Working with Rona and Katie at Oriel Admissions was a genuinely positive experience for our family. From the earliest conversations, they took the time to understand our son as a student and as a person, which shaped every piece of guidance that followed. One of the things we valued most was the hands-on support with his writing. Rona and Katie worked with him in live sessions on his essays, helping him find his voice and shape his ideas into something authentic and compelling. That kind of in-the-moment coaching as well as the written feedback that he received was extremely meaningful and it pushed him to produce his strongest work. Beyond the writing, Rona and Katie suggested colleges that aligned with his interests and goals, helped him tell a clear story through his activities, and brought out his strengths and unique qualities in his writing. Their guidance was always rooted in what was right for him specifically, and that made all the difference in how his applications came together. In the end, he was accepted to the University of Miami, his top choice college, and we couldn't be happier. read more

My child began working with Oriel Admissions in the second half of her freshman year of high school. While the most intense part of the counseling happened during the later part of her junior year and into the beginning of her senior year, Rona and her team provided thoughtful, structured guidance throughout the entire process. They advised my child on how to best use her time for each of her summer breaks for different purposes, from exploring what interested her during freshman summer to participating in research program following her junior year which greatly strengthened her application. My child worked with a career counselor of the team to explore career interests. Rona and other members of her team advised my child on course selections for each academic year, formulation of different essay topics, and later the intense process of essay development during which Rona and a writing coach provided multiple rounds of edits for my child. The team was knowledgeable about the college admissions landscape. They helped our child stay on track and build her confidence and independence during what could have been a stressful process. What stood out most was how they focused on my child as a unique individual and guided her accordingly. Oriel Admissions helped my child present her authentic self in the strongest possible way and we believe their guidance played a pivotal role in my child's successful early decision admission into Smith College. We are grateful for their guidance and would highly recommend them to any family navigating the college admissions journey. read more

I can't begin to tell how exceptional it was to work with Rona for my MBA applications. Without Rona's help, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't get admitted to all of the three schools that I've applied to (INSEAD, Cambridge, and Oxford). Thanks to her, I not only got admitted to all three, but also managed to get scholarships from two of those schools! Rona has not only an extra-ordinary dedication, but also an incredible attention to detail. For each of the 13 essays I was obliged to write, she scrutinized and help me improve every single word I've written, until there is not a single sentence left that is less than perfect! To accomplish this, she devoted a remarkable amount of time, several hours per week, to my work throughout the application process. Every week, we made multiple teleconference meetings to discuss her revision suggestions and make sure that I complete each step of the applications on time. Beside those meetings, she was also extremely reachable all the time. Every time I had something to ask her, I could easily text or call her and she got back to me rapidly. Most importantly, Rona is very friendly, kind, and easy to communicate with. There are some well-known consultants out there who are also talented but think too highly of themselves and look down on people. Rona is exactly opposite of those people. No matter how stupid your mistakes are, Rona always makes sure to explain you the rationale behind her improvement recommendations without making you feel bad about your mistakes. To summarize, I am extremely happy to have worked with Rona, and I cannot think of a better person to help me with my MBA applications! I strongly recommend working with her!!! read more

Without Rona's expertise, I'm not sure I would've gotten into business school. As an undergraduate, I had a 2.7 GPA. I was very concerned that MBA programs would immediately eliminate me as a candidate based of this alone. Rona helped me craft an application that addressed my low GPA, while focusing on my strengths and ambitions. With Rona's guidance, I managed to not only get accepted in to a top 25 MBA program, but I also earned a partial scholarship. Working with Rona could not have been easier. She was extremely responsive, frequently responding to emails and returning essay drafts in less than a day. She was also able to schedule calls around my work schedule, making it easy to balance business school applications with my full time job. The entire process was painless, largely because of Rona's exceptional communication and expertise. I honestly believe that my applications would not have been nearly as successful if not for Rona's help. read more

Managing a full time job along with an intensive MBA application process can get cumbersome. It is at that point that I reached out to Rona for help. Rona was very accommodating to my schedule, patient and professional in her approach from day one. Her research and insights about the different business schools were sound. Throughout the essay writing process, I could see that Rona was very organized and provided invaluable and timely feedback - she often made me think through areas that I overlooked in order to highlight my strengths and accomplishments. As for the interview step, Rona provided me with excellent materials for preparation. She was also a great bouncing board to strategize how to deal with certain types of questions. As I start classes this fall from one of the top institutions in the world, I cannot help but think how instrumental Rona has been in this journey; I would highly recommend having Rona by your side when you begin your own. read more

I was one of many people who thought I can navigate the MBA application process by reading online forums and taking my time with writing essays. However, I quickly realized that this is not a path I should go on alone and sought for help. Rona agreed to a free 30 minute consultation. Right off the bat it felt like she had a genuine interest in trying to help me out by asking about my career aspirations and background. Instead of over-promising, she was fully transparent about her capabilities and time commitments, which I definitely appreciated. Rona was fully committed from the beginning. Based on her intensive research of my target schools, she helped me think through where I can highlight my strengths. Throughout the editing process for my essays, she provided timely, accurate and constructive feedback without wasting any time. She was also incredibly patient and more than flexible around my work schedule. I felt that she was very organized so we could use the time working together as efficiently as possible. After the application process and learning that I received an offer to interview, she was an incredible resource to think through trap questions and add more context on top of my essays. I received an offer from my top school and truly believe that I could not have done this without Rona. Not only have I found an incredible resource for my friends also interested in getting an MBA, but also a mentor who I fully trust to bounce ideas off of. If you are serious about your MBA application being in the best shape it can be, reach out to Rona! read more

Working with Oriel Admissions was absolutely the right choice and I highly recommend the investment in yourself as a step to further your educational ambitions. Rona is a very competent consultant who was an amazing asset in my journey applying to MBA programs. She is compassionate, an efficient communicator, and most importantly has the experience to give insightful feedback for the most effective applications. It's incredible to have Rona in your corner; she has helped many MBA applicants like me get into the school(s) of their dreams! read more

I highly recommend working with Rona. Her experience and expertise with graduate admission requirements is noteworthy and her response times and constant communication are highly professional. I worked with her for my application to Cambridge's Judge Business School and I am delighted with the results. Rona's method consists of an integral vision to your application making sure that your CV, personal statement and short answer questions all represent different but coherent parts of your profile. Through her line of questioning, she engages you in a deep introspective process and through her feedback she ensures you tell your unique story through the right perspective. I am really grateful for having found her and collaborating with her. If you are reading this and want a second opinion don't hesitate to contact me: https://www.linked.com/in/georgevelasco read more

I really enjoyed working with Rona. She's insightful, thorough and responsive, but she really shines when editing essays. I spent hours writing and reviewing my work, sending it to friends for feedback and then editing things some more. But nothing compared to the guidance I got from Rona - each round of revisions dramatically increased the value of each essay. I would definitely recommend her, especially if you're looking for expert-level advice on your application essays. read more

Where to begin with Rona... When it comes to working with an admissions consultant, they're all going to have the administrative basics. They're going to make sure you complete the application in full, they're going to prep you for an interview, they're going to suggest points for your letter of rec, etc. Everyone is going to do the basics, so we'll ignore that. It's everything else about Rona that instantly assured me that I made the right decision to work with her. I can be very modest about my achievements, and this is not the time to do that. Rona sensed this right away and has a way of asking the perfect questions to extract the best out of me. I never once felt like she was putting any false claims or embellishments on any part of my application - she just has a way of getting the best out of me and putting it on the paper. The application I gave was me at my best self, and Rona was instrumental in drawing that out. I'm a handful. I like to have total control over everything, and unfortunately, you can only control so much of this process. In addition to being a wonderful consultant, Rona proved to be a very supportive therapist. She was more confident in my application than I was, and was always very calm, soothing, supportive, etc. Any time I felt the slightest doubt or started getting a bit stressed out, Rona reminded me all the ways in which I was perfect for my target program. I didn't really have anyone else in my life supporting me in this endeavor, so this was most appreciated. As far as the day to day, everything was perfect. We started early in the process so I didn't feel terribly rushed at the deadline. Stressed, yes, but I knew I was putting forward the absolute best representation of myself. To get to the submission point, there was a good balance of e-mail vs calls. We got through most of the writing on shared docs/e-mails, and then used periodic phone calls to check in and plan next steps. Rona was great at making time around my schedule (even on her vacation!) and I never had any problem getting immediate feedback from her. Could I have gotten accepted to my school without her? Maybe. I can categorically say that Rona IMMENSELY increased my odds. There is no way my resume, essay questions, or even letters of recommendation would have been as polished or as concise as they were. To me, a good consultant doesn't make you a better candidate, they prove that you already are a great candidate. This is exactly what Rona did for me, and I can't thank her enough for it. read more

Rona is fantastic consultant. I had applied to my target school, a T10 program, two years prior, but did not make the cut. My undergrad academic record was weak and had some gaps, and I did not have the cohesive story I thought I did when I applied. Rona's expertise and advice really elevated my application, and I was accepted in Round 1 this year. Additionally, she was very easy to communicate with, and discussions about the strengths and weaknesses of my application always felt very constructive. In particular, Rona helped me write well-structured and authentic essays that fit very naturally with the story I wanted to craft. She actually made me realize I had been selling myself short! I absolutely would recommend her to anyone looking for help with their MBA applications, especially to those who need help with their non-standard undergraduate and early-career stories. Thank you so much, Rona. read more

Without Rona there is no way I would have been able to have been accepted into my MBA program. I was working with a short deadline to get applications in after completing my GMAT, a some what average profile with minimal work experience, and a below 3.0 cumulative GPA as an undergraduate. She quickly made time to talk on the phone, work through my applications together, and identify my strengths in my profile. She worked nonstop, and I would get emails as late as 2 or 3 in the morning! That is how much she is focused and cared about getting everything done on time. Her preparation and her pursuit to make my applications personal and original ultimately thrusted my profile to the interview stage. She is a major reason why I was able to be accepted into my MBA program and I cannot thank her enough for her expertise! read more

Rona is amazing! I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to work with her. My GPA and GMAT were extremely low. Before working with Rona, all the schools on my list were reach schools. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to get in any of them with my stats. However, with her help and guidance, I ended up getting accepted to 3 out of 4 schools with scholarships! I honestly couldn't have done it without her. She's very thorough, insightful, and easy to work with. Highly recommend to everyone who is applying to college or graduate school! read more

Rona's help was instrumental in my acceptance to Harvard Business School. I don't think I could have done it without her. She did an excellent job helping me tell my story in a compelling ways and recognize and address potential holes in my application. I started the application process a bit later than I would have liked, which resulted in me only having a few weeks to develop my essays and fill out the applications, but Rona always responded quickly and was great to work with. She also offers unbeatable rates. Highly recommended! read more