Kaneisha Grayson's Blog, page 17
May 16, 2020
Client Case Study: Lauren
Lauren graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Supply Chain Management. She had a great career in the oil and gas industry, but knew she needed an MBA to pivot into product management and start her own business. Thinking like the entrepreneur she wanted to become, Lauren made the decision to invest in her future by pursuing an MBA from a top-tier school.
Feeling lost in the application process and not getting the GMAT scores she wanted, Lauren began researching admissions consultants and GMAT preparation programs. When she found The Art of Applying®, Lauren was inspired by Ashley’s story and began her journey with us!
One of Lauren’s favorite parts about working with The Art of Applying® was the hands-on help she got from her consultant on her essay structuring and editing. Lauren especially liked that her consultant was a current MBA candidate who recently completed the application process. Lauren shared about working with her consultant, “After I had drafted my essays, she was really helping me a lot with restructuring… She was a really good resource to bounce ideas off of.”
In addition to private calls with her consultant, Lauren participated in group calls for essay writing, GMAT prep, and general Q&A from other clients enrolled in our Application Accelerator® program. Lauren said she found a sense of community in the program, “It’s definitely comforting to know that others are going through the same process as you.”
Lauren has excellent advice for others looking to apply to business school to change careers:
“You just have to bet on yourself. I think this whole MBA process is about betting on yourself, knowing that you’re a great candidate, and just getting your story across so that the schools can see that you’re a great candidate as well.”
And, she is right about that! With our help, Lauren was accepted to five top MBA programs with scholarships. She is well on her way to becoming the business leader she always wanted to be. We’re happy to have been part of her journey!
Start Date: May 2019 | End Date: May 2020
Applicant Information
Age: 29Work Experience: 7 years in Oil & Gas GPA: 3.5GMAT: 650 Undergraduate School: University of Texas at AustinMajor: Supply Chain Management
Acceptances
University of Pennsylvania Wharton SchoolNorthwestern University Kellogg School of ManagementUCLA Anderson School of ManagementYale University School of ManagementNew York University Stern School of Business
Scholarships
Full-Scholarship – New York University Stern School of BusinessFull Consortium Fellowship – UCLA Anderson School of Management$90,000 – Yale University School of Management
Notable Quotes
How Kaneisha convinced her to work with The Art of Applying®:
“I was like, ‘Yeah, I need some help. I need somebody to guide me through this process…’ And one evening Kaneisha called me… She told me that I’m the type of client that you guys are looking for. Specifically, women of color or minorities that don’t have very high test scores and don’t think they can get in. I’m the perfect client for you, so that really swayed me to go ahead and pay that cost.”
What it was like preparing for the GMAT with The Art of Applying® test prep tutors:
“He was awesome. He helped me through some problems I was struggling with. I was doing some self-study programs for GMAT and I still had some questions. So he would walk me through the questions I had and [helped me] solve those problems.”
How she, her family, and friends feel about her acceptances into five top MBA programs:
“It’s a blessing… All my friends and family are saying, ‘There’s no wrong choice [on which school to attend.]’”
May 3, 2020
Client Case Study: Emilie
After graduating from Columbia University, Emilie worked for a year and a half as a management consultant for a large biotech company in New York. Not thrilled with the role and looking for a way to leave consulting, she moved to Southern California and worked at a health tech startup, and eventually a smaller market-access firm.
Emilie knew she wanted to go to business school since 2016. When it came time to start her application process, Emilie had The Art of Applying® in the back of her mind. She was familiar with the Application Accelerator® after being connected to Kaneisha by chance in a Facebook group for Ivy League alumni of color.
Emilie shared, “I was looking for a program that felt all-inclusive [because] there are so many questions in the beginning when you’re thinking about applying to business school.” With The Art of Applying®, Emilie found the structure and support she was looking for.
Emilie maximized every aspect of the Application Accelerator®, from collaborating with her consultant to staying positive with Mindset Calls. She focused on making sure her essays were strong and that strategy paid off.
With the help of her consultant and group calls, Emilie was able to craft a story that felt true to her. She said,“For the school that gave me the most money, Berkeley Haas, I didn’t write about my business background. I wrote about who I am as a person… and they loved that! When I got my acceptance call they said, ‘We can really tell how authentic and genuine you are.’”
After four years preparing to apply to grad school, was this marathon worth it? Yes! Emilie cried happy tears when she found out she was accepted to Berkeley Haas, her first choice school, with a full-ride Consortium scholarship.
Start Date: September 2018 | End Date: May 2020
Applicant Information
Age: 25GPA: 3.6GRE: 317Work experience: 3 years in healthcare consulting School: Columbia University Major: Human Rights
Acceptances
Columbia University Business SchoolUniversity of California Berkeley Haas School of Business University of Southern California Marshall School of BusinessUniversity of Virginia Darden School of Business
Scholarships
University of California Berkeley Haas School of Business – Full Consortium Scholarship
Notable Quotes
On making the commitment and investment in working with The Art of Applying®:
“There was more offered in [The Art of Applying®] than in other more one-off programs where you’re paying someone to do just your essays… and I didn’t really know what I needed. I felt like paying just one amount for all the potential things [I could need help with] made more sense to me… It felt like a lot of money, but the focus would be to try to get scholarship money, so that the investment would turn into more money and for me it did!”
On her strategic approach to using the elements of the Application Accelerator® and how she leveraged her story:
“I focused a lot on my essays, and that’s where I felt like I was best served in terms of my application. I knew my test scores were going to stay kind of average. I knew I couldn’t change my GPA. I knew that I was already good at networking with students and alumni. So, I [felt] The Art of Applying® [could] serve me best by making sure my writing was cohesive and clear.”
On her advice to prospective applicants who haven’t worked in the private sector and are wondering if The Art of Applying® can help them get into business school: “For the school that gave me the most money, Berkeley Haas, I didn’t write about my business background… I wrote about why healthcare matters to me as a woman of color who was raised by a single mom and how that impacted me in the clinic, when I was helping other single moms [who were] Hispanic, Dominican, black, etc. And they loved that!”
April 25, 2020
Protected: Client Case Study: Samuel
This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:
Password:
Client Case Study: Samuel
Samuel is from a small town in Nigeria, and completed his undergraduate education at a local public university in Nigeria. When he came to the United States, Samuel dreamed of attending a prestigious MBA program to further his career goals. He had already done some research, and narrowed in on four top schools. When he first reached out to The Art of Applying®, he thought he only needed help with his essays. After his Breakthrough Call, Samuel realized the Application Accelerator® was the ideal path to help him pursue his dreams.
Before working with The Art of Applying®, he was focused on comparing his GPA and GRE scores to the admitted student profiles of his target MBA programs. With the help of his consultant and The Art of Applying® team, Samuel learned to think beyond GPA and GRE scores. As Samuel realized, “You shouldn’t just rely on your stats and compare that to the school program you are looking to apply to. It’s all about the holistic view of your application.”
Samuel’s consultant helped him craft his essays and tell his unique story. He worked with the Writing Center to perfect his essays. Beyond essays, Samuel took advantage of the other resources offered in the Application Accelerator®. Samuel used our Client Ambassador list, and reached out to our former clients who are now students and alumni of Samuel’s target schools.
Before working with us, Samuel had saved enough money to pay for his MBA. Now he can invest that money elsewhere and attend graduate school on a full scholarship. His goal was to be accepted to an elite MBA program, and he reached that goal along with the financial aspect—which supports his long term career goals in a new and exciting way.
“When I look back, [working with The Art of Applying®] was a big investment to make at that point. But, now having a full-ride scholarship to the three schools I wanted to go to that I felt were beyond my reach, that investment is just a drop in the bucket,” Samuel shared.
We are so excited for Samuel and can’t wait to see what school he chooses!
Service: Application Accelerator®
Join Date: July 2019 | End Date: May 2020
Applicant Information
Nigerian and American Dual CItizenAge: 29Undergraduate: public university in NigeriaGPA: 3.17 GRE: 320 GMAT: 640
Acceptances
University of Virginia Darden School of BusinessUniversity of Michigan Ross School of BusinessCornell University SC Johnson College of BusinessCarnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business
Scholarships
UVA Darden: Darden School Foundation Full Scholarship and the Consortium ScholarshipMichigan Ross: Dean’s Fellow Full ScholarshipSC Johnson School of Business: Merit Full Scholarship
Notable Quotes
Samuel’s advice to others thinking that they can work on their MBA admissions essays alone:
“You might think you know it all, or you might think your essays are good enough. But, I think one thing that set the The Art of Applying® consultants apart: they took my words and refined them to goals. All the feedback was really great. You need the lens of an admissions counselor. You should be able to articulate your story to anybody and you should have a story that resonates.”
The holistic Application Accelerator® package gave Samuel the resources he needed to apply to business school and network with students and alumni at his target programs:
“I am glad I went through the [Application Accelerator®] package. I used my mindset coach. She would tell me the reasons why I was procrastinating, and how I could be more efficient with my time. I am glad I did the whole package instead of just looking for help on my essays. [The Art of Applying® former client] network benefited me as well.”
Samuel loved the diverse community The Art of Applying® offered:
“The clients and consultants are very diverse… You have consultants who went to the schools [you are applying to] and were accepted. I really liked when people posted on the [The Art of Applying®] client page that they submitted their applications or finished an essay, it motivated me. And, when people started posting their acceptances it was great to celebrate together!”
April 13, 2020
Client Case Study: Surabhi
Surabhi spent the last seven and half years as an entrepreneur running her own boutique political consulting firm. She always knew she wanted to attend graduate school in the United States, and had her heart set on attending the Harvard Kennedy School. She had applied to graduate school at MIT once before, but she was not accepted. When she decided now was the time to apply again, Surabhi knew she needed help if she wanted to get into her dream school.
Surabhi did a lot of her own research before she reached out to us. She said, “I didn’t want to go into the process of applying to a U.S. school without knowing what is expected of me. I liked your honesty and the genuineness with which you portrayed the process.”
Surabhi and her husband joined a Breakthrough Call where she discovered what The Art of Applying® could offer, and what she could bring to the table. Surabhi said the Application Accelerator® program gave her the tools and community she needed to complete her applications. The weekly Q&A sessions, the Writing Center, the Test Prep, and the weekly calls with her consultant held her accountable while also inspiring her.
“My consultant has possibly given me the most important gift through this entire process… She gave me confidence,” Surabhi shared about her experience.
Even though her dream school was the Harvard Kennedy School, Surabhi’s consultant encouraged her to apply to more than one school. Her consultant encouraged her to apply to various schools as a negotiating tactic, and gave Surabhi confidence in her ability to be accepted to other top schools.
Surabhi said her consultant helped her understand her own story. She reflected on crafting her story, “How does my story matter and how can I make sure somebody else knows… that these are my aspirations and I belong in the class.”
Surabhi was concerned about the cultural differences when it came to applying to graduate schools in the United States as an applicant from India, but said The Art of Applying® put her at ease.
“I made the decision to apply, and to do it in the best possible way and I think it became a little easier knowing that I’m making such a big investment,” she said. “This investment you’re making to work with The Art of Applying® will probably come back to you in double, triple returns and that happened for me.”
We are excited for what lies ahead in her journey. Congratulations Surabhi!
Service: Application Accelerator®
Join Date: May 2019 | End Date: May 2020
Applicant Information
7 years experience as an entrepreneur Age: 28GPA: 3.44 Attended: Christ University, BangaloreMajor: Economics
Acceptances
Harvard Kennedy School Columbia School of International and Public AffairsUniversity of Chicago Harris School of Public PolicyPrinceton Woodrow Wilson School — Waitlisted
Scholarships
$15,000 – University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy
Notable Quotes
On how much Surabhi learned from working the Writing Center and with her consultant to get her essays to reflect her story:
“The Writing Center call was my backbone through this entire process… Every single word of my essay was edited, not just by somebody, but somebody who is a writing expert and by my consultant who knows my story, who’s invested in my story. It was like every single word and sentence had to make sense, and I wrote until it made sense… It really was perfect.”
Surabhi’s advice for other people who struggle with standardized tests, and the value of having weekly Test Prep calls to overcome that struggle:
“For people who don’t like standardized tests: every week you are reminded [in the Test Prep calls] that this is a test! It’s not about how much math you know, or how many words you know… You need to understand why. I heard that every single week and I enjoyed it. I absolutely enjoyed it, because it got me to refocus.”
What Surabhi has to say to other Indian applicants, and her special advice for entrepreneurs thinking about graduate school:
“I feel that a lot of Indians are hesitant about working with consultants… and I would just like to say that this is possibly one of the best decisions I’ve made… Entrepreneurs, I think, are a tricky bunch to share any advice with because everybody has their own sort of stories and come from a different context… [But] if graduate school is something that you’ve made your decision to attend and you want to go to graduate school, then you know you need to have all of the help and support system that you can get.”
March 30, 2020
Client Case Study: Collins
Collins is a 34-year-old finance professional. After graduating from Georgia State University he went on to gain 11 years of work experience, 10 of those years in the financial industry. A recent career change had Collins looking toward his future, and he decided that getting his MBA from a top-tier school would help him take the next step in his career. However, he wasn’t confident that he’d be accepted into any top-tier schools. Thankfully, a good friend gave him some life-changing advice: “If you want to go to a really good school, you need to talk to Kaneisha.” That’s when he reached out to us at The Art of Applying® and began his journey. We’re so glad he did!
Today, he can brag about acceptances to Executive MBA Programs at the University of Virginia, Cornell University, and University of Michigan. Plus, Collins was awarded $15,000 in funding from the University of Virginia!
One of Collins’ favorite parts of working with The Art of Applying® was the confidence his consultant instilled in him. Collins shared his experience working with his consultant, “My consultant was amazing… She gave me a ton of confidence to know what I was doing… There was something about my consultant’s help that was pretty invaluable.”
In addition to working with his consultant, Collins also took advantage of our test prep tutor assistance, which is only available to clients enrolled in our Application Accelerator® program. He had high praise for our tutors, “I don’t know who you hire. I don’t know where they come from, but they’re pretty smart and they know what they’re doing.”
Would Collins tell others to work with The Art of Applying®? Absolutely, Collins said “I have no regrets over the decision I made or the money that I spent. This was all an investment in myself.”
Start Date: June 2019 | End Date: May 2020
Applicant Information
Age: 34Work Experience: 11 years; 10 years in the financial industry GPA: 3.5 Executive Assessment Score: 680 Undergraduate School: Georgia State University
Acceptances
University of Virginia Darden School of Business Executive MBA Program Cornell University SC Johnson College of Business Executive MBA Program University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business Executive MBA Program
Scholarships
$15,0000 – University of Virginia Darden School of Business Executive MBA Program
Notable Quotes
Why he reached out to The Art of Applying® to schedule his Breakthrough Call:
“My good friend is Kaneisha’s good friend. She told me, ‘If you want to go to a really good school, you need to talk to Kaneisha.’ It was this time in my life when I had made a career transition. I realized that if I really want to get to where I want to go, an MBA is a vital step in getting there. I talked to a few friends who have their MBAs from top tier schools… They all said the same thing: ‘Go to the best school that you possibly can.’ I was just thinking to myself, ‘Well my grades are not the best… So maybe I could use some help in this.’ And, so I reached out to you.”
How he feels about his decision to work with The Art of Applying®:
“I was sold from day one. It’s a great experience. I have no regrets over it.”
On making the commitment and investment in working with The Art of Applying®:
“I never really had many doubts. I never really had many fears. … If I’m going to be paying $150,000 to $200,000 for my education, [The Art of Applying®] is a very small amount… If it’s going to help me get into the school that I really want to go to, and that school is going to help me get to where I really want to go to, then what is it really?”
On the value of getting into a top-tier school:
“Getting into a top tier school can really change the trajectory of your career path. I know it certainly has for a lot of my friends, and my wife included.”
How he felt about working with his The Art of Applying® consultant:
“My consultant was amazing… She gave me a ton of confidence to know what I was doing. There was something about my consultant’s help that was pretty invaluable. It’s not just the essays, not just the interviews. It’s the comfort that my consultant built in me, the confidence she inspired in me.”
What it was like working with The Art of Applying® test prep tutors:
“I would find myself hung up on a topic and then go to the test prep. People who take advantage of the test prep, it will end up providing a huge advantage… I don’t know who you hire. I don’t know where they come from, but they’re pretty smart and they know what they’re doing.”
What he would say to others like him who went to state schools, might not have the best grades and are considering working with The Art of Applying®:
“I’d say make it a point to invest in yourself regardless of which schools you get into… Just go to the best place that you possibly can. It’s about the network you develop there. It’s about what you will learn there. Those are the things that really count. And those are things you’ll carry with you. If somebody has doubts about it, ask yourself the question, ‘What do I really know about this process? What does [The Art of Applying®] know that I don’t?’ And the answer is a lot… We need expert guidance. If you’re looking for somebody to guide you through this process, [The Art of Applying®] is a great solution for it.”
March 22, 2020
Client Case Study: Soffiyah
Soffiyah graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with degrees in International Relations and Global Studies, and Art History. As a born and raised Texan, she joined a small team in a continuing medical education office in San Antonio. She never pictured herself in business school.
“It’s a very small business, even though we work for a large institution. It’s only about seven of us in the office itself,” Soffiyah explained.
“I was able to break into the industry, and learn about how a small business works. In a small business, we kind of just all get to dabble in different functions. So, I got a little bit of marketing here, a little bit of project management there, and I realized I really enjoyed the marketing portion… I really wanted to take my industry and function and shift it completely… I just kept going back and forth of just changing a job or an MBA, and then I ultimately decided on the MBA.”
Soffiyah didn’t know where to start when applying to business school. She also worked a very demanding job, which made her realize she needed accountability. That’s when she saw a friend post about The Art of Applying® on Facebook, and she set up her Breakthrough Call.
When asked about the impact of the Breakthrough Call, Soffiyah said, “If you’re on the fence like me, I was really debating whether to just go about it alone or really have some help. My job is pretty demanding. I knew that I needed something to help me focus. If you’re kind of having that internal struggle, take the call.”
She said that talking with a Breakthrough Call Coach helped her understand her own narrative, and confirmed that an MBA was the right decision. “My Breakthrough Coach was amazing… he just helped me tell him what exactly I wanted to do, and he helped me build a really great story for me to tell on my applications,” Soffiyah explains about working with The Art of Applying®.
“Honestly, it’s all about you. You’re the one leading the conversation, they just want to know that you know where you are and what you want out of the application process… You’re telling your story,” Soffiyah emphasized about the Breakthrough Call.
Soffiyah was not a cookie-cutter applicant. She knew her test scores, undergraduate GPA, and only two years of work experience were going to be a challenge. But, she said the guidance she received from The Art of Applying® with her essays and resume made all the difference.
“I really needed that focus, and someone behind me encouraging me to build my story in a proper way,” Soffiyah shared.
“And someone with experience, of course. It was very nice working with you guys. I mean, the essays and the resume help, just amazing… I didn’t know how much I needed the help until I was actually moving forward with the process.”
We are delighted to have been a part of Soffiyah’s journey from Texas to Paris!
Start Date: May 2018 | End Date: May 2019
Applicant Information:
Age: 25GPA: 3.4GRE: 310School: University of Texas at AustinMajor: International Relations and Global Studies
Acceptances
HEC Paris George Washington University School of Business Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business – waitlisted
Scholarships
$20,000 merit award, George Washington University School of Business
Notable Quotes
What Soffiyah learned about herself during her Breakthrough Call:
“A Breakthrough Call is where you get to talk to one of the Breakthrough Coaches, and they help you articulate why you want to apply to business school… My Breakthrough Coach was amazing. He really helped me build my story…. He got me digging into why I wanted the MBA.”
What Soffiyah enjoyed most about working with The Art of Applying® :
“It’s just really helping you build your story. I just never felt like there was someone telling me what to do or how to do it. It was very just. ‘Are you ready, are you wanting to move forward?’ It was very, very “you” driven, you’re telling your story and no one’s telling you to stop or anything like that, you’re really just articulating what you’re trying to do… It’s just more of a guiding process.”
Soffiyah’s advice for others who are looking to transform their future career paths:
“I didn’t imagine I’d be going to business school in Paris… The possibilities are endless, especially if you have a liberal arts or fine arts degree. I didn’t major in business. I took a couple of business classes. You can really change the path of your career and transform yourself if you really want to. I feel like that’s what I’m doing right now.”
Client Case Study: Chitra
Chitra is a 23-year-old graduate who originally began her undergraduate studies as a biomedical engineering major on the pre-med track. She switched to biological engineering, but she struggled with her math classes, and her GPA suffered as a result. Graduating with a 2.5 GPA, Chitra decided to focus on getting into law school instead of medical school. Her 155 LSAT score put her smack dab in the middle of test takers, so she knew she would need some help to make her stand out.
“My parents have this philosophy,” Chitra said. “If you don’t think you’re good enough, trust the professionals to do it.” She discovered The Art of Applying® through a Facebook friend. She scheduled her Breakthrough Call, which turned out to be more than she ever expected.
