"A Coach With An Unwavering Commitment To Authenticity"

“I worked with Petia from Fall 2022 to Spring 2023. We worked together extensively for HBS and Wharton, and she helped me with essay reviews and interview prep for Kellogg and Haas as well. At the end of the season, I received offers from HBS, Wharton, Kellogg, Berkeley Haas, Duke Fuqua, and UCLA Anderson.

I had worked with a different consultant before meeting Petia, and hence my resume was already complete by the time we started. As a result, Petia and I spent most of our time brainstorming essays, reviewing drafts, and preparing for interviews. Therefore, my review will focus solely on these components of her coaching program.

For me, Petia’s biggest strengths were her ability to listen, to boost my confidence, and to create space for me to freely develop my narrative while incorporating her feedback. For instance, when we started working together, we spent several hours recounting my life, interests, goals, and accomplishments, during which Petia managed to both take extensive notes and ask probing questions on the points she found most compelling. Throughout our time working together, Petia referenced these concepts without needing to look through her notes – she had clearly internalized my story. Many of the points she identified as compelling during these initial interviews ended up in my final essays.

When I wrote my essays, Petia was excellent at facilitating “unconstrained” brainstorming first, and then helping me sharpen my focus and language over time. When reviewing essays, we always discussed our drafts together, jointly deciding what kind of tweaks would best serve the story I wanted to tell. At no point did Petia suggest changes that altered my intended meaning, and I truly appreciated her ability to provide feedback – which she always explained in detail – that crystalized my story without trying to force a specific narrative or message into the essay.

I also think Petia’s commitment to helping her clients is unmatched. I know that consultants have to toe a fine line between managing candidates’ expectations and helping them put their best foot forward – but Petia made it look easier than many other consultants I spoke with, worked with, or observed my friends working with. Her experiences as a Dean of Admissions, and an evident familiarity with the admissions philosophy (and in some cases, even the admissions staff) of the top business schools, enabled her to provide clear and grounded advice about these schools without creating unnecessary anxiety about my ability to get in. At no point in our relationship did Petia even imply that her help was essential for me to get into a good school – and this positive approach set the foundation for a very open and trusting relationship between us. Petia was also very available over text and email (and calls, when appropriate) throughout the process, and her respectful but firm nudges really helped me stay on track in terms of time management during the application season.

I am thankful to Petia for her guidance and support during my MBA application journey – her unequivocal support for submitting authentic applications without worrying too much about what the admissions committee wants to hear was an invaluable resource for me, in addition to her contributions towards managing my timelines and establishing compelling (but honest) narratives. Even if my admissions results had been different, I would recommend Petia just as highly as a coach who brings out the best in her candidates without compromising on their authentic stories.”

—Admitted to HBS, Wharton, Kellogg, Berkeley Haas, Duke Fuqua, and UCLA Anderson, Poets & Quants verified review