Part-Time MBA Admissions Coaches

As a professional MBA Consultant, I deep dive into who you are to craft a first-rate application for acceptance to a top 20 MBA program. From typical applicants who need to stand out to unconventional applicants who need to fit in, we succeed together. I have helped 100% of my full-service clients gain acceptance to the top 30 MBA programs, with an impressive 95% acceptance rate to the top 20 programs. This does not mean I only work with applicants with high test scores, great academic records, and exceptional resumes. I have assisted many people with below-average GMAT/GREs, subpar GPAs, and hard-to-quantify work experience to get into top MBA programs. In addition to M7 and other top American programs, I have extensive experience and success in helping applicants gain admission to all top European schools. I also welcome international applicants, having guided many to successful admissions at both American and European institutions. The key to this success lies in getting to the heart of who you are. It’s a simple sentence but not a simple process. We both need to invest time and energy to objectively explore your past, core beliefs, current position, and future aspirations. We then use this life theme to create a profile that enhances your personal and professional narratives, ensuring you effectively showcase your distinctive strengths and experiences. Many clients have remarked that after this journey of self-discovery, they feel they know themselves far better, bringing a fresh sense of enthusiasm and inspiration into their lives. I have developed many tools to keep you on track during the often-taxing challenge of building a successful MBA application. Documents like the MBA Application Roadmap, MBA Application Schedule, and the Dual Lens Interview Preparation Chart guide and support you between our highly productive meetings. BONUS: My business and life partner, M (https://www.joinleland.com/coach/m-g/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. We may work on a case-by-case basis or cover all of the following in my all-inclusive package. • Profile optimization as described in the paragraph before the last. • Tailor your school selection, application timeline, round strategy, and more to your profile and goals, ensuring a targeted approach to your MBA journey. • Craft compelling and impactful MBA essays that truly resonate with admissions committees. From initial outlines to multiple draft revisions and a meticulous final edit, we will ensure that your story is memorable for all the right reasons. • Structure and refine various MBA application components, such as work experience descriptions, affiliations, achievements, certifications, research, publications, and awards. My systematic approach results in a cohesive and compelling application package. • Elevate your resume to meet the rigorous standards of MBA applications. Constructive critiques and expert edits will help you present your accomplishments and qualifications successfully. • Secure strong letters of recommendation that amplify your strengths and potential. I can guide you in selecting the right recommenders and obtaining compelling endorsements. • Evaluate every component of your MBA application in a meticulous final review to guarantee coherence, accuracy, and impact. This last layer of polish is crucial to submitting an application that not only meets but significantly exceeds admissions standards. • Ace your MBA interviews with confidence. Realistic school-specific mock interview sessions, tailored feedback, and personalized coaching will help you refine your presentation, responses, and overall interview strategy, guaranteeing you make a lasting impression. • Navigate the critical decisions after your MBA interviews with expert guidance. Whether you're weighing multiple offers, seeking to move up from a waitlist, or deciding on the best school for your goals, I provide strategic advice to make sure you enroll in the perfect MBA program for you. I limit my full-time clients to five per application round (this number may increase or decrease slightly depending on the round and the amount of assistance my clients need), ensuring dedicated and personalized service. My expertise lies in working with international applicants and helping them navigate the challenges of applying in a second language and to a different educational system. This ‘About Jesse’ section may seem as if it’s more about you than me, but that’s the point. You are the star; I am here to help you shine. Let's work together to create the best application possible and secure your spot in a top MBA program.

MBA COACHING, WRITING EXPERTISE & CAREER • Stanford GSB Alum, Class of 2021 -- see relevant experience sets below: • Coaching | Advised 250+ 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

While working in the University of Chicago Booth School of Business Admissions Office, I reviewed hundreds of applications and learned what distinguished the successful candidates from those who were merely qualified for admission. As a member of AIGAC (https://aigac.org/) I spend time with the admissions teams of the top business schools to better understand what each school is looking for each year. Over the last 15 years, I have successfully helped both US and non-US-based MBA applicants translate their rich global experiences into compelling, relevant, and memorable applications. I am especially proud of the scholarship offers that my clients have landed, summing to more than $500K over the years! I deliver a unique approach to MBA admissions consulting, combining the art of storytelling with persuasive communication techniques, thereby offering my clients a distinct advantage over other applicants. I also specializes in helping MBA candidates who want to transition to a new career path, guiding them on how to convince admissions officers that an MBA will put them on the path to success in a brand new field.

