I worked with Cat Ho through mbaMission, and she genuinely shaped how I thought about my application, not just the essays themselves, but the whole strategy and how I was presenting myself. From the start, she was easy to talk to in a way that mattered. I didn't feel like I had to show up with everything figured out. She gave me room to think out loud, but she also kept things organized and was always flexible around scheduling, which honestly saved me more than once during a hectic few months. The thing that surprised me most was how much she was able to pull out of my own background. Experiences I'd written off as ordinary, she'd push back on, asking questions until something real surfaced. That's how themes like curiosity and cross-cultural perspective ended up at the center of my story, rather than just footnotes. It's genuinely hard to see that stuff in yourself, and she had a knack for it. She was patient throughout the whole process, never making me feel rushed, but she also didn't sugarcoat things. If something wasn't landing, she'd say so, and then immediately tell me why and what to try instead. That combination of honesty and direction was exactly what I needed. Her turnaround times were fast, which kept things moving during a stretch where deadlines were tight. And the feedback never felt generic; it was always specific to what I was actually trying to say. By the end, Cat felt less like an editor and more like a thought partner. She helped me see my own story more clearly, and that made the whole process feel a lot less overwhelming.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

Jeremy Makes the MBA Admission Process Fun and Manageable Jeremy knows exactly how to transform a candidate's character traits / experiences / life story and articulate them in a way that is easily (and attractively) digestible for admissions offices. The MBA application process is a very expensive "black box" between tutors, consultants, applications, school visits, online programs, etc. The scariest part of which is that you never truly know that you are on the best possible path towards admissions at your target program. Jeremy takes the "black box" and lights it up for you. He is the most experienced person I have come across during my MBA application process by FAR, he knows the ins and outs of every school, is one of the best communicators that I have ever encountered, and is very easy to work with. These skills enabled Jeremy to help me in the most efficient and enjoyable way as I navigated the process, ultimately leading to admission to my top target school. From the first phone call, I could tell that Jeremy knows this process cold. Furthermore, his ability to dictate prose and work with me to craft my story in an articulate and professional manner for admissions officers gave me comfort that I was putting myself in the best possible position to secure a position in the class of 2022. Lastly, my final recommendation is to not be intimidated by Jeremy's cost. What you spend with Jeremy will be returned back to you 10-fold during the process in terms of stress mitigation, time spent going in circles, and more (regardless of your MBA admissions outcome). You should plan to book Jeremy a year in advance and commit to putting in the effort with him throughout that timeframe to ensure a successful process for yourself. Jeremy's reputation does precede him, deservedly so, and he does book up 6 - 12 months in advance of the first round application deadline. Hire Jeremy before his slate gets filled with other candidates. read more

Since my previous review (see below), my former consultant has reached out to me and tried to learn from the review so mbaMission can improve going forward. This is a huge step in the right direction and I certainly appreciate knowing mbaMission and my former consultant do care about improving their service. After speaking with her regarding this, I realized there is one addendum I should add to my original review. I did not fully express my displeasure with the program during the program. Part of the reason for this is that--as with any service industry--I did not feel comfortable complaining too much as I feared that might adversely affect my overall service. The other reason is that I did not know until the end of the program that the program was as overpriced and skeletal as it really was. Thus, to conclude (again), I raised my rating because my former consultant and mbaMission have proven that they do care about their students, but my main points still remain. The Complete Start to Finish service is not priced reasonably and does not add substantial value to a student's overall application. Be cautious when using the service and reflect upon your weak points. If you are very weak at writing and you cannot get help or guidance from online forums or books, then consider using the service (but realize its limitations). However, if you have to stretch yourself financially or you do not have serious writing deficiencies, consider only buying mbaMission's book. read more

If you're looking for an easy route to complete your applications and for someone to write all of your essays for you, I would not use MBA Mission. However, if you're looking for a thought-provoking, soul-searching service that makes you think critically about your career and how an MBA would help you accomplish that, MBA Mission is perfect for you. Debbie was my consultant and she was tough in all the right ways. In no way did she write the essays for me; instead, she facilitated my own preparations for my admissions/essays. She brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table and was able to comb through all the various activities/stories/lessons I have gathered over the years, and help me identify key themes and threads that I used to weave into my writing. In 2011, I applied on my own to full-time MBA and got dinged everywhere I applied at. in 2014, armed with a consultant who has been there before and knew what content would be relevant & interesting to admissions committees, I was accepted everywhere I applied, including my dream school. I conducted free consultations with Stacey Blackman among other agencies, but MBA Mission stood out to me because of their focus on my performance - and ironically, their lack of a "guarantee" that I would get into one of the schools I would work with them on. From a business model perspective, that really resonated with me. I could not recommend MBA Mission and Debbie enough!! read more

This past summer, Jeremy (founder of mbaMission) ran his first boot camp on the bschool application process. Since I was a ManhattanGMAT client, I was able to sit in on the intro camp as Jeremy was basically testing out kinks to perfect his material. If you are considering signing up with mbaMission, do it. Navigating the bschool application process is incredibly stressful, and it's very helpful to have someone who understands the process well to guide you. It's also wildly important to work with someone you like. I've heard several friends complain that they didn't like their consultants. A week before deadline, they panicked and ended up disregarding the advice they had been paying for. Don't be that person. Every single person in the camp loved Jeremy. He went above and beyond to help his students out, and from what I hear, the rest of his team is equally gracious and professional. He gets you thinking about how to construct your essays beautifully, in a way that grabs the attention of the reader. If you are a weak writer, his advice is a godsend. No joke. If you are concerned about the cost, let me help you put it in perspective. You're going to be spending $200K on your education over the next two years. Spend less than 5% of that to ensure you get into the school of your dreams. Happy bschooling! read more

oh - first to review?! In May, I won a brainstorming session with the folks at MBAMission (who says I never win anything?). However, due to the session starting later than expected and a strict end-time, Jeremy Shinewald (the founder/President of mbaMission) felt that I hadn't gotten enough time, so he kindly offered to give me an extra hour of one-on-one time with one of his consultants. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity. I'm a poor young professional, making a meager salary in NYC. Fast track to July; I met with Brian Eng - a Wharton grad and a consultant at MBAMission. Because one hour with a top-notch consultant was not going to be enough, I was given two! What is that worth in purely monetary terms? WAYY more than I could afford. We arranged to meet at Rocco's (fabulous bakery on Bleecker) instead of doing it over the phone. I sent him my resume beforehand. He had already seen my brainstorming notes (basically an extended version of my resume, I believe a template might be available on their website for free). Because I had met him once before, it wasn't awkward. Regardless, Brian is a very jovial person and puts you at ease immediately. The session focused on my potential responses for one school; we went through all the questions and came up with bullet points on how best to respond. Here, my dear YELPERS, I must stop and point out that the most beneficial part (and the reason why I can see people shelling out top dollars) was that the entire session revolved around me and me and me. Together, Brian and I, came up with methods to answer a question. Brian never had any cookie cutter answers already prepared. He knew my resume in and out and asked additional questions that would allow me to shine. In addition to responses, we discussed ways to improve my resume. Brian gave me his resume as a guideline (not some John Doe's generic template!). I asked him some questions and he answered. You'd think it ended when the session ended. Nope! Brian put me in touch with a friend of his for an informational interview. He even offered so much more. Even though I wasn't a paying customer, I certainly felt like one. I never felt Brian's enthusiasm wane and we even went over my time allotment. The last point I want to make is that my entire experience with MbaMission has been a pleasant one. From the President - Jeremy to their office associate - Aimee and ultimately to Brian Eng, everyone is very responsive to emails and very helpful. I definitely got a lot from Brian and in return I can only offer my heartfelt thanks! read more

mbaMission, specifically Jessica Shklar, by far exceeded my expectations of what I thought an admissions consultant would be. When I started the MBA application process I wasn't going to hire a consultant because of the service's cost. However, a friend of mine hired one and convinced me to take a look at some of the firms. I had two half hour consultations - one with Jessica and one with another consulting firm. My first session with a consulting first I won't name here was horrible. The man I spoke with focused on all my weaknesses and basically tried to tell me that I would not get into any of my target schools without his services. That really turned me off. When I had my free consultation with Jessica, it was completely different. She have me such good pointers and really made me feel like she wanted to get to know my story, me as a person. I felt like I really connected with her. A few weeks later, I went to an event organized my mbaMission and got to meet Jessica in person as well as some of her former clients. Everyone had amazing things to say about her work. After that, I was convinced. When we began working on my applications, we brainstormed for essay topics for each school separately. Essays were the most time consuming part. But she also helped me come up with the list of schools, questions for my school visits, interview prep, filling out the actual applications and guiding me in the process of getting the best recommendations possible. Jessica's commitment to my success was evident in everything she did. Most of the time she gave me comments to essays before the two day time frame mbaMission has established. I used to get emails from her at all hours of the night and on weekends - she is truly dedicated. I know that I would have never been able to come up with all of the topics I wrote about without her help. She made me think about my past in ways that I wouldn't have thought on my own. She made sure that every application expressed each important aspect of who I am. Jessica was also really great at helping manage stress throughout the process. I felt like she provided very strong support for me, which was definitely not part of her job description! Overall, I think that Jessica really cares about her clients and puts 110% into the job. I was admitted into 2 of the Top 5 programs in the country with the help of my consultant at mbaMission. I am extremely satisfied with the services Jessica and the firm provided for me. It was worth every penny. read more

The MBA Mission service was instrumental in navigating the (unavoidably painful) application process. I have attended free seminars by the company that were very helpful and provided a taste of what the full service package would be like. Jeremy Shinewald personally discussed all options over the phone, answering every question I threw at him. I ultimately decided on getting the soup-to-nuts 2-school package, which provided me unlimited access and editing help with my consultant (Laura Nelson). Laura provided critical tips and counseling during the essay brainstorming, editing, and interviewing stages. I was very proud of the final product and confident that I had maximized my efforts. Throughout the process, Laura's extensive experience and knowledge proved invaluable. Ultimately, I was admitted into Wharton, and recommend this service to anyone looking to apply for an MBA - it will make the process and your life easier. read more

When I started my application process, I was uncomfortable with my lack of experience and my "unconventional" application. I was in the process of vetting several consultants when I spoke to Jessica for a free consultation. I was instantly sold. She offered me more insight into the application process during that thirty-minute phone call than the rest of the consultants that I had been vetting combined. From the very beginning, Jessica was invested in me, my story, and perhaps most importantly, how to help me present the very best version of myself/story. I can honestly say that during EVERY step of the process, Jessica went above and beyond what was required of her. Her knowledge base, attention to detail, and just overall brilliance, helped me to create what I viewed to be a perfect admissions package. She was so personally invested in my story that as far as I was concerned, I was her only client. She immediately responded to my emails and was always available. What makes Jessica so special is her palpable excitement and energy throughout the process--and her unbelievable concern for and investment in my success. If you are at all concerned about the potential costs, Jessica's insider knowledge and familiarity with the process, to me, in many ways, was priceless. Overall, though, the most important thing about Jessica is how remarkably clear it is that she is always giving you her very best in every aspect of her work. I can honestly say, that if you decide to hire Jessica, I am absolutely convinced that you will be hiring the best. I am happy to say that because of Jessica's help I will be attending Harvard's Kennedy School in the fall, and Stanford's Graduate School of Business the following year. read more

