Prep MBA | MBA Admissions Consultants

I had been thinking of an MBA in the US for a long time but the process seemed strenuous, so I needed good advice from an excellent coach. People that got into HBS told me about Alex Leventhal, so I had an intro call and immediately clicked with him. He is straightforward and doesn’t bullshit you, which is particularly important when compiling an application that should be reflective of who you really are. The great thing was that he worked with me directly and took time whenever I needed him to – on weekdays and weekends. He always came across as really invested in getting me to a successful outcome, which I sincerely appreciate. He is a very nice and honest guy, who got his MBA from Harvard, and tries to get to know and help you reflect about yourself. He told me I needed to fix the GMAT in order to have a serious chance at M7 schools and even connected me to a GMAT coach, who is also great. I was short on time, so decided to apply to one M7 school with the EA instead of the GMAT.

He managed to transform good essays – on which I had spent a lot of time thinking and rewriting – to great essays. The entire application had a golden thread running through which I believe was only possible with the help of a very experienced advisor in the form of Alex, as my story was far from easy to explain. When the stakes are this high and you want to showcase your chocolate side in the MBA application, he is the guy you would like to have in your corner.

Working with Alex Leventhal proved to be fantastic. While I got waitlisted after a good interview (might have something to do with submitting the EA instead of the GMAT), I can say with certainty that this was the best application I could have put forward and one that I certainly would have never been able to compile on my own. To be honest, Alex is so nice that I am still regularly in touch with and I would recommend Alex in a heartbeat to anybody that would like to give their best shot in getting into a top-tier MBA program. In case I decide to reapply, I would only consider Alex as a coach – he is just great – and always recommend him to friends and colleagues.

I had conversations with over 6 consultants before I decided to go with Alex. Right from our first connection, I could see that Alex was truly invested in the process to make me successful. Where many other consultants discouraged me or would agree to whatever I had to say, Alex offered honest, open feedback but fully encouraged me to aim for the stars. I took the M4 package with Alex and have successfully submitted all the applications. As a person who is naturally anxious and gets very stressed, Alex helped calm down my nerves and offered sane advice. Right from his bio sheet to filling the application form, Alex has been extremely helpful. I remember him going back and referring to our first conversation while we brainstormed on the HBS essay and helping me self-reflect and dive deeper into areas that I might have otherwise not felt were as relevant. Alex helped me bring out a story that was true to me, did not superimpose his own ideas, and let me be my authentic self. He helped me really cut down the essays to highlight the best aspects and helped me prep for my 1st interview call as well while still ensuring I’m bringing out my natural flair to the table. I really feel now at the end of the process, I have a better understanding of myself.
I would recommend Alex to anyone who wants a personalized true approach to their applications.

Having come to the MBA application fairly late in the process, I initially just dived in and started making the applications and writing the essays on my own. This seemed ok from my perspective as I have been a working professional and thought I understood what was needed, but I was working from a very narrow perspective and although I was invited to interview following my first application, I really struggled with nerves and lack of clarity regarding why I was applying and what I planned to do following the course – so it’s no wonder I didn’t pass the interview.

I was determined to get a place and continued to do some online research – I realized that there were experienced coaches, who might be able to help me to ensure that my next application would be successful.
I found Alex through some online searches and reached out to him – he was super helpful and very responsive – however, I am based in London and realized that we would have the challenge of an 8-hour time difference. Alex is used to working across time zones and with my next interview coming up the following day, I decided to start working with him straight away.

After an interview prep session with Alex, I became very clear on what I wanted to say and he even helped me with the location set up for the virtual interview. I prepared myself the next morning and the interview went extremely well – resulting in an offer and part scholarship coming through the following day.

I was ready to take my first offer but Alex advised me that I had a more prestigious application in progress and he encouraged me to pursue this – the school was able to help me by expediting my interview process, so that I could try for a second offer. This ultimately put me in a position where I had two great offers and with Alex’s guidance and encouragement, I have now accepted a place at Cambridge Judge Business School – I’ve always dreamed of going to Cambridge so this is a dream come true for me.

I would highly recommend Alex to anyone who is about to make an MBA application or anyone who has already started and is trying to navigate it alone. It is a very personal journey and I found Alex was professional and friendly and recognised how and where he could help me. He also removed the intimidation that I felt as an executive applicant liaising with prestigious Universities. Alex helped me realise that I do have unique skills to offer and he helped me to articulate them. Throughout the process, I felt that Alex was on the journey with me and that I could rely on his advice every step of the way.

Alex Leventhal’s excellent service and keen insight into the admissions process helped me get into both of my top choice schools.

My application was made complicated by my year-long unemployment, which started in the summer of 2020. Coupled with a low GPA (3.0), I knew the rest of my application would have to be stellar in order to be competitive. Alex was very hands-on in helping me to craft a story for my application that was coherent, played to my strengths, and explained my shortcomings. He coached me through my essays, giving me edits and feedback multiple times. His interview preparation was also incredibly useful, as I had little experience with zoom meetings.

Alex’s service was also timely. He worked with me right up until the deadline, often at a moment’s notice.

I owe my success this admissions cycle to Alex, and will gladly recommend him to my friends and family.

I initially found Alex Leventhal on Poets&Quants. Recalling the whole process of MBA application, his suggestion and advice helped me a lot to get the offer in a tough MBA application season.

In the beginning, he patiently guided me to discover my highlights through my past career and extracurricular activates. The step of setting up a reasonable career goal was later proved to be a solid foundation for getting in. Alex has a deep understanding of top MBA schools and is able to offer me distinguished opinions school by school. Also, he was helpful for flow, structure, and word limitation. His rich experience made every feedback valuable. The good quality of application materials made me feel confident while preparing for the upcoming interview.

I would strongly recommend Alex Leventhal for future MBA applicants since he is a smart, helpful, and responsible advisor.

I spoke with several highly rated admissions consultants before connecting with Alex and my patience certainly paid off. Most of the large admissions firms match applicants with top consultants only to then outsource the day-to-day work to other associates in a template-based process. Conversely, Alex is the only person I worked with throughout my application process—he owns PrepMBA and applies a truly personalized approach.

In the beginning stages and throughout, Alex invested considerable time in getting to know my background, interests, motivations, strengths, weaknesses, etc. This strong connection and fundamental understanding of who I am proved to be an invaluable foundation for my essay and career goals. I come from an over-represented background and was really struggling to tell my story in a unique and powerful way. After our first call on the essay, Alex offered up incredible 3rd party insight on my life path that helped me break through key roadblocks. He always served as a helpful guide, providing me the space to craft the stories in my own way.

I went through many drafts of essays for each school, but Alex consistently provided thoughtful feedback on each iteration in a timely manner—always within 1-2 days even as we approached the application deadlines. His honest and personable approach made it easy for me to open up and translated to a synergistic partnership. In the end, I achieved my lifelong goal of being admitted to HBS! I’m excited to recommend Alex to my friends and family in the future.

Alex came to me highly recommended by a close friend. On our initial call, he spent nearly an hour getting to know me and thinking through what my strengths and challenges might be in the admissions process. He immediately identified that I had a non-traditional background and that my goal should be to lean into the qualities that set me apart, while assuring schools that my quantitative skills and financial foundation were solid.

We decided it made the most sense for Alex to work with me on my applications to my top two choices. This would allow me to get good coaching on a variety of essay prompts, which I could then adapt for my other applications as needed.

Alex invested a ton of time and attention on the front end — the “getting to know me” stage. This proved to be invaluable for the rest of the process. It meant that he had a solid, in-depth understanding of my background and goals, and he was able to help me articulate my thesis to schools in a way that was both compelling and straightforward. Throughout the process, he was always approachable and accountable. He always got back to me within a day or two, whether turning around essay feedback or fielding more substantive questions and concerns. He was particularly helpful when it came to selecting recommenders and explaining why a particular school was the right fit for me. I also benefited a ton by reading the sample essays he shared from his clients in the past. I wound up getting into 2 schools (one MBA and one EMBA) including my first choice.

I would enthusiastically recommend Alex Leventhal to anyone looking to hire an MBA admissions consultant. He takes his work extremely seriously and always gives it to you straight.

I had the pleasure of working with Alex on my MBA applications. From my first consultation call with Alex, I immediately knew I wanted to work with him due to his honesty and straightforward nature. Having looked over my resume, he advised me to wait an additional year and bolster my work experience before applying.

I decided to go ahead and apply despite his reasonable advice. I worked with Alex under really tight deadlines and he really pulled through. Alex set out a timetable for me to ensure I’d hit my targets and when he realized I was struggling with the deadlines he made time for me multiple times a week to answer any queries and to get me back on track. Alex was incredibly flexible to my needs as I struggled between balancing work, studying for the GMAT, and writing essays. He is an excellent listener, and his experience and resources were incredible in helping me shape my narrative and essays for my schools. Finally, he really is someone you can trust in your corner. Alex pulled through multiple times when I emailed him to look over my essays only a few days before the application, and he could have easily refused but he went above and beyond what was agreed. I’m currently on the waitlist for a top MBA program which is better than I expected given I didn’t hit my GMAT target score and my work experience was limited.

I reached out to Alex very close to R2 deadlines and worked with him on an hourly basis. I was amazed by the personal attention he gave me in this process, turning around drafts at very short notice, and really helping me bring out the spark in my stories. He often made me feel like I’m his only client. The best part about working with Alex was how empathetic, encouraging, and uplifting he was throughout, even when sharing brutally honest feedback. His attention to detail is absolutely unmatched, and I’m so so grateful to have worked with him!

Just like many other applicants, I lurked on MBA forums for months before deciding to take the plunge and work with a consultant. I took a number of consultation calls with various highly-ranked firms before deciding to work with Alex Leventhal. After ten minutes on the phone with him, I was already impressed with his insights about the admissions process and his candor about the strengths and weaknesses of my particular candidacy.

I applied to three schools in round 1 and was rejected from two but deferred by HBS without an interview. As a Harvard college graduate with a relatively low GPA (and an overrepresented minority working in a popular industry), I was nervous about how to approach the HBS Further Consideration process and unsure of how it even worked. Alex’s experience with HBS and the Further Consideration process proved invaluable, as he was able to successfully guide me through the round 1 update essay to a round 2 interview invitation and finally to an offer of admission.

Alex has a very hands-on, straightforward coaching style. He was able to quickly and effectively analyze my application to help me pinpoint the most effective strategy for my Further Consideration update essay. He also conducted a very realistic mock interview which provided me with valuable feedback about my communication skills and gave me a lot of confidence to go into the real interview and perform my best.

Everything about his process stands out. It’s bespoke. It was refreshing to be able to directly correspond with Alex throughout the application process and his response time is unrivaled. His vibrant personality makes every call an enjoyable learning experience and he was always willing to entertain even my most absurd questions about MBA admissions. What makes Alex truly exceptional is that he both understands the meta-level strategy behind MBA admissions and also focuses on helping candidates cultivate powerful individual narratives. I believe that this dual emphasis was critical to helping me go from deferral to admission this cycle and I would strongly recommend Alex to others looking for a personalized approach to MBA consulting.

As with most applicants, I spent a good amount of time looking for a consultant who would be able to help me navigate the daunting application process. Although my partner had chosen Alex as his MBA consultant and spoke highly of his services, I wanted to consider all my options before deciding on the best consultant for me. To be quite honest, I could have saved myself a lot of time if I had just taken his suggestion. Alex was the only individual to review my qualifications and provide an honest assessment of whether the schools I was applying to would not only be within reach but also be a good cultural fit for me (which was something that was a major consideration for me when I was deciding where to apply).

He was the one who suggested that I apply to UCLA Anderson during the initial consultation as he felt that the school would align with what I was looking for. Going forward with his recommendation, I reached out to students and alumni and spent a great deal of time researching the school. As I collected more information, I could see why he suggested UCLA and began drafting my application. With his support, I was able to clearly define my post-MBA goals, understand how I wanted to contribute to the school community, and fine-tune the various components of the application. It was because of him that I was able to ensure that the admissions committee understood who I was and what I hoped to become after completing the program.

