After contemplating business school for a few years and having a less than positive experience with an hourly/part-time MBA consultant, I entrusted Rebecca in guiding me through the MBA application process during R1 of the 2022-2023 application season. Coming from a family with little to no business experience (let alone any former MBAers), Rebecca helped make the goal of business school feel attainable. Rebecca was candid from the start, highlighting the strengths in my application profile as well as some areas of concern. She provided realistic feedback on my target list of schools and helped me narrow down my final list. While I appreciated (and needed) Rebecca's honesty, she balanced that honesty with a warm and supportive demeanor. She clearly wanted what was best for me and was only giving advice that she believed would help me find the most success in my MBA application process.

After starting with endless turns of my resume, Rebecca helped me identify unique characteristics about my life and career that would enable my personal story to stand out. Differentiating myself from my peers was one area Rebecca broughT out the best in me as I was struggling to communicate what unique abilities and perspectives I could bring to the b-school classroom. I have a fairly "cookie-cutter" business school background (top public undergraduate institution and Big 4 consulting firm), but Rebecca helped my story come to life through highlighting life experiences from my upbringing and family dynamics that had previously unknown parallels to my professional career and goals.

Once my personal story was well defined, Rebecca was a guiding light as I worked through various MBA applications. She shared nuanced differences between the program's applications and the different approaches I should take depending on what specific schools look for in their students. Having Rebecca, along with Basecamp (Menlo's software platform), keeping me on track with deadlines made the process much more digestible and doable while balancing professional and personal responsibilities. Rebecca also advised on how to approach and support my MBA recommenders while respecting the integrity of the MBA recommendation process. Additionally, Rebecca and the Menlo team supported my interview prep process, allowing me to feel borderline over-prepared for all of my MBA interviews. Interviewing is an area I typically feel very comfortable with, but Menlo improved my approach and messaging, leaving me feeling even more confident for this phase of the process.

Thanks to Rebecca's help, I was admitted to Tuck, Ross, and Kellogg with a combined $230K in total scholarships! While reflecting on such a positive end result, giving credit to Rebecca is natural. However, I believe it is important to highlight how I felt leading up to the admissions decisions. Once my applications were submitted and interviews were complete, I felt that I had truly delivered the best version of myself to the admissions committees. I knew I could not control the final outcomes, but Rebecca's support gave me the peace of mind that I could not have put together a better application!

Please consider Rebecca and the rest of the Menlo team (David White, Maya Parikh, Obinna Arizor, etc.) as you prepare for your MBA applications. Rebecca helped me realize a new level of confidence through a vulnerable MBA application process and I am more than grateful for my admission/scholarship outcomes!

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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 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 on 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.

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After a year of applying to a variety of MBA programs without any guidance or coaching and seeing absolutely no success, I wasn’t sure if my dream of earning an MBA was ever going to come to fruition. But from the very first introductory call, I knew that Rebecca was truly a world class consultant, and there was no better person to help me reach my goals. With her assistance I was accepted to multiple T10 programs with significant scholarship. She provided fantastic feedback and instruction at every step of the process and was always available to answer any question or concern that came up. I cannot say enough good things about my experience and would whole heartedly recommend her to anyone who is serious about pursuing an MBA.

Her process starts at the very beginning with school selection. She showed me how to evaluate a program and look holistically at its offering to determine if it was really the right fit for my professional goals. After developing a broad list, together we honed it down to a few schools in each of the reach, target, and safety categories. At this point we transitioned to networking; Rebecca showed me different ways of connecting with each program so that I could gather the necessary information that I would need when writing my essays. From there we moved to honing my resume and developing a personal master story that I would use to shape many of my application essays. To create this master story Rebecca sat on a call with me for a few hours asking me questions about my background, personal/professional experiences, and goals for the future. From this she pulled out key insights to help me craft a cohesive narrative that I would tell through my application. At this point in the process, we moved to writing the actual application essays. Having already put lots of time into information gathering and developing a personal story, it felt as if many of the essays almost wrote themselves. I have no doubt this is entirely because of the fantastic process Rebecca has in place. After rounds of back and forth where Rebecca always delivered kind but honest feedback(as somebody who is not a confident writer, I really appreciated this), my essays and application package were finalized. At this point we moved into interview prep. Each week we would prep stories that could be used to answer a variety of questions, until we held multiple complete mock interviews from start to finish. This gave me a lot of confidence going into the actual interview process. Even after interviews were complete and decisions were released, Rebecca helped me review my options and apply for additional scholarship.

