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Product Embark MBA Consulting Services
Consultant Kelsey Kephart
I went to Embark MBA with one goal of getting into Haas and by the end of our intro call I had found the consultant to help me with my MBA application. While other consultants questioned my Berkeley or bust approach and made me second guess, Kelsey took the time to understand my background, was onboard with my MBA goals and helped me submit the best version of my application. Throughout the process Kelsey was supportive, authentic and positive which really helped my confidence.
Working with Kelsey on my essays was the best part of my application journey. To begin with, she provided me the admissions committee perspective (thanks to her background) which enabled me to cater my essays accordingly. She provided genuine feedback and insight on what my essays lacked and worked with me to address it. Our conversations enabled me to share aspects of my profile above and beyond the generic essay content.
At the end of the day, Kelsey is brilliant at what she does and genuinely cares about her clients. You can’t ask for anything else! Working with her is the best decision one can take towards their MBA goals!
Product Embark MBA Consulting Services
Consultant Kelsey Kephart
Trust me when I say, Kelsey is by far the best consultant out there. I had introductory calls with almost a dozen firms, and engaged one, but felt the advice was 'cookie cutter', my application was beginning to seem doomed, and I was considering postponing a year. And then, just a few weeks before the deadline, I found Kelsey.
It was like night and day. Kelsey excels at every aspect:
* Extremely responsive. She routinely was answering texts within minutes, and over the holidays no less!
* Incredibly knowledgeable. She served as an admissions director for an M7, so brings that experience, but is also up-to-date on all of the unique aspects of each school
* Caring and personable. You can tell that she is invested in you as a person and candidate, providing encouragement and tough love in equal parts and as needed
* Economical. Her rates are very reasonable, and she will tell you point blank when something is not worth the time/money
She provided detailed edits, pages of interview prep help custom-written for me, kept me on track, talked me through everything from networking with adcom to negotiating scholarships, and most of all answered every question I had and more. And it worked...I got into multiple M7s, was awarded a full scholarship, and am attending my dream school next year!
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Product Embark MBA Consulting Services
Consultant Kelsey Kephart
Kelsey was recommended to me by a student at one of my dream schools. From the moment I started to work with her to all my applications were done, she was so responsive and caring while being sure professional!
I really enjoyed working with her. She enabled me to reflect more deeply on my journey and display to schools my unique characteristics, which I would not have been able to do to the same extent without her, which was key to my results in being admitted into Wharton and Columbia (with $$)! She can give you dedicated and personalized help that a big admission consulting agency may not.
Also, not to mention the affordable packages she offers, which have amazing prices to value for those who are looking for budget-friendly options.
Product Embark MBA Consulting Services
Consultant Kelsey Kephart
If you are looking for an admissions consultant, there is nobody better than Kelsey! I spoke to a couple of consultants at the bigger firms who all were very skeptical about my candidacy for MBA programs due to my very non-traditional background (practicing dentist) and didn’t feel like they had really listened or cared to get to know me. Kelsey was a completely positive breath of fresh air. Ten minutes into our call I was much more optimistic about my MBA prospects and immediately felt I could trust her. Kelsey really takes the time to dig deep and figure out your “why.” I learned so much about myself through working with her. Her help and guidance with essays was absolutely invaluable. She gave feedback through multiple drafts and helped transform them into strong, powerful and effective essays, while also keeping my story authentic. Kelsey goes above and beyond every step of the way and working with her was absolutely the best decision I made during the admissions process :)
Product Embark MBA Consulting Services
Consultant Kelsey Kephart
Kelsey was an integral part of my MBA application process and a key factor in the success I saw getting into my top schools. Having known very few people who have gotten an MBA and feeling very overwhelmed at the application steps, I met with Kelsey at the recommendation of my former coworker. In just our first consultation call, she started by listening to my business school goals and career aspirations, and by the end, had constructed a personalized game plan for my application process.
I can't recommend Kelsey enough. Applying to schools and putting yourself at the risk of rejection brought much anxiety, yet she made me feel confident. When I hit submit on my applications, I knew I had created a cohesive vision of myself and proved myself a competitive candidate. Whether it was meticulous essay and resume editing, detailed mock interviews, or simply words of encouragement after what felt like a million GRE attempts, Kelsey was the advocate I needed throughout this process. Not to mention, her method works - with her help and encouragement, I was granted admission to my top schools, CBS and Stern, and look forward to attending in the Fall.
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Product Embark MBA Consulting Services
Consultant Kelsey Kephart
The strengths listed capture it all. I regret wasting my time with anyone but Kelsey. It was so easy and motivating to work with her. She really sought to get to know me to help bring the best to my applications. She built up a level of trust through her patience and genuine interest in my stories (those that made it into the app and didn't). I recommend her to anyone I know who mentions thinking about an MBA at all.
I worked with Kelsey on six different applications which required many different essays. She trusted my vision when I had one and gave good steers when I felt lost in the drafting process.
Product Embark MBA Consulting Services
Consultant Kelsey Kephart
As a candidate with a <3.0 GPA and below average test scores, Kelsey is a true miracle worker that helped me get accepted to 2 M7s (including my #1 choice program) and 2 T15s, with scholarships amounting up to a full ride!
