GET INTO BUSINESS SCHOOL OR COLLEGE WITH LESS STRESS AND GREAT RESULTS

“I can’t put into words how incredible it was to work with Karen during my MBA application process. I could not have done it without her. She helped me hone in on my story and view my past experiences with a different perspective, and really helped me prepare for the admissions interviews. Most importantly for me, Karen helped me feel confident in my essays, interviews and overall applications. I was admitted to 6 of the 7 schools I applied to and received full scholarships to 3 of them. I’m happy to report that with Karen’s help I am attending my top choice with a full ride!”

I had been pondering the idea of enrolling for a Full Time MBA for quite some time. I felt that my career was stalling, and that the time was right for me to add extra skills to my tool box, via an MBA from a reputable program. When I finally decided to execute my thoughts however, all I could think about were the odds that were stacked up against me: I was an “older applicant”, I had a low undergraduate GPA, and just was sure how this whole process would play out. I decided that I needed the help of a coach who would keep me grounded and aligned throughout the process. I came across North Star Admissions Consulting, and Karen Marks, after careful and extensive research on the internet. I was not looking for a business transaction as much as I was looking for an admissions consulting company with whom I could build a relationship through which my best possible applications could be nurtured, and I knew I had found THE Company when I saw North Star’s website. From my first phone call (in what appears to be a long, long time ago) to date, Karen has maintained the highest level of professionalism in our business relationship, taking a genuine interest in my story to help me craft the best possible applications. Through her very patient listening and insightful questioning, Karen was able to transform my biggest vulnerabilities into strong components of my overall application, and interview experience. The level of detail that Karen brings to the process is quite impressive; she helped me to determine what schools were the best for my post-MBA plans and my family fit, and provided insights about scholarships and my personal and professional aspirations upon completion of the MBA. One of my personal challenges during this application process was meeting my soft deadlines (I was travelling extensively for work), and on several occasions when I thought the ship would be derailed, Karen’s easy but firm version of “tough love” kept me accountable. She also worked with my schedule such that we were able to meet all submission deadlines, delivering well thought out applications at each submission. I was AMAZED at the self-awareness that this relationship with North Star Admissions helped me to uncover about myself. When I finally got invited to interview at the schools I applied to, I scheduled mock interviews with Karen that certainly eased the anxieties of the day off. The culmination of this alliance was my admission to my dream school, and scholarship funds to boot!! Imagine my excitement! Following my B-School admission, Karen and I have kept in touch, as she has reached out severally to check on my family’s preparation to move into B-School. I have sought her opinion through scheduled phone calls and email in the same time frame, despite the fact that our contractual agreements are since over. I found a friend in North Star Admissions Consulting to ease my B-School journey, and I am enthusiastic in my recommendations of them, should you be in need of an Admissions Consulting Company yourself! You will be glad you did!! Working with Karen got me into one of the top business schools and made me realize how strong my personal story really is. I was arguably one of the biggest underdog applying to top business schools. My GPA and GRE were way below the average scores from top schools. Karen went above and beyond to get to know me at the personal level and helped narrate my personal story and work experience and turned it in to strongest asset in the application process. I couldn’t have done without the guidance of Karen and it was one of the best decisions I have made. No matter where you are in terms of your future career plan and if you have ever thought of MBA, reach out to Karen for a quick chat. I promise that it will be your best decision and you will not only get guidance about related to MBA, but will really get to know yourself better. Go Karen!

I can’t express enough how instrumental Karen was to my success of getting into my dream business school. Going into the application process, I knew it was going to be a long process and one where I wanted full support. I had two big “red flags” on my application (below 3.0 undergrad GPA and low GRE Quant score) and I needed a consultant who would help me frame those weaknesses and identify my strengths. I interviewed a number of other consultants at different firms before meeting Karen and I was shocked that none of them wanted to work with me. To be candid, they were more concerned with preserving their success rate and I was too much of a risk. My initial consult with Karen was completely different. She took a more holistic approach when looking at my profile and experiences and she focused on the strengths I’d bring to a program. Put simply: she believed in me. She didn’t just look at the numbers, she honed in on who I was as a person and it made all the difference. In the end, I received two full-tuition scholarship offers — something I didn’t even think was possible for me — one of which was at a top 10 program which I’ll be attending in the Fall. Karen is the real deal — she’ll support you, be honest with you, and really get to know you so that you can put your best foot forward. She’ll partner with you to create an in-depth application strategy and give you clear, constructive feedback on your essays and short answers. Most importantly, she’ll prioritize you throughout your entire application journey, and you’ll never feel as though you’re competing for her time. I think she’s the best consultant out there.  

“I thoroughly recommend working with Karen! I thought I was ready to apply and came to Karen for some additional advice and support. Karen provided the perfect balance of tough love and support. She was honest when something could improve as well as when it was ready and we could move on and make better use of our time. She took the time to get to know me then challenged me to be more personal and vulnerable in my essays and interviews. She helped me make sure each essay was targeted to the school I was applying for and not generic. During interview practice she was tough but provided specific, actionable feedback that made me so much more comfortable on the day of. Karen was always available to talk through a question and could not have been more supportive. I got into every school I applied for (including Stanford GSB, HBS, Wharton, Sloan and Booth) which I could not have done without Karen!“

Working with Karen got me accepted early decision into my first choice college, the University of Pennsylvania . Karen’s knowledge and expertise helped make the process very smooth and low-stress, especially after I was accepted early decision. Karen understands the admissions process very well, but more importantly, she invests the time necessary to really get to know the people she works with. By doing so, she helped me incorporate my personality into my essays.  Karen helped me identify the strongest points of my candidacy and put them all together to create the best possible application, which accurately reflected my personality and ultimately got me accepted into a top university.  Throughout the process, Karen remained very positive and supportive, and helped make the process a lot faster, easier, and more relaxed than it otherwise would have been. I strongly recommend Karen; working with her was the best decision I made during college apps.“

“Applying to business school is a daunting process with all the interviews, school visits, and essays. However, Karen was able to bring a sense of calm throughout the experience as we tailored my story. Her dedication to understanding who I am as a person, and what I want to achieve, was critical. Combine this genuine interest with her attention to detail and ability to deliver honest, product feedback, and you haveexactly what I needed to be successful. Ultimately, she guided me in crafting a narrative that was logical, compelling, and, most importantly, inherently me.Thanks to all her efforts I was able to earn admission into every school I applied to, and successfully earned scholarships that were beyond any expectation.I’d highly recommend Karen to anyone who is looking to put their best foot forward in the MBA application process.”