Rebecca, thank you so much for all your help throughout this entire process. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, none of this would have been possible without your help and I’m so incredibly grateful.

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Rebecca was absolutely critical to my success in the application process and has been nothing short of amazing since the minute I met her. I started late in the process for 2021 Round 2 applications (I hadn’t even started studying for the GMAT in September!) and only wanted to apply to three schools. I wasn’t sure I could get into a single one, but with Rebecca’s help, I was accepted to Columbia, NYU Stern, and London Business School with a full scholarship to one and two Forté Foundation scholarships.

Part of the reason I wasn’t confident in my chances was that I didn’t believe I had a story to tell. But one of the key differentiators for Rebecca and the Menlo approach was the personal story call – a session over two hours long during which Rebecca listened to me talk about my life experiences and took notes. I’ve always thought I that I have a very disjointed set of experiences that I couldn’t weave into a compelling story, but Rebecca found threads that I hadn’t been able to see. Her thoughtfulness, insightfulness, and background in journalism make her uniquely talented at this. Throughout the process, she challenged me to highlight different experiences and aspects of my story that not only improved my essays, but also helped me really understand my own motivations for business school and my career. By the end of the application cycle, I felt like I had an impactful narrative that was authentically mine.

Rebecca also really personalizes her approach. When I changed my first choice school to LBS, Rebecca went into the Menlo archives to see what previous applicants who were accepted into LBS had done with their applications so she could give me data-driven guidance on how to improve my own application. She suggested I write the LBS Optional Essay (different from other optional essays in that it isn’t just about clarifying employment gaps or academic performance etc) and also suggested that I touch on a pivotal but personally traumatic experience I had described to her during our personal story call. I was reluctant to cover such a personal topic in a business school essay, but Rebecca helped me see how the story was in service of my larger narrative. She got my consent to have Alice from Menlo review the essay as well, went back into the archives to see if other applicants had covered such personal topics and been successful, and never made me feel pressured into writing something I wasn’t comfortable sharing with an admissions committee. It turned out to be a really great essay thanks to Rebecca’s guidance, and on a personal level, she helped me come to terms with a story that I had never really shared before.

Besides being a rockstar admissions consultant, Rebecca is also one of the kindest, warmest, and loveliest people I have had the pleasure of working with. I am eternally grateful for her time, attention, and help, but also just to have met her.

If you’re considering Rebecca as your coach – take the leap! You won’t regret it for a second, and your future will be forever changed.

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I worked with Rebecca for Round 2 in the 2021-2022 app season. Evaluating myself, I think I have the profile to get into a single M7 caliber school if I worked hard myself and used a service like ApplicantLab. Rebecca's help really pushed me to take my apps to that next level and my results speak for themselves. I'm currently looking at admits to Wharton, Kellogg, Booth, Haas, and Ross with multiple scholarships and couldn't be more thrilled! I'm confident you'll get an amazing ROI if you work with her that will more than pay for itself. I don't think I would have done nearly as well without her and firmly believed she helped change my life.

The process starts with refining your resume and creating master stories for professional and personal essays. After lots of hours working with her, I was astounded at how strong my stories were and I'm confident I couldn't have gotten nearly as strong on my own just following generic advice online. After that, we went school by school and found specific things that would really stand out to adcoms and convince them I did my research and loved their schools, but also resonated with who I am, my story, and my goals. The end essays were incredible and I'm extremely proud of the work we did together. I'm confident that working with her, your end apps will be far stronger than what you'd be able to do alone.

From a more personal standpoint, Rebecca was extremely warm and amazing to work with. I've had multiple instances that could've derailed my app cycle (major problems with my recommenders) and having her there to talk me through it really helped keep me grounded and push through it. I really enjoyed spending time with her and am sad that our time is coming to an end (but I'm happy to be on the admitted side!).

Wrapping up, I recommend working with Rebecca in the strongest terms. You'll be in amazing hands and will be shocked at how strong your apps are at the end of the process. Good luck!!

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I worked with Rebecca for 2021 Round 1 applications for full-time MBA Class of 2024. I applied to six top-tier schools, received five interview invitations, one waitlist offer, and three offers of admission. I've ultimately decided to attend Harvard Business School!

