WHY shine?

Well, when you put it like that, is there any other way?  

Values

The word “Shine” holds a number of deep meanings for our company. For us, it represents:

  • Shedding light. Providing illuminating insight. Adding expertise.
  • Polishing. Smoothing out the rough edges. Bringing to a gloss. Making candidates sparkle.
  • Excellence. Being standouts in what we do. (Shining stars, if you will). Delivering the highest quality work—always. Work that inspires the best from our clients. Work that puts acceptance letters into their hands.

Track Record

Our exemplary client admission rate (see below)—combined with our experience advising MBA applicants since 1999—offers you an undeniably potent mix of expertise. Our founder and president was accepted to Harvard, Wharton, Kellogg and UCLA back when she applied, and our clients go on to attend the world’s elite business schools themselves.  We like our track record and we intend to keep it that way! So, with us, be prepared to work very hard and give us everything you’ve got. In exchange, you’ll find us to be your biggest advocates, your best source of inspiration and advice, and a collaborative partner as dedicated to your success as you are.

Marketing Approach

Led by a lifelong marketer, we see applications process as a marketing project at its core. At this point, you can’t change your undergraduate performance or career choices. What you can still impact is: (1) your standardized test score and (2) your effort to develop a fantastic, standout application. For #2, you couldn’t be in better hands. Our founder brings many years of marketing expertise from world-class training grounds such as Kraft Foods and Unilver, and our approach to admissions is similar to the one that has worked for brands like JELL-O for 100+ years. We’ll help you develop your individual marketing strategy, define your unique brand identity and differentiation, wrap it in the most compelling packaging, support it with engaging written copy, and communicate in a meaningful (and memorable) way that drives demand for your brand over the competition. It works!

Personal Attention

As a boutique firm, we stand out by providing an unmatched level of personal attention. The depth of our client relationships, and the extent to which we get to know them, is a consistent piece of positive feedback we receive year after year. We’ve been through the MBA experience ourselves (successfully) and intend to get you there as well. As our client, you’ll find us readily available for you to clarify a comment, answer questions, or provide a shoulder to lean on.

Integrity

One would think it’s a given, but nowadays that’s not always the case. As a proud 12-year member of AIGAC  (Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants), integrity is woven into every aspect of what we do. Through the association, we’ve collaborated and shared insights with the top schools’ admissions directors, enabling us to clearly understand their priorities and guide our clients accordingly. Finally, approach your work through an unbiased and objective lens, and we’ll tell it to you like it is. Personal information, business ideas, career plans—your most precious assets can be trusted in our hands. Integrity also means dependability. We’ll do what we promise, and then some.

 

Enough from us. We’ll let the testimonials of our happy clients speak for themselves…

Check out our stats:

We are proud to have a 97% overall acceptance rate for our full-service* clients.

  • Acceptance Rate: 97% 97% 97%

* clients who utilize our comprehensive set of services and apply to 4+ schools. 59% of our clients fall into this category.   

Data updated July 2023  

 

MBA programs our clients attend most:

  • #1 – Wharton 100% 100%
  • #2 – Kellogg 90% 90%
  • #3 – Harvard   80% 80%

YEARS OF ADMISSIONS CONSULTING experience

COUNTRIES OUR CLIENTS REPRESENT

SCHOOLS THAT SAID YES!

AS FEATURED IN

“The best prize that life has to offer
is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”
-Theodore Roosevelt