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 - 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 my advisor, 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 my advisor!). Definitely not because her advice is questionable, but because b-school applications can go so many ways. And my advisor 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, my advisor 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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Strengths:

Professional, experienced, personal, easy to communicate with

Would make the product better:

n/a

I was referred to SOP by a friend’s sister who had an amazing and successful experience with them. My intro call with Kathryn took much longer than 30mins. She listened to my story, asked thoughtful questions, and gave me a lot of encouragement. I also chatted with 2 other top consultancies but the conversations were short and disappointing. I went with SOP because I feel valued and heard - they are not just here to do business, but to really help you achieve your dreams. I ended up not applying that year, but Kathryn still occasionally checked in on me.

My whole team at SOP - Kathryn, my advisor, Horatiu, Kelsey, have been super supportive since day one. They were very responsive despite time zone challenges. They were extremely honest when I needed them to be. I felt like we were a well-oiled print machine, constantly churning out amazing ideas and stories. They kept me on my toes, gave me an extra boost when I was feeling stuck or unmotivated, and helped me push through every challenge along the way. Looking back, I had so much fun writing the apps with them. I didn't feel exhausted but mentally stimulated. I also learned more about myself and really understood what shaped me and what I want.

Besides my team, the resources at SOP is also top-notch. They have so many sample essays and interview materials. The online portal is also managed well that all you need to do is to focus on your tasks, whether it is essay or letter of recommendation or prepping interviews. Although it is not a cheap service, but it is so worth it in my opinion.

My results were beyond expectations. I applied to 5 schools, secured 4 interviews, and received 3 offers (HBS, Sloan, CBS). I could’ve never done this without SOP. Thank you all :)

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Strengths:

Structured timeline
Rigorous process
Wilson"s expertise
Team-based approach
Human touch

From the very first interaction, I could tell Square One Prep was different. During my initial free consultation, Kathryn took the time to really get to know me. Her questions were straightforward yet introspective, creating a relationship of trust that set the foundation for our collaboration. This initial conversation gave me the confidence that SOP would not just tell me what to write but help me craft my story into a compelling narrative. After deciding to move forward with SOP, I interviewed with three advisors and chose to work with Wilson, who was an incredible match.
The structured timeline SOP provided was a game changer. From Day 1, my Team Lead, Kelsey, set up a detailed calendar outlining every milestone, task, and deliverable for each school. This clear roadmap kept me organized and accountable. Whenever Wilson and I fell behind on a milestone, Kelsey followed up promptly, ensuring we stayed on track and submitted all materials on time—a critical factor in managing multiple applications.
SOP’s process is rigorous yet seamless. Wilson and I began by thoroughly assessing my profile, identifying my strengths, weaknesses, and unique qualities. Then, I worked with Wendy on crafting a clear, ambitious, and achievable career narrative. Only after these foundational steps did we dive into the application essays. This structured approach saved significant time and allowed us to focus on quality rather than rushing through each component.
Wilson’s expertise made all the difference. His thoughtful insights pushed my essays to a level I didn’t think was possible. From brainstorming to editing, Wilson helped me articulate my ideas clearly and persuasively. His unwavering commitment to excellence gave me confidence as I moved through each step of the process.
What stood out most was the team-based approach. Every deliverable was reviewed by both Wilson and Kelsey, providing me with diverse perspectives that improved the final product. This collaborative effort ensured every aspect of my application was polished to perfection.
The human touch SOP brought to the process was invaluable. Applying to MBA programs can be lonely, but having the SOP team by my side made all the difference. Their genuine support allowed me to share my struggles and emotions freely, which was incredibly reassuring during stressful moments.
The results speak for themselves. Thanks to SOP, I was admitted to Columbia Business School (65% scholarship), MIT Sloan (50%), Booth (40%), and Haas. I couldn’t be more grateful for their guidance and support.

