Online MBA Admissions Consultants

REPUTATION - Poets & Quants’ top consultant, satisfaction score, and/or boutique firm lists six of the last seven years - In 2026, Poets & Quants ranked Greg #9 in the U.S. and Avanti Prep one of the top boutique firms - Among P&Q's most reviewed consultants, I have one of the highest ratings and *the lowest hourly rate* AWARDS - The only firm (out of 25) to earn 3 medals in GMAT Club's "Best MBA Admissions Consultant" awards - The field included the industry's biggest names, making our 3-medal distinction even more noteworthy - Awards are based on an algorithmic analysis of 2,711 client reviews, Reddit discussions, and LinkedIn EXPERIENCE - One of only 23 MBA admissions consultants worldwide with 100+ lifetime reviews on Poets & Quants - In doing this full-time since 2017, I've amassed 7,000+ hours of client-facing admissions experience - These are key differentiators in a market defined by inconsistency and part-time practitioners SAVINGS - Other consultants with 100+ reviews charge an average of $495/hour — most of my clients pay $295 - Avanti Prep's rates "remain one of the least expensive in the industry" (Poets & Quants, 2023) - "Among the top advisors, the least expensive is Greg Guglielmo of Avanti Prep" (Poets & Quants, 2020)​ RESULTS - Our lifetime HBS-Stanford admit rate is 42% — nearly 5x the baseline for the top programs in the world - My HBS-Stanford Interview Prep success rate is 78% — this success extends up and down the rankings - Our military clients' aggregate H/S/W admit rate is 73% and Sloan/Booth/Kellogg admit rate is 88% SCHOLARSHIPS - Since Avanti Prep's founding in 2017, 53% of our clients' offers have included merit scholarship awards - In the last two years, our clients' average merit award was $84,176 per school (not total across schools) - Nearly two-thirds (64%) of our lifetime Booth admits have received merit scholarships (avg $65,086) TESTIMONIALS - My client reviews are among the most detailed and transparent you'll find anywhere ​​- I've worked with a lot of applicants who previously worked with other firms — read and compare! - Consistently lauded for providing an unmatched level of quality, commitment, and personal care

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.

With over a decade of experience, I’ve helped candidates break into the world’s most competitive MBA and master’s programs, consistently delivering results across applicant types and industries. My unique qualifications include: ◉ At Harvard Kennedy School, collaborated directly with the Head of Admissions to revamp evaluation processes and led formal knowledge-sharing with other policy programs and M7 MBA programs (e.g., HBS, Wharton, Booth) to align HKS selection standards with leading graduate admissions practices. This revamp gave me unique insights across top MBA programs to understand what they look for in their processes, a cross-school lens not many coaches have been afforded ◉ Leland Top Coach in 2023, 2024, and 2025 (since rankings began), with reviews attesting to strategic, high-touch coaching ◉ 150+ M7 admits and tens of millions in scholarship funding secured across MBA, MPP, and master’s programs ◉ Proven success with traditional (consulting, banking), deferred, joint-degree, international, and non-traditional candidates With deep insight into how top programs evaluate applicants, I specialize in translating client profiles into compelling narratives that highlight leadership, trajectory, and potential. Some big wins include helping an individual with a 3.2 GPA and 145 (Quant GRE) / 158 (Verbal GRE) secure admission to a top 5 MBA with 60% tuition scholarship and negotiating another candidate's M7 waitlist offer to admission with 100% tuition funding. Given my extensive client-facing experience in consulting and investment banking, I am extremely responsive and tailor my approach to fit each client's needs. I am especially helpful to: ◉ applicants from established pre-MBA careers (e.g., consulting, banking) hoping to differentiate themselves in a crowded field ◉ international applicants looking for guidance on the U.S.-specific nuances for MBAs ◉ non-traditional candidates without cookie-cutter GPAs or test scores looking to highlight strengths in other areas ◉ deferred candidates looking to show their future *potential* through storytelling ◉ candidates seeking scholarship funding ◉ underrepresented minorities, especially LGBTQ+ / BIPOC applicants, who want to work with someone with a shared lived experience ◉ joint / concurrent degree applicants ◉ candidates who want to make a great impression during interviews. I take special pride in one of my interviewers saying I was the best-prepared applicant he had seen in 10 years :) ◉ waitlisted or rejected applicants who want to make a compelling case for their candidacy through informal channels

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!

With 17 years of admissions consulting experience at a top-ranked firm, advising more than 1,000 candidates and guiding hundreds to M7 and other top-20 MBA programs, I offer a strategic partnership grounded in clarity, efficiency, and long-term career architecture. I have worked with candidates from every background and career path, and I understand how personal and high-stakes this process can feel. My work begins well before essays are drafted. Drawing on a 40-year career spanning engineering, corporate strategy, product leadership, and entrepreneurial ventures, I help you think through not only where you can gain admission, but where you can build meaningful, lasting leverage. Rather than focusing narrowly on one or two programs, we thoughtfully evaluate Full-Time, Part-Time, Executive, and alternative pathways to determine what truly aligns with your goals and life circumstances. I invest deeply in front-end strategy: clarifying your demonstrated strengths, modeling realistic career trajectories, and developing a clear positioning thesis. When that foundation is strong, the writing becomes more natural and efficient. I do not believe in endless cycles of edits. I believe in doing the hard thinking upfront so the messaging reflects who you genuinely are and what you bring. Whether you are a traditional applicant or come from a less conventional background, I serve as both strategic advisor and steady project partner. You can expect candid feedback, structured planning, and focused refinement that surfaces your authentic value. I will not write your essays for you, but I will challenge and support you in ways that help you see your story more clearly than you have before.

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.

I'm a London Business School alumnus and interviewer who started A1 MBA Consultants (A1mba.com). I have helped 120+ students, including ex-Formula 1 Race Driver Nicholas Latifi, get into their dream MBA program at schools such as HBS, Stanford GSB, Columbia, Wharton, Kellogg, London Business School, INSEAD, Oxford, Cambridge, and many more. I adopt a comprehensive and much more hands-on approach than your typical consultant, leveraging my insights into what adcoms want that I gained from being an interviewer. Partner with me and I will work to make your business school application journey a successful one.

Welcome to my profile! With over two decades of experience as an MBA Admissions Consultant, I have guided over 500 clients to gain admission to their dream programs, including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, and more. My background in marketing and as an award-winning creative writer allows me to help clients craft compelling narratives that bring their unique qualities and potential to light. My experience as a professional journalist helps me to ferret out your unique stories and find the best way to bring all the elements of your profile together. Whether you are applying to full-time, executive MBA, or dual-degree programs, or any other graduate degree, I'm here to be your partner in this journey. Let's work together to make your MBA dreams a reality!