MBA/MD Admissions Consultants

Welcome to my profile! As a Chicago Booth MBA and a former consultant at Boston Consulting Group, I bring a wealth of experience in both business strategy and admissions. I have a proven track record of helping over 50 MBA hopefuls get into top US and European MBA programs as an admissions consultant, and of helping 200 students excel in their GMAT preparation as Quantitative Reasoning Director at Merchant GMAT & Admissions, contributing to record-breaking average scores. My insights from working closely with Booth's admissions team as Argentina Country Captain let me guide you through the intricate MBA application process. Let's work together to craft a compelling application that stands out. Reach out to start your journey to a top MBA program! Some of my qualifications: - Secured offers from M7 MBAs ---- Secured a Booth merit-based scholarship worth $40,000+ - Secured a fellowship with Management Leadership for Tomorrow - Did pre-MBA recruiting, securing four top offers (BCG, EY-Parthenon, Deloitte and Gartner) BEFORE starting classes at Chicago Booth ---- Signed with BCG - Coached 50+ clients as an admissions consultant - Coached 450+ students on the GMAT I was extremely efficient and successful during my application phase, let me coach you to do the same!

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

I have been coaching MBA applicants for almost 15 years! I also served as an admissions reader for Michigan Ross, and I bring this experience to help you put your best application forward!

🏆 RECIPIENT OF LELAND TOP COACH AWARD 2026 🏆 ✨FALL SPECIAL: I’m currently offering special limited time pricing for my MBA and Masters Application Packages (including unlimited hours)! Check out my packages or DM me for details. ✨WHY CHOOSE MELANIE? When you work with me, you're partnering with an insider who has firsthand knowledge of what top MBA programs like Columbia, Harvard, and Stanford are looking for. As a Columbia MBA alumna, former MBA Admissions Interviewer, former McKinsey consultant, and professional ICF-certified Executive Coach, I offer a holistic coaching approach that combines admissions expertise with expert storytelling, giving you an edge over the competition. Here’s why I’m the best choice for your MBA journey: • 🎓MBA, M7, & COLUMBIA EXPERT: I have proven results at every M7 school and many Top 25 programs. As a CBS MBA alumna and former MBA Admissions Interviewer, I have insider knowledge of what top-tier schools seek. My experience in admissions interviewing gives me the unique perspective of understanding how to effectively position applicants for success. • ✍️ESSAY CONCIERGE: I’m not just a coach - I’m a writer and editor with an eye for detail. With years of experience writing successful MBA essays, career coaching courses, and crafting works of fiction, I bring a keen sense of storytelling, language mastery, and technical precision to every essay I work on. Whether it’s structure, flow, or word choice, I’ll make sure your essay is perfectly polished and reflects your best self. Through powerful storytelling, I help them build a brand that truly stands out in the MBA admissions process. We fine tune every written piece of your application, including essay, resumes, short-answers, and even LinkedIn profiles! • 🚀PROVEN RESULTS: I’ve helped 200+ applicants secure spots at M7 schools (as well as top 25 programs), and I’m proud to be part of the top 4 ranked firm on Poets & Quants for 2025. My clients’ success stories are a testament to the tailored strategies and guidance I provide. • 🎯PROFESSIONAL COACH: With over 10 years of coaching experience, I’m not just an admissions consultant—I’m an ICF-certified Executive Coach & Life Coach. My approach goes beyond getting you into business school; I focus on your MBA branding, leadership development, and executive presence to prepare you for the journey ahead. ✨WHO I WORK WITH: • Traditional and Non-Traditional Candidates • Diverse Applicants including POC, Veterans, and LGBTQIA+ • Candidates with High and Low Test Scores • Full-Time, Part-Time, Columbia's J-Term, Deferred, and EMBA (Executive MBA) Candidates ✨PROVEN SUCCESS AT THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: • Columbia Business School (CBS) • Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) • Harvard Business School (HBS) • University of Pennsylvania Wharton • Northwestern Kellogg School of Management • Chicago Booth School of Business • MIT Sloan School of Management • NYU Stern School of Business • London Business School (LBS) • INSEAD • University of California, Berkeley (Haas) • Yale School of Management • Michigan's Ross School of Business • Darden School of Business (UVA) • Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth • Duke's Fuqua School of Business • Cornell University Johnson School of Management • Emory University Goizueta Business School • Jones Graduate School of Business (Rice) • University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business • University of Texas, Austin, McCombs • University of California, Los Angeles, Anderson ✨LET'S GET YOU INTO YOUR DREAM MBA PROGRAM: Ready to transform your MBA aspirations into reality? Contact me for your free consultation today. With my insider knowledge, executive coaching expertise, and essay-writing mastery, I’ll help you craft a standout application that positions you for success—both in admissions and beyond.

🏆 Selected as one of the Top 5 Coaches on Leland 🏆 During my time inside the admissions office at Chicago Booth, I learned a hard truth that drives my work today. There is a massive gap between being qualified for an MBA and actually getting admitted. Most of you are qualified for admissions to one of the top business schools in the world. You have the grades and the work experience (or internships, in the case of Deferred appicants). But for the last 17 years, my job has been to help applicants move from the 'qualified' pile to the 'accepted' pile. I do that by helping you strip away the generic business jargon, find your core story, and build a narrative that actually sticks in the memory of an admissions officer. As a member of AIGAC, I’m constantly talking to schools to understand what they are looking for this specific cycle. For MBA applicants, the bar is incredibly high because you are selling potential, not just history. My goal is to help you figure out how to prove that potential.

