Jessica Shklar Reviews

Choosing the right MBA admissions consultant can be a game-changer in the application process, and my experience with Jessica was nothing short of outstanding. From our initial conversation, it was evident that Jessica possessed a deep understanding of the MBA admissions landscape, paired with a genuine commitment to my success.

The personalized approach was the first aspect that stood out. Jessica took the time to understand my unique background, career aspirations, and personal values, ensuring that every piece of advice and strategy was tailored to my specific goals. This level of customization made a significant difference, especially when crafting my essays and prepping for interviews.

Jessica's expertise in storytelling is her true “super power”. She helped me articulate my experiences and vision in a compelling and coherent manner. Her feedback was always constructive, detailed, and insightful, pushing me to refine my narrative until it resonated with clarity and impact.

Additionally, her support extended beyond just the application materials. Jessica provided moral support and guidance throughout the often stressful process, reminding me to stay true to myself and my aspirations.

The results speak for themselves. I was accepted into HBS and GSB, and I attribute a significant part of my success to Jessica's guidance. I HIGHLY recommend Jessica to anyone seeking a partner who will invest deeply in their MBA journey and help them achieve their highest potential.

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Jessica Shklar’s expertise as an MBA admissions consultant exceeded all expectations. From the outset, she demonstrated a keen ability to discern underlying themes in my life story that I hadn’t even recognized. Her insightful approach during our brainstorming session was instrumental in uncovering connections that added depth and coherence to my application.

Throughout the entire process, Jessica’s dedication was unwavering. She remained readily available and consistently pushed me to refine every aspect of my application until it met her exacting standards. Whether it was meticulously polishing my resume or meticulously refining my short answer responses, she left no stone unturned in ensuring that my application stood out.

As a non-traditional applicant, Jessica’s guidance was invaluable in shaping my narrative and presenting my experiences in a manner that resonated with business school admissions committees. Her collaborative approach, which included soliciting feedback from her colleagues, ensured that my application was both compelling and comprehensible.

Moreover, Jessica’s interview preparation sessions were nothing short of exceptional. She struck the perfect balance between thorough preparation and natural spontaneity, enabling me to confidently navigate the interview process. Thanks to her guidance and support, I received offers from multiple top-tier schools, including an acceptance to Wharton, which I will be attending this fall. Without a doubt, Jessica Shklar’s expertise was instrumental in my success, and I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone seeking guidance in the MBA admissions process.

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I had a very positive experience with Jessica! Not only was she very helpful in helping shape my applications, but she also gave me the confidence to pursue schools I wouldn't have otherwise considered/thought I was qualified for. From day 1 she was by my side and supporting me through her coaching/feedback, as well as countless rounds of edits on my essays. Jessica was instrumental in working with me to flush out my story and addressing any weaknesses in my application. Ultimately, I was accepted to all of my top school choices including multiple M7's. I will now be starting at Wharton this August.

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I had a lot of apprehension starting the MBA admission process. I was targeting the top of
the M7, nervous about getting the right GMAT score and uncertain about making my
application stand out. I was a consultant passionate about public service and faith, and didn’t
know how to tell my story. Not only this, but I was unsure about investing significant
financial resources into the process. I approached coaches with a bit of skepticism,
somewhat jaded after reading hundreds of admissions consultant reviews. But then I met Jessica and
everything changed. I am now on my way to HBS after receiving multiple M7 offers. I can
confidently say I wouldn’t be here without Jessica’s support. If you are reading this and have
your sights set on a top school, look no further than Jessica.

See below for a few examples of
the exceptional value Jessica provided:

1. Jessica got to know me deeply as a human, well beyond my resume. She repeatedly
pushed me to lean into stories that had shaped my life- stories of love and loss and
oftentimes not associated with the corporate world. I cried after writing down some of the
life experiences that I eventually used in essays- we got that real. I don’t think my application
would have been remotely as powerful as it was with these lived experiences included and I
believe that Jessica is in the top .1% of coaches that could draw this emotion and depth out
of someone.

2. Jessica encouraged me to avoid a “brand”. I was ready to structure my package squarely
around something I thought schools would want- an MBB consultant on sponsorship, ready
to share stories of board meetings in class. Jessica quickly dispelled this. Instead, I found
myself leaning into passions I would never have considered bringing up (cycling, painting)
and my package became all the more reflective of who I actually was.

