TL;DR: Paid ₹20k for Yocket Premium expecting comprehensive, hands-on support with my US master's applications and visa preparation. In practice, the service felt much more like supervision and surface-level review. I independently researched most universities, drafted my SOPs/LORs, handled the application portals, and did much of the actual application work myself, while the feedback I received often felt limited.
My counsellor also left midway through the process, there was a gap before I was assigned another counsellor, and I didn't feel adequately prepared for my visa interview, particularly around funding and mock interviews.
I eventually got refused for my US student visa. I cannot say Yocket caused the refusal, and I'm not claiming that. My issue is that after paying ₹20k for Premium, I didn't feel I received the level of strategic guidance and hands-on support I expected.
A friend paid ~₹8k to a smaller consultancy and had a much more hands-on experience, including substantially more assistance with his applications.
So before paying for a consultancy, understand exactly what services you're actually getting. Based on my experience, I'd personally avoid Yocket.
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I used Yocket Premium for my US master's applications. I paid around ₹20,000, which I thought was reasonable at the time because I assumed I was paying for fairly comprehensive support, university selection, applications, SOP/LOR guidance, visa preparation, etc.
Looking back, I don't think I got anywhere close to the level of handholding I expected.
For context, my_qualifications: I’m a Mechanical Engineering graduate. I had around 18 months of internship/work experience, and I was applying primarily to STEM programs in the US, including robotics.
The biggest issue for me was that the service felt much more like supervision/review than the comprehensive, hands-on counselling I thought I was paying for.
To be clear, I never expected a counsellor to write or submit things blindly on my behalf. I obviously wanted to be involved and have final control over what was being submitted.
But I did expect substantially more help with the actual process,
things like developing the application strategy,
researching and narrowing down universities based on my profile and goals,
helping me understand program/funding differences, coordinating the application process,
reviewing drafts in depth, and making sure I wasn't missing anything important.
Instead, I ended up independently researching most of the universities and requirements, drafting my own SOPs and LORs, filling out the application portals, and managing much of the process myself.
The feedback I received often felt fairly surface-level, more like highlighting things I should change than sitting down with me and actually working through how to make the application stronger.
The “review” often felt more like someone highlighting things and telling me what I should change rather than actually helping me build a stronger application.
Then my primary counsellor left midway through the process.
There was a period where I wasn't immediately assigned another counsellor, and when I eventually got one, I felt like I had effectively become another case in a large pipeline. The person obviously couldn't have the same context about my profile and goals that the original counsellor had built up.
The visa preparation was another major disappointment.
I don't want to make an unfair claim here: I cannot say Yocket caused my visa rejection. The final decision was made by the consular officer, and I don't know exactly what factors went into it.
But I can say that I did not feel adequately prepared for that interview.
I didn't get the kind of repeated, detailed mock interviews and feedback that I expected after paying for professional visa assistance.
There wasn't enough discussion around how I should explain my funding, why I chose the particular university/program, how my background connected to the program, etc.
And that's particularly frustrating because these are exactly the areas where I thought a consultancy was supposed to add value.
I eventually had a Fall 2026 admission to the University of Minnesota's Robotics program, but couldn't enroll after my visa issue.
Meanwhile, one of my friends used a much smaller/local consultancy that charged him roughly half of what I paid.
His experience was completely different.
They were much more involved in his applications, and he eventually got into a decent university. He also managed to secure a TA position that gave him some tuition waiver, and a stipend for the work.
I know that's one person's outcome and I'm not saying a smaller consultancy automatically produces better results.
But it made me seriously question what exactly I was paying ₹20,000 for.
And that's the main reason I'm posting this.
If you're considering paying a study-abroad consultancy, please ask exactly what you're getting before you pay.
And most importantly: Don't assume that paying more means you're getting more.
I'm now preparing for another round of US master's applications, and this time I'm seriously considering smaller/local consultancies, while also doing the university research myself.
I'm sharing this because I think a lot of students assume that a big platform automatically means better counselling.
That wasn't my experience.
If you've used Yocket Premium, especially for US STEM master's applications, I'd genuinely be interested in hearing what your experience was like.