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Number Of Expert Admissions Coaches: 5
Total Reviews: 402 | 5 Star Reviews: 402
Firm Website: http://www.personalmbacoach.com
Personal MBA Coach was founded in 2008 to offer a boutique and personalized level of application support unavailable at other firms. Our approach is unique and, unlike with many other consultancies, you will not be handed off to a junior consultant who works with a few clients a year and has limited insight into the application process. All Personal MBA Coach clients work directly with our founder, Scott Edinburgh or a former M7 admissions director. This means you work directly with an expert throughout the entire process.
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 admissions interviewers. We work with a select number of applicants each year and place them into the best MBA, EMBA, part-time MBA and other graduate school programs.
Our clients not only get admitted, but many also receive substantial scholarships. Last year our clients received over $6.5M in merit scholarships.
Scott helped me from the start by assisting me in choosing the best schools for what I wanted to do, and in the end, getting me through the interview process. I ended up at a T15 school that I wouldn’t have applied to if it weren’t for Scott.
I have only great things to say about Scott and his team at Personal MBA Coach!! For a bit of background, I’m an ORM with a low undergrad GPA and had a low GMAT to boot. It was an uphill climb for sure. So I arranged a call with Scott pretty late in the application cycle as it was late into August and R1 deadlines were already coming up. I had regretfully submitted a couple of applications on my own already but I’m thankful I called him when I did as it probably saved the rest of my applications. During the call with Scott, he helped me strategize my application plan far better (not so haphazard as it had been on my own), and he pushed me to raise my GMAT scores as well as take additional classes through Berkeley Extension to have an alternative transcript to buttress my undergrad grades.
After our initial phone call, we agreed to hold the applications until R2 so I could better prepare them and improve them. From that point, he and his team were with me every step of the process. I studied for the GMAT through his team’s recommendation and sourcing a tutor. I also worked with his great team for editing my essays and my resume.
The best part about Scott and his team is that they are so incredibly responsive. I must have emailed Scott a thousand times (seriously) and he always promptly got back to me. In a similar vein, the editors on his team were also quick to provide edits and replies to my essays and answer any questions I had.
Had it not been for his support and help planning my strategy, and telling my story, I don’t think I’d be where I am today. That is to say at a top school (my dream school) and exactly where I wanted to be!
Thank you so much Personal MBA Coach team for helping me getting admission from 2 M7 schools with scholarships. I could have not made it without you!
While others might have already mentioned how Scott and the Personal MBA Coach team supported them in framing their story and navigating through the application process, I want to emphasize how patient and flexible the team is when accommodating my everchanging timeline. I had to delay my applications from round 1 to round 2, and change my target schools due to my lower-than-expected GMAT score, and the team not only supported me for an extended time but also provided a revised strategy tailored to my GMAT score.
Reaching out to Personal MBA Coach to help me through my MBA application process was the best decision. I didn’t have any understanding of which programs were the best fit for me, where to start, and what strategy would help me achieve my goals. Not only did he help to select the right EMBA schools but also helped to prepare a plan which helped me to navigate through my story preparation, Executive Assessment prep, connecting my story to essays and finally helping me to prepare interviews. Without any background in GMAT/EA it took me only 2 months to polish my quant and verbal skills. Sasha was an exceptional tutor who helped to overcome my test-taking issues. That helped me to score a perfect quant!! In addition to that, I was amazed with the promptness, precise and right feedback I received on my essays. The team pushed me hard to produce the right content!!! Richard helped me in my interview preparation, which was very helpful. Throughout the application process, Scott was always one email away and guided me through the process. I got accepted into the Best EMBA program and that made me realized that all the hard work and effort with the entire team of Personal MBA Coach was worth it!
I had a really great experience with Scott and his team from start to finish! I initially met with Scott and we went over my MBA goals and schools I was interested in. He gave very helpful feedback on my resume and goals along with which schools I should apply to. He also provided a recommendation for GMAT tutoring as I was very worried about doing well on the GMAT. Along the way, he and his team were so helpful with everything from answering larger essay questions, to answering small application/school questions. I got into my first choice school and other schools thanks to their support!
I was so impressed with Scott and the team’s willingness to help. Scott went the extra mile every day. I’m so thankful that due to their help I was admitted to MIT Sloan on my first try. If you are looking for the best, then Scott is 100% the right option.