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Strengths:

- Clear and constant communication
- Flexibility
- Resume and Essay Help
- Interview Prep
- Career Narrative Help

Would make the product better:

Nothing on SQP's end - but want to reiterate how important it is for the applicant to "buy-in" and fully immerge to this program.

Prior to speaking with Kathryn on my initial consultation, I constantly compared myself and my application to other phenomenal applicants and truthfully thought I would not have a chance to get into any business school. Due to my subpar academic background, I relied heavily on my military experience, but did not know how to properly express my career in my resume or in my essays. After speaking to Kathryn, I had a sense of confidence going into my MBA application journey and decided to trust in Kathryn and her team's ability to help me achieve my dream to attend an MBA program.

Each member of my admissions team helped me throughout this journey and I wanted to thank them individually:
Horatiu, thank you for opening my eyes to new career fields and sectors that I previously was unaware of. The career narrative experience started with my belief that all military officers end up in consulting, but I'm grateful to be guided towards a field that better fits who I am as an individual.
Kelsey, thank you for being the final bless off on all of my products. Without your expertise and knowledge in admissions, I would still be stuck believing that I was not a strong candidate for any MBA program.
Last, but not least, thank you to Amalia! Amalia, it has been absolutely wonderful working with you as my lead admissions consultant. Your flexibility to take my calls and quick, but detailed responses gave me the confidence to create products to the best of my ability. I cannot thank you enough for (quite-literally) guiding my hand through this process.
The Square One Prep process is a proven admissions consulting practice that has the resources and team to support you as the applicant. But as the applicant, you must be able to be vulnerable, give your 110% into all of your required assignments, and put your full trust in your application team. This admissions consulting journey with Square One is a two-way street and it is proven with their 90+% success rate for their applicants.

I was shocked to have received acceptance letters from three schools, and I am extremely proud to say that I will be matriculating to the Wharton School this summer. I am confident that I would not be in this same position without Square One Prep and their admissions consulting experience. Once again, thank you all so much for helping me achieve my dream!

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Working with Kathryn, Amalia, Wendy and Kelsey has been invaluable towards getting into the schools that I did. Despite having less than average GMAT score and less than average years of work experience, I was able to build a really strong application thanks to the SOP team. Throughout this process, they not only helped me strengthen my brand but also challenged me to set realistic goals/aims in my essays which had been crucial to explaining to the adcoms why I wanted an MBA now. Most importantly, the way they were able to tie my story together by taking into account my background, unique circumstance and previous experiences to make me stand out as a candidate is what enabled me to overcome my less desirable stats. to achieve the outcomes that I did. Specifically, I really appreciated the time and effort they put into my application from the 1-hr initial consultation that Kathryn had with me from the very beginning to the quick responses that I would receive for many of my very detailed questions throughout this entire process.

I would highly recommend working with the SOP team to anyone looking to pursue an MBA, specifically at schools that you may believe are out of reach for you!

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Kathryn changed my life, and I am so grateful for her guidance! I did a discovery call with her in 2021 even though I couldn’t afford her firm. I’d read that she gives amazing, honest consults. So I wanted to take advantage of the 30 minutes she offers. She didn’t spend 30 minutes with me. She spent almost two hours. She encouraged me to wait and apply later since it was the last round and I didn’t have a test score yet. But I was eager to try now. Her team offered to work with me at an extreme discount, understanding that I was financially supporting my parents and 5 younger siblings. We built a strong application, but I couldn’t get my test score where I needed it (not even close). I applied anyway in the last round. I was rejected. I then worked on getting a much stronger test score and reapplied last year – again the last round as I managed to get a decent test score, but too late for R2 – this time Kathryn and her team worked with me for free – yea, free. I got waitlisted.

Kathryn then worked with me directly for R1 and while she didn’t work with me for free, she gave me a generous discount. I applied to fulltime programs this time instead of part-time. All in Texas as I want to stay close to my family.

From the very beginning in 2021, Kathryn and her team was not only motivating and honest but also amazing human beings who genuinely cared about my success. They took the time to understand my story, background, stats, and potential, helping me identify where I would be the best fit. I especially appreciated how deeply she pushed me to think about my career narrative, challenging me to reflect and articulate my goals with clarity.

When I worked with Kathryn directly this time around, I realized why she owns a company, Shea unique ability to connect with you on a deeper level, ensuring your voice and vision shine throughout your application. With my latest application Kathryn guided me step by step from refining my resume and crafting thoughtful essays to securing impactful letters of recommendation and preparing for interviews. Through this process, I not only grew more self-aware but also discovered insights about myself that I never realized before. Kathryn’s patience and responsiveness kept me on track. She never let me lose sight of my potential, constantly cheering me on while providing constructive feedback. Her approach is rigorous yet incredibly supportive, and it felt like she was as invested in my success as I was.

For me, this journey became much more than just submitting MBA applications, it was a transformative experience. Thanks to Kathryn and her team, I was admitted to top programs with scholarships! If you’re looking for someone who will challenge you, guide you, and help you achieve your MBA dreams, Kathryn and the Square One Prep team are unmatched. They will take care of you, hold you accountable, and ultimately set you up to win, not just with your applications – with life.

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I was referred to Kathryn and her team by a close friend who had a successful experience with their services, gaining admission to M7 schools. Working with my advisors—Noah, Horatiu, and Kelsey—truly elevated my candidacy. They went above and beyond to help me shape a compelling resume, essays, and career narrative that fully showcased my strengths. Their genuine investment in my success was evident in every aspect of the process. This thorough preparation paid off in my interviews, leading to admissions at both M7 schools I applied to, and a sizable scholarship at one. I couldn’t have achieved this without their guidance and highly recommend their services to anyone serious about pursuing an MBA!

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After a career of 7+ years. I decided to pursue an MBA on a whim, with only 4 months left to get a competitive GMAT score and submit a competitive application to a top MBA program. With no room for “what-ifs” and “maybes”, my friends suggested that I engage an MBA Admissions consultancy. Square One Prep was the clear choice after my free consultation with Kathryn because of her experience, warm personality and commitment to answering all questions without ever looking at the clock. After a few introductory calls, I picked Kathleen as my advisor to guide me through the process.

As my decision to pursue an MBA was made on a whim, the struggle to fully crystallize my long-term goals felt insurmountable. Fortunately, I had Wendy who set a very high bar and didn’t settle for a run-of-the-mill narrative template. My thought process and ideas were critiqued until I backed up every assumption with industry research and data. Eight drafts later, I not only had a strong logical career plan, but also improved awareness of myself and my target industry.

Such exacting requirements are Square One Prep’s trademark and were placed throughout the process, be it crafting the resume, shortlisting schools, or writing application essays. I’ll admit that there were times it felt disheartening to have my best drafts critiqued and sent back with comments. But Kathleen’s encouraging presence and commitment helped me persevere. Always available to talk, she even accommodated many last-minute requests, despite conflicts with her personal commitments and ensured that I stayed on schedule throughout the process.

And of course, everything occurred under the watchful gaze of Kathryn who never settled for even at-par and kept pushing until every deliverable met her exceptionally demanding standards. All in all, I can confidently say that without this grueling journey, I’d never have received admission offers from both INSEAD and HEC Paris.

Square One Prep is an onerous experience for sure. I However, if you desire to build outstanding applications and secure offers to top schools, while also growing as an individual, Square One Prep is a no-brainer. My only piece of advice: start early to make the most of Square One Prep’s amazing team!

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The SOP advising experience is truly incredible. From school selection to school acceptances, the team is there every single step of the way. The expertise is unmatched (look at their results page), but the attention to detail and empathy that accompanies the advising is what makes the experience so special. Kathryn, Lara, and Wendy truly changed my life by helping me construct a career trajectory and ID my professional and personal values that I will carry with me long past completing my MBA. I could not recommend working with them enough - it is the best decision you will make for your MBA journey.

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