28,096Leland Reviews

Betsy has the magic to find that needle in your pile of winding stories (that seemingly just, don’t, make sense – you think?) and to guide you to eventually shine through while keeping your profile’s authenticity, your story’s originality and your very own personality. Looking back at the past a few intense months that she and I worked together, I realized that what I’ve gained from her wealth of experience and expertise is far beyond receiving interviews from all H/S/W and eventually going to attend HBS: under her guidance, I was able to conduct a life audit of the past 20+ years of my personal and professional life, which helped me clear my mind and find the courage and the confidence that I needed to carry on my goals regardless of my admission results. An HBS MBA herself and an ex global investment banker on Wall Street and in Asia, coupled with her 10+ years in admission consulting, Betsy has the best credentials that no one else could match. Eagle-eyed, Betsy listened to my stories with patience and curiosity that made me feel heard and understood. On top of that, she has the intelligence to quickly grasp what I was trying to say and to distill from what I thought was nonsense the essence that could actually work in my favor. I miss her on-point critics, non-BS comments, tight deadlines and our intellectually stimulating discussions around the clock, but also the encouragement, trust, and belief that she placed in me throughout the entire process. I’m so grateful for and truly indebted to her. I now think of her as a friend that I wish I could have known earlier, and I hope that she feels the same way about me! 😉

I wasn’t initially planning to work with an admissions consultant. But when I met her at an MBA fair where she candidly critiqued my anonymous profile, I changed my mind! One of the most amazing things about Betsy is that she’s so genuinely interested in understanding what matters to you and what makes you unique. She believes in you and your story. And at the same time, she’s incredibly tough and precise in her feedback. I sent her an essay draft after having 7-8 friends tell me it was really well done. But she pushed me to read it from the perspective of someone who didn’t know me at all (like an admissions officer) and think about how it needed to change and improve. And it made a huge difference – I got into three top programs! Everyone should work with Betsy. From my experience, she was especially helpful to someone with a “traditional” background (banking, consulting, private equity), but ALSO great for someone with a “non-traditional” background, e.g. a public service/nonprofit bent. I know because I was both during the course of the application process when I switched jobs and she was a great fit in both cases 🙂 My experience is just one example of how she can take any application and make it meaningful and powerful. THANK YOU, BETSY!!

I had the best time working with Betsy and wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone I know. I did countless free 30-minute consultations with different consultants before deciding to work with Betsy. Right from the beginning, Betsy stood out because I could tell she was fully committed to getting to know me as a person and genuinely invested in my success. In particular, as an international student, I felt like Betsy really made the effort to understand my background and give appropriate feedback even in our initial free 30-minute call – unlike many other consultants who made comments that were tailored to US candidates (e.g., comments on GPA or extracurriculars, which were not part of my undergraduate experience). I believe this is because Betsy has experience working with very diverse candidates but also because she’s fundamentally a caring and empathetic person. During the process, Betsy was both a critic and a cheerleader. She challenged me when I became complacent on some of the “easy” essays and pushed me to do better, and she encouraged me when I felt totally overwhelmed and had self-doubt. Most importantly, she was (and is) a partner and friend. I have just started business school in my dream dual degree program and I still keep in touch with Betsy. I strongly recommend working with her because she’s the best! Perhaps the strongest indication of how much I trust in her is that even though I did not get into every school I applied, I have the full confidence that my applications were the absolute best they could be. I really could not have done it without Betsy, and I would choose to work with her every time!

Betsy was an amazing partner on my admissions journey. She was equal parts reassuring and pointed, and her candidness was exactly what I needed to make the best application I could. She was very willing to work with me and met me where I was at. I also appreciated how even though I didn't take a full package with her, she always went above and beyond to make sure that the application I submitted was the most polished one that told my true story in an interesting manner. Highly, highly recommend!

Betsy helped me most by telling me what I needed to hear. I came into the process with preconceived notions which Betsy quickly set me straight on. The result was admission to my top choice program. Thank you, Betsy!