This review is for the school packages and for Jessica Shklar. I have a non-traditional career path and was originally interested in Jessica Shklar because of her work with people like me. After my first (free) half-hour consultation, I knew that I HAD TO work with Jessica in order to help me gain admission to business school. In that first meeting she completely tore my resume to shreds, but spent the time to try and understand my motives and who I was - thereby finding a way to reconstruct my resume in a way that would positively reflect my accomplishments. I knew that without Jessica, I would be at an ultimate disadvantage. Jessica first and foremost wants to get to know you - and from there truly helps in crafting your story in the most positive and flattering light. She doesn't fabricate things, she just takes all of the self-doubt and self-deprecation out of your story and gives it structure. My background looked all-over the place despite my ambitions - I majored in English in college, pursued acting, then quickly began working in the non-profit sector after realising acting wasn't for me. I felt my past belied what I truly wanted to do and Jessica saw that and found a way to structure my past (which was true, despite my self-consciousness) in a way that was competitive and appealing to adcom committees. Jessica works tirelessly with you - from resumes, to an exhaustive recommendation packet, interview prep, to each and every essay and short answer question. She also is a wealth of knowledge on the application process and answered my many anxiety driven questions. But she is also not afraid to utilize her network; there were times when she got second opinions on my questions or my essays from her colleagues. She gets back to you very quickly - often times within just a few minutes. That said, Jessica doesn't sugarcoat anything. When I got lower than expected GRE scores (quant score hovering around 70%) she frankly told me that I needed to really expand my business school search and never told me once that I would "get into" any specific school. She just made sure I crafted a well-rounded application and hoped for the best. I applied to eight schools - all in the top 25 and was accepted to four and wait listed at one (Georgetown, UNC, Cornell, UVA, wait listed at Dartmouth). I could not have DREAMED of these results. Given my profile I was not expecting to get into any top 15 schools and was truly shocked and flabbergasted that I had a multitude of choices -with money! I COULD NOT have done this without Jessica. I'm still waiting to hear back from Dartmouth (and Jessica is still working with me as I navigate the wait list process) but have also happily and ecstatically accepted my offer to Darden - an option I couldn't have dreamed of six months ago, especially given my profile. I would not be going off to a TOP business school in the fall without her. I cannot thank her enough for what she has done for me. She is a rockstar! SIDE NOTE: MBAmission is expensive. I spent a lot of money working with Jessica but it was worth EVERY penny. Business school is expensive but also an investment, so think of getting a good consultant as a part of this investment. If you can, why wouldn't you try to get any advantage that you could in the admissions process? Also, while I praise Jessica - you also have to put your work in. I worked incessantly for months with Jessica - but she won't do the work for you. If you don't put your all into the process she (or any consultant) won't be able to help you - she will not write or rewrite essays for you at all. She will use what you give her and guide you, and excellently so. And lastly - if you want to work with Jessica, book early, she fills up! read more

My consultation with mbaMission was, in a word, priceless. Jessica Shklar, an mbaMission consultant, quite honestly gave me timely and critical advice regarding which top MBA programs to apply to and for which admissions round, given the particulars of my candidacy. The results of my applications to 4 top MBA programs have borne out her insight into the application process and the operative criteria considered by admissions committees. The highest recommendation I can give mbaMission as an institution, and Jessica as an individual, is that I would not be sitting here today with an acceptance letter in hand from a top program had I not consulted. Anyone interested in maximizing his or her chances at the uppermost level programs should contact mbaMission and heed the advice. Please take the word of a fully satisfied, and usually hard to please, client. read more

I worked with Hollis Kline on an hourly basis to polish up my application to 3 top ten business schools. At first I was hesitant to invest such a large sum in 60 minutes of a person's time. However, I went on to buy not one but six hours of Hollis's time, and can confidently say that every minute we worked together was the best possible use of my time and money. Hollis was an excellent consultant for a number of reasons, here are some of my favorite characteristics: - Prompt: Hollis always returned my material within the allotted time (48 hours), and often in half that time. This made me feel like my work was a priority to her, and it was also immensely useful to turn around final drafts and submit material in time for the Round 2 deadlines. - Positive: All of Hollis's efforts were geared towards helping me present my best self, and that extended even to the tone and nature of our communications. She constantly encouraged me, while also giving the detailed feedback I needed to improve my application. - Clear: Gone are the days of illusive feedback from professors about how to improve your English essays. The feedback Hollis gave on my personal statements was always very clear and easy to integrate, without losing my personal tone. This really helped me understand what the AdComs were looking for and significantly improved my statements as a result. This Fall I will be attending Stanford GSB, a school I almost didn't apply to because it felt so far out of reach. I'm confident that Hollis played an instrumental role in elevating my application to the status that helped it get noticed and, ultimately, accepted by my dream business school. read more

I hired MBA mission for the three school package. My consultant was Debbie Choy and I found her incredibly helpful. We began with identifying "selling points" and stories that I felt set me apart and showed my achievements, which we then used to mold to the questions in the essays. In particular, I found the brain storming calls very useful with Debbie. She was able to take the information I provided her with and turn it into a coherent time-line and journey which came out in all of my essays. Having a consultant also really helped on the turn-around time with the essays. Debbie always provided thorough comments within two business days and usually after a few turn-arounds we were both happy with the essay. This was infinitely helpful when juggling applications with a full time job. Another aspect of MBAmission that I really liked is that the consultants are happy to answer any small questions that you may have when writing the essay. There were several times when I would send an essay back and ask Debbie a few small questions or clarifications and I would always get swift and helpful responses. I ended up getting into my first choice of school which was definitely the best fit for me and I am over the moon!! I am extremely happy I chose MBAmission and worked with Debbie and I am looking forward to starting my MBA!, read more

I chose Hollis Kline from mbaMission as my consultant after speaking with consultants from several other firms. During my free 30-minute consultation, she gave me clear and pertinent feedback on my profile. Her analysis actually helped me identify areas in which I could improve my candidacy and how I could position myself for my target schools. This was even before I had chosen my consultant! I found it very easy to work with Hollis because her style of asking questions to develop my MBA profile helped me generate compelling essay themes later on. She took the time to understand my story, not just my academic and professional achievements to strengthen my positioning. Overall, her feedback and guidance were very thoughtful, and she was readily available to help when deadlines were approaching. I found that her punctuality and quality of feedback were perfect even when I would send a number of documents to review in a short amount of time. Specifically, the biggest thing that stood out for me was that Hollis helped me draw a strong relation between my important life decisions and the experiences that led me to make those decisions. My essays would not have been nearly as good without her direction. More importantly, I got a sense of achievement because her reviews made me think deeply and come up with the content on my own. In the end, my content was original and impressive, and I got into the school of my choice despite a modest GMAT score. I highly recommend Hollis as your admissions consultant. Do start with a 30-minute consultation with her and you will be glad that you did! read more

