TESTIMONIALS

Praise for Embark

  • "Kelsey was instrumental during my MBA prep process and a core reason why I was able to get into HBS! At the onset, I did not think I had a chance at a top 5 school, and Kelsey explained very clearly that yes, it is extremely hard to get into these top schools. But through her advice, hard work, interview preparation, and all the other tactical prep items, Kelsey was able set me up for the best possible shot at getting into a top MBA, and I ended up at HBS! I think what makes Kelsey different than other consultants is she is very personalized and it does not feel like an MBA prep factory. She takes the time to learn your story so she can help craft the best essays possible. She Knows the process inside & out, and really acts as your guide throughout the difficult year of applying. I could not recommend Kelsey enough for the MBA journey"

    Pre-MBA Industry: Tech Strategy

    Years of Work Experience: 4

    Undergraduate GPA: 3.52

    GRE Scores: 318

    Admitted to: HBS

  • "Kelsey is an outstanding mentor and coach. She possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of business, specifically in the realm of MBA admissions. Kelsey’s dedication and commitment to my success were unparalleled, and she was my top advocate during my application process. Her storytelling abilities are remarkable, and her advice sets candidates apart in the application process. I received acceptance to Wharton and Columbia with scholarships. I highly recommend Kelsey to anyone looking for expert guidance in pursuing an MBA degree."

    Pre-MBA Industry: Military

    Years of Work Experience: 5

    Undergraduate GPA: 3.65

    EA Scores: 150

    Admitted to: CBS, Wharton

    Scholarship Amount: 200k

  • “As a brown woman, I was hesitant to trust a consultant because I feared that they wouldn’t understand my story or how I wanted to explain it. I was also hesitant to work with a consultant because I was scared that they would overcharge me and underwork. Working with Kelsey has completely changed my perception of what it is like to work with a trustworthy consultant. Kelsey was my support system throughout my MBA process and I couldn’t have gotten through this process (and into Columbia) without her. Over the past year, I have seen her as a trusted mentor who I can reach out to at any time for help in the process. Working with Kelsey is the best investment I have made throughout this MBA process. We made the most of every session and I walked away feeling like I got the best value out of every session. She is honest (both in her feedback and how she works with you), empathetic (which helps in flushing out your unique story), and direct. This allows you to focus your energy on doing what is best for your application. After interviewing and asking 7 consultants on why I should go with their services, I realized that none of them gave me the honest candor and personalized coaching that I was looking for. I found that many of them just wanted me as one of their hundreds of clients, would shuffle me around and put me through the same process that they put everyone through. Kelsey gives personalized coaching, feedback, and help so that you can focus your energy where you need to.. She has changed my life and I highly recommend working with her.”

    Pre-MBA Industry: Tech

    Years of Work Experience: 4

    Undergraduate GPA: 3.61

    GRE Scores: 324

    Admitted to: CBS, Wharton (120k)

  • “I literally could not have gone through this process without Kelsey. Her knowledge of how the system works and what timelines position you best to get everything done in time helped immensely. Additionally, her efficiency of work is truly beyond anything I’ve ever experienced - comments were turned back within a day and were of incredible quality and easily understood. Highly highly recommend Kelsey for anyone going through the B school process.”

    Pre-MBA Industry: Sales

    Years of Work Experience: 4

    Undergraduate GPA: 3.86

    GRE Scores: 310

    Admitted to: Tuck (100k), CBS (50K)

  • "Coming from the military, I knew I needed an outsider's perspective on my application, and I'm so glad I found Kelsey! I didn't have a resume so that was the first place we started. Kelsey gave me perspective on how things would read to a civilian and we were able to put together a good product. The essays were next. I'd do the initial drafts and she'd turn around and send those back to me with corrections. We did this several times until we had our final products. I want to emphasize here that there was no "72 hour turnaround" or anything like that. I got responses to all my emails within minutes, and longer corrections came back the same day. She also helped with interview prep before my interview. Having served on an admissions committee, she knows how things sound from the other side of the table, and she's able to steer you one way or another to ensure you're putting together the strongest application possible. I also want to bring up that despite my GPA being well under the median, not once did she try to talk me out of applying to HSW. I feel like that's something a lot of admissions consultants do. They'll tell you you're not competitive and get you to apply to lower ranked schools so that they can ensure a successful outcome. In this case, my dreams were my dreams and Kelsey was 100% on board with that right from the start. Lastly, there were several times when I had questions about things. She was always just an email or phone call away. Another friend I referred her to got into HSW as well. I would highly recommend Kelsey to anyone applying to the top schools! She goes above and beyond at every step, and you just won't get that personalized experience working with a bigger name admissions consultant."

    Pre-MBA Industry: Military

    Years of Work Experience: 4

    Undergraduate GPA: 3.29

    GRE Scores: 320

    Admitted to: CBS, Darden, Cornel (60k), Ross, Stern, Georgetown Law

  • “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"

    Pre-MBA Industry: Sales

    Years of Work Experience: 4

    Undergraduate GPA: 3.89

    GRE Scores: 319

    Admitted to: CBS (130K), McDonough (40k)

  • “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.”

    Pre-MBA Industry: Food & Bev Entrepreneur

    Applicant Type: Re-applicant

    Years of Work Experience: 2

    Undergraduate GPA: 3.50

    GMAT Scores: 750

    Admitted to: CBS

  • Simply put, Kelsey was the essential ingredient in my successful MBA journey. After a lackluster Round 1 of waitlists and with Round 2 deadlines fast approaching, I found Kelsey and I can confidently say that her feedback saved my applications from impending catastrophe. My only regret is not finding her earlier in the process. Kelsey and I had our first 15-minute call with Round 2 deadlines a mere week away-needless to say, time was of the essence. Seemingly within minutes, I had a structured game plan and expert feedback on the pitfalls of my applications. With other consultants I constantly felt as though I were a nuisance to them, working with Kelsey could not have been more different. Kelsey genuinely cared about me and my applications, taking the time to learn my background and goals (and respond to my “burning the midnight oil” emails asking for essay advice). When editing my admittedly wordy essays, she made sure to tailor her feedback to my unique voice. After hitting submit on my Round 2 applications, she immediately turned around to provide extremely in-depth waitlist guidance. Not only did Kelsey help get me off the waitlist at Columbia, but her guidance helped me realize my ultimate goal of being admitted to Wharton. To anyone out there researching MBA consultants, your applications (and wallet) will thank you for choosing Kelsey!"

    Pre-MBA Industry: Military

    Years of Work Experience: 4

    Undergraduate GPA: 3.09

    GMAT Scores: 700

    Admitted to: CBS (100k)

  • “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.”

    Pre-MBA Industry: Healthcare/Dentist

    Years of Work Experience: 3

    Undergraduate GPA: 3.6

    GRE Scores: 327

    Admitted to: Booth, McCombs (210k) , Tuck (25k)

  • “Before I reached out to Kelsey, I felt like I was spinning my wheels amidst what seemed like a very daunting application process. After our first conversation, my mindset changed completely— she helped me develop a schedule and stood by me every step of the way. She was refreshingly honest and incredibly responsive, and I knew I could always count on her. If you are an aspiring MBA candidate looking to work with someone who is legitimately invested in your success, I urge you to reach out to Kelsey ASAP.”

    Pre-MBA Industry: Military

    Years of Work Experience: 2

    Undergraduate GPA: 3.29

    GMAT Scores: 320

    Admitted to: Stern (20k), Vanderbilt

  • “Kelsey helped me design an effective strategy, completely revamped my essays and helped me gain admission to my dream school. After an unsuccessful first round of MBA applications, I returned to the drawing board hoping to find a more effective approach. A close friend of mine, who was admitted to a top program, shared with me his incredibly positive experience working with Kelsey and referred me to EmbarkMBA. After our first conversation, it was clear to me how much I still had to learn about crafting an effective story in my essays and overall application. Over the course of a few weeks, Kelsey provided expedient, effective feedback to my essays and short answers. She, somehow, was always responsive regardless of the time of day, and helped me brainstorm creative solutions when I felt stuck developing my narrative. Regardless of where you are at in your application process, I am confident Kelsey will be able to provide valuable insight and improve your chances in gaining admission to a top program. Thanks again, Kelsey!”

    Pre-MBA Industry: Military

    Years of Work Experience: 5

    Admitted to: Booth (30k)

  • “I hired Kelsey after reading these testimonials. And man, am I glad I did. Working with her was like having an insider in my corner. As a former MBA admissions committee member, she intimately understands the minds of admissions staff. She helped me capitalize on my strengths, strategically frame my weak points, and most importantly encouraged me to be myself. She met me exactly where I needed to be met in the app process (which for me was square zero), and was there every step of the way from how to properly reach out to admissions, students and alumni, to editing my essay drafts (she’s an extremely skilled editor), all the way to interview prep and how to get off a waitlist. She leaves no stone unturned. In our initial meeting I told her about me, my story, my background, my goals and needs, and she turned around and laid out a personalized game-plan and checklist which was exactly what I needed. If you’re worried that working with a consultant will distort the true image and picture of ‘you’, don’t be. Kelsey really listens; she takes to heart everything you share, reads you like admissions will read you, and works hard to help you thoroughly craft the best possible version of your story and strategically build rock-solid, well-rounded apps. One of the best parts of working with her was having her available to quickly answer my thousands of questions and doubts. This is her world, she knows what she’s talking about (looking at you, r/MBA). She’s blazing fast, super friendly, realistic, professional, and an absolute hidden gem. She’s extremely good at what she does. Hire her and don’t look back!”

