Premium Service Reviews

Working with Square One Prep was amazing. Horatiu helped me think through my career goals and tie them to my past experiences. We explored two different paths I was interested in and ultimately decided on a healthcare route. Even though the purpose was to create a story that made sense for applications, I actually learned a lot about my own strengths and career goals and am much more prepared for business school.

Once I finished the career narrative, Allison helped me write amazing essays. It took many attempts and I changed topics multiple times, but we landed on a great story that helped me get interviews at 6/7 schools.

I’m excited to attend Chicago Booth next fall on a full ride scholarship! I couldn’t have done it without Square One. Thank you Kathryn, Allison, and Horatiu!

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My advisors at SOP were especially successful at helping me dig dip into my inner motivations and strengths, and putting together a cohesive narrative that reflects my personal and professional story.
Questions like why am I really pursuing an MBA? What do I want to accomplish in the next 10 years? And, what matters most to me? Are DIFFICULT to answer. SOP has a solid framework to tackle them and very expert advisors who truly devote their time and effort to make sure you get to the most honest answers.
Both my HBS and Stanford essays were complimented by the admissions office of these universities. I wrote about a very personal topic, something I was not convinced at all about writing at first! My advisor did an impeccable job at convincing me this personal story had the potential to become a wonderful essay, and looking back, it was spot on.

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Of all of the choices I’ve made professionally in the last 5 years, working with SOP feels like the best decision I’ve made for my future success.

I wasn’t 100% sure that I wanted to go to business school, and I wanted to focus on going to a school that would be a good culture fit. Kathryn helped me narrow my options to a list I was really excited about and recommended a school I hadn’t previously considered specifically for the culture fit – and now I’ve been admitted to that school as my top choice!

As an applicant with a non-traditional professional background, the SOP team’s guidance was invaluable in helping me highlight my experience in ways that an admissions committee could understand. I absolutely loved working with my advisor, Catherine, and felt that she got to know me well enough throughout the process that she could push me to deliver my best work. Catherine’s support on developing a career narrative, selecting essay topics, and preparing for interviews made me feel much more confident about the aspects of the admissions process I was nervous about.

From the unexpected merit scholarships that I was awarded to the peace of mind that came from having SOP’s support along the way, the investment in working with SOP more than paid for itself. Strongly recommend to anyone applying to business school!

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I am immensely grateful to Square One Prep for their invaluable guidance throughout my MBA application journey. Their expertise and personalized approach were pivotal in helping me define my goals and develop a compelling narrative that resonated with the admissions committees. Their unwavering support and attention to detail ensured that I presented the strongest possible version of myself. But more importantly, their encouragement and calming presence helped me maintain focus and composure during what can be an incredibly stressful process! Take a deep breath and relax! I highly recommend Square One Prep to anyone seeking comprehensive and effective guidance in the competitive MBA admissions journey.

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My journey with Square One Prep was a game-changer. When I found myself in a frenzy of last-minute decisions in late July – no GMAT score, no clear career goals, and a misguided plan to apply to five schools for Round 1 – they brought in calm and clarity. They redirected my efforts towards Round 2, guiding me to define a clearer career ambition and the right list of schools for me.

Their attention to detail was unmatched. Every aspect of my application, down to the smallest detail and the daunting task of perfecting video essays, was meticulously reviewed. Their dedication ensured a final submission that filled me with confidence.

Yet, what truly sets Square One Prep apart is their empathy and support. Their founder, Kathryn, embodies this ethos, forming genuine connections with every student. They didn't just advise me; they celebrated every success as if it were their own.
If you found yourself navigating the treacherous waters of business school applications, I highly recommend taking the leap with Square One Prep.

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From the very first phone call with Kathryn, it was evident that she approached her job with a level of professionalism and dedication that truly set her apart. Her commitment to helping young professionals achieve their dreams of attending a top-tier MBA Program was palpable. As an applicant with a unique background and specific issues to address, I was understandably nervous about choosing the right team to work with. However, after meeting Kathryn and her team of advisors, I was reassured by their experience, intelligence, and organizational skills, which I knew would guide me through the rigorous application process.

