Is it a Match?
Highlight Reel
You’re seriously considering working with us, and we’re seriously considering working with you.
Yay! If you want to understand the roots of our philosophy and why our work gets such great results, watch this short video. It answers a lot of questions quickly.
The rest of this page will help you make sense of what we do and consider the two options you have for working with us.
Well, here we are.
You're seriously considering working with us, and we're seriously considering working with you.
Yay! If you want to understand the roots of our philosophy and why our work gets such great results, this page will help you make sense of what we do and consider the two options you have for working with us.
This is probably your first question:
Do Career Protocol clients get results?
The answer is a simple, unadulterated: “Heck yes.”
ALL YEARS
2022-23
2021-22
2020-21
Total Client Scholarships
Per Successful Client
Overall Client Success Rate
Guided Quest Success Rate*
*excluding unsuccessful clients who did not follow Career Protocol recommended guidelines of applying to a portfolio of schools, including minimum 1 safety
We’re especially proud of our scholarship numbers.
Not only because it’s a life-changing amount of money per person, but also because it reveals the effectiveness of our work more than any other stat. Schools want our clients so badly – thanks to the quality and authenticity of their applications – that they’re willing to pay them to convert. No other firm rivals these numbers.
TBH, we’re even more proud of how much our clients love the process of working with us.
Read our testimonials
Your next question might be: Yeah, but have you worked with someone like me?
Again, the answer is almost certainly: “Heck yes.”
We’ve served people from 70 countries, from every conceivable industry and career background, and with every imaginable strength (founded a company that went public, former Olympic athlete, literal porn star, etc.) and “weakness” (GPAs below 2.8, test scores more than 100 points below the average, academic discipline, DUIs, years of career progress lost to addiction, college exam cheating, unemployment, you name it).
Whatever you’re bringing to this party, we can hang with it. We’ll encourage you to consider a portfolio of schools that includes safeties, and we’ll help you tackle the challenge of choosing your top choices with great zeal and an indefatigable commitment to your greatness.
Have you already figured out what makes Career Protocol different from everyone else?
Our opening video should help answer this clearly, and honestly, we could talk all day about our unique philosophy, mindset, frameworks, and process. Here’s the executive summary of how we differ from
other admissions consultants.
The creative process
This is where we really shine: helping you think through all the amazing dimensions of your life story, bringing them together in an artful and inspiring narrative, and then helping you take ownership of your greatness as you go through the process so that your core level of self-confidence is permanently upleveled.
Our approach to coaching
In order to do all the above, we approach the whole process from a position of love. We see all of our clients for the magnificent, capable, brilliant beings that they are and hold them in the highest light as we go through the process. That way, whenever their vision of themselves isn’t up to that level, they can catch up while we’re working together. No one else does this.
Our goal for you
We’re also the only firm committed to building your executive skill-set and laying the groundwork for long-term success, rather than gaining MBA admission alone. Our approach is pedagogical, exploratory, and focused on building capacity, not giving you the answers. (There are no right answers, by the way.) And our coaching resources and support continue well into the first year of your chosen MBA program, as you tackle internship recruiting.
If you work with us, you’ll be able to say two things when you submit those applications:
- This is me.
This application represents the very best of me and all I have to offer. If this school doesn’t want this person, I accept the outcome because this is who I am.
- It’s 100% my work.
I wrote my whole application. Yeah, resume too! So if I get into X school, I know I deserve it. I earned the admission entirely on my own merit. (Imposter syndrome be gone!)
This is MBA admissions coaching without regrets, MBA admissions coaching that brings out your best self. And that’s why we get such great results: We don’t get our clients in, they do. And you can, too.
If none of this sounds like a fit to you, please cancel your free MBA strategy call.
You can drop a line to the coach who scheduled it and let them know you’re moving on. No hard feelings – we promise!
If our approach does sound like a fit, your next question is probably:
How does your process work?
Our attitude, philosophy, and loving coaching style aren’t the only things that make working with us a great experience.
We also know how to help you tackle ginormous challenges with grace. The key to doing so is through our signature Mindset-Framework-Process™ approach to personal growth.
We make it easy, to understand what matters, understand how to climb the learning curve, and easy to master all the skills you need to be successful – not just with admissions, but in your entire career.
The three big components of working with us include…
1:1 Coaching
Our Signature Curriculum
The Best Resources
Our Curriculum
Applying to business school only seems big and scary until you
break it down into its component parts.