    Pre-MBA Industry: Music/Design

    Years of Work Experience: 3

    Undergraduate GPA: 3.66

    GRE Scores: 323

    Admitted to: McCombs (10k)

  • “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! ”

    Pre-MBA Industry: Manufacturing Ops

    Years of Work Experience: 7

    Undergraduate GPA: 3.7

    Admitted to: Haas EMBA

  • “Run. Run as fast as you can to Kelsey! I worked with numerous tutors and consultants along my arduous MBA journey, and Kelsey is magical, the rarest of gems. She is incisive, honest, quick, supportive, and an all-around wonderful human. I was so impressed with Kelsey’s (affordable) services that I became a Kelsey-evangelist—shouting from the mountaintops to fellow MBA applicants/friends that if you want to put your absolute best foot forward, Kelsey is the way to go! And so they went, and prospered, just as I did. She pushed me forward and upward—ensuring my story, why each school specifically fit my path, and how I’d contribute to each school came across super clearly. I applied to four schools and intended to work with Kelsey on only one of those schools, but again, was so enchanted by her work that we ended up working on and reviewing all four schools. I valued and trusted her expertise completely, and her stamp of approval made me feel confident as I hit “submit.” I could truly wax poetic about the awesomeness that is Kelsey. Ultimately, remembering the huge sense of relief I felt when I met and started working with her is a feeling I am excited to pass on. She and you are worth it! ”

    Pre-MBA Industry: Entrepreneur

    Years of Work Experience: 12

    Admitted to: CBS (140k)

  • “After receiving no interview offers last year, I did an adcom review with Kelsey where she really drilled down the weaknesses in my story and essays. The following year I worked with Kelsey on crafting my narrative and what themes to focus on. Kelsey really helped distinguish between what was important and what wasn’t and with her help and preparation I was confident submitting my apps and eventually going into interviews. I was so confident moving through each step of the process because working with Kelsey made me feel that I had submitted the best version of my application possible. With her help and guidance I was able to get multiple acceptances to my top schools so the results speak for themselves!”

    Pre-MBA Industry: Finance

    Years of Work Experience: 4

    Undergraduate GPA: 3.41

    GMAT Scores: 750

    Admitted to: CBS (40k), Booth

  • “I’m so glad to have found Kelsey in my MBA application journey. Kelsey saved my application season from certain disaster. Thanks to her feedback, I received interview invites to every school I worked with her on, and I’ll be attending my dream school next year. I approached Kelsey for an AdCom review a week before the deadline. I was fairly confident in the quality of my essays until then. However, Kelsey was able to identify quite a few flaws in the tone and content of my essays. The best part about working with her was how quick she was with her feedback. She also communicates her feedback in a way that’s super easy to work on. In addition, she sat down with me to brainstorm new and more powerful themes and provided me effective essay structures to work with. Collaborating with her allowed me to produce exquisite pieces of writing (in my eyes!) within a week. Don’t be fooled by any lack of reviews of Kelsey’s services. Kelsey’s admissions consulting business is relatively new, and is bound to become one of the best very soon. When you work with Kelsey, you can be confident of presenting your best self to the admissions committee!”

    Pre-MBA Industry: Finance

    Years of Work Experience: 3

    Undergraduate GPA: 8.39

    GMAT Scores: 770

    Admitted to: Yale, Wharton (40k)

  • “After speaking with several consultants at larger companies who all gave me the same generic feedback or tried to mold me into a candidate I wasn’t, I went into my preliminary consultation with Kelsey feeling depleted. But Kelsey’s immediately candid feedback and genuine interest in my background were a breath of fresh air — it was clear she actually cared. Kelsey leverages her admissions committee background with her genuine interest in her clients to provide individualized feedback and action items that helped me weather the otherwise tumultuous application process. She took the time to get to know me and my story, never tried to mold my narrative into something inauthentic, deftly edited my wordy essays down without altering my voice, and went far beyond standard interview prep to give pieces of advice I plan on using well beyond my MBA interviews. I can say with absolute confidence that working with Kelsey was the best step I took in my application process.”