mbaMission is a wonderful resource for aspiring MBA applicants. My first contact with mbaMission was a free seminar they held in Philadelphia about debunking admissions myths. Jessica Shklar, an mbaMission consultant, gave a wonderful talk that was direct and refreshingly honest about the process. I've been to several such talks before and since, often held by admissions staff from the various schools, and Jessica's talk was by far the most valuable. The seminar included a free half hour phone consultation. This call was not a sales ploy--it was a very helpful, non-committal conversation (again with Jessica) dense with advice on revising my resume and how to tailor my apps to target specific schools. After the conversation, Jessica stayed in touch via e-mail, sending me resources and answering questions I had. mbaMission offers Insider's Guides for a lot of the top programs. I picked one up and found it had a lot of great detail on that school and how it stacked up against other programs in a variety of areas. I also turned to Jessica for a mock admissions interview. This was a great experience, and well worth the money. She gave me a lot of good pointers that I was able to apply across all of the interviews I had. More importantly, she made me feel very confident that I was adequately prepared and would do well in the interviews. That piece of mind alone was worth the price of the session. I was able to go into my interviews confidently after that, which made a huge difference in my presentation. Jessica's help was instrumental in my being accepted at four top MBA programs. We continue to stay in touch, even after I was accepted, and she continues to be a Godsend in this process. Acting on her advice, I was able to secure a major scholarship at my target program! She even put me in contact with a current student who answered my questions for an hour and a half on the phone about his school. That's not a trivial thing to do for a stranger, and I think it speaks volumes about Jessica's service that she can call in a favor like that with people she's helped in the past. mbaMission was invaluable during my application process. I would recommend them--especially Jessica, who is fantastic--to anyone applying to business school. read more

I highly recommend working with Debbie Choy at MBA Mission after applying to business school this past January. Debbie gave expert insight about each step of the application process and provided guidance on how to write the best essay for each school. Even with my unpredictable work schedule, Debbie was extremely patient and understanding with me and ensured that my applications were the strongest they could be. When working on essays, Debbie provided comments that forced me to fully understand the unique aspects of my background and my motivations for attending business school. She always provided suggestions to improve the essays and ultimately let me make final decisions about content and tone. Debbie knew exactly how attack even the most difficult essay prompts required by Stanford and Harvard which is known for its open-ended essay prompt. Debbie also answered questions I had about selecting people for recommendations for each of the schools I applied to. Lastly, she was especially helpful when I needed to prepare for alumni interviews and provided immediate feedback during our mock interview session. While it may sound cheesy, Debbie really helped me grow as a person through the application process and I am forever grateful to her for all of her assistance. Working with Debbie and completing the applications helped me understand why I wanted an MBA and what I expect to achieve during business school and after graduation. While Debbie is an expert for all of the top MBA programs, I highly recommend her for any applicants interested in applying to Stanford GSB - Debbie is an alumna and has amazing insight into the application process and the program. read more

Debbie Choy was a fabulous consultant while I was applying to b school this past fall. The most valuable part of our time together was the brainstorming process. She has great insider's knowledge of how admissions committees will evaluate applicants, which meant she was able to tell me directly, "Yes, experience X will resonate with adcoms, but experience Y seems less interesting and/or relevant." That firm guidance was incredibly valuable--she wasn't afraid to tell it to me straight. Although our brainstorming call was pretty short (more on that below), I came out feeling like I had a good plan of attack for my essays. The next time she and I spoke, we went over my short and long-term goals after business school. She helped me craft a compelling and ambitious vision that explained how an MBA degree would help me achieve my long-term career aspirations. One big consideration for me when signing up for mbaMission was cost. I work in the social sector, and hiring a consultant was a big investment. I knew I couldn't do a "start-to-finish" package because it was simply out of my budget. I was wary about whether the hourly consulting services would be a value-add, but Debbie did a fabulous job at providing high value in the short amount of time (3-4 hours) that I could afford. Debbie also had an extremely positive attitude throughout, which made a huge difference for me while navigating the stressful application process. Her support was invaluable to helping me get into two of my top choice programs. Thanks a million, Debbie! read more

My consultant was Laura Nelson and her help was priceless. She helped me with brainstorming and editing my essays. We spend countless of hours going through my essays and she did not quit on them until I was satisfied. She deserves 5 stars in my book. read more

Lynn Moloney does not have as many reviews as other Mbamission consultants, which is surprising, because she is fantastic! Lynn helped me with two top schools and one joint degree program. All of them were beyond my wildest dreams and I am proud to say I got into all three programs. My favorite parts about working with Lynn were (1) while you brainstorm for your essays, she helps to pinpoint your best stories and identify themes. These notes aid you in the self reflection exercise that's required for MBA applications. (2) She never steals your voice! She will point out areas where she does not think your message is coming through, and push you to edit in a way that enables the Admissions Committee to hear the stories as you want them to be heard. At the end of the day, however, my applications were my applications. They represented the strongest and clearest communication of my voice, my thoughts, my achievements, my words. I am honored to have worked with Lynn, and so thankful to be attending my dream school in the fall! read more

Jessica from mbaMission got me into my dream school. When I started applying to B School I had the standard (aka boring) profile of so many adequately qualified individuals. Jessica wouldn't let that stand. Over several sessions she coaxed relevant and interesting stories out of me that transformed me into the type of exciting MBA candidate I hoped to be. She helped me show that I was more than just a consultant.... I was traveler, a dreamer, and a person who plans to make a difference in this world. She helped me tell my story in a way I never could have done on my own. Thank you Jessica. I'm loving it at Haas. read more

I highly recommend Jessica Shklar at MBA Mission as a MBA business school admissions consultant. I began the Admissions process as a non-traditional applicant (with a career in the international non-profit development sector) and was an older applicant for full-time MBA programs. Being completely foreign to the MBA admissions process and with no time or years to waste, I decided to hire a consultant to help guide me through the process, keep me on target, and help me tell my story. After reading many reviews, I hired Jessica and she surpassed my expectations at every stage of the admissions process. Jessica is highly professional and responsive. From our initial consultation, to our brainstorming, and our interview prep - she was always supportive but was unafraid to ask difficult questions to help tease out my story. In my many iterations of essays, she provided constructive feedback which vastly helped me make my essays more concise while also delivering more compelling content. While I had read that my background and age could be hurdles, Jessica helped them become my strongest assets. She was also able to give advice to my recommenders who had never written recommendations for an MBA application. At times I forgot that she was my consultant, as she felt more like my mentor. With Jessica's help, I received interview invites from every school I applied to, gained acceptance to 2 schools and was waitlisted at the other 2 schools (Chicago & MIT). I decided to not pursue my waitlisted schools and accept a fully funded fellowship. With Jessica's help, I will actually be paid to go to business school and pursue my dreams. I never thought that was even possible. Jessica is worth the investment. read more

Title for review...(some suggestions...) You should work with Krista Nannery! Krista Nannery is great! Krista Nannery, my secret weapon This letter serves to recommend Krista Nannery as an MBA admissions consultant. Shopping for a good admissions consultant was overwhelming. I not only had to search for a consulting company with good reviews, but I also had to pick a good consultant. Unfortunately I was late in the game with almost 1 month left to submit my application to several schools.  I chose MBA Mission for its rating. It had very good rating and seemed to have a very good customer base. It also had various documents that could help me research the schools I was interested in. However, most of the leading consultants were occupied by "the early birds". I was referred to Krista to be my consultant. I did agree to interview Krista to see if I was comfortable with her being my consultant.  To say that Krista exceeded my expectation is not giving credit enough. Krista worked hard and she was very efficient. Krista was very timely with her responses, sometimes even taking just 1 day to review a new draft, adding some comments and replying to my email. In 1 month I had to craft 3 solid applications and 6 different essays, each different than the next. With the help of Krista, I was able to meet the deadlines with remarkable essays. We first started with a brainstorming session that really helped get the ideas flowing. She cared enough to memorize and really think about my life experiences and what they meant. More often than not, Krista would recall points from the brainstorming session that I would forget. She would meticulously work with me to craft the essay to marry my life experiences with the points I wanted to portray. The conversation would go: Me: I need to tell the AdCom that I have xxx. I'm thinking of using this story, what do you think Krista:  That is a good story to tell but how about you give them this story instead. You could also angle it this way to solidify your claim. Me: I see what you did there. Brilliant! Krista completed her MBA at Booth. She also worked in the admissions office, so she knows exactly what the AdCom wants to hear. She also has a great skill at story telling at a professional level, which I believe helped tremendously. The fact that Krista lived in the UK at the time I was applying, did not bother the process at all. She was very responsive to my questions, and she was very flexible with her time. We were always able to schedule appointments when I needed to talk to her, sometimes we would even schedule appointments the next day! Krista made the whole process as easy as it could be. She has lived and worked all around the world and is a very international personal, which I think helps international candidates. I hired her for 3 schools. The first I got dinged to, it was a long shot. The second I got in to with a good scholarship, that Krista helped me make a case for and write about. The third school - my dream school -- I am happy to report I'll be attending come August. I have no hesitation in recommending Krista as an MBA admissions consultant. I truly believe she was my secret weapon to being accepted into the school of my choice! read more

I was fortunate enough to take mbaMission's first ever "Constructing a Standout Application Boot Camp" this summer in Chicago. To say it is money extremely well spent is an understatement. There are probably people out there that may not need this class to get them over "the hump," but for all of us mortals that have aspects of their applications to be worried about, this is THE CLASS to take. Get your GMAT score out of the way a good six months before your applications are due, and then focus on the application by taking this class. My instructor was Angela Guido. Angela is a former Admissions Committee member at Chicago Booth that has made assisting MBA admissions candidates her life's work. She is EXTREMELY passionate about what she does, and there was not one point in the class where I thought, "I wonder if she really knows what she's talking about?" There is no question that you are getting exceptional advice from her. She manages to make the class fun, and even thought-provoking, which I did not expect. Applying to b-school forces you to put all your cards on the table, and I learned a lot about my stengths and shortcomings in so doing. Angela leads the way, but you also learn a lot from your peers in the class. Here's what you get: 1. What admissions committees are looking for 2. Pitfalls that you must avoid 3. What about your and your experiences will standout to admissions departments 4. How to tell your "story," and make the admissions committees understand why they should give you a chance The experience was invaluable, and in my opinion, it is every bit as important as taking a GMAT prep class. 5-stars. Bite the bulllet, pony up the cash, and don't look back. read more

Without a doubt, Jessica Shklar & MBA mission are the reasons why I'm headed to b-school this fall. Jessica came highly recommended from several friends who had previously used her services, and she exceeded even their glowing recommendations. Coming from a non-traditional background (military), I was clueless about how to navigate the b-school application process. Herself a graduate of HBS, Jessica knows first hand what it takes to get into a top b-school and how to best present oneself to the admissions committee. From the beginning, Jessica helped me clearly and tangibly articulate why I wanted to get a MBA in a way that was both logical and compelling to the admissions committees. To that end, she helped me develop a rock-star resume, helped me flesh out my most compelling stories (both personal and professional), and when the time came, helped prepare me to knock out my admissions interviews. Throughout the application process, Jessica continually pushed me to provide hard, quantifiable data to back up my accomplishments and swiftly eliminated any "fluff" that snuck its way into my essays. As a result, each word in my essays packed a serious bunch...crucial when you consider that several of my essays had limits of only 200 words. Jessica also helped me organize my experiences into over-arching themes. This was critical as it allowed me to quickly answer the common behavioral questions that were asked during my admissions interviews, and it was much more effective than trying to memorize answers to questions that may/may not be asked. Jessica always responded swiftly to my questions and often turned around products sooner than the 2-business day maximum, ensuring I had the maximum amount of time to work on essay & resume revisions. Extremely high professionalism and quality is what you can expect from Jessica Shklar. I could easily write several more pages about the top-notch service and insight she provided, but the results speak for themselves. With Jessica I went "3 for 3" and was accepted into Ross, Haas, & Tuck, and found myself in the "difficult" position of having to choose amongst those three top tier programs. I owe all of that to Jessica, and if you're serious about applying to a top flight business school, you owe it to yourself to go with MBA Mission and Jessica Shklar...you won't regret it!! read more

I decided to use their services after reading a lot of good reviews, but now I'm starting to think all those were fake. Here is the real deal My consultant was indeed helpful, but it was not worth the ridiculous us amount you have to pay. You will mostly get very generic advice. The strategy and outline they offer: about 20 minutes on the phone telling what they think (most of it is pretty obvious). I got a feeling my consultant didn't know much about the specifics of each school to offer me a good advice (which is what you are paying for) The essay: The turnaround time was horrible. the contract says 48hrs, but be aware that is only during business days, and if you submit after 9pm it is considered not submitted until the next day. It happened quite often that I would submit my essay Thursday night, and not receive feedback until Tuesday or Wednesday. after all these days you would expect some good comments or feedback, but it was not more than 4 comments. At the end my consultant said that they essays were ready, but before submitting I made some friends read them and they found quite a few mistakes. HOW IN THE WORLD DID I PAY MORE THAN 5 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THIS KIND OF CRAP! read more

When I first began looking at the application process I was overwhelmed by the amount of work in front of me. I planned to work on my business school applications without the aid of an admissions consultant, but I decided to sign up for a free 30-minute consultation with Liza Weale and mbaMission. I came into the meeting hoping for guidance on some tricky questions I was facing and I was blown away by how prepared, informative and fun to talk to Liza was. I decided then and there that I had to work with Liza and I couldn't be happier with that decision!! I worked with Liza on three start-to-finish applications and I'm thrilled to be heading to my first choice (Columbia) in the fall! Throughout the entire process Liza was invaluable and in my corner, whether we were completely overhauling my resume, tweaking the 10th draft of an essay or thinking about the best way to answer short answer questions. Liza would regularly send me thoughts or suggestions even when I didn't ask her and having an expert to bounce difficult questions off was an amazing resource. After only a few weeks I really felt like we were a team. Liza also wasn't afraid to challenge my thinking and really push me to improve my applications. I wrote what I believed to be a very strong essay and Liza showed me that I could much more effectively represent myself if I went in a different direction. When it came time to approach my recommenders Liza was so helpful in organizing my communication with them and making sure I got their full support, which turned out to be essential in my applications. And then when interviews came around, I was so prepared based on my work with Liza that I was completely comfortable and confident in what turned out to be an hour and a half interview that sealed my admission. I never could have been so effective if Liza hadn't known exactly what questions to be ready for and helped me thoughtfully answer them in a way that was true to who I am. If I had it to do all over again I would work with Liza in a heartbeat. I have already recommended her to my close friends and couldn't imagine going through this process without her. She delivered in a big way for me both in terms of getting me through the grueling application process and also the great results! read more

mbaMission Admissions Consulting Services - Debbie Choy My first introduction to mbaMission was via one of their Q&A sessions in Chicago; I took the GMAT at the end of June, and was planning to apply in fall of '13. I really enjoyed the Q&A session and signed up for the free half-hour consultation as a next step - that's when I got in touch with Debbie, one of mbaMission's senior consultants. I thought that the initial call went really well; Debbie sounded enthusiastic about working with me, and provided good feedback about some of my initial questions, such as pros / cons of full-time vs. part-time programs. I ended up deciding to go with the one-school package, and then use my initial application as a template for the other schools I was planning on applying to. From the very beginning, Debbie did a great job of encouraging me to dig deeper, and focus on what makes me unique. For example, I was initially struggling with Kellogg's essay #1 - 'What's the greatest obstacle you've overcome' - it was too wordy, and I was having trouble tying everything together. Over the course of seven revisions, Debbie helped me polish the essay into a statement that that I was really proud of. I also appreciated Debbie's help in calming me down when I was stressing out about making my R1 deadlines. I remember sending her an email pretty late at night, after having spent the whole evening wrestling with some of my essays - and feeling like there was no way I'd be ready in time. She responded the next day with encouragement - and a challenge to push myself harder. The application process can be pretty brutal, so knowing that I had an experienced coach who had been through the process many times before was tremendously helpful in calming me down. Overall, I really enjoyed working with mbaMission in general and Debbie specifically. I would highly recommend her - but only if you're prepared to be challenged relentlessly until your application is perfect! read more

Background: 730 GMAT; 4 years experience at a boutique investment bank; 3.4 GPA at a state school When I decided to apply to business schools in the first couple months of 2013, I reached out to a few MBA application consulting firms for free consultations, and I immediately clicked with Jessica Shklar from mbaMission. During our 30-minute call, she was able to point out parts of my resume that I was understating and suggested a few schools that she thought would be good fits for me. I signed up for mbaMission's start-to-finish package and once essay questions began to be released, my first brainstorming session with Jessica was a complete success. Even though my brainstorming document was about half the length of typical clients, she was able to ask all the right questions about my background and experiences to piece together a coherent and compelling "story" for me that I never would have thought of on my own. After that call, I reviewed my notes and began drafting my first essay. Upon submitting my first draft, Jessica promptly reverted back to me thorough and extremely helpful comments while also making sure that I continued to write in my own voice by always being open to discuss any questions or concerns. She also kept me on track and periodically checked in on my progress given that the two schools I was applying to (HBS & Booth) had relatively earlier deadlines. Even my recommenders had nothing but compliments for her style of input. Once the time came to submit my applications, we did one final review of the entire application for each school, including all the short answers, and I was very proud of the applications I was able to produce. If you are looking for someone that will truly make the grueling application process enjoyable and less stressful, please give Jessica a call, as she was always genuinely invested in my success all the way from school selection to essay drafting to interview prep and even post-admission advice. There was no way I would've gotten into Booth without her wonderful advice. read more

I engaged mbaMission after vetting a few other companies and was matched with Debbie Choy (note I chose her out of 3 potential matches). I was looking to submit applications to 3 very top schools in the first round, and engaged Debbie about 6 weeks before the first app was due. Below is more detail on the key things she helped with: -Debbie provided a brainstorming document, which I then spent a long time filling out. We had a 1.5 hour call where we discussed all kinds of stories about me. This is where Debbie helped me identify what was important and what we wanted to convey to the admission committees. -I personally think this is beneficial outside of the application process because you learn more about yourself and what really matters to you, and Debbie forces you to think about what you honestly want to do for a career. -Debbie also helped me create a resume (B School resumes are a bit different than work resumes, so I had to create a new one). She helped with wording, formatting, and deciding what to include/exclude. -Then we started on the essays, and Debbie first helped me structure the essay (I was very impressed at how quickly she could pull together an effective structure after just getting to know me), and then I would create a more detailed outline based on the agreed upon structure. -Once we finalized an outline (sometimes this took one attempt, and other times it took a few revisions), I would write the first draft. Debbie would review and provide comments, questions, suggestions, better syntax etc. and ultimately we would go back and forth until we both liked the essay. Overall, I completed the 3 applications on time and got into one school, and got interviews or am still in process at the others. Debbie helped me from beginning to end (even after I was accepted). Debbie is rock solid on all aspects of MBA consulting, but I also think her true value comes from her ability to quickly understand someone and then provide legitimate personal and professional advice. Highly recommend Debbie! read more