These are the 12 steps you need to take to do it right:
We provide resources, learning opportunities, and direct 1:1 coaching every step of the way so you can bring out your best.
Let’s dig into each stage of the process.
Self-Awareness
By the end of this stage, you will have…
- A catalog of all your most important life experiences and greater awareness of the subtle nuances of your character that differentiate you
- A 15+-page Life Story PowerPoint, created by your coach, that showcases all the aspects of your best self
- Higher baseline confidence in yourself and the value you bring to the table
- Clarity that an MBA is the right next step for your career
Choosing Up
By the end of this stage, you will have…
- A portfolio of schools that lets you aim high while protecting your downside with safer schools
- A 4-part Career Game Plan that will inspire admissions committees with your vision and practicality
- Increased knowledge and credibility regarding your chosen post-MBA field
Building Relationships
By the end of this stage, you will have…
- Friends on the inside at your target schools
- Deep knowledge about your target schools and the value they would add to your career
- Awesome MBA recommendations
Communicating Brilliantly and Finding Your Voice
By the end of this stage, you will have…
- Essays that deeply touch and inspire you
- A resume that shows you are an unequivocal badass
- An online application that rounds out and adds value to your profile
- Confidence in your ability to crush any interview (MBA or beyond)
- Satisfaction that you got as much scholarship money as you possibly could at the schools you are admitted to
Resources
We’re known for communicating things simply, clearly, and compellingly.
The exact thing we’re teaching you to do in this process! So you can be sure that our resources are the bomb. Here’s a selection of some of the awesome things you’ll have access to while working with us:
- The Complete Authentic MBA Application Protocol, with step-by-step guidance, video lessons, workbooks, and done-for-you templates
- Our tailored MBA Progress Tracker Spreadsheet to help you plan your work and work your plan
- Our guided You Discovery™ process to get to the bottom of your life experiences effectively and efficiently
- Best-practice research and networking guidance, school outreach resources, and informational interview scripts
- School selection strategy guidance to ensure you choose reaches, matches, and safeties
- The Badass Resume Protocol: own your impact and communicate your awesomeness all on one page
- The Awesome Recommendation Protocol: resources for recommender selection, preparation, and coaching
- Hollywood Storytelling Training: learn how to inspire with your story and create an emotional connection with your audience
- MBA School Insight Vault: MBA Program resource library with essential links, school insights, and in-depth school research reports
- Career Protocol’s Complete Content Library - every piece of valuable MBA content we've created, searchable and organized by subject
- Video essay strategy and guidance videos
- The Interview Hero™ Training Program, so you can crush every interview from now on
- Post Decision Guidance Portal with access to school selection and scholarship negotiation guidance
- And much, much more where that came from. You’ll have access to these resources for the duration of your MBA Application Project, with lifetime access to some of them.
1:1 Coaching
Don’t let the abundance of awesome resources trick you into thinking this is a self-study program. Oh no. Your coach will guide you step-by-step through each part of the process. And now you have come to a fork in the road. This is where you have a decision to make.
Most of our clients choose the…
Guided Quest Project
It’s our favorite, because it allows us to give you our very best every step of the way.
It amounts to unlimited support on nearly all aspects of your application.
This is our flagship service.
The Guided Quest Project is for people who want full partnership in elevating their soft skills, self-awareness, and confidence while creating inspiring and authentic applications.
You can think of this like Martial Arts training. You don’t tell the Master what you’re going to work on today; the Master takes responsibility for your development and ensures you’re doing all the things you need to do to reach the goal (i.e., admission to at least one school that’s as good as possible, ideally more than one, and ideally with a pile of scholarships).
We can’t guarantee or control the outcome. We can only control effort and input. With the Guided Quest Project, you hand yourself over to your coach, and they guide your efforts all the way to the destination. Your job is just to do the work and bring your very best to every step of the process. That’s how we ensure that by the end you will have created an application that reflects the best of who you are. The work is all yours; the structure and processes are all ours.
This is also the project that leads our clients to report almost magical results in their personal development – permanent transformation of their self-confidence, upleveling of certain soft skills, and dramatically improved clarity in who they are and what they want in their career.
Our Guided Quest Projects are priced by number of schools:
2+2 Schools
$12,000
3+3 Schools
$14,000
Our most popular project!
4+4 Schools
$16,000
What’s with the +3 and +4, etc.?
Because our goal is to make sure you end the season with at least one offer – ideally more than one, and hopefully from one or more of your dream schools (with scholarships) – we include high-level strategic guidance for 3 more schools in addition to giving you hands-on guidance and unlimited drafts for your 3 primary schools (in the 3+3 project).
