MBA Admissions Consultants, Events, & Resources

I'm an MIT grad and current MBA student at Columbia Business School, but more importantly, I've spent years evaluating what makes candidates truly stand out. My background in buy-side equity research at firms like T. Rowe Price and BlackRock taught me to identify what's genuinely differentiated, and that skill translates directly to helping you craft a compelling MBA application. I've recently been through the process you're facing. I know what it takes to get into a top program, how to articulate your career narrative when the stakes are high, and how to position yourself authentically in a sea of high-achievers. Whether you're coming from finance, tech, consulting, or a non-traditional background, I genuinely believe every candidate has a unique value proposition. We just need to uncover it and communicate it effectively. Beyond the essays, I'm here to help you think strategically about school selection, interview preparation, and how to tell your story in a way that resonates with admissions committees. No cookie-cutter advice. No generic frameworks. Just honest conversation about your strengths, your goals, and how to present the best version of yourself. Let's make this process feel less overwhelming and more like the strategic challenge it is. You've got this. I'm just here to help you show it.

I have completed my MBA at Stanford and an MPA at the Harvard Kennedy School, and I was a Recruiting Director for BCG Boston's Empower program - a recruiting program focusing on Black and Latinx MBA candidates. I have a lot of experience supporting individuals with non-traditional backgrounds who are considering an MBA or a career in consulting. I have also supported a lot of candidates from Latin America, and coming from minority backgrounds. Since 2017, I have advised 10+ individuals applying to top MBA programs. For example, during my time at BCG, I have helped associates applying to top schools, deciding whether to pursue a dual-degree, choosing schools etc. I have also supported members of other networks who were interested in applying, especially from Latin America. Some of my coachees have been admitted to top schools, such as Stanford, MIT, HBS, Wharton and others.

Welcome to my profile! As a current MBA student at the University of Pennsylvania and a seasoned finance professional, I bring a wealth of experience to the table. My background includes working as an Investment Banking Associate at Goldman Sachs, where I honed my skills in leveraged finance and equity capital markets. I now work in private equity at Redbird Capital Partners. I am passionate about helping aspiring MBA candidates navigate the competitive admissions process, drawing on my own experiences and insights. Whether you need guidance on application strategy, essay writing, or interview preparation, I'm here to help you succeed. Let's connect and craft a winning application together!

I'm Ryan, a former musician turned consultant turned Duke Fuqua MBA, now working in finance at State Street in Boston. My journey to business school was driven by a mission to leave communities better than I found them—through work in climate/sustainability, impact investing, and international development. As the first in my family and network to pursue an MBA, I had to navigate the application process largely on my own. Now, I help others avoid the guesswork. Since graduating, I've worked with a dozen prospective students on every stage of the MBA journey—crafting applications, preparing for interviews, and choosing between top programs like Duke, Columbia, MIT, Cornell, and UVA. My insights have even been featured by Fuqua in their student blog: Read more here (https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/duke-mba/2024/03/21/ryan-vanslyke/knowing-fuqua-was-the-right-fit-for-my-mba). If you're looking for guidance from someone who's been in your shoes, let’s connect—I’d love to help you get into the school of your dreams!

I bring both personal experience and a track record of helping others successfully navigate competitive graduate admissions. I was admitted to Harvard Business School (attending in Fall 2026) and hold a Master of Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School, and I have spent years helping applicants translate complex, non-linear experiences into compelling application narratives. My background is intentionally non-traditional. I have worked across public policy, social impact, and healthcare innovation, and I understand how challenging it can be to present an unconventional path in a way that resonates with admissions committees. I specialize in helping applicants connect the dots across their experiences — whether they are coming from nonprofits, government, healthcare, startups, or other non-traditional industries — and turning those experiences into clear, cohesive stories about leadership, impact, and future goals. In addition to my own admissions experience, I have coached multiple applicants through competitive graduate admissions processes, including helping candidates secure admission to top MBA and other Master’s programs. Through this work I’ve developed a structured approach to application strategy: identifying the core themes in a candidate’s story, aligning those themes with what schools are looking for, and helping applicants communicate their experiences with clarity and authenticity. My coaching focuses not just on editing essays, but on helping applicants build a strong overall narrative across their resume, essays, and interviews so that every part of the application reinforces the same clear story about who they are and the impact they want to have. More than anything, I work to help applicants feel confident in themselves and their applications throughout the process. I know how daunting and stressful applying can be and I am here to try to make the process easier!

Welcome to my profile! As an MBA candidate at Harvard Business School and a graduate of Brown University, I bring a wealth of experience in strategy, product management, and AI/ML operations from top companies like Apple and Cruise. My journey has equipped me with the insights and skills to help you navigate the competitive MBA admissions process. I have successfully coached five clients, leveraging my firsthand experience to refine their applications and interview strategies. Let's work together to craft a compelling application that stands out.

Graduated from Kellogg School of Management's Full-time MBA program in 2018 - Accepted to 3 Top Tier MBA schools, received significant scholarships to all schools ($250k in total) and achieved 750 GMAT score. I have personal experience advising co-workers and peers on applications, including resume review, essays, and interviews. Post-Kellogg, I served as an Alumni interviewer and have a unique perspective into what it takes to stand out and how to best prepare.

Having been through the deferred MBA application myself and helping others across multiple application periods, I've come to develop a keen sense as to how to best represent STEM focused undergrads who want to pursue a potential MBA from a T7 school. Additionally, having personal relationships with both HBS and MIT Sloan, I've been able to better understand from the lens of the AO team, how to best maximize ones chances.

Former Assoc. Director of Admissions at UC Irvine

I have helped numerous student into Northwestern Kellogg, Duke Fuqua, MIT Sloan, Yale School of Management, LBS, INSEAD and several other top MBA programs. I specialize in helping international students and professionals looking to pivot into MBA programs and careers in the US. I offer a comprehensive service that includes school selection strategy, resume creation, personal statement workshop, recommendations, interview preparation, and even waitlist strategy, should you ever need it! Get in touch for a fully personalized journey to your MBA dreams.