Without a doubt, I would recommend Alex to anyone who is looking for an MBA consultant who is honest, fair, and to the point. He knows how to emphasize your strengths and will work with you to address your weaknesses to ensure that they don’t detract from your application.

Ultimately, for anyone starting their MBA process, the applications can seem like an impossible task. However, with a consultant like Alex, they can be surmountable.

I started the admission process relatively late for 2nd round, and I was not very hopeful that I could make the deadlines. After an initial consultation, Alex offered to help so I don’t have to wait another year. Working with Alex proved to be incredible. He is very passionate about his service and he accommodated my aggressive schedule and last-minute questions. Without his support, I could not prepare several applications while studying for the GMAT.

Alex was very honest about my chances. I had a lower-than-average GMAT. He encouraged me to aim high but be realistic and he helped me strengthen other pieces of my application. As I was thinking through career goals, Alex’s strategic approach made it easy to step back, think through my past and present, and understand how this self-reflection may help shape application narratives. I was uncertain how to effectively structure and describe my post-MBA goals. He suggested writing a few pages about my career plans and he provided very useful samples to go by. This great practice paved the path for easily responding to all the critical questions each school asks.

I ended up getting into multiple schools, including my first choice, Yale. The time we spent forming my career plans and reflecting on my previous experiences was probably the main reason why I got admitted to multiple schools.

I would recommend Alex Leventhal in a heartbeat. He brings a unique perspective to each and every piece of the application package. He is very dedicated, personable, articulate, and brilliant.

In the midst of a mad rush to both up my GMAT score and begin crafting my application, I reached out to a number of consultants in late October targeting a Round 2 application. After having 3-4 calls, I was able to get in touch with Alex and schedule an introductory call. Instead of spending 20 minutes pitching me on his many success stories (and there are numerous), Alex took ~45 minutes to hear about my background, interests, and thoughts on what might be viable options for my path. What stuck out even more-so than the personalized approach Alex took from the initial call was his willingness and ability to address my candidacy holistically, quickly identifying key areas to focus on both highlighting or strengthening. Alex’s no-nonsense approach made him stand out from other more sale-like consultation calls.
After getting started, it was clear that Alex was going to stay whole fully engaged throughout the application process. He spent countless hours over the next 2 months with me identifying aspects of my background that would make strong cornerstones for my essays, helping select strong people to write my recommendations, working through draft after draft fine-tuning my essays and other application mediums, and conducting mock interviews helping prepare me to respond strongly to frequently asked topics. When I thought to add another competitive program to my application group, I knew I wanted Alex’s assistance and updated my package from 3 schools to 4 schools.
With Alex’s guidance, I have been able to score acceptances to 2 of my top schools, and I am sure I could not have done it without him. By taking the time to get to know me, my background, my interests, and my overall candidacy, Alex was able to help me put my best foot forward. I would recommend Alex to anyone who is looking to make the most of what they have to offer and want to present themselves to their dream schools with those positive attributes! I truly believe he is the best person for the job.

I belong to an over-represented demographic (Indian male). I also did not have any work experience with a strong brand name company. During my free consultation with Alex, I could see how engaged he would be. Given the fact that I’ve worked primarily for my family’s businesses, getting references is challenging and I loved how Alex was already brainstorming some great ideas in that regard during the free session.

I am a re-applicant. My previous consultant would nod to everything I’d say and never challenge my views, however bad they might’ve been. Alex, however, would not hesitate to challenge my ideas or hold his ground. Also, with Alex, you get to work with him – no juniors or English-trained associates. With my previous consultant, different people reviewed my resume, references, essays and conducted mock interviews. This approach doesn’t work – your consultant needs to know how your entire application is shaping up. Needless to say, this was a major reason I got nowhere in the previous cycle. With Alex, you get a highly trained pair of eyes to bring things together well.

Alex is very smart and connects the dots really well. At the very beginning, he made me fill out a questionnaire that focused on various aspects of my life and then spent 2-3 hours on call learning more about me. He really got to know me well (personal aspects and professional ones) and, all through the application process, I was always amazed at how he would pull out small snippets of my life that I myself had not thought of to answer application essays. He helped bring out my best side.

Alex is a Harvard MBA, sure, but he’s also witty, friendly, and constantly devoted to your quest. He was extremely encouraging, helped choose schools wisely, and when I did not get anywhere except 2 waitlists in round 1, kept encouraging me for round 2. I’d never considered Darden before. It was Alex who convinced me about how good Darden was and suggested applying there – I’m so glad he doesn’t give up and does his best to advise you on what’s good for you. So far, it’s the only school I’ve gotten into across 2 years of applying and he is the singular reason I have an admission offer.

I recommend strongly Alex. He is special and a great guide. You will be doing yourself a great favor by engaging him and giving your applications their biggest boost.

Alex was beyond helpful throughout my application process. In addition to being an indispensable advisor in helping me craft my narrative articulately and succinctly, Alex spent extra time working with me to review every scholarship essay. My only regret was not reaching out to Alex sooner in my application process.

When I applied to undergraduate schools years ago, I did not have the privilege or funds to hire an external consultant. But coming from a well-represented demographic, and even with GRE scores well above all published median acceptances, I knew that gaining admission to a commensurate MBA program would be an uphill battle.

After spending significant time with Alex Leventhal and Prep MBA, I can sincerely appreciate how fortunate I was to work with one of the top consultants in the industry. Without Alex’s support, I probably wouldn’t have gotten into any of the schools I applied to. I highly recommend working with Alex to anyone applying to MBA programs. Alex’s parents seemed to have presciently given him the initials “AL” …because in this industry, he’s an Absolute Legend.

As application season approached, I spoke with consultants from a range of firms, including ones commonly ranked at the top. Ultimately, I decided to go with Alex. What won me over was the confidence I had in his ability to work with a non-traditional candidate like myself, his ability to focus on the most critical issue at hand, and his honesty. The MBA admissions process is, to a great extent, about presenting yourself to admissions committees in a way that is completely sincere but also thoughtfully tailored to the criteria according to which you will be evaluated, and I wanted a coach who would be able to help me in doing that. Alex certainly delivered.

