Deferred MBA Admissions Experts

I've helped over 1000 applicants from around the world get into Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, INSEAD, and every other top program you can name. I’m Ellin Lolis, founder of Ellin Lolis Consulting, a global MBA admissions firm with a 98.9% success rate. I’ve spent the last 10+ years guiding applicants with a proven, step-by-step methodology that simplifies the process and maximizes results. As a certified career coach and award-winning writer, my approach helps you craft a powerful personal brand, connect your story and values to each program, and submit applications that actually get you in. Clients often say I treat their application like my own. That’s because I do. I bring the same level of strategic precision and emotional support to every engagement, pushing you to deliver your best work while helping you stay grounded and confident along the way. I've collaborated with a range of different clients from every continent, including clients with low GMAT scores, 40+, traditional IB/MBB applicants, and even non-traditional applicants like nuclear scientists and sports journalists. For each, I helped them find their unique voice that helped them stand out in the crowded admissions space. If you’re aiming high and want a coach with the track record, tools, and heart to get you there, I’d love to work with you.

I was recently admitted to the Deferred Enrollment Program (DEP) at Columbia Business School. Coming from a STEM and consulting background, I bring a unique blend of technical and strategic expertise, offering a fresh perspective on how to make your application stand out. Whether you need support with application strategy, essay crafting, or interview preparation, I'm dedicated to helping you navigate the competitive MBA admissions landscape. Together, we’ll create a personalized approach to highlight your strengths and maximize your chances of success.

I've helped over five applicants in the last two years gain admission to Wharton with funding ranging from 25% to full-tuition scholarships, and have coached peers into top 10 MBA and master’s programs—many with significant scholarship offers. I specialize in helping applicants craft compelling, authentic stories that clearly show how an MBA aligns with their personal and professional goals. My expertise in storytelling was sharpened through years of securing nationally competitive fellowships, including the PPIA Junior Summer Institute at Princeton and the Harvard Kennedy School’s PPLC Fellowship. If you’re looking for a coach who will help you connect the dots between your experiences, aspirations, and the MBA journey, I’d love to support you.

I take a highly supportive approach to coaching and aim to create an environment in which my clients can be completely open about their worries so I can be the best possible coach for them. That said, you can expect me to be constructively candid – because coaching is about challenging you and accelerating your growth, not making you feel good so I can collect a check. In addition to sitting on both Stanford's and Northwestern's alumni admissions councils, I was an interviewer at Google and Facebook, so I've spent many hours "on the other side of the table" and can give you a strong sense for how you might be perceived by interviewers and admissions committees. I enjoy coaching people from a huge range of backgrounds, but I specialize in coaching folks from lower-income families, LGBTQ+ candidates, and those from unconventional backgrounds trying to thrive in tech.

More than any credential, what you should know about me is that I get it. This is a crazy process that's become hyper competitive, and standing out feels like an impossible task. I grew up in a small town, didn't go to the prestigious college, and didn't know any "insiders." I have a belief in myself and the skills I've developed through trying a bunch of things and failing a lot. I want to share these skills (and my belief in you). That being said, here are some credentials if that's your thing: • Stanford GSB MBA Candidate – Class of 2027 • Coaching | Case prepped and mentored 30+ undergraduate and MBA students • Bain | Worked for Bain & Co. before school, focusing on retail and consumer case work • Startup | Grew wholesale for a men’s athleisure brand from $0 to $4M • Resumes | Edited 50+ resumes in undergrad and reviewed 200+ resumes as Bain recruiting lead • Speech & Writing | Wrote and delivered commencement speech for Miami University Farmer School of Business graduation ceremony • Interview Training | Trained as Bain interviewer to score case interviews and behavioral questions • GMAT / Test-taking | Scored in highest percentile of GMAT test-takers