From working on my resume, drafting my essays, to preparing for interviews, Kelsey gave me the necessary tools and feedback to fully reflect on my professional journey and communicate it in an effective way. Her valuable insight as a former admissions officer and ability to provide prompt feedback ultimately allowed me to put my best foot forward when submitting my applications and going through interviews.
Her rates are extremely fair and I’ve continuously recommended Kelsey to my friends throughout the application process. Whenever I had a new version of my resume/essays or had a question about anything related to the application process, I could trust that Kelsey would provide effective feedback right away. She also made sure I stayed on track with each part of the process, which is above and beyond what I would have expected from a coach!
I knew it was going to be an uphill battle getting into MBA programs with my stats but Kelsey truly gave me the confidence and structure needed to succeed in every part of the process. I still can’t believe all of the acceptances I got and can’t wait to start my MBA this fall! :)
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Product Embark MBA Consulting Services
Consultant Kelsey Kephart
Results: M7 with $, t-15 with $$$$, CBS with $$$
Stats:
3.4 from state school, 2.mid law school GPA, domestic candidate, 99% GMAT (please don't let this fool you; anyone who's paying attention can see that it's not all about the hard stats)
Background:
I had doubts regarding my candidacy. Looking through Linkedin, I found <10 people from my undergrad institution who went on to attend the top MBA programs. My resume was not adorned with mentions of blue chip companies and I had done a lot of job hopping in the government and non-profit sectors. I had also spoken with other consultants prior to contacting Kelsey and they all recommended that I aim for programs in the t-20 range, referencing my low GPA as a limiting factor to my candidacy.
Even though I had a lot of self-doubt, I also believed in myself and felt that I could reach a bit higher. I wanted additional opinions and stumbled upon Kelsey. After sending her an email with my story, she promptly responded. She told me that she felt that I had a compelling story and that I could absolutely achieve my goal of admission into a top program (I'd also like to note that I hadn't yet taken the GMAT, so her response was more focused on my story and career progression with a hypothetical test score range in mind). Her advice actually made me tear up--here was someone who believed in me when I didn't even fully believe in myself. I knew that I wanted to work with her immediately.
Review:
-Kelsey has worked as an Adcom at a top program in the past, so she understands exactly what they are looking for. Additionally, she is able to translate her thoughts on an app into actionable advice.
-Kelsey is very responsive to emails. This process can be very anxiety-inducing, and so it's important to have someone who can promptly address even the most minor of concerns.
-Kelsey is a great listener and very empathetic. These points just made her a very easy person to work with.
-Her rates are very reasonable. I never felt like I was being nickeled and dimed, and she bills by the minute if you choose to go hourly, so you can be sure that you're getting full value.
Overall, I would analogize the MBA admissions process to building a puzzle without a box. You have all of the pieces you need, but you don't have the final image to reference in putting them together. Kelsey is the box. She will help you to arrange all of your seemingly disparate experiences into a cohesive picture.
Even the strongest of candidates can benefit from working with Kelsey. We all rely on others every day for guidance in areas where we are not experts, so why not rely on someone for help with a process that could change the course of your life? If I had to do it all over again, I would work with Kelsey every time.
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Product Embark MBA Consulting Services
Consultant Kelsey Kephart
Words cannot describe the incredible guidance, expertise, and effort Kelsey provided during my MBA application journey. I was a military applicant, and early on in my application process I tried using some military-centric MBA consulting services. However, I was not satisfied with their sense of urgency and expertise, particularly because I was still extremely busy at work and needed an adviser who was willing to grind to help me meet application deadlines. However, another vet told me about Kelsey and after a quick intro call my application process did a complete 180. Her knowledge as a former M7 adcom was truly unmatched and she worked all hours of the day (literally sometimes at 0100) turning edits on my essays, resume, doing interview prep, and answering all my admissions questions. Further, she helped me tailor my essays so they were truly personalized and unique. In the end, I was admitted to an M7 and my dream business school, and I couldn’t have done it without Kelsey. Please don’t waste your time and money with these big brand and overpriced consulting services; use Kelsey.
Product Embark MBA Consulting Services
Consultant Kelsey Kephart
If you're reading this, you can stop searching for your MBA consultant. Kelsey is the one you need. I started my application journey with a big-name consulting company, but after finding Kelsey, it was clear she was the better choice. Her approach is simply superior. She takes the time to really get to know you, understands what drives you, and then blends that with her deep knowledge of what admissions committees look for. The result is a powerful and unique application adcoms will drool over.
But here's what sets Kelsey apart: the personal care and attention she pours into your application. Hit a writer's block on a complicated essay question? She's a call away. Feeling nervous before an interview? She's got your back. Even during those late-night, last-minute application grind sessions, she's there. You won't find this kind of one-on-one focus at the larger firms.
If you’re still not sure, let me put it this way: I was a real Hail Mary applicant—low GPA, young age, not a single big-name brand on my resume—and yet, Kelsey got me into Columbia. If you want an application that will truly stand out, don't make my mistake by paying five times more at a big consulting firm (and then not even use their services). Kelsey is the one you want.
