in my personal life, I struggled to meet all the deadlines. Allison and Kelsey kept me on track (I’m sure I tortured poor Allison.) There were hiccups with my process (not at all SOP’s fault) leading up to submitting school apps, but Allison and Kathryn was there to advise and guide me through it. The advice they gave me allowed me not burn bridges yet also keep my progress going with an alternative approach. The year I was applying to B school, I was quite anxious all the time. Fortunately, SOP’s quick response time put me at ease. They are truly experts in what they do. They provide honest feedback and some much needed encouragement along the way.

If you are considering working with an admissions consultant, I recommend Square One Prep. Definitely at least schedule a consultation with them, you may end up choosing them, like I did. I couldn’t have done it without Allison, Kathryn, and the rest of the SOP team. I am forever grateful!

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Strengths:

The sense that you are in experts' hands. You feel this throughout the entire process, from Kathryn who is the school expert, to Horatiu who is the career narrative expert, and then your consultant (in my case Anna) who becomes an expert on YOU and getting the best out of you.
If you are willing to be guided, you are in the best hands.

Would make the product better:

I would have liked to speak more often with Kathryn. She was great with the onboarding process and school selection help, but I would have appreciated more comunication in the essay editing stage to have better comunication on to what I was trying to convey.

Working with Square One Prep was challenging in the best way possible. I applied to six top business schools, was admitted to five, and even received a $100K scholarship from one. I know for a fact that this was thanks to their incredible guidance and support.
When I started the admissions essay process, I had little clarity on what I wanted to do after the MBA. The career narrative process was pivotal for me. Early on, Horatiu (one of the most honest and straightforward persons I’ve worked with) didn’t sugarcoat things. He told me that my plan at that moment was crap, (in better more polite words), and really pushed me to visualize alternative career paths that not only made more sense for the application process but also helped me discover exciting possibilities I hadn’t considered before. It was a painstaking process, but it gave me much needed clarity.
Once I had a solid career narrative, I worked with Anna on my CV and essays. I cannot recommend her enough. Her feedback was always direct and purposeful: “You can do better” or “This essay is supposed to convey X—try again with that in mind.” But she also balanced that with plenty of “YOU GO, GIRL!” moments that kept me motivated and confident.
This combination of tough love and genuine support is exactly what you want from an admissions consultant. If all you need is someone to edit your essays, you already have ChatGPT. What makes Square One Prep truly valuable is their team of experts—each focused on areas like career narrative development, school selection, and writing—who take the time to know you and help you showcase your best self.
If you’re someone who doesn’t have a clear vision of how to showcase yourself or your plans, Square One will guide you every step of the way. Even if you already have a strong idea, it’s still worthwhile—the career narrative, résumé, and other work you develop will serve as a solid foundation for all your applications.

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I worked with the Square One Prep team on my round one applications and came away delighted at both the quality of service and result – admission to my top choice of HBS! The entire team felt highly invested in me and my success from the very first meeting I took with Kathryn when I was beginning to think through my process.

The first big differentiator of working with SOP was the level of personalization and genuine care I received from the team. Each consultant only takes on a few applicants per cycle, which leads to a high level of personal attention and responsiveness. I never waited more than 24 hours (more often it was sub-12) for an email response or for feedback on whatever we happened to be working on at the time. Moreover, the team pushes you to take the long and hard route (for everyone involved, including them) rather than signing off prematurely. They will truly push your application and thought process to the highest quality possible, even if it means jumping on more calls for them or starting an essay over entirely.

The second big differentiator of working with SOP was the team approach. Amalia, my primary advisor, brought an impressive level of empathy, creativity, and candor that helped draw out my unique experiences and express individuality in my application, which was a big priority for me coming from a traditional background. She was patient, highly committed, and most importantly, incredibly kind and pleasant to work with. Kathryn provided invaluable guidance at each step of the process and provided clear, direct, and thoughtful feedback that pushed every aspect of my application to a higher level. Wendy, the resident career narrative expert (a unique aspect of the SOP process) spent nearly a month helping me develop my career story and define short, medium, and long-term goals in a way that holds together with my past experiences and who I am. She was incredibly patient, and as time progresses, I continue to see the value of that workstream more and more and find the work incredibly important for anyone to do early in their career regardless of whether they’re applying to an MBA. Finally, Kelsey was fantastically organized and kept the entire process on track to submit in time for the round 1 deadline.

My overall experience with the team was 10/10. They followed through with everything they said they would do and helped me achieve a fantastic outcome. They pushed me harder and invested more time than I would’ve ever expected and ended up being worth every penny.

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Strengths:

Very detailed oriented and bring out the best in you. You cannot go wrong with Square One Prep!

I cannot recommend Allison and Kathryn highly enough! Thanks to their expert guidance, I was admitted to two M7 MBA programs—Columbia and Kellogg.

From the very beginning, Kathryn demystified the application process, helped me identify the right schools for my goals, and gave me an honest, strategic assessment of my profile. As an Indian male engineer, I knew that standing out in a competitive applicant pool would be crucial. Both Allison and Kathryn pushed me to dig deep, reflect on my journey, and highlight my unique strengths to craft a compelling and authentic narrative. Their honesty was invaluable—not only in refining my story but also in recognizing my potential to improve my GMAT score and encouraging me to give it another try.

One of the best aspects of working with Square One Prep is the dedicated team supporting you at every step. My career goals coach, Wendy, played a key role in sharpening my post-MBA aspirations, while Kelsey kept me organized and on track with deadlines and essay drafts. This level of structured support was instrumental in boosting my confidence and generating ideas for the many essays I had to write. When it came time for interviews, the entire team celebrated each invitation, helped me prepare thoroughly through mock sessions, and encouraged me to be my authentic self.

