Gatehouse Admissions Consulting Reviews

Eric's coaching and essay comments helped me gain admission into the Booth, Haas, and Anderson part-time MBA programs. I leave very impressed with MBAMission, including my initial 30 minute consultation. I chose to go with Eric because his background in investment research aligned with my goals in pursuing an MBA. From the beginning, Eric offered me very direct and detailed advice. My initial goal was to get into a full-time program, but Eric helped me see that a part-time program was likely a better fit for my ultimate goals.

While he was ultimately spot-on with this initial advice, he fully supported me in pursuing both full-time programs and part-time programs. He pushed me to quickly network with current students at all the schools I applied to, which was invaluable, and helped me brainstorm my approach. I started the process later than is advisable, but Eric told me exactly the themes I needed to communicate in my application and essays. He helped me brainstorm my strategy for approaching writers of my letters of recommendation and prepare for interviews. In the essays, he did not tell me what to write, but instead coached me on what I needed to get across (proven leadership experience, fit with the programs, etc). Eric worked with me to bring out the very best of my story. His comments challenged me to either think more critically about an element of my story, explicitly make a link I wasn't making, or edit out unnecessary detail. The final applications encapsulated an excellent summary of me and my value proposition to the programs.

I chose hourly services because I felt comfortable with a transactional relationship, and given my time constraints, wasn't sure I would get value out of a package. Eric was very efficient with my purchased time. I feel like I received a great value, and found his help invaluable in gaining admission to three programs. Eric also helped me learn how to sell myself better, which I think will payoff for me in many other areas of life and career.

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Choosing Eric Hollowaty as my admissions consultant was the best decision I’ve made for my application – looking back I don’t regret it for a second.
I had prepared for the GMAT myself but I knew that essay writing and in general selling myself was my weakest skill. Moreover, I decided to apply to only one (!) top business school and I definitely wanted to give it the best possible chance of success. Eric is the best professional coach I’ve ever worked with – not only does his coaching helped me to submit a great application and get admitted, but it had a tremendous impact on my whole professional career. I learnt how to craft a compelling cover letter and build a strong business case in no time…
I work within a top professional services business and yet mbaMission impressed me with the top-notch quality of every bit of their work and the completely flawless service delivery. Writing wasn’t an easy thing for me but Eric was restless and didn’t stop pushing me to perfection. When I was stuck, he was always finding a way to foster my inspiration – I wouldn’t have make it without his help.

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I started the MBA application process late in the admissions season, having taken the GMAT in the second week of December, hoping to complete second round applications. I spoke with Eric Hollowaty at mbaMission the week after the GMAT and told him I intended to try to complete three applications to top 10 business schools in three weeks and asked for his help. Eric was eager to work with me and suggested an hourly package due to the timing of my applications.
As an individual with a finance background, I needed to really differentiate myself in order to be accepted. Through conversations and drafts of my essays, Eric was able to extract a truly unique story from my background that seemed rather mundane to me at the onset of the process. His ability to detect true differentiators in my background helped craft a perfect admissions story. Eric really pushes you to expand on all of your points to get the most out of your essays. Furthermore, Eric has deep knowledge of all of the top business schools and knows the types of people that they are interested in which helped tailor my story to each school that I applied.
Eric’s advice and guidance throughout the process enabled me to write excellent essays and tailor my resume for business school. The result is that I got in to Wharton and Columbia and couldn’t be more pleased with the services!

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I won't lie -- I was not sure if I needed a consultant at first. As a green MBA applicant just starting the process, I felt that maybe the value add wasn't quite worth the cost. My free, initial conversation with Liza proved me wrong.

During our initial chat, Liza started asking me all the hard questions I needed to confidently master. Liza was always honest, and it was from there that our relationship began. Her experience and expertise lends her to have a general understanding of what is "market" in the MBA universe. It is her candid, yet careful, honesty that won me over. The application process is a long, brutal process that really forces one to face his/her self, and Liza was the first step for me to face it.

She served as a valuable resource in the coming weeks and months. She was quick to answer any and all questions I may have, no matter how big or small. She was very active in my brainstorming process and helped me expand my initial ideas. Importantly, she reviewed my essays and sometimes provided an outside perspective that I would not have thought of on my own.

Even after the application process, Liza was responsive and helpful to answer any additional questions I may have. And even during my acceptances (and rejections), she remained engaged and enthusiastic.

You can tell that she really cares about and shares in the successes of her clients. And by these reviews, you can see that her clients feel the same.

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My first experience working with Liza was through mbaMission's Boot Camp product. The Boot Camp is an all day online session with an instructor that really give you a great jump start on the essay process of your applications if you don't have the time or money to spend on a full school package. I found this Boot Camp to be extremely helpful, but you need to be willing to put in the work yourself (prep work leading up to the session, during the session, and homework after) to get the most out of it.

Liza was great during the session and provided very valuable feedback to me on my homework assignment, which was to write a draft of one of my essays. For some, just this one activity might be enough guidance for their whole application process. However, I felt that I needed a little more expert advice on the rest of my essays, so I decided to purchase a few hours of the Hourly Services with Liza because of my positive experience with her in the Boot Camp.