I've been coaching MBA and EMBA applicants since 2006 — which means I've worked through more admissions cycles, essay prompts, and school pivots than I can count. Poets & Quants has recognized me as a Top Consultant three times. Clients have called the work "transformative" and "the best help I never knew I needed." What I actually do: I help people find their story. Not the version they think they're supposed to tell, but the one that's true and specific and stops an admissions reader cold. That's harder than it sounds, and it's where most applications fall apart. My background is unusual for this field. I'm a Columbia MBA and a Columbia English major — and a former magazine editor. I'm also an ICF-certified leadership coach. That combination means I bring genuine writing craft and genuine coaching depth to every engagement, not just admissions strategy. My clients have come from consulting, banking, medicine, the military, entrepreneurship, filmmaking, and family business. They've gone on to HBS, Stanford, Wharton, Columbia, and programs across Europe and Asia. I work in English and Italian.

Why I’m Qualified to Be Your Admissions Coach: With over 15 years of experience as a former director of Master's and MBA admissions, I have an insider's understanding of what top-tier business schools look for in applicants. I’ve worked with clients targeting prestigious schools like Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, and INSEAD, helping them navigate the complexities of the application process with personalized strategies. As the founder of The Admission Concierge, a boutique MBA consulting firm, I specialize in crafting compelling narratives, refining resumes, and guiding clients through every aspect of the MBA journey—whether it’s essay writing, interview coaching, or school selection. My approach is data-driven, hands-on, and tailored to each client's unique story, ensuring they stand out in competitive applicant pools. I also bring an academic background with a Ph.D. from the University of Paris, giving me a well-rounded perspective for applicants in both MBA and advanced-degree programs. Whether you’re applying for a top MBA program or considering a dual-degree, my goal is to guide you with clarity, confidence, and a strategic edge to make your application shine.

I’m a Wharton MBA, former Wharton Admissions Fellow, and Founder of The Ivy Journey (theivyjourney.com/mba), where I’ve spent 15+ years helping ambitious applicants earn admission to top MBA programs. My clients have earned admits to HBS, Stanford GSB, Wharton, MIT Sloan, Columbia, Kellogg, Booth, Haas, Yale SOM, LBS, INSEAD, and other top US, UK & EU programs. I’m especially strong at helping applicants turn complex, nonlinear, or highly competitive backgrounds into clear, differentiated MBA stories. I’ve worked with candidates from consulting, banking/finance, tech, product, healthcare, entrepreneurship, family business, nonprofit, government, and international backgrounds, including many applicants navigating U.S. MBA admissions from Asian, European, and other global markets. My edge is the combination of admissions judgment and career strategy. As a former Wharton admissions fellow, I understand how admissions readers evaluate leadership, career logic, school fit, recommendations, interviews, and personal differentiation. As a career coach and former consultant/hiring manager, I also help clients build MBA narratives that make sense beyond admission: why this degree, why now, why this school, and why your goals are credible. I work best with applicants who want thoughtful, strategic, high-touch coaching. I’ll help you pressure-test your school list, sharpen your positioning, build a compelling resume, craft authentic essays that tell your unique story, prepare recommenders, and walk into interviews with clarity and confidence.

With over twenty years of multifaceted professional and MBA admissions consulting experience, I bring a perspective that most consultants simply can’t replicate. My career has taken me from Deloitte’s Strategy & Operations practice and Samsung’s Global Strategy Group in Seoul to the operating teams of multiple tech startups and the halls of higher education, where I have coached MBA candidates at UCLA Anderson and USC Marshall. I understand what admissions committees at top programs are looking for, because I’ve lived the kinds of careers they want to see and I know how to help you frame your story in the most compelling way possible. My commitment is to help you articulate your unique story and personal brand in an authentic and engaging way. I ensure that every aspect of your application, from essays and resumes to recommendations and interviews, reflects your full potential. Whether you need comprehensive end-to-end guidance or targeted assistance with a specific component, I provide honest, actionable feedback and individualized hands-on support. I work with a select group of clients each cycle—to give each engagement the attention it deserves and ensure that no one gets lost in the shuffle. The results speak for themselves: ➤ 100% of clients get M7 interviews ➤ 100% of clients interview with one or more M7 programs ➤ 90% of clients admitted to one or more M7 programs ➤ Clients admitted to HBS, Stanford GSB, Wharton, Kellogg, Booth, MIT Sloan, CBS, Berkeley Haas, NYU Stern, Yale SOM, Fuqua, and Tuck I hold an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and a BA from Swarthmore College.

As a Columbia Business School Admit with a background in Finance and Social Impact, I want to help driven and diverse (geography, background, etc.) candidates throughout their MBA journeys and beyond. Having recently gone through the process myself, I have gained the tools and knowledge to craft compelling, authentic applications that speak to admissions teams. No matter where you are in the process, let’s work together to tell your story—book an intro call today!