Alex’s insight translated to a tighter set of career goals and a sharper resume, but perhaps most substantially transformed the essay. Unlike some consultants, who push their ideas on you from the start (making it their essay), Alex pushes you to come up with your own ideas and provides guidance from there (so that it stays your essay). My first draft, selected from the four pitches I brought to him, was personal, vulnerable, and might have created some degree of emotional investment in me as a person. However, Alex rightly observed that that investment wasn’t focused properly. I had gotten a little too close to the assignment and lost sight of the underlying function of the essay: to create an emotional investment in your candidacy at the school.

Alex provided some guidance on a next draft that was loose enough for me to flesh out on my own, but specific enough that I didn’t get lost the second time around, especially with the deadline quickly approaching. He reviewed my work at the eleventh hour, giving me some excellent pointers, and we both felt very happy with where the essay had landed. It did what the essay was supposed to do, and tied together my background in the arts, the most noteworthy and unusual aspects of my work experience, and my future aspirations after an MBA into a clear and focused statement that I have no doubt effectively made my case to the admissions committee.

Given that I am a non-traditional applicant and a person who naturally focuses on details and nuance over the big picture, focus, clarity, and word count management were issues in my initial work. Alex brought all in spades. It was not always easy getting feedback that cut so sharply to the heart of exactly what was not working in my essay, rec packets, or career goals, but it was probably the best thing I could have asked for in a process where my application materials would be as closely scrutinized by admissions committees as they were.

Unfortunately, in this brutal admissions year (2020-2021 cycle), I didn’t get spots at the three (extremely selective) schools I applied to: Harvard, Columbia, and Wharton. However, I was thrilled to get a Wharton interview, and I’m optimistic about my chances next year with a wider range of schools and more time to strengthen my application fundamentals. When I do start on my reapplication materials, I know I’ll be dropping Alex a line!

I was searching for an admissions consultant who could very well understand my education and academic career in Life Sciences and help me cohesively tie it to my long-term goal of working as a biopharma strategy consultant post-MBA. After talking to a few admissions consulting firms, Alex Leventhal’s approach and service stood out to me. Using his previous experience in healthcare, he was able to help me extract the key points in my professional and personal journey that I could highlight in my essays. Moreover, after a thorough evaluation of my profile, he guided me to select schools with a realistic mindset. This approach in shortlisting schools is unlike other top admissions consulting firms which do not spend enough time to identify the programs where a candidate would have a better shot of getting in. Coming from a non-traditional background and being older than the average student admitted to a full-time MBA program, Alex told me to work harder to improve my score and seek some leadership opportunities that would improve my candidacy for the selected schools.

Working with Alex was worth the investment. Each of his advice to me was very personalized and at times he would go over the designated time for our call or an application section if it was needed to get a better outcome. In fact, there were a couple of applications where we were pressed for time, but he was able to accommodate his schedule to help me. He is genuine, approachable, and quite funny. He also walks you through the entire application process very methodically.

I would recommend working with him without hesitation.

Alex was instrumental to my acceptances to both HBS and Stanford GSB. I was initially hesitant to apply this year during the pandemic, given the higher volume of applicants and all-around tougher competition. However, after an initial consultation with Alex over the phone, I was able to put to rest any concerns I had and grew more confident around my chances.

Alex took his time to get to know me on a personal level through his detailed bio sheet assignment, which he was able to reference throughout our two-month process together. When developing my post-MBA goals, Alex encouraged me to write about my passion—sports management—despite it being a less “traditional” path. With his help, I was able to clearly articulate why I needed an MBA to achieve my long-term goals, while also highlighting prior relevant experiences in the field.

Most importantly, Alex helped surface an authentic voice for my personal essays, pushing me to a level of self-reflection/introspection that I couldn’t have achieved otherwise. Alex won’t be there to hold your hand and manage every detail or word, but he will be there to provide the insights and guidance for you to tell the right story for each school. After an initial brainstorming session, it was Alex who identified which themes for me to pursue, and from there, the words flowed naturally.

In my opinion, no one should apply to top MBA programs alone without the partnership of an expert, like Alex, who has been through the process himself.

I reached out to Alex Leventhal for his consulting services because it seemed to be the only one that had a more personalized approach. It wasn’t one of those big companies that had many consultants and you had to have the luck of the draw to get the right one. I really liked that Alex had his own approach to helping people.

For me, the most helpful part for me was helping me connect the dots with my previous experience and where I want to go in the future. At first, I was a bit lost on how I should approach the essays but his method really works in getting the story together. Lastly, he helped me understand the BIG difference between job resumes vs MBA resumes and he nails it!

I would highly recommend Alex to any applicant. He really gets to know you and makes you think A LOT. I mean, not just for the application but also helps you do a self-reflection as well. He helped me land acceptances at both dream schools 😊

As a European, I had little experience on the “how-tos” and the key success factors of applying to top US MBA programs. I was therefore eager to find an admission consultant who could support me in the process. One thing that was really important to me was that I could trust the respective consultant not only to have contextual expertise but to be easy to build a personal relationship with. After all, you are sharing deeply personal stories with the respective person throughout the application process.

After my initial call with Alex, I knew he was the right one. You could immediately sense that he cared and was passionate to see you succeed. But he was also honest and straightforward about my expectations and where my profile was strong/not so strong – as an example, he openly addressed the potential fallbacks of my current GMAT score or the limited number of current extracurriculars (given it was early in the process, we could also take action on those). Alex was open about the fact that his offering was slightly more expensive and also that response times might be a little slower, given he does not have a team of junior consultants. But what you get in return is a deeply personalized service, Alex’s full set of experience, and a creative, funny, and honest partner throughout your application process.

Working with Alex proved to be amazing. I only applied to three schools – Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton. In the end, I interviewed with and got into HBS and Wharton. While Alex officially only supported Harvard and Stanford, I could use many of the tools (such as career goals) and even essay preparations for my application at Wharton as well.

I would recommend Alex in a heartbeat, and I already have to my former college friends planning to pursue an MBA. Not only did he play a massive role in my success of getting an MBA spot in the US, but the whole process with him was also super cool and a great reflection of my career, personal goals, and ambitions. I feel strongly that Alex is uncommon as an advisor. He is sincere, funny, and often made me feel like I was his most important client.

