I was introduced to Court through a referral a few weeks before my application deadline, and I reached out for his assistance with a particularly challenging situation. He not only agreed to help but also collaborated with me closely, forming an amazing team.

I am deeply grateful for his support, which was key in my acceptance into the top MBA program I was aiming for. It has transformed my life.

The preparation process is rigorous and demanding, yet Court's guidance was the support and advantage I needed. He has a remarkable ability to go deep and bring out one's best qualities.

I absolutely recommend working with him.

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Court Stroud is the best investment I've made in my professional development. Our almost year-long collaboration transformed me into a stronger writer, a better storyteller, and a more engaging public speaker.

The journey of writing my MBA applications with Court was incredibly fruitful, not only because I gained admission to two Ivy League schools, but also because it significantly advanced my professional skills. I came out of our collaboration as a more confident and polished leader.

Before selecting Court, I spoke with 14 different highly-rated consultants. Some of them were risk-averse, especially with non-traditional backgrounds like mine. Many of them leaned on their experience as former admissions officers. Court leveraged his background in communications, entertainment, journalism, and publishing. And precisely these skills proved invaluable in crafting a compelling application. If you wanted to become a Michelin star chef, would you choose to train under a food critic or a Michelin star chef? Court is this Michelin star MBA-chef. He has this rare talent for uncovering the good story, no matter where it originates.

From our first meeting, I immediately felt trust in Court’s expertise and his genuine interest in my story. I consider myself lucky that he also wanted to work with me. His feedback was always clear and constructive, and his sense of humour made every session enjoyable, helping his insights resonate even more. The MBA application process is challenging, with many highs and lows. Court was always there to listen, support, and empathise. By the end of our collaboration, he was not only an effective coach but also a friend.

Despite the seven-hour time difference, communication was seamless and quick. Court’s responsiveness and commitment ensured that I never felt the distance.

When I build my startup, I hope Court will again be the person who helps me take my stories to the world.

For anyone looking for the best MBA coach, I wholeheartedly recommend Court.

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I'm from Mexico City and had previously worked with two other consultants who weren't confident in my chances of getting into a top MBA program. Fortunately, one of Court's former mentees recommended him to me. From our first 1:1, Court believed in my ability to craft a strong application and was a constant source of encouragement when I struggled with the GMAT. He served as both a psychologist and a motivator, always pushing me to reach my full potential and letting my true personality shine through. Court's thought-provoking questions led to introspective work, helping me express myself authentically in my applications. His clear and straightforward method was ideal for balancing work, applications, GMAT prep, and personal life. Choosing Court as my mentor was the best decision I made, and I'm incredibly grateful for his knowledge, professionalism, and support.

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Working with Court offered me a peace of mind during the MBA application process that I would be hard-pressed to find through other means. He was a great listener that thought deeply about the best ways to tell my story. His eye for crafting a story and willingness to work through numerous edits of my first essay helped improve my writing significantly.

However, for the price that I paid, I felt that things could have been better about my experience. I regularly received feedback later than the window in our contract. I would have appreciated clearer communication regarding when I should have expected to receive this feedback. More importantly, I did not appreciate Court's approach when we encountered a shortcoming in my application strategy - his first response was to emphasize that he recommended a different approach, which I do not recall him doing.

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I had the privilege of working with Court as my coach during the MBA application process for my dream university. His guidance was instrumental in my success. Court's expertise and support were remarkable. He took the time to understand my aspirations and experiences, providing personalized advice. His meticulous feedback helped me go beyond surface-level goals, allowing me to express my authentic self. He pushed me to convey the value I could bring to the university and fellow students, giving my application a compelling edge.

Court's professionalism and dedication were evident throughout. His prompt feedback ensured I met deadlines while maintaining quality, which was no easy feat considering I contacted him less than a month before the submission deadline. Through the process, he offered constructive criticism in a supportive manner, refining my thoughts and maintaining my voice.

In addition to essay guidance, Court provided valuable insights on the overall application process. From selecting recommenders to interview preparation, his expertise and understanding of admissions committees gave me the confidence to present my best self.

I highly recommend Court to anyone starting their MBA application journey. His expertise, commitment, and passion for storytelling make him an outstanding coach. I am forever grateful for his guidance and support in achieving this incredible opportunity.

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At the beginning of my application journey, I spoke with various top admissions consultants. About 5 minutes into my conversation with MBA Prep School's Court Stroud, I knew that he was the one I wanted to work with.

What made Court stand out? Instead of focusing on my weaknesses and how my profile needs to improve, Court made an effort to learn what drives me, what I want to do, and what makes me who I am -- he was already thinking about how we can shape my application. I could tell that he was going to be a true partner throughout the process.

Court is extremely knowledgeable of the MBA process. His approach is very detailed and truly helped me identify my strengths so that I could shine in my application. Although his process was structured, Court was flexible with his approach. He was willing to change how we work together and craft my application so that I was comfortable enough to put my full self into the application. He helped me identify my goals, strengths, and how my prior professional and personal experiences connect with how I can contribute to each MBA program I applied to.