Lynn Moloney provided exactly the support I needed to select and communicate my most powerful stories in an engaging, authentic way. She helped me preserve my voice and personality throughout the process, but truly brought out the best version of me as she pointed out what she was learning about me from each of my stories. It was so helpful to have someone who didn't know me at all give me a fresh reaction to my initial drafts, and then help me refine them as she got to know my values, passions, goals, and experiences in detail. When I was filling out the short answers in the application, Lynn helped me get the most value out of every character / word I was allowed. I don't think I ever would have been able to communicate so much about myself with such little space, and it really gave me confidence that my full application was as strong as it could possibly be. In the end, with Lynn's help, I got into both schools to which I applied. read more

Lynn was extremely helpful throughout my MBA application process. I came into it fairly unprepared and behind schedule for the deadlines I wanted to achieve but Lynn was instrumental in getting a schedule down and helping me through the process. The brainstorming was great and helped me to define the experiences I have had personally and professionally that would be applicable for business school. This really helped me get ideas for essay writing and Lynn again gave great tips to think about how to improve my essays. Lynn also helped to think about the application holistically, and what parts of my career would best be suited to be in the application and which should come out through the essays. Finally, the mock interview was perfect. Most of the questions I received in my actual Columbia interview were asked by Lynn in our mock interview and I felt calm and relaxed because I had already answered these questions two days prior. I was accepted by Columbia Business School which was where I really wanted to go. I would highly recommend Lynn if you are applying to business school. read more

Katy Lewis is great! She gave me invaluable support and advice throughout my admissions process - from overall brainstorming to providing tactical advice on how to choose and approach recommenders. I've worked in a pretty technical and specific line of work, and she helped me translate my background into a compelling story for an admissions committee that doesn't know the field. I applied to five top-tier schools and was accepted to four schools with generous fellowship funds. For the waitlisted school, Katy continued to coached me on how to approach the admissions office with any steps I could take to improve my chances at getting off the list. (Still waiting to hear, but I had a great meeting with the admissions director following her guidance.) Equally important: Katy makes you laugh and keep things in perspective! It might sound minor, but I can't stress enough what a difference this made. When I was up late working on the finishing touches on my essays, her support and sense of humor was invaluable! read more

I applied to 5 schools in total (HBS, Wharton, Kellogg, Booth and Columbia) and used a 2 schools package. I really enjoyed working with Debbie, she was incredibly friendly and I feel that she really made the effort to get to know me as a person which came through in the feedback she gave to shape my applications. There were three specific reasons that I would recommend Debbie: 1. Brainstorming and prioritising stories: With 8 years work experience and many extra curriculars I had so many things that I wanted to say but it was not possible given the tight essay word count. Throughout the brainstorming sessions she was able to distil my stories down to the few that were really impactful while making sure there was minimal overlap of attributes displayed so the schools could still get the 'full picture'. The brainstorming sessions left me with very specific (paragraph by paragrah) content to write. 2. Taking my first ordinary first draft and making it great: I am an Engineer, not a writer, I knew what I wanted to say but could not craft it in an entertaining or persuasive way. I feel that Debbie assisted me most when I sent her a content rich but quite ordinary sounding first draft and it came back, in some cases with more edits than original content, sounding more like an extract from a storybook. It was still my words and content but just sounded a whole lot better. 3. She stuck with drafts long after I was bored with them: I think my CV ended up at version 16, Debbie's attention to detail and discipline forced me to keep polishing my essays and documents to give me the best possible chance of getting an interview. I received a number of acceptance's (with scholarships) and decided to matriculate at Wharton. read more

I highly recommend working with Debbie Choy at mbaMission , because she is the reason I got accepted to my dream b-school. Last year, I applied to five b-schools on my own and I got dinged from all of them even without any interview invitation. I have a successful professional resume in healthcare industry with low GMAT and I did not know how to tell my story for my application. So this year, I decided to work with a consultant. And I found mbaMission and luckily I started to work with top-notch consultant, Debbie Choy. I applied to 6 b-schools in total and used a 2-school package. Because of Debbie's help, I came out of the application process feeling confident and armed with much clarity. Debbie really helped my story stand out. Her turnaround for essay reviews was so fast, and she pointed out weaknesses that I could not have noticed before. Because I am an international applicant, it was hard for me to figure out what to say during my interviews. Mock-interviews I had with Debbie were hugely helpful for me, she addressed flaws and weaknesses that helped me polish my answers and determine which stories to emphasize. Her help and feedbacks for interviews will be helpful for my future job interviews, as well. After all my applications were submitted, I got into 4 b-schools with scholarships. Most importantly, I received an interview to my top choice program and was admitted with a scholarship and an assistantship. I am pretty sure that I would not have gotten into my program without Debbie's help. I have been extremely pleased with mbaMission's services. And I would HIGLY recommend-Debbie Choy- to anyone who wants to work with enthusiastic, creative and experienced consultant, and who makes the application process enjoyable. read more

After being rejected by all the schools I had initially applied to, I contacted mbaMission and was assigned to Laura. She immediately spotted deficiencies in my past applications and gave tips to rewrite my essays using my own style. My essays were significantly better organized and clearer. The service is expensive, but had I used it for my first applications, I would have certainly received more invitations as rereading my past applications made me realize my mistakes. I have now accepted an offer at a top European business school. read more

