Traditional Full-Time MBA Admissions Coaches

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!

I took a very entrepreneurial and startup-focused route to business school. For those are interested in startups, venture capital, and investing, I'm excited for the opportunity to work with you!

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.

Welcome! As a current MBA student at Harvard Business School and a Princeton alum, I bring a wealth of experience in both business and admissions. My background includes a role as a Summer Consultant at Boston Consulting Group and extensive experience in recruitment and onboarding as a People Manager at Anheuser-Busch. I served on the admissions committee at Princeton, giving me unique insights into the application process. I am passionate about helping aspiring MBA candidates craft compelling applications that stand out. Let's work together to make your MBA dreams a reality!

Former Assoc. Director of Admissions at UC Irvine

Throughout my time at Northwestern Kellogg I have offered ongoing support to several applicants, including 2 of my closest friends with whom I reviewed application materials, advised on admissions test strategies, assisted in interview prep and ultimately helped them decide which program to attend.

Every person is unique, and I want to help you tell your story. My MBA clients have been admitted to Wharton (including Lauder), NYU, Berkeley, Columbia, Kellogg and more. As a former Kearney consultant and Wharton/Lauder admissions insider, I help candidates cut through the noise and present their authentic selves—because the best business leaders aren’t carbon copies. My approach blends 7+ years of management consulting rigor with hands-on recruiting and admissions experience. At Kearney, I led teams through complex transformations while honing my talent-spotting skills through recruiting efforts (turns out identifying great candidates isn’t so different from building high-performing consulting teams). And as a Wharton Admissions Fellow, I learned what really makes applications click (hint: it’s not just GMAT scores or fancy job titles). I strongly believe that diverse perspectives fuel innovation—a principle I now bring to my advisory work. As a Wharton Admissions Fellow and Lauder interviewer, I saw firsthand how powerful storytelling can bridge gaps in representation. I’m particularly passionate about helping underrepresented candidates navigate the MBA maze. Whether you’re switching industries, coming from a non-traditional background, or just don’t see yourself in those glossy MBA brochures, I’ll help you translate your unique experience into a compelling story. I am well-versed in global cultural immersion: I hold an MBA from Wharton and a Master of Arts in International Studies from Lauder, as well as Bachelor of Arts degrees in Communications and French from the University of Pennsylvania. Fluent in English, Mandarin, and French, I’ve seen how languages and identities shape leadership, and thus can help candidates turn their unique experiences into competitive advantages. Business schools need leaders who reflect the world—and I’m here to help you prove you belong in the room.

Shortly after earning my MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, I began coaching MBA applicants through one of the most transformative processes of their professional lives. Over the past 13+ years, I’ve helped candidates from around the world gain admission to top programs, My approach combines insider insight with personalized strategy. Having gone through the process myself and having worked with dozens of successful applicants, I understand what schools are really looking for beyond test scores and resumes. I help applicants uncover their most authentic stories, position their strengths with clarity, and bring polish and purpose to every element of their applications, from essays and recommendations to interviews and school selection. What sets my coaching apart is a balance of strategy and empathy. I believe that great applications are not just well-written—they are deeply personal and strategically aligned with a school’s values and culture. My goal is to ensure that every client feels confident, authentic, and prepared to put their best self forward.

As a Harvard Business School graduate, I know how transformative a top tier MBA degree can be. At the same time, I appreciate how challenging it can be to navigate the competitive admissions process. Nailing the GMAT/GRE, building a compelling narrative, developing a strategy for where to apply, and navigating interviews requires a tailored approach that is uniquely you. I come from an engineering background, working in medical devices for several years at Abbott prior to business school. After business school, I joined McKinsey where I helped companies navigate difficult strategic challenges largely in healthcare. My background in engineering and consulting equips me with a unique perspective to help you craft a distinctive application. Whether you need assistance with application strategy, essay writing, or interview preparation, I'm here to support you every step of the way. Let's connect and work together to achieve your MBA goals!