Working closely with my advisor, Kelsey Wise, on my resume, scheduling, and essays, and collaborating with Wendy Bagdi-Durrua to refine my career narrative, I felt the authenticity behind their work and knew their support was genuine. Beyond their exceptional guidance, they also provided a
built-in support system that proved invaluable in maintaining my mental health and inner confidence throughout this demanding process. For anyone considering an MBA advisor, the number of options available can be overwhelming.

However, I can confidently say that choosing Kathryn and the Square One Prep team is an investment well worth making. Not only will you receive outstanding value for your money, but you'll also gain access to a support network that will not just make you a stronger applicant but also a better person by the end of your journey. When it comes to navigating the MBA application process, there is no one better equipped to guide you than Square One Prep.

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After hearing about a friend´s positive experience with SOP and talking with Kathryn about her method, it was clear that SOPs approach was the right one for me. Initially with the help of the greater team as it related to my narrative, and later with Amalia´s thoughtful and careful guidance around essay drafts, I was able to accurately and strategically present the best possible application to AdComs. As all applicants know the work does not end after the application is submitted, as that is when interview work begins. This is another area where both Kathryn and Amalia were extremely helpful. Their historical experience and insight into each school's specific quirks and styles was extremely valuable in understanding how best to prepare for each interview. Ultimately, the team´s diligent approach and genuine interest in my success led me to obtain multiple acceptances to various schools, including my number one.

All in all, I am beyond glad I decided to work with SOP. Solid recommendation all throughout!

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From the beginning, Square One Prep really impressed me. They took time on the front end getting to know me and sharing strengths and weaknesses about my application. Before reaching out to SOP, I felt so lost and indecisive about my application, but when SOP entered the picture, their confidence and decisiveness truly made the process stress-free and enjoyable. They have incredible professionalism, care for clients, competence, and structure. At any point, I knew my timeline and what next steps were required. SOP kept me accountable with reminders so that I din't fall behind. Also, the order that we went through each aspect of my application was super helpful, making the entire process served as a a very powerful reflective experience. Through a combination of Zoom calls, phone calls, and emails, SOP was very responsive and always guiding me with confidence. In hindsight, I can’t imagine having applied without the experience and help from SOP--worth every single penny! Before getting accepted, I felt so proud of my applications and felt that nothing was held back; I portrayed my authentic story, and if ADCOMs didn't like it, then at least I was confident that they know who and what they’re saying “no” to. All thank to Kathryn and Allison at Square One Prep for helping to synthesize my story and my future in a concise, meaningful way. I will be referring every single one of my friends to Square One Prep and if you're reading this, stop what you're doing and reach out ASAP!!!

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Working with Square One Prep was the best decision I made while applying for my MBA. My husband and I both used Square One to apply to our dream school of Stanford GSB and were both admitted to the Class of 2026. We genuinely believe working with Square One gave us the strongest chance of admission, and we are thrilled with the result.

From my very first conversation with Kathryn, I felt fully supported by Square One. After agreeing to work together, I had a few conversations with different SOP consultants and decided to work with Amalia because I believed our styles would work well together. I am 100% confident working with Amalia was the right choice for me. She is interesting and kind while simultaneously pushing her clients to create their best work. She is decisive in her resume and essay edits and helped me cut out extraneous details and better frame my stories. Working with Amalia took the stress out of the application process and made it genuinely fun. I knew she wouldn't let me miss my timeline or submit sub-par work.

Something extremely useful and unique about the SOP process was the career narrative. Through nearly therapy-like sessions, Amalia and I talked through my life trajectory and future goals, eventually culminating in my presentation of my "career narrative" to Kathryn, Amalia, and Wendy. By writing out and presenting my career goals in granular detail, I gained clarity that helped immensely in my essays and interviews.

I can't recommend Square One Prep enough! They have been fantastic partners and ultimately helped my husband and I realize our dream of attending Stanford GSB together.

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It was an absolute pleasure working with SquareOne for my MBA application. The advisors have all the expertise, experience and dedication to help with anything you need for the application process. Square One offers a comprehensive process leading the applicants from figuring out their career goals with extensive research, to putting these down on paper connecting all the dots from your life experience - they truly create a top quality application.

The support and advisory also came beyond the application itself - besides getting your essays right on point for the admissions process, please also expect strong emotional support and a career narrative process that impacts beyond your application!

I would highly recommend their consulting service to anyone looking for no regrets!

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