Traditional Full-Time MBA Admissions Experts

Welcome to my profile! With over a decade of experience in MBA admissions, I have guided hundreds of clients to success at top programs such as Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, and MIT. As the Director of MBA Admissions at Stratus , I lead teams that have helped clients secure hundreds of thousands of dollars in merit scholarships and prestigious fellowships like the Forte and Consortium Fellowships. My background includes evaluating thousands of applications globally, ensuring I bring a wealth of knowledge to your application process. Whether you need help with application strategy, school selection, or interview preparation, I'm here to help you craft a standout application. Read more about me here https://poetsandquants.com/2025/07/02/mba-admissions-consulting-when-tough-love-matters/

I've helped hundreds of candidates navigate the CBS admissions process. I know exactly what you need to craft a strong profile, develop your story, and write killer essays. If you bring a decent GPA and strong test scores I can help you get to the next step of securing an interview. As an undergrad English major I'm well suited to help you craft strong stories in your essays that will make you standout from the crowd. While a lot of my coaching is for students applying to CBS, I've helped candidates with essays for every top program including: HBS, Stanford, Booth, Wharton, NYU, McCombs, Darden, LBS, and so on. I've worked for & with colleagues that have gone to every top school and have visited most of the campus locations myself during my own application cycle so I know what the different programs are looking for and can help you work that into your story. Please reach out to see how I can help you strengthen your profile and get into your dream program!

I have extensive experience coaching across all aspects of MBA admissions: 1. I have helped 30+ students get into top MBA programs, including HBS, Stanford GSB, Wharton, etc. I also have experience helping several students get into top executive or non-traditional programs (Stanford MSx, Wharton EMBA, etc.). 2. I am a former professional writer, and I have helped almost all of my students brainstorm, recraft, tune, and edit their essays. This is primarily what I help with for MBA applications. 3. I spent years tutoring standardized tests (GRE, GMAT, SAT). While I no longer offer tutoring services, I can help you develop a study plan and tackle weak points. 4. I am a professional resume reviewer for both MBA admissions and consulting applications. 5. Additionally, I was part if the Student Admissions Program for the Wharton MBA program

I've been coaching MBA and EMBA applicants since 2006 — which means I've worked through more admissions cycles, essay prompts, and school pivots than I can count. Poets & Quants has recognized me as a Top Consultant three times. Clients have called the work "transformative" and "the best help I never knew I needed." What I actually do: I help people find their story. Not the version they think they're supposed to tell, but the one that's true and specific and stops an admissions reader cold. That's harder than it sounds, and it's where most applications fall apart. My background is unusual for this field. I'm a Columbia MBA and a Columbia English major — and a former magazine editor. I'm also an ICF-certified leadership coach. That combination means I bring genuine writing craft and genuine coaching depth to every engagement, not just admissions strategy. My clients have come from consulting, banking, medicine, the military, entrepreneurship, filmmaking, and family business. They've gone on to HBS, Stanford, Wharton, Columbia, and programs across Europe and Asia. I work in English and Italian.

Tatiana Bouri is a first-year MBA student at Stanford GSB, where she was admitted as a Consortium Fellow and Forté Fellow. She was also granted admission to Kellogg, Booth, Columbia, and Haas. Before business school, Tatiana spent three years at BCG working across healthcare, public sector, and social impact, before pivoting to Maven Clinic where she led go-to-market and payer growth strategy. Her experience spanning strategy consulting, high-growth startups, and now Stanford GSB gives her a well-rounded perspective on what top programs are looking for and how to help candidates get there. Whether you're building your school list, shaping your narrative, or tackling essays, Tatiana will help you cut through the noise and present the most powerful version of yourself.

🏆 RECIPIENT OF LELAND TOP COACH AWARD 2026 🏆 ✨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, MBA 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, M7, & COLUMBIA EXPERT: I have proven results at every M7 school and many Top 25 programs. As a CBS MBA alumna and 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 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, Deferred, 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 (LBS) • 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 me 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.

Welcome to my profile! As a Columbia Business School MBA graduate and former Senior Associate at McKinsey & Company, I bring a wealth of experience in strategic operations and business development. My diverse background, including roles at NBCUniversal and Frame.io, equips me with unique insights into the intersection of business and creativity. I have successfully coached numerous clients through the MBA admissions process, helping them craft compelling applications that stand out. Whether you need guidance on application strategy, essay writing, or interview preparation, I'm here to help you achieve your MBA goals. Let's connect and start your journey to success!

Seasoned coach with 4 years of teaching experience -- particularly with non-native English speakers -- and 3 years of consulting in both the private and public sectors. Eager to open doors for individuals from atypical backgrounds and proudly launched Bain Texas' "Consulting 101" outreach program, doubling our female hires in one year. Meticulous about crafting your story as a partnership, enabling you to wholeheartedly own your narrative from essays to interviews. Admitted to top dual MBA / MPP programs with scholarships at Harvard, Columbia, and Yale.

As a former M7 Admissions Director, I help you craft authentic, powerful applications that stand out and get results. Since 2017, I’ve helped hundreds of MBA-hopefuls get accepted to top MBA programs across full-time, executive, and part-time programs and I look forward to helping you do the same. 96% of my clients achieve MBA success and more than half secure scholarships averaging $240K. I served on Columbia Business School’s admission committee, where I reviewed countless applications, interviewed candidates, managed the world-wide interview program, served as a waitlist manager, and managed the dual degree programs for the Law, Medical, and Journalism schools. Thereafter, I transitioned into finance, with stints at a hedge fund, a large bank, and in venture capital. Yet, even as I built my career, I missed the part I loved most - helping candidates craft their stories. I returned to the admissions world as a coach. On the other side of the admissions journey, I saw critical gaps in the application process: limited guidance around testing, the challenge of telling narratives within the confines of a few essays and a resume is challenging, and how admissions committees can seem like a black box. My mission reflects these gaps - offer best-in-class advice, work closely with a small number of candidates, and provide personal partnership to every client.

Expert storyteller for Big 4 consultants applying to M7 MBAs, especially if you're worried your experience won't stand out. As a non-traditional government consulting applicant admitted to 3 M7s, I guide your application journey across essays, resumes, and interviews. I have experience across private, public, and non-profit sectors and understand how to craft stories that are personal and compelling to admissions committees. This approach has helped several clients overcome weaknesses to get into their top choice programs at Harvard, MIT, Georgetown, and other elite programs. The difference is a storytelling formula that I provide to my applicants.