I picked the three school package at Inspira Futures, and applied to HBS, CBS and the GSB. I got into CBS and GSB! Grace was a tremendous asset throughout the application and interview process at all the 3 schools. Here are some specifics:

Brainstorming:
I had some high-level ideas about what I wanted to convey in my applications, but was having trouble isolating a compelling story. As part of the Inspira Futures process, I filled out an extensive brainstorming document. I then spent ~1.5 hours on the phone with Grace, where she provided guidance on how to translate my concepts into concrete, b-school ready personal statements.

Essay writing:
I went through several drafts of each of my application essays. Not only was Grace prompt in providing feedback (often responding ahead of deadlines), but her input was clear, direct, and easy to follow. This made for a smooth writing process that kept my applications ahead of schedule.

It was a great relief to be able to get unlimited essay feedback from Grace as part of the Inspira Futures school package. At one point in the process, I was debating between 4 different anecdotes to include in my essays, and needed to shrink the number down to 2. Hollis did a back-to-back essay comparison in order to help me choose the best stories, and this was a pivotal exercise, helping to maximize my application essays.

Furthermore, Hollis is an absolute master of word-count management. By the time is was ~3 drafts in on each essay, I had gone well above the word limit. Finding places to cut on my own was extremely challenging given how close I was to essay content. Hollis provided the necessary third-party POV, and helped identify superfluous sections. This was also a huge asset in the application short answers as well.

Interviews:

Grace went above and beyond in preparing me for interviews. She offered initial mock interviews for both schools, and even provided a second mock for HBS even though she was traveling in UK at the time! Her questions and insight left me feeling prepared and confident going into both interviews.


General:

At the end of the day, applying to business school is a demanding process, and getting in will require a lot of hard work from you. Having a consultant will not guarantee you admission, as so much of the process requires deep introspection on your part. However, having a consultant like Grace, who was always willing to answer even my most ridiculous of questions as I sought to understand the application process, is incredibly beneficial, and will help make your applications as impactful (and stress-free) as possible.

Best of luck!

Very appreciative of all the work that Amy and rest of the Inspira team has done! The MBA process has been so tedious and complex, that without an experienced counsel it is hard to get into the top schools. I am elated to be interviewing with HBS and Wharton!!

Alex did a great job helping me prepare for my MBA application. He is super familiar with the overall process and can help to design your plan from the very first step. Also, his expertise in reviewing essays can help you identify points to improve and give you some perspectives, to begin with. He also helped me to prepare for the interview. He mentioned important points and advise specific suggestions based on the school. Overall he did a great job!

Background: Male, Ivy Undergrad, banking+PE+ops role
Results: accepted at Harvard and Stanford

I could not speak more highly about working with Helen. I was referred to her by a friend who had used her Round 1 in the same year (I worked with her for Round 2). After doing intro calls with 3-4 consulting firm it was immediately clear to me that the Inspira Futures would be the ideal consultant for me to work with. Helen's spots fill up fast, so if you are interested I would definitely recommend getting a spot with her as soon as possible.

Helen made the very daunting task of answering abstract questions like "What else should we know about you?" and "What matters most?" very personal and attack-able. Her approach makes you actually look within yourself to really think about the right answer. She's incredibly good at asking you questions about how you feel, and then helping dissect that into a key theme or two that make for a great essay and hold true to the person that you actually are.

You'll begin by assembling a detailed brainstorming document. While this does take time, it is well worth the investment. From this, you'll be able to work with Helen to figure out a whole range of potential essay topics, and what's more, you'll also be able to recycle this work for your short answers on the application and also for stories on the interview. It is well worth the time.