I first met Scott at his PMC booth in an MBA tour. Coming from a non-traditional background, I had very limited knowledge in business/interaction with the MBA community. Scott walked me through my resume patiently and professionally; I then decided to work with PMC. Scott may initially suggest you apply for some top programs and some other programs to secure your seat in MBA. My advice to new applicants is: Don’t be discouraged to apply for your dream schools!
Because I was struggling to achieve a high GMAT score, he also offered a great GMAT coach with weeks of intensive lessons which helped me pass the threshold. I then started to focus on essay editing. The PMC team is very professional in that they know how to proofread your essay to make it presentable to the MBA admission officers; however, you have to prepare your own stories. They don’t feed you the fish but give you the pole to teach you how to fish.
In fact, I got one rejection and one waitlist last year (submitted in Round 3/4) and Scott instructed me to write a follow-up email, though I did not obtain a seat in the end (but perhaps left a good impression on the school). I am successfully admitted to two schools on my second try (applied by myself in Round 1 this time)! Looking back, I would not have gone this far without the PMC team. I am truly glad I met Scott at the beginning of my MBA journey.
I worked with MJ through Personal MBA Coach. We first connected when I gave her a list of my top target schools and an overview of my applicant profile. From there, she detailed exactly what I needed to showcase in my application to be a truly attractive candidate to my selected schools, highlighting some parts of my story that I wouldn’t have done on my own. I could tell she knew so much about each individual program and could give me tailored feedback from the perspective of those respective schools. She even set me up with a mock interview the week before the real interview, which both calmed my nerves and prepared me very well for the real thing. Working with MJ was seamless and I would recommend her to all!
I am a working professional and wanted to apply for an MBA to move forward with my career. I called Scott from Personal MBA Coach before knowing much about how MBA applications work, and Scott just took it all from there. Firstly, he gave me great advice on which schools I should choose to apply to. After careful deliberation, I decided only to apply to two top EMBA programs, which was a little risky but I got full support from Scott. Personal MBA Coach was really helpful throughout the application process. Scott carefully explained to me what to expect and what to prioritize at which stage. He provided the most valuable feedback to my essays. MJ Shores did my interview prep, which was very helpful. After the application was all submitted, we still stay connected. I got one admission and one waitlist initially and got lots of useful advice from Scott that eventually turned the waitlist into an admission offer as well. Really appreciate all the help!
Scott and his team were great! They were very professional and highly organized. Working with Personal MBA Coach helped to demystify the varying timelines, processes, and application criteria necessary for successfully applying to MBA programs. As if COVID wasn’t enough, I quit my full-time consulting job and started law school in the midst of my MBA application process. Scott and the team were incredibly beneficial. They effectively project managed the application timeline, kept me on track, and ensured I met all my application criteria and deadlines. I am very grateful for all of their help and excited about pursuing a JD/MBA!
The people at PMC were a crucial asset in my MBA application process. As a civil engineer, I was worried that my professional background would hinder me during the application process, but the advisors at PMC helped me turn it into an asset. PMC helped me put together a cohesive application that told an effective story to my target programs. I would highly recommend PMC to any professionals interested in pursuing an MBA. I especially appreciated their flexibility with my busy work schedule and my GMAT tutoring sessions, which I believe were fundamental to my score.
My first interaction with Scott was the initial consultation call that we had. During this discussion, it was clear to me that I was inexperienced and in safe hands. I also understood that any suggestions/feedback I’d receive from the team would be direct, honest and likely not sugar-coated. This appealed to me and I immediately committed to working with them. I believe that Scott and the Personal MBA Coach team made all the difference in me securing an admission to my desired business school.
Right from the moment I got on board, the process was seamless and fast-paced. The fact that the team checked in on me to ensure pace whenever I delayed is a big positive. I was very impressed by the promptness with which I received edits on my essays and found that these edits prodded me in the right direction, ultimately allowing me to submit my best essay. I must commend the team’s dedication to ensuring my success as they worked through some very tight deadlines on multiple occasions, for which I’m extremely grateful!!
I was initially hesitant to work with a consultant during my MBA application process. However, looking back, I am 100% certain that I could not have gotten into my target schools without Scott’s guidance! Coming from a nontraditional background and knowing little about the application process, Scott provided invaluable support and generated a series of deadlines that held me accountable. Scott asked hard questions and provided immediate feedback, prompting intense but necessary soul searching. Every interaction/comment was valuable and I would recommend him to anyone applying to b-school!
