Online MBA Admissions Experts

With an MBA from the prestigious Haas School of Business and over 10 years of experience as a Senior Admissions Counselor at Stratus Admissions Counseling, I have guided 100+ applicants to success in their MBA journeys. My expertise lies in helping clients develop a personal brand strategy, identify the best programs for their goals, and navigate the entire application process, including mock interviews and waitlist strategy. As a former Alumni Admissions Interviewer at Haas and active AIGAC member, I bring insider knowledge of what top programs are looking for. Let's work together to craft a compelling application that stands out. Reach out to start your path to a top MBA program today!

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.

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

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

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.

I'm a Princeton undergrad and UC Berkeley Haas MBA with 10 years of professional experience coaching over 200 applicants to top programs. As someone who initially struggled with the MBA admissions process and with navigating my early career path, I am passionate about helping others have a smoother and more purpose-driven experience. While my background is in investments, product, and marketing, I love working with applicants from all industries and functions (variety is the spice of life!) I am also highly plugged into the world of entrepreneurship through my work in venture investing focused on UC Berkeley affiliated startups. MBA ADMISSIONS EXPERIENCE - Leland Top MBA Coach in 2026, 2025, and 2021. Leland Top 50 Coach (all categories) in 2024. - Began coaching professionally in 2017 with Stacy Blackman Consulting, where I was trained and mentored by former M7 AdCom members - Coached 200+ clients who have been admitted to Wharton, Kellogg, Sloan, Columbia, Stanford, Harvard, Haas, Booth, Ross, Tuck, Fuqua, Stern, LBS, Oxford, and many more; clients have received >$3M in scholarships - First-hand experience as the student VP of Admissions at Haas (2014-2015) and also served as VP of New Student Orientation (2013-2014) - Extensive experience helping clients with low GPAs, below median test scores, unemployment, etc. (and can personally empathize with some of these challenges) - Specialized knowledge of top part-time programs, including Haas, Booth, Kellogg, and Anderson COACHING COMPETENCE - Decades of experience giving others constructive feedback on their writing and speaking in corporate, editorial, and admissions coaching settings - Find personal fulfillment in mentoring: mentored financially disadvantaged youth in San Francisco on college applications and currently mentor small groups of college women in Utah on career development, higher education, and leadership - Brutally honest with my clients about their chances rather than saying "of course I can get you into XYZ school" (but will never discourage someone from applying to a reach program if I think there’s a chance!) - Known for collegial, astute, and supportive coaching style, as exemplified by one former client stating: “Emily is so much more than an MBA Admissions Consultant. She's a mentor, friend, and on many occasions...a therapist.” MARKETING & WRITING EXPERTISE - Held a variety of product marketing, product management, and investor relations roles over my 19 year corporate career, which honed my positioning and messaging skills (if I can make a boring old mutual fund compelling, think of what I can do for you!) - More creative writing pursuits include penning a #1 Amazon Bestselling book for first time moms in 2020 and serving as a sports writer for The Daily Princetonian in college

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!

I have firsthand experience crafting compelling applications to top business schools and believe in strategic differentiation to stand out amongst the crowd (without appearing risky) in your MBA application. Key reasons I'm qualified to provide support: Professional Experience: I have work experience at MBB consulting firms, tech startups, and mature companies. I understand how to position these experiences to demonstrate viability for an MBA, having personally received admission to 3 M7 schools. Education: I hold a Bachelor’s degree in both English Language & Literature and Economics from the University of Chicago, with extensive coursework in personal writing. Admissions Insight: As a former member of the UChicago Undergraduate College of Admissions, I have behind-the-scenes insights into how candidates are reviewed and evaluated. Technology Expertise: I have a deep understanding of how you can maximize AI and digital tools to enhance your application.