In terms of essays, Helen provided appropriate guidance and feedback at all levels. Before I got going writing, we'd make sure there was at least an underlying theme that could be a good essay, so we'd avoid wasting time on a bad topic. Then, she was very open and honest with feedback. Sometimes, she would think the initial draft was nearly complete. Other times, she would provide very specific and helpful feedback and it was back to the drawing board. It was clear that she spent significant time reviewing my essays, and combined that effort with her massive knowledge on MBA applications to help me write the best essays. Each time I would revise, I could tell that the essay was getting stronger, and I thought the end product was not only a great business school essay but also one that was uniquely me and did convey my personality and answer the question appropriately.

I know for a fact I could not have done this stressful process without Helen. She was there to hold my hand as much as I needed each step of the way, and more importantly gave me confidence in myself -- both as an applicant in general and specifically when it came to the application items we were creating together. I could not recommend her more highly. It is clear she pours her heart and soul into her clients and is a huge advocate for them. I greatly looked forward to each of our interactions. TWO THUMBS UP!

Profile:
Male, Caucasian, 730 GMAT, Top-50 Undergrad College (non-ivy), Large Corporation

Results:
Accepted: Stanford, Kellogg
Waitlisted: Harvard

If you are looking to get into a top b-school, my advice to you is to partner with Marina (and do it early before she reaches her capacity for the year…which she will). She will make you work your butt off because she cares so deeply about seeing you succeed. Be ready to self-reflect. Be ready to take feedback in stride. Be ready to give your all to this process. If you do, you will not be disappointed. You will walk away more self-aware, more self-confident, and with a better idea of how you want to leave your mark on the world. And if you do these things well, there is a good chance you'll find success in the application process.

In my opinion, the hardest (and most important) part of the application process is getting to know yourself inside and out-- what makes you tick, why you do the things you do, what you want to do with your life—and then communicating this clearly and effectively through essays and interviews. This is no small task; in fact, it's really really hard and I think it is impossible to do well without someone else pushing and challenging you throughout. Whether it's a close friend, parent, or a consultant like Marina, find someone to fill this role. I would be hard pressed though to find many friends, parents, or other consultants that care as much as Marina does and that put in the kind of effort to help you put your best foot forward as Marina does (it's crazy because she starts as a stranger and quickly becomes your biggest fan).

Marina first had me fill out a brainstorming document to help her get to know me (essentially 20+ pages of my life story) and then spent hours on the phone asking me question after question about it. From our very first conversation, I was struck by 1) how good of a listener she was, 2) how much she wanted to authentically get to know me, and 3) how fast she picked up on what was most important to me and how well she was able to think of essay ideas around these things. I had been spinning my wheels for months leading up to our initial conversation and after talking with her it was amazing how I left finally feeling a sense of direction. I then remember sending my first draft of HBS's essay to Marina for feedback the week after this, thinking that it was pretty great. She turned it around a couple days later basically ripping it to shreds (in the most constructive and polite way possible!). 8 drafts later, I could not have been prouder of how far it had come and how it spoke to who I am and how I want to make my mark on the world.

Marina helped me in a similar way for Kellogg and Stanford—it took MANY hours of me writing, getting feedback, revising, and re-writing, but I felt incredibly pleased and proud of the essays I submitted when all was said and done. Marina also helped me transform my resume from corporate jargon into something that really packed a punch and helped me think of ways to write short answers in a way that was clear and powerful. She never missed a deadline and always came back with meaningful and thoughtful input. She was the best person to help me prep for interviews because of how well she got to know me. She was the first person after my parents I contacted after finding out from Stanford and Kellogg. Marina is incredible, and she will remain a friend for years to come. In my opinion it is well-worth the money to partner with a consultant, and if you do, you would be a fool to not choose Marina.

Inspira Futures helped me get into two of my top three schools! The available 24/7 element they advertise is true; I never had to wait too long for my consultant to answer my emails or offer to jump on a call.

Gina taught me how to express my thoughts in a concise yet impactful manner and gave very helpful advice on how to structure and tailor my application for my specific career goals. She was instrumental in getting me admitted with scholarships to multiple programs.

The word consultant doesn't even begin to describe the role Inspira Futures played during my application process for business school. I am weeks away from my first day at Columbia's EMBA program- something that felt like a distant dream before I started working with Inspira Futures.