The MBA application process was daunting and oftentimes overwhelming, but Scott and Personal MBA Coach gave me a sense of confidence every step of the way! I would not have had my choice of school or any scholarship offers otherwise!
Scott helped me through every step of the application process- from deciding where to apply, what tutor I should be using for test prep, and even the interviews. I truly cannot imagine going into the COVID-19 application environment without Scott as a resource. He helped me craft a unique narrative and develop my essays far beyond what I could have done alone.
Don’t get me wrong – the application process was rigorous and Scott will push you to work hard. The payoff is well worth it! I was accepted into 4 out of 6 schools with scholarships at 3 and a full ride at 1. I was just hoping to get into one! I am so grateful for Scott’s expertise and cannot thank him enough for his help.
Everyone has their own needs when applying to school, and I found that the structure and personalized support offered by the Personal MBA Coach team was the perfect fit for me. I was by no means a “traditional” candidate, nor did I personally know anyone who had gone through the MBA application process, so I needed a lot of help navigating through all the noise and generic advice online. The Personal MBA Coach team has a very structured process in place for all aspects of the application process including essay writing, video essays, and interviews. We started off with getting to know my background and they gave me very candid advice on which schools made sense for me and how to focus on various aspects of my story, depending on the school, in order to demonstrate fit. They also checked in with me consistently to make sure I was still moving forward when I was procrastinating (which I did a lot of) and provided 110% support up until the very last minute I had to submit my applications. When I received my interview invitations, I had an opportunity to work with Personal MBA Coach’s interviewers, which was excellent since they work with folks who have actually done admissions interviews at specific schools. Aside from the actual applications themselves, throughout the last 17 months, I had a number of questions ranging from how to talk to adcoms about small things to whether I should switch my recommenders, and I always received a fast and helpful response from Scott and his team with guidance. It was such a relief knowing that I had a support system I could depend on who wouldn’t make me feel ridiculous even with the smallest, most trivial questions. In the end, I received interview invites to all five schools I applied to and was accepted to four, with scholarships from two! I honestly never imagined I would be accepted anywhere, much less have options, so I’m incredibly grateful for Scott and the Personal MBA Coach team!
I started the application process with Scott between the spring & summertime before the application process and had a fantastic experience. We had established reasonable timelines, discussed in-depth different strategies for different colleges, and reviewed the application multiple times to convey the message across appropriately. This would have been a herculean task alone but Scott made the process seamless. I really appreciate the time and effort he and his team put to make my MBA goals a reality.
I applied in Round 2, and I spoke to a lot of consultants before finalizing Personal MBA Coach. I liked Scott for his straightforward approach. He helped me select schools suited to my skills, and throughout the journey, the team was really prompt in responding. The team gave some key points in framing up my essays and resume. Another great thing about Personal MBA Coach is the focus on short answers and how the team ensured that we take care of every little detail on time. However, do not expect him to push you to send drafts of your essays. He trusts his clients and his approach will work if you are driven.
For me, the highlight was the interview support. The detailed analysis provided by them helped me refine my communication skills, frame my answers well and take care of critical points. Thanks to Personal MBA Coach, I will be joining Wharton this fall.
If you feel in your gut that Scott is your guy, then don’t second guess! You will not regret your decision!
I met Scott a year before I decided to work with him and his team. Initially, I thought I could go through the process alone. I was wrong. When I decided to reapply, I spoke with different admissions consultants, but none had confidence in my profile. When I reached out to Personal MBA Coach, Scott not only remembered me from our first meeting but was confident that by working together I could go to business school.
Scott and his team were honest about how my application would stand up at certain schools and thoughtful in helping me pick which ones to apply to. Throughout the process Scott and his team were there to answer big questions like am I telling the right story and minor questions like should I included this extracurricular in my application. The Personal MBA Coach team gave me and my recommenders detailed feedback on what we wrote. Their guidance is invaluable. There is no other team I would want to work with.
Scott was incredibly helpful and responsive and was able to edit my application essays on a very quick timescale. I found his feedback very honest and constructive and crucial to my admittance to MIT PhD program. Even though Scott’s main focus is on MBA programs, he was able to pass my essays along to appropriate parties who were able to give me useful feedback for updating the essay.
