Deferred MBA Admissions Coaches

Hey! I’m Michael, a Wharton MBA and Forbes 30 Under 30 founder who’s navigated a nontraditional path into business school and beyond. Before Wharton, I left medical school to build a company from scratch, growing it into one of the largest Asian-centric digital media brands in the world. Going through that journey shaped how I approached my own MBA applications and how I think about storytelling, positioning, and credibility in competitive admissions processes. I know firsthand that strong MBA applications are not about checking boxes or copying templates. They’re about clearly articulating your story, your decisions, and where you’re headed next. At Wharton, I saw how applicants from unconventional backgrounds can stand out when they frame their experiences with honesty, clarity, and intention. I also understand how confusing it can be to decide whether business school is right for you, how to choose programs, and how to translate your past into a compelling narrative for admissions committees. I work with applicants who want thoughtful, high-touch guidance, especially those coming from nontraditional backgrounds, career pivots, or entrepreneurial paths and have helped my clients gain admission to the top business schools in the world. My focus is on helping you craft a clear, authentic MBA narrative, refine your essays, and present your experiences in a way that feels true to you while still resonating with top programs. If you’re looking to tell your story with confidence and submit an application you genuinely stand behind, I’d love to help you through the process.

Welcome to my profile! As a future Harvard Business School MBA candidate through the prestigious 2+2 program, I bring a unique blend of academic and professional experience to my coaching. With a background in Medicine, Health and Society, Economics, and Data Science from Vanderbilt University, I have honed my skills in product management and operations through roles at Capital One and as a Co-founder & COO at Clab AI. My diverse experience allows me to offer strategic insights and personalized guidance to aspiring MBA candidates. Whether you need help with application strategy, essay crafting, or interview preparation, I'm here to help you navigate the competitive admissions process. Let's work together to make your MBA dreams a reality!

Over the past several years at Leland, I’ve personally chatted with thousands of prospective MBA applicants, attended hundreds of free admissions events, and participated in dozens of MBA classes and bootcamps. These experiences have given me a unique lens into the evolving landscape of business school admissions and what it takes to craft a powerful, compelling application. I specialize in helping candidates navigate the MBA admissions process with strategy and confidence. I was admitted to both Kellogg and MIT Sloan, and while at Kellogg, I served on the Student Admissions Committee—interviewing prospective students and gaining firsthand insight into what top programs value most. Since then, I’ve coached dozens of applicants to successful outcomes at M7 and other top-tier programs. Whether you're refining your personal story, tackling essay drafts, or preparing for interviews, I’d love to help you put together an application that truly stands out.

Welcome to my profile! As a Duke Fuqua MBA graduate and former McKinsey Consultant, I bring a wealth of experience in MBA admissions coaching. I've successfully guided numerous clients through the MBA admissions process, leveraging my own experience as an Admission Fellow at Duke and insights to help them craft compelling applications. Whether you need help with application strategy, essay writing, or interview preparation, I'm here to support you every step of the way. Let's work together to make your MBA dreams a reality!

Hi, I’m Karl — an MBA candidate at Kellogg with background in marketing and strategy. Before Kellogg, I spent 7 years in the marketing field, where I mastered the art of storytelling. I believe a great MBA coach doesn’t just tell you what to do — they help you uncover your unique strengths and position them effectively to admissions officers, like a brand manager. I specialize in helping candidates prepare for the behavior interviews: telling their story with clarity and confidence, with MBA admissions interviewer training and experience conducting 40+ mock interviews. As an international student who successfully navigated the challenges of networking and ultimately landed a US MBB offer, I understand firsthand the hurdles of trying to get an offer in the US. If you’re looking for guidance on your MBA journey — from interview prep to strategy and positioning — I’d be excited to help you succeed.

