Harold Simansky Reviews

Harold's expertise and support were indispensable from start to finish of my MBA journey. His practical guidance and consistent reassurance made the daunting application process manageable and ultimately successful. Despite my below-average GPA, Harold’s strategic insights led to my acceptance at Dartmouth Tuck and Chicago Booth, with significant scholarships, and admittance to another T10 school.
The process began with strategizing for the GMAT. Harold advised me on the best timing for the exam and identified a score range appropriate for my target schools. His high-level tips were crucial in achieving my desired score within three months. Simultaneously, Harold facilitated an extensive brainstorming process to unearth and polish stories and accomplishments that would resonate in my essays and interviews. His keen eye for detail and deep understanding of what top business schools look for in candidates enabled me to select the most compelling content for my applications.
As we tackled each school's application, Harold's meticulous feedback on my essays was particularly impactful. He helped refine my narratives to ensure clarity and purpose, aligning them closely with each school’s values and expectations. His ability to tailor content to specific schools was remarkable, allowing me to present myself authentically and persuasively.
During the application process, Harold also provided strategic advice on which schools to visit, and which events to attend. He provided me with special contacts at some of the schools that I could reach out to for the particular industry that I was interested in. This not only enhanced my applications but also broadened my understanding of the MBA landscape.
Interview preparations with Harold were thorough, covering frequently asked questions and refining my responses to reflect each school's unique characteristics. His support was crucial in building my confidence and enabling me to handle the toughest questions smoothly, without sounding rehearsed.
After receiving multiple admissions offers, Harold guided me through the scholarship negotiation process, helping me leverage offers effectively to maximize my financial aid. For the schools where I was waitlisted, Harold advised me on additional information to submit and how to communicate effectively with admissions committees, further strengthening my standing.
Harold's professionalism and expertise were matched by his personal dedication and optimism. Throughout this challenging journey, his positive attitude and personalized approach not only bolstered my applications but also kept me motivated and focused. His guidance was a major factor in my successful MBA admissions outcomes, and I am grateful for his involvement.
For anyone navigating the complexities of MBA applications, I wholeheartedly recommend Harold as a knowledgeable, strategic, and supportive teammate who will go above and beyond to ensure your success. His combination of professional acumen and personal commitment makes him an outstanding guide for any prospective MBA student.

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Harold is not only an exceptional coach and advisor but also a genuinely great person. I couldn’t have imagined a better advisor for my MBA journey. Right from our first meetings, Harold showcased a perfect mix of professionalism and friendliness. During the brainstorming phase, he dedicated significant time to understanding my background and asked super insightful questions that turned out to be super important in later stages when drafting different applications.

Initially, I underestimated the complexity of MBA applications, assuming a straightforward process. I soon realized the intricate nature of tailoring applications to various programs. Harold’s expertise was invaluable here; his knowledge of each program's nuances proved to be extremely helpful.

Although our initial agreement was to focus on five MBA programs, Harold's flexible and collaborative nature led us to expand our scope. In the end, I applied to 10 MBA programs, got accepted at 5, all within the top 15, was waitlisted at 3, and received only 2 rejections.

Lastly, what sets Harold apart is his responsiveness and availability. He returned emails almost instantly and provided feedback even on the 25th of December, Christmas Day - a level of dedication beyond what one might expect from an advisor.

In summary, Harold is a prime example of professionalism. He’s always ready to assist—even during holidays—and offers prompt, insightful feedback. For anyone seeking a friendly yet professional MBA advisor, Harold is the ideal choice.

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I applied to HBS and Harold helped me get into the school, but what a journey it's been!

In short, I could not have imagined the process without Harold. From the start, he helped me understand and prepare for the application process better than I could have on my own, by providing me with a lot of materials and the timeline we would be working under. Given I am not from the US and I had little time due to my job requirements, the application process was as smooth and efficient as it could have been. What should have a heavy workload became manageable after following his guidance.

