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Established in 2011, The Red Pen provides high-quality MBA consulting to candidates around the world.
Team
Our international team of consultants hold MBAs from top international programs such as Columbia, Wharton, INSEAD, Booth, NYU Stern, Cornell and Oxford Saïd. We draw on years of experience helping high-caliber students showcase the best versions of themselves in their applications. We pride ourselves on staying informed on the evolving MBA admissions space and, as members of the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants (AIGAC), hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards when serving clients.
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Product The Red Pen Admissions Consulting
Consultant Udit Chaudhry
The largest contribution that TRP had in my application was in making a spectacular resume. My lead consultant Udit helped to refine my resume very tactfully using achievement oriented pointers. The resume has almost 70% weightage in a candidate being called for the interview process. I was applying with lesser than average years of work experience (only 3 years by the time of joining) and Udit did a perfect job in bringing out my multi-faceted experience and giving the adcom exactly what they wanted to see.
The other area where TRP helped me improve drastically was the interview preparation. Udit corrected and refined the answers to some of the most important questions such as "why mba", "why now" etc in the proper STAR format so that I was succint and effective with my replies. The mock interview gave me more questions to think about and prepare. Preparation was key for all the interviews.
I had taken the 1 school package through TRP and got a scholarship around 40k USD.
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Product The Red Pen Admissions Consulting
Consultant Anju Kesharwani Goela
I worked with The Red Pen for R2 applications for the fall 2024 intake for the MBA. I loved my experience of working with TRP. I came into the applications process with limited knowledge of MBA applications, and the TRP team was there to guide me through every step of the way. They are extremely punctual and while they demand the best out of you, it's only because that is what they are willing to give themselves.
I would like to thank the red pen team, namely Anju, Srishti, and Prerna. Anju, my lead consultant, went above and beyond in making sure I was well prepared in my applications, and all her hard work has resulted in me getting interviews at every school I applied to, and admits into all the schools I have heard back from till now!
Product The Red Pen Admissions Consulting
Consultant Farhan
If I were to do it again, I would, with TRP. While I did not get in the college we worked together on, they really prepare you to take on other colleges youself. Application is a marathon that requires skill and finesse. This comes with practice and guidance. And TRP excels at providing correct guidance. My personal suggestion: Start early! Start 2 months before you think it is the correct time. The introspection part TRP does, need time and effort, and is genuinely very important even outside of an application. Additionally, trust the process. What might feel like an eternity of nothing is really where the true effort goes. Learn from their team of experts who excel at all they do. TRP gave me the confidence in their skill and expertise from day 1. While a few other gave me the feel of wanting to push for more number of colleges to apply rather than their skills. All in all, they know their stuff, but application requires a whole lot of self work as well.
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Product The Red Pen Admissions Consulting
Consultant Preeti Wadekar
Starting my MBA application from Ukraine, I knew I needed expert help. My first meeting with Preeti Wadekar from The Red Pen confirmed I made the right choice. Her genuine interest in my story during our Google Meet session was encouraging.
Unlike traditional email exchanges, The Red Pen used a WhatsApp group for communication, which made discussions prompt and straightforward. This approach made the entire process more accessible and efficient.
Preeti helped me delve into my personal and professional experiences, guiding me to understand and articulate my story better. Our discussions were not just about filling out an application; they were about discovering which aspects of my life were most impactful and relevant to my MBA aspirations.
Anju Goela’s expertise in crafting straightforward, descriptive pointers was crucial. Her demand for excellence pushed me to refine my pointers multiple times, ensuring they were as strong as possible. Anju was also empathetic and shared cultural insights, adding depth to our relationship.
Natasha Mankikar was instrumental in connecting my life stories to create a cohesive and compelling application. Her creativity and strategic thinking were very important as well to my acceptance to NYU Stern. Natasha was always ready to discuss ideas and fine-tune our approach.
The mock interview preparations with Garima Agarwal for Stern and Montu Gupta for another program were invaluable. Garima's thorough preparation and nuanced questions reflected her deep understanding of the interview process. Montu’s feedback was insightful, providing me with clear direction on how to improve. His advice was so beneficial that I transcribed our session to revisit his guidance.
I am deeply thankful to the entire team at The Red Pen, especially Dr. Kimberly, Preeti, Anju, Natasha, Garima, and Montu, for their support and professionalism throughout my MBA application journey. Their guidance was not just about getting into an MBA program; it was about understanding my strengths and how to present them effectively.
Working with The Red Pen was a significant factor in my successful application to NYU Stern. Their approach was personalized, their feedback was precise, and their support was consistent. For anyone seeking guidance through the complex MBA application process, I highly recommend The Red Pen for their professional and effective support.
Product The Red Pen Admissions Consulting
Consultant Dhiraj Daryani
Choosing TRP's services turned out to be a game-changer for me in my application journey. Even though I thought I was fairly acquainted with the MBA application process, the TRP team's expertise and guidance added an extra layer of excellence. Their initial exercises and questionnaires were exceptionally thorough, prompting deep reflection on various aspects of my life, dating back to childhood. This groundwork proved invaluable when I sat down to write my essays; I already had a treasure trove of 20-25 stories to draw from.
In the thick of the admissions process, I realized the value of having a team instead of just a single consultant. TRP's team structure meant that every element of my application (resume, LOR, essays, video essays, and more) underwent thorough scrutiny, revisions, and feedback from multiple perspectives. This ensured that my application stood out in all aspects. When it came to my essays, Dhiraj and Srishti dissected every line multiple times, and I can't express enough gratitude for their unwavering support. Essay reviews and mock interviews conducted by external members added tremendous value to my application. One thing worth mentioning is that the proactive engagement of the team persisted throughout the application process, extending beyond the submission of my application.
