Ryan Barba ConsultingReviews of ryanbarba.com

My experience working with Ryan could not have been better. He's so well respected within the world of MBA Admissions for a reason: He really knows what he's doing, is chock full of knowledge, and understands both how to craft successful MBA applications and how to work with nervous, highly-stressed applicants (like me). Ryan is incredibly patient, thorough, and clear. I worked with Ryan to apply to 5 business schools, with a 635 GMAT (Focus edition) and a slightly below average GPA for the top schools, and I still got into 3 of them - Stanford GSB, UCal Berkeley Haas, and Dartmouth Tuck. These results are far beyond what I was expecting - I didn't know if I'd get into any schools - and I know for a fact I would not have gotten into these schools without Ryan's help. The strategy and essays he helped me write were beyond what I could have done without his coaching, and I learned a lot about writing and communication just by working with him - he literally made me a better writer! There are a lot of options out there for MBA consultants. I had a couple friends elect to work with those huge MBA consulting firms with hundreds of consultants, and their experience - and results - paled in comparison to mine. Don't go to one of these consulting "factories". Ryan only works with a few candidates at a time to ensure he's fully immersed in his clients and fully available to them. It shows, and it makes a huge difference.

Ryan completely exceeded my expectations and over-delivered on his promises to me. He coached me on 4 MBA applications, and three of them were successful - Wharton, Kellogg, and Booth! Not only that, but I received two very generous scholarship offers that will really make things easier for me financially. I'll be forever thankful to Ryan for his advice and guidance, and for the difference his help will make in my life! There's no better feeling than receiving acceptance letter from your dream school (for me, that was Booth). Go for the gold and hire Ryan to help you - I know I never would have been so successful without his help!

I'll keep this short: Ryan is incredible. He is more than an MBA advisor, he's a legitimate mentor. He provided what you'd expect from an MBA consultant - editing, structure, strategy. But I really went through the process feeling like I had a mentor and teammate by my side. The MBA application process to competitive programs is strenuous at times, but Ryan made it much more tolerable, manageable, and even enjoyable at times. He exceeded all my expectations, even after speaking with some of his former clients after committing to work with him. I was accepted to HBS, Booth, Kellogg, and Tuck. I couldn't be more excited for school this year at HBS and will never lose sight of how grateful I am to Ryan for his help.

The experience of working with Ryan exceeded my expectations in every way. Yes, he knows his stuff when it comes to MBA admissions - he knows all the top schools and what they look for, how to create a compelling story, and he's an amazing writer/editor. But he's also just an amazing mentor - thoughtful, supportive, fun. He's not afraid to tell you like it is, push you harder, and force you to "up your game" but he's also very approachable in how he delivers (even blunt and direct) feedback. My application would never have been nearly as high quality without his help and support, I have no doubt. He helped me position myself in such a compelling, exciting way. I was so proud of my essays and application materials, and I just knew when I pressed the submit button that my application was impressive and would catch the attention of top schools. Having that confidence is just such a great feeling, especially considering how stressful the admissions process is. He gave me peace of mind! With Ryan's help, I got into my dream school, Kellogg, with a sizeable scholarship. I also got admitted to MIT Sloan, Yale SOM, and Duke (also with a scholarship).

Excellent MBA consulting firm. Highly recommend Ryan Barba and his team!

As an international candidate, I had a lot to learn about the business school application process. I was extremely happy that a friend and former coworker recommended me to Ryan! He provided fantastic guidance through the entire application process, always gave great and candid advice, and was very patient with me. He made me feel confident in my candidacy, even when I had some doubts, and was always willing to give me a pep talk when I needed one. He was so patient, and has an amazing strategic mind and so much knowledge about MBA applications. My results were unexpected to me: I got into Kellogg, Haas, and Cornell with a $50,000 per year scholarship, even though my GMAT score was below the average for these schools. I can't wait to move the United States and start business school in the fall! I could not have done it without Ryan, I'm certain!

I can't imagine having gone through the MBA application process without Ryan. He is just incredibly knowledgeable, understands the application process and how to succeed... and man can he write and edit. He's just so clear, so professional, so informed, and yet so much fun to work with. Even my recommenders loved talking to him. His dynamic personality made the process much more enjoyable, and I have no doubt that his coaching is the reason I'm readying to go to business school this fall. He literally uncovered ideas, strategies and stories I never would've thought of, that made my application truly, truly shine! I entered the process really insecure about my candidacy. I had an "okay" GPA by the top school's standards - a 3.2 - and a 680 GMAT. Honestly, I didn't think I stood a chance at getting into a top school. Not only did Ryan help me get into Cornell, Duke, and McCombs, but I even got into what I considered to be a "super reach school" for me - Kellogg. All in all, I got into 4 of the 6 programs Ryan and I worked on together, and even got offered two sizable scholarships. I don't know how else to vouch for his incredible skills and how enjoyable he made the process, except to say that he's absolutely worth the investment. If you get the chance to work with Ryan, take it!

I worked with Ryan on my MBA applications in 2023, applying round 1 (September) and I had a fantastic experience working with Ryan. I dreamed of being accepted to a top school in the Boston / New England area, and I was accepted to Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan, and Dartmouth (Tuck) - all 3 schools I worked on with Ryan! Of course, I couldn't have been more excited with these results! Ryan is super credible, filled with school-specific knowledge that equipped me to create high-quality applications that really spoke to what what each school looked for, and even gave me clarity around my career goals and how to position myself uniquely and articulately. His advice was invaluable. Working with Ryan was actually fun (not what I expected for the MBA admissions process). He always made our calls enjoyable and collaborative, and he wasn't above giving me a little "pep talk" when I doubted my candidacy and background - I came from a non-traditional background and had doubts that my application would be competitive. Ryan really knows his stuff, and I never would have been as successful in this process without his guidance and mentorship!