Pinetree & Palm Consulting | MBA Admissions Consultants

I almost gave up on my MBA journey before it even started. Other consultants I reached out to looked at my age, career gaps, and non-traditional background and told me to forget about 2-year full time U.S. T15 MBA programs and aim lower. But Oren was different from the very first intro call. He didn’t just see a profile. He saw my story and strengths rather than the “blemishes” in my background. His genuine care and objective yet warm analysis, followed by fast, friendly responses to my many follow-up questions, convinced me he was the right coach.

Throughout the process, Oren was so much more than just an admissions coach. As an international applicant with a non-traditional background, I found his guidance to be such a huge help. As the ultimate cheerleader and sounding board, he was always there with weekly calls, quick WhatsApp replies, and emails that helped me cut through the noise, refocus on what actually mattered, and manage my time while juggling multiple priorities.

He also provided support through deep empathy. While working on applications, I was navigating unemployment, stagnant test scores, and moving to a new country. Oren adjusted to everything, even my shifting time zones, and his unwavering support kept me motivated to reach the finish line when I was physically and mentally exhausted. This was perfectly balanced by his sharp strategy and candor. Oren is amazingly sharp and doesn’t sugarcoat things, but he delivers feedback in a way that never discourages you. He remained objective about what works or not based on his deep admissions experience, helping me transform my complex narrative into a winning strategy while keeping my own voice.

From the first essay draft to the final scholarship negotiations, Oren provided deep insights for every single question, no matter how trivial. Our teamwork never felt transactional. He was very generous with his time, even going above and beyond to offer advice on schools we hadn’t officially contracted for. I felt he was rooting for my goals as if they were his own. As a result, I was admitted to T10 schools with scholarships. When I received my admission call, the officer mentioned that my application and story were “amazing.” I feel fortunate to have worked with Oren, and I genuinely wouldn’t have made it here without him.

Oren is a superhero! I came in with a strong profile, and he helped me organize my credentials in a way that truly stood out to the admissions committee. What I appreciated most was that he acted as a genuine partner throughout the process, providing reassurance and being my cheerleader during stressful moments and offering expert advice on even the most niche aspects of the application, boosting my confidence throughout what can be a very taxing process.

He was diligent with his time, and I felt I received exceptional value as someone paying an hourly rate. As a strong writer himself, he was able to identify the gaps in my writing and provide concrete suggestions and coaching to help me improve my style. I also appreciated how organized he was, I could be very specific about where I needed his input and where I didn’t, and he navigated that expertly.

While his command of the admissions process broadly is excellent, there are a few target schools I feel Oren knows intimately well, and you’ll be in particularly good hands with him for those.

I am so grateful that I found Oren before starting my MBA application process. He was one of 4 admissions consultants that I interviewed. Unlike the other consultants, he spent 45 minutes getting to know me and my story during the interview consultation, which speaks to how much he cares about each client. The MBA application process can be daunting with the nuances of each school’s essay questions, testing, recommendations, and interviews. Oren helped across all categories to ensure the story you want to tell shines through to the admissions committee. He helped me craft authentic essays that highlighted my strengths and goals, while being thorough, patient, and positive throughout the process. Without him, I would not have 4 great options to choose from, including my dream program!

I cannot thank Oren enough for his guidance and support throughout the process, and I highly recommend him to anyone looking for an MBA Admissions Consultant!

Working with Oren was one of the most impactful decisions I made in my MBA application process. Coming from a non-traditional background, I knew I had strong experiences, but I struggled to translate them into a cohesive narrative for business schools. Oren helped me do everything I needed and he pushed me to go beyond surface-level storytelling and dig into the “why”.

What stood out most was his ability to identify the through-line in my story. He helped me connect my life experiences into a narrative that was both authentic and unique. He didn’t just edit essays, he challenged my thinking and helped me develop my own voice.

Oren was incredibly direct and honest throughout the process and his level of candor made a huge difference in the quality of my application.

Ultimately, I was admitted to Columbia Business School, which was my top choice. I genuinely don’t think I would have achieved that outcome without his guidance.

If you’re serious about applying to top MBA programs and want someone who will push you to elevate both your story and your thinking, I can’t recommend Oren enough.

Working with Oren Margolis was one of the best decisions I made during my MBA application process. Beyond just reviewing my essays and application materials, Oren was an incredibly supportive and reliable sounding board throughout what can be a very intense and overwhelming journey.

He was always quick to respond, thoughtful in his feedback, and genuinely invested in helping me present the strongest possible version of my story. What stood out most was that his support went far beyond the transactional aspects of the application – he provided consistent guidance, reassurance, and perspective at every stage.

As an international applicant, having that level of accessibility and connectivity made a huge difference. The process can feel isolating at times, and Oren was a steady, trusted touch point throughout. I’d highly recommend him to anyone looking for not just technical expertise, but a true partner in the MBA admissions journey.

Oren is an incredible consultant who helped me get into the NYU Tech MBA, and I truly cannot recommend him highly enough. His feedback on my essays was thoughtful, specific, and always turned around quickly. He consistently went out of his way to accommodate me, even on tight timelines.

What really sets Oren apart is his genuine investment in his clients as people. He takes the time to deeply understand who you are and what you want, then guides you with advice that feels both strategic and personal. I always trusted his perspective and felt confident that he had my best interest in mind. I genuinely could not have done this without him.

In the couple of hours of support I consulted with Oren for, he was able to quickly digest my MBA story and experiences, helping shape them into a narrative that was not just strong but also digestible by admissions committees. He also had unique insights into each school I was applying, sharing what types of values, traits, and experiences they prioritized and ensuring those came out in my applications. I would recommend Oren to anyone looking for a successful MBA admissions process!

From our very first conversation, what stood out to me was that Oren never treated an MBA as the “final answer” or the “golden thophy” for my career path.

I am mid-career professional doing well in role, and I was genuinely unsure whether an MBA/business school was even the right move. It meant I have to stepping away from a stable income to pursue something new for a year, so I needed to be sure I was solving the right problem.

Oren took the time to understand what I was actually trying to figure out, the bigger picture around my needs, the kind of career I wanted to build, and what would genuinely move my life forward, not just school/programme choices.

For me, the MBA was never the final answer. It is a vehicle. Oren saw that immediately, and that perspective changed how we approached the process.

I particularly appreciated his direct, very honest feedback and the way he helped me organise what felt like a storm of thoughts I had been carrying around in my head, without any judgment. Our conversations were always calm and clear.

Throughout the process, his guidance remained very clear, very pragmatic, and focused on what truly mattered for me and my real goals, not just what looked good on paper or rankings.

His continued support during the long and uncertain process, especially the grind of teat prep and applications, helped me stay focused and steady until the offer finally came out. I genuinely don’t think I could have navigated this process with the same level of confidence and focus without his support.

I secured the offer from my target school with merit scholarships by 1 clear strategy, 1 focused application, and no unnecessary school shopping list (which I simply wouldn’t have time to prepare multiple applications), thanks to his guidance.

I initially came to Oren for a final review of my application, thinking that my essays were already in good shape. However, through Oren’s detailed and candid feedback, I quickly realized that my drafts required far more refinement. With only three weeks left before my target deadline, Oren was incredibly responsive, providing quick feedback, even on weekends, through multiple revisions to hone a clear narrative for my Change essay and strengthen the key points in my Career Aspiration essay. I believe I was offered an interview because my final submission presented a much more cohesive story, thanks to Oren’s guidance on what the AdCom would be assessing.

Oren is an amazing mentor! As an international student, I had no idea how to approach US applications. Oren guided me through the essay process for Georgetown and UMiami, and I was accepted to both schools. His guidance made all the difference in my journey. I highly recommend his services!

Oren helped me with my NYU Stern interview and he was incredibly helpful. He helped me navigate the pick 6 and was very detailed and meticulous with helping me with all my essays. I can’t recommend him enough for NYU stern help.

Oren has deep knowledge of the top 25 programs, with especially strong insight into California-based and LA-area schools. From the very beginning, Oren helped me quickly understand which programs were the right fit for my goals, background, and future plans. His structured approach provided a clear framework for evaluating each school, which saved me countless hours of research, second-guessing, and essay revisions.

Oren is easy to work with, responsive, and thoughtful. He is also candid and fair in his feedback, which helped me stay focused and realistic throughout the process. I always felt like he was in my corner, providing honest guidance rather than generic advice.

TLDR: Oren was great. If you’re applying to an EMBA and want clarity, direction, and deep expertise, he’s an investment that pays off in every way.

My biggest appreciation for Oren was that he truly cared about getting to know me as a person and THEN helped tie everything together – what’s important to me and why first, and then what’s my goal and how will I achieve it, etc. He helped me dream big while keeping me rooted and finding the right balance in my stories. Additionally, whenever I was having a hard time with content, we talked it through and he made sure by the end of the convo, I had a clear understanding of what else.

I’m sure there’s a lot of great admissions consultants out there but Oren really listened, identified exactly what I needed, sometimes read my mind, his pricing structure is reasonable, his turnaround time is super fast, very communicative while not being pushy at all (which was honestly very appreciated). All around, I really enjoyed working with Oren and would highly recommend.

I enthusiastically recommend Oren Margolis as an exceptional consultant for crafting a compelling MBA application. As a nontraditional applicant, I can personally attest to his versatility and ability to support candidates from all backgrounds. I’m a 44-year-old middle school art teacher, and thanks to Oren’s guidance, I was accepted into several top 10 MBA programs and am now attending the school of my dreams! He also supported me in acquiring significant scholarship funding and admission into leadership programs that will enhance my MBA experience and career goals. If Oren can help someone with my unconventional background reach a top-tier school, he can help you too.
Oren excels at helping applicants discover and shape their unique story, offering clear and constructive feedback, coaching with a balance of care and candor, and providing deep knowledge of the MBA landscape. His resume and interview preparation are also top-notch. If you’re ready to work hard, Oren will match your effort every step of the way.
Here’s a more detailed look at the ways he supported me:
Finding Your Story:
Communicating a clear and compelling narrative is essential, and Oren helped me explore and refine my story until I found a cohesive, authentic voice. This was the most time-intensive part of the process, requiring deep reflection and some necessary missteps. Ultimately, not only did I produce strong essays, but as someone new to the business profession, Oren helped me clarify my true career goals.
Packaging Your Story:
Oren takes the time to understand each applicant holistically, tailoring his advice to their unique background. As a nontraditional candidate, I needed to blend personal narratives with enough professional focus to demonstrate my fit for business school. Oren helped me strike that balance, and I imagine he’d offer very different, but equally tailored, advice to someone coming from consulting or finance.
Real-Time Feedback:
This was the most valuable part of Oren’s process for me. When reviewing my essays, he provided live, in-line comments that showed me exactly how an admissions reader would react. His admissions experience at NYU Stern allows him to anticipate what works, what’s confusing, and what stands out. This was all invaluable guidance in my essays on point.
Caring & Direct Guidance:
As a teacher, I know people thrive when they feel supported and Oren strikes that balance perfectly. His feedback is honest and unfiltered, but always delivered with care and genuine investment in your success. I always felt like he took my outcomes seriously, knowing they reflected his work as well. He also incredibly generous with feedback explanations making each one of his points clearly communicated.
Comprehensive MBA Knowledge:
Oren helped me identify the right programs for my goals, background, and life stage. He clearly explained what differs between full and part-time programs and helped me weigh the pros and cons of attending either considering my career goals, finances, age and familial obligations. His insight into programs focused on social impact was also incredibly helpful. Most importantly he had lots of inside tips that I could not have found on a simple google search. I cannot overemphasize the value in this as it translated into access to scholarship money and pre-recruiting opportunities.
Resume & Interview Prep:
Oren transformed my education-focused resume into a professional, MBA-ready document, with clearer language and cleaner formatting. His interview prep was outstanding! During mock interviews, he quickly identified my weak spots and helped me refine my answers. After interviewing with my top choice, the interviewer told me I “nailed it!” I couldn’t have done it without Oren’s help.
If you’re looking for a thoughtful, experienced, and results-driven MBA consultant, I can’t recommend Oren enough.