In this journey, my lead consultant, Dhiraj Daryani, has been my biggest support. He's not just a great mentor but was genuinely invested in my progress. His advice proved beneficial not just in the context of my MBA journey but also had a positive impact on my professional development. Dhiraj always goes above and beyond to support and guide you and is always available when you want to talk; having conversations with him gives you the clarity and strength you need in this gruesome MBA application process. His emphasis on building connections and keeping in constant touch with students and clubs provided me with clarity, firsthand insights, and a network I can count on in the years to come.
Because of the invaluable support of the team, I was able to get into my dream college (Kellogg) and received admits from 2 other programs. Without a doubt, I highly recommend TRP for MBA applications. My experience with Dhiraj and the team was nothing short of amazing.
Product The Red Pen Admissions Consulting
Consultant Kaushik Reddy
I worked with The Red Pen for a period of ~9 months on 5 MBA applications, and applied to 5-schools independently. Following the onboarding process, I completed an extensive Get To Know You (GTKY) questionnaire probing deeply into my background, career, and MBA aspirations. My Lead Consultant (LC) - Kaushik Reddy - provided detailed feedback that allowed for much greater clarity on my post-MBA goals and formed the basis for (i) my selecting specific MBA programs and (i) outlining STAR stories (to be incorporated into essays and interviews).
Splitting the workload across four themes (resume, application forms, essays, and pointers for recommenders), I benefitted greatly from the support, guidance, and mentorship of the entire team at TRP: Kaushik Reddy, Rachel Roper, Abhishek Kochhar, Smita Shah, and Prerna Nigotiya! Each component involved ~5 drafts on average and exhaustive line-by-line comments, consistently encouraging me to reflect more deeply, clarify my research & motivations, and produce work of much greater quality. After submitting 10 MBA applications in Round 1, I participated in 2 mock interviews with TRP, interviewed at 6 schools, and received 4 offers: Wharton, LBS, Kellogg, and Yale!
These outcomes are a direct result of TRP's comprehensive application process, guidance, and timelines, that greatly simplifies the rigorous MBA application process. I highly recommend working with The Red Pen to MBA aspirants - I could not have done it without them!
Product The Red Pen Admissions Consulting
Consultant Garima Agarwal
The Red Pen’s MBA team has amazing depth across all components and stages of the application process. While working with them on my applications, I felt they were deeply invested in my success and were able to bring out my stories in the best possible way. I think their personal touch and school-specific insights were instrumental in helping me secure admissions to Stanford GSB, Wharton, Booth, Kellogg and Sloan. For folks looking for seasoned application professionals to get into their dream b-school, I couldn’t recommend The Red Pen more!
Special shout-out to Garima Agarwal, Preeti Wadekar, Anju Kesharwani Goela, Ridhi Ghelani and Kim Dixit!
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Product The Red Pen Admissions Consulting
Consultant Montu Gupta
As a reapplicant to M7 business schools, selecting an admissions consultant was a critical decision for me. After thorough consideration and discussions with several consultants, I chose TRP based on their professional approach and ability to resonate with my needs from our very first interaction.
Working with Montu Gupta as my lead consultant was a pivotal experience. Montu's dedication to understanding and articulating my goals, coupled with his expertise in selecting appropriate schools, was invaluable. His methodical and transparent approach, particularly his emphasis on the "So what?" aspect of my significant achievements and future goals, compelled me to introspect deeply about my ambitions and experiences, clarifying my reasons for pursuing an MBA.
Montu's guidance was instrumental in my acceptance into Columbia Business School, a milestone that marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in my educational journey.
I extend my sincere thanks to the entire TRP team, including Manik Bhargava, Abhishek Kochhar, Prerna Nigotiya, Divya Sharma, and Pradyot Anand, for their tireless efforts in refining my application, CV, LinkedIn profile, etc.
I wholeheartedly recommend TRP and Montu Gupta to any prospective MBA applicants seeking expert guidance and a personalized approach in navigating the complex admissions process.
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Product The Red Pen Admissions Consulting
Consultant Preeti Wadekar
I worked with Preeti as my Lead Consultant, along with Smita, Srishti, Ritu and Prerna.
The process was smooth and made me self-reflect multiple times to bring out the best as well as the most learning experiences of my life.
The Get-to-know-yourself document is a game changer.
We worked in multiple iterations on each essay and LOR to come out with the answer that best suits me and the respective school.
I got admits from all the 3 schools that I applied to (LBS, Oxford, Cambridge). I also got 100% scholarship from Oxford and 60% scholarship from LBS.
The contribution done by TRP team in the form of their support and guidance made all this possible.
Product The Red Pen Admissions Consulting
Consultant Natasha Mankikar
My first interaction with TRP was with Nikhilesh Jha, who connected me with Namrata Khosla. Namrata was one of the first people I spoke to regarding my MBA, way back in 2021. She was extremely kind and helpful, taking out an hour on a weeknight to get on a call to hear my story and give me tailored advice as I had an extremely unconventional profile.
Fast forward to 2022, I got on a 30 minute call with Preeti who after understanding my goals suggested I work with Natasha Mankikar as my lead consultant, alongside Anju Goela, who would work with me on my Resume (which was a LOT of work) and my LOR pointers.
Natasha not only played the role of a consultant but also that of a coach, guiding me through each and every step of the process. Anju worked with me for weeks to close on my resume (I had never had one since I started work 6+ years back). Natasha and Anju were instrumental in me getting accepted to IESE (my dream school) for the full time MBA and I will always be grateful to the both of them.
Finally, I would also like to thank Kshitij and Prerna. PS - Natasha and Anju both kept telling me to trust the process and it definitely paid off! Thank you TRP!
