Status: Re-applicant
Pre-MBA industry: Auditing
Years of experience at time of matriculation: 9
GMAT/GRE score: 770 (V: 46 Q: 49)
Undergraduate GPA: 71.2/100
Admitted to: Fuqua, Ross
Scholarship(s): $50,000
Service Type: Premium Need-based
In the whirlwind of my MBA journey, Square One Prep emerged as a transformative force. Having prepared for the GMAT, then applications, and then facing multiple rejections in the previous application cycle, I found myself exhausted and disheartened.
Selecting a consultant was a critical life choice I had to make, especially as a reapplicant. After a friend’s endorsement who had worked with SOP, I hopped on a call with Kathryn – the founder of SOP. I still remember our initial 1-hour call – where we talked about the process, which schools to target, and most importantly her belief that my dream schools were within my reach. What I loved about SOP approach was there would be a team of experts to support me – Matteo as my advisor, Horatiu, Cristina and Kelsey, with Kathryn also involved in reviewing.
The process is very structured (with strict timelines) – school selection, recommender selection, career narrative, resumes, and the Assessment Call with your advisor. I spent close to 4 hours on the call – with me narrating my life journey to Matteo, and then we could figure out which aspects of the journey we could highlight in the essays, resume etc.
I’m thankful to everyone on the team, but most importantly Matteo who has been my guiding light throughout the journey. Matteo made it clear that his role was not simply editing my essays or giving a lot of suggestions. Instead, he gave honest (and once brutal) feedback and encouraged me to write the best essays I could – and I’m very grateful for his approach. His attention to detail in the essays allowed me to curate very personalized essays for each school. The support of other team members Horatiu, Kelsey, Cristina was equally commendable– they’re all experienced and available to talk about anything – you just have to email them.
I enrolled on a 3-school package – but received help and resources for additional school applications as well. My top choices were Fuqua, Tuck and Kellogg – and while other consultants might encourage ‘safe’ choices, Square One never told me to settle. When I finally received interview invites from almost all schools I’d applied to, I had a mock interview with Matteo. While my first mock wasn’t good, by the 2nd mock I was ready and during the real interviews I presented my candid best to the schools.
Thanks to the Square One team, I received admits to Ross and Fuqua (with scholarship), among others. Beyond the tangible outcomes, what’s most valuable for me is the personal growth I achieved. I came out of this process more self-aware, improved my writing, structured thinking and communication skills – and I’m sure these qualities will benefit me immensely in my future career. For anyone navigating the highly competitive b-school application process, my sincere recommendation is to just schedule a call with Kathryn and understand the process. If you’re seeking top-notch guidance from a team deeply invested in your success, then Square One Prep is the way to go. SOP is more than a consultancy – it’s a partner committed to your personal and professional success in a way very few people out there are!