FAQs
Since 2005, Candy Lee LaBalle has helped +600 (& counting) applicants get accepted.
To shed clarity on the process, here are answers to some of the most common questions that clients ask before we start working together – Candy
Why should I work with mbaClarity and you?
I have +16 years of experience with 100s of applicants, know the admissions process inside & out, been to every top B-school, and have a global network of colleagues to tap into when needed. I am dedicated to the industry as a LinkedIn influencer and current president-elect of AIGAC, the only professional group representing standards in the MBA admissions consulting sector.
I am also a sole practitioner – when you work with mbaClarity, you work with me, Candy. I do not have a marketing team pushing services, finance on my back about profits, no boss making me hit quotas or take on clients who do not need my services. I choose who I work with and my only priority is helping them get accepted. A recent client (admit to Wharton & Stern) called the experience of working with me a “self-awakening” and I do believe that applying to an MBA is a truly personal experience of self-awareness and awakening. It deserves to be treated with respect and awe, not a sales pitch.
My method suits those looking for a very personalized service where I push you every second of the process. I am honest, direct and very good at what I do. I also believe in being fully available to my clients, every day, throughout the long MBA application process (whatsapp is amazing for this!)
But I am not the right consultant for everyone. And not every applicant is right for me. In fact, I highly suggest you look around and take advantage of those “free” consultations so you can find the best fit for you.
How can I become a client of mbaClarity and work with Candy?
Contact me! After a brief call to discuss your goals, where you are in the application process and what you are seeking, we might move on to the next step.
But, I only take on ~30 clients each year in order to offer the best results and support possible. That means I do not work with everyone that I meet.
If your expectations are unrealistic, if you are looking for guarantees, if you are not ready for an MBA, or if you are applying to a school where you really don’t need any support… then I probably won’t work with you. But don’t worry, I won’t leave you hanging. I have a huge network in the industry and can recommend some good people for you.
However, if you are motivated, eager and ready to work hard to get into one of the world’s best MBAs, I’m ready to get started.
I do not have my GMAT/GRE/EA score yet, can we get started?
Yes, and no. I am happy to start you off with your strategic MBA application plan, either my exclusive MBA Action Plan – MAP ™ or an hour or two of support before you secure a competitive test score.
But I can not, in good conscience, sell you an expensive, full-service application package such as my Application Incubator, if you do not have a competitive test score. It is a lot of money, time and effort to apply, and if you go through all of that and do not secure a good score, then what? Wait another year? Call it a loss? Instead, we can start with the MAP or a few hours to get you going. Then, when you secure the score, I’ll happily upgrade you to a full Application Incubator, no extra charge.
How does MBA consulting work at mbaClarity?
As a hand-picked client, you will have my full attention throughout the application process.
After an initial session or the MBA Action Planning (MAP), done face-to-face in Madrid, or online, we can move to a full-service Application Incubator or MBA Expertise by the Hour. After brainstorming your application and essays together, we’ll work mainly via email during the editing process. At least once a week, I’ll also touch base with you by phone or online to check on your application progress and keep you on track. And if you use whatsapp, get ready as I’ll be pinging you throughout the process.
What is your availability during the application process?
Email and whatsapps are available as often as needed. Face-to-face meetings can be arranged in Madrid within a week or online at your convenience. Feedback on your essays and application documents will be offered within 48 hours or faster in the week before your deadline. During the busy season (three months before deadlines), I work 7 days a week. During the days before the deadlines, whatever you need and whenever you need it — you can count on me practically 24/7.
What is your success rate?
It is impossible to guarantee admittance to the world’s most elite MBA programmes. But using smart strategies, Candy has achieved nearly a 100% admit rate to the top schools. Each year, most of my clients are admitted to one of their dream B-schools, but a couple each year do not make it. Breaks my heart every time, but this is a very competitive process and rejection is part of the equation. Nonetheless, we are usually able to secure them an admit the next time around.
Which MBA programmes do you work with the most?
As an American based in Europe, I have the pleasure of working with top MBA programmes on both sides of the Atlantic. In autumn, I am usually dedicated to the US schools with my highest number of admits at Wharton, Harvard, Columbia, MIT Sloan, Kellogg, Chicago Booth and Tuck. I have also helped clients get into Stanford, Haas, Duke, Georgetown and more. And, I have even helped a handful reach the holy-grail of double HBS-Stanford admits!
In winter, I work almost exclusively with European powerhouse MBAs including INSEAD, London Business School, IESE, and HEC Paris. I’ve also worked to get clients admitted at Cambridge, Oxford and IMD.
Do you work with EMBAs, Masters of Management (MiM), Finance (MFin) or Public Policy (MPP)?
Absolutely! My application techniques apply very well to other programmes. I love helping people reach their dreams and sometimes that is not an MBA. I’ve helped people get into the MPP at Columbia and John Hopkins, the MFin at LBS and MIT, the MiM at LSE and EMBAs at Stanford, IESE and Kellogg.
I am happy to advise on almost any graduate programme, but I do not work with undergraduate applications.
Do you work with re-applicants?
If you have been through the grueling application process, got dinged, but are ready to stand back up and try again, I would love to help you. We can figure out what went wrong and reapply even stronger together.
Every year, I have clients reapply and get accepted into a top school.
How long does it usually take to apply to a top MBA programme?
My job is to save you as much time as possible… but you still have to work! Most of my clients spend between 30-60 hours of their own time on each application.
Together, we may spend up to two months on the first application we do together. Subsequent applications tend to go a bit faster as I get to know you better and you get more comfortable with the process.
What do business schools think of your services?
As one of the longest-serving members of AIGAC, the Association for Independent Graduate Admissions Consultants, (it was founded in 2007, I joined in 2009), I am well-known in the industry and very happy to have strong relationships with admissions teams across the globe. I have organized MBA admissions conferences at most of the top B-Schools with dozens of admissions’ representatives. In 2024, at IESE Business School, our conference attracted 32 admissions colleagues from all the top schools, in the US and in Europe. I deeply value the personal relationships I have built in the MBA ecosystem since they help me better understand the different programmes, and thus, better help you apply successfully. But, under no circumstance do I seek favors, share applicant info with adcom or try to “game” the system. Why not? Besides, being freaking unethical, no school would allow that. So, if an admissions consultant tells you otherwise, they are lying.
Will you write my application essays for me?
My job is to help YOU write amazing essays that will make you stand out and improve your admission chances. To do that, I will deep dive into your past, your family, your education, work, experiences, hopes, dreams, and more. This will help us to discover your best stories, your superpowers, and any key themes woven throughout your life. Then, I’ll help you turn those into amazing essay topics. From there, you’ll write your drafts, and then I’ll give you feedback and editing as needed. My main focus will be on content and story and ensuring that your message comes out in the most compelling essays that are perfectly in tune with the Bschool you are applying to. I’ll also check your grammar and style, ensure consistency and messaging, and help you keep within word count. With my help, your essays will be amazing! But no, I will not write them for you.
Can you help write my recommendation letters?
Only a recommender can write your LORs, but I will give you full support throughout the process. From how to choose the best recommender to how to “manage up” and ensure your recommender is doing the best job possible. I’m also happy to talk directly to your recommenders to help them understand the process.
My goal is to make it easier for you and your recommenders to expertly manage the LOR process, because, like many things in the application world, it is overly complicated. From providing the correct questions and word counts to explaining the ratings you and they can rely on me.
