Admissions Consulting for Specialized Business Master’s Programs

David remained a highly reliable resource throughout my MBA application process. This was exemplified by him not only responding to nearly all of my requests within 24 hours, but also constantly thinking on my behalf. Specifically, David was very good at identifying my uniqueness among all the other well-qualified applicants in the financial service industry, and helped me brainstorm ideas and eventually construct a highly compelling, personal story. I was also impressed every time when he came back with revised versions of my essays, which were succinct and to-the-point. I ended up receiving offers from my top 2 schools, Wharton and Columbia. David was definitely one of the biggest contributors to this pleasant outcome.

Alice and the whole Menlo Coaching crew are the best support one could wish for!!
I really liked that Alice is able to provide a clear roadmap to success, laying out all milestones (essays, etc.). This allowed me to prioritize accordingly and allocate my time to the most relevant topics. Alice is very approachable and is quick to respond when questions arise (during essay writing we interacted several times a week) and thus, I was able to write my essays super efficiently. What I liked about working with Alice is that she’s keen to get the best version of the story/essay, sometimes resulting in a lot of iterations.
Also, the interview preparation process is amazing. A lot of support material and a great coaching session with Fearless communications (‘YAASSS’, you’ll understand once you took that session).
Overall, I can highly recommend working with Alice. I got accepted to all MBA programs that I applied for and Alice was an important piece to that success story.

Pascal has a unique, holistic approach to admission counseling. He possesses a deep understanding of the admission process and is there for you throughout the entire process. Business school applications are stressful and to me, an international student, quite unfamiliar.
Backed by Pascal’s guidance and knowledge, I was able to navigate the ambiguity a lot better. He greatly helped me to identify the MBA programs that fit me best and were able to estimate my chances at any one of them. Furthermore, whenever I had questions, he always responded immediately with clear guidance. Perfection is in the details and I personally felt that all these little tips and to-do’s made a significant difference in the end. MBA applications are much more than a GMAT score and some essays.
That brings us to the inevitable question: “Can he help you to write a stellar essay?”. The answer is yes, undoubtedly so. He helps you to understand your profile, to identify your strengths and weaknesses and those aspects that make you unique as a candidate. By doing so, he enables you to craft a unique story with resonates strongly with the admission committee.
I come from a rather non-traditional background and was struggling to match those traditional profiles. Pascal really helped me to realize that there was no need to and, together, we were able to tell my story in a very sympathetic and compelling way.
Of course, an application does not end there. Compelling essays are usually followed up by an interview. I already mentioned the holistic approach. We took our time to practice. Possibly, even too much since, in all honesty, once your story is clear and compelling, delivering a strong interview is only a small step. It did pay off however, every interview invite was converted into an offer.
In the end, I greatly advise anyone who is seriously considering an MBA to hire an admission consultant. For me, Pascal was a great stress relief and helped me to stay on track. Moreover, we booked incredible results together. I applied to 6 programs and got accepted into 4, waitlisted at another. Among my offers are top international programs, an M7 program and a scholarship at a top 10 program.

After several years in managerial positions, I was unsure of which stories and experiences would be the most impactful for an EMBA admissions committee. Joy took the time to understand my background and motivation for business school, which helped me emphasize the right examples in my essays and interviews. Writing an admissions essay was very different than any previous writing projects I’ve worked on; she coached me on how to keep my writing clear and compelling. I applied to three top programs and was accepted into all three with scholarship offers. Joy was personable, direct, and knowledgable about the admissions process, which all attributed to me getting admitted into my top school of choice!

Working with Pascal and Maya gave me unparalleled confidence and clarity in my MBA application process. They helped me thread my diverse experiences into a cohesive narrative and coached me in professional storytelling, which was crucial for my success. Their personalized approach, constant communication, and deep understanding of the admissions process were invaluable, ultimately leading to my acceptance at Harvard Business School. I truly believe that without their guidance, my successful outcomes wouldn’t have been possible.

The results speak for themselves. David was very effective in ensuring that I had the best application package possible. In the end, I got into both Executive MBA programs at Haas and Wharton. For me, going to a consultant of David’s caliber is a no-brainer. If you want the peace of mind that your application package is the best reflection of who you are, and provides a compelling argument for these schools to admit you, go to David. Your application will be in good hands. After a good discussion, David was able to glean specific details of my personal experiences that would resonate strongly with the Adcoms. This provided me with the clarity and focus necessary to ensure that my essays had significant impact. His constructive feedback were meaningful and ensured that my personal voice and perspective were preserved, while maximizing their impact. David also provided interview coaching, which gave me the confidence to excel at my interviews, and also offered assistance to my references, if desired. In the end, the question of whether to go with David will ultimately come down to the question of whether his services are worth the investment. For myself, I would definitely say that it is and would highly recommend him to anyone who is serious about getting into a top MBA program. Even if you feel that you may not need his services, is you application package the best, most impactful application that it can possibly be? My guess is that for the vast majority of us, we can use a little feedback. Why risk getting into the school of your dreams? Go with David. He will ensure that you will have your best shot of getting in.

It has been a pleasure working with Pascal and Menlo Coaching. I started my engagement with Pascal in Mar 2020. I had access to byte-sized videos not only explaining the various aspects of the application but also providing valuable insights. Coming from a non-feeder industry, I needed someone to guide me through the application process. We spent a lot of 1-1 time discussing about my background, motivations and post MBA career options. Pascal is very good at putting pieces together and looking at the big picture. I really appreciated the honest feedback about my application strategy and countless essay drafts. As for interview prep, I think we have beaten it to death and the constructive feedback was very helpful. I ended up getting an offer with a scholarship from one of the top MBA programs (and my first choice) in the world. I highly recommend working with Pascal!

Lainie is very empathetic, and the level of attention and care she provided really brought my application to life. She was the perfect fit for someone like me with an unconventional background, helping me to craft a cohesive, understandable narrative for my MBA application. Her professionalism ensured everything was ready, from test scores to essays, while her personal touch kept me motivated and attentive to my well-being. Working with Menlo Coaching was a vital investment in my future, and it gave me the confidence that I was in good hands throughout the entire process.

Investing in David, Alice, and their holistic approach to the application process is an investment in 1) admission to a program that is right for you and 2) your subsequent success there (which is to say, VERY important!).
Starting Day 1, David gave me invaluable guidance on exactly how to research each target school in a meaningful way – with this research, I painted a 75% picture of what my experience would look like at each program, which removed the uncertainty I felt about whether a program was “right” for me. The research also provided ample material for my essays, reducing the time it took to produce a usable first draft. Since David is based in Amsterdam, his feedback was almost instantaneous – I would send him a draft right before I slept, and the edits were waiting in my inbox the next morning without fail. This made the entire application process extremely efficient and much more enjoyable than I anticipated!
Outside of the application itself, what really sets David and Alice apart is how much they care about you as an individual. Without repeating too much of what other reviewers have mentioned, I can confirm that I truly felt David believed in my story (even sending me related news articles for personal interest) and worked hard to ensure my ideas and experiences came through in my essays and interview responses. I have no regrets about any aspect of the applications because everything was authentic – I’m just glad I had David on my side to ensure I could tell my story in the most compelling way.
I didn’t anticipate getting into more than two schools, but I ended up with acceptances to all my targets and with scholarships. The price tag is higher for Menlo Coaching compared to other consultants, but the ROI is unbeatable! I attribute the scholarships entirely to the quality of my applications and interview prep, and I know the quality was due to David’s constant coaching and support.
As one final proof point, I’m now a first year at Wharton and have checked off half of the items I mentioned in my application essay because I had done the hard research at the beginning of the process. While it’s still overwhelming to adjust to all the opportunities available in school, it has been very helpful to know my game plan to stay focused on my goals and take advantage of targeted resources.
I couldn’t recommend David and Alice more – I can assure that your process from start to finish (and even throughout your program) will be worth it!

I worked with Alice through the Early Bird program for a Fall 2023 admission. Thanks to Alice and the entire Menlo team, I got 3 acceptances to the most competitive M7 schools, and I only applied to 4 schools. This includes 2 acceptances with significant scholarships.
First, as an Early Bird client, Alice helped me to build my resume very early on, including deciding which extracurriculars to pursue and working on getting an early promotion at my workplace (I come from a non-business background and promotions do not come quickly). Thanks to Alice’s early guidance, I was not only able to build a compelling resume but also grew as a person through my volunteer experiences and efforts to secure that early promotion.
During the application process, Alice never compromises on quality and she pushes me to go beyond what I thought I could do – and she was right every single time. For instance, I wanted to push my application to next year because I wasn’t getting the GMAT score I wanted. Alice pushed me to still apply this round and take the GMAT one last time anyway. After a lot of pushback from me (sorry Alice!), I caved and went to take the GMAT, and scored a 750. Alice knows when and how to push her clients, and always with good reason and to good results. I am beyond grateful to Alice for not compromising and always believing in me.
Lastly, Alice has been a pillar of support and encouragement throughout the application process. As mentioned, she pushes her clients to give the best they can offer, but she does it with empathy and sincerity. She is exceedingly patient, and when we had to make a particularly difficult decision, she considered my case as if I was her own child. The advice she gave to me was not just what was rational, but also what was best for me as a person. I really, really appreciated having Alice on my side.
I definitely think that Alice is the best there is. She is a gift and I couldn’t recommend her more!!

If I’m being perfectly honest, I don’t think I would have gotten into my dream program (Chicago Booth EMBA in London) if I hadn’t worked with Pascal. Before I talk about how good he is at what he does, I just want to mention what a joy it was to work with him. I’m very disappointed that I won’t be speaking with him as frequently now. He is very respectful, always wears his heart on his sleeve, and is extremely intelligent. I am very happy to have gained a friend in him; he is someone I will continue to be in touch with for many years to come.
When it comes to the provision of his professional services, Pascal is expert an expert at what he does. I do not say that lightly – Pascal is an expert at what he does. There is no way I could have put forth a better application if I had worked alone. He is very knowledgeable about the top MBA programs in the US and Europe and knows exactly what they look for in candidates. That, in particular, was evident both when he was providing guidance in my drafting of the personal statement and when he was coaching me for the interview. He prepared me for both the expected and unexpected questions (he asked me so many unexpected, but still relevant, questions during our practice that I got used to being thrown off). This came in handy during the actual interview with Booth as I was asked questions I wasn’t expecting but thankfully managed to maintain my composure.
I am a very happy client and cannot recommend him enough.

I am so happy to have had Rebecca by my side throughout the MBA application as she was my MBA rock. I selected Menlo Coaching for their expertise and insight but I didn’t realize how important the emotional support would be during this process. The MBA process makes you question your sanity sometimes. It was so nice to have a cool, calm, level-headed person like Rebecca by my side to keep me grounded. The MBA process is a very intimate process and it requires you to dig deep so you want someone you can trust. Rebecca is approachable, warm and I never felt judged. By nature, I am not a writer and do not particularly like it. Rebecca did a great job of helping to edit and shape my essays into a cohesive story that highlighted my strengths. The benefit of Menlo Coaching’s consulting package is there is no limit on the amount of coaching you can receive. We worked on my essays and MBA resume until it was in a state where we were both happy with it and I never once needed to worry about counting hours.
Menlo Coaching provides a top-notch white-glove experience. Every step and detail in the process has been thoughtfully planned out. I enjoyed the welcome package I received at the beginning (comic + interview flashcards) and all the different modules in basecamp with videos and attachments. Different specialists were pulled in at different stages of the application process to help but Rebecca was there the entire time for a seamless experience. In the beginning, David, Rebecca, and I all talked about my school selection together. Later on, I worked with Fearless Communicators on my interviewing skills (body language and presence) while Obinna helped me with interview answers (content).
I applied to a mix of part-time and full-time programs and was admitted to 3 of my 5 schools, including my top choice program Chicago Booth. I was able to negotiate a scholarship at Booth with Rebecca’s help which I ended up accepting.
Hiring Rebecca and Menlo Coaching was a great decision and I know I wouldn’t have gotten as far as I did without them.

I cannot speak highly enough of my experience working with Lainie and the Menlo Coaching team! I started working with Lainie for Round 1 admissions in April 2022, and she was with me every step of the way from school selection, resume building, essay writing, interview practice, and scholarship negotiations – and all other moments of stress and nerves. It was easy to forget that I actually wasn’t her only client; Lainie is that focused on you, and becomes an expert on every facet of you throughout the time you work with her.
I was initially a puddle of nerves and insecurity, but Lainie patiently guided me throughout the whole process with concrete milestones and a plan so that I never felt overwhelmed or like I was running behind schedule. When we first started working together, my school selection was still all over the place, but Lainie is so knowledgeable about all these programs that her advice helped me narrow down my choices, and naturally led us to craft my career goals.
Writing personal essays felt so daunting before I began the process, but Lainie patiently went through so many ideas and drafts with me until we were both sure that it felt true to who I was and was also a compelling story that I wanted to tell. She is direct, kind, understanding, clear with her advice, and so incredibly sharp with the advice she points out that I never felt like I was wasting time or going in circles, and I trusted every comment that came from her.
And then the interviews – I am 100% positive I would not have survived any of my interviews without Lainie’s coaching and numerous practice sessions. Not only did she help craft the content of my answers, she also coached me so that I could make the psychological/mental switch I needed to make to “perform” in the interview. I would not have been able to make that shift on my own, and I think it’s become a life skill that I’ll take with me moving forward.
Applications are stressful. Working with Lainie was the best decision I made, and I feel so good being on the other side of the process because I know that I did the best that I possibly could – and I owe all of that to Lainie, along with the generous merit scholarships I received with my admissions offers. And honestly, professional services aside, I love Lainie and genuinely miss our regular calls! You cannot go wrong working with her, and I cannot recommend her highly enough!!

I worked with Rebecca to apply to five top MBA programs. She supported me throughout the entire application process from school selection all the way to interview prep. In the end, I was accepted to my first choice, HBS!
There are lots of admissions consultants, but Rebecca is unique for a variety of reasons. Her background in journalism allows her to help you dig for your best stories. She has a warm, friendly demeanor, and is always thinking about how she can support your unique needs as you navigate a challenging process. She is flexible, and accommodated my time zone halfway around the world. But most of all, beyond the MBA applications, she truly cares about helping you chart the long-term career you aspire to. Working with Rebecca allowed me to gain self-awareness and perspective about myself as a person, and that will help me long after business school.
I strongly recommend working with Menlo Coaching and Rebecca Anderson!

Rebecca has been instrumental in my success during the 2022 R1 application cycle. I have a fairly average profile with few bright spots (no-name undergrad, work at a company that isn’t a b-school feeder). However, with her guidance, I was admitted to all my target schools in the T15 (with scholarship) and my reach school in the M7. Rebecca’s extensive knowledge of all the top MBA programs was invaluable in helping me craft a compelling narrative for essays that resonated with each school, wordsmithing to meet the pesky word count, and answering all my late-night random questions about the schools. My lowest point was when one of my recommenders was apparently not going to meet the deadline despite my numerous attempts at reminding him. I was on the verge of giving up and preparing to apply in R2 but Rebecca went above and beyond by tactfully diffusing the tense situation – a few days later I received an email notifying me that the LoR was received. Besides that, she has been pleasant to work with and attentive throughout the process. I’ve never had to wait long for a response to a quick question or feedback on essays.
Based on my experience, I can confidently recommend her services to any prospective students reading this review. I would not have been half as successful in this round without her help.

When I thought that I absolutely did not have any chance to get into the top 10 and I could probably go into top 20 or top 25 if I’m lucky, to come to this point where I have offers from some of the best places in the world is an absolute surprise. The results were very, very generous and really surprising, to be honest. I got interview invites from Wharton, from Kellogg, from Columbia, Yale, and NYU which was exceptional, but more importantly, I got admits from Wharton, Kellogg, Columbia, and Yale. To this day, sometimes I can’t believe it and I have to go back and check the mails that I’ve had so that I know whether it was all a big dream or was it all reality?

As a round three applicant starting the process in February for end of March deadlines following a tech-layoff, I was in full sprint mode to complete my MBA applications. Pascal did not sacrifice getting to know me for the sake of time. He took the time to understand my background, my experiences, my strengths, and my values to make sure that my whole-self came through in my applications. His warm demeanor is ever present and is coupled with wisdom from years of experience. He beautifully held the line of providing constructive feedback, pushing me to produce my best writing, while also maintaining an encouraging attitude from start to finish. During the grueling two month sprint Pascal, along with Menlo Coaching’s unique Base Camp application portal, helped me manage the timeline of work to be done for all applications keeping lines of communication open while factoring in my personal life schedule which included 4 different time zones. In 8 weeks, I applied to 4 top MBA programs (26 essay prompts), took the GRE twice, and visited each school. Ultimately, I interviewed with 3 schools, was admitted to 2 and both with scholarships. I sincerely couldn’t have done all of that without the guidance and support of Pascal. I cannot recommend him enough!

Working with Rebecca was one of the best decisions that I made during the MBA admissions process. From our initial call in which Rebecca and I spoke for 2 hours about my background, undergraduate experience, and work experience, Rebecca was able to pull bits and pieces to help shape my story that ultimately would be crafted into the heart of my essays. This was no easy task as I had a bit of a nontraditional background, but Rebecca was able to do so seamlessly. Going through the essay writing process, Rebecca was supportive of me letting my voice shine through while helping to provide the necessary structure that adhered to the requirement set forth by prompts from each school. It was this collaborative process – and Rebecca’s deep understanding of my story and background – that allowed us to move through and improve on each iteration, culminating in top-notch essays for all 6 of the schools I applied to.
My recommendation process was more difficult than usual, as I had a recommender that was unable to complete their letter just a week before the application deadlines. Rebecca made herself available immediately to talk through a game plan for my backup recommender and ease any concerns I had. There was a chance that because of this, I wouldn’t be able to complete my applications in time for round 1. However, with Rebecca’s guidance, I was able to secure a strong letter from a backup recommender and avoid a potentially unfavorable situation.
As part of working with Menlo, I had access to the entire Menlo ecosystem (David, and Obinna, to name a few) who were available to help with interview prep and any questions I had along the way. Rebecca as well would bring in David on certain topics, to help provide a second opinion when appropriate. I very much appreciated the extra advice, which was incorporated into several parts of my application.
In all, I interviewed at 5 of the 6 schools I applied to, and received admission to 4, several of which were M7 schools. I also received $480k in scholarships among those 4 schools – a fantastic outcome and one that I couldn’t have hoped for any better.
For anyone considering applying to an MBA program, I would not hesitate to work with Rebecca or the Menlo Team. Thank you again.

Working with Rebecca should be a no-brainer decision. I was initially very nervous starting this process as I was coming from an overrepresented applicant pool, but throughout the admission cycle Rebecca was always in my corner. I could always go to her with any question and she would promptly answer. She also helped me stay very organized throughout the application process, making sure that I completed every part of my application with a lot of time to spare for reviews. She always kept the bar for all my essays really high but was also always there with me when I needed to dig deep to craft compelling stories. Rebecca is a super woman who will be your biggest supporter while providing you with the tools to succeed on your applicant journey. Thank you so much Rebecca, couldn’t have done this without you.

I worked with Joy for several months leading up to R2 application deadlines, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that the help I received from her through that time was invaluable. Navigating the MBA application process turned out to be much more involved than I ever would have thought, and Joy was a constant source of guidance, support, and positivity in that time.
From the outset, Joy ensured that I stayed disciplined and on-track in my application, both checking in regularly and challenging me when necessary, such that I never felt pressed for time in any of my applications. She was willing to overcome time zone differences (often waking up incredibly early in the morning) to ensure we were able to keep a regular cadence of meetings, and was always available and responsive whenever I needed help or feedback.
Another great benefit of working with Joy is that she is refreshingly candid with her feedback, not settling for half-baked ideas when she senses that more lies underneath. The brainstorming I was able to do with Joy, both on big picture storytelling as well as the nitty-gritty of essay writing, were also very meaningful. She has the remarkable ability to facilitate conversations and help you arrive at ideas and language on your own, such that you don’t feel like you are compromising your voice.
I was incredibly happy with my outcomes with Joy’s help, with acceptances to both Ross and Yale SOM (with scholarship). I would highly recommend Joy to anyone looking for a consultant to help them navigate the MBA application process.