I initially tried to use a different consultant prior to reaching out to Scott and had a pretty poor experience where the consultant seemed to be reading off of a script. I found Scott’s feedback to be both incredibly useful as well as guided by a wealth of experience.
I was connected to MJ through Scott Edinburgh at Personal MBA Coach.
We connected over the weekend in the week leading up to my interview. In addition to providing a mock interview (which in my case was nearly identical to the real thing!), MJ provides you with face-to-face feedback alongside a document outlining comprehensive suggestions per each question. Before the mock interview, MJ allows you to talk about your background so that she can understand your story. Later, she gives you an opportunity to ask about any questions of particular concern and helps you learn how to approach questions with multiple layers.
If not for MJ, there is no way that I would have been as prepared for the interview’s core questions and curveballs as I was. At times, I have a tendency to ramble and MJ clearly articulated the necessity of quality over quantity. Having interviewed others in the past and participated in interview preparation courses/activities in college and during my career, I wasn’t sure at first whether or not this would be necessary. I can confidently say to anyone reading this that the decision to speak with MJ was essential in improving my ability to think on my feet, to answer directly, and to gain confidence in myself during my interview journey.
Scott was instrumental in enabling me to stay focused, positive, and motivated during my application journey. I originally connected with him after struggling with the GMAT during the pandemic, and he gave me perspective and newfound optimism. Soon thereafter, he introduced me to a tutor who helped to improve my score by 50 points. When I obtained the score, there was an incredibly short window to still apply to schools and amidst similar deadlines with other students, Scott was always quick to respond and provide feedback on application materials. His overall process and utilization of a project management platform kept me at ease when writing essays, short answers, etc. and the proofreading team is yet another helpful resource after the basis of the writing materials were completed. Ultimately, I believe that I never would have been able to position my story as articulately if not for working with Scott. I received interviews from each school that Scott helped me apply to and look forward to hearing from their admissions teams over the coming weeks.
Out of the 4 total schools I applied to, I have been accepted to Northwestern Kellogg and waitlisted to another T10 school with Scott’s help. While I was initially very confident about my chances at any top-tier MBA program given my unique background in international cybersecurity consulting and my excellent test scores, I quickly realized the difficulty of getting into such a program after reading candidate profiles on this site. I realized that I needed the BEST help I could get if I wanted a shot at the programs I targeted (all M7 or T10 schools). Scott and his team worked to trim down my essays and resume to make them more impactful (I’m a very wordy writer). I’m sure that without his help I would not have gotten into any of the programs I applied to.
I cannot recommend Scott more highly.
I reached out to Personal MBA Coach in mid-November after working with another consultant for 3+ months without making much progress on my applications. I wound up starting from scratch, but in spite of the relatively late start, I was able to submit 6 complete applications (MIT, NYU, Wharton, Stanford, HBS, Columbia) for round 2. Scott and his team were incredible, and as soon as I was on board with Scott the progress was immediate and tangible. Thereafter, any delays in my applications were of my own making and I was continually surprised by the promptness with which essays were turned. The service is truly “turnkey” and I received comprehensive help for all of the schools I was fortunate enough to interview with and be waitlisted at.
I really just want to thank Scott and the whole Personal MBA Coach team for all of their efforts on my behalf.
Scott and the entire Personal MBA Coach team were phenomenal assets throughout my MBA applications journey. From my initial call with Scott discussing “good fit” programs to working with a recommended GRE tutor and onto the rigorous essay drafting and revisions process, I knew that I was in good hands. Thanks to their efforts, I got into my top choice and will be attending HBS in the fall!
To summarize the strengths of the Personal MBA Coach team in two words, it is organized and responsive. The MBA applications process is a long and deliberate process and as such, I often felt very alone and overwhelmed with worry by the number of tasks to complete. Scott and his team were very organized and have a tried and true process—one that brought order to the chaos and helped guide me through the process step-by-step. Additionally, what got me through the difficult times of self-doubt, loss of confidence and severe bouts of writer’s block was knowing that when I had questions or concerns, Scott and his team would be quick to respond and provide experienced, professional support. This responsiveness was key in motivating me to “keep at it” and finish strong.
I can’t recommend Scott and Personal MBA Coach enough. The MBA journey is stressful but they’ll help get you where you want to be!