I was coming from a nonprofit background and was overwhelmed with the MBA application process. Some of the big-name companies tried to get me to pay an incredible amount because I was “nontraditional” and my application needed a “significant amount of work”. Oren was the only consultant who understood my story and I felt was going to boost what I had to say, instead of diminishing it to fit what the admissions committee wanted to hear.

Because of Oren’s help and belief in my story, I was able to earn acceptances at every school I applied to, as well as significant scholarship money. For anyone applying from a nontraditional background, I cannot recommend Oren enough.

I wanted to work with an admissions consultant because I have a unique professional background with a mixed bag of experiences. I knew right away that Oren was the perfect consultant for me because he had previously run the career development program at my current company, so he already had a deep understanding of my job, which is often hard to explain to people not familiar with the industry.

At times throughout the application process I doubted the strength of my candidacy, but from the beginning, Oren helped me craft my story in a way that highlighted how my unique background and perspective made me a perfect fit for several top programs. Without his patience, guidance, support, and confidence, I could not have achieved the results that I did, including securing an admission to my dream business school.

Oren helped me throughout every stage of the application process, from essay review and interview prep, to how to successfully navigate the dreaded and daunting waitlist! His advice and wisdom, which he has gained from his incredible breadth of experience, was so valuable. But beyond that, I genuinely loved working with him. If I could sing, I would sing his praises as loud as I could, but for now I will just have to recommend him to anyone even considering an MBA!

Oren was absolutely phenomenal for me during my very rushed MBA application process. He found the perfect balance of pushing me to realize my full potential (by applying to higher tiered schools) and knowing when to just support my decisions (part-time programs only with an optional online component). He has important constructive feedback to make any application stand out to be its best. I’m immensely grateful for him 🙂

I simply could not recommend Oren’s services or Oren as a person enough. Sure, he is highly knowledgeable about the latest admissions trends and how to execute dynamic strategies in order to stand out. He can help you decode the mysteries of what business schools are looking for in their application essays, coach you through essay writing strategies and time management, and even help you with the confusing minutia of preparing these applications as a whole. He is a master of these things, without a doubt.

However, I think Oren’s greatest strength is his ability to get the best you out on paper, which can be so difficult, awkward, and daunting for many. I was shocked at how easy it was to talk to Oren and to express to him my thoughts and justifications for pursuing business school. Quickly, I became totally comfortable speaking to him about my trepidations, my doubts about my own personal value and strange professional experiences in the MBA context, and my “non-business school” thoughts about what I wanted to learn in life and how I wanted to grow. As we had these conversations during my quick application turnaround and essay writing frenzy, he was able to stop me, redirect me with a “say more about that”, and help me pursue thoughts and motivations as I was processing them and speaking them aloud. It’s hard to explain, but Oren would continually say “that’s it!” or “this needs to be in your essay” and “that’s gold!”. It was magic, and as a result, my essays were full of my personality, my professional value and my aspirations.

Even now, as I go through my MBA, I go back to those essays I wrote with him as a recalibration point. Oren is a coach extraordinaire, and I couldn’t be happier I found him and his services.

I had an incredibly strong desire to go to grad school but did not know how to effectively tell my story and suffered from a real lack of confidence that I even had a story worth telling (despite having a very successful decade-plus career in my field).

To get help, I reached out to a number of “MBA consultants” and to be perfectly honest, they demonstrated a real knack for making me feel less than – that if I wasn’t going to apply to a top three program that I wasn’t worth their time (to help their brand, not me), and continued to perpetuate all of the BS that is out there about applying to grad school.

It was within the first ten minutes of speaking with Oren that I recognized I had found an amazing person who was genuinely interested in helping me and wanted to see me succeed. He quickly dispelled everything that I had heard from other consultants and read online and helped me get clear on what it really took to tell my story effectively. I hired him immediately.

Over several weeks of working together, I grew to appreciate just how helpful he is. He is a phenomenally talented editor and coach. He gives you direct honest feedback that is actionable. He is open to hearing what you think and feel and finds effective ways to help you incorporate that into your essays. He is a great thought partner and having helped so many candidates, he really knows what schools are looking for.

