With MBA Ad Comm experience, I have helped 100+ MBA applicants get into every M7 school and many of the top 25. I graduated from Chicago Booth with high honors, scoring a GMAT of 770 (99th percentile). • Chicago Booth Alum, Class of 2020 • MBA Admissions Fellow, interviewing and reviewing the applications and resumes of nearly 100 applicants • Coaching | Advised multiple admits into Chicago Booth, HBS, Wharton, Kellogg, MIT Sloan, Stanford GSB, Yale SOM, and more (10+ Leland reviews), while teaching multiple courses through Leland • GMAT / Test-Taking | Scored 770 (99th percentile), but more importantly I've mastered my ability to help others master the core concepts and identify patterns to boost their score quickly • Interview Training | I'm interview-trained for McKinsey, allowing me to give high-quality mock interviews for MBBs and any MBA program • I have extensive experience working with international applicants and am an expert at helping applicants with gaps in their application or a non-traditional background get admitted. If you're looking for personalized guidance and proven strategies to navigate the MBA admissions process, I'm here to help. Let's connect and discuss how I can support you in getting that acceptance phone call.

I know the joy and pain of applying to business school, because at Stanford, I was often the one to call admits with news of their acceptance, and later, read their names on stage during graduation. I also had to be the one on the other end of the email when an applicant was denied--including many I thought might be qualified to be at Stanford, but whose applications weren't convincing enough. I never took this responsibility lightly, because I saw how consequential and personal it was for applicants I liked and respected. What made the difference? I wanted every applicant to submit the best application they could (while keeping it honest), but far too many fell short of this standard. And because I've seen the elation and the heartbreak these outcomes create (and couldn't help but feel somehow responsible), I now value the opportunity to work closely and selectively with serious applicants--those I know have at least the basic qualifications to attend a top business school, but more important, have the maturity, commitment, and discipline required to put together an application that shows your favored school why they will be honored to see you graduate. For most, it's hard work, but here’s the good news... Crafting a great application is a valuable step to having an exceptional business school experience, and not just because it gets you admitted. Applying can and should be a process that prepares you for what comes after--clarifying your rationale, helping you build confidence to tell a compelling, personal story. It should help you articulate the values you hold deeply and the value proposition you offer. Getting into a great program should not be the end in itself, but a step in an broader process of growth and impact. If you work with me, this is part of the perspective I bring. If you are interested in Stanford, specifically, I bring a lot of inside experience at the GSB, where I spent eighteen years--first as an MBA student, later as Executive Director of the GSB's Center for Leadership Development and Research, and then Director of the Stanford MSx Program and Admissions. Over that time, I was involved in many initiatives: • Helped manage launch of MBA core leadership curriculum (Leadership Labs, Arbuckle Fellows, GSB Executive Challenge) • Helped recruit first MBA Arbuckle Leadership Fellows cohort and oversaw GSB Executive Challenge • Managed GSB's first in-house leadership coaching staff--senior facilitators for Interpersonal Dynamics (aka 'Touchy Feely') course • Selected MBA student leaders for the CEO speaker series (View From The Top) and represented Dean's office with host speakers • Co-founded the LOWkeynotes public speaking program for MBA and MSx students • Taught a GSB elective, 'Leading with Agility', and in multiple Exec Ed programs • Co-developed the Stanford LEAP 360 leadership assessment tool used for GSB Exec Ed As Director of the Stanford MSx program and Director of Admissions, I admitted eleven cohorts of Stanford Sloan Fellows, working in close coordination with MBA Admissions on operational and policy matters. My admissions work took me to more than two dozen countries, I reviewed thousands of GSB applications, conducted hundreds of interviews, and served as academic advisor to students. I learned a lot about what it takes to be admitted, and I learned even more about what it takes to get the most out of business school. After leaving Stanford, I've had some opportunities to work with boutique admissions consulting firms, but I value the transparency and range of options Leland provides to you, the client. I don't like to work with an client unless I believe I can deliver more value than what it costs. Working with a coach/consultant is like finding a therapist, where chemistry matters, and there may be others that are a better match for what you need (or at least for some of what you need). After an initial consultation, I offer packages that allow us to spend a few hours reviewing your application or plan in detail, where I will draw on my experience to help you identify opportunities to clarify and strengthen your pitch, and possibly challenge assumptions you have, resulting in a clear plan of action. From there, we can better determine if additional engagement would be useful, where we would both commit to deliverables and a timeline if we believe, that by working together, you can succeed in hitting your goals. This might involve targeted assistance with specific components of your application, a more comprehensive effort, or simply helping you identify resources that can best serve you. Good luck! And if you've read this far, maybe let's set up a time to chat.