I knew from the beginning of my MBA admission process that I needed an MBA admission consulting service. The reason was simple. I needed an expert who could dig out my work experience details through brainstorming. This is important as normally we do lot of things, which we think are part of our regular day to day activity but in reality may be portraying a crucial leadership skill. With a GMAT score on the lower side, I wanted to go with a company/individual with a good reputation. "MBA Exchange" and "mbaMission" were the two top companies after my initial high level research via internet.The reasons for choosing mbaMission were their prompt response time and personalized approach. I was quickly assigned a consultant Eric Hollowaty. After our initial one hour discussion I knew where I stood and what needs to be done. My experience working with Eric was extremely satisfying and rewarding. As I said earlier one critical part of the process was to pick your brain and bring forward your professional accomplishment. This may sound very easy, but believe me, it is difficult. I think the brainstorming document and the following brainstorming discussion session with Eric were instrumental for creating a strong application. Eric was respectful, valued my thought but more importantly gave me the right direction for my thought process. His response time was also as per contract and on multiple occasions even earlier than the contractual window. I could connect with Eric very easily and he was approachable. Eric did exactly what I was looking for. I selected the 2 school package program and received admission offer from both the schools. Overall I am very satisfied with Eric Hollowaty and mbaMission. They did an excellent job. I should also mention some points that I think are critical for the experience and success. You should be on top of things. When you hire an admission consultant, it doesn't mean, you will be in the back seat and the consultant will drive you. It is just the opposite. You need to take the lead and seek help that you need from the consultant. You need to know your experiences, skills, skills gaps and future aspirations in order to get into a B-school, continue the learning through the MBA program and finally implement the learning in your future endeavor. I can vouch for Eric's expertise and would definitely recommend him for anyone looking for MBA admission consulting service. read more

Consultant Daniel Richards was very helpful as I applied to one-year post-graduate business programs at Duke and UVA. He had a very good handle on what my strengths were as a candidate and was able to edit my essays so that those strengths shined through. I was very impressed with myself after utilizing Dan's suggestions! In addition, he conducted a useful mock interview with excellent constructive criticism that made me feel confident and prepared for the real thing. I completed these applications on a tight deadline, and Dan amazed me with his promptness and responsiveness. Dan definitely wants his clients to succeed and always follows through to see how the process went. He went above and beyond throughout the whole process! read more

HIGHLY RECOMMEND - LIZA WEALE @ MBA Mission After considered applying to business school for several years, I finally made the decision to apply last summer. Wanting to give myself every advantage possible, I looked to enlist the help of an MBA consultant. I met Liza during my 30-minute free consultation with MBA Mission and immediately knew that she would be a great fit for my application process. From the get go, Liza had an array of thoughtful comments tailored to my specific background and target schools. She immediately spotted "themes" in my work experience, such as an ability to create systems/infrastructure, which I had not identified on my own. On top of that, her supportive and enthusiastic attitude made it clear that she was 100% invested in my success. I immediately signed up for two start-to-finish packages (GSB and Sloan) and later added two more (HBS and Haas). As soon as we began the application process, I knew that working with Liza had been a wise choice. My first brainstorming session started as a general get-to-know-you session, but it was immediately clear that Liza genuinely wanted to understand my personality and behavior. With each experience we discussed she would ask probing questions such as, "How did you respond? Why did you do that?" Through this session, I felt that Liza gained valuable insight into my personality, motivations, and behaviors. With this insight, Liza helped me identify trends in my work history and hone in on my most compelling stories based on each schools profile. In later sessions, Liza acted as a sounding board for my ideas, ensuring that I did not waste time writing essays about less-than-stellar subjects. This up-front work truly paid off as we entered the essay writing stage. With general themes already identified for each application, I was able to jump into essay outlining without any problem. Throughout the MANY iterations of my essays, Liza's feedback was impeccably on-point complete with thoughtful questions, insightful suggestions, and a laser focus on the big picture. She asked pointed questions that helped me focus on salient information and she also has an amazing ability to identify and eliminate non-essential details. Once my essays were boiled down to the core story, Liza demonstrated her very impressive ability to cut words through creative editing. Throughout the process I felt that Liza, really went above and beyond as I often received comments back well before the 48-hour response time had lapsed and, on top of that, I would get random emails saying things like, "While I was out for a run, I had an epiphany regarding your essay...." This extra effort really made me feel as if she had my best interest in mind and was truly invested in my success. At the end of the process, I felt that my essays retained my individuality and read as my voice, but were more focused and polished than they would have been otherwise...thanks to Liza. Liza was also hugely helpful with the remainder of my applications helping me concentrate on achievements in my resume, choose words thoughtfully in my short answers, and present myself succinctly in my interview. Finally, after six long months of the grueling application process, I was accepted to three programs (HBS, Sloan, and Haas) and could not be happier about choosing to work with Liza during the process. In fact, Liza has continued to go above and beyond since I have received my acceptance letters helping me through the school selection process, even going as far as to write an email with some questions/self-exploration questions to ask myself while I make my decision. If you are considering using an MBA admission consultant, I would highly recommend Liza. She helped me demonstrate the best version of me through my applications and not a pre-packaged idea of what business schools want. I am super pleased with my experience with Liza and, I think, the results speak for themselves. read more

I too got a request to come here and post about the "wonderful" experience I had with mbaMission. Truth is, while I am quite happy with the guidance and editing I got, this is a way overpriced service. They offer hourly (just plain overpriced) and package (mega overpriced) services and the free consultation call definitely pushes you towards the latter. Unless you're not a native english speaker you'll never recoup your costs with the package markup. I did the math. read more

After scoring a 690 on the GMAT, I looked to enlist mbaMission to help me apply to grad schools. At 36, I knew I'd have a tough time getting into a competitive school and was eager to hire a consultant to help me. My free initial consultation with mbaMission almost killed my bid for an MBA outright. The consultant told me that he couldn't advise me anymore than he'd be able to advise "a 36 year-old pitcher looking to break into the major leagues". I was seriously going to pack it in after that phone call, but already had a consult scheduled with Stacy Blackman Consulting and figured I'd take the free call anyway. Glad I did! The SBC consultant not only told me that they had strategies for "nontraditional" candidates, but also assured me that I wasn't the only person trying to get into business school that had a few hurdles to leap. With the help of an SBC consultant, I was able to get into Columbia. mbaMission may very well do a good job for ideal B-school candidates, but my experience with mbaMission as a candidate with the odds against me was deflating, to say the least. I wouldn't be going to business school at all, let alone a top-tier school, if I took the advice of mbaMission. read more