Alex’s biggest value-add is his ability to draw out the uniqueness in each candidate. He starts the process by asking the candidate to fill out a detailed “Bio sheet”. Several times in the following months, while we worked on the applications, he would reference various details I had mentioned in the sheet – ones so small that even I had forgotten them! Alex spends a lot of time and energy preparing to work on the applications with the candidate, and throughout the process I felt assured that his advice/suggestions were personalized to showcase my strengths most effectively.

He also has incredible editing skills, and has a knack for trimming all the excess fat from written pieces without losing the essence. Through his interview prep sessions, he also coaches the candidate on how to be concise yet thorough and impactful, making the candidate very appealing to the AdCom.

Lastly, I immensely valued Alex’s work ethic throughout the process. He would tell me exactly when to expect a response and I always got a thoroughly reviewed piece back from him as planned!!

As someone who has not only helped candidates over multiple application cycles but has also been through the process himself, Alex realizes how stressful the process is. Beyond simply providing great advice on the application materials, Alex took the time to connect with me, helping me through stressful times. I am so glad that, after debating amongst multiple consultants, I chose to work with Alex – it would be difficult, if not impossible, to find a better guide and support through this life-changing process.

I was referred to Alex by a friend who was successfully admitted by her dream school last year. Alex helped me decide on which approach to take and what stories to include in my essay, which I believe is the most critical help he offered me in the application process. Looking back, I think my essay makes a lot of sense; but when I was hesitating on which approach to take, Alex helped me make the right decision. He could immediately tell one approach was better, point out that one story I prepared was not reflecting my true self, and point out that another story did not clearly manifest its significance to my future career. Had I chosen the other approach and stories, I probably wouldn’t have got the offer. Alex was very helpful with my interview preparation as well where he was able to provide me with very constructive feedback.

I was initially interested in Alex Leventhal’s consulting firm, PrepMBA, because it appeared to be one of only several firms that prioritized crafting a personalized approach to business school applications. I also liked that Alex didn’t have a cabal of junior associates working with his clients; Alex directly worked with each one himself. It was clear that Alex was personally vested in each of his clients’ success.

When I started with Alex, I could tell that he was focused on getting to know my story from my early childhood to the present. Through his detailed biosheet questionnaire and other supporting materials, we both got organized on what my strengths and weaknesses were.

As we had more meetings and the conversation moved to my resume and future career goals, I appreciated Alex’s help in thinking critically about my past accomplishments and the messaging I wanted to convey on my applications. We ended up brainstorming and refining my thoughts for many weeks before I began to write my essays, which gave me confidence as I wrote my essays and completed respective applications. Alex’s same honest, thoughtful approach carried over into interview prep as well. Throughout it all, Alex was always there to provide a deep dive into a portion of my application that needed substantial attention or a quick answer to an ad-hoc question. This all culminated in my acceptance to NYU Stern.

I would highly recommend Alex and his services to any MBA applicant, and have already spoken highly of him to several of my friends who are considering applying in the near future. He is diligent, hard-working, very kind, and genuinely cares about helping his clients achieve their goals. I could not be happier that I worked with him.

Alex’s services played a huge role in my acceptance to Booth! After checking out a number of consultants, I chose Alex because of his personalized approach and his honesty in assessing my odds at different programs, especially during this tougher COVID cycle. What truly differentiates Alex from other consultants is how comprehensive and rigorous his methods are. The breadth of support that Alex provided surprised me and alleviated a lot of stress. For example, he spent significant time helping me tailor communications to recommenders and coaching me on body language and vocal tonality for my video essays and interviews.

One key area where Alex was able to provide invaluable guidance was in helping my differentiate myself as an Indian American applicant in consulting, a highly overrepresented pool. Alex starts his process by getting to know you as well as possible by having you fill out a bio sheet and interviewing you. Therefore, when I reached roadblocks later on, he knew my story and background well and was able to point out examples that portrayed me in a unique and positive light.

As a result of working with Alex, not only was I accepted to one of my top choices, I also received a significant scholarship. I thought working with Alex was really enjoyable and helpful, and I would recommend him to anyone hoping to put their best foot forward in their MBA application journey!

Alex was extremely helpful in focusing me on the areas which I needed to spend the most time in the admissions process. After completing my GMAT exam, he worked with me to create my career purpose and story, which helped guided everything else in the process. He was thoughtful and honest in delivering feedback on my resume, essays, and interview prep. Not only was his process efficient, but also allowed me to submit my application early in the cycle and ultimately gain admission to my top choice program.

I would not have gotten in my first choice MBA without his help! Alex was able to help me craft compelling essays and excellent overall MBA applications. The MBA application process can be very stressful and Alex had been extremely patient and supportive at every step. What makes him stand out is his dedication to his craft, interpersonal skills, and honesty. Highly recommend him!

Alex is incredibly knowledgeable about the MBA application process. He did a fantastic job helping craft my story by pushing me to reflect upon my goals, passions, and past experiences. Unlike other consultancies, Alex doesn’t pass on the work to junior consultants. I would highly recommend him, especially if you’re struggling to come up with your unique story for the essay. Thanks, Alex!

I picked Alex as my consultant after talking to a few others because of his personal approach—other companies would have had me work with junior consultants.

I found Alex’s service to be helpful in all aspects of the admissions process, but especially the essays. His approach to writing the essays helped elucidate this tricky part of the admissions process. He was not satisfied until I crafted the strongest personal story I could, even though it took almost a dozen iterations of ideas. If your essay is not as good as it can possibly be, he will be direct in telling you so and recommending what you can do to improve it.

He has a fast response time and spends as much time as is necessary to perfect the application. For one school, I was working right up until the deadline and he still was able to provide feedback on my essays the day of.

Alex’s no-nonsense approach greatly improved my admissions prospects and I would recommend him without hesitation. I’ve found that he genuinely cares about and invests in the success of his clients.

I was completely satisfied with the service Alex provided during my MBA admissions process. Alex had several helpful tips and brought up ideas that I would have never found otherwise. At first, I was not sure if I should bother with an admissions consultant, but I believe that without his assistance I would not have gotten into the schools I wanted. Alex also gave a personal touch I highly appreciated, and took the time to get to know me to give personalized advice and service. Alex regularly checked in with me to see how things were going, even though I was only an hourly client. Great guy and highly recommend.

I had called around a couple of consulting firms and worked with another consultant prior to working with Alex. The difference is night and day! First of all, Alex is the owner and sole consultant for Prep MBA – if you sign up with Prep MBA, you are guaranteed to work with Alex, a Harvard MBA grad. Second, Alex will give you direct and honest answers. After our initial conversation, he quickly identified some critical issues about my profile (work gaps, GPA, age, etc.) and how to address each of the problems from the point of view of the admin team. Third, Alex’s creativity and sense of essay structure are beyond impressive; I was always amazed at how we were able to turn a 1000-word draft into an articulate 500 words essay. Finally, I am extremely impressed by his knowledge of various details of the MBA schools and he was able to identify a group of school that fits my career aspirations.

After the initial conversation and assessment with Alex, I decided to rethink my application strategy completely, even though I had previously worked with another consultant. I only had a month to complete my application prior to final deadlines, and Alex was able to accommodate such a rushed schedule. With his help, I was able to get into Tepper and McDonough, both with scholarships. Looking back, I believe that his advice on how to tailor my essay to the admission committee was the main reason I was accepted. The devil is in the detail, and Alex was very meticulous – he really helped me with the tones of my essays and worked with me to find the right words to express my goals concisely. Additionally, Alex was able to provide me with different samples that fit with my career aspirations. These samples were extremely useful when I was trying to find the right flow and structure for my essay drafts.

I highly recommend Alex Leventhal and Prep MBA. If you are honest with him and follow his advice, know that he will provide you with the clearest path to your dream school!

I interviewed several people, and Alex is the only MBA admissions consultant I would recommend. He was candid and provided valuable essay guidance. I ended up matriculating at Wharton, where I had a phenomenal experience. Going to business school changed my life. Thank you, Alex, for all of your help!

Alex knows what he’s talking about, accurately and candidly assessed my application, and gave a ton of useful advice.

I spoke to around 8-9 consultants before deciding on Alex to help with by business school applications. The initial 40 min consultation with Alex was extremely helpful and I received more insights about the process and about my profile than any other consultant I spoke to. I finally chose to work with Alex over other consultants because of the boutique nature of his operation and given that I started my applications for Round 2 in 3rd week of October, I couldn’t afford to make a mistake with this decision.

I chose a 4 school package and did a couple of applications on my own. To date, I have 3 wait-list offers and 1 confirmed admission offer. I am now working with Alex on negotiating the wait-list offers and see what other schools I can get into.

Overall, it has been great working with Alex and I would definitely recommend him to anyone looking to work with a person rather than a company, without any restrictions on the number of edits or how many times he will speak to you.

I am so glad I chose to work with Alex this year during my application process to HBS. I applied as a current medical student only to HBS for a dual MD/MBA. I had introductory calls with a number of consultants but ultimately chose Alex because he was personable, approachable, knowledgeable about HBS, and demonstrated a clear interest in me and my story from the introduction call onward.

Throughout the application cycle, he was a calming presence and helped me navigate the application process while quelling my anxiety. Whenever we embarked on a portion of the application, Alex always gave me space to brainstorm, soul search, and draft, before he provided feedback. This helped us get to know each other better, and also ensured that my vision and story guided my application. At the same time, when I was stuck with tons of ideas and no clear direction for my personal statement, he helped me come up with a creative essay approach that I am extremely proud of. I genuinely believe that this is the first personal statement I have written that truly gets across who I am as a person, and I have Alex to thank for that.

As a dual-degree applicant, I had to write an additional essay explaining my interest in the program. Alex was happy to dedicate time to helping me brainstorm, draft, and perfect that essay, despite it not being part of the typical application. I really felt like Alex was rooting for me, and had a vested interest in getting me into my dream business school. He was unafraid to give me direct feedback when I needed it and ensured that I put my best foot forward in my application and interview. I would work with Alex again in a heartbeat!

I was a re-applicant this year. Last year I had worked with Alex on an hourly basis, a couple of weeks before my applications were due. Alex was super helpful to go out of his way to help me put forward the best application possible. Last year – I got an interview call from Booth but could not convert it.

This year I worked with Alex on a comprehensive package for 1 school and worked on an hourly basis for a couple of other schools. I applied to 4 M7 schools and got an interview invite from 3 of them and offers from 2 (Kellogg and Booth).

Inputs from Alex were helpful to streamline my thoughts during the ideation phase – which eventually went a long way to put together a holistic package. He was very straight forward with his comments and would always call out the weaknesses/BS in my essays. He would also come up with ways to work on the weak aspects of the application. As an Indian applicant – coming from an over-represented pool of applicants – I benefited immensely while working with Alex as he would always strive to bring out the soft-skill aspects of my application.

Finally, I benefited immensely from the mock interviews with Alex. He helped me become more aware of my body language and also helped me to tweak my stories so that they were easier to connect with. I would wholeheartedly recommend Alex to all the applicants who are aspiring to get into M7. It’s worth every penny!

I feel Alex is very kind and hardworking. He helped me on an hourly basis and really helped me reflect on my application. I would recommend Alex to anyone thinking about an MBA. If I had the chance I would work with him again!

I highly suggest working with Alex Leventhal. He knows MBA applications inside and out. His process is unique — he first helps you discover and build your narrative and then helps you center the rest of your application around that narrative. It creates a strong application that showcases a clear image to the adcomms.

In addition to that, working with Alex is a pleasure. He kept me positive throughout the process and was easy to communicate with. He pushed me to produce my best work. When working with Alex, unlike other consultancies — you get Alex! He is all hands on deck with your application and doesn’t pass your questions on to junior consultants. He helped me get into Yale Som with scholarship.

For all those reasons, I’d work with Alex again in a heartbeat!

As with anything I picked Alex as my consultant after significant research. I knew Alex was the right consultant when we first spoke over coffee. He was more interested in my story and my goals than just my statistics and demographics. Unlike other consultants who immediately fixated on “handicaps” and pushed a prescribed set of schools purely based on statistics, Alex was interested in understanding my story and helping me maximize my chances of achieving my goals. He is thoughtful and has an effective process of helping you put together essays. I ended up getting accepted to a top 10 school and waitlisted at two M7 programs. I am very happy with the results and would highly recommend Alex!

As a non-traditional applicant without a business background, I was initially unsure about the value of an admissions consultant. After reaching out to multiple firms and speaking with multiple advisors, I started to get the feeling that these firms were intent on processing me through their system. They felt impersonal and uninvested in me as a person.

Finally, after reading through a GMAT club review, I reached out to Alex. Speaking with Alex was the absolute opposite experience in every way. On the very first call, he took the time to get to know as much about me as possible in a very natural and human way. Without judgment, he was realistic about my chances and what my target schools should be. It was easy to see from the start that Alex would be as invested as I was in the outcome of my application process.

Working with Alex will make your entire application process easier, and I especially recommend him if you are a non-traditional applicant. He outlines a roadmap from the very beginning of each step in the process. I had a sort of vague idea about what I wanted to get out of my education, and he helped me to refine my vision and communicate it in clear and certain terms. He was very responsive to emails and calls and was available to talk through the ambiguities of the process regularly.

My most prominent memory during the process was when I looked back at an essay I had recently submitted. I remember reading the essay and thinking, ‘This person sounds so interesting and amazing, I can’t believe it is about me!’. I was surprised not because the essay was untrue, but because of how wonderful it sounded. Alex was able to take the stories and qualities that I had communicated to him, and he refined them into better, more exciting versions. He helped me to craft a narrative around myself that I am certain I could not have done alone.

If you are reading this and are still on the fence about hiring a consultant, take this as your sign to call Alex. It’s a free call, and I promise you, it’s worth it.

I heard about Alex through my friend’s referral and decided to work with him after the first skype meeting. Back then, I still knew very little about the MBA application process, had no idea where to start from, and meanwhile had to deal with an already challenging full-time job with long working hours. Being highly experienced, knowledgeable, thoughtful and patient, Alex really helped me navigate the whole journey with more ease and confidence. The result speaks a ton – I applied to as many as seven schools in the second round (was surprised that I actually made it!) and got admitted to four of them!

What I find most valuable about working with Alex is that he never tried to use a formula when helping me craft my application, but always offered me tailored advice based on my own experiences. He guided me to think from different perspectives, dig deeper into my stories and connect the dots in the most natural way. Instead of following a rigid timeline, he made sure that we were spending a sufficient amount of time thinking through and put together the best story, and I really appreciate this flexibility which comes from his experience.

I benefitted a lot from the mock interview sessions as well. Alex was super sharp at identifying my issues and focused on improving my delivery by practicing on the spot. This worked really well, and I could see my confidence and efficiency of delivery building up massively after a few mock sessions, and reaching a peak during my actual interviews.

It’s been a pleasant experience working with Alex and I would definitely recommend him from the bottom of my heart. He always emphasized to me that this journey can be tiring, but with a lot of fun as well – and looking back, I can’t agree with him more!

Strongly recommend Alex to anyone looking for an MBA consultant! Really glad I went with him from a friend referral. He is simply amazing, knowing what he is doing. I am very happy with my results, exceeding my expectations. I applied to a few schools in R1 but did not go well. Alex kept encouraging me and told me to stay positive, and my R2 applications turned out great: I got into Haas and Kellogg both with sizable scholarships, and also my top choice, Wharton!
Throughout the process, Alex was really helpful in crafting my story and finding the themes/unique aspects of my experience. He is candid and sharp, a great storyteller with a grasp of each school’s essays. He is great to work with, very efficient – quick turnaround and high quality. I tend to procrastinate sometimes, but Alex always helped me meet the deadlines. I also benefitted much from mock interviews with Alex, both individual and the group interview for Wharton. He gave very personalized feedback that made me much more comfortable going into the interviews.

Alex was a great consultant. We were virtual – I was in NYC and he is in LA. I chose him after interviewing 5 consultants. I was accepted to Columbia Business School – I don’t think I would have been accepted had I not worked with Alex. Alex was very thoughtful and engaging. He has the unique ability to pull interesting essays and stories out of you; I spend my time in spreadsheets, not writing essays, so he greatly helped to synthesize my story. I highly recommend Alex.

What an easy recommendation… Alex helped me get into both HBS and the GSB; working with him was a pleasure. In a market where most of his competitors are volume shops or bounce you between a team of junior consultants, Alex is high-touch and high EQ. I’ve personally recommended Alex to close to a dozen peers who, in turn, have each done the same. He really drove me to dig deep on my essays and properly represent my background and values. His insights really helped my passion transcend the written format and shine. Thanks, Alex!

During my junior year of college, I made the decision to apply to the HBS 2+2 deferred admission program. To help me through the process, I decided to enlist the services of a consultant, and settled on Alex after consultations with a selection of the highest ranked consultants. Alex was a pleasure to work with, he is a consummate professional and truly takes the time to understand the unique strengths of his clients. He helped craft a phenomenal narrative for my application, and despite a subpar GMAT score (under 700), I still managed to receive an interview spot. Whilst I ultimately did not end up being admitted for the deferred program, I will most definitely work with Alex again in a few years during the regular application rounds.

I came to Alex with a pretty unique situation. During a prior application cycle, I had applied and gotten accepted to my target school. Ultimately, I declined the admission’s offer to take a flier on a startup. Fast forward 18-months and my situation had changed, I was now ready to get my MBA. Further, given my industry and geographic preferences, the same target school was an obvious first choice (and this school ended up being the only application I submitted).

I reached out to Alex approximately 2-weeks prior to the application due date—which was obviously a very short turnaround. Although some consultants might up-charge this type of time crunch, Alex rose to the challenge without blinking an eye. He quickly read through my prior (successful application) and quickly dissected a plan of attack for my new, re-application. He brought a ton of experience and advice to strengthen my application. In particular, Alex helped with my essay’s strategy, while working within the context of my prior application to clearly articulate how my situation was different this time around.

