ApplicantLab Admissions Consulting Reviews

As a first-generation college graduate with a technical background, I didn’t know where to turn for advice when I decided to apply to business school. Thankfully, ApplicantLab offered the resources I needed to best convey my experiences, values, and future goals in order to earn admission to my top choice program – Harvard Business School.

The methodical and easy-to-navigate series of modules helped me showcase my most important stories while avoiding common pitfalls. For example, the resume module brought my traditionally technical engineering resume to life by teaching me to clearly and concisely reveal the leadership and impact behind each achievement. The school-specific advice section was also particularly valuable, as it spelled out the attributes that individual programs sought, provided actionable tips for approaching each application, and, thus, freed up many hours of research that I then used on other application components. I felt reassured that I was on the right path at every step of the process - from refining my career vision through succeeding in interviews.

Furthermore, Maria and Carin provided so much more than the actual ApplicantLab modules. I heavily utilized the support inbox, which enabled me to receive feedback on my specific questions and concerns as I progressed through the platform. It’s worth noting that I never waited more than 24 hours for their responses – all at no extra cost! I also took advantage of the sanity check, essay review, and mock interview add-ons. While discussing my resume and essay, Carin challenged me to dig deeper into my narrative and, ultimately, helped me realize and bring out strengths from my background that I hadn’t even considered. During the mock interview, Maria’s questions were highly tailored to my profile and similar to those asked during my actual interview, and we addressed every one of my concerns in an almost 90 minute debrief! Throughout all of these interactions, Maria’s and Carin’s seemingly endless positivity and enthusiasm kept me focused despite an admissions process that can become quite grueling.

I cannot recommend ApplicantLab enough – especially to those without these kinds of resources in their existing networks. Thank you!

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You DEFINITELY want to get this tool for your MBA applications. Trust me. During my time applying for B-School, I reached out to >25 students/alums of the M7, and at least 3 people brought up ApplicantLab as their singlemost helpful resource for ace-ing their applications and interviews. I decided to get it for myself, and there were so many helpful tips and tricks I couldn't even believe how affordable the service was, considering what I was getting out of it. Seriously. There were tons of school-specific information which really made my applications a lot more targeted, and thanks to ApplicantLab, I received 2 offers - one from HSW and another from another M7 school. There is even tips for choosing schools and potential scholarship discussions in the tool. I had a proper admissions consultant on the side (paying 10x++ the amount), and I definitely got way more value from this tool. I promise you. This tool is definitely going to be worth every cent.

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Applicant lab is a great tool for someone who is looking for essay advice but does not want to put a hole in their wallets for the same. I have been using Applicant Lab for some time now, and the advice that Maria gives is just top notch. Even though it is priced on the lower end compared to others, there is nothing that Maria has left out in terms of essay, resume , recommendations and interview advice. It is very convenient since everything that one needs for their applications is provided in one place. I highly recommend this to everyone preparing for their applications.

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I worked with Maria for reviewing my CV and MBA "narrative". As an engineer with a low GPA and relatively little work experience, I initially found the application process ENORMOUSLY daunting.

Maria distilled mountains of wisdom through her rich experience in the domain down into (1) fun, digestible and straightforward videos, (2) an easy-to-use and insightful platform, and (3) tremendously helpful 1-1s. Every possible question/concern you might have throughout the application process, from timelines to exactly what to write in a networking email, has been built into the platform and Maria's videos. In combination with 1-1s with her/her team, not a single stone is left unturned. Seriously.

ApplicantLab is game-changing and life-changing. The honest and insightful advice Maria gives via the platform not only touches on exactly how to get into MBA, but also takes you through a realistic journey of self-reflection that will serve you well now even while starting your MBA journey. Also, a review cannot be complete without mentioning the EXTREMELY helpful 1-1s with Maria and/or her team -- they are not only detailed and astoundingly responsive, but EXCEEDINGLY generous with their time and critique. Maria completely revamped my resume, helped me figure out which programs would be a best fit, and asked the right questions that not only shaped my MBA application, but my career goals.

I'm certain beyond a doubt that I would not have been admitted into a top program, let alone with a scholarship, without ApplicantLab -- and I don't think any traditional consulting service could have worked this miracle, not to mention at a FRACTION of the cost. Give this platform a try; you won't regret it!!

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I decided to apply to deferred MBA programs during the fall semester of my senior year in college and utilized ApplicantLab’s platform to guide me through the application process the following semester. I had a 640 GMAT (taken only once) and got into Harvard Business School’s 2+2 Program for the Class of 2022.

3 Reasons I HIGHLY RECOMMEND ApplicantLab:
1. ApplicantLab was founded by a HBS MBA who went through the application process herself.
I found that many other consulting companies were created by people who don’t have an MBA and thought it was a little weird that people are consulting on a process they haven’t gone through themselves. As I went through the guidance videos on ApplicantLab’s platform, many times Maria (the founder) would mention what she and her peers went through in the application process (what worked, what didn’t work) and I found this information very valuable as I was thinking about what I wanted to include in my application. Her videos are also funny and she encourages the listener many times to step back and not look at the process so seriously. It felt like a very authentic and engaging way to learn the in’s and out’s of the process.
2. The platform is simple and affordable.
The platform is super easy to use and very very affordable compared to many of the consulting services out there. In my opinion, when it comes to more than 60% of the application, I didn’t need personalized consulting. There is a lot of general admissions consulting advice that I found incredibly useful and found that I was able to easily apply it to my life and my application. I think paying thousands of $ for a personal admissions consultant is not necessary at all and ApplicantLab has the program set up to allow you to get the general admissions advice, and then provides a space that forces you to make those connections and to write them down right next to it (this became very helpful later when writing essays and thinking about the application as a whole).
3. There’s an option to purchase extra personalized consulting specific to your needs.
Lastly, in any of the other areas where you feel like you need a more personalized look or a “Sanity Check” leading up to the deadline, ApplicantLab provides that option and integrates everything you’ve already done on their platform to make it easier to take EVERYTHING you’ve written under consideration when someone looks at your profile and gives suggestions. I took advantage of this leading up to my application deadline and found it incredibly useful. My reviewer took all of my answers in my general ApplicantLab platform + my resume and gave me great advice and an outside perspective.