✨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, current 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 & COLUMBIA EXPERT: As a Columbia MBA alumna and current 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 over 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, 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 • 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 Melanie Espeland 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.

Top-rated MBA admissions coach with 11yrs experience and 85% success rate to H/W/S + M7. I’m ahead of the pack—the only MBA coach who’s built AI prompting tools to compliment one-on-one coaching. ->Through our conversations, I challenge you to discover your leadership voice by placing you in the "interview seat". I draw on my deep understanding of what admissions look for and what essay questions are truly asking for to help you create an authentic story and ambitious goals that stand out. Together we create a design session where we think deeply about personal and professional moments that show who you are. This leads to your strongest application, higher interview invitation rates, and admissions. -> Expertise in prompting generic ChatGPT/Anthropic AI to get non-generic admissions caliber feedback. I evolved my 1:1 coaching to include guidance on using AI effectively for clients who see it as a tool, but continue to provide traditional coaching for those who don't want it. I have developed prompts that remove the generic responses that general use AI tools provide, to make them essay specific and in your voice. All inclusive prompt platform available as well: Getmba.ai →I work with a small group of international/US candidates each round from diverse backgrounds (tech, entrepreneurs, consultants, family business) and personalities. I am available for my clients within short notice, but take less intro calls. Fastest way to get started, please introduce yourself with resume/linkedin and your concerns, purchase 1-2hrs for a foundational call - according to my reviews, it's a worthwhile investment. -> Most clients do not have clear goal when we begin working together, but end with clear career direction - and some have started companies based on the ideas we formulated together. -> My interests: Looking to work with candidates with unique AI based goals - in particular big ideas that are not yet clear or tangible. ->Unlimited Coaching package includes additional review by a second coach (you get 2 in 1 coaches!) ->Initial trial hourly purchases will be credited when you upgrade to Unlimited Coaching package* ->Optional access to insights that mimic hundreds of successful essays via AI writing tool ->I apply my superpower as an innovator and storyteller to walk clients through a framework that helps connect the dots of past experiences and future aspirations. We get to your “aha” moment and get you excited (and less anxious) about your own fantastic and bold story - this in turn elevates your competitiveness in MBA applications and interviews. -> IG: MBAcoach ->My expertise has been featured in Poets&Quants. ->I have advised professionals across 20 countries in complex industries including tech, finance, consulting, government, healthcare, biotech, entrepreneurship, renewable energy, military, and telco. Experience spans product management, strategy, operations, analytics, finance, sales, engineering and manufacturing. Areas of less expertise: Brand management, marketing, HR. ->Experienced with top 17 MBAs worldwide: Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Kellogg, MIT, Booth, Columbia, Tuck, Haas, Yale, NYU, UCLA, Ross, Duke, Fuqua, London Business School, Insead ->Personality traits: I recognize that applying to competitive MBAs is a serious process for you on top of a competitive full time job. I inject my naturally open and humorous personality to make the process feel a little less like work. Nimble and grounded are other core strengths, I know when to guide to create urgency and when to give you room to explore your creativity. ->Experienced with MBA, EMBA, PT MBA, & deferred admissions. ->Experienced with dual degrees MBA/MPP(A) or MBA/MA product, design, engineering, education, biotech. **See My Reactions Video to Burning MBA applicant questions **Poets&Quants Article: https://poetsandquants.com/2024/08/07/tips-to-nail-new-harvard-mba-essays/?pq-category=sbc&pq-category-2=sponsored-blogs *Note: initial up to 3 hour purchases will be credited toward upgrade to Unlimited Coaching packages