As a highly qualified MBA coach with years of experience, I have a deep understanding of the MBA admissions process and post MBA career recruitment. I've successfully helped many individuals get into top MBA programs, leveraging my insights to stand out in the competitive landscape. I provide tailored coaching and interview preparation, guiding clients to develop the best narrative for their MBA applications. Let's work together to elevate your career and unlock your path to success!

I’ve been a professional MBA coach for nine years, helping U.S. and international applicants gain admission to every M7 school, all other top 20 U.S. programs, and leading European schools such as LBS, INSEAD, IESE, HEC, Oxford, and Cambridge. I have a deep love for storytelling and a talent for empowering candidates to unlock their authentic voices by exploring their backgrounds, passions, and aspirations. My clients come from a wide range of industries and countries, including many with non-traditional profiles, second-language challenges, or complex stories to tell. What excites me most is aiding you in identifying the driving force that connects your past, present, and future and turning that into a powerful, memorable, and, most importantly, successful application. To see a walk-through of my Identity Mapping MBA application process, watch my Leland+ Event 'Complete MBA Step-by-Step Application Plan, Timeline & Checklist' included in my resource section above, or copy and paste this link: https://www.joinleland.com/content/item/urn:contentEntry:690d79e16bbf58f22f188197. In my experience, the two most essential elements for being accepted to your MBA dream school are knowing yourself and knowing your target programs. Then, you must demonstrate that knowledge throughout your application. We’ll begin by examining who you are and who you want to become, and then use that foundation to build your profile. With my guidance, you will conduct deep, targeted research into your top schools, looking beyond rankings and stereotypes to understand what the institutions truly offer. You will attend events, speak with students and alumni, and reflect on how your goals, values, and experiences align with each school’s distinctive culture. Together, we’ll translate that insight into a powerful narrative that sets you apart. Every piece of your application (resume, essays, short answers, and additional components) will be carefully crafted to present a cohesive and compelling message that showcases your qualifications and the unique value you offer. I’ve developed a coaching style that is both supportive and rigorous, especially for interview preparation, which can be one of the most stressful parts of the MBA journey. You’ll practice with realistic, school-specific mock interviews and receive direct actionable feedback. We will refine your answers, strengthen your delivery, and develop an interview method that resonates with your interviewers. As AI becomes more prevalent in the MBA process, particularly in school research, writing, and even interview preparation, I help clients use it strategically. Whether you're gathering information on program culture, refining your writing to reduce redundancy and sharpen clarity, or generating questions for mock interviews, I treat AI as a tool, not a shortcut. Your voice will always lead the way. My priority is to make certain your submission remains genuine and unmistakably human. Before becoming an MBA consultant, I built a career in writing, communication, and cross-cultural instruction across various sectors, experience that directly informs my coaching today. In government, I created original content and edited colleagues’ work for the United States Information Agency (USIA). In the private sector, I wrote advertising and promotional copy for both boutique firms and Fortune 500 companies. In Thailand, I collaborated with a team to design, implement, and teach corporate training programs for non-native English speakers employed by American and British companies. As an English teacher, I created custom learning courses to facilitate learners’ success in global companies. Academically, I was invited to apply to college at age 15 based on my first-in-class ranking, strong test scores, and academic record. I left high school after 10th grade and began university early, earning a scholarship, and graduating cum laude. My methodology is thoughtful, structured, and highly collaborative. This work is personal for me, I love writing and helping people tell their stories. I believe the strongest candidacies are built on self-awareness and purpose. Clients often tell me that our sessions lead them to see their narrative in a new light and this clarity impacts their lives and how they perceive their role in the world. BONUS: My business and life partner Jesse (https://www.joinleland.com/coach/jesse-l-1/mba) is also a professional MBA admissions coach, and we regularly review each other’s clients’ applications. This means you’ll benefit from a second expert perspective at no extra cost. Ready to build your powerful and authentic MBA application together? Schedule a free intro call! I’d love to learn more about you and how I can help. (If you don't see a good time for you available already, please message me your desired day and time ranges.)