Deferred MBA Admissions Consultants

Welcome to my profile! With over a decade of experience in MBA admissions, I have guided hundreds of clients to success at top programs such as Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, and MIT. As the Director of MBA Admissions at Stratus , I lead teams that have helped clients secure hundreds of thousands of dollars in merit scholarships and prestigious fellowships like the Forte and Consortium Fellowships. My background includes evaluating thousands of applications globally, ensuring I bring a wealth of knowledge to your application process. Whether you need help with application strategy, school selection, or interview preparation, I'm here to help you craft a standout application. Read more about me here https://poetsandquants.com/2025/07/02/mba-admissions-consulting-when-tough-love-matters/

Welcome! I am a coach and advisor who genuinely enjoys helping individuals achieve their MBA admissions goals. As a former member of the MBA Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS), I have firsthand knowledge of the admissions process and what it takes to build a compelling application. I've reviewed thousands of applications and completed hundreds of interviews with applicants across all backgrounds, geographies, and industries. I also have experience working with college students applying for deferred admissions (I was part of the launch and management of the HBS 2+2 Deferred Admit Program). I work as an independent MBA admissions coach, guiding clients to success at their top choice schools. Whether you need assistance with school selection, crafting your story/brand, essay/resume writing, selecting/preparing recommenders, or interview prep, I'm here to help you navigate the sometimes overwhelming and mysterious MBA admissions world. Let's connect and discuss how I can support you in reaching your goals. Rated "Leland Top 50 Coach" 2023, 2024, 2025

Hi! I’m a first-generation college grad, Stanford alumna (MBA, BA Economics & Communication, Phi Beta Kappa) and writing/career coach who has found my calling in helping others to pursue their educational dreams. I provide personalized, knowledgeable, trusted support to diverse US and international students at every step of the admissions process. By working together, you’ll: • Access deep admissions expertise gained from years of direct experience: interviewer, applications reader, Stanford minority admissions advisory representative, pro bono admissions consulting, member of professional educational consulting organizations, quoted by US News. I’ll demystify college admissions and help you to make informed choices. • Create crafting authentic, insightful personal statements that uniquely reflect your background, values, experiences and goals and enable you to stand out. You don’t need to love writing. I’ll help you to identify not only what to communicate, but also how to communicate clearly, concisely and compellingly. • Chart your career vision. Perhaps you’re still considering your career options. I’ll serve as a knowledgeable and supportive sounding board and mentor. • Chart your career vision. Perhaps you’re still considering your career options. I’ll provide a knowledgeable and supportive sounding board and mentor. Together, we’ll identify strategies and actions you can take to achieve your academic and career goals (admissions committees want to know this!). I’ve personally enjoyed diverse, non-traditional work opportunities spanning international business, tech and marketing, strategy and communications at startups, nonprofits and corporations in the US, Europe and Asia. I draw on my experiences and extensive network and bring a “can do,” non-judgmental, strategic approach to helping you to achieve your goals. • Build a customized, balanced list of schools where you can thrive. The question we’ll focus on isn’t whether you’ll get into a great program (trust me, you will!), but rather, how do we identify a short list of schools where you will thrive. I tap deep roots in the Stanford community where I’m an active alumna, pro bono alumni consultant, minority/DEI initiative leader, and class secretary who’s been honored for my volunteer service by Stanford. • Benefit from personalized, responsive support at every step of the application process. I work closely with a limited number of diverse, motivated US and international clients each year. Working together, you will be able to: o Identify strategies and action plans for preparing your strongest candidacy o Write essays that elevate you from being a qualified applicant to a compelling one o Navigate the admission process with less stress and uncertainty and better outcomes

I've helped hundreds of candidates navigate the CBS admissions process. I know exactly what you need to craft a strong profile, develop your story, and write killer essays. If you bring a decent GPA and strong test scores I can help you get to the next step of securing an interview. As an undergrad English major I'm well suited to help you craft strong stories in your essays that will make you standout from the crowd. While a lot of my coaching is for students applying to CBS, I've helped candidates with essays for every top program including: HBS, Stanford, Booth, Wharton, NYU, McCombs, Darden, LBS, and so on. I've worked for & with colleagues that have gone to every top school and have visited most of the campus locations myself during my own application cycle so I know what the different programs are looking for and can help you work that into your story. Please reach out to see how I can help you strengthen your profile and get into your dream program!

