Premium Service Reviews

I chose Allison at SquareOne for my reapplication to HBS as I was not particularly satisfied with my previous consultant from another top-rated firm when I applied a couple years prior. The difference was night and day, I have no doubt Allison played a key role in getting accepted to two of my target schools, HBS and Wharton! While previously I was one of thousands of clients (each file had to be named in a special way, consultant was available only at specific times, feedback felt generic), with SquareOne it felt far more personal. Allison was always available, and super helpful. For example in drafting the HBS essay, I struggled with picking between a couple of concepts and she was immediately available for a call to give me guidance and principles on which I should chose my topic. The highlight for me was the choreographed preparation of the post-interview reflection for HBS. I received an hourly schedule ahead of time of exactly how we go from me finishing my interview, through rounds of edits, to the final product in less than 12 hours. The support gave me confidence even heading into the interview.

One other aspect of SquareOne I would point out as uniquely cool is the career narrative. I haven't seen this anywhere else and initially thought we were wasting time spending days working on a document explaining my career vision when this was not a deliverable for any school. However, I ended up going back to this document regularly when building my applications for all 4 schools to which I applied. It gave me a framework for what my story is, and forced me to develop a clear idea of what I want to do post-MBA such that I could confidently talk about it in essays and interviews.

Last but not least, it was super helpful to have drafts go for an additional review with Kathryn. Getting a fresh set of eyes on the materials helped us catch some gaps in the story multiple times, and her insight was super useful. I particularly appreciated her openness to challenge ideas which she believed weren't right, that way forcing us to rethink some parts of the materials to make them work better.

The whole team were great and I can't recommend them enough!!

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I had a very positive experience working with Square One Prep (SOP). I chose SOP because of how dedicated the team is. I interviewed 7 MBA / MA admissions consultancies and saw that SOP was the most dedicated to getting invested in all areas of my application upfront and early. A major highlight of the experience was working with Horatiu Stefan, SOP's "career narratives" coach. The career narrative process at SOP is important because it helps you determine 2-3 paths that you're uniquely positioned to follow in your career, and SOP helps you narrow down on a path that a) fits your personality / interests / mission and b) appeals to admissions offices (i.e., somewhat relevant to your past experiences and a promising probability of achieving / being successful). Outside of the career narrative process, my day-to-day consultant, Amalia della Paollera, spent hours with me, revamping my resume, crafting essays, and preparing for interviews. She got to know me on a personal level which was helpful in how she was able to get me to complete deadlines, stay true to myself, and balance being "human" and "professional" to admissions offices. She was dedicated to the SOP process and getting into every detail of my applications to maximize my chances of success. Ultimately, I was admitted to the Harvard Kennedy School on a full-ride scholarship, a huge accomplishment that wouldn't have been possible without the SOP team.

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Square One Prep's tailored approach and deep understanding of MBA admissions helped me introspect and craft a compelling application that reflected my unique story and aspirations. The structured timelines, selecting the right schools and recommenders and realistic targets set by SOP were invaluable, making my application process seamless and successful. Their guidance not only highlighted my achievements but also clarified my goals with clarity and conviction.

Thanks to Matteo, Kelsey, Kathryn and Horatiu, I not only received admits from my dream MBA programs, but also developed a deeper understanding of myself and my aspirations. I have recommended SOP to a couple of my friends who are aiming for an admit next year.
Hope they are able to get a similar result as I did :)

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Highly recommend!

Kathryn and Joey (and others) take the time to get to know you and understand your goals and aspirations. They do a great job responding quickly with sage advice.

They are honest in their assessment of your profile and where you have realistic odds of getting in (vs. reach and super reach) and help you with school selection and making sure your plan to work with them makes sense.

It is a long, difficult process, but the Square One Prep team makes it much less daunting and their support extends beyond just application and essay work. They also provide much needed moral support!

The service paid for itself with the scholarship I received!

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When I decided to apply to business school, I figured I would go through the motions, but I had very little confidence that I would actually be accepted. I was older than the typical consulting applicant, and I felt like my path to date was relatively unexceptional. I asked myself, "Why would a school -- especially a top school like HBS, Wharton, or GSB -- choose me?"