    Pre-MBA Industry: Tech manager

    Years of Work Experience: 3

    Undergraduate GPA: 3.75

    GRE Scores: 319

    Admitted to: CBS

  • “If you want to gain the polish and edge your application needs, Kelsey is the way! She helped frame my application package in a way that resonated with admissions. Her years of experience are evident in identifying what to highlight and how quickly she can provide meaningful feedback. When I reached out, she took the time to get to know about me and why I was applying. This personalized approach highlighted her passion and investment in helping me achieve my goal, which she did! I have recommended EmbarkMBA services to friends interested in graduate education, and I would happily use Kelsey’s services again. ”

    Pre-MBA Industry: Environmental Engineering

    Years of Work Experience: 9

    Undergraduate GPA: 2.93

    Admitted to: Columbia Climate School

  • “Working with Kelsey was an absolute pleasure. Her previous MBA admissions experience and invaluable insights were truly a god-send throughout all stages of the application process. Before I connected with Kelsey, introductory calls with other larger MBA consulting firms had me feeling inadequate, hopeless, and overwhelmed. From the start, Kelsey was so helpful, supportive, and cheered me on the whole way, from refining my “Why MBA” story to negotiating scholarship offers from multiple (!!) schools. ”

    Pre-MBA Industry: Finance

    Years of Work Experience: 4

    Undergraduate GPA: 3.3

    GMAT Scores: 740

    Admitted to: Booth, Darden, CBS (140K)

  • “I was initially hesitant to work with an admissions consultant as I had countless friends in graduate programs who were willing to help me through the process. After speaking with Kelsey, I was immediately impressed and my free 15-minute call lasted more than an hour. After the call, I knew I had to work with Kelsey and throughout the process of working together, she went above and beyond my expectations. My other friends who hired significantly more expensive consultants from the most well-known firms often had generic and underwhelming experiences with a cookie cutter approach. My experience with Kelsey could not have been more different. She took the time to fully understand my background and goals and helped me craft specific applications for all of my target schools. With a low GMAT score, I am confident the only reason I was accepted my MBA and MPP programs can be attributed to my essays and my work with Kelsey. She pushed me to put forth my best application and spent abundant time drafting essays with me and coaching me through multiple iterations of the interview process. I could not be more pleased with my experience and I highly recommend that applicants give Kelsey a call. You will not be disappointed. After multiple acceptances, I was fortunate to accept my offer from the Harvard Kennedy School, my first choice program.”

    Pre-MBA Industry: Military

    Years of Work Experience: 4

    Undergraduate GPA: 3.8

    GMAT Scores: 670

    Admitted to: Harvard Kennedy School

  • "Candidly, I was working with another admissions counselor before going to Kelsey. About 3 weeks before application deadlines, and after hundreds of dollars with another counselor and still feeling like I was getting nowhere close to my applications being ready, I reached out to Kelsey and thankfully she was able to help me out! Within a few days we were able to craft a compelling “Why MBA” essay that I was able to utilize across several applications – and an essay I felt confident about submitting! Working with Kelsey was truly a joy. A few things to highlight. 1) Kelsey is a previous admissions counselor which I think is a huge plus because she knows exactly what is being looked for across all aspects of the application. 2) I think Kelsey genuinely cares about the students that she works with – she isn’t like other consultants who just want to make money. Not only did she help me with essays, but also kept me motivated throughout the process. She was truly one of my biggest cheerleaders. 3) Kelsey is very efficient! She always got back to me with edits in less than 48 hours, and was very fast with edits, saving me time and money. 4) Kelsey was great at ensuring my personality and unique characteristics came out in my essays – she made sure that my voice was honored. These really helped me standout during this extremely competitive year. Results: In total I applied to 6 six schools and received admission to all 3 M7s (including Wharton), 2 T15s, and was waitlisted at one place. Not only did I receive acceptances to 5/6 programs, but I also was awarded over $450k in scholarship money! I genuinely don’t believe I could have done this without all of Kelsey’s work during the application. My only regret is that I didn’t go to Kelsey earlier! If you are looking for a MBA coach, I ensure you there is no one better!"

    Pre-MBA Industry: Finance

    Years of Work Experience: 4

    Undergraduate GPA: 3.6

    GMAT Scores: 650

    Admitted to: Booth (120k), Stern (178k), Darden (234k), CBS, Wharton

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