3. Jessica was extremely honest. Sometimes painfully so 🙂 She said from the beginning that she would react honestly to content because it would lead to a better product, and she held true to that. This too lead to a better outcome than otherwise.

4. Jessica (and mbaMission) was comprehensive. Jessica provided outstanding support across my package for multiple schools, and mbaMission went above and beyond with interview prep. All of this (besides one-off 1:1 interview deep-dives) was included in my package. I felt like this was excellent value and reflected the outstanding caliber of mbaMission as a whole (though Jessica stands alone in her caliber as a coach).

5. Jessica was timely, thorough and pushed me to stay “ahead of schedule”. Jessica consistently turned content in under two days and always was thorough. She encouraged me to lean in, even after long weeks or late nights, and dig deep to complete my packages early. Without this push I know I would not have been as prepared as I was.

6. Even after I submitted my applications, Jessica was there every step of the way. She provided immense reassurance in times of doubt, responded thoughtfully to anxiety-induced emails, and even counseled me on what to wear to my interviews. I am confident that I would have had many more sleepless nights if it wasn’t for her.
Working with Jessica was the one of the wisest decisions I’ve ever made – and it would be for you too.

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When I started working with Jessica, I had completed my GMAT and thought my “MBA story,” honed over 4.5 years in the same industry, only needed a bit of polish. Jessica, however, envisioned a more reflective approach. She encouraged me to introspect deeply about my life, got to know me intimately, and reshaped my narrative into something beyond my imagination. Had I stuck to my original plan, I doubt I'd be heading to HBS today.

From day one, Jessica was methodical, initiating our process five months before application deadlines. She required a detailed account of my upbringing, family, hobbies, and work experiences—a task that seemed too excessive with its 50-60 hours of introspection. Yet, this groundwork proved essential. It enabled Jessica to identify what made me unique and weave my most compelling stories into each school's application. I still remember my sense of relief during our first brainstorming session. Jessica had done her homework, knew my story inside-out, and proposed a clear-cut strategy for the coming months. I was onboard and it was the first time I felt that I might actually have a shot.

Applying to top MBA programs is a grueling process. Schools evaluate every aspect of your life and expect you to “bleed on paper” to convince them of your candidacy. The best MBA essays are compelling stories where you, the author, happen to be the hero. For even the best storytellers among us, that’s an awkward thing to write. Fortunately, Jessica finds it easy. She’s a professional who knows what schools are looking for and, as long as you’re willing to put in the work, her expertise will bring out the best in you.

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My experience with Jessica was amazing.

I am an over-represented majority from a business school applicant perspective based on occupation, demographics, undergrad major, and location and was really worried about how I could stand out when I first started the process. To make things worse, before I started with Jessica I also was struggling to verbalize my journey and why I wanted to purse an MBA.

From our first brainstorming session, Jessica was able to extract so much about me and my journey that I had not been able to put into words myself. She also very quickly was able to guide me on where I needed to go deeper and what aspects of my journey might connect. Through all of this, Jessica not only helped me define why I wanted to purse an MBA, she also helped me verbalize my overall story despite what felt like me not giving her much to work with. Jessica helped me dig really deep (for me) to come up with stories that made me stand out and were successful for every school I applied to.

Going into the process I was concerned that with my job and personal responsibilities, I was not going to be able to put enough time and effort into essay brainstorming and writing. Luckily for me, Jessica is efficient. Even in the early brainstorming sessions, Jessica was always super prepared going into each session. Not only that, but Jessica would come with multiple options at each step so no time was ever wasted. On top of that, Jessica's feedback was always very tangible and upfront saving any unnecessary churn.

Without Jessica there is no way I would have gotten into the schools I did. Beyond that, there's no way I would have experienced the reflection and growth she helped me through as we put together my story and applications. Really appreciate everything Jessica did for me and would highly recommend her to anyone.

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If I had to describe Jessica in one sentence - she knows how to instantly make you memorable to the Admissions Committee. Her exceptional storytelling skills, professionalism, efficiency, and amazing mentorship make her the best consultant. She is undoubtedly the highlight of my MBA application process.

- A non-traditional background
- Low GPA
- Waitlisted or previously rejected
- An older applicant
- International applicant

Guess what? These all apply to me. Before my free consultation with Jessica, I spoke with a few other consulting firms. Due to these so-called "red flags" most consultants left me dejected and told me to lower my expectations. But my call with Jessica was different - Her calm confidence, willingness to tease out my streghthnes, and her high EQ left me incredibly impressed. I still remember her follow-up email after this call not only summarised our conversation efficiently but also prompted me to be more confident.

Jessica is a phenomenal storyteller and has an impeccable ability to draw out relevant information from you to create a unique narrative. During our first brainstorming call, I saw Jessica's magic come to life - she had tied up all the disparate ends of my story which believe me where all over the place into a strategically articulated beautiful piece. She really had found the thread to connect all the dots! It was awe-inspiring and I couldn't believe how happy I was with the outcome. During the essay writing process, her intelligent questions encouraged me to think differently, which ended up reflecting creatively in the essays.

Jessica was also immensely helpful in my interview prep. She helped me hone my story, offered tangible feedback, and also boosted my confidence going into my interviews, which was perhaps the most important part!

Don’t think twice about working with Jessica - she’s the best MBA coach you can work with, without any doubt! I don't say this lightly, as I have worked with other consultants previously.

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As I am going to apply for the Stanford MSx program, I have been looking for many different materials about the MSx application process and I have met Jessica Shklar's discussion on Gmat Club, How to Fill out Stanford GSB MBA Application on Youtube.
Her explanation and insights were truly remarkable. I particularly appreciated the essay part, as it shed light on many specific details. Detailed instructions for all essays, with specific details - what to avoid, and what to pay attention to. Afterward, I contacted her and her consultation was a real game-changer. Thanks to Jessica, I managed to orientate myself in the application process.

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Working on taking stock of my educational and professional accomplishments up until now was a helpful and interesting experience with Jessica. It was a combination of understanding what my strengths and weaknesses were and phrasing them to outline the accomplishments and filling the gaps of possible shortfalls. Going into the process, I had a solid idea that I wanted to work with Jessica, given how splendid her recommendation was from my closest friends. I chose to go with hourly services as I have previously given thought to what my story was and had limited but solid experience of pitching myself from experiences at US university coupled with working on sell-side at a private equity. Hourly services decision was also driven by me not having GMAT score (never prepped or wrote the exam) and wanting to apply to only UK universities. Should I wanted to apply for prestigious MBA programs in USA, I would have certainly gone for 3-5 school packages.
I have enjoyed fast-paced, to the point discussions with Jessica, honored turn-around times and the outcome was to make it all worthwhile (more on that below). However, where Jessica truly made a difference was taking my application to the next level – making me not a good candidate but an outstanding one for the programs that I was applying for. She identified the questions that based on my profile would be tricky to handle – I had a gap of > 6m before the start of the programme – and we worked on those with more care. Further, she was able to translate for me what the particular questions were getting at – what do your friends and family think about your plans – and identify patterns in my story to exhaustively answer those. My younger sister is considering to apply for MBA/Master’s programs and I would not hesitate to recommend Jessica to assist her in forming a story for the next stage in her professional life.
I have applied to Master in Finance at London Business School, Master in Finance at University of Cambridge and Imperial MBA (where I had a GMAT requirement waived) along with applying to Cass, NYU and Northeastern using the prompts that we have developed together. I have gotten accepted into all six universities and even received a scholarship at two of those.
I would highly recommend splurging on Admissions Consulting Services if you are taking your graduate plans seriously and Jessica if you would like to place your story in the best hands.

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I reached out to Jessica when I was struggling with essays. I wanted to apply to a few top schools but wasn't able to figure out how to pick the right stories. I needed some help with brainstorming and guidance. Jessica provided all that and more. She has been simply incredible. Right from my first conversation with her, she made me feel comfortable due to her honesty and approachability. I knew immediately that I would reach out to her for hourly services if required. I am so glad I did! Jessica is very insightful and was able to expertly help me weave a strong narrative that was authentic and honest. I was initially reluctant to write about some experiences I had gone through but she helped me see aspects of those stories that I hadn't considered before. I am glad I trusted her and took her advice. She really knows her stuff. I also got to know myself really well in the process and enjoyed every minute with her. She is also extremely prompt with replies and answers questions patiently.

She helped me secure 5 admits and one of them is my dream school that I will be going to this fall! A year back, I would NEVER have expected to get in especially because of my above average age, middling score and non-traditional background but Jessica made it possible. She believed in me and helped me believe in myself. I'm extremely grateful that I got to work with her and I know it's not an exaggeration when I say that she changed my career trajectory.

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