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The Red Pen Admissions Consulting Reviews

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.

 

Click here to know more about our standalone services

4.9 /5 Average Rating
5 star
67
4 star
2
3 star
0
2 star
1
1 star
1
Based on 71 reviews

AI Super-Summary of Customer Reviews for The Red Pen Admissions Consulting*

The Red Pen (TRP) has been highly praised for its expert guidance and personalized support in MBA admissions, contributing to numerous successful applications to top schools including Stanford, Wharton, Kellogg, and Yale. The team-based approach allows for comprehensive scrutiny and iteration of application components such as essays, resumes, and interviews, ensuring applicants present their strongest profiles. Despite a few negative experiences citing delays and communication issues, the majority of clients commend TRP consultants for their dedication, strategic insights, and ability to adapt to individual applicant needs. Many reviews highlight significant achievements, from gaining admissions to prestigious programs to securing scholarships, underscoring TRP's effectiveness in the competitive admissions landscape.
9 users mention "Interview Prep"
  • "fared well at business school interviews due to the mock interviews conducted by the team..." Read more
  • "preparing for interviews..." Read more
  • "multiple mock interviews..." Read more
  • "perfecting my essays and preparing for interviews..." Read more
  • "mentoring me and leading me across the line..." Read more
  • "guidance with the interview preparation..." Read more
  • "multiple updates for the admissions committee..." Read more
  • "assisting me with developing a waitlist strategy..." Read more
  • "mock interviews..." Read more
8 users mention "Supportive"
  • "Learn from their team of experts who excel at all they do..." Read more
  • "supportive and encouraging throughout the Waitlist process..." Read more
  • "very comfortable working with all the team members..." Read more
  • "guide me through every step..." Read more
  • "Manan was incredibly patient, kind, and genuinely helpful..." Read more
  • "felt supported and confident throughout the application process..." Read more
  • "dedicated support..." Read more
  • "unwavering support..." Read more
8 users mention "Full Service"
  • "multiple perspectives I received throughout my application journey..." Read more
  • "personalized advice and insights that proved invaluable..." Read more
  • "well prepared in my applications..." Read more
  • "guidance, and mentorship of the entire team..." Read more
  • "prompting deep reflection on various aspects of my life..." Read more
  • "their support and guidance..." Read more
  • "amazing depth across all components and stages of the application process..." Read more
  • "refining my application, CV, LinkedIn profile, etc...." Read more
4 users mention "Career Transition"
  • "they really prepare you to take on other colleges yourself..." Read more
  • "stand out from other applicants..." Read more
  • "extremely stressed and kind of clueless before starting with my applications..." Read more
  • "Dhiraj personally took time out to help out..." Read more
3 users mention "Scholarship Awarded"
3 users mention "Admitted"
  • "got off the Fuqua Waitlist with a merit scholarship..." Read more
  • "I received an acceptance letter from my Yale and ISB..." Read more
  • "resulted in me getting interviews at every school..." Read more
3 users mention "Responsive"
  • "has always been quick in responding..." Read more
  • "very approachable and willing to help anytime I reached out..." Read more
  • "WhatsApp group for communication, which made discussions prompt..." Read more
3 users mention "Non-traditional Backgrounds"
  • "multiple perspectives I received..." Read more
  • "had an extremely unconventional profile..." Read more
  • "my circumstances were unique..." Read more
3 users mention "Top-Tier School Focus"
  • "top business schools in the US..." Read more
  • "Booth, Kellogg, Ross, Anderson, and Stern..." Read more
  • "admissions consultant for me..." Read more
2 users mention "Essay Editing"
  • "Pradyot ensured that I put my best foot forward with the essays..." Read more
  • "tailor-made to fit each school..." Read more
2 users mention "Time Management"
  • "extremely punctual..." Read more
  • "submitting my applications on the very last day..." Read more
2 users mention "Detail-Oriented"
  • "requires a whole lot of self work as well..." Read more
  • "detailed feedback that allowed for much greater clarity..." Read more
1 users mention "Value for Money"
  • "The personalized care and advice..." Read more
1 users mention "Global Expertise"
  • "cultural insights, adding depth to our relationship..." Read more
1 users mention "Industry Specialist"
  • "excel at providing correct guidance..." Read more
1 users mention "Resume Review"
  • "work with me on my Resume (which was a LOT of work)..." Read more
1 users mention "Inexperienced"
  • "I came into the applications process with limited knowledge..." Read more
1 users mention "Unsuccessful"
  • "While I did not get in the college we worked together on..." Read more
1 users mention "No Improvement"
1 users mention "Impersonal"
  • "the consultants came across as rude or dismissive..." Read more
*Review summaries are AI generated from 25 latest reviews in the past 2 years.
April 05, 2022
sp24

Joined: Feb 24, 2021

Posts: 82

Kudos: 96

Verified GMAT Classic score:
760 Q50 V42 (Online)

Great Experience - very structured process, honest assessments.

