Emily McClain
5.0
(1)
MBA Coaching by Ex-CBS Admissions Officer & Former Bain Recruiter
Studied at Columbia University
Admissions Committee at Columbia Business School
Available tomorrow at 7:30 PM UTC
I'm offering a discounted rate for new clients this month — reach out soon to claim it, as spots are limited and the offer ends May 1st. Before our first call, it helps to have a sense of where you're starting from. Share whatever you have — your LinkedIn or resume, GPA, test scores, target schools, desired degree, and timeline — and we'll hit the ground running. Looking forward to it!
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
Emily's Coaching Offerings
Custom hourly · $150/hr
Get help with Recommendations, Essays, and .
Emily’s MBA Qualifications
Coaches professionally
Welcome to my profile! With over a decade of experience in MBA admissions and recruiting, I have a deep understanding of what top business schools are looking for in candidates. I served on the MBA Admissions Committees at Columbia Business School, where I reviewed applications and interviewed candidates, and later worked as an MBA Admissions Interviewer/Reader at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. My extensive background in talent acquisition and recruiting at prestigious firms like Bain has honed my skills in resume coaching and interview preparation. I am passionate about helping aspiring MBA students craft compelling applications and navigate the admissions process with confidence. Let's work together to make your MBA dreams a reality!
Emily can help with:
Recommendations
Essays
Secondary Review
Application Strategy
Resume
General Exploration
Interviews
Editing
Waitlist Strategy
Testing & Assessments
School Selection
About Emily
If you're applying to a top MBA program, you deserve to know exactly how admissions committees think — and I can give you that insider view. I spent years on the admissions committee at Columbia Business School and as a senior recruiter at Bain & Company, evaluating thousands of candidates. I know what makes applications stand out, and more importantly, what holds strong candidates back. My coaching is honest, strategic, and focused on helping you tell a clear, compelling story — not padding your résumé or gaming the system. To make our first conversation as valuable as possible, feel free to share your LinkedIn or resume, GPA, test scores, target schools, desired degree, and timeline. The more context you give me, the more specific I can be from the start. Looking forward to it!
Why do I coach?
I coach because I believe the admissions process shouldn't be a mystery — and for too long, it has been. After years on the admissions committee at Columbia Business School, interviewing and reading applications at UNC Kenan-Flagler, and serving as lead recruiter at Bain for Wharton and Yale SOM pipelines, I've seen firsthand how decisions really get made. Strong candidates get passed over every cycle — not for lack of talent, but because their story wasn't landing or their strategy was off. Helping people close that gap is what drives me. There's nothing quite like watching a client go from overwhelmed to confident — or from waitlisted to admitted — because they finally understood what the process was actually looking for. I bring honesty, strategy, and genuine investment to every client I work with. No fluff, no false promises — just real guidance from someone who's been on both sides of the table.
Work Experience
MBA Admissions Interviewer/Reader
UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School
January 2021 - June 2023
Interviewer
Interviewed and evaluated Full-Time MBA applicants, reviewing applications and resumes to support data-driven admissions decisions. Provided one-on-one resume coaching to first-year MBA students through the Career Management Office, improving recruiting readiness and approval rates.
Senior Global Recruiter
Bain & Company
October 2018 - August 2019
Hiring Manager
Led full-cycle MBA recruiting for Wharton and Yale SOM and supported consultant and summer associate recruiting in the New York office. Partnered with senior stakeholders and campus teams to execute recruiting campaigns, increasing candidate engagement and offer acceptance. Redesigned Wharton recruiting events and employer branding and boosted event attendance. Ensured consistent evaluation standards through resume review, interview debriefs, and cross-office coordination. Supervised and coached a Recruiting Associate, improving recruiting process efficiency. Served as NY liaison to Tuck, Wharton, and Yale SOM affinity groups. Planned large-scale intern programming for incoming consultants and summer associates.
Global Recruiter
Bain & Company
May 2016 - October 2018
Hiring Manager
Led full-cycle MBA recruiting for Wharton and supported recruiting, including the Summer Associate Program, in the New York office.
Senior Associate Director, Heilbrunn Center for Graham & Dodd Investing
Columbia Business School
June 2014 - May 2016
Admissions Committee
Advised MBA and Executive MBA students on investment management careers, including courses, events, internships, and hiring practices. Served on the Value Investing Program admissions committee; interviewed applicants, created rankings, and provided candidate feedback for selection of 40 students annually. Managed logistics and execution of the Center’s portfolio of events and supervised the Program Coordinator. Developed and published informational materials, presentations, and website content for students, advisory board members, and other stakeholders. Represented the Center to prospective students and served as primary liaison for investment fund recruiters, providing targeted student recommendations and facilitating hiring connections. Partnered with faculty and student affairs to design Center offerings and provide logistical support for academic programs.
Associate Director of MBA Admissions
Columbia Business School
October 2011 - June 2014
Admissions Committee
Served on the MBA and Executive MBA Admissions Committees; reviewed and evaluated applications. Managed and developed a team of four; hired and onboarded new staff members. Planned and executed on-campus recruiting events (information sessions, class visits, panels) and coordinated domestic travel for the admissions team. Led annual yield programming for admitted MBA and EMBA students in partnership with the Columbia Connect Committee. Interviewed prospective Executive MBA and select Full-Time MBA candidates. Represented the School at domestic and international recruiting events and MBA fairs. Managed vendor relationships for event space, catering, and promotional materials.
Assistant Director of MBA Admissions
Columbia Business School
September 2010 - October 2011
Admissions Committee
Served on the MBA and Executive MBA Admissions Committees; reviewed applications and interviewed candidates. Planned and executed recruiting and yield events for women and underrepresented minorities. Partnered with student leaders and admissions officers to recruit and yield diverse candidate populations. Led targeted outreach through partnerships with Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) and Forte. Represented Columbia Business School at on- and off-campus information sessions. Coordinated and trained student volunteers (Hermes Society) to support prospective student engagement and admissions best practices.
Admissions/College Counselor
Brentwood School
August 2004 - June 2008
Admissions Committee
Admissions Counselor: Conducted interviews with prospective students (grades 7–12) and their parents; served on middle and upper division admissions committees. Planned and executed open houses, on- and off-campus events, and represented the school to prospective families. College Counselor: Counseled 10th–12th grade students and parents on course selection, college research, applications, interviews, testing, and financial aid. Co-founded the Junior Ambassador Program, hosting 100+ college admissions representatives annually. Served as the department lead for University of California guidance, test prep, and AP exam coordination.
Education
Columbia University
MS, Social Work
2008 - 2010
Activities and societies: Columbia Business School Women's Rugby Team
Bates College
BA, History and Psychology
1999 - 2003
Activities and societies: Captain and Athlete, Varsity Track and Field Athlete, Varsity Tennis Senior Admissions Fellow Admissions Tour Guide Teaching Assistant Research Assistant
Punahou School
High School
1995 - 1999
1 Review
Overall Rating
5.0
Knowledge
5.0
Value
5.0
Responsiveness
5.0
Supportiveness
5.0