Premium Service Reviews

The Square One team was extremely supportive of me throughout the entire application process. Back when I was still considering whether to apply to MBA programs, Kathryn carved time out of her schedule on multiple occasions to help me talk through my career path, my professional goals, and how an MBA might fit with these goals. She made me feel comfortable and I truly felt that I could completely be myself around her and the Square One team. I had a pretty aggressive timeline from the time I started my application journey to the application due date, but my advisor Kathleen created and guided me through a plan that was manageable and effective. The team's style involves really getting to know their client, and I appreciated how much effort they put into bringing out the best in me. In addition to just creating the application, I also learned a lot about myself, and I had fun doing it, too! Without Square One, I would have struggled to create an application and conduct an interview that so heavily emphasized my strengths and limited my weaknesses. I would recommend Kathryn and her team to anyone who is kicking off their MBA journey!

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I was initially very nervous about by MBA application especially given how competitive this year was going to be. I had my first call with Kathryn as an initial assessment and the one thing that really got me interested in Square One was the honesty with which they evaluated my profile and picked out gaps. I wanted a partner who could not only help me develop my application but also give me honest and constructive feedback throughout the process. The team at Square One Prep believes in developing a 1-1 relationship between the applicant and the consultant and this allows you to freely discuss your thoughts, brainstorm, work collaboratively and understand and rectify your gaps.

My partnership started in July with Varun and the initial check-ins really helped me lay out all my significant life incidents that could play a role in my B-School story. The career goal development process is something unique to Square One where they focus on developing your short, mid, and long-term career goals before you even get into your applications. This process helps you identify different career prospects, the journey you want to take on, skills you need etc. The output from the career narrative process really helped me build a strong foundation for my applications.

The application development process became a lot easier because I had someone like Varun to work with. He was always open to collaborate with me, brainstorm about the smallest of things and gave me feedback at every step. The relationship became more like that of a friend than that of an applicant and a consultant. He was always accessible and ready to have chats when I was feeling down or demotivated. A big credit for my admit at Kellogg goes to Varun and Square One for providing me the best support system I could have asked for.

For the highest level of collaboration, amazing partners, and brutal honesty, I would recommend Square One and Varun Uttamchandani for all aspiring MBA applicants.

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I interviewed several firms and independent consultants at varying price levels. SOP stood out immediately for a few reasons:

1. Dedicated attention: Weighs quality of applications over quantity of applicants, and it shows. For the free consultation, Kathryn took the time to review the material I had sent over beforehand and really listened. The call was over an hour; she gave me an honest assessment of my profile and her recommendations. This dedication was consistent at every step of my application process working with SOP; you can tell Kathryn really puts her heart into her work and the applicants.
2. Systematic approach: SOP was the only firm that could clearly explain to me how I would be working with them. I really liked their approach and just knowing a very structured process was there helped relieve a lot of stress. All the advisors at SOP I spoke with (some of whom used to be independent MBA consultants) commented on the rigor of SOP’s process.
3. Team-based: SOP was the only firm I found that took a team-based approach. You work with an advisor + the leadership team + career narrative advisor (Wendy) + coordinator (to help keep you and your advisor on track). This means Kathryn/leadership reviews everything that goes out and you get multiple perspectives between your advisor and the leadership team.

Jeannice. I immediately clicked with Jeannice. Applications are a very trying process and you need someone that will be real with you! I won’t forget that one essay where Jeannice/Kathryn and I went back and forth for weeks until Jeannice ultimately suggested to scrap it, and I was so relieved she did. I appreciated that she didn’t just let it pass even though that would have saved her much time/effort. Jeannice’s professional background is what initially drew me to her and I couldn’t have made a better decision. It was extremely effective that Jeannice related to all aspects of my professional background. She helped me tell my story in a way that adcoms would fully understand the impact of my achievements.  She helped me uncover my own biases in my personal examples. Schools are looking for introspection, and my content was stronger/more relatable because of it. When it came to interviews, I couldn’t help but try to over-prepare content, but Jeannice helped me take a step back and focus on the delivery as well. Her feedback helped get me out of my head. My interview responses weren’t perfect, but it wasn’t canned. It made me seem human and show my interviewer who I really was (I was admitted to both schools that I interviewed for).