For clients who have executed against this guidance, their acceptance rate is 99.2%. In the whole history of the firm, only 3 clients failed to get admitted to any school with this approach.
Even the rockiest rock star needs to hedge bets. We want you to do that without having to pay extra.
This project is best for MBA hopefuls who…
- Want to fully develop their potential before they start their MBA
- Are committed to holistic self-expression
For the self-starters and people who like to drive, we have the…
MBA Essentials Project
If the Guided Quest is like Martial Arts training, the MBA Essentials Project is
like hiring a personal trainer. You get access to all your coach’s expertise, but you decide where to focus. You drive.
Designed for people who want to create multiple authentic and inspiring MBA applications efficiently.
It’s best for MBA hopefuls who…
- Are in a hurry with limited time
- Like to be in the driver’s seat and pick and choose the aspects of their application their coach engages on
With this project, you get access to all our amazing resources. You begin the process with discovery, school selection, recommender selection, and story shaping, just like our Guided Quest clients. But from that point forward, you decide which aspects of your applications you want your coach to engage with. You’ll have 12 individual essay drafts to split among any and all of your schools, among other circumscribed guidance.
This project is designed to cover all the essentials for MBA application success. As you go along, you can upgrade and add hours if you decide you want more time with your coach. The choice is yours.
The MBA Essential Project is priced at a flat rate of $9,000.
If you decide later that you want more input, guidance, or creative thought partnership from your coach, additional hours cost $500 each.
How to tell which one is for you...
We want to help you choose the one that is actually the best fit for your disposition, preferences, and needs.
The investment required differs between these two services, but we encourage you not to let that be your guide for this decision.
In our experience, many clients would be happy with either project, but in many cases ONLY one of these services will ensure you are fully satisfied with your experience.
As you are choosing your project, here are some questions to answer for yourself.
What is your work style?
- Do you enjoy collaborating, freely exchanging ideas, and iterating liberally without regard to time or other constraints?
- Do you like feeling fully supported by a coach and/or mentor who shares responsibility for your success?
- Do you consider yourself generally coachable – i.e., you enjoy being challenged by a teacher to grow and develop into your best self?
If you answered “yes” to most of those, then the Guided Quest might be the best fit for you.
- Do you consider yourself an autodidact? You prefer to learn things by yourself without guidance and you enjoy investing a lot of extra time to figure things out on your own?
- Do you have a very accurate sense of your communication abilities and can trust your choices in where to direct your coach to engage? (Think carefully before answering “yes” to this. Most of us have significant blind spots in the realm of personal communication.)
- Do you intend to leverage your personal network heavily for support or help in this process, reducing the need for your coach to be your constant companion on the journey?
If you answered “yes” to those, then you might be happier with the MBA Essentials Project. It will allow your coach to add value to the most important parts of the process while allowing you to maintain control over your own work.
What do you hope to gain from this process?
- Is it essential to you to use the opportunity of MBA applications to take stock, reflect on your life to date, catalyze your own leadership profile, and find your unique voice?
- Do you want to enjoy the creative process and have a lot of space to experiment and try different ways of communicating before landing on your perfect story?
- Do you want to feel that you got to know yourself better on the journey?
“Yes” to these questions points to the Guided Quest as your best option.
- Do you just want to get down to the business of completing authentic and inspiring MBA applications efficiently?
- Do you want to know that your essays are great without feeling the need to dig too deep into your experiences?
- Are you only applying to a few schools with very similar and straightforward personal statement style essays? (e.g., most EMBA programs)
- Are you already confident in your self-awareness, your career game plan for your post-MBA career, and your ability to write in a way that builds emotional connection with the reader?
Those yeses point toward the MBA Essentials Project.
What are your needs as you tackle the MBA application journey?
- Do you need a partner who can help you focus and maintain your investment in yourself during this stressful and time-consuming process while you balance other important life commitments?
- Do you want to feel loved and supported and cheered on every step of the way, no matter what challenges or confidence-threatening obstacles or setbacks come your way?
- Do you want someone you can laugh with and who can help you keep perspective as you go down this long road?
Then go for the Guided Quest.
- Are you fully focused on yourself, able to carve out time, and ready to manage your own work product, energy levels, and integrity with no accountability partner as you go?
- Do you have an adequate cheering section in your life? People who support you unconditionally and actively stand for your greatness, free of their own personal agenda for you?
