Maria was wonderful to work with! She provided great feedback on resume and essays, was always willing to help, and go above and beyond. She was always prompt at responding, and would check-in anytime I fell off the wagon due to work deadlines. I worked with her mostly over email, except for the first skype call. The communication was great (even when I was traveling with a 10+hr time difference) and timely. She really helped me stay on track and submit a stellar application. I got into the school of my choice (Berkeley Haas) and Maria's help played a huge role.

I worked with Inspira Futures, on my MBA applications.

My consultant knows the process for the different schools very well, and was able to provide me with detailed guidance on how to approach the application process for each program.

Even more importantly however, she was an amazing mentor and helped me find my own voice through the challenging essay writing process. The essays I ended up crafting came out very authentic and truly representative of who I am and what I am after! And the Wharton adcom recognized that too!

I enlisted the help of Inspira Futures to help shape and finalize my MBA essays. While I had a compelling story to tell, I felt I needed a little guidance to help convey that story clearly to admissions teams. I believe it was their understanding of the MBA admissions process and what exactly each program valued, that made the difference in clearly demonstrating my fit for each school through my essays. They were always prompt in responding and provided thought-provoking feedback. I enjoyed working with them and their generally upbeat attitude! I would definitely recommend Inspira Futures, and certainly, getting 5 acceptances to Top 20 programs speaks for itself as a worthwhile investment!

After losing out on my dream schools in the round 1 applications, I decided to work with Inspira Futures for round 2. I chose them because they were the only consultant who had predicted my round 1 chances correctly during a profile evaluation.

During my first call with my Inspira consultant, I realized that she is not only a professional but also a very kind lady who had my best interests at heart. She encouraged me to apply to Wharton and gave me the confidence to believe that I could do it (I had lost hopes after being dinged by both HBS and Stanford without interviews in the round 1).

She played a key role in turning around my situation. She started by analysing my previous applications very closely which was a really smart thing to do. That way we could work on the parts that needed overhauling without touching the rest. I felt that she was always there to guide me no matter the time of the day.

I ended up applying to Berkeley, UCLA and Wharton and receiving acceptances from UCLA (with full fee scholarship) and Wharton (with a 40% Forte Fellowship). I could not have imagined such outcomes without Inspira's help. Thank you Inspira for your invaluable support and guidance!

To future applicants reading this testimonial, do yourselves a favour - partner with and give yourselves the best chances of achieving your dreams!

I was referred by a friend who got into HBS after working with Samantha. Going into the application with unimpressive stats, I knew I needed to deliver a stellar story. The help and guidance I received from Samantha and Inspira Futures did not disappoint. Samantha's incredible work ethic was only matched by her positive attitude.

We must have gone through well over 20 revisions of my essays (for GSB alone!) to get it right. The process that Samantha sets ups ensures that you are telling YOUR story so that you can stand out among the crowd of applicants. Throughout the whole process, Samantha did a great job providing candid feedback that was not condescending or made me feel stupid. As a quant, writing was not (and still isn't) my forte so I found this extremely valuable as Samantha helped me improve my storytelling abilities.

As long as you keep an open mind during the process, Samantha will help you create an application that you will be proud of. Furthermore, Samantha's encouragement helped me get through some of the more stressful parts of the application process. I remember when other professionals told me that getting into a top school was a long shot while I was applying. Thank you for believing in me Samantha and keeping me on course. Stanford GSB has always been my dream school and I'm forever grateful!

Working with Inspira Futures was the best decision I made while going through the MBA application process. With Inspira's help, I will be attending my top choice school at HBS this upcoming Fall!

Background: I was referred to Inspira Futures by a friend and I signed up for a package for a handful of schools. After a short phone call introduction, I could tell that the team was extremely qualified as an MBA consulting firm, but more importantly, that my consultant would be someone I could trust and easily relate with while navigating the stressful MBA application process.

Process: I applied Round 1 and we started off early on in June and immediately my consultant and I began working on my business school profile. I think what he does best is help you craft your own story while still remaining genuine and true to who you are. It's really about getting to the core of who you are as a person and that's what business schools really care about.

After we had the groundwork laid out, we started getting to work on the application materials like resume, recommendations, essays, etc. He is very knowledgeable in these areas and can help answer any questions you have and provide invaluable guidance. It's tricky figuring out who to ask for your recommendations, how to ask them, and how to follow up with them - these are aspects that he can really help out with. Finally, when it comes to writing the dreaded essays, he is great at helping you brainstorm key ideas that fit into your overall application narrative and he really helps you boil those high level ideas down into a simple, yet elegant essay. Writing the essays is really tough and it is vital to be able to speak with someone who knows the best strategies for approaching them and can help you tailor the essays according to your personal narrative.

He can also offer ancillary services when it comes to preparing for your interview, etc. and can leverage other consultants at Inspira Futures to provide a fresh perspective on anything. This is very unique and quite helpful.

Finally, I'd like to mention that he is extremely personable and patient, which is very important because you feel comfortable asking him any question - no matter how stupid it might be! You can only imagine how much time and brain-damage it saves knowing that you can go to someone who can give you expert advice on the admissions process! Working with Inspira Futures was the best decision I made throughout the entire MBA admissions process and I recommend their services without reservation.

If you are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work with Inspira Futures during your MBA application process, I unequivocally and wholeheartedly recommend you do so. Working with them was one of the most transformational experiences I've gone through thus far in my life. Not only did our time together end in my eventual acceptance to my dream school, Stanford, but also I've emerged the other end more confident, more directed in my career, and better equipped to take full advantage of the opportunities that will be available to me when I matriculate this fall.

I reached out to Inspira Futures in February as a hopeful Round 1 applicant. At that point, I had yet to take the GMAT and was only a few years out of college. I was also well aware that, as someone with no GMAT score to benchmark from, vaguely defined career goals, limited work experience, and relatively lackluster post-college extracurricular activities, my dream of attending Stanford rightfully seemed preposterous. And that is exactly what many other consultants told me.

But not Inspira. While they were always realistic about my chances and never gave me false hope, when I told them I believed I could achieve this, at no point did they doubt or discourage me. Even come July when I started questioning my candidacy, they supported me not with lofty words, but with practical, insightful advice that helped me grow and gain the confidence I needed to continue forward.

My counselor was the kind of consultant who truly cares about the individuals he works with. Yes, he has all the qualities that may seem obvious to look for -- he never worries about the amount of time you spend working together, turns around strategic guidance and essay suggestions inconceivably fast, and truly knows how to help you craft your best application while remaining true to your unique voice and story. But he is so much more than just a consultant. He is a true friend who continues to give me guidance long after my Stanford deposit has been submitted. He sends me articles that he thinks I will find interesting, invites me to lunch when I'm in town, and continues to give his insightful perspective into my career choices. He is truly invested in the outcome of my life, and not just my applications. I feel fortunate to have him in my corner.

For those of you just beginning the MBA application process, I am jealous of the transformational journey you have ahead. I sincerely believe that he and the Inspira Futures team are the best possible people to take that journey with. They not only helped me reach my MBA goals, but also helped me unlock my true potential. I am forever grateful for their support and cannot recommend them enough.

I truly do not believe that I would have received an acceptance letter to HBS without Inspira Futures' guidance. The toughest part of the application was putting together quality essays that hit on all the points I wanted to make while addressing the fit qualities that the schools deemed to be most important. I would have had no clue how to pick stories to tell in my essays or understand fit qualities of top-tier programs without my consultant's support. He was very helpful and knowledgeable about every step along the path to putting together a top-notch application. He was always available to answer any question, no matter how specific it was to my application, or general it was to each program. He was genuinely interested in my success, which could be felt during our conversations and his devotion to the nitty-gritty aspects of my application.

The Inspira Futures resources that they created for the benefit of his clients were all-inclusive, and allowed for much richer discussions when he and I had one of our live meetings. I would absolutely recommend Inspira Futures if you are serious about applying to a top-tier business school and believe, as I did, that you need help standing out in

I reached out to Inspira two weeks before the first application deadline, so it meant we had a really tight schedule. Despite the quick turnaround, my counselor did not compromise on the quality of the app and helped me build the best application possible. He was very responsive and flexible throughout the whole time we worked together. I had a lot of material scattered everywhere and he helped me focus the content. He is a great person to work with and supportive throughout the process and even after everything was submitted. He would regularly check in to offer support. I ended up being accepted to both schools I applied to(HBS and Wharton)! I highly recommend Inspira as they are a great MBA consulting firm

Friend, mentor, confidant, coach, these are all nouns that describe Marina, and the ordering is intentional.

Coming from an overrepresented applicant pool (white/male/finance w/ a non-target undergrad -> banking -> PE resume), I was very nervous about my chances of getting into a top-5 MBA program. After talking with multiple potential consultants and hearing a similar spiel from each, I had no clear sense of my candidacy, and worse, no idea who could actually help me navigate this process. Enter Marina and Inspira Futures.

During our hour-long intro call, Marina showed genuine interest in my candidacy by asking specific questions about my accomplishments, career decisions, and life experiences that have shaped my world view. She listened to my story, highlighted the obstacles I would need to overcome without holding back (seriously, be careful what you wish for), and outlined concrete steps that I would need to take to achieve my goals. From the start, she admitted that she is not the gatekeeper to these programs, but instead showed that she is an invaluable guide who understands the ins-and-outs of the MBA process, knows the nuances of specific programs, and mentors clients to maximize their applications. She also demonstrated her dedication to her clients by staying on our call well over our allotted 30 minutes, making sure to fully answer all of my questions and asking her own to understand my level of commitment to the process.

When our working relationship formally kicked off, I was overwhelmed by Marina's devotion to my candidacy (and I don't use devotion hyperbolically). A perfectionist at heart, Marina leaves nothing to chance, and in return, she expects the same level of dedication from her clients. During our time together, she pushed me beyond my expectations. Our working calls often lasted 3+ hours, and not because of a lack of efficiency, but instead because Marina continuously challenged me to unearth meaningful anecdotes that showcase my individuality and refine my stories from a lump of coal into a shining diamond. Beyond her storytelling mastery which I would put toe-to-toe with that of any other consultant she motivated me to improve my GMAT score, take on additional leadership roles in my community and at work, and develop career goals that were truthful and meaningful to me. She also worked expeditiously to set deadlines for me (a task I sorely needed) and to return feedback promptly while she always delivered on her promised deadlines, I need two hands to count the number of times I was late with delivering work (sorry, Marina!).

It's been nine months since WE (Marina will indoctrinate you to the use of collective pronouns¦) kicked off our working relationship, and upon reflection, I don't know what I did to deserve such wonderful support. I was accepted into my top choice an M7 and top-5 globally ranked program with a full tuition scholarship (an ROI of over 15x for those financially-inclined). Additionally, I received over $250,000 in scholarship awards across my admitted schools, which I completely credit to Marina's guidance. Even more meaningful than the scholarships and acceptance letters though, I feel that I've gained a lifelong friend. Marina genuinely cares about all of her clients, and she shares in the pain of rejections and the elation of acceptances. She is both the ultimate coach, pushing you when laziness or fatigue creeps in, and hype woman, picking you up whenever the weight of the application process becomes too cumbersome. For those committed to maximizing their candidacy, you will not find a better consultant!

I initially found about Inspira Futures when I was going through some webinars and found their advice to be unique and then signed up for an information interview to understand and go through my profile. This is the call when I was introduced to the online service which was very new. My conversation on phone had given me a confidence that this would be a worthwhile service specially from an international students point of view since it is difficult for international students to afford a full application service from an international consultant. This is where the Inspira Futures' blogs helped me a lot.