I needed a consultant who would help me from start to finish: from researching programs, to laying out practical timelines, or brainstorming essay topics, to conducting mock interviews. I had no idea if I was months behind, or weeks ahead in the application process. My counselor helped me break it all down and kept me on schedule.

She cares deeply about her clients' success. We spent weeks upon weeks just on my resume. Every draft I sent over was flipped back in a timely manner, with thoughtful edits and helpful suggestions.

One of her best qualities is her candid feedback. She won't tell you what you want to hear, she will tell you what you need to hear to get into the best school possible. I wasn't your cookie cutter consultant/finance executive applying for an EMBA. I had flaws in my school records- she found ways for us to address it. I had limited leadership experience- she provided ideas for how to enhance other qualities I could emphasize.

In the end, I only applied to Columbia. With EMBA programs having different deadlines for different schools, it worked out that by the time I was ready to send off my second application (NYU Stern) I was already accepted into Columbia.

Admit status: Stanford (accepted), Stern (accepted), Wharton (accpted), HBS (waitlisted)

I cannot say enough good things about Raquel. She truly was the best person to have by my side throughout this entire process and made a challenging process as seamless and easy as it possibly could be! When I applied, I felt like I put my best foot forward and had an application that was significantly stronger than it otherwise would have been without Raquel.

From the moment I started working with Raquel, she was there to answer my questions and guide me through the process. Raquel helped by not only developing and drafting my essays but also by providing guidance on my resume, reviewers, applications, interviews - you name it. Even in March before the official applications were released, Raquel was giving me tips for what I could do to best prepare myself as a candidate.

Raquel has an uncanny ability to feel like your friend while providing direction at the same time. Before I started the process, my biggest concern about writing my essays was that I wouldn't have anything to write about - I was a female in private equity with a fortunate upbringing and no major hardships in my life (thankfully). Throughout the brainstorming process Raquel was easy to speak to and guided me to think about what I wanted the admissions committee to know about me and how I could make that into a great story. Additionally, I never felt like Raquel was telling me what I had to write about. Rather, Raquel helped me see some critical themes in the stories I was sharing with her and craft those into thoughtful essays.

When I was writing my essays, Raquel's feedback always pushed me to give that one extra detail that I believe showcased more about who I am and made me a stronger applicant. Raquel would ask questions like "Can you think of another 2 examples when you did X" or "Tell me more about Y. Why did you do it? How?" Her comments were thoughtful but also encouraged me to be more self-aware about the candidate that I was presenting to the admissions committees.

Above all, Raquel was my biggest cheerleader throughout the process. I applied to four schools (admitted to 3, waitlisted at 1) and Raquel not only helped me craft amazing essays for each school but also provided structure and guidance throughout the entire process. When we prepared for interviews Raquel gave me honest, candid feedback while encouraging me to think positively. Without fail I always received an email right after my interview asking out it went.

Although I have a plethora of work experience, a fantastic GPA, and above-average test scores, I didn't feel my application was cohesive, and it felt like a patchwork of my story so far. The persona calls really helped me tap into an application narrative that brought all my experiences into context, and I was grateful to learn strategies to tie elements together to get rid of the disjointed feel.

I worked with Inspira Futures and they were absolutely AMAZING at helping me think through what i really wanted out of an MBA and how i should position myself. They will give you their honest opinion and will respond to questions very very very fast. Takes a real personal interest in your success. I'd have no chance at a top school without them. Couldn't recommend more!! So many consultants just look at stats and go from there. My consultant really figured out where i wanted to be in 10 years and it showed in my essays. She doesn't cross the line regarding essays and makes sure you put YOUR own voice in the essays and just gives her opinion. A++

Alec was absolutely incredible to work with!