- Are there a lot of other people in your life who have traveled the MBA road and have the time and energy to be an objective sounding board and support system for your individual quest?
If so, then the MBA Essentials might be the most satisfying way to engage your coach.
Think about these questions.
We’ll discuss what you discover in your free MBA Strategy call
and help you choose the right project for you.
The table below compares each step of the process by Project,
which could be helpful as you contemplate the options.
Think about these questions.
We’ll discuss what you discover in your free MBA Strategy call
and help you choose the right project for you.
The table below compares each step of the process by Project,
which could be helpful as you contemplate the options.
The Guided Quest Project
vs.
The MBA Essentials Project
| Guided Quest | MBA Essentials | |
| Our All in Project, Full Partnership from beginning to end | Just the essential pieces you need to build as many amazing MBA applications you want | |
| For people who want full partnership in elevating their soft skills, self-awareness, and confidence while creating inspiring and authenitc applications. | For people who want the best guidance to create multiple authentic and inspiring MBA applications efficiently, and with the best guidance. | |
|
Access to Career Protocol Proprietary Tools and Training
(access expires May 1 at the end of the application season unless otherwise indicated) |
||
| Career Protocol Inner Circle Membership - Slack community inclusion and access to all community huddles, group coaching calls, and office hours | 2 Year Membership* | 1 Year Membership |
| Access to our Complete Authentic MBA Application Program with step by step guidance, video lessons, workbooks, and done-for-you templates | Full Access | Full Access |
| MBA Application Progress Tracker | Yes | Yes |
| Guided You Discovery™ process | Lifetime Access | Lifetime Access |
| Best practice research and networking guidance, school outreach resources, and informational interview scripts | Full Access | Full Access |
| School selection strategy guidance | Full Access | Full Access |
| The Badass Resume Protocol: Own your impact and communicate your awesomeness all on one page | Full Access | Full Access |
| Recommender selection, preparation, and coaching materials | Lifetime Access | Lifetime Access |
| Hollywood Storytelling Training: Learn how to inspire with your story and create an emotional connection with your audience | Full Access | Full Access |
| Access to the Career Protocol Complete Content Library - every piece of valuable MBA content we've created, searchable and organized by subject | Lifetime Access | Lifetime Access |
| MBA School Insight Vault: MBA Program resource library with essential links, school insights, and in depth school research reports | Full Access | Full Access |
| Video essay strategy and guidance videos | Full Access | Full Access |
| The Interview Hero™ Training Program | Lifetime Access | Lifetime Access |
| Post Decision Guidance Portal with access to school selection and scholarship negotiation guidance | Full Access | Full Access |
| Calls with your Coach | ||
| Kick off and Orientation call | Yes | Yes |
| - Awesome Sauce Call | Yes | Yes |
| - Life Story PowerPoint with insights on strengths, stories, and values | ||
| - Detailed school selection guidance | ||
| - Choose recommenders | ||
| - Storyboard essays for school one | ||
| Additional Essay storyboarding calls (beyond the Awesome Sauce call) | Unlimited as needed for core schools One extra for other schools | 1 Then $500 per hour |
| Essay troubleshooting calls | Unlimited as needed for core schools | 1 |
| Career Game Plan Call | Unlimited as needed | $500 per hour |
| 30-minute MBA Application Clarity Call | N/A | 2 |
| Document Review | ||
| Career Game Plan Review | Unlimited | 1 |
| Story shaping coaching through essay draft revision | Unlimited for core schools | Total of 12 individual essay drafts for all schools, your choice. $500 per hour after this |
| Resume Revision Coaching | Unlimited | 2 drafts |
| Recommendation review | Unlimited for core schools | $500 per hour |
| Short answers and odds-n-ends | Yes | $500 per hour |
| Team input on critical essays | Yes | No |
| Interview Preparation | ||
| The Interview Hero™ Training Program | Lifetime Access | Lifetime Access |
| Group Coaching: Interview Mocks and Hot Seats | 2 Year Access* | Full Access |
| Interview Insights: In depth insights into past interviews for each school | Yes | Yes |
| 1:1 Interview Practice calls with your coach | 2 | 1 |
| Wharton Mock Team Based Discussion Mock with other Career Protocol Students | Yes | Yes |
| Pre-interview essays or video preparation | Yes for main schools | No |
| Additional Interview Practice calls | $500 per call | $500 per call |
| Additional Coach Access | ||
| Email questions with 2-business day response | Unlimited | No |
| Coach AMAs and Office Hours (scheduled 1-2/mo) | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Recommender coaching and troubleshooting | Unlimited | No |
| Campus networking strategy and troubleshooting | Yes | No |
| LinkedIn Profile Review | Yes | No |
| Post-Result Guidance | ||
| Waitlist coaching and document review | Yes for core schools | $500 per hour |
| Scholarship database access | Yes | No |
| Scholarship request and negotiation coaching | Yes | $500 per hour |
| Choosing the right school coaching (if you're admitted to more than one program) | Yes | $500 per hour |
| YOMO Group Coaching Program: Preparation to get the MBA Internship you really want | Yes* | Sold separately |
*included for students who complete the community challenges
Our 7-Day Money Back Guarantee
We want to make sure you’re deeply satisfied with your choice to work with us, so we give you a week to finalize your project, coach, deadlines, and commitment.