Scott is a sophisticated and tactical consultant with a keen sense for admission optics. He is able to quickly cut through unnecessary fluff and get meaningful content out of his clients. He is able to bring out the best in his clients and his patience and confidence are my favorite qualities of his. I am grateful for his help and will be attending Cornell in the fall. Thank you, Scott!
I strongly recommend Scott for those seeking efficient, personable, and incredibly valuable advice on how to navigate the incredibly daunting MBA process. While it is a huge financial commitment (I went all-in on 3 schools) to use a consultant and I was initially hesitant, but it was worth EVERY cent, and would use the Personal MBA Coach team again in a heartbeat.
They are a team that will provide direct and honest feedback, help you refine/strengthen your narrative/essays, and consistently respond to drafts well before the agreed 2-day timeline. They will not spend countless hours on the phone with you but will answer emails on every component of the application process very quickly and truly are supportive. Different from my terrible experience with one of the largest consulting companies before I found Scott, the Personal MBA Coach team actually CARED about ME personally, and treated me as a human rather than a data point. Despite my initial conversations with the largest, most popular consulting company who told me my school selection was unrealistic, after applying to 3 schools with the help of the Personal MBA Coach team, I got into Ross with a full ride and Kellogg with just over half of my tuition covered. I was also wait-listed at Duke. I am very grateful to the Personal MBA Coach team for making my experience successful and am overjoyed to start my MBA at Kellogg next year!
I couldn’t have made it to my dream school, MIT Sloan, without Scott and his team’s timely support and guidance. The team was super responsive and to the point with their questions, prompts and edits. This allowed me to iterate through my ideas and bring relevant information into my essays. The entire process gave me clarity of thought, helped me identify my strengths and even made me a better writer by the end of it.
I am soo glad that I had the Personal MBA Coach team by my side, and I couldn’t recommend them more. It is one of the best decisions that I made to reach my goal.
Scott helped me craft a narrative I couldn’t have imagined on my own. I never looked forward to seeing his brutal revisions on my essays but they were necessary. He’s helped many people apply and knows the pitfalls to avoid and the areas where each candidate can shine. Also, great interview prep.
Scott’s team has been extremely professional and supportive throughout my MBA application process. Whenever I have questions, I can reach out and get a response immediately. The MBA application process is a stressful journey but Scott’s team definitely made it a lot more structured and easier with the tools he provided. They are very organized and would HIGHLY recommend them!!!
I highly recommend the PERSONAL MBA COACH team, Scott and his staff, as an excellent MBA application consulting service. Here is why: -My primary goal was to get into Sloan and I think I was not a perfect candidate (not a super high GMAT or undergrad GPA, etc.). Scott really helped to bring my best story to come out in my application. -He kept me organized in my thought process and with the deadlines throughout the application cycle. -He gave me an honest assessment of my strengths and weaknesses as an applicant. He gives great advice on how to leverage your strengths and mitigate your weaknesses. He is experienced and practical. He listens and crafts a practical strategy that is tailored to your circumstances. -I am a person who asks a lot of questions (sometimes a little too much) and he is very patient. He is friendly and professional at the same time. I really enjoyed working with Scott and his team. Looking back I think it was a really wise decision. With his help, I was able to get into my target program and also got a scholarship. Highly recommended!
Scott and his team were instrumental in helping me prepare my business school applications. Their collaborative and iterative process pushes candidates to really think through their experiences, how to position themselves, and ultimately craft their best possible application. I can’t recommend them highly enough.
I am glad I chose Scott to work with – I surveyed 5-6 consultants before finalizing on Scott. I had a minor employment gap on my CV and that made some of the consultants anxious. But Scott’s confidence in my profile made me feel confident about applying to the best schools. Additionally, he seems to have a good understanding of the schools and that helped me feel that I am in good hands. Scott made sure that I owned the narrative and the story in my essays. He did not take over the narrative at any point, but held the process – making sure my output is of the highest quality. His team is very responsive and timely, as is Scott. He makes sure he respects his end of the bargain in terms of timelines – always an iteration in 2-3 days. Initially, I was not able to adjust to the process of iterating on essays, and when I discussed this, he adapted his process to suit my needs better. This really helped me push along. He also has a strong point of view on fit based on your profile – though he wouldn’t push you strongly to the ‘safe’ schools. I chose to go with his advice on some of the schools and received a full scholarship from one of the schools! Couldn’t be happier with the outcomes.