I have and will continue recommending ApplicantLab’s platform to all my fellow peers interested in business school in the future. I could not be more grateful for ApplicantLab and I’m super excited to attend HBS!! :)

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As a student applying to deferred programs, I was hesitant to use ApplicantLab as it seemed expensive (a real 1-1 consultant was way out of my budget). I decided to bite the bullet however and it was the best decision I made for my applications. I only applied to 3 schools but the amount of school-specific knowledge and advice in ApplicantLab was crazy - if you are applying to more schools then I can only imagine it will be of even more value to you. I was interviewed at all 3 of the schools - I’m convinced this would not have been the case if I did not follow the essay advice on the Lab.

I cannot recommend this product enough. If you are willing to go through the Lab and learn and follow the advice, ApplicantLab is 1000% worth it.

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I was admitted to an M7 with a weak profile and interviewed at at every other school I applied to (other M7s) using this service as my only guideline to writing my application. I was able to craft a great story using the essay and application advice in here as well as Maria and her team's feedback after emailing her a couple of times. They offer specific advice for different backgrounds and different MBA goals - you will be able to relate to this advice regardless of your background or how strong you are as an applicant. Maria has considered all angles when putting this together.

If you can't afford a consultant (or consider one unnecessary), try this out, its a great way to put together your apps efficiently for a reasonable price point.

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To put it plainly, working with Carin & the entire ApplicantLab team was absolutely fantastic. Not only do I recommend the service as a whole, but I especially recommend the additional consulting services with Carin!

I solicited Carin's feedback on essays for two schools - Kellogg and Booth - and received offers from both. In each case, she went above and beyond to give honest, actionable feedback that I was able to immediately apply…and, in the case of my Kellogg essays, undoubtedly meant the difference between receiving an offer and not!

Since I'd used Carin for my essay reviews in 2020, when I first applied to Kellogg, it was a no-brainer to solicit her feedback again when reapplying. I struggled with the essays this time around, and it showed. Carin demonstrated "tough love," and gave very candid feedback on my first drafts. The difference maker, however, was that she went BACK to the essays I'd sent her nearly TWO YEARS prior, and pointed out elements from those that I could re-incorporate and expound upon. She provided some rewriting recommendations, which helped me quickly identify the necessary edits, and gave some general feedback on how to make my "growth since first applying" really shine in my re-applicant essays (again, having looked at the materials I shared years prior). None of this was in the "job description," but showed how much she really cared about steering me in the right direction. Due wholly to her feedback, I was able to completely transform my essays, and receive the offer of admission I was hoping for. This is just one of the many examples I have of Carin going above-and-beyond to help out.

I have no doubts that Carin's candid feedback played a crucial role in my receiving these 2 M-7 offers. Though I know her sessions are a little more costly, I can wholeheartedly say it makes all the difference.

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I started applying for MBA's around two years ago and used both ApplicantLab and another very popular/well known MBA consulting service for the first year of applications and only used ApplicantLab for the second year (in which I was successful in getting a place). Here are my comments:
- The consultant I was working with (Carin Nelson) was very supportive and every piece of feedback she gave was very specific to me and my application. She was very responsive whenever I had ANY questions about anything which was very useful during stressful times.
- My mock interview with Carin was also the most effective/useful $500ish that I have ever spent with respect to MBA applications. During that 2 hour interview + feedback session I had with her, I learnt more about how to speak in interviews and how to present myself to interviewers than I had ever done during the 2 years that I had worked towards getting accepted into a top MBA programme.
- The other consulting service gave me a fish and ApplicantLab taught me how to fish. I guess my phrasing is cheesy but the way in which ApplicantLab is structured helped me learn how to take ownership of my application and gave me the skills required to present myself in the best way possible. The other consulting service polished my application and story, but I didn't come out that experience feeling as if I could tackle another MBA application-type situation if I was forced to face it once again.
- ApplicantLab's fees for the 1 year membership was less than half of the price charged by the other consulting service for an hour of their time

One caveat I really do have to mention is that with ApplicantLab, you need to have at least some sort of clarity on where you want to apply and what you want to do with your MBA. Perhaps other consultants might be able to help with that but I wouldn't know as I approached the other service after I had figured out my MBA story.

Overall, I think the title of this review summarises my impression of ApplicantLab really well: great support, great value and great advice.

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ApplicantLab was a life-saver! The user interface is easy to navigate. The videos are full of insight (and humourous!). In short, the advice is excellent. ApplicantLab helped me structure my thoughts, so that I could write the most impactful admissions essays that I could have hoped to. There is good advice on every little detail of what should (and should not!) go into the essays, so that you can really pack a punch into 500 words.
The section on advice for Interviews is excellent, too. Again, ApplicantLab guides you with insightful questions/prompts, and helps you structure your answers to a variety of potential interview questions.
The MBA admissions process is exhausting. I am glad I had ApplicantLab to support me. I am certain I would not have received an offer of admission without its help. Great value for money. I recommend their service whole heartedly!

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