He went above and beyond preparing me to write my essays, even helping me get in touch with alumni at my target schools. I had multiple essay iterations, and he provided thorough feedback to each. Court helped me identify my differentiating factors and bring light to stories that showed my strengths. He helped me see how experiences that I initially thought were unimportant or irrelevant actually were vital in sharing my story and what I could add to the MBA community.

With Court’s help, I was able to show more about my candidacy with each component -- the essays, recommendations, short answers, and the interview. He helped me connect that thread throughout my application so that the admissions committee would not be left with questions.

I am an extremely anxious person, so although Court helped me craft the best application I could have submitted, I was still nervous that I wasn’t going to get interview invites or be admitted. Court helped me manage my anxiety and trust the process - his process. He helped me believe in myself and feel like the schools I applied to were actually in reach. Note, he wasn’t just telling me what I wanted to hear. He was candid in where my application could be stronger, but instead of focusing on my weaknesses, he helped me bolster my strengths in other areas of the application.

I was accepted into my top choice (Wharton!) with scholarship - something only 30% of admitted students achieve. Court helped me achieve this. 10/10 would recommend!

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As someone from an overrepresented background with a non-linear career trajectory I knew that it would be crucial for me to have an admissions consultant who can help me structure a compelling story for a top MBA program. I spoke to a number of consultants based all over the globe and found that Court had the best action plan to support me through the grueling MBA admissions process.

Court was able to help me bring out various aspect of work experience, extracurriculars and personal life in creative ways that made me confident about my ability to apply to top MBA schools. He always had availability on his calendar and would also go out of the way to schedule a time slot, when necessary, despite me being in a very divergent time zone.

Court also played the role of a mentor through the many months we worked on my applications. He always believed in the strength of my candidacy even when I would doubt it and also offered to connect me with his acquaintances in the industry I’m interested in post MBA.

Thanks to Court I was accepted into Wharton Lauder, my dream program, with a sizeable Lauder fellowship. I highly recommend MBA hopefuls, and especially candidates with non-traditional profiles, to work with Court as they begin their MBA journeys.

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Court is an excellent mentor. I’m based in Chile and was inclined to book a local MBA coach but after doing more research and having an introduction call with Court, I felt that given his expertise with international folks combined with his deep understanding of the complex application process, I should hire Court.

A few months later, after many ups and downs and Courts immense support, I got accepted at Columbia Business School and I’m very happy about the decision I made.



Court has an incredible story telling talent, he helped me highlight my key experiences, skills, and personality traits. He motivated and supported me during the good and the difficult times in the process.

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I reached out to Court two weeks before the first application deadline, so it meant we had a really tight schedule. Despite the quick turnaround, he did not compromise on the quality of the app and helped me build the best application possible. He was very responsive and flexible throughout the whole time we worked together. I had a lot of material scattered everywhere and Court helped me focus the content. He is a great person to work with and supportive throughout the process and even after everything was submitted. He would regularly check in to offer support. I ended up being accepted to both schools I applied to(HBS and Wharton)! I highly recommend Court as he is not only a great MBA coach but also a person that genuinely cares for the success of his clients.

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I remember starting off my application journey doubting my candidacy and being daunted by the process ahead. My dream schools felt completely out of reach. And then, I met Court. I’d spoken with other consultants before and hadn’t felt a strong connection, but immediately felt Court saw me for who I was. He was invested in me from our very first meeting, and his enthusiasm and passion turned what could have been an agonizing process into a very rewarding one.
Court broke down the application process into manageable pieces, from resume editing, story building, and essay writing, all the way to interview preparation (and every step in between). He patiently worked with me to refine, polish, and, when necessary, go back to the drawing board with my materials. The result was confidence at every juncture that I was putting my truest self forward in my written applications and interviews. I received a call from my HBS interviewer post-acceptance in which he told me I had one of the best interviews he’d seen – and that is thanks to the prep I did with Court!
Court has a rare talent for seeing the best in people and inspiring them to express that outwardly. My applications were immeasurably more authentic thanks to his encouragement to dig deeper, be detailed, and be open to vulnerability. And it is precisely that authenticity I credit with receiving acceptances to HBS and Wharton. I never felt like I was working in a purely transactional business relationship because I was working with a mentor and friend who genuinely cared about my success and wellbeing. He believed in me even when I doubted myself – I almost chose not to apply this past round because I was so worried about taking the GMAT! With his support, I persevered and will be attending Harvard Business School in the fall.
Court’s impact continues beyond the time I spent applying and interviewing. The written and verbal communication skills he taught me will be invaluable at business school and beyond. On a personal note, he serves as one of the greatest examples of a true coach, embodying empathy, perceptiveness, and authenticity in spades. I’m very fortunate to have worked with him and would do so again in a heartbeat.

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