Chitra shared this about her Breakthrough Call experience, “I assumed [the Breakthrough Call] was like an interview or some kind of onboarding call. I didn’t actually think that it would be such a deep dive into everything that I was thinking at the moment, and everything that I wanted to be doing… When I did that call with you guys, who are professionals and have this excellent reputation, I was just like, ‘Okay, I have someone on my side that’s pulling for me now that wasn’t there before.’”
Chitra appreciated the encouragement and feedback that her Consultant gave her as she worked on her law school application materials during the Application Accelerator® program. She never felt demeaned or overly critiqued. Chitra said about her Application Accelerator® experience,“I always felt encouraged and filled with positive feedback and useful criticism that I could incorporate into my essays.”
Chitra had her own advice for grad school applicants who have struggled with choosing majors or found themselves with a lower than expected undergrad GPA. “No one is going to figure out what their exact perfect major is on the first shot… I figured out that it wasn’t impossible to meet the rest of my goals, even though I had some hiccups along the way. The Art of Applying® was a big part of that.”
Chitra wants others to know that The Art of Applying® is here to help them achieve their law school dreams, even if they have some lingering doubts. “I dealt with a lot of doubt and a lot of uncertainty because of that low GPA and that average LSAT score. It’s not impossible. If you want to go to law school, you may not get into the top law school there is, but you will still get into law school… If you’re feeling like you’re on your own, that’s when you ask for help. [The Art of Applying®] are professionals; they will help. That’s their job.”
Start Date: August 2018 | End Date: May 2019
Applicant Information
Age: 23 GPA: 2.5 LSAT: 155 Major: Biological Engineering
Acceptances
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law UIC John Marshall Law School
Scholarship
$30,000 merit award, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
Notable Quotes
What made Chitra reach out to The Art of Applying® instead of applying to law schools on her own:
“My parents have this philosophy: ‘If you don’t think you’re good enough, trust the professionals to do it.’”
What she expected from the Breakthrough Call, and what actually happened:
“It was nothing like I expected it to be. I assumed it was like an interview or some kind of onboarding call. I didn’t actually think that it would be such a deep dive into everything that I was thinking at the moment, and everything that I wanted to be doing.”
How she felt before and after her Breakthrough Call:
“I was feeling very helpless [before the Breakthrough Call] … about all the applications for law school. I’d never done anything like that before. I just didn’t know where to start. So, when I did that call with you guys who are professionals and have this excellent reputation, I was just like, ‘Okay, I have someone on my side that’s pulling for me now, that wasn’t there before.’”
How she felt about making the investment in The Art of Applying ®, and how she paid for it:
“There was some fear about the large investment… I got help from my parents because they paid for my education and they plan to pay for my law school if I didn’t get scholarships… So it was definitely a decision I wanted them to weigh in on because they consider me a good investment. So if I’m making investments in a program… they want to be a part of that.”
What she liked best about working with her Consultant, and what surprised her the most:
“My Consultant was awesome. … She was extremely accommodating, kind and really sweet. … I want everyone to work with her. She was very good with her advice. I never felt insulted, overly critiqued or demeaned in any way. I always felt encouraged, filled with positive feedback and useful criticism that I could incorporate into my essays, my resume or whatever I was turning in and whenever I was turning it in. She was also the most understanding person about the fact that there was a lot going on, and I wasn’t meeting the deadlines I originally set for myself.”
On her progress on her essays before working with The Art of Applying ®, and how her progress changed she began working with us:
“I really liked the ideas that my Consultant gave me, which included full transparency, and just putting down the reasons for things being the way they were… A lot of those essays reflected on the past five years. That worked in my favor because I pretty much just spelled out everything I’ve ever wanted to write down about myself and then some.
What she would say to applicants who are pre-med students or had low GPAs or low test scores:
“No one is going to figure out what their exact perfect major is on the first shot. I thought I had it all figured out and it turns out I didn’t… But, I figured out it wasn’t impossible to meet the rest of my goals… The Art of Applying® was a big part of that. I was encouraged to pursue far more ambitious goals than I had set up for myself, because my GPA was low, and my LSAT score was not too hot. I definitely was feeling extremely incapable… But, I realized I could probably be better at some other professions. So I just looked for what might fit me better and I got some encouragement from [The Art of Applying®] and then I just applied.”
