28,619Leland Reviews

Cathy was very helpful in guiding me through my INSEAD application. She was not only encouraging throughout the process but provided very clear and honest feedback ranging from big picture comments to small details.

Rusty brings strong insights on how non traditional candidates can build a strong profiles for top MBA programs.

Rusty provided excellent advice during his seminar for non-traditional applicants. His ability to break down the non-traditional story equipped me with the tools to create a comprehensive narrative threaded throughout my application.

Jenai helped me review my past application package that was rejected by GSB. She came prepared with all the notes and comments. I found her advise helpful!

Admitted to Top Choice! My experience working with Faisal was absolutely fantastic and I could not have asked for a more supportive, responsive, experienced and professional mentor. I currently work in private equity (previously worked in investment banking), with the objective of applying to several top US MBA programs (R1 and R2) for the Class of 2020. I had high aspirations but came from an overrepresented background. Additionally, I lacked direction as to my rationale to pursue an MBA (e.g. “why me? “why now?” “what will an MBA do for my career?”) After working closely with Faisal for 9 months, I’m proud to say that I received admission to my first choice (top 5 US ranking) and second choice! Faisal’s close mentorship and logical approach to drawing from all aspects of my life (professional and personal) to help form a clear and persuasive story was beyond anything I could have imagined. His focus on precision and tailoring my message to each school kept me focused and built my self-confidence every step of the way. Lastly, Faisal’s organization, responsiveness, and commitment to school deadlines were exactly what I was looking for in a mentor and consultant. This process was truly life-changing not only from the perspective of receiving admission to a school that I could have only dreamed of but helping me understand myself better and mapping a professional pathway that will allow me to achieve my short and long-term goals. I can confidently recommend Faisal and wish future candidates the best of luck in their application endeavors.

Deciding to work with Faisal was the best decision I could have made regarding the application process. I come from a non-business background and do not have many in my close network that is knowledgeable about MBA programs or even the graduate school application process in general. I was truly flying blind. Faisal took me under his wing and provided me with brainstorming materials and constructive feedback that forced me to be incredibly introspective. Brainstorming with Faisal was almost cathartic. Because he was so interested in learning about me, Faisal was able to point out strengths and unique qualities that I didn’t recognize in myself. The MBA Prep School brainstorming sessions and resources allowed me to brand myself as a top MBA candidate. I also never waited longer than a few days to get feedback and edits from Faisal on my essays, resume, interview prep questions, etc. He was prompt, professional, and clearly cared about my success. My investment in MBA Prep School resulted in an acceptance at Booth, Kellogg, Tepper, Goizueta, and Foster all with either partial or full scholarship awards! 😊

I started working with Faisal a couple of months before my first application was due. I knew my time with him would be extremely helpful once we finished our first session. In that meeting, I learned three things. First, that Faisal really cares. It’s quite clear from the first few moments that he’s really passionate about his clients getting into their dream schools. Second, he’s extremely smart and knowledgeable about the process. He’s able to give guidance on what the admission’s office looks for in every aspect of your application. And third, he’s effective. In every session we had together, he made sure we had an agenda of what needed to get done. He knew that not only his time was valuable, but my time also. Like many other applicants, the main weakness I had with my application was my exam scores and Faisal immediately knew how to handle the situation. We were able to confront the weakness throughout my application by following his recommendations. And because of him, I was accepted to all the programs I applied to, including a top ten program. Without a doubt, I’ll be referring all my friends and co-workers to Faisal.