I’m incredibly grateful to Kathryn, Allison, and the entire Square One Prep team for their guidance and unwavering support throughout this journey. If you’re looking for expert consultants who are truly invested in your success, I highly recommend working with this team of superstars!

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Kathryn, Wilson and team are a dream team combining experience, empathy, and dedication to help me with telling my story in a way that resonates to the admissions committee... So much so that Wharton and other schools have accepted me! Kathryn was always direct (and kind) in her feedback, which I appreciate as she sees angles that we may have overlooked. Wilson is particularly patient and willing to listen to my story to understand how best to position it while retaining my voice - Important given my challenging personal circumstances at the time. Thank you very much team for your support and I highly recommend anyone to consider SquareOne!

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As an international applicant with no prior knowledge of the business school application process, SOP was a guiding light throughout the journey. They helped me navigate the process step by step, setting deadlines and ensuring I was well-prepared in advance. From crafting my story to making mock interviews, SOP was deeply involved in every aspect, making the process seamless and manageable.
As a reapplicant, I experienced firsthand how Kathryn and her team are both flexible and understanding when it comes to package plans. They accommodate your needs in a way that reduces financial stress, allowing you to fully focus on your applications while receiving their unwavering support.
What stood out to me the most was their holistic approach to essays. It felt as if an entire team of experts was working alongside me, offering diverse perspectives and ensuring that every phase of the process was covered. This collaborative approach truly shined in the final product.
I’m incredibly grateful to have worked with SOP not just once, but twice. Their guidance helped me secure a scholarship despite my below-average GPA, and for that, I can’t thank them enough.

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Strengths:

Thoroughness

Would make the product better:

Better coordination between all parties to avoid reprocesses.

SOP has been instrumental in my MBA Journey. Kathryn and her team are very thorough in their approach; I was impressed by their involvement in every step of the process from the career narrative construction, essay brainstorming, to the prep interview. I am very satisfied with their professionalism, their commitment, punctuality and work ethic. Moreover, their platform has been very useful to keep all of my schools’ application processes (what must be constructed and submitted) organized; it would have been very tough for me to manage all the moving parts and requirements for each school, especially given that each school’s requirements are different. In addition, SOP’s emotional support in this stressful time has been invaluable. For example, I struggled with my GMAT grade, and they helped in several ways, from recommending a specialist, to giving me the confidence and strategies to approach the whole application process even if my grade was not ideal. I truly recommend them.

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I had one-on-one meetings with six MBA admissions consultants, ranging from the largest firms to independent advisors. My circumstances were such that reapplication was not an option, so working with the right people was absolutely crucial. When I first met Kathryn, I knew she was the one. Our first meeting was a solid, candid discussion about me, my background, and my candidacy for my target programs. One quality of Kathryn that stood out was her straightforwardness.
Initially, I intended to work with SOP on just one school, and I even tried to upsell myself on working with more. However, Kathryn advised me to focus on crafting an application for a realistic school that offered better coverage than my other choices—and that’s the school I eventually got into.

At SOP, I worked with Kathryn, Wendy, and Cristina. Throughout my application journey, an entire team of highly knowledgeable and experienced consultants worked closely with me. I felt at peace knowing I was just an email or text message away from getting my questions answered or my doubts clarified. I was consistently encouraged to deliver my best on essay drafts, with endless iterations until they were perfect. Kathryn would go back and forth with me as many times as necessary to ensure the materials were flawless.

For example, when working on my CN presentation, my initial attempt didn’t come across as strong. Kathryn asked me to redo the groundwork and present it again after a few days. While this seemed frustrating, Kathryn wouldn’t let anything slide until the all application materials were perfect.

The SOP team, including my consultant Cristina, worked tirelessly through weekends and late nights to edit drafts and return them on time. I was incredibly lucky to work with Cristina, with whom I shared a great wavelength. She gave me the push I needed when I was slacking, while also ensuring that I consistently delivered high-quality work.

What sets SOP apart is that they encouraged me while keeping me on track to meet deadlines. I had their undivided attention and support for every single aspect of my MBA application process, including reviewing any written communication with schools.

Kathryn’s advice, suggestions, and recommendations were invaluable to my success.

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Started off with a quick intro call with Kathryn, who actually made it not-so-quick - she really spent the time to understand my profile and give guidance, the call ended up being more than an hour!

My consultant was Allison - and I also got the entire team of Wendy for career narrative, Kelsey for application management, and Kathryn to sign off every material! Not just Allison, whose support was obviously crucial for my admission to M7 schools, the entire team has also been extremely supportive from day 1. Some key things I like from SOP:

1. Specific and insightful advice: Guidance and comments are always clear and (positively) prescriptive, with clear explanations why doing X is better than Y. From recommendation letters to essay writing, step-by-step guides and thought frameworks are provided for you. For someone applying with a tight timeline and a busy work schedule during the day, this was extremely helpful.

2. Willingness for thought partnership: I often bring different approaches to the table, discussing pros and cons, and probe the "why" behind the team's advice (especially Allison!). Definitely not because her advice is questionable, but because b-school applications can go so many ways. And Allison has never once failed to spar with me and help me arrive at a satisfactory answer.

3. Going the extra mile: I was running behind schedule most of the time. Apart from the team constantly monitoring the schedule and giving pushes, Allison also sped up her turnaround time (at least 2x the normal review speed) to help me meet the deadline, working days and nights and weekends! Really really appreciate this.

In short, SOP has your best interests at heart and I would definitely recommend them.

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