I worked with Personal MBA Coach for a 2 school package, with help on applications. Before starting my application, I was very nervous because I am notoriously bad with spelling and grammar. Scott was able to answer all of my questions and help me create a strong application. Ultimately, I was able to get into my top MBA program pick! Thank you again. Personal MBA Consultant.
I used Personal MBA Coach for their 5-school package, and I ended up signing up for my sixth school since they broke down the complicated application process into a simpler step-by-step process.
Before I started my application process, I did a fair bit of research on consultants, and finally decided to go with Personal MBA Coach. From Day 1, Scott will give you the honest, non-sugarcoated advice that everybody needs. As a business school applicant, you need to understand what your strengths are as well as your weaknesses. Most consultants are good with telling you your strengths, but they are not as good with telling you your weaknesses as they do not want to upset you. Scott was different, and hence I decided to go with Scott and his team.
Throughout the application process, I knew that I could rely on Personal MBA Coach as Scott was always there and would answer my emails/questions even during weekends or Christmas! From minor points in my overall story to locations I should select for my interviews, Scott would answer all my questions (no matter how minor and tedious they might be).
I am now admitted by one of the top 3 programs in the US, and will be matriculating this fall. I highly recommend Personal MBA Coach if you are looking for the best consultant in the industry as I know I probably would not have made it without Scott and his team.
I highly recommend working with Scott! From Day 1, Scott gave me insights about the application process and specific schools that I would not have known otherwise. I tend to be indecisive and Scott’s direct style helped immensely during the process. I always felt like he was on my side and available, whether by email or a phone call any day of the week. I particularly appreciated the help he provided on my resume to get to the right level of detail. On essays, Scott provides just the right amount of feedback, allowing you to maintain your personal voice and authenticity. I also found his school-specific essay guide extremely helpful! On top of everything, Scott is trustworthy and reliable. I ended up applying to just one M7 school and am thrilled to be attending! I plan to recommend Scott to friends who apply to business school in the future.
I reached out to PersonalMBACoach for their “Gut Check” service less than two weeks before the deadlines for my two schools – HBS (admitted) and GSB (waitlisted) – and I’m super glad I did. Prior to sending it over, I was positive about my application and had spent two months on it. However Scott and his team dug deep and provided strong constructive feedback that showed I still had a long way to go. They even went beyond the provisions of the package and reviewed additional edits for each application. Within a week, my application was looking much better. I highly recommend Scott and his team at any stage of your application process!
I can’t say enough good things about Scott and his team. I would 100% recommend him to anyone who is applying to business school. His personal approach is unique. Anytime we needed to chat, he was available for calls. I always spoke to him, as his team operated efficiently in the background. Scott was always expedient on responding to emails and he was meticulous when he provided suggested edits to essays and application prompts. If we did not see eye-to-eye on a certain detail as it pertained to the essays or application, he would explain his thoughts in-depth, and then we would come to an agreed-upon decision on how to approach. Ultimately, he helped me achieve my goal of getting into one of my top choices, and I cannot be any happier. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to work with Scott and the Personal MBA Coach team to achieve my dream of matriculating at a top-20 MBA program. Thank you again, Scott!
I would 100% recommend Scott to anyone. Though, I almost don’t want to so I can reserve him for my closest friends.
I met with several consultants before working with Scott. He was the only one who I felt like would push me to get to where I needed to be with direct, thoughtful feedback. From the beginning, Scott’s approach was dedicated to getting at the heart of my story and enabling me to bring that to life. His guidance helped me use my own voice to make my story sing.
Scott is also incredibly efficient with a very structured process (digital tools etc.) which I really appreciated when trying to navigate work and the application process. Ultimately, this dedication and efficiency make for a truly effective consultant. I was accepted into 2 top programs with his support. Thanks, Scott!
Scott is on your team on day 1 and tells you exactly what needs to be addressed and how to get it done. He is extremely responsive, direct, and involved throughout the whole process. I am excited to say that I have been accepted to a few of my target programs. When researching potential consultants, PersonalMBACoach struck me as a service that would provide the greatest value for me and I am happy to say that Scott turned out to be great. I would wholeheartedly recommend PersonalMBACoach to anyone that is serious about the MBA process!