With MBA Ad Comm experience, I have helped 200+ MBA applicants get into every M7 school and many of the top 25. I graduated from Chicago Booth with high honors, scoring a GMAT of 770 (99th percentile). I have been a top coach on Leland the last two years (since joining) and am ranked in the top 5 best admissions consulting firms on Poets and Quants for 2025. • Chicago Booth Alum, Class of 2020 • MBA Admissions Fellow, interviewing and reviewing the applications and resumes of nearly 100 applicants • Coaching | Advised multiple admits into Chicago Booth, HBS, Wharton, Kellogg, MIT Sloan, Stanford GSB, Yale SOM, and more (10+ Leland reviews), while teaching multiple courses through Leland • GMAT / Test-Taking | Scored 770 (99th percentile), but more importantly I've mastered my ability to help others master the core concepts and identify patterns to boost their score quickly • Interview Training | I'm interview-trained for McKinsey, allowing me to give high-quality mock interviews for MBBs and any MBA program • I have extensive experience working with international applicants and am an expert at helping applicants with gaps in their application or a non-traditional background get admitted. If you're looking for personalized guidance and proven strategies to navigate the MBA admissions process, I'm here to help. Let's connect and discuss how I can support you in getting that acceptance phone call.

I have extensive experience coaching across all aspects of MBA admissions: 1. I have helped 30+ students get into top MBA programs, including HBS, Stanford GSB, Wharton, etc. I also have experience helping several students get into top executive or non-traditional programs (Stanford MSx, Wharton EMBA, etc.). 2. I am a former professional writer, and I have helped almost all of my students brainstorm, recraft, tune, and edit their essays. This is primarily what I help with for MBA applications. 3. I spent years tutoring standardized tests (GRE, GMAT, SAT). While I no longer offer tutoring services, I can help you develop a study plan and tackle weak points. 4. I am a professional resume reviewer for both MBA admissions and consulting applications. 5. Additionally, I was part if the Student Admissions Program for the Wharton MBA program

I graduated from Wharton's MBA program and the Harvard Kennedy School's Masters of Public Administration program. I have expertise in dual-degree applicants, candidates with traditional backgrounds looking to differentiate their application, and candidates committed to mission-oriented careers. I have 5 prior years of formally coaching full-time and deferred-applicants with over 75 students accepted to M7 programs. I have deep experience with candidates from traditional backgrounds in finance (IBD + PE + Real Estate), consulting (healthcare + CPG), and social impact looking to advance within their industries & make pivots. I am particularly passionate about linking the seemingly unrelated pieces of candidate's backgrounds into a clear through line. I love meeting the Leland community, so please feel free to schedule an intro call!

Admissions officer at Stanford GSB for five years, reviewing over 10,000 applications, conducting information sessions, and helping with strategy. I also initiated and launched the first outreach conference recruiting female applicants to the GSB. After leaving Stanford, I ran a couple of nonprofits, then returned to the admissions world as a consultant in 2014. Though I have worked with applicants to a variety of business-related programs, I focus on the MBA because I bring the most value. I love working with clients as they go through the process, seeing them gain confidence in their own voice and producing applications that reflect their motivations and values. Although most of my clients are applying to the M7, I'm happy to offer guidance to those considering other schools, including programs outside the United States such as LBS, Oxford Said, Cambridge Judge, and INSEAD.

I'm an admit of the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Having read over dozens of essays and resumes from prospective applicants, and drawing from my own successful application journey, I have a deep understanding of what makes a truly stellar application, including the lesser known tips and tricks that one really only picks up from having gone through the process. In my own application to Stanford GSB, and other top schools, I approached every little detail methodically and carefully. I'm committed to supporting your application with this same type of intentionality and thoughtfulness. Your success is my mission. Wherever you are in the process, whatever your background may be, I'm excited to meet you where you're at and serve as a resource for you!

MBA COACHING, WRITING EXPERTISE & CAREER • Stanford GSB Alum, Class of 2021 -- see relevant experience sets below: • Coaching | Advised 300+ admits into Stanford GSB, HBS, Wharton, Kellogg, MIT Sloan, INSEAD, Haas, and more (see ~100 Leland reviews), while teaching multiple courses through Leland • Professional Writing | Speechwriting in public policy & political environments, Lead Editor for Nondisclosure (Stanford GSB's magazine) and Managing Editor for the Stanford International Policy Review • GMAT / Test-Taking | Scored in the highest percentile of GMAT test-takers, but more importantly I've honed my ability to help others extrapolate top test-testing strategies in the areas they're weakest • Interview Training | I'm interview-trained for McKinsey, allowing me to give high-quality mock interviews for MBBs and any MBA program • Additional Writing | Crafting op-eds, ghostwriting for major publications, developing a fictional short story collection, policy deep dives, a book on chess applications to life, and application essays of all sorts CAREER • What I'm Doing Now | Based in NYC, building a publication 'Staying Human', working on a stealth, marketplace startup, playing chess profssionally, and advising while a slate of Seed to Series C startups through Elevate LLC • Public Policy | Prior to Stanford, worked on the Policy Team for the Chicago Mayor's Office under Mayor Rahm Emanuel, focusing on 5G infrastructure policy, criminal justice policy, and citywide corporate/economic development deals • McKinsey | Before policy, worked at McKinsey & Co , with casework focused on job training for the formerly incarcerated and workforce development for at-risk youth • PE / VC / Startup Advising | After Stanford, worked in Bain's Private Equity Group on various due diliegences, managed deals with several venture capital firms, and advised multiple startups on growth and go-to-market strategy