Status: First-time applicant
Pre-MBA industry: Risk Management/Financial Services
Years of experience at time of matriculation: 7
GMAT/GRE score: 720 (V: 41 Q: 44)
Admitted to: Kellogg
Career Gap: 4 months
Scholarship(s): $40,000
Because I was applying to only two M7 schools for geographical reasons, getting genuine and tailored advice on my applications was a must. When I first spoke with Kathryn during our initial free consultation, she stood out above all others due to her authenticity, frankness, and approach. Our conversation lasted over one hour during which she answered every question I asked her. Her responses showed that she thought intently about my profile before even hopping on that initial phone call; I knew I was not going to get a run-of-the-mill experience with SO.
I chose to work with Eva for both schools, who provided amazing insight into what adcoms are looking for, how to best get across my accomplishments on paper, and most importantly, how to craft a succinct and logical career narrative. Looking back at the ideas I had about what a great b-school application looked like before working with Eva, I would have crafted a fairly trite application. Eva and the SO team helped me focus on the elements of my personal and professional history that would attract an adcom’s attention.
I got the sense that other admissions consultants were looking to feed me narratives that worked for their other clients; SO will not do this. I think this is what made them stand out initially and the reason that the application package I submitted felt very personal and introspective. Their process forced you to dig deeper to get across the person you actual are rather than the archetypal MBA candidate. There are not any shortcuts to getting this across to the adcom, but you can be assured that SO will let you know when you are coming across unauthentic or trying to emulate what you think is the “right” thing to say in an essay. For me, their feedback on my ideas was the most rewarding process and invaluable.
SO was there with me through every step of this, and I felt comfortable knowing I had them in my corner for the big decisions (essay topics) down to the most minute of details (grammar). I would highly recommend Kathryn, Eva, and the whole SO team to anyone looking to work with an admissions consultant.