Liza was always very up front and honest in answering my questions and her assessments of my essays. She was very encouraging in pushing me to strive for my greatest, but was also unbiased and honest - willing to tell me when she thought a particular school may be a reach for me. When giving essay feedback she was able to not only just offer ideas for better wording, but also ask me questions about the topics that really helped me focus on the right issues and get my mind in gear. She was very prompt in her responses and offered valuable advice once it came time to making admissions decisions. I would definitely recommend Liza to anyone navigating the business school application process. It is certainly daunting to do alone and having Liza as a resource made everything a lot easier!

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When I started the application process, I admit that I was skeptical about consultants. I’m extremely organized and have been told I’m a strong writer – so I was confident I could do everything on my own, without cutting a big check. One of my best friends worked with Liza a few years ago, did very well in the application process and encouraged me to at least do the 30 min session with Liza – after all, it was free. My friend had nothing but positive feedback about Liza and raved about the experience working with her. I really trust her so went ahead with the call, but still thought it would be a sales pitch. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Liza had reviewed my resume and responses to mbaMission’s questionnaire thoroughly before our call and after giving a brief introduction, turned it over to me to use the remaining 28 mins how I saw fit. I came with a bunch of questions and frankly, concerns, and Liza was direct, honest and encouraging in her answers. It was far from a sales pitch. I walked away with a feeling that I should reconsider working with her and ended up deciding to do the start to finish package for the 4 schools to which I was applying.

Throughout the process, Liza was my biggest supporter, provider of constructive feedback, motivator and at times, therapist. Her knowledge of the process and each school’s quirks was clear but perhaps more importantly, she really got to know me and therefore could help me strategize and determine how to position my best self in each piece of the application.

In the beginning, I was anxious and just wanted to get started on the essays but Liza reminded me that I needed to be patient with the step by step process she laid out. I was skeptical once again, but listened. She was right -- the brainstorming process could not have been more important. I spent that first weekend answering the many questions she provided. The result was 15+ pages about all aspects of my life, past experiences, values and personality. The self-reflective process and probing questions that Liza asked after reading the document became the starting place for my essay topics. Liza helped me to see how my accomplishments were just that – accomplishments. And as we went along, her comments in each draft were pointed and pushed me to articulate a specific point more clearly in the next version. The robust and honest dialogue we had was so valuable as I tried to show the admissions offices what I am all about.

Liza kept me organized & accountable and made the overwhelming application process seem less daunting as we tackled each essay/task step by step. I tend to overanalyze and as such, tweaked the wording or sentence structure of my essays frequently – Liza was patient and truly wanted me to feel 100% confident with the end result. After many iterations, she finally helped me to let go and press the submit button, knowing I really did put my best foot forward. It didn’t stop there – she was there to prepare me for my video essay and interviews, and served as a sounding board as I made my final decision.

In addition, Liza was there when things didn’t go so smoothly. First, I had a few bumps in the road with my recommenders. Liza calmed me down and offered constructive suggestions given the circumstances to get to a positive outcome. Second, one of my interviews went poorly and Liza made herself available on a Friday evening and early Saturday morning to help me bounce back. She never made me feel rushed on our phone conversations (which always went over our allotted time), answered my frequent emails quickly and thoroughly, and helped me put things in perspective while waiting for and hearing the results.

Now that I have a few acceptances under my belt and am thrilled with where I’ll spend the next few years, I look back and realize that partnering with Liza was worth every penny I spent. Liza goes above and beyond, is truly invested in her clients, and is someone you want on your side as you take this next step. While I already miss seeing Liza’s name in my inbox every other day, I can honestly say that I think we will keep in touch long after this application year.

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I at first was against using a consultant as I was already stressed about the cost applying, let alone an MBA. Like everyone else, I had applied to undergrad on my own with no problem and questioned why I would a need a consultant for graduate school. I could not have been more wrong. The MBA process is a beast – it is far more competitive, far more nuanced, and forces you to think about your future in a way most people are probably avoiding.

A few weeks before applications for round 2 were due, I met a friend for lunch to talk about our b-school struggles and she mentioned she just got into Harvard round 1 and used a consultant that really helped with her resume. She said I could set up a free 30 minute call with her to see if she could be of help to me. Of course I expected 25 minutes of this call to be a marketing pitch. It was the exact opposite. She gave her 2 minute roadmap of the call and then immediately asked me what questions I had. We spent the entire 30 minutes addressing any and all questions I had regarding my application from “how should I explain my GMAT math score” to “who is the best person to pick as a recommender.” She was a great smart, thoughtful, and rapid fire responded to me. It was the most helpful 30 minutes of my application process.