With his generous help, I was admitted to all of the programs that I applied to. All of the admissions teams commented on how strong my essays were, making my applications stand out. I am so incredibly grateful that I found Oren. I encourage you to get in touch with him as soon as you can and learn how he can help you as much as he did me. Thank you, Oren!

I could not recommend working with Oren more as someone to help you through the application process. He has great knowledge of every aspect — Essay’s, networking, and interviews. He will give direct advice and constructive criticism that is actionable for getting the best outcome. Moreover, he is awesome to work with and is someone who is invested in your outcome. Most of the other admissions consultants are overpriced and do not offer the bespoke services the Oren provides. Happy to say that I was able to get into my top choice working with him.

Oren was the BEST! I loved that he didn’t offer any packages, and is willing to wok with you to tailor the experiences to your needs. He was very helpful when it came to narrowing down schools, brainstorming essay ideas and leaving thoughtful feedback to make me think and expand my point of view, and even interview prep. Could not recommend more – I would refer any friend going through the MBA application process to him!

I had a wonderful experience working with Oren on finessing my story and practicing for my interview. He was very encouraging and helped me instill a lot of confidence in my profile and abilities. The thing I appreciated the most was his honesty and straightforwardness. Very personal experience (i.e. not like a lot of the other consultant firms).

Working with Oren was an easy and productive experience. His expertise contributed to my acceptance to my desired MBA program on my first attempt. He exceeded all my expectations and provided excellent insight. Our first session was focused on understanding career paths; full-time versus part-time programs; and setting realistic expectations of what was necessary for my dream job. I walked away feeling empowered and sure of my decisions. He uses time wisely and makes sure you’re investing your energy into valued added tasks only. Essay reviews consist of two to three drafts with valuable insight and explain what was “good enough” and what areas needed to go deeper to tell a different story. I submitted my application early and with confidence.

I could not recommend a consultant more highly than I recommend Oren. I was hesitant to work with a consultant at all, and I had intro calls with all the major firms; I found each to be impersonal and indistinguishable. My experience with Oren was the opposite. I would describe his approach as compassionate and genuine. His feedback is honest but fair, and he encouraged me to put together an application that was true to myself and my goals, rather than one that schools might *want* to see.

He primarily assisted with essay editing, standardized test and school list strategy, and interview prep. For the other elements of my application, Oren was honest about what *did not* need his review. True to his approach to leading with integrity, rather than take advantage of or capitalize on my position, he chose to save me money and time instead.

The results speak for themselves, I was admitted to all 5 schools I applied to with scholarships (Fuqua, Anderson, Stern, SOM, and HBS) and I will be attending HBS in the fall. Even if I did not have the same success, I would choose Oren again every time, because I grew in the process and knew that I was putting forward an application true to myself. Not to mention – he was fun to work with. Thank you, Oren!

Oren was really great to work with, and I appreciated his honesty with regard to the areas in which my applications needed the most work. He was tactful and supportive throughout the process which undoubtedly helped me get accepted into the two top-ranked EMBA programs I applied to.

Oren never missed a beat. Ever. I found him at a time when I was struggling through the application process and joining forces with him was an absolute game-changer. Though I was looking to work only on essays, he reviewed all of my application materials (test scores, resume, transcript) and took the time to get to know me not only as an MBA applicant but as a person. You are not just another number–he actually cares. Oren’s professionalism and astuteness are incomparable, and knowing I could lean on him for guidance gave me the much-needed strength to keep pushing forward. With his support, I was able to fluently communicate the heart of my story and goals. I valued Oren’s wisdom so much, that after submitting my applications we worked on interviews. Oren was always gracious with his time, honesty, encouragement, and advice. I couldn’t have done this without him, and as someone who is highly discerning, I recommend him to any and everyone (which I did!) who is taking the MBA leap. Team Oren!

