John Sisk Reviews

I got admitted to a top 5 MBA program after applying in round 2. And I couldn't have done it without John. I started working with John late in the application process. John has so much experience on personal statements and knows what each school looks for and guided me to the right direction for each application. I was not confident about my essays at first, but after many times of discussion and editing rounds with John, I felt confident and was ready to submit my application. Given that I also have a demanding job, John really took a lot of pressure of my shoulders. He was also extremely supportive for any creative ideas. John is very easy to work with. I highly recommend him as an MBA consultant!

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I got partnered up with John late into my application process and looking back am very very glad I did. Working with John was a seamless process - I was able to walk through my general thought process on application plans, school visits, interview preparation, and general story. John was thoughtful, methodical, and efficient with this consulting services. I would absolutely recommend him to other prospective business school applicants, particularly those who are looking for an organized and structured approach to applying to schools. In the end, John was able to help me get admitted to my top choice and was kind enough to do a de-brief call to reflect and also start to plan the first semester in my full-time MBA program!

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When I was looking to work with an admissions consultant in the summer to put my best foot forward in the application process, a very good friend of mine, who’d gotten into B school, suggested I take John's and mbaMission's help. During my initial conversation, I found John to be refreshingly honest. I knew I was aggressive with my school selection, given my background. John, while mentioning some of the pitfalls with my strategy, told me "You've done half the job. Now, leave all the worrying about your odds of getting in to me!" After this, I was convinced to enlist John’s help with the ‘All-in’ package.
Because I was consulting on a project in John’s city, we decided to meet up at a local Starbucks to go over essay outlines for my top choice school. John’s storytelling skills shone through immediately. I could see that he had taken the time to go over my background and stories from the brainstorming document I’d sent to him earlier. I was very impressed with the way John provided structure and detail to my essays, all while introducing ‘hooks’ from my past to keep the reader engaged. At the end of the essay writing process, I was convinced I presented the best version of myself to the admissions committee.
John also helped refine my message and delivery during a 30 minute mock interview over the phone. When the day of the interview came, I was confident of facing any question my interviewer could potentially throw at me. I was eventually accepted into my top choice program. In hindsight, working with John proved to be a great decision. He truly cares about his client’s success. I’m confident, my investment in mbaMisson and John will prove to be a drop in the bucket over the long run.

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Applying to business school is a daunting task. It’s both difficult and unnatural to compile everything about you into a neat, comprehensive package and then present it to admission committees who will be making a decision that directly impacts your career trajectory. John did an amazing job breaking down the process into manageable pieces, which both calmed my nerves, and gave me direction throughout the process. What I found most helpful when working with John was his ability to adapt as the application process unfolded. I worked with John for almost a full year, and in that year a lot of things changed in my personal and professional lives, which altered my approach to finding the right business school for me. However, John was able to adjust our process along the way, culminating in my acceptance into my dream school. I can confidently say that I would not have been able to get into my top choices without John, and for that, I’ll be forever thankful. I can’t thank John enough!

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Self reflection is hard, and as it turns out, the MBA application process requires a lot of it. Each candidate comes in with different strengths, and it becomes about showcasing them in an interesting and meaningful way. I approached the application process with a lot of determination, but some hesitation because my GMAT score was right on the cusp of what is widely considered a "safe" score for the top programs. John worked with me to craft my story in a way that let my strengths shine, and showed me that the GMAT is only one data point among many in this application. Not only did he help me make my application something that I was proud of, but was always patient and available. He was willing to review everything I wrote, including emails to professors, alumni and current students, as well as talk on the phone regularly for advice. I can honestly say that John was instrumental in helping me gain admission to my top choice of program. I cannot wait to start b-school in the Fall, and am so grateful that John was referred to me. If you are considering using John, you will not be disappointed. Trust me, it is worth the investment!

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I was extremely happy working with John Sisk. I purchased 4 hours and used all of that time on application/essay review. He always responded quickly to my emails and questions. He was very honest and always provided constructive criticism which was important to me. He helped me nail down to the specifics in the essays which made them unique to me, which was key. He helped me see things that I was not always able to see. It was not an easy process, but John helped me through every step of the way. I felt very supported by him. Overall, I greatly enjoyed my experience with John and got into my top choice - a top 10 MBA program - because of him.