Having graduated from a state university and working at a tech startup in a more rural region of the Midwest, I only knew a handful of people who had pursued an MBA at a top program. In order to get into a top school, I knew I would greatly benefit from an admissions consultant who could position my unique background as an asset and not a liability. After speaking with various admissions consultants, I chose Faisal for his candor, past experience as a member of Booth’s admission committee, and impressive story-telling ability. I also appreciated that Faisal was NOT a full-time admissions consultant and consequently worked with only a handful of people (i.e. 4-5) at a given time. I knew that being 1 of 5 clients would result in me receiving more personalized attention than had I been just 1 of 20 clients to a career admissions consultant. Once we got to work, Faisal delivered. Rather than diving immediately into essay writing, he made sure that I was clear on my “brand” and what value I could add to a school. When work was busy and I got behind, Faisal would hold me accountable and gently push me to meet our deadlines. As a proof-reader, Faisal had a great way of improving my essay without changing my voice. And as a mock interviewer, Faisal gave me some great, easy-to-implement tips that helped me to confidently tackle my interviews. Long story short, I got into all three schools that I worked on with Faisal: Yale, Dartmouth, and Kellogg with a scholarship! There are significant time and money considerations when deciding to use an admissions consultant, but if you have the resources and the need to work with someone who has knows the process inside and out, I would highly encourage working with Faisal.

Working with Faisal on my application is the most correct decision I have ever made. It has been such a transformative experience since I started working with Faisal! Faisal has the best story-telling and English writing skills, and is patient, trustful and insightful. Faisal inspired me to summarize my past experience and tell powerful stories that I could ever imagine. Most importantly I think Faisal taught me about the way to approach thinking and writing – something not only has benefited my application but also will benefit my future life. Faisal has helped me reach out of my limit and realize my dream – being admitted to Booth weekend MBA. It has been such a wonderful time working with Faisal, and I would highly recommend Faisal to anyone who want to take on a life-changing journey.

Faisal is the portrait of professionalism, subtle humor and MBA expertise. I worked with Faisal to build a compelling application just a handful of weeks before my application deadline. We didn’t have a long runway and to make things more stressful, I applied to one school. The stakes were high. But with Faisal’s timeliness and personalized dedication, I’m thrilled to have been accepted to a dual-degree program (MMM) at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. What impressed me most about Faisal was his deep knowledge of the MBA admissions process and his ability to help me craft a narrative that set me apart from other applicants. He was always responsive and provided timely feedback and support, which helped me stay focused throughout the stressful process. I want to particularly note how helpful Faisal was in facilitating the stories I used for my essays. We initially reviewed one of my essays for the application and after reading through it together, we felt it was “okay”. Not terrible but also nothing spectacular. It was at that moment when Faisal reminded me of a small detail I had written on a draft of my resume to use as the foundation of one of my essays. I didn’t realize the level of impact it would have, but I trusted his advice and completely rewrote my essay after he reminded me how special of a story it was. It ended up being such a strong essay that my admissions officer mentioned it to me over the phone after I had gotten accepted. If it weren’t for Faisal’s support and encouragement, my essays wouldn’t have been as polished and unique as they were by the time I submitted my material. Faisal was my champion in making sure my stories were clear to Kellogg. I also loved that Faisal connected me with a former MMM student who previously worked with him, and now that Kellogg alum is a dear friend of mine thanks to Faisal’s initial introduction. Truthfully, Faisal began as my MBA admissions consultant but somewhere along the way, he became an older brother who I could speak to in confidence about my personal and professional endeavors as I navigated this chapter of applying to business school and now earning my MBA + MS in Design Innovation this summer at Kellogg. He’s a true partner and a brilliant advocate, and I feel like he always went above and beyond to see me succeed. I especially loved my mock interview with Faisal the day before my Kellogg interview. I firmly believe that my preparation with him beforehand led to such a meaningful interview with the admissions officer the next day. The second my interview ended, I texted Faisal, “I don’t think it could have gone any more perfectly.” With Faisal’s guidance, I had a newfound confidence and was able to present myself in the best possible light to Kellogg. I used all of the pointers that Faisal shared and I asked refreshing questions at the end of my interview, which ultimately led to my application being accepted into one of the top business schools in the world. My success is Faisal’s success. I’m grateful to have had such a phenomenal admissions consultant in my corner but even more fortunate to have found a life-long mentor. With deep gratitude.