GMAT Club awards Menlo Coaching Gold among mid-sized firms in its Best MBA Admissions Consultants 2026 rankings. Menlo Coaching earned maximum marks for review depth and rating consistency, along with especially positive independent community discussion, and its reviews often highlight the in-depth work Menlo Coaching does on applicants’ stories.
In week 5 of GMAC’s official Inside the GMAT summer prep series, Menlo Coaching’s Director of Tutoring Hailey Cusimano joins host Zach Fernebok to talk about shifting from learning concepts to performing under real test conditions. Hailey explains how to use practice scores to guide your prep rather than judge it, when to start taking official practice exams, and how to work on pacing without using up your limited full-length tests. She also covers the most common pacing mistakes she sees, such as fixating on two minutes per question and over-checking questions you’ve already solved.
For week 4 of GMAC’s Inside the GMAT summer prep series, Menlo Coaching’s Director of Tutoring Hailey Cusimano joins host Zach Fernebok to tackle the Data Insights section. Hailey discusses why timing is especially tough in DI, how to stay focused on what each question is asking, and why having a clear plan for each question type keeps unfamiliar subject matter from throwing you off.
Hailey Cusimano, Menlo Coaching’s Director of Tutoring, returns for week 3 of GMAC’s Inside the GMAT summer prep series, this time focused on Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning. She explains why GMAT Verbal is more objective than many test takers assume, how assumptions and outside knowledge lead to tempting wrong answers, and why process of elimination solves pacing problems better than reading faster.
In week 2 of GMAC’s Inside the GMAT summer prep series, Menlo Coaching’s Director of Tutoring Hailey Cusimano works through three challenging Quantitative Reasoning problems with host Zach Fernebok. Along the way, she shows what separates an efficient solution from a calculation-heavy one, and when techniques like number picking, visual organization, and proportional reasoning offer a faster path.
GMAC’s guide to building a strong Harvard Business School application features insights from Menlo Coaching’s Founding Partner, David White, who shares tips for essay strategy, test scores, and choosing between Round 1 and Round 2.
MBAGRADSCHOOLS profiles Menlo Coaching as one of four firms in its guide to choosing an MBA admissions consultant. Menlo Coaching is described as the top pick for applicants from banking, private equity, consulting, and tech who are aiming for M7 schools.
In the first installment of our summer GMAT study series, GMAC Zach is joined by Hailey Cusimano, Director of Tutoring at Menlo Coaching, to discuss how candidates can build a study timeline that is structured, realistic, and flexible.
Hailey explains why GMAT preparation should generally move through two phases: first developing the necessary foundations and strategies, and then practicing under increasingly realistic test conditions. She also shares why completing more questions does not automatically lead to a higher score, how to use an error log effectively, and what candidates should look for when reviewing their performance.
GMAC’s explainer on GMAT Superscore includes advice from Menlo Coaching’s Founding Partner, David White, on how the policy should shape your testing strategy and why a retake often makes sense—even for high-scorers.
Hailey Cusimano, Menlo Coaching’s Director of Tutoring, joins host Zach Fernebok on GMAC’s Inside the GMAT to share the five traits she sees in top GMAT performers: curiosity, balance, consistency, resilience, and flexibility. She explains why the exam rewards critical thinking, self-awareness, and intentional preparation far more than memorization.
Getting a job in the US after completing an MBA abroad is often difficult, as you’re competing with graduates of household name brands, says Pascal Michels, senior MBA admissions consultant and director at Menlo Coaching. “If you are determined to spend a couple of years working and living in London, well then your odds are always going to be best if you study in London.”
BusinessBecause asks Menlo Coaching founding partner David White to weigh in on LinkedIn’s 2025 Top MBA Programs list. “LinkedIn has all of the data to produce an incredible ranking, such as one that measures each MBA program’s placement at top firms and top roles,” David says. “However, some parts of their methodology do not align with what MBA applicants value.”
Forbes turns to Menlo Coaching founding partner David White for its analysis of whether an MBA is worth the price. David explains why top programs pay off: “Employers know that top M.B.A. programs are highly selective. For this reason, they often target top M.B.A. programs when recruiting for some of the most attractive and highly compensated jobs.”
Poets&Quants covers Luke Anthony Peña’s move from Stanford GSB, where he spent five years in MBA admissions, to Menlo Coaching, where he joined as a principal. Luke reflects on going from admissions officer to coach: “There is irony that my trajectory has taken me in this direction. But the older I get, the more I appreciate the value of coaching in all parts of life.”
Exam Strategist names Menlo Coaching among the best college admissions consultants and recommends Menlo Coaching for families looking for long-term guidance. The review highlights how Alice van Harten, Ph.D., and her team of mentors use ongoing check-ins to help students find opportunities for growth, navigate academic challenges, and shape extracurriculars around their interests and goals.
“Once upon a time, MBA programs strongly preferred the GMAT,” says Luke Anthony Peña, principal of consulting and business development at Menlo Coaching, an MBA admissions consulting firm. “In this moment in time, MBA programs strongly encourage applicants to choose the exam where they can score the highest and best demonstrate their readiness and preparation for the rigor of a graduate MBA program.”