The best In class consultancy that I’ve worked with! You can rest assured that you’re in safe hands. When I approached them it was a challenge, with most of the deadlines fast approaching. But they were extremely resourceful ensuring that I complete the applications well within the deadline. It’s highly Customized and personalized ensuring your applications completely reflect who you are and your story. The founder won’t settle for anything less than supreme quality on your applications and essays. They will push you to think through and get the best of your capabilities out to be written on the applications! They helped me with repeated iterations and edits of my application until I was completely satisfied! Strong and honest, feedback with each edit was extremely helpful, and it also made it much easier for me to complete my essays. They have exhaustive knowledge and information about every b-school and helped me tailor my applications accordingly. The Personal MBA Coach was always available, despite the time difference, whenever I needed help, be it any last-minute queries with the form or selection of the schools. I’ve been extremely fortunate to get the opportunity to work on my applications with Personal MBA Coach. My applications have been spot on, and I owe my success on the applications to them! Besides and above all this, the founder, Scott, is an amazing human being and a very kind soul!! You’ll thoroughly enjoy the process of the applications. I very strongly recommend Personal MBA Coach for candidates aspiring to into their dream b-school!
Scott and his team of editors were hugely helpful in my application journey. I was accepted to 3 of the 6 M7 programs I applied to, and I don’t know if that would have happened without his support. From the initial work, we did together (writing a goal statement and resume from scratch) through the 15+ rounds of edits on each school’s essays, his editors had sharp, strong feedback, and what felt like clear knowledge as to what each school was looking for.
If you’re looking for a consultant to manage the overwhelming process of applying to b school, someone to help organize your time or to-do list, or someone you’ll speak to regularly on the phone, Scott is not your guy.
However, if you’re self-motivated, want his unmatched one sheeters on how to prepare an application for each school, and want tough critical feedback (that is always returned quickly) that will get your applications to the best possible place, I highly recommend Personal MBA Coach.
I decided to work with Scott after doing consultations with four other firms. I was very disillusioned about the industry and wasn’t sure if I even wanted to work with anyone. Upon speaking with him, I was very pleasantly surprised by our natural chemistry and his easygoing nature. Rather than pushing a cookie-cutter narrative for my industry, he asked me for my story and pointed out areas that I should give more thought to. I was incredibly aggressive/ambitious in my school selection, however, Scott was very encouraging while still holding me accountable. Scott’s team pushed me to take my essays to new levels which I can now appreciate was instrumental in bringing my personality to life in the application. When I did not perform well on my GMAT, Scott was very direct with me that I was jeopardizing my future success. After leveraging Personal MBA Coach’s GMAT tutoring service, I was able to hit my target score. The interview prep, specifically for Wharton’s TBD, helped me ease my nerves before the actual interviews. I was waitlisted at my top choice and heavily relied on Scott’s guidance in writing update letters and also for strategies on how to navigate the smoke and mirrors of being a waitlisted candidate. I have so much respect for Scott and his team at Personal MBA Coach. Their commitment to helping early-career individuals achieve their professional goals is unwavering. I would highly recommend Scott to anyone who is looking for a customized partnership in the application process. I am extremely excited and proud to be following in Scott’s footsteps by attending Wharton this fall!!
It is hard to imagine where I would be in my MBA journey without Scott and the Personal MBA Coach team in my corner. I am proud to say that I have been accepted to several of my top MBA programs. I looked into many MBA consulting companies, but after talking with Scott, he was clearly the best choice for me because I knew that I was getting personalized, no-nonsense service. Scott and his team worked with me every step of the way to help me find my voice and craft my unique MBA story. I leverage Personal MBA Coach for school selection support, personal story development, essay crafting/editing, resume editing, and interview preparation. Scott works with you 1:1 on all aspects of the process, responds promptly, and affords you countless revisions. Additionally, he leverages an easy-to-use editing software that makes the process seamless. One unique aspect of Scott’s approach is his transparency and honest feedback. He truly wants to see you succeed, keeps you grounded, and helps you articulate your strengths in the most effective way possible. Lastly, I want to recognize Scott and his team for being flexible with me through sudden family hardships during my application process. It is clear that Scott cares about his clients and always keeps their best interests in mind. I highly recommend hiring Personal MBA Coach as you embark on your MBA journey. Thank you, Personal MBA Coach!