My journey and perspective changed when I found Square One Prep. From the very first introduction call, Square One encouraged me and believed in me…much more than I even did in myself. From there, my consultant, Amalia, helped me find stories to tell that were authentically me, and she consistently encouraged me to not discount my unique experiences. In addition, the transparency Square One provides helped me ground this belief in data from past applicants' experiences.

The business school application process is daunting, but Square One guided me through it step-by-step, providing honest and helpful feedback and ensuring that I met all deadlines in a timely manner. The career narrative work in particular was a helpful exercise to think about my strengths, experiences, and future goals. Most importantly, Square One instilled a belief in me that changed the trajectory of my life, for which I will always be grateful. I am thrilled to be heading to HBS this fall and will continue to recommend Square One Prep and my consultant to anyone considering b-school!

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I was initially introduced to Square One Prep by a friend. Right from our initial meeting, Kathryn's professionalism and genuine interest in understanding my aspirations left a lasting impression. Though pursuing an MBA felt like a distant goal, my advisor Cristina's encouragement propelled me to give it my all. From day one, both Cristina and Kathryn provided unwavering support, guiding me through each phase with precision. They ensured I stayed on target with my GRE score and helped me effectively articulate my personal and professional journey through the career narrative exercise, my essays and interactions with recommenders.

When doubts crept in, Cristina's belief in my potential was a constant source of motivation. Crafting my essays was my favorite part of the process! Cristina helped me unearth important moments that shaped my identity and experiences. She expertly managed deadlines, even when I had a few hiccups with my GRE right before the submission deadlines! The team ensured I remained focused and accountable throughout.

I am immensely grateful to Cristina and Kathryn for their instrumental role in shaping my application. Without their guidance, my journey wouldn't have culminated in such a strong representation of my aspirations and achievements. I will no doubt recommend Square One Prep to anyone considering an MBA going forward!

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Square One is incredible. The entire team has deep industry knowledge and is exceptionally dedicated to their clients. They are patient, happy to answer questions, and engage in lengthy discussions. They work nights and weekends. Most importantly, they will push clients to be introspective and will provide you with their candid thoughts. They also take the time to get to know you personally - no one feels like a cog in the system. This is evident even from the free consultation that they offer. I highly recommend Square One. They are excellent; their expertise and dedication is second to none!

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I ADORED working with Square One Prep. I worked with SOP for my applications to GSB and HBS and was admitted into both schools. Initially, I didn't think I'd have enough time to apply for Round 1, but the team worked with me in a tight timeline to craft a strong application without time ever feeling like an issue. I was working from Africa, the Middle East, and North America while working on my apps - and the team was flexible to work with my chaotic schedule and varied time zones.

Specifically, I'd like to thank and HIGHLY recommend Kelsey. She was my dedicated advisor, and she was absolutely incredible throughout the entire process - from answering any questions I had (and I had many) to pushing my thinking on essays and engaging in interview practice. She is thoughtful and caring, and I felt constantly supported.
In addition, thank you to Kathryn for her leadership and expertise; Wendy for her support in crafting a genuine career narrative; Cristina for keeping track of timelines and progress!

I also grew personally through the structured process and reflection. THANK YOU Square One Prep for making my business school dream a reality.

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Working with Square One Prep was amazing. Horatiu helped me think through my career goals and tie them to my past experiences. We explored two different paths I was interested in and ultimately decided on a healthcare route. Even though the purpose was to create a story that made sense for applications, I actually learned a lot about my own strengths and career goals and am much more prepared for business school.

Once I finished the career narrative, Allison helped me write amazing essays. It took many attempts and I changed topics multiple times, but we landed on a great story that helped me get interviews at 6/7 schools.

I’m excited to attend Chicago Booth next fall on a full ride scholarship! I couldn’t have done it without Square One. Thank you Kathryn, Allison, and Horatiu!

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My advisors at SOP were especially successful at helping me dig dip into my inner motivations and strengths, and putting together a cohesive narrative that reflects my personal and professional story.
Questions like why am I really pursuing an MBA? What do I want to accomplish in the next 10 years? And, what matters most to me? Are DIFFICULT to answer. SOP has a solid framework to tackle them and very expert advisors who truly devote their time and effort to make sure you get to the most honest answers.
Both my HBS and Stanford essays were complimented by the admissions office of these universities. I wrote about a very personal topic, something I was not convinced at all about writing at first! My advisor did an impeccable job at convincing me this personal story had the potential to become a wonderful essay, and looking back, it was spot on.

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