Strengths:

Hands on experience, very well thought out program, with you through ups and downs, fast turnaround time, great team, patient, do not use AI

Would make the product better:

N/A - Premium Price for Premium Product

I had a wonderful experience working with Kathryn and Horatiu through my MBA application process. I engaged just prior to the Round 1 deadline after feeling unsatisfied with the status of my application. I worked with the team over the fall to ensure that there was no doubt I was putting my best foot forward for Round 2. The result: HBS and Stanford Dual Admit. I could not have done it without them.

Kathryn helped bring structure to my timeline and harmonized the story I told the admissions team across my resume, essays and interviews. While we baked in flexibility, she adapted as work obligations occasionally derailed progress. The Square One process is notably unique, and is structured to ensure you think through, and explain your goals in concrete terms. My biggest piece of advice is to trust the SOP process, as the value will become clear as you move through each step.

Upon reflection, working with Kathryn helped me identify my own weaknesses: Mainly that (i) I tend to be a flowery writer and (ii) I can be long-winded with a bias towards overexplaining. Kathryn helped me course-correct at each step in the way, bringing the most impactful details to the forefront of my narrative. Through the process of guided introspection, she helped me see what made me unique as a candidate and encouraged me to lean into it. The results speak for themselves!

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Strengths:

Great team, transparency, attention to detail, and above all, great care for their customers.

If I had to describe my experience working with Square One Prep, I would simply say it was “Excellence.” As an international student, the MBA application process can feel overwhelming and unfamiliar. Square One Prep made it structured, organized, and manageable in a way that suited my working style. Even through the highs and lows of the process, they maintained engagement, pushed me when necessary, and remained fully committed to helping me achieve my goals. I genuinely believe they played a vital role in helping me secure my spot at Columbia Business School. I can attest to the great team that Kathryn has created.
From the very beginning, what stood out most to me was their transparency and honesty. During my initial consultation with Kathryn, she took the time to genuinely understand my background, goals, and perspective as an international applicant navigating the U.S. MBA process for the first time. What I appreciated most was that she didn’t tell me what I wanted to hear; she told me what I needed to hear. Her candid assessment of my chances at top programs provided me with a clear, realistic starting point and ultimately convinced me to work with Square One Prep. From there, the process felt highly structured and purposeful.

Working with Horatiu on my career narrative was a pivotal moment. He helped me organize ideas and define the purpose behind my applications, “what story I was telling and why it mattered”. This clarity made everything that followed more focused and effective.

Pat also played a crucial role in keeping everything on track. His consistent follow-ups, attention to deadlines, and willingness to step in when needed ensured I was always progressing and aligned with the plan.

But above all, I want to highlight the work I did with Kelsey. We spent countless hours refining essays, reviewing details, and elevating every aspect of my application. Her dedication, patience, and attention to detail are truly exceptional. I often joked she was a “wizard” when it came to admissions. She has an incredible ability to break things down, show exactly what schools are looking for, and guide you in presenting your story authentically and distinctly. What sets her apart isn’t just her expertise but her honesty and precision in the work we deliver. She never sugarcoated feedback and constantly pushed me to improve while ensuring every word, idea, and angle of my application served a purpose. She helped elevate my resume, all essays, and ultimately, but most importantly, how I saw myself as a candidate. There are not enough words to show my gratitude for her work.

I can wholeheartedly recommend Square One Prep. They truly are a firm like no other, just as they state. Kathryn, Kelsey, Horatiu, and Pat are an exceptional team whose professionalism, honesty, and dedication to their clients truly set them apart

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Strengths:

Personalized & Tailored Approach
Comprehensive Support
Holistic Coaching
Confidence Building

When I started my MBA application process, I had consultations with other very famous online firms, but it wasn't until a friend (who is also at HBS) recommended SOP that I found the right fit. From my free consultation with Kathryn, I immediately felt a huge difference; unlike other companies, everything here felt much more personal and tailored. This gave me the confidence I needed because I knew that reaching HBS required a level of detail that could bring every nuance of my life, career, and personality to light. SOP has a dedicated team for every stage of the application, and working with Kathryn was incredible. Her feedback was extremely constructive, but she went far beyond just the application itself.
She advised me with her point of view through professional decisions that could have impacted my candidacy, truly caring about making the pre-MBA experience smoother, more transformative, and less stressful. Even regardless of being admitted to HBS, Sloan, and Tuck, I feel my experience with SOP helped me evolve and prepared me for the challenges ahead. I started this journey thinking HBS was a very long shot, but SOP gave me the confidence to own my story and face my interviews like a champ!! I highly recommend them to anyone aiming for the top.

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Strengths:

1. Personalized
2. Structured and strategic
3. Highly experienced and knowledgeable team

Would make the product better:

While SOP provided me very helpful interview prep even for the schools I did not directly work with them for, a few more mock drills would've taken the pressure off and helped me be more confident (and consistent) during interviews.