Unfortunately, I didn’t utilize this resource until too late in the process and regretted every moment of it. But I told myself, if I got an interview, I wanted her guidance.
Luckily, this chance came. My interview date gave me limited time to prepare and Liza found time in her schedule to talk to me. She helped me formulate my best answer to central questions like “why an MBA at X and why X career.” She helped me organize my thoughts and then convey them in a logical, succinct way. She even set prep material so we could take the most out of our call and she was kind enough to go past the allocated time. I felt as though she was truly invested in my success and she did everything she could to help me achieve my goals. I know she helped me because I got into or waitlisted at the schools I interviewed at. I don’t think this would have been possible without her help.

I unequivocally recommend her to anyone that is applying to get an MBA.

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Selecting Eric Hallowaty was one of the best decisions in my life. He was an invaluable asset and instrumental to helping me to get into several top business schools.

Going into the application process, I wanted to make sure I chose the right admissions counselor to guide me in such a significant (and stressful) few months. I spent an enormous amount of time reading through most GMAT Club reviews on admissions consultants, and ended up choosing mbaMission after doing several 30 minute free consultations. The biggest differentiating factor for me was that mbaMission is the only consulting company whose consultants work full-time for them; thus they are constantly immersed in applications and have the most expertise.

Coming from a finance background, Eric was the perfect fit for me, having also worked in finance. Eric’s biggest strengths are 1) his logical train of thought and 2) his straightforward demeanor. While brainstorming, Eric has an innate ability to distill my verbose stories and anecdotes, and was immediately able to grasp the main concepts, and followed up with insightful questions. Additionally, I appreciated his honest opinion and feedback on my essays. When he didn’t think a story or an approach would work for the essay, and would lead to a dead end, he wouldn’t sugarcoat his opinions in an effort to appease me; he would directly tell me that he would approach it a different way. This allowed me to put forth my most effective essay.

Eric was instrumental in guiding me through the application process; from brainstorming the best approach to an essay to making sure my essay logically made sense, he was a true difference maker. If I had to repeat the process, I would choose Eric again in a heartbeat. I would full heartily recommend Eric for anyone applying to business schools, especially from a finance background. It’s one decision you won’t regret!

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Initially, I had been hesitant to work with an admissions consultant knowing that many other peers had been admitted to top business schools without any assistance. However, my opinion completely changed after working with Liza and looking back at what an amazing job she did guiding and supporting me through the entire process beginning before I even took my GMAT. I have highlighted below what I view as her most significant strengths, and could not recommend her more strongly to anyone looking for an MBA admissions consultant.

1) She is entirely invested in getting to know the ins and outs of your life and personality – what makes you tick, which is so important during the admissions process. As a result, the commentary and feedback on all elements of my application were far beyond structural and grammatical but rather unique to my qualities that she thought should be emphasized. There were even some things she picked up on and noticed about me that I hadn’t even thought of myself, but ended up coming through in various ways throughout the application.

2) She is the most enthusiastic person I have ever worked with, staying extremely positive and motivating no matter the situation. During the process I had some very rough times at work and there were many times when I didn’t think it was going to be possible to get my applications in. She was the single driving force keeping me going with her constant positive feedback and mentoring. If I didn’t know she was working with other clients, I might have thought I was the only person she was helping through the process – that is how much attention she gives to each and every one she works with. She will also make herself available to talk about anything you need at almost any time, and always managed to brighten my day and relieve some stress.

3) She is very knowledgeable about the entire process and the nuances of each school’s essays and application materials. It is very clear that she has a lot of experience in this field and most any question that I had she knew the answer to. She was also able to steer my thoughts in the right direction for brainstorming in ways that I thought got me to the correct content for each school. Plus, she is a graduate of a top program so has actually been through it herself.

4) She is so dedicated to you, and it never felt like my time was getting cut off or I was not getting what I paid for (which I have heard from other people). Often times we would go over our time limit but it is so clear that her goal is to help you in whatever way possible. She went above and beyond what I expected in terms of personal investment in my success during the process.

5) She is open, honest, and will tell you her opinion in a straightforward way. I will admit it was hard to hear negative feedback sometimes, but she was so good at being critical and at the same time still being my best friend helping me to improve the content of my application beyond what I thought I was capable of. I put a lot of value on this as I liked to be pushed to achieve the best result possible.

I can say with confidence that you will definitely not regret working with Liza, she is an incredible partner to have through the admissions process.

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As Eric says in his initial 1-on-1 meeting, he was the “Sherpa” that I needed to help guide me through the admissions process. He’s not going to hold your hand but he does everything he can to position you the best. I got the three school admissions package with Eric for round 1 admissions. With his help, I was admitted to two of my choices (Wharton and Booth). Eric helped me craft a story after reviewing my personal brainstorming document, helped structure my essays and reviewed many details of my application.

Here’s where Eric was valuable to me:

(i) He was pivotal in helping me figure out what my story would be
(ii) He was upfront and honest and set my expectations straight
(iii) He helped me figure out what schools would be the best fit for me
(iv) He had a playbook that I was easily able to use in some of my applications
(v) He was very knowledgeable about the process and the applications and was capable of answering every single one of my questions; he also helped me deal with every ambiguity I faced in the process

I absolutely recommend using Eric as he will be an invaluable resource in the admissions process.

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