Client Success Profile: Wharton, Booth, CBS, And Duke Admit

Personal MBA Coach has been guiding clients successfully for over 17 years. Often, prospective candidates are interested in learning how others navigated the MBA application process, what the hardest parts of the process were, and how having a consultant really helps.  We are thankful that one client generously spoke with us about his journey and we are excited to share this with Poets&Quants readers! 

Below, hear from a client Personal MBA Coach helped get into Wharton, Chicago Booth, Columbia Business School, and Duke Fuqua! 

If you plan to apply to business school this fall, this is a great time to get started on applications!

Not sure how to begin the application process? Personal MBA Coach is here to guide you! We offer comprehensive packages to help you every step of the way.

First – the basics:

Candidate Profile Overview:

MBA Programs Accepted To: Wharton, Chicago Booth, Columbia Business School, and Duke Fuqua

Gender/Nationality: Male/White

Years of Experience: 4

GMAT (traditional exam): Mid-700’s

Pre-MBA Experience: Consulting

Education: US Liberal Arts College 

GPA: Mid 3s

Candidate Q&A 

Personal MBA Coach: Why did you decide to pursue an MBA?

Candidate:  I wanted to make a slight career pivot within the consulting industry. Most of my projects before school were focused on operations transformations following significant strategic decisions made by our clients. Through the MBA, I hoped to shift my focus towards helping clients make these strategic decisions rather than implementing them. I knew that the curriculum and experience explored through an MBA would give me insight into how to help clients choose their best path forward.

Personal MBA Coach: What steps did you take to narrow down your school list?

Candidate: My list was fairly narrow to begin with, as I knew I wanted to be in a city, likely on the East Coast. From there, I looked at schools with great access to the financial services space (which is my focus industry) and exceptional leadership development. These criteria ultimately led me to the five schools to which I applied.

Personal MBA Coach: What was the hardest part of the application process?

Candidate: It was hard to first outline and define my own story and then find a way to articulate it through my applications. I appreciated the help from Personal MBA Coach in guiding me through this process. Also, I hadn’t touched my resume since college, so going back and revisiting it for my MBA applications was a challenge too! I had to go through it, updating it bullet by bullet, making sure that every word was exactly what I wanted it to be.

Personal MBA Coach: Why did you decide to turn to Personal MBA Coach for help?

Candidate: Once I made the decision to apply to business school, I wanted to give myself the best chance to get into my dream program. I researched admissions consultants, and Personal MBA Coach kept popping up on various resources. I appreciated the opportunity for an initial consultation with Scott, and it was helpful to talk through my experience to date and school selection strategy. Essentially, that initial consultation started the process of my work with Personal MBA Coach. 

Personal MBA Coach: What was the biggest surprise for you throughout the application process?

Candidate: I did not anticipate how much interview prep would be required. I had not done much interviewing since college, and I was surprised how much preparation was required for MBA interviews. For instance, it was my first experience with the Wharton team-based discussion interview format, where you work with five other candidates to come up with an idea together. Thankfully, Personal MBA Coach organized a few practice sessions, so I felt a lot more at ease walking into the real interview myself!

Personal MBA Coach: How did Personal MBA Coach help you?

Candidate: In general, Personal MBA Coach was diligent, responsive and constructive with all the feedback, making sure I felt supported every step of the way. As I was writing my essays, the Personal MBA Coach team nudged me with feedback, helping me make the essays my own while ensuring that I was putting my best foot forward with my choice of examples.

Personal MBA Coach: Do you have any final pieces of advice for prospective candidates?

Candidate: Do not wait to get started – it is never too early to start prepping! And best of luck to you!

For those seeking more program-specific guidance, visit Personal MBA Coach’s school guide pages to learn more! 

Ready to apply? Reach out to Personal MBA Coach today to find out how we can help you maximize your chances of success!

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Founded by Scott Edinburgh, a Wharton MBA and MIT Sloan graduate who sits on the board of AIGAC, Personal MBA Coach has been guiding clients for 16 years. Scott Edinburgh is the most positively reviewed consultant on Poets&Quants, and Personal MBA Coach was named the top boutique MBA Admissions Consulting firm in 2023. 

Personal MBA Coach helps clients with all aspects of the MBA application process including early planning, GMAT/GRE/EA tutoring, application strategy, school selection, essay editing, and mock interviews. Our team includes former M7 admissions directors and former M7.