I built a standout business school application by owning my story instead of trying to fit a template. I learned how to pair real leadership experiences with my core values to create a narrative that felt both authentic and compelling. That approach helped me earn admission to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, and Kellogg - including multiple merit scholarship offers. I now help applicants clarify what makes their journey unique and translate it into a focused, confident application story. You should work with me because I have lived both sides of the admissions process. I was rejected when I applied to deferred enrollment in college, and that experience pushed me to develop a smarter, more intentional strategy when I reapplied six years later. I know the sting of “no,” and I also know what it takes to turn that into a resounding “yes.” My goal is to help you avoid the mistakes I made and present the strongest, most authentic version of your story to top programs.

✨Coached 130+ clients from 25+ countries across various industries including consulting, investment banking, PE/VC, fintech, big tech, consumer goods, defense and aerospace, family business, law, military, mining, and social impact. ✨Client metrics from 2018 to 2025 (7 seasons) include:  ✓ More than 70% of clients admitted to, waitlisted by, and/or interviewed by HBS/Stanford GSB/Wharton  ✓ 85% of clients admitted to a top MBA program (U.S. & European)  ✓ 90% of clients admitted to or waitlisted by a top MBA program (U.S. & European)  ✓ 100% of clients admitted to or waitlisted by a top European program (INSEAD, LBS, Oxford, Cambridge, HEC Paris, IESE) ✨Worked with diverse set of clients that includes:  ✓ First-gen college students (FGCS)  ✓ First-gen Americans  ✓ Internationals (roughly 50% of clients to date)  ✓ LGBTQA  ✓ Military candidates  ✓ Non-traditional candidates making major career transitions  ✓ Third-culture kids (TCK) and adults ✨In 2022 and 2023, ranked among Poets & Quants top MBA Admission Consultants globally. To view testimonials, please see https://poetsandquants.com/consultant/jenifer-raver/ I’m happy to share my success metrics sheet and more testimonials with you – Just ask when you sign up for a free consultation with me!

Hi, I am a recent graduate of Harvard Business School (MBA '25) who received admittance and over $750k+ in combined scholarship dollars to HBS, Wharton, Chicago Booth, Yale SOM, and Fuqua. During my time at HBS, I was the co-VP of Admissions for the LASO, working hand-in-hand with the HBS admissions team to foster events and outreach. I came to HBS with over 5+years of investment banking experience at Citi and spent my MBA summer as a consultant at Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

Admitted to Wharton & MIT Sloan with merit scholarships + Offers from Google, McKinsey, & Goldman —all with a <3.5 GPA and <320 GRE. I specialize in helping high-achieving "underdog" candidates refine their story to get into their dream schools and companies. I believe that a strong narrative beats a perfect test score every time. If you have both, that's even better. My Stats: Me: <3.5 GPA, <320 GRE, Scholarship recipient at M7 schools. Multiple roles and promotions at Google. My Clients: Admitted to every M7 business school; Offers at top consulting, banking, and tech firms. My Approach: I offer a 100% individualized strategy geared toward your unique goals. Whether you are prepping for Case Interviews or drafting your MBA essays, we will craft a plan that highlights your specific superpowers. Have questions? Let's chat!

I founded Avanti Prep in 2017. I do this full time and have lived and breathed this space to a degree that very few others have. Thanks to volume discounts, most of my clients pay *$295 per hour*, which is $100 to $200 less per hour than my industry peers — for what past applicants believe is better service. Please read my reviews! REPUTATION - One of only 23 MBA admissions consultants with 100+ lifetime reviews on Poets & Quants - Frequently featured on top MBA admissions consultant lists (e.g., P&Q's top consultants / top boutique firms) - Among Poets & Quants' most reviewed consultants, I have one of the highest ratings and the lowest hourly rate ($295) SAVINGS - Other consultants with 100+ reviews charge an average of $495 per 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)​ 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 RESULTS - In 2023-24, my Harvard-Stanford acceptance rate was 47% — nearly 4.5x the baseline rate - My lifetime Harvard-Stanford Interview Prep success rate is 83% — let's prep together! - Our military/veteran clients' aggregate HSW acceptance rate is 73% — references available