
Kelsey K.
5.0
Former M7 Adcom | 93% Success Rate | $180K Avg Scholarships
Studied at Columbia University

Worked at Columbia Business School
Admissions Committee Experience
Available tomorrow at 8:00 PM UTC
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
Kelsey's Coaching Offerings

Comprehensive MBA Application Package — Land Your Dream Program
Expert help on your MBA essays, recommendations, resume, and more
Starting at $5,50020h+ of coaching

Craft Powerful MBA Essays
Craft winning MBA essays through brainstorming, drafting, and editing
Starting at $1,2605h+ of coaching

Final Application Review
Finalize your MBA application with expert guidance
Starting at $7653h+ of coaching
Pay as you go
Get help with Financial Aid & Scholarships, Editing, and .
Kelsey’s MBA Qualifications
Coaches professionally
100+ people coached for MBA
Kelsey has helped clients get into these schools:
As a former M7 Admissions Director, I help you craft authentic, powerful applications that stand out and get results. Since 2017, I’ve helped hundreds of MBA-hopefuls get accepted to top MBA programs across full-time, executive, and part-time programs — and I look forward to helping you do the same. 93% of my clients achieve MBA success — and more than half secure scholarships averaging $180K. I served on Columbia Business School’s admission committee, where I reviewed countless applications, interviewed candidates, managed the world-wide interview program, served as a waitlist manager, and managed the dual degree programs for the Law, Medical, and Journalism schools. Thereafter, I transitioned into finance, with stints at a hedge fund, a large bank, and in venture capital. Yet, even as I built my career, I missed the part I loved most — helping candidates craft their stories. I returned to the admissions world as a coach. On the other side of the admissions journey, I saw critical gaps in the application process: limited guidance around testing, the challenge of telling narratives within the confines of a few essays and a resume is challenging, and how admissions committees can seem like a black box. My mission reflects these gaps - offer best-in-class advice, work closely with a small number of candidates, and provide personal partnership to every client.
Kelsey can help with:
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Editing
Recommendations
Interviews
Ding Analysis
Waitlist Strategy
School Selection
Secondary Review
Application Strategy
Essays
Resume
About Kelsey
✔ Former M7 adcom — I know how decisions are made ✔ 93% admit rate, $180K avg. scholarships ✔ Proven success: Helped clients go from rejection to admits at HBS & GSB ✔ Friendly but direct: I give honest, clear feedback to help you grow ✔ You’ll walk away with confidence and a clear strategy I’m a former Columbia Business School admissions officer turned MBA coach — and the founder of Embark MBA. I’ve helped hundreds of clients gain admission to top programs including HBS, Stanford, Wharton, INSEAD, and LBS, CBS, Booth, Kellogg, and more! At Columbia, I reviewed thousands of applications, managed the global interview program, and oversaw the dual-degree admissions with the Law, Medical, and Journalism schools. I now bring that insider perspective to help you stand out. Whether you’re early in the process or polishing final drafts, I offer sharp strategic guidance, no-fluff feedback, and full support across resume, essays, school strategy, interviews, and more. Let’s craft a story and application that feels authentic — and gets results.
Why do I coach?
I coach because I know how isolating the MBA application process can feel and how transformative the right guidance can be. As the first in my family to attend college, I’ve seen the power of education firsthand. Later, as an admissions officer at Columbia Business School, I saw how often strong candidates struggled to tell their stories in a way that resonated. Coaching lets me change that. I partner with applicants to help them clarify who they are, what they want, and why they belong at the world’s best business schools.
Work Experience

Founder
Embark
October 2020 - Present
EmbarkMBA is a boutique MBA Admissions consulting firm founded by former M7 Adcom. My superpower is helping applicants craft materials that sound and feel like them. I’ve helped hundreds of MBA-hopefuls - 93% have succeeded, with 59% receiving scholarships (an average of $180k). I achieve this by simplifying the application process, providing individualized and tailored advice, and spending time to deeply understand my clients.

Assistant Director of Admissions
Columbia Business School
2014 - 2017
Admissions Committee Experience
I served on Columbia Business School’s admission committee, where I reviewed countless applications, interviewed candidates, managed the world-wide interview program, served as a waitlist manager, and managed the dual degree programs for the Law, Medical, and Journalism schools.
Education
Columbia University
Evolutionary Biology
55 Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
Kelsey has helped clients get into these schools: