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Established in 2011, The Red Pen provides high-quality MBA consulting to candidates around the world.
Team
Our international team of consultants hold MBAs from top international programs such as Columbia, Wharton, INSEAD, Booth, NYU Stern, Cornell and Oxford Saïd. We draw on years of experience helping high-caliber students showcase the best versions of themselves in their applications. We pride ourselves on staying informed on the evolving MBA admissions space and, as members of the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants (AIGAC), hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards when serving clients.
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Product The Red Pen Admissions Consulting
Consultant Preeti Wadekar
Starting my MBA application from Ukraine, I knew I needed expert help. My first meeting with Preeti Wadekar from The Red Pen confirmed I made the right choice. Her genuine interest in my story during our Google Meet session was encouraging.
Unlike traditional email exchanges, The Red Pen used a WhatsApp group for communication, which made discussions prompt and straightforward. This approach made the entire process more accessible and efficient.
Preeti helped me delve into my personal and professional experiences, guiding me to understand and articulate my story better. Our discussions were not just about filling out an application; they were about discovering which aspects of my life were most impactful and relevant to my MBA aspirations.
Anju Goela’s expertise in crafting straightforward, descriptive pointers was crucial. Her demand for excellence pushed me to refine my pointers multiple times, ensuring they were as strong as possible. Anju was also empathetic and shared cultural insights, adding depth to our relationship.
Natasha Mankikar was instrumental in connecting my life stories to create a cohesive and compelling application. Her creativity and strategic thinking were very important as well to my acceptance to NYU Stern. Natasha was always ready to discuss ideas and fine-tune our approach.
The mock interview preparations with Garima Agarwal for Stern and Montu Gupta for another program were invaluable. Garima's thorough preparation and nuanced questions reflected her deep understanding of the interview process. Montu’s feedback was insightful, providing me with clear direction on how to improve. His advice was so beneficial that I transcribed our session to revisit his guidance.
I am deeply thankful to the entire team at The Red Pen, especially Dr. Kimberly, Preeti, Anju, Natasha, Garima, and Montu, for their support and professionalism throughout my MBA application journey. Their guidance was not just about getting into an MBA program; it was about understanding my strengths and how to present them effectively.
Working with The Red Pen was a significant factor in my successful application to NYU Stern. Their approach was personalized, their feedback was precise, and their support was consistent. For anyone seeking guidance through the complex MBA application process, I highly recommend The Red Pen for their professional and effective support.
Product The Red Pen Admissions Consulting
Consultant Dhiraj Daryani
Choosing TRP's services turned out to be a game-changer for me in my application journey. Even though I thought I was fairly acquainted with the MBA application process, the TRP team's expertise and guidance added an extra layer of excellence. Their initial exercises and questionnaires were exceptionally thorough, prompting deep reflection on various aspects of my life, dating back to childhood. This groundwork proved invaluable when I sat down to write my essays; I already had a treasure trove of 20-25 stories to draw from.
In the thick of the admissions process, I realized the value of having a team instead of just a single consultant. TRP's team structure meant that every element of my application (resume, LOR, essays, video essays, and more) underwent thorough scrutiny, revisions, and feedback from multiple perspectives. This ensured that my application stood out in all aspects. When it came to my essays, Dhiraj and Srishti dissected every line multiple times, and I can't express enough gratitude for their unwavering support. Essay reviews and mock interviews conducted by external members added tremendous value to my application. One thing worth mentioning is that the proactive engagement of the team persisted throughout the application process, extending beyond the submission of my application.
In this journey, my lead consultant, Dhiraj Daryani, has been my biggest support. He's not just a great mentor but was genuinely invested in my progress. His advice proved beneficial not just in the context of my MBA journey but also had a positive impact on my professional development. Dhiraj always goes above and beyond to support and guide you and is always available when you want to talk; having conversations with him gives you the clarity and strength you need in this gruesome MBA application process. His emphasis on building connections and keeping in constant touch with students and clubs provided me with clarity, firsthand insights, and a network I can count on in the years to come.
Because of the invaluable support of the team, I was able to get into my dream college (Kellogg) and received admits from 2 other programs. Without a doubt, I highly recommend TRP for MBA applications. My experience with Dhiraj and the team was nothing short of amazing.
Product The Red Pen Admissions Consulting
Consultant Kaushik Reddy
I worked with The Red Pen for a period of ~9 months on 5 MBA applications, and applied to 5-schools independently. Following the onboarding process, I completed an extensive Get To Know You (GTKY) questionnaire probing deeply into my background, career, and MBA aspirations. My Lead Consultant (LC) - Kaushik Reddy - provided detailed feedback that allowed for much greater clarity on my post-MBA goals and formed the basis for (i) my selecting specific MBA programs and (i) outlining STAR stories (to be incorporated into essays and interviews).
Splitting the workload across four themes (resume, application forms, essays, and pointers for recommenders), I benefitted greatly from the support, guidance, and mentorship of the entire team at TRP: Kaushik Reddy, Rachel Roper, Abhishek Kochhar, Smita Shah, and Prerna Nigotiya! Each component involved ~5 drafts on average and exhaustive line-by-line comments, consistently encouraging me to reflect more deeply, clarify my research & motivations, and produce work of much greater quality. After submitting 10 MBA applications in Round 1, I participated in 2 mock interviews with TRP, interviewed at 6 schools, and received 4 offers: Wharton, LBS, Kellogg, and Yale!
These outcomes are a direct result of TRP's comprehensive application process, guidance, and timelines, that greatly simplifies the rigorous MBA application process. I highly recommend working with The Red Pen to MBA aspirants - I could not have done it without them!
Product The Red Pen Admissions Consulting
Consultant Garima Agarwal
The Red Pen’s MBA team has amazing depth across all components and stages of the application process. While working with them on my applications, I felt they were deeply invested in my success and were able to bring out my stories in the best possible way. I think their personal touch and school-specific insights were instrumental in helping me secure admissions to Stanford GSB, Wharton, Booth, Kellogg and Sloan. For folks looking for seasoned application professionals to get into their dream b-school, I couldn’t recommend The Red Pen more!
Special shout-out to Garima Agarwal, Preeti Wadekar, Anju Kesharwani Goela, Ridhi Ghelani and Kim Dixit!
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Product The Red Pen Admissions Consulting
Consultant Montu Gupta
As a reapplicant to M7 business schools, selecting an admissions consultant was a critical decision for me. After thorough consideration and discussions with several consultants, I chose TRP based on their professional approach and ability to resonate with my needs from our very first interaction.
Working with Montu Gupta as my lead consultant was a pivotal experience. Montu's dedication to understanding and articulating my goals, coupled with his expertise in selecting appropriate schools, was invaluable. His methodical and transparent approach, particularly his emphasis on the "So what?" aspect of my significant achievements and future goals, compelled me to introspect deeply about my ambitions and experiences, clarifying my reasons for pursuing an MBA.
Montu's guidance was instrumental in my acceptance into Columbia Business School, a milestone that marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in my educational journey.
I extend my sincere thanks to the entire TRP team, including Manik Bhargava, Abhishek Kochhar, Prerna Nigotiya, Divya Sharma, and Pradyot Anand, for their tireless efforts in refining my application, CV, LinkedIn profile, etc.
I wholeheartedly recommend TRP and Montu Gupta to any prospective MBA applicants seeking expert guidance and a personalized approach in navigating the complex admissions process.
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Product The Red Pen Admissions Consulting
Consultant Preeti Wadekar
I worked with Preeti as my Lead Consultant, along with Smita, Srishti, Ritu and Prerna.
The process was smooth and made me self-reflect multiple times to bring out the best as well as the most learning experiences of my life.
The Get-to-know-yourself document is a game changer.
We worked in multiple iterations on each essay and LOR to come out with the answer that best suits me and the respective school.
I got admits from all the 3 schools that I applied to (LBS, Oxford, Cambridge). I also got 100% scholarship from Oxford and 60% scholarship from LBS.
The contribution done by TRP team in the form of their support and guidance made all this possible.
Product The Red Pen Admissions Consulting
Consultant Natasha Mankikar
My first interaction with TRP was with Nikhilesh Jha, who connected me with Namrata Khosla. Namrata was one of the first people I spoke to regarding my MBA, way back in 2021. She was extremely kind and helpful, taking out an hour on a weeknight to get on a call to hear my story and give me tailored advice as I had an extremely unconventional profile.
Fast forward to 2022, I got on a 30 minute call with Preeti who after understanding my goals suggested I work with Natasha Mankikar as my lead consultant, alongside Anju Goela, who would work with me on my Resume (which was a LOT of work) and my LOR pointers.
Natasha not only played the role of a consultant but also that of a coach, guiding me through each and every step of the process. Anju worked with me for weeks to close on my resume (I had never had one since I started work 6+ years back). Natasha and Anju were instrumental in me getting accepted to IESE (my dream school) for the full time MBA and I will always be grateful to the both of them.
Finally, I would also like to thank Kshitij and Prerna. PS - Natasha and Anju both kept telling me to trust the process and it definitely paid off! Thank you TRP!
Product The Red Pen Admissions Consulting
Consultant Mitrabina Sen Khare
I've been seeking TRP's help for a year, so I believe I am in a good position to submit this review.
Initially, I wanted to apply in R3 of the 2022 application cycle. So, when I first reached out to the TRP team around January 2022, I was connected to Namrata Khosla. She provided some valuable insights and helped me understand how difficult it is for an international applicant to secure a spot in the top business schools in the US by applying in R3. Hence, I chose to defer my plans and reached out to TRP again in April after my second GMAT attempt.
The first product from TRP that I used was the 'Application Roadmap Meeting' or the ARM. It was an hour-long discussion with a Lead Consultant from TRP, in which my resume and profile were analyzed in-depth, and later, a list of suitable target and dream schools was provided. This hour-long discussion with Preeti Waderkar was phenomenal! The session served as a much-needed reality check. Having gone through the ARM process, I was aware of my strengths and weakenesses earlier in the cycle. I would recommend everyone to take the ARM product even though it is a bit pricey - chances are that you probably need it!