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I approached the MBA application process with a lot of confidence and focused most of my efforts on GMAT prep. It wasn’t until I actually got into the application process that I realized I needed guidance. I completed the free consultation at MBA Mission and realized that I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

I purchased five hours of time with John and we began working on four school applications but it wasn’t until I began writing these essays that I really figured out what I wanted to do post-MBA. This provided my essays with direction and purpose. Without John’s coaching, my essays were pretty vanilla. Now, whenever I write ANYTHING, I envision John’s comment bubbles popping up, telling me “I need more YOU.”

John was extremely patient and easy to work with throughout the process. This really minimized the amount of stress surrounding the entire application process. His guidance resulted in my admission to a top MBA program AND the #3 operations institute in the U.S.

I highly recommend John and mbaMission. Trust their guidance and you won’t be disappointed.

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John was a major contributor to my recent acceptance to a top 10 MBA program. A lot of candidates have the stories and experiences to be competitive, but sculpting those stories into concise personal statements and essays that directly respond to the criteria of various admissions committees is an art – one that John has mastered.

I engaged John on an hourly basis (purchased 5 hours through mbaMission). John was referred to me by a colleague who was admitted to a top 10 MBA program and credited John for his success. I had planned to apply to Booth and Kellogg.

John initially sent me a brainstorming document with questions to help generate ideas for essays, short answers, and interview prep. We then scheduled a phone call to discuss essay questions. John’s familiarity with these schools and admissions committees was immediately evident. He provided a framework for the essay responses that leveraged my professional and personal strengths. After drafting my essays, John provided feedback to improve certain aspects of my story and focus the story to directly respond to the essay prompts. John also reviewed my resume and short answer responses to focus on my achievements and clearly state my short and long term goals.

After successfully executing and submitting the applications, John and I spent our final 30 minutes prepping for interviews. John asked me general interview questions and again helped craft responses that were focused on why the specific MBA program would help my career progression.

To anyone considering applying to an MBA program – this initial investment to improve your application is negligible compared to the overall cost of an MBA. I strongly encourage you to make the investment and engage John.

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John Sisk was instrumental in helping me get into business school. I applied the year before and did not receive acceptances to any of my top schools. The following year I started to work with John, and he was able to help me refine my story and build a compelling case for admission teams. I went from receiving denials at all of my top schools to getting 3 out of 5 with John. I highly recommend John to anyone looking for help with their applications. He was professional and incredibly responsive throughout the entire process; from the brainstorming sessions to the interview preparation.

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I worked with John on a three school package where we selected a reach, target and "safety" school. Working with John was easily one of the best investments I made throughout the process. As someone whom comes from a field with very demanding hours, the application process seemed daunting - with few close friends whom have applied or attended business school I was lost and overwhelmed. John's ability to break down the process into manageable pieces, see the value in my background and experience, and "coach" me through the process was invaluable. Furthermore, the two day turn around policy, holiday calendar, and designated email chains streamlined the process, kept me organized and ultimately, helped limit stress in an already demanding process.

John's ability to understand what makes his clients "tick" (through brainstorming, drafting and numerous calls) and teach an applicant how to effectively communicate his/her story via essays, the resume and interviews made the difference in my applications and I was able to secure two M7 admits. The brainstorming process was pivotal in understanding my story, what drives my goals and aspirations, and where I should apply. While he went above and beyond in each aspect of the process, I distinctly remember him spending almost two hours on my initial brainstorming call at the equivalent of about 6 AM his time - I wasn't prepared for this level of personalized advice and effort but this is part of what sets John apart. This brainstorm laid the foundation for each of my essays where he worked tirelessly and enthusiastically through dozens of iterations and pushed me to create an end product that I was not only truly proud of but didn't know I was capable of creating. My voice and story was never lost in the process, rather strengthened, refined and targeted for each school.

Lastly, I hadn't even considered applying to Wharton as I didn't think I was competitive enough - John saw the value in my profile and suggested I apply. Almost a year later, I still can't believe that I was accepted and know that John was instrumental in each component of the process. I am grateful for his time, effort and honest guidance. I highly recommend John and have to many of my close friends.

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