This is the first recommendation that I am writing for any service. The international MBA application journey is a whole year journey if you want to get into a top school. It is highly important to get involved in developing your profile as well as doing a proper business school search. End of the day you will invest a lot of money whichever business school you choose. And before choosing any school you need to choose your goals. What do you want to do after MBA? The best help apart from everything that I got out of this service - understanding and designing my goals (which I understand that no other online service is teaching currently) and how to make a better resume. The goals part is very crucial and I can give my two cents that all HBS, Stanford people will be using the similar goals (the way it is taught in this service) to apply.

I can attest that Inspira Futures was instrumental in improving my understanding of the process and that has helped me to gain admission to Columbia.

Inspira Futures was exactly what I was looking for in a MBA admissions consultant. I originally signed up for the 4 school package and could not have been happier with my selection.

Overall, everyone from the senior strategists to the admissios team makes you feel as if you are their only client. My admissions consultant, was wonderful throughout the R1 and R2 admissions process. She really pushed me to dig deep and encouraged me to slow down, reflect, and put my best application forward. During the application process, she was there for my every question and always available to bounce ideas off of, even on the weekends! The thoughtfulness of her feedback and advice throughout my business school application process really made me feel as if I were her only client.

Additionally, what I really found unique and beneficial about Inspira Futures was the team-based approach whereby a senior strategist and school-specific reviewer were available to share their expertise, rather than just be isolated to a single consultant.

This fall, I was fortunate enough to be accepted to Columbia Business School and MIT Sloan. I highly recommend Inspira Futures if you are considering applying to a top MBA program.

I decided I wanted to apply for HBS deferred MBA a few days before the deadline and only had a draft essay the day before it was due (almost acceptable but not very polished). I had initially spoken to Inspira when I decided to apply to MIT a few months prior, but I was very unsure about using an admissions consultant, and I also have a very small budget as a university student, so I didn't think it would be worth it.

I contacted Inspira with only 2 days left until the HBS deadline to work on my essay. I was promptly paired with Susan and she got to work right away. If I'm honest, compared to the anxiety and stress I felt with my other applications with another very well esteemed consultant, I really felt supported by Susan. She was lovely, reassuring and she really helped me turn my essay around in only a day whilst retaining my voice and messaging. She was a bright and bubbly person and in a process where chances of rejection are high even for the best candidate, I was feeling demotivated before speaking to her. Her writing and storytelling skills were amazing, she constantly checked that I was happy with her suggested changes and I could feel she genuinely wanted to help.

Even though the whole process went by in a day, I feel as though with Susan's help I was able to present myself in the very best way I could. Whatever happens next, I know that I gave it my all and Inspira gave me that peace of mind that all those months studying for the GMAT, hopefully, won't be wasted.

My initial feeling from consultants was usually that they just wanted my money and me obtaining a place was a byproduct. I was very sceptical about the free initial meeting with all the consultancies when consultants said I should apply to X,Y,Z schools, when I didn't feel competitive - but I definitely made a mistake not working with Inspira the first time around. After making the choice to message Inspria again a few months later, working with Susan even for a day made me feel like someone was rooting for me - as I'm from the UK and most of my friends/parents have no idea what I have been spending my time and money applying for. Inspira is a consultancy you can trust.

I know that if I get called for any interviews, I will try to come back to Inspira if I can scrape together the money and if I don't get called back I will likely use Inspira when I reapply in a few years time.

The only feedback I would give is if they had payment plans/ scholarships for self-funded students. My budget is very different to an investment banker type, looking for an MBA - and whilst they offer a very competitive and effective service - that is the only thing that prevented me from choosing them in the first place and opting for another consultant was their flexibility in that area.

All in all, I would highly recommend Inspira, especially if the rest of the people on the team are even half as good as Susan. Thanks!

Edit: I got an interview at HBS!
2nd Edit: I used Inspira again for interview prep and got into Harvard Business School! I was rejected from Columbia and MIT - and didn't use Inspira for those - so a true testament to their work.

Working with the Inspira Futures team was an amazing experience from start to finish, and I wouldn't have received acceptance to HBS and Wharton programs without their invaluable knowledge, expertise, recommendations, and insights. Going into the round 1 applications I knew I had some noticeable gaps in my overall application. The Inspira team worked with me throughout the process to give me the confidence to follow through with the applications, highlight my strengths, and demonstrate to admissions committees I have what it takes to be in their programs. They believed in me even when I doubted myself, and I can't thank them enough for their consistent support and help. I couldn't have done it without them, and I highly recommend them to everyone!

I applied to a total of 6 schools (HBS, Booth, Wharton, Stern, Yale SOM and LBS), 4 of which I worked on with an Inspria Futures consultant, Marina, namely HBS, Booth, Wharton and LBS. I was a Round 2 applicant for all of these schools, except for LBS, for which I was a Round 1 applicant. I got admitted to all schools except for Stern and Yale (for which I did not even receive an interview invitation). By way of background, I am a female in my late twenties and live in Europe. I did my undergraduate in the United States and then worked in a few different fields, namely in law and retail. I was recommended to work with Maria by a friend who worked with Inspira Futures a little over a year ago and who got admitted to the only MBA program she had applied to - Stanford GSB. We had free zoom conversation which she told me about the process of working with an Inspira Futures consultant, and gave me tips as to what my timing and focus should be in the coming months.

Working with Marina throughout the process was extremely valuable, and I doubt that I would have had these great results, had I gone through the process alone. Marina was helpful on three distinct levels: 1) giving me a structured approach on how to tackle the b-school apps, 2) helping me build my story, connect the dots and give me strategic advice and 3) on helping edit/cut my essays, short answers and resume. Firstly, Marina was tremendously helpful in informing me about the business school application process, which I felt very removed from, given that I was living abroad and did not have any family members who had gone through the process. She was very familiar with all the schools (and respective applications) that I was interested in applying to, but also helped me discover other programs which I had not been considering. Marina helped me structure my time, encouraging me to work on very specific parts of my application at given times, making the entire process much less overwhelming than it could have been.

As I alluded to earlier, my work experience since graduating from college was not linear, and I worked in a few different fields. This meant that my "story" was not particularly evident to put forward. Thanks to our brainstorming exercise, Marina helped me establish the common thread that linked my different experiences and tied to my career goals. This process also helped me think about and frame post-business school goals-- a key part of the application. Marina came back to this brainstorming document throughout the entire process and advised me on which experiences to highlight in different parts of the applications. For each school we worked on together, we had a 45 minute zoom call to brainstorm ideas for each question of the application. Marina always came well prepared to each of our calls, and helped me map out a strategy for each application.

Following our brainstorming sessions for each school, I would prepare drafts for each question and send them to Marina. She was extremely helpful when it came to helping me focus/clarify my thoughts and cut my drafts to respect the word restrictions for each essay/school. In terms of timing, Marina always got back to me with new drafts (with track changes and comments) two working days after sending her my drafts. When I had quick questions, she would respond very promptly, during the same day.

Marina was an ally and partner throughout this stressful and intense process. She always demonstrated understanding and empathy, and helped me keep my spirits up in tough times. The first b-school response I received was a negative one, which made me doubt my applications to the other schools. Marina helped push the negative thoughts away.

I worked with Inspira Futures over a period of four months to submit five applications (HBS, Wharton, Booth, Kellogg, NYU). I used a comprehensive package. My consultant was absolutely instrumental in my successful admission to three out of the five (Booth, Kellogg, NYU). Her approach is logical, straightforward, organized, and direct, which is exactly what I needed. I came to her after spending 5 months trying to figure out my story on my own, and she helped me choose the right thing after just one hour-long session together. (Seriously, she's amazing!) Working with her, I had complete confidence that every detail of my application would be addressed on time. She does a great job editing essays without actually writing any part of them - I came out of the process knowing that my essays were mine completely, but she provided the right leading feedback to make sure that they would be received well. She is also fantastic at ensuring you get what you want out of working with her - she gave recommendations on how much time to spend on each application, how many hours to purchase, and how to use our time together to the fullest.

Inspira Futures helped me with an application strategy that would showcase my leadership capabilities and work to date. The honest and open feedback I received from the team helped me rework my documents to sound more genuine while still maintaining my position as a great candidate.

I chose Inspira Futures based on the great reviews on this website, and it was the by far the smartest decision during my application. In short, Inspira Futuresr will give you the best chance to get into the best MBA program based on your ability. My counselor would never miss a deadline or appointment, for example, his commitment is to review and comment on any documents within 48 hours, but you should not be surprised if you get it back much earlier than that especially if your deadline is just around the corner; it is safe to say that he tends to under-promise and over-deliver.

He helped to streamline my career story and gave me step-by-step instructions and deadlines which were critical given my tight deadline. He had great suggestions on what to include and more importantly what not to include in my essays. Based on his guidance my essays were streamlined to ensure that only my unique attributes and strengths were the focal point, instead of a long list of accomplishments. Additionally, I had a mock interview with him and discussed school specific issues that helped me to not only increase my self-confidence, but also to prepare for over 90% of the interview questions up-front.

I took my GMAT tests in December and January and the application deadlines were in February and March while I was working 60+ hours per week; thus, I really needed professional help to maximize my time and chances (my GMAT was below 700). I was in touch with him on a daily basis, read through all materials, and scheduled weekly zoom video calls with him. In the end, I applied to Booth, Columbia, and Haas, and all three schools gave me an offer. I couldn't have done it without Inspira Futures' help!

Alex is an excellent MBA consultant. He is an attentive, responsive, honest, reliable and talented writer.

I decided to apply to an unusually wide range (~10) of schools within a few weeks of the R1 deadlines. Given my limited budget and the number of schools I was applying to, I asked him to help primarily with my essays (as opposed to the full package). Alex was very understanding and helped me develop a plan that fit within my budget and timeline. At every point in the process, I felt that he prioritized my applications and made himself readily available. He knows the Admissions process thoroughly and helped me develop a narrative around my personal and professional life to highlight all of my unique attributes. He is also an excellent writer and helped me adjust my writing style to get all of my key points across more clearly and efficiently.

As a testament to his excellent guidance, I was accepted to Stanford (after being waitlisted and subsequently denied the year prior)!

Highly recommend.

On paper, getting into a top 10 MBA program was….a longshot, to say the least. I had a below average GPA (3.1) and a way below average GMAT score (under 600). Nonetheless, I still thought I could have a shot at top 10 schools. I really believe that the story that I was able to tell in my essays, thanks to Inspira Future's revisions, was a critical factor in getting interviews and being admitted.

From the beginning, I knew I needed help. I shopped around for an MBA consultant for a few days but Inspira Future quickly became the apparent choice. My consultant immediately set up a phone call with me to discuss my process, what I had done so far, and what still needed to be done. She was extremely knowledgeable and knew all the due dates, essay questions, and specs from all the schools I was interested in. I told her from the start what my budget was (not very much) and she was able to work with me and prepare me (by sending me previous examples of successful applications) so that I gave her my very best draft before she started to edit. This essentially reduced costs and resulted in a better product since she wasn't starting with a very rough draft.

And, of course, her essay revisions made my words come to life. I am extremely satisfied with her services and have since recommended Inspira Future to a number of fellow applicants.

For being so intelligent, efficient, and available, I also found her to be extremely human and feel like she genuinely cared about me being successful. She kept checking in with me long after her services had ended, and offered gratuitous advice simply because she cared. The investment in Inspira Future has been hands down the best I have made throughout the application process.