Scott and his team have it all figured out. They take you through the different components of the process very methodically. They are a well-oiled machine.
The unlimited essay/short answer support was huge for me. Scott and his team pushed/challenged my thinking and forced me to dig deep. I really appreciated the critique and feedback.
I also appreciated Scott serving as the single point of contact for me. His timeliness response to my emails and questions was very important to me throughout this process.
I talked to several different consulting firms before deciding to use Scott. Scott’s knowledge of the process and the MBA arena is unmatched. He was prompt with response and honest about everything during the process leading to my admission to an M7. Thanks for everything!!!
I signed up with the Personal MBA Coach after talking with several consultants because I felt that they could help see beyond of myself and really dig into my stories. It turns out that I was not wrong. Throughout the application process, their timely responses and reviews, and very good organizations really help making the process as smooth as it could be. I would totally agree with other reviews that the most valuable piece is the team really push to identify my unique story and goals, and be specific about them. Moreover, the team also helped prep for the interviews and provided very helpful feedbacks for areas to be improved on. Overall, it was a great and worthy experience!
I had a very short list of schools (Stanford, Harvard) I wanted to apply to. He went through the competitive analysis for each school and proposed an application theme that was tailored to my strengths. He has a great plan to tackle each school’s application process. He even talked me through a fellowship application and helped me secure a scholarship!! All in all, Scott’s invaluable help got me into HBS!
So I was very late in my application process when I chose to work with Scott. I chose Scott because he could see me beyond the “traditional buckets” of being an Indian male engineer with an average GMAT. We started off by applying to 2 schools in tandem while I took more time to pick the other 2. The resume building, story sorting, etc. took several iterations but it was closed only once I was satisfied. I even had some last-minute changes in school because during the essay writing I realized I was not a good fit with the school, but Scott was accommodating.
Overall, Scott helped me cherry-pick my experiences to create a coherent story for each of my application depending on the school’s requirements. He is always available even for the most mundane queries and is extremely professional in handling everything, something that I wanted from the start; I did not want to work with someone who would give me personal advice/opinions. I got admit in 2 of the schools I applied to, scholarship at 1 of them, 1 reject and 1 WL. All the schools were FT rank top 20. I would recommend Scott for anyone who wants to put their best foot forward for their MBA application.
Scott and the team helped me a lot with my admissions process. Below are some of the key reasons why:
1) Knowledgeable: He is extremely knowledgeable about the admissions process, clearly laying out how to best approach the essays (and other requirements for the school) and tailor the messaging appropriately for practically any top school.
2) Experienced: His 12+ years of experience is also extremely handy, as he can share best practices from earlier candidates with similar profiles. This was extremely helpful for me as I started the process quite late – however, Scott was able to quickly go through my profile, resume and preliminary goals to distill the key messages and points to expand on to make a successful application
3) Well-organized: Scott has a clear and efficient plan, which he tailors basis the time available and the schools being targeted. Again, this was hugely beneficial to me, given my late start – having a process planned out and mapped week by week till the R1 deadlines helped me meet every deadline without any last-minute hassles.
4) Approachable: Despite working in a completely different time zone (10.5 hours apart), Scott and his team were always available to help, throughout the process (including waitlists).
5) Prompt and efficient: Scott’s responses were always prompt, usually in 24 hours, or at max (rarely) in 48 hours. Despite the time zone difference, there was no drop in intensity throughout the entire duration I worked with Scott.
6) Comprehensive: Scott’s approach covers all aspects of the application. I personally worked with him and his team on improving my resume, crafting a compelling storyline from my experiences and goals, drafting and refining essays + other application materials (with no cap on iterations – Scott kept pushing on details until we were both satisfied), interview prep and waitlist support. He also has other services covering the remainder of the applicant’s life cycle (pre-application, eg GMAT/ GRE prep, etc; and post-application decision, etc) – however, I did not personally use these.
Tl;dr summary – Highly recommend; knowledgeable, experienced, approachable, well-organized, prompt and efficient and comprehensive.
Scott and the team were super helpful for preparing for the Harvard Business School interview. I got helpful, targeted advice to make myself a more competitive applicant. I wish I had considered Personal MBA Coach earlier at the beginning of my MBA application journey!
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