Bespoke MBA Admissions Consulting by Menlo Coaching

Jarrett was the one who gave me an honest picture of where I stand and what can be achieved. He tried to create my story right from the beginning, and that’s what stood out. The structured way of helping a candidate through this process was really helpful. I applied to four schools—Harvard, Sloan, Wharton, and CBS—and got interviews at Wharton and CBS, even receiving a scholarship from Wharton. I’m beyond grateful to Menlo and Jarrett for helping me achieve one of the top three schools out there.

The most important part of my Menlo experience was working with Leslie on the personal story. We sat down for a meeting on Sunday afternoon, and she really only asked a couple of questions, allowing me to tell her my entire personal story from start to finish. She listened and distilled it down to a few more palatable segments or details that I would then transform into essays. This meeting was a learning experience that helped me understand the perspective I’m coming from when delivering my story, and it also gave me more clarity on why I want to get my MBA.

I was definitely a little nervous, but I felt well prepared. The Darden interview is interesting or unique because it has their version of the tell me about yourself question. They want you to talk for about five to ten minutes, which is a really long time, but I had rehearsed that pretty extensively with Obinna, and I think that maybe helped calm my nerves a little bit. I think it was super helpful kind of knowing what to expect.

When I was applying, I certainly met a lot of other MBA students who had been doing amazing stuff like MBB consulting or investment banking, and I felt my profile was on the weaker side. Working with Menlo was a tough but fair approach, and they really helped me stay focused on the right track. I applied to nine schools, got admitted to six, and was waitlisted by two, all in the top 20 in the world. Ultimately, getting into a good school can make a huge difference in your post-MBA outcome, and Menlo’s tailored approach was worth the investment.

Doing a mock interview with Obinna was really helpful in advance of all of my interviews. I was able to get in a full mock, so practicing a forty minute interview as if it were the real thing, I think was really important to figuring out exactly which answers I needed to make sure I had a little bit more clean versus those that I probably had a little bit too rehearsed. Having the feedback from Obinna was also really helpful to understand where I needed to focus my effort in the practice ahead of my actual interviews.

Working with David was really helpful in the GRE prep because he gave me a very structured way of approaching the GRE type of questions. And then in the one-on-one sessions, we could really focus on the stuff that I had problems with. We would, like, dissect problems until I really understood how they worked and then I could apply it to more problems that seemed similar.

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.

I really enjoy working with Menlo Coaching because I’m not the most decisive person out there and I love bouncing ideas with people. David is always open-minded to hear me out, but he’ll give me his best ideas and then push back on some of the weaker spots about the ideas that I proposed. I think the most surprising part is the interview because now looking back, it’s really just a conversation. Many people say HBS interviews are difficult, but I actually don’t think so. They just want to know how you think and if you can think out loud on the spot.

Working with Menlo was transformative for my MBA application process. They encouraged me to be far more open and honest than I initially thought was appropriate, giving me the confidence to share my nuanced and personal story. Pascal, in particular, was an incredible storyteller who helped me frame my experiences in a meaningful and impactful way. This approach not only made my application stand out but also resulted in several scholarship offers from top schools, far beyond my initial expectations or hopes.

Working with Menlo Coaching and Lainie was one of the most professional and best experiences I’ve ever had. There’s so much structure involved in Menlo’s approach and so many resources available that you really understand every component of the application and how to put your best foot forward. I come from a non-profit background with no MBAs in my personal network, so the admissions process was nerve-racking for me. Menlo exceeded all my expectations with their structure, resources, project management, and expertise, making me feel supported every step of the way.

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.

I initially saw the pricing and was terrified, but once I went through the process and ended up getting accepted into schools I never thought possible, I realized Yaron paid for himself and more. His guidance in shaping my essays and pushing me to network with students was revolutionary. I was able to tell stories that I’m incredibly proud of and became a more interesting candidate than I ever thought I was. The investment was absolutely worth it, and I couldn’t be happier with the end result.

Talking to Pascal, I knew I was on the right path. He told me those top schools were a challenge, but not impossible, and we needed a plan to increase my chances. He became more than just a coach; our relationship transcended from a client relationship to something more personal. Every time I doubted myself, he reminded me of my accomplishments and encouraged me to see my potential objectively. This support was pivotal in my journey to getting into the school of my dreams.

I think in particular, something that was useful for me was being trained on how to reframe the interview in the sense that trying to think about an interview not just from the perspective of me being asked questions, but to think about an interview from the perspective of mutual fit between the two parties. And I think that that takes a lot of the pressure off the interview. And that’s something I took away from the Fearless Communicator session that I think will, again, be useful for me in the future as well.

I never thought in my life that I could apply or be admitted to some of the top universities in the world. Working with Jarrett and Menlo Coaching was a life decision I do not regret. I felt supported 24/7, and Jarrett helped me gain confidence in myself. He encouraged me not to exclude myself from my dreams, like applying to Harvard, and it paid off. I’m now an admitted student at Harvard Business School and excited about my future.

Sometimes it was a grind to, you know, go from five, six months of GMAT Prep right into a month of GRE Prep, but David, I felt did a great job of breaking things down into bite sized pieces and really help explain things. And that was definitely the the best part of the GRE prep. I was just getting to work with him, and really taking my GRE prep and scores to the next level.

I was really impressed by the level of detail Yaron went to to learn my story. He spoke to me for hours at the start, talked to my parents, and internalized everything I sent him, from old reviews to essays. This process ensured every word and paragraph in my application was impactful. Without Menlo, I would have submitted a vanilla finance guy profile, but in the end, it was a deep story about growing up in the mountains and navigating unique challenges. I was ecstatic with what I wrote and submitted, and it truly reflected who I am.

What I enjoyed most about working with Alice is that she’s as invested in your application as you are. It’s kind of scary how great her work ethic is. For the right candidate that is very invested in this process, Alice is a great fit. She pushes you to put your best work in and really invest yourself in your application, making sure you’re putting your best foot forward. I applied to seven schools and will be going to Harvard in the fall, and I have no doubt that Alice’s guidance was instrumental in that success.

I was lucky enough to get into both Harvard and Wharton during the first round and am excited to say that I will be matriculating to HBS in the fall. I feel very proud of what I wrote, but more importantly, the essay represents exactly who I am and what I care about. The fact that putting my true self forward was able to get me admitted to something that I’m really proud of is incredibly rewarding. I could not have done it without the help of Menlo, who took the time to get to know me and optimize everything about my application.

The mock interview sessions really helped calm my nerves because especially before the Harvard interview, I was super nervous about how this interview is gonna be structured and what type of questions they could ask. And it’s very difficult to practice that on your own because you are not in this environment with a second person. And so having this real life practice, I think, made me a lot calmer in the end in the real life interviews.