Client Case Study: 34-Year-Old Finance Professional Gets Accepted to University of Virginia, Cornell and University of Michigan Executive MBA Programs, Plus $15,000 University of Virginia Scholarship
Collins is a 34-year-old finance professional. After graduating from Georgia State University he went on to gain 11 years of work experience, 10 of those years in the financial industry. A recent career change had Collins looking toward his future, and he decided that getting his MBA from a top-tier school would help him take the next step in his career. However, he wasn’t confident that he’d be accepted into any top-tier schools. Thankfully, a good friend gave him some life-changing advice: “If you want to go to a really good school, you need to talk to Kaneisha.” That’s when he reached out to us at The Art of Applying® and began his journey. We’re so glad he did!
Today, he can brag about acceptances to Executive MBA Programs at the University of Virginia, Cornell University, and University of Michigan. Plus, Collins was awarded $15,000 in funding from the University of Virginia!
One of Collins’ favorite parts of working with The Art of Applying® was the confidence his consultant instilled in him. Collins shared his experience working with his consultant, “My consultant was amazing… She gave me a ton of confidence to know what I was doing… There was something about my consultant’s help that was pretty invaluable.”
In addition to working with his consultant, Collins also took advantage of our test prep tutor assistance, which is only available to clients enrolled in our Application Accelerator® program. He had high praise for our tutors, “I don’t know who you hire. I don’t know where they come from, but they’re pretty smart and they know what they’re doing.”
Would Collins tell others to work with The Art of Applying®? Absolutely, Collins said “I have no regrets over the decision I made or the money that I spent. This was all an investment in myself.”
Start Date: June 2019 | End Date: May 2020
Applicant Information
- Age: 34
- Work Experience: 11 years; 10 years in the financial industry
- GPA: 3.5
- Executive Assessment Score: 680
- Undergraduate School: Georgia State University
Acceptances
- University of Virginia Darden School of Business Executive MBA Program
- Cornell University SC Johnson College of Business Executive MBA Program
- University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business Executive MBA Program
Scholarships
- $15,0000 – University of Virginia Darden School of Business Executive MBA Program
Notable Quotes
Why he reached out to The Art of Applying® to schedule his Breakthrough Call:
“My good friend is Kaneisha’s good friend. She told me, ‘If you want to go to a really good school, you need to talk to Kaneisha.’ It was this time in my life when I had made a career transition. I realized that if I really want to get to where I want to go, an MBA is a vital step in getting there. I talked to a few friends who have their MBAs from top tier schools… They all said the same thing: ‘Go to the best school that you possibly can.’ I was just thinking to myself, ‘Well my grades are not the best… So maybe I could use some help in this.’ And, so I reached out to you.”
How he feels about his decision to work with The Art of Applying®:
“I was sold from day one. It’s a great experience. I have no regrets over it.”
On making the commitment and investment in working with The Art of Applying®:
“I never really had many doubts. I never really had many fears. … If I’m going to be paying $150,000 to $200,000 for my education, [The Art of Applying®] is a very small amount… If it’s going to help me get into the school that I really want to go to, and that school is going to help me get to where I really want to go to, then what is it really?”
On the value of getting into a top-tier school:
“Getting into a top tier school can really change the trajectory of your career path. I know it certainly has for a lot of my friends, and my wife included.”
How he felt about working with his The Art of Applying® consultant:
“My consultant was amazing… She gave me a ton of confidence to know what I was doing. There was something about my consultant’s help that was pretty invaluable. It’s not just the essays, not just the interviews. It’s the comfort that my consultant built in me, the confidence she inspired in me.”
What it was like working with The Art of Applying® test prep tutors:
“I would find myself hung up on a topic and then go to the test prep. People who take advantage of the test prep, it will end up providing a huge advantage… I don’t know who you hire. I don’t know where they come from, but they’re pretty smart and they know what they’re doing.”
What he would say to others like him who went to state schools, might not have the best grades and are considering working with The Art of Applying®:
“I’d say make it a point to invest in yourself regardless of which schools you get into… Just go to the best place that you possibly can. It’s about the network you develop there. It’s about what you will learn there. Those are the things that really count. And those are things you’ll carry with you. If somebody has doubts about it, ask yourself the question, ‘What do I really know about this process? What does [The Art of Applying®] know that I don’t?’ And the answer is a lot… We need expert guidance. If you’re looking for somebody to guide you through this process, [The Art of Applying®] is a great solution for it.”
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