Carin N.
5.0
(21)
Studied at Chicago Booth
Worked at ApplicantLab
Successful clients at
Available Monday at 10:00 AM UTC
I have availability for R2 essay and resume reviews! I've designed my packages to be as self-explanatory as possible but feel free to reach out with questions!
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
About Carin
I began my career in marketing and professional services before earning my MBA from Chicago Booth. After nearly a decade in client management and analytics, I realized I wanted a different pace and a different type of work - something that combined problem-solving, clarity, and coaching without the burnout of traditional corporate paths. In 2017, I left the corporate world to take a career break, travel, and reset. During that time, I started doing freelance editing and application coaching, which eventually led me to working at ApplicantLab. Over the years, I've worked with applicants from every background - reviewing their resumes, refining their stories, and giving structured, actionable feedback on hundreds of applications. To date, I’ve reviewed 400+ resumes, nearly 1,000 essays, and worked with 700+ applicants across all major MBA programs. My asynchronous approach has allowed me to see far more application materials than most traditional consulting models, and that depth of experience shapes the clarity and precision of my feedback. In addition to MBA coaching, I’m an e-commerce entrepreneur. I acquired and now operate a pet products business, giving me firsthand experience in small-business ownership, online marketplaces, and the realities of entrepreneurship. This perspective helps me support applicants exploring entrepreneurial goals, career pivots, or operator roles after business school. I’m now based in Europe and work with applicants around the world. My coaching style is practical, honest, and focused on helping you communicate your story in a way that is both authentic to you and easy for an admissions reader to follow. If you’re looking for a thoughtful, structured, and highly experienced partner to help you strengthen your application materials, please reach out!
Why do I coach?
I genuinely enjoy the stories behind MBA applications. Through this work, I’ve learned about industries, ideas, and career paths I never would have encountered otherwise. Applicants come with ambitious goals and fascinating backgrounds, and getting a window into what they’ve done - and what they hope to do next - is something I find endlessly interesting. I also coach because the MBA admissions process is its own kind of puzzle (and I've always loved puzzles). Writing an MBA essay is different from any other type of writing. An MBA resume is different from a job-search resume. The whole process rewards clarity, intention, and narrative structure - but most people haven’t been taught how to approach it. Helping applicants understand how the game works, and giving them the tools to navigate it with confidence, is extremely fulfilling. At a more personal level, this work aligns with what I naturally do well. I've always been the person who spots the thing that doesn’t quite make sense, the section that needs restructuring, or the gap that’s weakening the story. Whether in past roles or through my work as an entrepreneur, my strength has always been taking something that exists and making it stronger, clearer, or more effective. Coaching lets me apply that skill in a way that directly helps people move toward the next stage of their careers. Ultimately, I coach because I enjoy the work, I’m good at it, and I find it meaningful to help people present their experiences in the strongest possible light.
Work Experience
CEO
Hide & Scratch
October 2020 - Present
Hide & Scratch is a top-selling cat scratcher brand available on Amazon, Walmart, and direct-to-consumer channels. What started as one thoughtfully designed scratcher box has grown into a product line that reflects both feline instincts and human homes - made with cat-safe materials, fully recyclable cardboard, stylish design, and accessible pricing. I acquired Hide & Scratch in 2020 as a small product with limited traction. Since then, I’ve grown it into a million-dollar brand with a strong eCommerce presence, retail partnerships, and thousands of loyal customers - while running it as a one-woman business. I manage every aspect of the company, including product development, supply chain, marketing, and customer experience.
MBA Admissions Consultant
ApplicantLab
June 2018 - Present
Coached hundreds of applicants through detailed, recorded reviews of their essays and resumes, helping them strengthen narrative clarity and application strategy. Recognized with 5-star ratings on both Poets & Quants (https://poetsandquants.com/consultant/carin-nelson/) and GMAT Club (https://gmatclub.com/reviews/instructor/carin-nelson-345346451)
Head of Operations
ApplicantLab
June 2018 - January 2025
MBA admissions is a game. ApplicantLab teaches MBA hopefuls how to win it, for a fraction of the cost of traditional admissions consultants. ApplicantLab's award-winning, on-demand, interactive platform guides users through every step an admissions consultant would, and teaches users how to craft a strong MBA application that highlights their unique story. Founded by a Harvard MBA, ApplicantLab is on a mission to expand access to higher education and level the playing field so that people from all income levels can get great admissions advice.
ESL Teacher
Volunteer
August 2017 - March 2018
8-month volunteer teaching position working with underprivileged young adults as a part of a work readiness program in Costa Rica.
Vice President of Customer Success
Mattersight
July 2014 - June 2017
- Managed business relationships with senior executives for multiple Fortune 100 clients as a part of managed analytics service; Responsible for all strategic program planning, reporting and analysis, and measurement/communication of benefits realization - Partnered with sales team to identify customer needs, craft compelling data-driven stories and prepare business cases to cross-sell/up-sell existing clients and pitch new business - Served as product expert and trusted adviser to clients and internal sales teams as well as voice of customer and client advocate internally
Director - Customer Success
Mattersight
December 2012 - June 2014
Client Service Coordinator
McKinsey & Company
June 2012 - October 2012
Sr. Marketing Associate
Bain & Company
August 2004 - August 2006
Marketing and Operations Manager - EA SPORTS Maui Invitational
KemperSports
April 2003 - August 2004
Education
Northwestern University
BS, Economics and Communications
• Dean's List and Academic All-Big Ten Honors • Division I Student-Athlete, Women's Swimming
Chicago Booth
MBA, Finance and General Management
2006 - 2008
• Recipient, Dana Feitler Scholarship (2-year merit award for academic achievement and leadership potential) • Dean’s Honor List
21 Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
Carin has helped clients get into these schools: