Deferred MBA Admissions Experts

I went 3-for-4 on deferred MBA admits, earning offers from Harvard Business School, Wharton, and Columbia Business School, and interviewing at all four programs I applied to, including Stanford GSB. I did it from Colby College, a small liberal arts school with no MBA pipeline and no on-campus consulting recruiting, which meant I had to build my own path to three consulting internships during undergrad and, eventually, an offer to join BCG in Boston. That background shapes how I coach. I know what it takes to build a candidacy when you don't have an obvious brand behind you or a network handing you introductions. On the deferred MBA side, I can help you find the through-line in your story, pressure-test your essays, and prepare for interviews that reward specificity over polish. On consulting recruiting, I've been through case interviews at every level and coached peers through them, and I can help you get from "I don't know what a case is" to a confident, structured performance. If you're ambitious, willing to do the work, and want someone who will tell you honestly what's working and what isn't, I'd like to help.

Student admissions reader at Kellogg and alumni interviewer. Have assisted 15+ students for admissions consulting over 4+ years with success at Kellogg, Columbia, Yale, Ross, Duke, Darden & LBS

I've been coaching candidates to help present the best possible version of themselves for deferred MBA applications. Applicants that I have coached have been admitted to Wharton, HBS, Columbia and more top programs.

I am a 2021 Wharton graduate, with 2 years of professional MBA coaching experience. During my MBA, I coached 15+ MBA students with career guidance, resume critiques, and interview prep. I first encountered MBA coaching when I was applying to matriculate as an MBA in 2019. At that time, I realized how important an MBA coach could be, not only for the specialized toolset and knowledge base, but also for the encouragement during a high pressure application process. I am motivated to be that source of calm and focus during what can otherwise be a stressful application process. I am excited to dive into your background and help you uncover a narrative that will help you show you stand out to top MBA programs.

Stanford MBA; Harvard MPA

Welcome to my profile! I'm Joseph M. Kemp, JD, MBA, MSEd, the CEO & Founder of JMK & Co., a grad school admissions consultancy. A Little About Me: Ivy League Graduate JD & MBA Graduate from the #1 Public University in the Nation Master's in Education from the #1 Graduate School of Education in the Nation MBA & Master's Admissions at Carnegie Mellon University MBA Admissions Interviewer at the University of Michigan - Ross School of Business Awarded over $1.3 million in law school scholarships, awarded over $1.5 million in scholarships across the board BA & MBA fully covered 9+ Years as an Educator Fortune 500 Experience Big Tech Experience BigLaw Experience Worked with 100s of students 100s of interviews completed I have four degrees, including a BA, JD, MBA, and MS in Education. I graduated from CUNY, the University of Michigan, and the University of Pennsylvania and have helped many students land prestigious internships and get into grad school. We have a 100% law school acceptance rate, however, we cannot guarantee acceptance.

MIT. INSEAD. Columbia. LBS. I'll be honest, a few years ago, I wasn't sure I had a shot at any of them. Not a banker. Not a consultant. I started out with internships in marketing, sales, and product during undergrad, then made a pivot into finance that most people told me wouldn't stick. I recently turned down a VC role to take a corporate finance position instead, because I'd rather make the unconventional call I believed in than take the one that looked better on paper. That patchwork: growing up in Lebanon, then studying/working in France, Singapore, the Middle East, and now Toronto isn't the background anyone would design on purpose. But it's the one I learned to own. And getting into 5+ programs taught me that a scattered story, told with intention, can be more compelling than a clean one told without it. I don't coach by handing you a formula. I work with you to figure out what's actually interesting about your path (even the parts that feel like liabilities) and build a strategy around that. If you've ever felt like your background doesn't fit the mold, that's usually exactly where I like to start.

When I first began my application process for MBA programs, I was utterly lost. I had interesting stories, but I didn't know what mattered or how to craft my experiences into a unique and compelling narrative that would enable me to stand out from the tens of thousands of other applicants. Thanks to the help of numerous friends from other prestigious universities, I was admitted to and just graduated from Stanford GSB. This proved to me the power of effective coaching and inspired a passion to return the favor. Over my past two years at Stanford, I realized I found energy in helping informally coach and mentor about 10 people through their own business school applications. Three were admitted into GSB and numerous others into M7 programs. In addition to MBA applications, I served as a Co-President of GSB's Management Consulting Club, where I helped prepare MBA1s for the consulting recruiting process. In this role, I often interfaced with recruiting representatives from MBB firms and gained an "inside scoop" into what matters most during this stressful process.

I earned my MBA at the USC Marshall School of Business, where I served as Vice President of the Veterans Association and the Tech Association. That experience gave me a front-row seat to how MBA programs work, what admissions committees look for, and how students can make the most of their time in business school. My own MBA propelled me into roles at Salesforce and later into a Chief of Staff position at Zoom—proof of how powerful the right MBA path can be. Now, I help others create the same kind of transformation. When we work together, I’ll help you: * Clarify your career goals and position your MBA as the bridge to get there * Craft a compelling, authentic application strategy that highlights your unique story * Navigate essays, resumes, and recommendations with insider guidance * Build confidence through interview prep and communication coaching * Understand how to leverage your MBA once admitted, to open doors like I did Whether you’re just starting your MBA journey or fine-tuning your final application, I’ll partner with you to make your candidacy stand out and maximize your chances of admission.

When I was in your shoes, I could not afford an admissions consulting firm, or to pay a former adcom member who only understands how one school thinks. I personally authored 100% of my end-to-end applications (essays, CVs, interview preparation, etc.) without these resources. Through a deep understanding of how to craft an authentic application, I was admitted to four Ivy League undergraduate schools, as well as to all three of the deferred MBA programs: HBS 2+2, Stanford Deferred Enrollment, and Yale SOM Silver Scholars program. My clients have been admitted to all SEVEN top MBA programs, including all three deferred MBA programs. I coach to give prospective students like you access to gold-standard application prep that will turbocharge your ability to land admissions ACROSS all top business schools: -- Without the admissions consulting firm price tag -- With the perspective of someone who has been admitted to and attended multiple Ivy League schools (vs. an adcom member who only understands the perspective of one) 💯