I've spent the last 16+ years helping ambitious applicants get into the world's most competitive MBA programs, including Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, MIT Sloan, Yale SOM, and Booth. Across 200+ MBA clients, 95% have been admitted to at least one of their top-choice programs, and over half have received scholarship money. I graduated from NYU Summa Cum Laude with a double major in Economics and English, and earned my MBA from Columbia Business School in 2020, where I focused on Strategy and Entrepreneurship. That gives me a current, first-hand perspective on what M7 adcoms are actually looking for. My career in this work started in Singapore, at a test prep and admissions firm I helped expand into Shanghai, running tutoring and admissions consulting in both markets before coming back to New York to found my own practice. That international background means I'm equally comfortable working with US candidates and applicants from Asia, Europe, and beyond, particularly the kinds of candidates who often have the strongest stories but the hardest time articulating them: finance professionals reinventing themselves, engineers making a pivot, non-traditional career switchers. My work focuses on coherence. Most applicants arrive with strong but scattered material: a real career, real accomplishments, but no through-line. My job is to help you find the narrative that ties it all together, build a school list that's strategic (not aspirational), and turn essays into the strongest part of your application instead of the most stressful. If you want a structured, results-focused partner, let's talk.

Welcome to my profile! As an MBA candidate at Harvard Business School through HBS 2+2's deferred admission, alongside acceptance into 3 other M7 schools (Columbia, UChicago, Northwestern), I bring a wealth of experience coupled by results. So far, I've informally coached a handful of undergraduates as they navigate the journey I went through not too long ago to help them secure their dream schools. I have a diverse background of experiences from top-tier firms like Deloitte and Ernst & Young, as well as prestigious programs like the Obama Foundation's Voyager Scholarship. My background in strategy, global community development, and economic consulting equips me with the insights needed to tailor your application for maximum impact. Let's work together to craft a compelling narrative that sets you apart. Reach out to start your journey to an elite MBA program!

As a Senior Admissions Consultant at California Ivy Admissions Consultants, I've successfully guided clients into top-tier programs at Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley, Dartmouth, Duke, Yale, UCLA, USC, Cornell and more. My experience on the admissions committee at UCLA has equipped me with insider knowledge of what top programs seek in candidates. With a Juris Doctor from UC Berkeley School of Law and a Master of Arts from UCLA, I bring a unique blend of expertise to the MBA admissions process. Whether you need help with application strategy, essays, or interview preparation, I'm here to help you craft a compelling application. Let's work together to make your MBA dreams a reality!

Annie is an experienced and passionate coach who uses the power of storytelling to inspire humanity and empower individual growth. She went through the deferred admissions process last year, and successfully crafted a strategic & holistic narrative despite having a sub-par GMAT score, received interviews with Stanford GSB, UPenn Wharton, and Chicago Booth programs, and received letters of recommendation from highly influential people such as the business school dean, a Partner at a Big 4 firm, and world-class faculty. Now, as a Michigan Ross graduate and a deferred admit to the University of Chicago Booth Scholars Program, she hopes to offer comprehensive assistance to students who are looking to apply for deferred MBAs. At the University of Michigan, Annie served as an academic writing coach for underresourced first-years hoping to transfer into the competitive Michigan Ross business school, so she has reviewed over 20 application essays from diverse students, and deeply understands what top business programs are looking for in their candidates. As a first-generation college student, Annie has always highly valued education and conducts thorough research to further her abilities. She is seeking not just coachees, but mentees, who come from underrepresented backgrounds to provide complete resource guides, top-secret tips to the application process, and a thorough review and analysis of their application essays.

Welcome to my profile! With an MBA from MIT Sloan and a Master’s in International and Public Affairs from Columbia Business School, I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. My professional journey spans roles at top companies like Nike, Hinge, and Nasdaq, where I honed my skills in product management and marketing. I have successfully coached 5 clients, helping them navigate the competitive MBA admissions process and secure spots at their dream schools. Let's work together to craft a standout application that highlights your unique strengths and experiences. Reach out to get started!