In a nutshell: Rebecca was a total game changer. It's hard to understate how critical Rebecca was to my success, particularly related to my essays. If you are looking for the highest caliber of MBA admissions coaching, seriously look no further than Rebecca. Working with her was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Starting in March 2021, Rebecca advised me on all aspects of my application: GMAT strategy, MBA program choices and networking, defining my career goals, finding my personal story, picking recommenders, preparing my applications/essays, and preparing for interviews. Perhaps similar to many candidates reading this review, I had no clue what I was getting into... just take the GMAT, decide on a few schools based on rankings, throw together a few essays, hit submit and get accepted, right? WRONG! There is so much to this process that I wasn't aware of, and Rebecca was crucial to helping me understand how it all works. Whenever she asked me to change something in my applications, she was also able to explain WHY. It's clear she knows the ins and outs of the admissions process and that context was extremely helpful. Rebecca gave me the roadmap to the process, which gave me the confidence I needed.

Rebecca was an excellent project manager. She kept my entire admissions process highly organized, allowing me to focus on one step at a time throughout the year without worrying that I'm missing anything. A few times during the year, my work would get crazy, but Rebecca kept me on track when I started to fall behind. Without her politely and consistently nudging me along, there's no way I would have had enough time to submit my best work.

While Rebecca was hugely impactful to all aspects of the process, her biggest contribution was her feedback on my essays. Her background in journalism is apparent in her unique approach. She was incredibly effective at helping me pull out the most important and unique aspects of my personal story and professional experiences. Once we had those raw materials, we iterated numerous times on each of my essays; on every turn, Rebecca would push me even further to expand on details, cut the fluff, and nail the delivery. As a result, my essays were impactful, concise, and polished. I consider myself a decent writer, but Rebecca is at another level entirely. I will forever be a better communicator because of Rebecca's incredible coaching and generous personal dedication to my applications.

At every point in the process, Rebecca was an absolute pleasure to work with. Rebecca was always courteous, personable, and insightful. When your coach is just a great person to be around (like Rebecca), it's easy to build a strong rapport. Rebecca and I built a high level of trust and candor that made the process incredibly effective and enjoyable. I think the ability to build a strong relationship with clients is the most important quality in a coach, and it sets Rebecca apart from the rest.

Overall, Rebecca was crucial to my outcomes. Without her help, there's no way I would have had the same level of success.

If you're reading this because you are considering Rebecca as your MBA admissions coach, I'm confident you're making the right choice. Get on her client list ASAP before her slots fill up, and never look back!

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I am very fortunate to have Rebecca as my coach throughout the MBA application. I am in 30s and have non-traditional background, without million-dollar deals nor multi-national marketing experience. I know I need 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 very good sense about application timing and what process it takes to craft a good essay. This is important because MBA application is extremely stressful and anxious that even 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 supports by not only understandings, but solid professional experiences to relieve stress.

From story brainstorming to essay completion, we kept tracking all working process. Without formulated methodology (i.e. find personal brand or label etc.), each version is heading to the direction where makes the essay and application better, without wasting time swinging between versions. Of course, we did have differing viewpoints at time, and sometimes new ideas may pop up along the application. However, all the decisions were upfront and finalized through conversations. For example, we had different thoughts 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 background without any experiences in MBA recommendation letters. Rebecca showed me high-level communication skills interfacing and guiding them 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 and detail
Application is a holistic evaluation, but the holism is a sum of numerous details. When working with Rebecca, we never let a single detail slipped. 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 alum who went to similar paths and deep diving into potential employer’s website. Each of these served as pieces of evidence making a compelling career goal argument.

When talking about school resources and contribution, Rebecca suggested me to find target alum and current students to validate my thoughts. Each name mentioned in essay was deliberately chosen to support my understandings about the school programs or clubs. Rebecca may spend hours help me work on one essay ending. She did research from school blogs, relevant websites, and came up ideas; we discussed, and I talked reached out to alum 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, including HBS, Sloan and Kellogg. While the rejection was a surprise and we put a lot of efforts into that 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 to tell a story that tied my personal experience, professional achievements and future, to show not only my capability but also the human side. I believe it was the combination winning the acceptance.

By the end, I truly recommend Rebecca as an admission coach. Besides application, I learnt so much from her: writing, communicating (my recommenders are pretty hardcore), and project management skills. Rebecca makes the application an incredibly joyful and fruitful life experience!

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I worked with Rebecca Anderson throughout my MBA application process, and I could not be happier. She made a process that is long and full of self-doubt, one that was exciting and hopeful. I cannot stress how grateful I am to have had her by my side. With Rebecca’s guidance, I was able to secure admission to Booth (attending), Kellogg, Columbia, Fuqua, Tuck, and Stern with ~580K in scholarship funds! This was surprising because I had an average background (tier 2-3 consulting, top 50 school, interested in consulting/banking) relative to the MBA applicant pool. Rebecca helped me stand out by supporting me in understanding and telling my story. I'm confident that this is what helped me secure the acceptances I did and I don't think this cycle would have been successful without her and the broader Menlo team. Looking back, a few things stood out to me about Rebecca and Menlo.

Rebecca-Specific Feedback

Intake: When I was “shopping around” for an MBA admissions consultant, I came across numerous consultants who asked 15-20 questions in rapid-fire style and wanted to make my profile fit into those they previously found success with. Rebecca is the first admissions consultant I met who (1) listened with warmth and (2) provided me with honesty. Rebecca listened to me talk about my background (personal + professional), what I wanted out of the application process and an MBA, and what I was nervous about. She asked probing questions and her ability to “read the person” and be comfortable with silence gave me the space I needed to be vulnerable and brainstorm out loud (versus pivoting to the next question for the sake of time). When I asked other consultants if I should “beef up” my extracurriculars, they encouraged me to add a few more things to my plate at the last minute. Rebecca, however, told me that my efforts were better spent on the GMAT and digging into why I chose the career/extracurriculars I did and how they connect to my personality traits (especially because starting new activities 5-6 months before application deadlines could seem insincere). Rebecca’s willingness to listen, prioritize, and not force-fit her clients into rigid boxes made me confident that she’d want the best for me and help me draw my story out in the most convincing and authentic way possible (which she did!).

Pre-Application Preparation: When I began this process with Menlo, I was working 80-90 hours/week and was extremely overwhelmed, but wanted to get my MBA ASAP. Rebecca recognized this and broke up tasks into bite-sized pieces so that I could get through school research and networking on time. At multiple points, I was still afraid of having to push my application cycle back by a year. Whenever this happened, Rebecca took the time to schedule a call with me to work through my anxiousness, encourage me to keep my 'eyes on the prize", and prioritize "must-have" versus "nice to have" activities so that I could be as efficient as possible with my time. Rebecca also adapted to my schedule – she made herself extremely available and provided comments/guidance as fast as possible so that I could have more flexibility with timelines. Even before essays were released, she put immense effort into making sure that I could hit the ground running. Additionally, Rebecca brought in other members of the Menlo team (i.e., David) to get their perspective on how to best position me. By the end of this "preliminary" process, I felt very comfortable with where I was headed and my trust in Rebecca became incredibly strong. 

Personal Story / Essay Writing: 

When I first started with this process, I wasn’t sure if and how personal events impacted my professional and personal interests and overall outlook on life. I also didn’t know if the experiences I had were worth sharing in an admissions essay. During this process, Rebecca not only functioned as my admissions consultant but also as my “therapist”. She talked to me about the events that had happened in my life with warmth and without an iota of judgment, and she helped me connect those events to the professional and personal decisions I later made. To this day, I have never shared as much about these situations as I did with Rebecca. She created a safe, trusting environment in which I could brainstorm with her to understand myself and the impacts of what I had experienced better. By the end of the process, I had a lot more clarity on who I was as a person and what I care about. I became more comfortable and confident in myself - something that I think will serve me well as I start school in the fall. 

From a timeline perspective, I had a month off between jobs while writing essays. Rebecca had the foresight to know that my next job would be busy / that I might need time to re-take the GMAT, so she encouraged me to complete all my essays that month while studying for the GMAT. Although this was a bit of a mad dash, Rebecca made it manageable. She set up daily, 15-minute touch-points with me for 4 weeks straight to align on priorities for the day and ensure that everything was getting done in a timely fashion. She also made sure to provide comments/edits overnight (including weekends) to make sure that I used my time off well. The time difference was also great - it enabled me to work on edits in my evening and receive edits from her in the morning (via email and Zoom call). 

I'd also like to add that I am not a big fan of writing / not very good at it. Rebecca did an amazing job of helping me make my thoughts more cohesive, coherent, and concise. My writing at work has also improved as a result! Overall, Rebecca’s background in journalism, listening skills, and ability to ask the right questions at the right time is what ultimately enabled me to get into my dream school with a large scholarship. 

Additionally, I did have to move my applications from R1 to R2 to allow time to retake the GMAT. Even when this happened, Rebecca provided ample feedback in updating my resume/essays to account for my latest professional experiences (and even if this might have been logistically challenging for her, she still made sure that she had my back). 

GMAT Retake: The GMAT was a long process for me and I ended up having to push my applications from R1 to R2 to buy time to increase my score. Throughout the process, Rebecca provided me with references to tutors, ample encouragement, and honesty (she made it clear that increasing my GMAT score is what would make the difference at my dream schools….even if it was a painful process in the short-run). She never sugar-coated things, but she also made sure that she provided me with the moral support I needed to do my best. When I was re-taking the GMAT, I had also just switched jobs and was working 70-80 hours/week. Having her support during this time was invaluable in driving to the result.

Menlo-Specific Feedback

Menlo provides a “surround sound” experience that is worth every penny. I came into the process knowing nothing and Menlo helped me come up to speed rapidly and supported me throughout the way. The team is extremely detail-oriented (e.g., welcome packets, interview notecards, the thorough organization in Basecamp) and brings in additional team members, as needed (e.g., Obinna for mock interview prep, Fearless Communicators training, Chris the in-house Menlo GMAT coach (also the best tutor I’ve worked with!)). What I loved about Menlo is the (1) “humanized” approach and (2) their support for others. Menlo never tried to cut corners with me or fit me into a box. They wanted me to do my best and provided the resources necessary for me to do so (including connecting me with a few previous Menlo clients). Additionally, Menlo knows when they need to bring in experts, outside of the "core" team (e.g., interview prep, Fearless Communicators). They never compromise on quality!

Hiring Rebecca and Menlo was one of the best decisions I’ve made and I highly doubt I’d be matriculating at Booth with >50% scholarship without them. The dedication Rebecca shows to her clients is astounding and she is a phenomenal person to boot! I felt like I was in good hands the entire time, and gained a friend in the process. Although Menlo was more expensive than some other consultants, I knew the application process would be grueling. The option to work without time limits made a huge difference in my case. I highly recommend you join the Menlo ecosystem – they will have your back and this is a one-stop-shop for MBA success!

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When I started my consulting search, I anticipated applying to nine schools in round two and was attracted to Menlo’s all-inclusive package. Rebecca and the entire Menlo team did not disappoint and now that I’m on the other end of my application cycle, I have no regrets working with them! In particular, Rebecca was incredibly professional yet personable and helped me assemble the best applications I feel possible.

Rebecca helped me in a number of ways: pushing me to improve my GMAT, aiding me in developing my personal story, managing timelines across various application items, and interfacing with my recommenders. Starting in the summer before my application cycle, I was scoring in the low-to-mid 700’s and Rebecca continued to push me to retake the exam and even recommended GMAT tutors until I got my score up to 770. Had it not been for Rebecca, I might’ve given up and settled for my previous score instead of pushing for my very best.

At the early stages of preparing my essays, we combed through my personal story and discussed introspectively about my experiences. While I was reticent to discuss sensitive subjects from my childhood and past, I felt like Rebecca was genuinely invested in my outcomes and was tactful in her handling of such issues. Also, since I chose to apply to MBA programs without my employer’s knowledge, I was dreading having to ask co-workers and work with them on my recommendation letters in secrecy. However, Rebecca made the process seamless in helping answer my recommenders’ questions and time-management across so many schools.

While it seemed unrealistic to apply to so many schools, we were able to finish all my applications on time and I am thrilled with the results. Out of the nine schools I applied to, I was interviewed at eight and accepted into seven including the following schools: HBS, Wharton, Booth, Haas, Columbia, Yale SOM & Duke Fuqua. Combined across those schools, I was offered $400,000 in merit scholarships, which I don’t think I would’ve received otherwise.

I am incredibly grateful for Rebecca’s help and guidance in the process. I would unquestionably recommend her to other prospective applicants!

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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.

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