BusinessBecause interviews Luke Anthony Peña, Menlo Coaching’s Managing Director of Consulting and Business Development and former director of admissions at Stanford GSB and Tuck, about whether now is a good time to apply to US business schools. Luke shares five pieces of advice for applicants who want to improve their odds.
In this BusinessBecause article, Menlo Coaching founding partner David White explains what admissions directors look for in Rounds 1, 2, and 3. He also shows how choosing your round strategically can play to your strengths and improve your odds of acceptance.
College Consensus ranks Menlo Coaching among the best college admissions consultants for 2025. The ranking praises Menlo for helping students demonstrate both academic ability and commitment, and for coaching them to grow into stronger, well-rounded applicants in and out of the classroom.
The College Consensus team ranks Menlo Coaching among the best admissions consulting firms in 2024: “This experienced and knowledgeable MBA admissions consulting team helps candidates push for more, find their voice, and tell their stories in the most compelling way possible. Menlo will help its clients gain access to high-quality MBA programs.”
Poets&Quants includes Menlo Coaching in its ranking of the top medium-sized MBA admissions consulting firms for 2025. Menlo Coaching received the highest overall client satisfaction score of any large or medium-sized firm, a near-perfect 9.98.
Menlo Coaching’s Rebecca Heath Anderson and Pascal Michels make Poets&Quants’ Top MBA Admissions Consultants list for 2025. They’re among only 14 consultants to achieve a perfect 10.0 client satisfaction score based on reviews on the site.
Writing for Times Higher Education, Menlo Coaching’s Daniel Sweet examines acceptance rates at top US business schools. He explains how to interpret those numbers and how to use them to build an application strategy that fits your profile.
Fortune consulted Menlo Coaching founding partner David White as one of two industry experts informing the methodology for its 2025 ranking of the best MBA programs. The other was Lily Bi, president and CEO of AACSB International.
Poets&Quants lists Menlo Coaching in its top 5 most favorably reviewed large MBA admissions consulting firms for 2024. Menlo Coaching received the highest average client satisfaction score on the site, a near-perfect 9.96.
Menlo Coaching’s Pascal Michels makes Poets&Quants’ list of the top MBA admissions consultants of 2024, with a client satisfaction score of 9.93. The analysis is based on verified client reviews at Poets&Quants from September 1, 2022 to August 31, 2023.
Poets&Quants interviews Chris Kane, Menlo Coaching’s Head of Test Prep and VP, about his two decades of GMAT coaching and the diagnostic approach he’s developed working with thousands of test takers. As Chris puts it: “Think of me as the GMAT Doctor who can figure out what a person is doing wrong on this test.”
U.S. News asks Menlo Coaching founding partner David White how an MBA can help aspiring investment bankers. David advises students to take courses that build the leadership, management, and communication skills they’ll need later in their careers. For those targeting a firm focused on a single sector, he recommends tailoring coursework to that area of banking.
U.S. News quotes Menlo Coaching founding partner Alice van Harten on how women can thrive in MBA programs. Alice speaks to the pressure many feel once they enroll: “Women who gain admission to the top business schools are typically high achievers, and this can put a lot of pressure on them when they enroll in an MBA program.”
The College Investor quotes Menlo Coaching Founding Partner, Alice van Harten, in its guide to extracurriculars for college applicants. Alice explains why activities matter as much as grades: “In order to tell a story or make an impact as a college applicant, you have to do more than study: you have to take action to influence the world around you. That’s why pursuing the right extracurricular activities is essential to proving that you are a compelling candidate for top universities.”
MBA.com features Hailey Cusimano, Menlo Coaching’s Director of Tutoring, on how the GMAT Focus Edition can ease test anxiety. Drawing on her work with busy professionals, Hailey explains: “Almost every student I work with is already balancing their GMAT preparation against a very aggressive full-time job. So, looking at something that’s one, a little more short and sweet, and two, gives more opportunity for flexibility bodes very well for test takers.”
Hailey Cusimano, Menlo Coaching’s Director of Tutoring, joins host Eric Chambers on GMAC’s Inside the GMAT podcast to share a tutor’s perspective on the GMAT Focus Edition. She helps listeners decide whether it’s the right test for them.
The Wall Street Journal quotes Menlo Coaching founding partner David White in its report on private equity firms increasingly hiring without MBAs. David points out that an MBA can still boost a less-experienced financier’s credibility with investors and deal targets. He adds that business school offers a safer place to take risks than the job, where performance drives pay and promotion.
Writing for MBA.com, Menlo Coaching’s Danae Anderson explains how applicants worried about a low undergraduate GPA can offset it. She lays out concrete steps for strengthening their candidacy.
Poets&Quants ranks Menlo Coaching on its list of the most favorably reviewed medium-sized MBA admissions consulting firms for 2023. Menlo Coaching received a perfect 10.0 for average client satisfaction—a score that truly can’t be beaten.