Wendy. The career narrative you write with SOP isn’t a part of the application process; it’s essentially a write up of your story/goals and the foundation to all your essays, especially helpful if you’re applying to multiple schools. Like many applicants, I was nervous about writing what I actually wanted to do post-mba thinking it wouldn’t fit the “profile.” I intially drafted goals that I felt made more sense, but Wendy helped me realize I couldn’t write about it with enough heart. Not to sound exaggerated, but the application process was very reflective for me and Wendy + team helped encourage me to pursue what I really wanted to do; it made my story more genuine at the same time.

I’m so excited to be attending my dream school!

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My experience working with Square One Prep was absolutely amazing. When I first approached Kathryn, I had only a few weeks remaining for my application deadlines and I had barely any idea on where to start. I was extremely anxious about the application process. But as I began working with Kathryn and the SOP team, my mind was put at ease. My initial consultation call with Kathryn gave me the confidence I needed to believe in the strength of my profile. Unlike other consultants I'd approached before, Kathryn gave the time to hear me out completely and understand my expectations.

I was especially delighted by my experience working with my SOP advisor. She left no stone unturned to make sure that my application was perfect. We worked on several iterations on my resume and essays, until we were truly satisfied with the result. Moreover, she acted as a constant pillar of support throughout and kept me motivated during the entire process. I was amazed by her meticulous approach and her prompt response while working on my application. Her invaluable feedback at each step really helped me put my best foot forward.

I worked with SOP for 2 schools - HBS and Wharton. I received an interview invite for both and was accepted to Harvard Business School, which was my dream school. I just could not have done this without Square One Prep. Working with Kathryn and her team was the best decision I made during my MBA application process. Looking back, I would not have done this differently

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It has been an great pleasure working with all the SOP team (Kathryn, Ram, Wendy, Bailey, and Jenny). I cannot thank them enough for their support through the application process.

The very first call I had with Kathryn was the reason behind my admission. In that call, Kathryn heard from me first on why I want to pursue an MBA now and why LBS was my only choice. Given the limited time window I had, she recommended me to ask LBS admission for a deadline extension as a first step prior to considering working with SOP. It was the right kind of advise I needed at that time.

Once I was granted the deadline extension, I enrolled with SOP. I had a full team that looked after everything I needed for my application (the CV, essays, recommendation letter, EA exam, and interview). The process was extremely smooth and organized. The SOP team started with me from scratch when it came to my CV and essays (although I thought at the time I had a good draft, turned out I didn't).

I cannot thank my advisor - Ram Iyer - enough for his outstanding support and PATIENCE. In our first call, Ram told me that this process would not only get me a better application but would ultimately make me a better person - I truly believe that this was actually the case. I learnt a lot about myself in the process and I now am more confident about my career narrative and more clear about my professional goals.

I would highly recommend the SOP team to anyone looking to apply to business school. The experience I had was extremely rewarding and I am very happy that I made that choice.

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I spoke to many admissions consultants before I contacted Kathryn. Though my call with Kathryn was scheduled for 30 mins, I didn’t need more than 20 minutes to make my decision. Kathryn neither sugar-coated the admissions process to give me false-hopes nor struck down my ambitions due to weaknesses in my profile (Some admissions consultants do this on the initial consultation calls to increase revenue and better their success rates- Horrible!). Choosing Square One Prep is one of the best decisions I have made. Hiring an MBA admissions consultant is a significant investment, and I’m glad I chose the right partner to work with.

With SOP, I felt I had a mentor with me 24*7. Kathryn responded to most emails within 15 minutes! She is highly committed to getting you into a top B-school. She will do everything to help you show your best self to schools.

I feel blessed to have had Leena Patel as my day-to-day advisor. She was always available on WhatsApp whenever I needed her guidance. She spent 6.5 hours on the initial assessment call (split into two calls) to know me and understand even the minute details of my entire life! This effort helped in coming up with persuasive anecdotes for the essays.

I strongly urge anyone considering working with SOP to believe in SOP’s process. The career narrative is the backbone of MBA applications, and SOP gives it adequate importance during the process. Leena and Kathryn helped me build a strong narrative connecting my background to my career goals. Luis, Kathryn, and Leena nudged me to fine-tune my career narrative instead of imposing it. Now when I look back at my journey over the last six months, I realize I couldn’t have gotten into a top b-school without Leena and Kathryn’s guidance.

Working with SOP taught me the intricacies of the admissions process and gave me the confidence and the mindset required to apply to any top business school. I recommend Square One Prep to anyone looking for a mentor who actually cares about getting you into top b-schools!