If you're looking for "nice", look elsewhere. With me, you'll get the hard truth. About your chances, about ways to improve those chances and, above all, the changes we need to make in order to maximize your chances at the top schools. My edits will be ruthless. I will insist you dive deeper and deeper into the narrative until we get it right. And I know "right". With over 15 years of working with Top 20 MBA applicants, I am an expert in identifying the areas where everyone needs help: telling their story in way that makes them stand out. When you're up against other Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Yale applicants, there is more to personal statements and supplemental essays than merely being outstanding. Your story has to stop the jaded admissions folks in their tracks and make them say, 'Wow! That's who we're looking for!" That's where I come in. I take a deep dive into getting to you know, your story, what makes you tick and what motivates you. With the help of our curated conversations, custom guides and 90-minute brainstorming sessions, I will help you squeeze out every last ounce of your potential and make it sing on the page. Working in this way is painstaking and time consuming, but my results speak for themselves. Each year, I get 90+% of my clients into at least one of their top 3 dream schools. This also means that I cannot take on many clients (usually 25-28 per application cycle). With so much personal attention given to each applicant and their multiple applications, it is impossible for me to maintain my high level of success if I take on more than 25-28 clients per year. This means three things: 1.) My schedule fills up quick 2.) I am by no means the cheapest consultant out there (in fact, I am on the more pricey side) 3.) The experience--and results--you have with me (yes, me, Avi...not some junior consultant) will be second to none. It's also worth noting that roughly half of my clients each year are those that had disappointing experiences working with other consultants. The most common complaint I hear from these disgruntled applicants is that they didn't feel like the consultant took a vested interest in their success, limiting their face to face time while discouraging them them from applying to top-tier schools. This way, the consultant looks like a big hero when you get admitted to schools you would have likely got admitted to without their "help". My specialty is M7 MBA programs and Top 20 Business Schools. In both cases, my job is to get you interviews at, and admitted to, schools that in some cases you have no business'' getting accepted to, and in other cases getting you scholarship money for your No. 1 school. Otherwise, what's the point, right? If I can't raise the stakes for you, what am I getting paid for? Background: Born and raised in New York City, I take a non-nonsense approach to consulting. We are going to work together for months, sometimes a full year, together, so I like to set the tone for an honest, direct style of communication that leads to winning applications, not inflated egos. To do this successfully, I have to part coach, part mentor, part drill sergeant and part therapist. But mostly your fearless leader in navigating the tricky terrain of college apps. I will hound you for draft deadlines, insist on better revisions and deeper reflection even when you feel it's "good enough". And I will keep you on a structured schedule so you don't feel overwhelmed. Lastly, in certain cases I won't be "nice". If I feel you're capable of better, I'll let you know. If something could work better in an application, I will point it out. I will not spare your feelings, we're here to win this admissions game. I have coached this game for going on 20 years. I am a former Admissions reader at Berkeley and writer for the LA Times. I have a receding hairline and a mean left hook (former boxer). I value honesty over flattery and ambition over modesty. Let's make this happen. Together. .

While working in the University of Chicago Booth School of Business Admissions Office, I reviewed hundreds of applications and learned what distinguished the successful candidates from those who were merely qualified for admission. As a member of AIGAC (https://aigac.org/) I spend time with the admissions teams of the top business schools to better understand what each school is looking for each year. Over the last 15 years, I have successfully helped both US and non-US-based MBA applicants translate their rich global experiences into compelling, relevant, and memorable applications. I am especially proud of the scholarship offers that my clients have landed, summing to more than $500K over the years! I deliver a unique approach to MBA admissions consulting, combining the art of storytelling with persuasive communication techniques, thereby offering my clients a distinct advantage over other applicants. I also specializes in helping MBA candidates who want to transition to a new career path, guiding them on how to convince admissions officers that an MBA will put them on the path to success in a brand new field.