As soon as you sign up with us, we’ll get you into the Career Protocol Academy so you have access to all our amazing resources. Then your coach will schedule your kick-off call, get to know you better, talk through your profile and target schools, and discuss timing, work process, and deadlines.
After that call, you have 7 days to change your mind…
- You can switch to a different coach if there seems to be a better mutual fit
- You can upgrade or downgrade your Project
- You can get a full refund and go on your own merry way
People very rarely do any of the above, but we want you to be happy. If a change of plans serves you best, we’re cool with it. Once your 7 days have passed, we’ll be all in and off to the races!
(No refunds are possible after 7 days, and any changes to your Project or deadlines could incur extra charges.)
Below you can luxuriate in reading all the amazing ways our clients have loved the process of working with us.
“I was originally very skeptical about working with an MBA consultant. But Angela knew the MBA landscape in and out, was immediately candid about my prospects, and exactly what I needed to get done by which dates to give me the best chances at going to business school. And beyond all of this, she was friendly and great to talk to, and a fantastic sounding board for all the questions I had.”
Class of 2024 Admit
“Charli pushed me to delve into the depths of my story, and share my narrative in an empowering and authentic way. Multiple mock interviews with her helped me better articulate my journey, and boosted my confidence for the actual interviews.”
NYU Stern Class of 2024 Admit
“From day 0, Louise considers you and herself a team. She even took extra mock interviews to ensure I had multiple admits. Honestly, I used to look forward to our weekly calls because she is so positive yet a realist!”
Class of 2024 Admit
“I was most impressed by the accuracy of my key character themes, anecdotes, personality traits, and other very rich details Sarah deduced from the simple life narrative I shared. These details were critical to not only the individual stories told in my essay but also the entire structure of it.”
Class of 2022 Admit
“During my time working with her, Jenn was my biggest cheerleader and helped me not only craft my story for why b-school but also contextualize my unique strengths and “superpowers” as a candidate.”
Class of 2023 Admit
“Sarah is an English PhD candidate at one of the nation’s top universities and can effectively communicate – verbally and on paper – better than most CEOs. She is literally a MASTER of the English language and is able to take your thoughts, analyze them, and convey them better than anyone I have ever worked with to date.”
Class of 2022 Admit
Harvard Admit and Microsoft Employee, Jose, Discovered His Unique Value in Unexpected Stories.
“We redrafted and redrafted until my essays were in the absolute sweet spot, and never once did I feel that I was getting anything less than 100% from Brian. My results? Interviews at 2 top-5 schools, and admission with $ to one of them, as well as full-ride scholarships to two of my safety picks.”
Class of 2023 Admit
“Other than helping me with my MBA application, Angela really went above and beyond. Besides thousands of other things, the thing I am grateful for the most is that she gave me career and life advice as well. All in all, I would strongly recommend Angela.”
Chicago Booth Class of 2024 Admit
“I was nervous that my writing style would come across as dull and uninspired, but with Louise’s help, I was able to find more engaging ways to connect through my writing. She was excited to learn about me and my experiences.”
Class of 2024 Admit
“Despite his cool, laid-back demeanor, Brian kept me on schedule and accountable to all deadlines throughout the process. His guidance directly led to 4 interviews, 3 admission decisions and ultimately my enrollment at a top-5 program.”
Class of 2024 Admit
“On paper, I am below average on literally every metric at every school in the top 20, but because of the guidance I received at Career Protocol, I find myself with multiple offers, including one from HBS. Charli gave me the confidence to believe I had a shot, and she ensured that I gave that shot everything I had.”
Class of 2024 Admit
With the Help of Her Coach, Kimberly Was Admitted to 3/3 Top Schools and Granted $350K in Scholarships.