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

My experience with the Red Pen for US MBA applications was great! I used their comprehensive services for Round 1 of the 21-22 cycle, and have an admit offer from my dream school (with a full-tuition scholarship), plus other admits and interview invites (which I declined for personal reasons).

They have a well-structured process, from the beginning when they spend a lot of time getting to know you and your stories and then help you structure those according to each school's essay prompts. They use an online system that's easy to navigate and saves a lot of confusion between draft versions.

Coming from a non-traditional background in an over-represented demographic, and targeting top US B-Schools - I was quite anxious about how this would turn out. You are paired with a Lead Consultant and a Content Specialist, and I was paired with Nikhilesh (a Wharton MBA himself) and Ankita. They gave me immense support throughout the process and helped me with countless edits on even the most abstract essays, finally even going over each detail of the online application forms. But that's not to say that you won't have to put in the effort yourself! You need to do your own research and need to be very clear about what you want from your MBA.

Highly recommend the Red Pen's MBA services.

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April 03, 2022
Aseempat

Joined: Feb 01, 2021

Posts: 1

Kudos: 0

Self-reported Score:
760

Good team, Great service.

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by school email address [?]

I was very fortunate to be mentored by the Red Pen team. Right from resume building, school selection, STAR stories, essays, recommendation advisory to interview preparation, the process was very smooth.

The team designed their approach to my preferred method of working and gave me invaluable insights at every juncture of the process.

The consultants at TRP are world class and the management is very professional and invested in their client's success.

I worked with Farhan, Najeshda and Anju. All of them were experts in their respective domains and helped me transform my application from mediocre to one that would stand out.

I would recommend TRP to anyone who is starting their journey of MBA admissions or even those who need some supplemental help.

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March 31, 2022
shreyas228

Joined: Sep 24, 2021

Posts: 5

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
730 Q50 V38

My experience with The Red Pen

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

My experience of working with with TRP (The Red Pen) for my Round 2 applications in the 2021-22 application cycle, was a fantastic one. The one thing that stood out for me about them was the fact that they had a team of experts working with you on different aspects of your application rather than the one person assisting you all your essays, resumes, and LoRs.

In my case, Preeti, the lead consultant was crucial in bringing out the best in me. She made me introspect a lot and was influential in crafting my story which included various different aspects of my life.

Working with Natasha, I can say with full confidence that she is truly a content specialist. She played a massive role in bringing life into my essays as well as resume. As for the LoRs, I worked with Smita and Anju, and they were both incredibly helpful in making me understand what pointers I had to give my recommenders to enable them to write the letter of recommendation.

The other thing I loved about them was the fact that they never discouraged me to applying to any school. They were always supportive and made sure they could do everything they can to get the best out of me.

I'd certainly recommend working with them!

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March 29, 2022
ds1111

Joined: Mar 29, 2022

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Awesome experience, would strongly recommend their services

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

I had a great experience working with The Red Pen team for my MBA applications! I was quite confused about what I wanted from the MBA initially, but the team at TRP provided immense guidance and structure to my journey - to the point where I can clearly articulate my goals and career progression. Both Dhiraj and Najeshda have been extremely helpful and thorough with the process. Their meticulous essay edits have forced me to narrow my focus and bring out the best insights from my professional and academic experience.

Refining my career goals and going through multiple rounds of essays was certainly challenging, but TRP really knows what they're doing. Having recently secured offers from 2 top MBA programs, I strongly recommend The Red Pen for anyone looking to start or improve their applications. Thank you again to Dhiraj, Najeshda and Anju for their amazing support during the whole process!

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March 28, 2022
varunsms

Joined: Feb 22, 2016

Posts: 1

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
710 Q47 V40

Highly Recommend for MBA Apps

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

A big thank you to the TRP team for helping me secure an admission to my dream B-school.

Safe to say it would not have been possible without them. I had some gaps in my apps which the TRP team thought through with me, bridged and made up for through the essays. The team was also very easy to work with and very approachable - which for me was the most important consideration.

I have worked with and spoken to other consultants in the past and beleieve the depth of experience of the TRP team is unmatched. Would definitely give the whole experience 5 stars !

Happy to speak and connect if you need any specific feedback on my experience as well.

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March 05, 2022
Hiral008

Joined: May 26, 2019

Posts: 1

Kudos: 1

Really good experience

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by membership [?]

I signed up with TRP for my applications to business schools. I was paired with Mitrabina Sen. The best part was that she took the time to dive into my personal experiences and made sure my essay was unique. The mock interview preparation with Preeti was very similar to how my actual Interview was, it prepared me extremely well. The assistance given for the letter of recommendations by Anju, resume by Natasha was also to the point and detailed, catered to each individual profile. I did get into my dream school. Preeti has also individually taken out time to look into my application and continues to guide me to date

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March 04, 2022
anon12345667

Joined: Feb 19, 2021

Posts: 2

Kudos: 1

Verified GMAT Classic score:
750 Q50 V41 (Online)

I was a bit late for Round 1 and appeared for my GMAT 7 weeks before my 1st application deadline. Got to know about TRP from one of my seniors (currently in CBS). And I must say the process is so structured that I was able to apply to 5 schools despite being late to the game. Got admits from Kellogg and Ross ($).

The best part is that you have multiple people working on your application with each person's forte being a part of your application. My lead consultant was Ridhi Ghelani, and Natasha Mankikar, Anju Goela, Preeti Wadekar & Nikhilesh Jha also worked with me on my application. This process ensures multiple people have reviewed your application leaving no stones unturned.

While they are structured, it wasn't the case that I had fixed timings that I had to adhere to in order to reach out to them. We had a WhatsApp group with everyone on it and I would get always get prompt replies to my doubts/queries/concerns. They have even received my calls on random hours and supported me throughout my application. I wouldn't recommend others to do so (I felt this was a bit unprofessional from my side) but I am still glad that they were always there for me. They helped me craft a compelling narrative for my application that helped me get 4 interviews (converted 2, waitlisted 1)!

Lastly, I would want to clarify that the above doesn't mean they will write the content of your application for you. This doesn't happen. You'll still have to put in the effort as an applicant. But if you are willing to put in that effort, I and confident TRP will get you into your dream school. Hope this helps!

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January 27, 2022
saumyaseth

Joined: Jun 24, 2018

Posts: 2

Kudos: 3

Thorough and effective!

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by membership [?]

After going through a lot of reviews/websites for MBA admissions consulting, I decided to choose TRP given their thorough and a holistic approach to applications.
Right from the start, my consultant pushed me to fine tune my story and portray the best and authentic version of myself to the admissions committee. The whole detail oriented essay process greatly helped in developing a storyline and this solid storyline also helped me immensely in acing my interview. Working on my applications with TRP has been an amazing learning experience in itself. I would strongly suggest you to choose TRP if you are willing to put in effort from your end and are looking for genuine feedback to work on.

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January 05, 2022
karakootildasan

Joined: Oct 15, 2017

Posts: 60

Kudos: 26

Verified GMAT Classic score:
730 Q51 V37

Methodical and Thorough, TRP is fantastic!

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

I got in touch with The Red Pen during my Consultants search, having gone through 10+ consultants, TRP managed to make me feel good about my chances while setting the right expectations. Having run through their process which was highly structured, involved multiple reviews and fit well within each timeline realistically, I was increasingly optimistic of my chances.

Since my geography and industry targets were very narrow, TRP made a lot of efforts to pair me up with a consultant who has an MBA from my target schools as well as a post MBA career similar to my target. My lead consultant Ankit and specialist Heather were absolutely terrific throughout the entire process, helping me set the right expectations, encouraging me when I needed it the most. Their quick responses and well-structured thought processes helped me arrive at my final essays within 4 iterations. They were highly flexible to accommodate any requests however late into the process.

I had specific consultants for Resume review and Recommendation crafting. Both Abhishek and Nikhilesh were top notch and helped me craft an impressive resume and guide me through the whole recommendation process.

I have secured admits to Oxford and Cambridge and would recommend The Red Pen for their highly-valued MBA admissions consulting services.

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January 05, 2022
ssr2155

Joined: Jan 05, 2022

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Strongly recommend

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by school email address [?]

The Red Pen has a fantastic leadership team. They are as dedicated and committed to the application process as you are. They will push you to deliver exceptional results and support you in every step of the process.

For all queries and application support they have a team of experts working around the clock and are responsive 24/7. You can connect with them on Whatsapp if needed for urgent requirements. Very helpful on story-boarding, essay writing and interview prep. I got admits from HBS and Kellogg. Would strongly recommend!!

People who worked on my application from The Red Pen -
Ridhi Ghelani, Heather Kaikini, Anju Goela, Preeti Wadekar and Kim Dixit.

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This reviewer has not participated on GMAT Club but it is a REAL person and a REAL review. GMAT Club has verified this test-taker's identity through GMAC/Pearson Vue Score Reporting system or .edu email address and confirmed that this reviewer indeed took the GMAT, is unique, and has not submitted multiple reviews.