MBA ADMISSIONS EXPERIENCE - Leland Top 50 Coach in 2024 (all categories) and Leland Top 15 Coach in 2021 (MBA) - Began coaching professionally in 2017 with Stacy Blackman Consulting, where I was trained and mentored by former M7 AdCom members - Have coached 100+ clients who have been admitted to Wharton, Kellogg, Sloan, Columbia, Stanford, Haas, Ross, Tuck, Fuqua, Stern, LBS, Oxford, and many more; clients have received >$1M in scholarships - First-hand experience as the student VP of Admissions at Haas (2014-2015) and also served as VP of New Student Orientation (2013-2014) - Extensive experience helping clients with low GPAs, below median test scores, unemployment, etc. (and can personally empathize with some of these challenges) - Specialized knowledge of top part-time programs, including Haas, Booth, and Kellogg COACHING COMPETENCE - Decades of experience giving others feedback on their writing and speaking in corporate, editorial, and admissions coaching settings - Find personal fulfillment in mentoring: mentored financially disadvantaged youth in San Francisco on college applications and currently mentor small groups of college women in Utah on career development, higher education, and leadership - Brutally honest with my clients about their chances rather than saying "of course I can get you into XYZ school" (but will never discourage someone from applying to a reach program if I think there’s a chance!) - Known for collegial, astute, and supportive coaching style, as exemplified by one former client stating: “Emily is so much more than an MBA Admissions Consultant. She's a mentor, friend, and on many occasions...a therapist.” MARKETING & WRITING EXPERTISE - Held a variety of product marketing, product management, and investor relations roles over my 19 year corporate career, which honed my positioning and messaging skills (if I can make a boring old mutual fund compelling, think of what I can do for you!) - More creative writing pursuits include penning a #1 Amazon Bestselling book for first time moms in 2020 and serving as a sports writer for The Daily Princetonian in college

Worked with three top firms since 2002 (Stacy Blackman Consulting, MBA Prep School, Menlo Coaching) as well as independently. Chosen for Rematch Tiger Team, Client Liaison, and Second Reader roles at one firm, which involved rematching and providing exceptional service for applicants who were dissatisfied with their original consultant, advising consultants on various content-related and client-satisfaction challenges, and providing essay feedback for applicants who were unable to make further progress with their assigned consultant. Delivered best-practice essay development workshops for firm's entire team (~100 coaches), and advised on improvements of service offerings for multiple firms. Worked with Stanford Admissions Committee as Alumni Interviewer. Mostly recently, chosen as panelist for Leland Admissions Week.

As a professional MBA Consultant, I deep dive into who you are to craft a first-rate application for acceptance to a top 20 MBA program. From typical applicants who need to stand out to unconventional applicants who need to fit in, we succeed together. I have helped 100% of my full-service clients gain acceptance to the top 30 MBA programs, with an impressive 95% acceptance rate to the top 20 programs. This does not mean I only work with applicants with high test scores, great academic records, and exceptional resumes. I have assisted many people with below-average GMAT/GREs, subpar GPAs, and hard-to-quantify work experience to get into top MBA programs. In addition to M7 and other top American programs, I have extensive experience and success in helping applicants gain admission to all top European schools. I also welcome international applicants, having guided many to successful admissions at both American and European institutions. The key to this success lies in getting to the heart of who you are. It’s a simple sentence but not a simple process. We both need to invest time and energy to objectively explore your past, core beliefs, current position, and future aspirations. We then use this life theme to create a profile that enhances your personal and professional narratives, ensuring you effectively showcase your distinctive strengths and experiences. Many clients have remarked that after this journey of self-discovery, they feel they know themselves far better, bringing a fresh sense of enthusiasm and inspiration into their lives. I have developed many tools to keep you on track during the often-taxing challenge of building a successful MBA application. Documents like the MBA Application Roadmap, MBA Application Schedule, and the Dual Lens Interview Preparation Chart guide and support you between our highly productive meetings. We may work on a case-by-case basis or cover all of the following in my all-inclusive package. • Profile optimization as described in the paragraph before the last. • Tailor your school selection, application timeline, round strategy, and more to your profile and goals, ensuring a targeted approach to your MBA journey. • Craft compelling and impactful MBA essays that truly resonate with admissions committees. From initial outlines to multiple draft revisions and a meticulous final edit, we will ensure that your story is memorable for all the right reasons. • Structure and refine various MBA application components, such as work experience descriptions, affiliations, achievements, certifications, research, publications, and awards. My systematic approach results in a cohesive and compelling application package. • Elevate your resume to meet the rigorous standards of MBA applications. Constructive critiques and expert edits will help you present your accomplishments and qualifications successfully. • Secure strong letters of recommendation that amplify your strengths and potential. I can guide you in selecting the right recommenders and obtaining compelling endorsements. • Evaluate every component of your MBA application in a meticulous final review to guarantee coherence, accuracy, and impact. This last layer of polish is crucial to submitting an application that not only meets but significantly exceeds admissions standards. • Ace your MBA interviews with confidence. Realistic school-specific mock interview sessions, tailored feedback, and personalized coaching will help you refine your presentation, responses, and overall interview strategy, guaranteeing you make a lasting impression. • Navigate the critical decisions after your MBA interviews with expert guidance. Whether you're weighing multiple offers, seeking to move up from a waitlist, or deciding on the best school for your goals, I provide strategic advice to make sure you enroll in the perfect MBA program for you. I limit my full-time clients to five per application round (this number may increase or decrease slightly depending on the round and the amount of assistance my clients need), ensuring dedicated and personalized service. My expertise lies in working with international applicants and helping them navigate the challenges of applying in a second language and to a different educational system. This ‘About Jesse’ section may seem as if it’s more about you than me, but that’s the point. You are the star; I am here to help you shine. Let's work together to create the best application possible and secure your spot in a top MBA program.

