Before starting my MBA application journey, I basically had no idea what was involved in the
application process, and now having gone through this process, I am 100% convinced that I
would have not been successful without Square One Prep's help. Kathryn, Darcy, and the entire
team were right next to me on every step of the way. Their expertise and experience are truly
next level. Not only did they guide me and help me, but they actually pushed me to create
better applications. Additionally, the SOP portal/calendar is a phenomenal tool to help keep
track of all the deliverables and forecast how to best allocate your time. The resources available
to you are fantastic. If you are thinking about starting the MBA application, you *have* to do it
with SOP.

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Working with the Square One Prep team has been without a single doubt the best decision I could make when choosing a partner to guide me through the MBA application process. I talked with 5 different MBA prep companies when making the decision, and since my first call with Kathryn, I knew they were the perfect partner! In my first call with them, we had an amazing conversation and they really took the time to get to know me as a person and beyond the typical information that MBA prep companies want to know (GMAT score, GPA, work experience, etc.). The advisor I worked with thoroughly guided me through each step of what can be a daunting and intimidating MBA application process, helping me define a very detailed and genuine career narrative, and working with me to nail down every component of the application. Her guidance with the essays was unparalleled, helping me think through the structure of the essays and challenging me to always put together the best possible version of my answers. She was always available and ready to hop on a call and brainstorm ideas or clarify doubts, which was truly a blessing given my hectic and unpredictable work schedule. I would 1000% recommend to anyone working with the Square One Prep team to ace the MBA application process!

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I wouldn't have gotten to Chicago Booth without Square One Prep. I'm a Brazilian student from an alternative background - nonprofits and startups - and an average GMAT (710). This led me to doubt myself regarding even applying for an MBA. However, Kathryn made me trust myself since our very first call. She paired me up with Darcy, who was rigorous and kind throughout the whole process. Darcy replied quickly to my emails and WhatsApp messages, was available even on Sundays, and gave me specific and challenging feedback on every piece of writing of the application. Her obsession for clarity pushed me to improve constantly on the story I wanted to tell. Her emotional intelligence was key when I was tired and feeling down. If you are having doubts about their services, don't. I guarantee it's worth your money.

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Square One Prep is the best investment I did throughout my application process. They are incredibly professional, talented and knowledgeable.

Kathryn Lucas runs a phenomenal program. She is invested and passionate about the success of every candidate. Her response time is also unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Even before starting the applications, she gave me great advice on working through my GRE and selecting schools which made me feel at ease from the beginning.

My advisor, Darcy Cain was a fantastic advisor. She took the time to get to know me holistically, supported and challenged me in great ways! Her feedback ensured that the connections between different elements of my background, personality and career goals were really coming out in my writing.

Bailey Miller kept me on schedule, reminding me of the weekly milestones. This was very helpful to stay organized and balance doing my applications with my job.

I can’t recommend them enough to anyone applying to business school!

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Square One Prep offers a dedicated and personalized support to help you identify your career goals and build a plan to identify and get into the schools that will help you achieve these goals.
I was particularly busy during my application process and my SOP team helped me navigate conflicting priorities between work, pro bono and exam prep. My team was available 24/7 for me when I needed to re-adjust my timeline and set a path forward to meet my application deadlines.
Without SOP’s support, I doubt I would have been able to navigate through the application process in time and have such and amazing outcome – I got into my dream schools with scholarships!

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SOP's model of having a personal consultant and leadership team for quality check throughout the application process is extremely efficient and helpful. My consultant was really easy to talk to and would ont hesitate to tell me if my essay/idea wouldn't work. She did a great job of pushing me to self reflect to find my own voice and bring my essay to the next level. Kathryn and the rest of the team was also instrumental in keeping me on the right track. Their service is worth every penny. I would highly recommend SOP to any friends or co-worker looking for MBA application consultant.

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I have only positive things to say about Square One Prep. I was a re-applicant to business school and recognized how important SOP would be to my success. My experiences were sort of all over the place and my team, consisting on Kathryn and Darcy, really helped me craft a good narrative.

SOP really is a finely tuned machine. They are incredible at giving honest and essential feedback and do so in an extremely timely manner. I think Kathryn and Darcy truly cared about my success and helped me in all facets, not just my application but in my confidence as well.

I really am in debt to SOP and their team for helping me throughout this process. The MBA application process is a beast but SOP made it feel like it was very manageable through a very regimented and structured process.

I can’t thank Darcy and Kathryn enough for working with me. I really had no confidence prior to this process and now I’m ready to soar into my MBA.

Thanks for everything team SOP.

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Square One Prep was the key that determined my success in the MBA application process. Going in, I felt very insecure about my application due to my average GMAT (680) and the highly competitive programs I wanted to apply to. Kathryn and Darcy were both supportive and demanding, a combination that led me to build confidence and work hard to craft the best application possible. They asked the right questions that led me to understand and effectively communicate my personal narrative. This was not only crucial for my MBA applications, but also for my personal growth. I felt that the time and resources I invested with Square One Prep were worth it beyond getting into my two dream schools. I came out of the process more certain about my values and convictions.

I highly recommend Square One Prep to anyone who wants to maximize their chances of getting into a top school. I got into stanford and Harvard and could not be happier. I heard from Square One Prep because 2 students I knew at GSB had hired them and had great results. Their track record is unbeatable.

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I started working with Square One Prep this summer in order to apply for part time MBA programs at both Kellogg and Booth. I have recently been accepted into both programs, and I would highly recommend Square One Prep to both full-time and part-time applicants who are looking for ample one-on-one attention and a personalized approach to the admission consultation process.

I chose Square One Prep specifically as I could tell from my initial phone call with them that I would not be overlooked or lost in the shuffle, which was my hesitation with choosing a large scale company. My cousin also used Square One Prep last year and was accepted full-time into Booth, so I knew they had a successful methodology.

My application had its own set of unique challenges. I was a re-applicant, had a low quant GMAT score, and recently made a significant industry change in my career. Within the week of choosing Square One Prep, I was paired with a consultant that specifically focused on my application. While she was my primary point of contact, I also had access and was helped daily by the owner of the company, an essay specialist, a career narrative specialist, among others who have all been actively involved in the admission committees at top tier business schools.

Together with this team, we took a deep dive into my prior experiences, spanning from my professional to personal life. They helped me identify my strengths and develop essays that would truly make me stand out as a candidate. Most importantly, the team at Square One Prep was never afraid to challenge my pre-conceived notions in the application process. For example, many of the topics I thought I would write about in my applications were ultimately not used, as we found better and more unique experiences that crafted a much stronger narrative.

In conclusion, I would highly recommend Square One Prep to anyone looking for a highly personalized approach to the admissions process.

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