At first, I was debating going through the admissions process without an admissions consultant, but in hindsight, I'm so glad I decided to go with Alec. He is very experienced and knowledgeable about the process, is extremely responsive (e.g. essay revisions turned around within 24 hours), and I can tell he gives his 100% effort to each of his clients. I also appreciate that Alec gives it to you as is - he isn't one to sugarcoat and will give you the feedback you need to hear.

I'm happy to say I will be attending my top choice (Wharton) this fall, and I can't thank Alec enough for getting us here. I felt well-prepared throughout the whole process (including no surprises during interviews!), and I highly recommend Alec to other prospective applicants!

I was referred to Inspira Futures by a friend who got into HBS. I had a great experience with them. They were super straightforward and very helpful with my essays, especially because I had some trouble keeping to the prompts while also trying to fit in my own story. The experience of setting your goals at the beginning was also very helpful for establishing a base to write other essays off of. They were also super helpful in getting me to make some important deadlines and she can turn around edits quickly if you need them too! I was super appreciative to have someone take a look at my 11th hour edits.

I never would have the courage to apply to HBS, my first school choice, if not with Inspira. They know every loop, process and how my current standing, including my GPA will determine the outcome. It was like I'm working with the actual HBS admission committee.

Inspira Futures is simply the top admissions consulting firm in the business today. At every stage in the process - narrative formation, resume preparation, essay crafting, and mock interviewing - I was completely blown away by the methodical approach my consultant used to prepare me in the best possible way for success. All of our hard work paid off in the end, as I was admitted into multiple top-ranked schools as an unconventional, international applicant with more than a few blemishes on my profile, having ultimately accepted an offer at an M7 program. I would never have had the confidence to make it over the finish line without the coaching and mentoring of Inspira, and will be forever grateful to her and Inspira Futures for helping me achieve this major milestone objective in my life and career.

With a limited budget and no idea what I was looking for in a program, researching business schools alone was a fruitless process. That's when I sought out Inspira Futures - my consultant helped me not only find schools that aligned with my interests but apply to multiple scholarships to ease the burden of tuition!

I chose Inspira Futures after talking with a few different admissions consultants during free 30min profile discussions. Allan was really straightforward and helpful during the entire process. He was brutally honest and made me really think about why I wanted to do this which helped me craft a better story. I really felt like he was with me the whole way and truly cared about my success. I ended up getting into my Haas and if I had to do it over, I would 100% go with Allan!

I started my MBA apps 2 weeks before the deadline, and I decided to apply only to the Top 4 schools. This was a big risk, and I don't think I would have been able to make this happen if I hadn't signed up with Inspira Futures.

I spoke with many admission consultants before partnering with Inspira Futures. My initial 30-minute free consultation with Julie went on for slightly over an hour - I was genuinely impressed by Julie's commitment and interest in my story. Julie helped me refine my goals in our initial conversation, even before we started working together officially. I felt assured that if I used Inspira Futures, I was not going to be disappointed and I wasn't!

Those 2 weeks before MBA round 2 deadlines were crazy--a lot of editing back and forth going on until late hours of the night, but my consultant was always available and laser sharp. The difference between the initial drafts and the final products is hard to put into words. I really enjoyed working with her - I liked her direct approach, and at times, it felt like working with an Associate on a transaction. She's a terrific mentor!

If you want to get into a top business school, go with Inspira Futures - it's worth it! You won't be disappointed.

I worked with Arush and his team at Inspira and thought the experience was worth every penny. I got into both the schools I had applied to (INSEAD and Columbia Business School). He was very responsive, gave excellent feedback and gave me as much time as I needed. I do not think my essays would have been as sharp without his help. He also helped me brainstorm ideas on how to make my story most impactful.When it came to interview rounds, it was helpful to do mock interviews. In short, Arush was available throughout the process for anything I needed. I definitely recommend working with him.

Inspira brought out the best in me! I never thought I can come up with an application essay that good and answer the admission committee's questions like a pro. However, I made it to Kellogg, which had always been a dream. I just started school and it's every bit as awesome as I had expected it to be.