Executive Summary: 100+ MBA M7 ADMITS ~~ FORBES FEATURED ~~ PROFESSIONAL COACH CBS GRAD & INTERVIEWER ~~ ESSAY EXPERT ~~ EX-MCKINSEY Extended Biography & Qualifications: Melanie has 10 YEARS of experience in MBA admissions consulting with PROVEN RESULTS in M7 programs, Top 20 Programs, and Executive MBAs. She pairs her ex-McKinsey consulting toolkit with her sharp communication skills and EQ as a professional ICF CERTIFIED EXECUTIVE COACH. This rich blend of skills allow Melanie to be an excellent admissions consultant with an eye for detail and heart for crafting her clients’ unique stories. Why Choose Melanie? • Coaching and Mentoring: With 9 years of experience in coaching and mentoring sophisticated individuals, Melanie has guided clients to success in top American and European MBA programs. Her track record with M7 schools, including HBS and GSB, speaks volumes about her expertise and dedication. • Executive Coaching Excellence: Through her business, Espeland Enterprises, Melanie has coached senior professionals from leading firms like Google, Morgan Stanley, and KKR. Her clients benefit from tailored strategies that enhance their leadership skills and executive presence. • Masterful Writing and Editing: Melanie’s extensive experience in ideating, writing, and editing professional documents ensures your essays, resumes, and LinkedIn profiles are polished and impactful. Her expertise covers tone, grammar, syntax, style, and responsiveness to essay questions, making your application shine. • Outstanding Communication: Known for her ability to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds, Melanie quickly builds rapport and creates a comfortable environment for her clients. Whether your career path is traditional or non-traditional, she understands your unique journey and helps you present it compellingly. Who Does Melanie 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, and EMBA (Executive MBA) Candidates Schools Melanie Has Proven Success With: • 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 • 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 Ready to transform your MBA aspirations into reality? Contact Melanie Espeland today and start crafting your success story. With her expert guidance, you’ll navigate the admissions process with confidence and achieve your MBA goals.

I'm an experienced MBA coach with a strong track record of helping clients achieve their goals and gain admission at some of the top MBA programs in the US. I hold an MBA from the Darden School of Business at UVA, where I gained valuable insights into the admissions process. During my time at Darden, I also served as a mentor to prospective students, providing guidance and support. With my expertise and firsthand experience, I can help you navigate the MBA application journey and maximize your chances of success. Reach out to me today and let's work together to create a compelling application that stands out to top business schools. Specific Areas of Expertise: -MBA-specific Resume Development: style, content, and formatting -Essay Writing: Story-telling, authenticity, grammar, and resonance with admissions committees -Letters of Recommendation: selecting the right recommenders, recommender preparation -Interview Preparation: best practices for behavioral interviewing and school-specific interviewing (how to stand out for an admissions committee)