Non-Traditional Applicant Got Into HBS & 4 Other Top Programs With 160K Scholarship

I am very fortunate to have had Rebecca as my coach throughout the MBA application process. I am in my 30s and have a non-traditional background without million-dollar deals or multi-national marketing experience. I knew I needed a coach who is experienced but creative to guide me through this process. Together with other supports from Menlo Coaching, Rebecca helped me land offers from top programs. Structural and efficient process Rebecca has a very good sense of application timing and what process it takes to craft a good essay. This is important because an MBA application is extremely stressful and can impact daily work and life. With an experienced coach, I could multitask six schools in one round and had each application ready at least a week ahead of the deadline. Rebecca is compassionate and provides emotional support by not only understanding but solid professional experiences to relieve stress. From story brainstorming to essay completion, we kept tracking all working processes. Without formulated methodology (i.e. finding a personal brand or label etc.), each version was headed in the direction that made the essay and application better, without wasting time swinging between versions. Of course, we did have differing viewpoints at times, and sometimes new ideas popped up along the application. However, all the decisions were upfront and finalized through conversations. For example, we had different thoughts on how to put extracurricular activities on my resume. I was finally convinced not because I did not know which was better, but because Rebecca had a clear thought to highlight my unique experiences together with other components in my application. Both my recommenders were from non-traditional backgrounds without any experience in my MBA recommendation letters. Rebecca showed me high-level communication skills interfacing and guiding them to write strong letters through just two rounds of interactions. Except for a briefing document covering deadlines and suggested examples, I was blind in the process, but I felt confident that the final letter would be strong with Rebecca’s help. Detail, detail, detail! Application is a holistic evaluation, but holism is a sum of numerous details. When working with Rebecca, we never let a single detail slip. Rebecca pushed me to do thorough research about my career goal using whatever available resources, such as summarizing key findings from LinkedIn profiles, networking with alums who went on similar paths, and deep-diving into potential employer’s websites. Each of these served as pieces of evidence making a compelling career goal argument. When talking about school resources and contributions, Rebecca suggested to me to find target alums and current students to validate my thoughts. Each name mentioned in the essay was deliberately chosen to support my understanding of the school programs or clubs. Rebecca may spend hours helping me work on one essay ending. She did research from school blogs, relevant websites, and came up with ideas; we discussed, and I reached out and talked to alums and students to pitch ideas and get feedback. Let’s talk about outcomes First, and this probably happens to almost every applicant, but not many will talk about rejection. I got five acceptances from the six schools that I applied to, including HBS, Sloan, and Kellogg. While the rejection was a surprise and we put a lot of effort into my target school, the process isn’t a guarantee for a clean sweep of 100% acceptances. I did not have any regrets about my application package (I would have submitted the same one if I had a second chance). More importantly, I am very excited to get a yes from HBS! Rebecca guided me on how to tell a story that tied my personal experience, professional achievements, and future, to show not only my capability but also my human side. I believe it was the winning combination that led to my acceptance. In the end, I truly recommend Rebecca as an admission coach. Besides the application, I learned so much from her: writing, communicating (my recommenders are pretty hardcore), and project management skills. Rebecca makes the application process an incredibly joyful and fruitful life experience!