He also demonstrated in-depth knowledge about my target school’s “self-identity” versus their peers—which was critical to my application articulating a very strong “why ABC school is the only option for me.” Given I had rejected my target’s prior acceptance 2-years earlier, I think this was critical to getting readmitted. School’s care a ton about yield and Alex was quick to focus in on this as a key for me. Alex really got to know me and my unique situation. Alex doesn’t take a cookie-cutter approach to his work. Instead, all his advice felt custom to my application which added a ton of value.

I think Alex’s help was critical to my application’s success—especially given my unique situation as a re-applicant. Whether you’re a first-time applicant or have a unique situation like I did, Alex brings a dynamic and experienced approach to get the job done.

Please note: For this review, I chose to not name the school I was accepted at given my application’s uniqueness as a formerly accepted re-applicant. Think US News #8-12 range in terms of ranking. That said, I have no doubt Alex can assist across any range of schools and application situations.

I cannot recommend Alex highly enough. As a re applicant and part of an over-represented demographic, Alex was instrumental to my acceptance at Columbia Business School. I met with him for the first time 8 months before I submitted my applications, and instead of sitting on my candidacy until the spring, he began to work with me right away. He took the time to get to know me, my background, and most importantly spent weeks helping me nail down my story. By the time I actually started writing, I was incredibly confident and secure in my career narrative, which made the application process much easier than the previous year.

Alex provides a great service as well. Unlike some of the other consultants that I looked into, Alex is a one man show, ensuring that he spends quality time with each and every applicant. He is incredibly honest and isn’t afraid to tell you when you are below the mark in essay drafts, mock interview answers, or career goals. However, he ensures his feedback is clear and prompt. Multiple times, Alex would call me directly to chat about my essays to ensure that I understood his feedback to make the process more efficient. I was very impressed on how his recommendations, even those that seemed seemingly minor, would substantially elevate my essays and resume. My experience with Alex was entirely positive and a big reason for my business school application success!

As a reapplicant competing in an over-represented demographic pool, I realized I needed some professional help to improve my chance of getting into a top MBA program. I talked with a few consulting firms, and Alex stood out in that he quickly analyzed my profile and provided his honest opinion. He focused on getting to know about me instead of selling a service. I did a four-school package and eventually got into a top-tier MBA program with a scholarship. Alex has always been very straightforward and honest with me during the process: he would point out the weaknesses of my essay and provide very helpful advice. I would recommend him to all the applicants who want to get into a top MBA program.

I would definitely recommend Alex’s services to anyone applying to business school. His help in crafting my essays and preparing for my interview was critical in helping me get into HBS.

When I first connected with him over the summer as a Round 1 applicant, I could immediately tell that he really valued genuinely getting to know his clients. We ended up chatting for 40 minutes about my story. His feedback about the strengths and weaknesses of my application in that first conversation were super insightful and got me thinking critically about my own story and rationale for applying to business school. I ended up working with Alex on an hourly basis on my essays for my R1 applications and then did interview prep with him for my HBS interview.

In terms of essay prep, Alex helped me identify areas where I could stand out from the crowd and he helped me add significant depth to my application. I felt that he was able to do this because he had taken the time to get to know me. Alex’s feedback is honest and he brings humor into an otherwise stressful process, which I really appreciated. Once I had gotten my interview to HBS, I did mock interview prep with Alex which was fantastic! We spent over an hour running through questions as Alex provided live feedback and ways for me to improve my answers. We strategized on answers to the common and uncommon questions that may surface during an interview. Ultimately, when I interviewed, I wasn’t stressed and that was thanks to prepping with Alex.

If you’re considering working with an admissions consultant for business school applications, look no further. I highly recommend you work with Alex!

Having worked with another admissions consultant in the previous year and interviewed several admissions consulting firms, Alex’s service immediately stood out to me. Whereas other consultants mainly communicated via email, Alex took the time to set up several Skype calls, including an initial video call where we just chatted about our personal lives. We got to understand each other at a much deeper level than otherwise possible through a written form or a voice call. This depth of understanding played a vital role when drafting early versions of my essays, where Alex would offer suggestions on which of my personal stories might fit best, rather than just telling me to rewrite a section.

Alex was also very accommodating to my last minute requests and unique situation. I had a recommender who was unresponsive and sent Alex a draft of his recommendation the night before the deadline. Alex stayed up late into the night to review it and called me after to calm my nerves. I can’t imagine working with anyone else.

Given that I am an Asian male (over-represented group), I purchased the 5-school package to put my best foot forward. With Alex’s help I was able to do just that and was invited to interview at Wharton, Booth, and MIT. After that, Alex’s interview prep ultimately helped me convert all three interviews into admittance offers! I was quite surprised how many of the questions Alex asked in his mocks were in the real interviews. Overall, working with Alex was a pleasure. It is a no-brainer when it comes to recommending Alex, and I have to a friend. Beyond his technical expertise, Alex is funny and personable, everything you would want from an advisor and more!

Having worked with another admissions consultant in the previous year and interviewed several admissions consulting firms, Alex’s service immediately stood out to me. Whereas other consultants mainly communicated via email, Alex took the time to set up several Skype calls, including an initial video call where we just chatted about our personal lives. We got to understand each other at a much deeper level than otherwise possible through a written form or a voice call. This depth of understanding played a vital role when drafting early versions of my essays, where Alex would offer suggestions on which of my personal stories might fit best, rather than just telling me to rewrite a section.

Alex was also very accommodating to my last minute requests and unique situation. I had a recommender who was unresponsive and sent Alex a draft of his recommendation the night before the deadline. Alex stayed up late into the night to review it and called me after to calm my nerves. I can’t imagine working with anyone else.

Given that I am an Asian male (over-represented group), I purchased the 5-school package to put my best foot forward. With Alex’s help I was able to do just that and was invited to interview at Wharton, Booth, and MIT. After that, Alex’s interview prep ultimately helped me convert all three interviews into admittance offers! I was quite surprised how many of the questions Alex asked in his mocks were in the real interviews. Overall, working with Alex was a pleasure. It is a no-brainer when it comes to recommending Alex, and I have to a friend. Beyond his technical expertise, Alex is funny and personable, everything you would want from an advisor and more!