After the ARM, I decided to sign up for the 10-school package as this product was costing me the same amount as the 5-school package would have cost me. I am still unsure if that was the right decision, but to each their own. You probably won't apply to 8-10 schools. Or even if you do, after writing your 5th application, you'll get the hang of it. So, choose accordingly and wisely.
One of the things I loved about TRP from the get-go was its multi-member team model. Right after joining the program, I joined a group where Prerna helped me with Ops, Divya helped me with LoR pointers, Natasha helped me with my resume, and Mitrabina was responsible for the bigger picture as my Lead Consultant (LC). While working with everyone was a bit of a learning curve, I am grateful for the support I have received from them throughout the process. More importantly, I am thankful for the multiple perspectives I received throughout my application journey. Knowing that my essays were reviewed and proofread by experts was reassuring.
Mitrabina helped me streamline my career goals SO many times. I walked into the process without a clear post-mba goal, but Mitrabina did her job well as a mentor. She was supportive and direct throughout the process. She even helped me review an essay for my safety school (Georgetown McDonough) even though I applied to the school outside of the package. Mitrabina helped me phrase my answers before my interviews, too. I am glad that I had the opportunity to learn from her.
Lastly, and most importantly, a huge kudos to Anju Goela from the TRP team! Initially, Divya and Anju helped me perfect the LoR pointers, which I had to forward to my recommenders. But I had the opportunity to work with Anju after getting waitlisted at my dream b-school (Duke Fuqua) in October 2022. Anju has been so supportive and encouraging throughout the Waitlist process. She has always been quick in responding to the submitted drafts with meaningful and insightful review comments. She motivated me to be optimistic about my chances and asked me to trust the process. Working with Anju was delightful. I got off the Fuqua Waitlist with a merit scholarship last weekend, and if I am being honest, I don't think it would've happened if Anju didn't help me out.
My advice (based on my experience): TRP has a great and very knowledgeable team of people, and you should work with them. But the entire ownership of your application is on you and I don't think that is an unfair ask. Please do your research well in advance and ask about the other commitments your TRP team might have. Communicate and plan your assignments, essays and application components accordingly. It makes your life easier.
All the best!
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Product The Red Pen Admissions Consulting
Consultant Preeti Taterway
I recently applied for an executive MBA and worked with TRP on the selection, application and finalization. TRP is thoroughly professional, gave me prompt support and adequate guidance throughout the process.
I was applying for an executive MBA and my circumstances were unique. The TRP team lead by Preeti helped me throughout the process - their support was pivotal in three ways: helping me target better schools than I had initially identified, helping me think clearly and articulate my ambitions in the EMBA applications and guiding me during the interview process including multiple mock interviews.
Thanks to the support by TRP, I was selected by all the schools I applied to and am currently finalizing my admission in my dream school.
Product The Red Pen Admissions Consulting
Consultant Preeti Wadekar
TLDR: I had a dream M7 school in my mind right from the beginning when I started my school research. I ended up getting admitted into that same school. It would be impossible to achieve that without The Red Pen team - Preeti, Natasha, Ritu, Prerna, Anju, and Kim.
I signed up with The Red Pen based on the recommendation of my friend who got into Wharton last year. I had made multiple switches in my career and was not strong on my extra-curriculars, but regardless had some good highlights in my story as well. Looking at the process, I was unsure about how to approach it and make sure everything was inch perfect. This is where the entire Red Pen team came in. They made me thoroughly analyze my life journey, helping me discover some unique experiences which were crucial in shaping my outlook in life.
Preeti and Natasha helped me write my thoughts into original essays, without ever asking me to follow any standard template. Natasha really helped in bringing out the best of content and Preeti was solid on pointing out any misdirection in my story. It often felt like I was working with two brilliant consultants at once and helped me gather multiple points of view in every interaction.
Ritu did a great job with my resume, making sure all the highlights are carefully captured without wasting too much space. With Preeti's guidance, my final resume was an optimal balance of professional excellence, academic highlights, and extra-curricular engagements.
Shoutout to Anju, who helped me with the letters of recommendations throughout the journey. One of things I was struggling with was the fact that my recommenders were related to me in similar functional roles and their content had a lot of intersection. Anju made sure that the LoRs were distinct and highlighted different aspects of my contributions.
Lastly, I got waitlisted in Round 1 from my dream school. This is one aspect where Anju really shined. She helped me navigate the waitlist by preparing multiple updates for the admissions committee, which resulted in my acceptance into my dream school.
I would also call out the contributions of Kim, who helped me identify areas of weakness in my interview skills, which reflected in my Round 2 performance.
All in all, I am very happy to have signed up with The Red Pen. They have a great team and make their best attempt to bring out the most unique and original story of a candidate, while ensuring that the story is something that would catch the AdCom's attention. Highly recommend to anyone who is starting off with their MBA prep. Cheers!