Status: First-time applicant
Pre-MBA industry: Oil Sales/Trading
Years of experience at time of matriculation: 7
GMAT/GRE score: 660
Undergraduate GPA: 3.5/4.0
Admitted to: Columbia
I couldn’t be more thankful for being introduced to Square One Prep. From the very first conversation, my consultant radiated a positive energy and a genuine ‘grab-the-bull-by the horns’ attitude to help me evolve from an anxious application writer into a confident top-MBA candidate. Her can-do spirit replaced my fears with focus and an achievable game plan. It had always been difficult for me to explain my story to people because it isn’t your traditional background or MBA story. Yet my consultant seemed to instinctively understand who I was, appreciated what I had achieved, and visualized where I was trying to go. I especially liked that she remained pragmatic with her guidance – tailoring my expansive ideas into accessible essays ideas. Working with her was seamless for me because of these characteristics.
The application process felt like a joint collaboration with mutual vested interest. She makes you feel like your success matters to her and she always makes time to address your concerns or ideas, is extremely prompt with email responses, and very considerate with international time-differences. Best of all, she truly listens to you and absorbs your personal story. I remember being blown away when she would bring up experiences from my past that I had touched on in passing during much earlier conversations; she would suggest them for parts of an essay in a way that fully captured both the spirit of the experience and my goal with the essay. It was as though she had been with me through the course of my life and clearly understood how each experience fit into the microcosm of me. She was also perfectly organized in her guidance process and immediately provided me with invaluable tools that helped me get organized with my applications and time-lines. Her strict time-lines and division of tasks into bite-size pieces made the end goal appear more attainable. For 2 years I had struggled with completing an MBA application. With Square One Prep I completed my application in two weeks! My consultant was incredibly knowledgeable. She was also very talented at editing essays into half the size I’d send without losing the message, and in fact somehow making them stronger. I not only got a prompt acceptance into the one school I applied to (Top 5 program) but through her guidance I became more self-aware and better prepared for b-school.
Working with Square One Prep was a delightful blessing. I am very grateful for their professionalism, fun approachable nature, and genuine interest in my success. I recommend their services wholeheartedly.