The team at SOP (especially Allison who I worked most closely with) did an excellent job of understanding my profile, carving out my unique story and helping me stand out among other applicants. They have a deep understanding of what each school's adcom looks for in candidates, bringing a dimension to my application that I would have completely missed if I had tackled the process myself. SOP helped me tremendously by structuring my approach and timeline for the entire admission process, from application deadlines to interviews and even a waitlist strategy that was instrumental in helping me land an offer from my target school.

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After processing all of the exciting news and going 3-for-3 on schools, I wanted to take some time to share my experience with Square One Prep. I would absolutely, without a doubt, not be where I am today without their help, support, cheerleading, and constant encouragement. From my struggles with the GRE to multiple iterations of certain essays, they were in it with me until everything was absolutely perfect. I don’t have the words to express how grateful I am and how much I valued their support.

Horatiu stuck with me through my career narrative journey. Before speaking to him, I was all over the place on what I thought I wanted to do with my career and what made sense. He listened, pushed me, pressure tested me, and helped me take the time to research and really become even more passionate about my startup. I can confidently say that I feel better set up to start my MBA because of all of the work we did together in shaping my path.

Pat helped me stay on track and ensure I got everything done before my family trip in December. He was always incredibly responsive and encouraging.

Kathryn was extremely helpful in being an extra set of eyes on every single one of my essays. This helped me feel even more comfortable moving forward with them! She always pressure tested my themes and specific points and encouraged me to think differently. I will never forget the very last “essay” we worked on, the Booth interview video. That was one of the toughest ones for me, but Kathryn never gave up in helping me get it to the right spot. I absolutely felt more at ease knowing she was there every step of the way.

Last, but not least, LARA!!!!! When I was working with Lara, I told every person that would listen to me how amazing she was. She pushed me, held me accountable, worked late nights with me, made me feel like my story was worth listening to, and just truly made me a better writer. She is so skilled in what she does and I truly enjoyed all of our calls and work together. By the end of our work, I absolutely felt like a better writer and could articulate more interesting stories and moments about my career and life to date. Lara made my small stories, memories, and moments stand out and helped me connect them to the essay themes. This is something I never thought possible! Before working with Lara as I thought about business school I was concerned I wasn’t interesting enough and that my stories were not worth sharing. She made me feel heard and I can’t recommend her enough!

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Strengths:

Attention to detail, communication, commitment to success, honesty

Would make the product better:

N/A

Square One was a fantastic partner throughout my admissions journey. From day one, the team was incredibly accessible, always available to answer any questions and guide me through every step of the process. They taught me so much about admissions and made what originally felt to me a very stressful experience feel a lot more manageable.
They carefully brainstormed topics with me, and reviewed my essays in detail, all while making sure my authentic voice always came through. Their attention to detail and thoughtful feedback made a huge difference.
I was able to relax and focus on my work knowing I could rely on them to keep track of important deadlines and handle the process with a lot of care. I would 100% recommend this team to anyone!

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Going into the MBA application process, I had a ton of doubts. With my GPA on the lower side (14/20), I honestly didn't know if I stood a real chance at a top program. Choosing Square One Prep – and specifically picking Vi Mai as my advisor –was hands down the best decision I could’ve made.

From day one, SOP’s incredibly structured approach gave me so much peace of mind. Instead of just jumping blindly into essays, we spent the first few weeks doing some serious heavy lifting. Working with Vi, Horatiu (Career Narrative Advisor) and Kelsey Kephart (my Team Lead) to completely overhaul my resume and map out my actual career goals was incredible. They helped me connect the dots in my professional background to find a cohesive, powerful narrative that I never would have seen on my own. Getting that intense clarity upfront gave me a clear roadmap for all of my applications.

But working with Vi was the real game-changer. She didn't just help me find my best stories, she showed me how to actually make them compelling. More importantly, she kept me grounded and out of my own head. Balancing the applications with a crazy, travel-heavy work schedule wasn't easy, but Vi's proactive approach kept everything on track. She was incredibly responsive, making sure I hit every single deadline no matter what time zone I was in. When it came time for interviews, her prep work was also absolutely key in making sure I felt confident. I truly felt like I had a partner who was just as invested in my success as I was.

In the end, the outcome honestly couldn’t have been better. Not only did I get into Harvard, but I get to go alongside my partner – who also worked with Square One Prep! It still feels completely surreal. I’m so incredibly grateful to Vi and the entire team for their passion and professionalism.

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I enthusiastically recommend Square One Prep. Being from Latin America, hiring an admissions consultant was a huge financial commitment for me. It was a tough choice, but looking at my final outcomes, I can confidently say it was 100% worth it. I honestly don't think I would have achieved these results without their help.

Going into this, I had so many doubts. I worried that my software engineering background was overrepresented, that I was getting too old for an MBA (33 when I start school), or that I was simply aiming way too high. The team at SOP helped me see my actual potential and shared past success cases that completely shifted my mindset and gave me the confidence to go for it.