If you're looking for "nice", look elsewhere. With me, you'll get the hard truth. About your chances, about ways to improve those chances and, above all, the changes we need to make in order to maximize your chances at the top schools. My edits will be ruthless. I will insist you dive deeper and deeper into the narrative until we get it right. And I know "right". With over 15 years of working with Top 20 MBA applicants, I am an expert in identifying the areas where everyone needs help: telling their story in way that makes them stand out. When you're up against other Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Yale applicants, there is more to personal statements and supplemental essays than merely being outstanding. Your story has to stop the jaded admissions folks in their tracks and make them say, 'Wow! That's who we're looking for!" That's where I come in. I take a deep dive into getting to you know, your story, what makes you tick and what motivates you. With the help of our curated conversations, custom guides and 90-minute brainstorming sessions, I will help you squeeze out every last ounce of your potential and make it sing on the page. Working in this way is painstaking and time consuming, but my results speak for themselves. Each year, I get 90+% of my clients into at least one of their top 3 dream schools. This also means that I cannot take on many clients (usually 25-28 per application cycle). With so much personal attention given to each applicant and their multiple applications, it is impossible for me to maintain my high level of success if I take on more than 25-28 clients per year. This means three things: 1.) My schedule fills up quick 2.) I am by no means the cheapest consultant out there (in fact, I am on the more pricey side) 3.) The experience--and results--you have with me (yes, me, Avi...not some junior consultant) will be second to none. It's also worth noting that roughly half of my clients each year are those that had disappointing experiences working with other consultants. The most common complaint I hear from these disgruntled applicants is that they didn't feel like the consultant took a vested interest in their success, limiting their face to face time while discouraging them them from applying to top-tier schools. This way, the consultant looks like a big hero when you get admitted to schools you would have likely got admitted to without their "help". My specialty is M7 MBA programs and Top 20 Business Schools. In both cases, my job is to get you interviews at, and admitted to, schools that in some cases you have no business'' getting accepted to, and in other cases getting you scholarship money for your No. 1 school. Otherwise, what's the point, right? If I can't raise the stakes for you, what am I getting paid for? Background: Born and raised in New York City, I take a non-nonsense approach to consulting. We are going to work together for months, sometimes a full year, together, so I like to set the tone for an honest, direct style of communication that leads to winning applications, not inflated egos. To do this successfully, I have to part coach, part mentor, part drill sergeant and part therapist. But mostly your fearless leader in navigating the tricky terrain of college apps. I will hound you for draft deadlines, insist on better revisions and deeper reflection even when you feel it's "good enough". And I will keep you on a structured schedule so you don't feel overwhelmed. Lastly, in certain cases I won't be "nice". If I feel you're capable of better, I'll let you know. If something could work better in an application, I will point it out. I will not spare your feelings, we're here to win this admissions game. I have coached this game for going on 20 years. I am a former Admissions reader at Berkeley and writer for the LA Times. I have a receding hairline and a mean left hook (former boxer). I value honesty over flattery and ambition over modesty. Let's make this happen. Together. .

-Coached 200+ paid clients (at professional, market rates) through the MBA admissions process -Have placed multiple clients at each of the Top 25 US schools (~75% M7; ~95% M7 + S7; ~99% Top 25), as well as European schools (INSEAD, LBS, IESE, Oxford, Cambridge) -Accepted as member of AIGAC (Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultations) - an international organization that monitors ethics in admissions consulting and collaborates with Admissions Directors to discuss ideas and trends -Attend annual AIGAC Conference to network, learn about schools, and discuss admissions trends. Attended by AdCom Directors at most top US / European Schools as well as the CEO and / or head consultant(s) at many of the large, well-known firms -Worked at mbaMission for five years -Experience consulting to a range of candidates both from traditional feeder fields (e.g. Investment Banking, Consulting) to non-traditional fields (e.g. fitness coach, independent film director) -Strong business acumen with strategy experience at multiple Fortune 500 companies -Strong informal network of the top solo MBA consultants globally

As the former Associate Director of Admissions at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Skyler has a deep understanding of what it takes to stand out in a competitive applicant pool. During his time at UofC, he also oversaw the admissions process for the highly selective Civic Scholars Program, meaning he also has a unique expertise in advising non-traditional candidates. Skyler's coaching has helped candidates gain acceptance to every M7 business school, including Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton. With a personalized approach, he ensures each client strategically positions their unique strengths and goals to maximize their chances of success. Whether you are targeting top-tier programs or need guidance on crafting a compelling narrative, Skyler’s insider perspective and proven results make him an invaluable partner in your MBA journey.

Welcome to my profile! I'm Matt, an experienced MBA admissions coach with a proven track record of helping clients gain admission to top business schools. I hold an MBA from the Darden School of Business at UVA, where I honed my understanding of the admissions process and mentored prospective students. My expertise spans MBA-specific resume development, essay writing, recommender selection, and interview preparation. Let's work together to craft a standout application that resonates with admissions committees. Reach out today to start your journey to a top MBA program!