Poets&Quants profiles Menlo Coaching founding partner Alice van Harten as she enters her 12th year coaching MBA applicants, with nearly 300 clients behind her. The article covers the demand for Alice’s coaching and her new fee of $20,000 for a three-school package, which P&Q notes is likely the highest of any MBA admissions coach.
Menlo Coaching founding partner and admissions consultant Alice van Harten features on Poets&Quants’ ranking of the top MBA admissions consultants of 2023. She earned an average client satisfaction score of 9.83.
U.S. News quotes Danae Anderson, senior admissions consultant at Menlo Coaching, on building a balanced list of MBA programs. Danae explains why reach schools are worth applying to even when your stats fall short: “It might happen with great execution and a bit of luck. For even the best applicants, HBS and GSB are reach programs.”
Writing for GMAC’s MBA.com, Menlo Coaching’s Head of Test Prep Chris Kane explains why GMAT Problem Solving questions are harder than they look. Even when you know the underlying math, these questions also test how flexibly you think. Chris shows how to prepare for that hidden layer of difficulty.
In this MBA.com article, Chris Kane, Menlo Coaching’s Head of Test Prep, breaks down GMAT Critical Reasoning. Most test takers have never been trained in this kind of argument analysis, so Chris lays out a structured set of best practices for spotting the tricks and traps these questions set.
Hailey Cusimano, Menlo Coaching’s Director of Tutoring, writes for MBA.com about test-optional and test-free MBA admissions. She walks through the nuances of each policy and makes the case for why most applicants still shouldn’t skip the GMAT.
Fortune quotes Menlo Coaching founding partner David White in its guide to earning an MBA for free. David explains how in-demand experience can lead to generous scholarships: “A year or two ago, we saw anyone who had vaccine-related experience was in really high demand as a student. People like these might receive generous scholarships directly from the school.”
Poets&Quants lists Menlo Coaching among its most favorably reviewed MBA admissions consulting firms, as the most favorably reviewed medium-sized firm. Along with the ranking is a profile of Menlo Coaching, where we answered some questions: “Menlo Coaching is well-known for its honesty, transparency, and candor. In that spirit, we do not shy away from the fact that we are also well-known for our prices, which are higher than average.”
Alice van Harten, Menlo Coaching founding partner and admissions consultant, lands a place on Poets&Quants’ list of the top 20 MBA admissions consultants of 2022. She earned a client satisfaction score of 9.93.
Menlo Coaching’s Head of Test Prep Chris Kane writes for MBA.com about GMAT Data Sufficiency. Drawing on his work with students who have strong math backgrounds, he explains the most common reason they fall short on Quant: treating it as a math test instead of a test of quantitative reasoning.
In this MBA.com piece, Menlo Coaching’s Head of Test Prep Chris Kane explains what GMAT Sentence Correction actually measures. He shows how understanding what the test writers are looking for can quickly raise your Verbal score.
Menlo Coaching founding partner Alice van Harten comes in at no. 4 on Poets&Quants’ 2021 list of the best admissions consultants, with Rebecca Heath Anderson at no. 5. Alice also enters the “Hall of Fame” for ranking on the P&Q list every year since its inception.
The Financial Times’ Business School Briefing highlights a Menlo Coaching study of MBA placement at top consulting firms. The study found that INSEAD leads the world in sending graduates to McKinsey, Bain, and BCG.
Writing for MBA Crystal Ball, Menlo Coaching’s Head of Test Prep Chris Kane shares how to study for the GMAT effectively. He covers when to study, how to build a schedule, and a three-step method for organizing your prep time.
Menlo Coaching’s founding partners Alice van Harten and David White rank in Poets&Quants’ top 20 most favorably reviewed MBA admissions consultants of 2020. They received overall client satisfaction scores of 9.91 and 9.90 respectively.
For the third consecutive year, Menlo Coaching’s founding partners make Poets&Quants’ 2019 ranking of the most favorably reviewed MBA admissions consultants. One client wrote: “I decided to partner with an admissions consultant, and am so glad that I partnered with David. From the get-go, he was honest with me about my chances at top schools and pinpointed areas of weakness for me to address.”
David White and Alice van Harten, founding partners of Menlo Coaching, rank 1st and 3rd in Poets&Quants’ top 10 most favorably reviewed MBA admissions consultants of 2018. “David was genuinely interested in my success and that showed by the level by the level of interest he took and the candid discussions we had.”
Watch this discussion between John A. Byrne and Poets&Quants’ most reviewed admissions consultants, Jessica Burlingame of The MBA Exchange, David White & Alice Van Harten of Menlo Coaching, and Betsy Massar of Master Admissions to get an idea of what you should be looking for (and looking out for) when selecting an admissions consultant.
Menlo Coaching’s founding partners David White and Alice van Harten appear on Poets&Quants’ ranking of the top 10 most favorably reviewed MBA admissions consultants in 2017. One client wrote: “What’s most important, Alice is empathetic and genuine, which helps me to open up in the application process and to write about my true feelings in the essays.”