After an extensive evaluation of the top admissions consultants including conversations with top contenders, talking with Betsy left me confident that she had the experience to navigate the grueling application process and she would even make it enjoyable! Although extremely accomplished, Betsy was easy to talk to, direct, and thought provoking. As a result of Betsy’s experience, I was accepted to 4 top schools with scholarship. Betsy made the process fun and relieved the immense amount of stress I felt. She allowed me to be my full self and really took the time to understand everything about me. She became a mentor and confidante. She provided invaluable guidance and feedback that allowed me to put my best self forward in my applications and interviews. Betsy challenged me to think deeper and self-reflect. She pushed me to complete those last applications that I didn’t think I had time left for. She did all of this with such ease and grace, allowing me to feel more comfortable and confident as I went through the process. Even after committing to my top-choice school, Betsy continues to stay in touch and offer support. I am so happy to have worked with Betsy and found a mentor and friend through it. I have no doubt Betsy and I will continue to keep in contact.

I talked with 10 admissions consultants before speaking with Betsy. I immediately knew that she was the one for me. Betsy is incredibly thoughtful, kind, and insightful. Unlike most consultants, I felt like she genuinely wanted to get know me, which was incredibly important when it came time to write essays. She helped draw out anecdotes and examples that really showcased what I brought to the table, both professionally and, more importantly, personally. I always left our discussions learning something new about myself, which made the essay writing process rewarding and speaks to her ability to draw out the best in people. I would not be at the school I am today without her expertise. Thank you Betsy!

I cannot recommend Betsy enough as an MBA consultant! I came to her with a challenging proposition: could she help me maximize my odds of getting into a top business school as a less-than-traditional candidate who lacked extensive business experience with the added catch that I was only applying to a single, specific school. Betsy rose to the challenge masterfully. While no admissions consultant can guarantee admissions, I can confidently say that Betsy’s advice and coaching enabled me to submit the optimal application, and I can happily report that I’ve matriculated to my one-and-only choice of MBA program. Betsy has tremendous experience and knowledge with MBA admissions in addition to excellent instincts. Her process is comprehensive, purposeful, and individualized. She prioritizes getting to know her clients as people and is exceptionally skilled at sussing out value from every aspect of a candidate’s background and experience. She is equally adept at working with candidates to frame their credentials and experiences in the light most appealing to MBA admissions officers. Her advice and insight into resumes, admission essays, and preparing for interviews were invaluable. Furthermore, Betsy’s critiques were always straightforward, honest, and on-point. This is exactly what you want from an admissions consultant because she is not here to waste your time or money beating around the bush. Most importantly, Betsy genuinely cared about my success and me as a person, which helped her work with me to dig deep and truly individualize my application to stand out from the pack.

Betsy invested the time and energy upfront to truly understand who I was as a person and what my goals in life are, going deeper than most relationships I maintain. In doing so, Betsy was able to help me craft a narrative that truly broke the mold and was differentiated (which is important when at face value you fit simply into the tired white male in finance archetype). Not only did Betsy’s counsel help me tell a compelling story for business school admissions offices, but it also helped me sharpen my own understanding of who I am, my values, and how I will leave a mark on this world. That alone is invaluable! Without Betsy’s guidance, I would not have been able to achieve the business school outcomes I had — getting into three of the four schools I applied to, including a H/S/W, and exceeding my own expectations. Finally, working with Betsy is fun! I enjoyed every step of the process, from our initial get-to-know-you conversations to our stress-filled (on my part) conversations the night before apps were due. Betsy is down-to-earth, witty, funny, and enjoyable to work with. What’s more, Betsy is direct — she will mince no words — and that is a characteristic that is essential in this process! I recommend Betsy to anyone who is committed to taking their applications and careers to the next level, and interested in making a sincere friend along the way.

Not only did Betsy help me get into my dream school, but she also challenged my thinking and helped me learn more about myself as a person. Betsy showed a genuine interest in my professional and personal endeavors and altogether helped make the application (and decision) process more manageable. With Betsy’s guidance and support, I was admitted to all four programs I applied to and was even awarded two full merit scholarships. Betsy understands what different admissions committees are looking for in an MBA applicant and spends time to help you craft an application that will make YOU stand out in a crowded field. Most importantly, Betsy was FUN to work with. She brings great energy to each discussion and has a creative yet effective approach to helping you understand your potential to drive disruptive change in the communities you serve. Without Betsy’s expertise, I am confident that my results would have been much different. If you are looking for a consultant who will tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear, all while having a bit of fun throughout the process, you have found your match!