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SquareOne Prep was recommended to me by some close friends who had all received an admit from HSW through SquareOne. I however wanted to be thorough and spoke to several MBA consultants before deciding. Eventually, I chose SquareOne because it provided the perfect balance between optimism and blunt honesty. As a pessimist, I knew I needed a support system that would encourage me throughout this gruesome application process, and at the same time provide hard honest feedback when needed. Kathleen Danoher, who I chose to be my personal advisor was a perfect match, and Kathryn provided ample guidance and time for me to find the right personal advisor for me.

SquareOne’s career narrative approach is unique and sets a very strong foundation to build the rest of the application on. Wendy Bagdi-Durrua and the team goes through as many iterations as required till both they and I are satisfied with the narrative. This was a great time for true introspection early on in the application process. I worked with Kathleen almost daily, but every essay was also reviewed by Kathryn and the senior leadership. Having multiple experienced eyes go through the essays critically reassured me that the intended aspects of my essay were coming across clearly and plainly.

Overall, SquareOne was a wise choice and I am very happy to have made it! I applied to all M7 schools in R1, and I couldn’t have done it without SquareOne. Kathryn suggested doing a combination of full-package and hourly services, which was helpful in optimizing my spend. I received admits from Booth, Kellogg and Wharton with scholarships of 60K+ from two of them, and waitlisted at Sloan. It has been a pleasure working with SquareOne and they continue to support me even now.

For the future applicants reading this testimonial, I highly recommend Square One Prep! Just get on a call with them, and you will know what I mean.

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Like others, I scheduled free consultation calls with many admissions consultants. However, after speaking with Kathryn, the decision to choose Square One became very easy. She spent hours with me on the phone understanding my goals and guiding me a full year before I even started the application process.

I felt very confident going into application season and once I started working with my day-to-day advisor Matteo, it was abundantly clear I had made the right choice in choosing Square One.

Coming from a technical background, my writing skills were very rusty but Matteo patiently brainstormed essay ideas with me over many phone calls. Once I sent drafts for him to review, he would send me his thoughts the very next day. This ensured that I kept a smooth pace. More importantly, Matteo helped me write about my experiences from perspectives that would appeal to the admissions committees. Once I received interview invites, Matteo held several mock interviews over the phone. He challenged me during these sessions which allowed me to formulate more purposeful and concise responses. By the time I interviewed with schools, I was confident and well prepared.

In addition to the day-to-day support, the rest of the SOP team played a crucial role in my success. Wendy helped me craft a solid career narrative that I used as a guidepost throughout my application timeline. Bailey and Jenny created a timeline for me that kept track of deadlines, recommenders, and more. I was never in a rush to complete applications and importantly - was stress-free.

Throughout the process, Kathryn was always available when I needed her. She helped me put together a great list of schools to apply to and provided insight into the unique characteristics of each school. Her reviews of my essays and resume ensured they were exactly what the ad coms were looking for.

Initially, I was anxious and not very confident of my chances getting into a top school. I was a young applicant and didn’t have the strongest GPA. I can now happily say I will be matriculating at my dream M7 school because of Square One’s guidance!

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Square One Prep is the best investment I did throughout my application process. They are incredibly professional, talented and knowledgeable.

Kathryn Lucas runs a phenomenal program. She is invested and passionate about the success of every candidate. Her response time is also unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Even before starting the applications, she gave me great advice on working through my GRE and selecting schools which made me feel at ease from the beginning.

My advisor, Darcy Cain was a fantastic advisor. She took the time to get to know me holistically, supported and challenged me in great ways! Her feedback ensured that the connections between different elements of my background, personality and career goals were really coming out in my writing.

Bailey Miller kept me on schedule, reminding me of the weekly milestones. This was very helpful to stay organized and balance doing my applications with my job.

I can’t recommend them enough to anyone applying to business school!

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Before starting the application process, I was really worried about crafting a unique story and differentiating myself from the many other consultants applying to top business schools. Kathryn, Wendy, and Leila helped me dig deep into my past experiences and future career goals, and their application support was instrumental in my acceptance to Kellogg, my top choice school.

The SOP team refined every line of my resume, pushed me to develop a compelling career narrative, reviewed materials I prepared for my recommenders, helped me brainstorm a wide range of essay topics that reflected my values and experiences, and provided constructive feedback on many versions of my essays. The whole team was committed to my success and continued to work through my application materials with me until we were all confident that they were ready to submit.

The SOP team held my hand and made sure I stayed on track with all aspects of the application process. They relieved a lot of my stress, offered incredible expertise, and celebrated my successes. I would highly recommend SOP to anyone going through the MBA application process!

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