On why she encourages applicants who are unsure whether they can get into law school or who are considering applying on their own to work with The Art of Applying® instead: “I dealt with a lot of doubt and uncertainty because of that low GPA and average LSAT score. It’s not impossible. If you want to go to law school, you may not get into the top law school there is, but you will still get into law school. That means you’re one step closer to being a lawyer and doing what you want to do… As far as investing in the program… If you’re feeling like you’re on your own, that’s when you ask for help. [The Art of Applying®] are professionals, they will help. That’s their job.”
March 1, 2020
Client Case Study: Keri
Though Keri is from Southern California and did her undergraduate studies in her home state, she transformed her life and perspective moving to Turkey eight years ago, getting a job with a top TV network, and gathering experience she’s looking to parlay into a consulting or a business development director role.
To make that step, she knew she needed to get an MBA, but didn’t succeed the first time she applied working with an independent solo admissions consultant. By her own assessment, Keri felt she was a mediocre applicant. She had eye-opening experiences as a Turkish dual citizen, but hadn’t been able to develop those experiences into an essay that fully captured the depth nor complexity of her experiences for an admissions committee. She didn’t even apply to the schools that were the best fit for her post-MBA goals.
It was in meeting with us that she got perspective on how to better her application, with an accompanying revelation about “being accepted to a school that wants me as much as I want them.”
She credits the Breakthrough Call with The Art of Applying® as motivating her. “It made me think: Maybe I should have done that with my application, or maybe that should have happened or maybe that’s what I’m a little weak in … it sparked something in me, like I could do more. I can do better. And I could do better. I mean, within a 90-minute call with your team, I had ways that I could be better as a person, as an applicant, an individual.”
Being in Istanbul, she found the online communities and group call-in sessions to be particularly helpful in connecting her to applicants from back home in the U.S. She even said of the calls, “I planned my week and my month around those calls!”
For Keri, her success in the program wasn’t just getting into an Ivy League MBA program; it also involved the changes she made in her life as a result of being part of the program.
“It was like an entire mindset, like ‘be a better person.’ We have like the whole ‘be a better person on like the GMAT or the GRE side,’ and then you have the ‘be a better person on the tutoring, the homework, the consultant side.’ So it’s just, in my opinion, it’s transformative.”
Start Date: April 2018 | End Date: May 2019
Applicant Information
U.S. and Turkish dual citizenSchool: state school in California GPA: 3.2
Acceptances
Dartmouth University Tuck School of Business MBA Program
Scholarships & Fellowships
$40,000 scholarship ($20,000 per year) after working with The Art of Applying® team on the financial aid appeal process
Attending
Dartmouth University Tuck School of Business MBA Program
Notable Quotes
“The first time [I applied with another admissions consultant], looking back now … it was just a mess. It was rushed. I knew I had a target, but I didn’t know how to get to that. I didn’t know the journey. I didn’t know what needed to be put into it … my story, my application … an okay GPA … just everything [made me] just a mediocre applicant [with] just a really mediocre story.”
“I think working with your team … opened my eyes and made me a better person.”
On the Breakthrough Call:
“I felt incredibly comfortable. I told my story and just certain questions that were asked … it made me think, maybe I should have done that with my application, or maybe that should have happened or maybe that’s what I’m a little weak in … it sparked something in me, like I could do more. I can do better. And I could do better. I mean, within a 90-minute call with your team, I had ways that I could be better as a person, as an applicant, an individual. So it felt right. And I think we just we signed up right then and there.”
On the Facebook groups:
“We’re judged based on a couple of numbers and essays, and having that community, having that support, was incredibly important to me because I’m so far away from home. None of my friends are going through this process.”
On the Q&A calls:
“I planned my week and my month around those calls! I’m incredibly thankful for them, because it’s a time where everyone comes together and we’re able to bombard you with questions.”
“I mean, it wasn’t just like a tutoring thing. It was like an entire mindset—like ‘be a better person.’ We have like the whole ‘be a better person on like the GMAT or the GRE side,’ and then you have the ‘be a better person on the tutoring, the homework, the consultant side.’ So it’s just, in my opinion, it’s transformative.”
January 25, 2020
Protected: Client Case Study: Zoe
This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:
Password:
