Status: First-time applicant
Pre-MBA industry: Finance in Food and Beverage
Years of experience at time of matriculation: 4
GMAT/GRE score: Test Waived
Undergraduate GPA: 3.50/4.00
Admitted to: Stern
Service Type: Premium
I had an outstanding experience working with Square One Prep throughout my MBA application process. From start to finish, the guidance was thoughtful, strategic, and incredibly personalized.
The process is run by Kathryn Lucas, who has built an exceptional team and process. You can tell there’s a clear philosophy behind how they approach admissions, structured, honest, and focused on bringing out the strongest version of each applicant’s story.
My main advisor was Kelsey Wise, and I truly can’t say enough good things about her. She pushed me to think deeper, refine my narrative, and present my experiences in a way that felt authentic and compelling. She was responsive, detail-oriented, and always candid when something needed improvement. I never felt like I was getting generic advice, everything was tailored specifically to me and my goals.
The rest of the team was equally impressive. Whether it was essay reviews, interview prep, adhoc questions, every interaction felt high quality and intentional. They strike the perfect balance between being supportive and challenging you to elevate your application.
If you’re serious about putting together a polished, competitive MBA application and want advisors who are invested in your success, I highly recommend Square One Prep. Working with them was one of the best decisions I made during this process.