What makes their service stand out is how structured the whole process is. They don’t just rush into writing essays; they take the time to really get to know you first. They pushed me to dig deep into my motivations, my background, my past decisions, and my relationships, and they helped me build my career narrative from the ground up. I also loved that the process involves different people from their team stepping in at various stages to provide additional support and fresh eyes on your work. They see you as a whole person and dare you to keep exploring yourself, which ultimately makes the stories you tell the adcoms so much stronger.

Of course, the MBA journey has its bumps. I actually got rejected by a program we applied to early on. But honestly, I didn't even get discouraged. I was so confident in the process and the quality of the work we were putting in that I knew rejection was just a normal part of the game. That patience paid off—I ended up with several offers from schools across different tiers, secured scholarships, and most importantly, got into my absolute dream program!

There are a couple of areas for improvement. First is how they organize their past essay examples. Right now, everything is just dumped into a single folder by school. It makes it pretty hard to search for what you actually need or to easily highlight the ones that inspire you. A better-organized database would be a huge time-saver. Second, I think having all written work managed in a Google Drive would be much better. Currently, documents are sent back and forth via email, but using a shared drive would make collaborating on files and keeping track of version history so much easier.

Finally, a huge shoutout to my consultant, David Chan. Working with him on a daily basis was incredible. He is a true professional who figured me out at every single step. He knew exactly how to look at my experience and help me frame it to be as impactful as possible. We made an amazing team. I loved that he was always outspoken and direct—he never hesitated to tell me when something wasn't working, but he was just as quick to praise a good idea. He gave great advice throughout the whole process and is a fantastic mock interviewer. Beyond the technical stuff, I felt like David genuinely cared about me getting into business school. He celebrated every interview invite and admission offer right alongside me. Choosing him was definitely the best choice.

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Strengths:

Going into the process, I did not necessarily see my background as unique. Wilson (Consultant, Horatiu (Career Narrative Advisor), Kathryn Lucas (Founder & CEO), and the larger Square One Prep team Wilson helped me to articulate my MBA story in a way I never could have done alone. The SOP team helped me recognize what made my professional journey distinct and how to communicate my carrier interests effectively. I cannot say enough about Square One Prep’s upfront Applicant Interviews, Background Assessment, Resume Re-Build, and the Career Narrative pre-work. It laid the foundation of distilling my academic interests, career experiences, and passions into clear short-, medium-, and long-term goals that ultimately became the backbone of seven school applications. That level of upfront narrative development truly sets SOP apart from other consulting firms.

Would make the product better:

Kathryn and Team were with me every step of the way regardless of how many essay edits and reworks were needed. The only element of the application cycle that was higher friction were my LORs. One Recommenders felt that – even with the high degree of reference materials the SOP Team helped me prepare them with – that the time requirement from them was far higher than the SOP process claimed. This is likely due to the number of programs (seven) that I applied to. Even then, the SOP team went above and beyond to help me through this more challenging piece of the processes that relied on outside involvement from my Recommenders. They rolled with the punches right alongside me.

I was recommended SOP following a friend’s successful MBA applications the prior year. Working with Wilson and the Square One Prep team was by far the most valuable decision I made during my MBA application process. Wilson brings an exceptional level of insight into the application landscape and admissions process. I started my MBA journey with many ideas about what I wanted from an MBA, but Wilson and the broader SOP team were key to translating those priorities into a focused list of schools and a clear narrative of “Why MBA, Why Now” that connected back to my work experience.

Wilson was an incredible advisor throughout the process. Applying to seven schools felt overwhelming, but Wilson brought a level of organization, empathy, and constant support that made the process manageable (if not still a bit overwhelming). He helped break what felt like a massive undertaking into clear, achievable steps even for schools he was not directly advising me on. He was always willing to spend the time needed to talk through ideas, refine essays, or help me get unstuck. It genuinely felt like he understood my professional aspirations as well as I did; it speaks to how much he truly cares about getting the best outcomes for his counselees.

I cannot emphasize enough how integral Square One Prep was to my success. Their guidance, structure, and experience navigating the MBA process played a major role in helping me get into my dream programs. Looking back, I can’t imagine going through the application cycle without the SOP team and highly recommend them to anyone committed to pursuing an MBA.

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I had a great experience working with Kathryn and Lara during my MBA application process. From the start, Kathryn really stood out for how personally invested she was. She checked in often, kept me steady when things felt overwhelming, and made it clear she genuinely cared about me as a person, not just an applicant. That level of support mattered a lot during a high-pressure season.

On the strategy side, Kathryn and Lara helped me bring structure to my timeline and sharpen my overall story. Their feedback was clear and practical, and they pushed me to be more specific, more reflective, and more consistent across my materials. They also helped me tighten my positioning and improve the flow and readability of my writing. I appreciated how responsive they were and how easy they were to work with. I felt supported both personally and strategically, and I’m really grateful for their guidance. I’d recommend them to anyone going through the MBA process who wants a team that is truly invested in your success.

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