From the very first phone call with Oren, I could tell he was a genuine person that had my best interests in mind. The perspective he was able to provide on essays and the application process as a whole were incredible. As someone who is prone to over-stressing about things, working with Oren helped make the grueling admissions process much easier to manage as I knew I was able to put my best foot forward. This not only helped my applications but sanity as well! He’s very responsive and was always willing to help in a pinch. Thanks to Oren I was accepted, with a scholarship, to a program I couldn’t be more excited to attend!

Oren’s experience working for a school’s admissions team was invaluable. He was very open with any questions I had regarding the process and gave pointed feedback to all my essays. As an international applicant, it was crucial to hear feedback from someone who truly understands the admissions process.

I eventually received an admit to my target school with a 25% scholarship thanks to Oren’s patience and stellar advice.

I spoke with a few admissions consultants before reaching out to Oren and decided to work with him as he came across as a very genuine person. From the get-go, Oren was very willing to answer any questions I had, and more importantly, insisted on taking the time to understand my “why MBA” story before working together.

As a first-time international applicant, I valued Oren’s previous experience as an admissions director, and through the process, recognized that he had a perspective that my friends and family would not have been able to provide. Having read many more applications before mine, Oren was able to advise which parts of my stories would resonate, and I appreciated that he was always generous and upfront with his feedback.

I eventually received an offer from my dream school and spent less than what other companies would have charged for such services. I would definitely recommend Oren to anyone who is thinking about working with an admissions consultant!

As an Indian Engineer Male, I knew I needed help to put my best foot forward. I approached Oren in Feb 2021, after I came across a post detailing his plans to start an admissions consultancy. After a brief intro call in which Oren impressed me with his passion for his new project, I decided to work with him. And thanks to Oren’s guidance, I’ll soon be attending a school I hadn’t imagined attending in my wildest dreams, even until a few months ago.

As a former admissions officer at Stern, Oren knows the formula required to succeed in the process. And that formula might not be what you read on the internet! When I first reached out to Oren for some help with my resume, I thought I had a well-crafted one. However, Oren pointed out key flaws with my resume, and within an hour of his time, helped me reframe my bullet points so as to make them a lot more impactful and less jargon-y.

Before I started on my essays, I came up with a list of anecdotes and Oren helped me build a strong narrative that connected these seemingly disparate anecdotes together. His experience evaluating hundreds of MBA applications allowed him to quickly identify a theme that would resonate with the adcom, which I built on to construct strong essays.

I also sought Oren’s help for my interviews, and the mock interview he conducted accurately simulated my interviews at Yale and Booth. Oren’s tips for some of my responses allowed me to rephrase them so as to present myself better.

When you work with Oren, you get a friend who’ll leave no stone unturned to make sure you put your best foot forward. He was extremely accessible throughout the 6 months I worked with him, and his responsiveness often made me wonder whether I was his only client (I was not!). With his help, I interviewed with 3 of the 4 schools I applied to (Booth, Yale, Wharton) and converted 2 of them, including my dream school.

Working with Oren was a huge difference-maker for the deferred MBA application process. Given the programs are so new and competitive, his guidance was a huge component of my admission to Wharton, MIT Sloan, Booth, and Kellogg.

In the beginning, Oren took the time to help me craft and tighten up a compelling story. He was able to immediately identify potential pain points and red flags in my narrative, and fine-tuned my strategic vision into a story that made sense, was cohesive, and spoke to what business schools were looking for. In the actual essay writing process, Oren was extraordinarily responsive (I often had deadlines coming up in the same week and he would always be available whenever I needed him). He knew how to tease out my story and put my best foot forward, and comprehensively suggested edits to each piece to make my voice shine through. Even when I had quick one-off questions, he could always be counted upon.

Finally, Oren’s mock interview was extremely thorough and covered nearly every single avenue/potential question that was asked. He knew which parts of my application would raise questions, and simulated an interview experience that was pretty much identical to the real deal while providing clear and actionable feedback. Following his advice led me to convert every single interview I was offered into an acceptance.

Oren’s value-add from working in the admissions office of a very competitive school was very evident. His passion for the work shone through, and I know from the past 6 months working with him that he truly loves helping students reach their potential. I can’t recommend Oren enough for anyone looking at MBA programs (and particularly deferred MBA programs).