Where Harold really stood out was in his ability to help me convey my personal story into a compelling narrative, which I think is what ultimately makes the difference. We had quite a bit of back and forth as we were brainstorming around the narrative but, once it was agreed, the process suddenly became a lot easier (and actually really fast). It was overall much faster and efficient than I thought it would be (also thanks to Harold's quick turnaround times, edits and feedback).

When we started interview prep, Harold helped me prepare for the dreaded interview, providing me guidance and helping me understand how to navigate it. I don't think I would have been accepted without his help and guidance, up until the very end.

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Harold is everything you want in a admissions consultant and more. He is extremely responsive, very knowledgeable on the application process for each school, honest, empathetic, provides great feedback, and clearly goes above and beyond when reviewing essays and working with you on submitting a complete application. Harold took the time to understand who I was, my family background, and my goals post MBA in order to help guide me through the application process. He would respond over the weekends, and was very aware of the deadlines I was supposed to meet. Harold was quick to applaud a well written essay, and was very honest when he thought an essay needed more work and would help me brainstorm a strategy for the next draft. I was admitted to my top choices and received a full scholarship and I can honestly say I could not have done it without Harold!

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Harold is an incredible! He’s extremely knowledgable about the business school process, and his expertise was practical and tailored to my specific situation, which made all the difference. Each conversation with Harold was productive and inspiring; he helped me identify my strengths and voice, and worked hand-in-hand with me to craft a unique and compelling narrative. I didn’t think this was possible before I met Harold, given that I came from an over-represented candidate group. Harold also helped me transformed my resume, put together a strong application partake, and aced the interview. He was so supportive and was always quick to answer my questions. His support made all the difference in my successful application to Columbia Business School. I'm grateful for Harold’s expertise and guidance and cannot recommend him highly enough!

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Harold's calming presence and wise insight into the perspective of an admission's committee member was essential to my journey and finding success in the MBA application cycles. I applied round 1 and had multiple applications due within a 48-hour period. Harold kept me focused and on timeline to achieve great final products for all my essays and portal responses with his prompt assistance and guidance for where I should start. When you sign with Harold, there are guaranteed turn-around times for your essays and reviews. He was always faster, more thorough, and more prompt than I could have ever expected. He kept my applications moving forward, and even when I was working right up to the deadline, 15 hours a day, he never slowed me down. Harold, I owe you forever thanks for helping me achieve this dream!

During our brain-storming session, Harold listened so intently to my story and background that it almost felt like a therapy session - it seemed like he knew me within a short video call and was able to help synthesize my experience into a coherent narrative that could be effectively communicated in a 400-900 word essay for each MBA application. I honestly don't know how successful I would have been without Harold or the support from the mbaMission team, but I know I would not have achieved 5/5 acceptances to all T7 programs. The MBA application cycles are demanding and challenging, and the best decision I made was to choose Harold and the team of support at mbaMission to be on my team.

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To provide some background, I started my career in engineering and continued through a Master of Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University (NCSU) while working on energy development projects for both research institutes/agencies as well as utilities. Upon graduating from NCSU, I briefly worked in tech and then joined a utility in an internal engineering consultant role.

It was last summer that I met Harold who was transparent with his advice and background. Immediately, I could tell that he was the real deal. Harold asked the right questions to draw the path of my transition from engineering, into an MBA degree, and then how my goals and background could contribute to the atmosphere of post-MBA careers such as consulting, which fascinated me. Not only was he supportive and optimistic, but he added some real value to what MBA programs would best suit my specific background.

It's no doubt that Harold is one of the best MBA consultants that I could have asked for to guide me through this process. Not only in choosing and applying for an MBA program but making a transition from engineering into the business arena. What truly set Harold apart was his distinctive approach during our initial phone call -- an approach that showcased his dedication to understanding my aspirations and tailoring guidance accordingly.

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Harold was a very valuable resource during my MBA application process--from initial consultation, through the end of the process when I landed the interview. Harold was personally invested in my case being from similar backgrounds and was supportive through adjusting our focus time geared toward my preferences for what I wanted to get out of an MBA program, which programs were the best fit for my goals and which programs I wanted to apply for. Harold assisted through every step of the application process: Initial discussions as to why I want an MBA and which programs would be the best fit for my goals, recommender selection, resume review, essay review and interview prep.

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Just a little background about me to make everything easier to understand: I am Chinese but moved to the United States more than 10 years ago. I attended Rice University for architecture and graduated in 2021. During college, I took the GRE and scored 330 (163+167), maintaining a GPA of 3.52+4.0. Rice University awards architecture students two degrees: Bachelor of Art in Architecture and Bachelor of Architecture. After graduation, I worked for an architecture firm in Chicago for three years before applying to MBA programs, accumulating four years of work experience in total.
Strengths of the Consulting Service:
1. Industry Understanding: Harold possesses a deep understanding of my industry, which is crucial for a non-traditional applicant like myself. As a Chinese male in architecture entering business school, I was apprehensive due to the rarity of individuals from my field pursuing an MBA. Harold's experience in real estate proved invaluable during our sessions. Unlike other consultants, he comprehended the nuances of my industry, providing tailored advice. For instance, he suggested exploring real estate private equity with a social impact focus, aligning with my volunteer work. This insight connected my short-term and long-term career goals in a way that only someone familiar with the industry could achieve.
2. Resume Refinement: Harold excels at refining resumes. He guided the transformation of my architectural resume into a business-oriented one, emphasizing numerical achievements and impacts. Through multiple rounds of refinement, he even sought input from his colleagues, ensuring a comprehensive and polished result.
3. Essay Theme Development: Harold demonstrated a keen ability to identify and articulate the central theme of my essays. After reviewing my extensive brainstorming materials, he promptly proposed a theme that perfectly aligned with my vision. In this case, we nailed down “notion of home” to emphasize my architecture’s identity. Our collaborative approach allowed us to refine the essays further, selecting impactful life stories tailored to each school's essay topics. Harold's constant infusion of creative ideas elevated the quality of my essays.
4. Timely Document Turnaround: As a busy architect, I appreciated Harold's efficiency in turning around documents. Despite my weekend writing schedule, he consistently returned revised essays within 1-2 days. This professional approach provided a steady rhythm for the application process. Please note: Sometimes Harold has gotten documents back to me in less than 2 business days, it is only because he was able to sneak them in. As approaching deadlines, his queue will be at a 2 business day turnaround as indicated in the contract.
5. Recommendation Letter Review: Harold's proficiency extended to reviewing recommendation letters. Upon evaluating my boss's letters, he identified the need for concrete examples and communicated this clearly to my recommender, enhancing the letters' credibility.
6. Emotional Support: Harold's unwavering support played a pivotal role throughout the stressful application process. Facing moments of doubt and panic, his availability and encouragement helped alleviate the challenges. The importance of a supportive consultant cannot be overstated during such a demanding process.
7. Insider Information: As part of a large MBA application consulting team, Harold provided valuable insider information, including previous interview questions and strategies to help me transition from a non-business background to speaking confidently as a business professional.
In conclusion, Harold's professionalism and expertise were instrumental in my acceptance to Booth, CBS, Kellogg, Haas with scholarship, Stern, and an interview invitation at HBS. For anyone considering an MBA consultant, Harold is the ideal choice. The application process is a joint venture, requiring both the applicant's diligence and the consultant's expertise to ensure success.

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Harold is a rock star. I'm so glad I decided to go with him and mbaMission, and I truly would not have been admitted to Sloan without him. He was incredibly invested in my admissions process, and since Sloan was the only school I was applying to, he was incredibly pointed and diligent in making sure I put together the best possible application. I never had to worry about delayed responses or missing deadlines since Harold was incredibly timely (oftentimes responding at 5 or 6 a.m. to exceed expectations). He always had a smile on his face and offered his unwavering support during each step of my application.

Harold was also tremendous at editing my essays. I'm forever grateful for Harold and would not have gotten to where I am without him.

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