Kelsey K.

Kelsey K.

5.0

Former M7 Adcom | 93% Success Rate | $180K Avg Scholarships

Columbia University Logo

Studied at Columbia University

Columbia Business School Logo

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

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

View all of Kelsey’s categories

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

Embark Logo

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.

Columbia Business School Logo

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 Logo

Columbia University

Evolutionary Biology

55 Reviews

Overall Rating

5.0


Kelsey has helped clients get into these schools:

Loading reviews...
Kelsey K.

Kelsey K.

5.0

Sign in
Free events