Alex Min

Going to business school has always been a dream of mine. The latest application cycle was my second time going through this intense process, and it is safe to say I could not have done so successfully this time around if not for Alex! I applied to a range of top business schools globally with a below-average GMAT score and was quite worried I would not be successful yet again. However, Alex’s immense knowledge, candidness, and willingness to push me to tell my story in a compelling way resulted in my dream of attending a top school coming true. I am incredibly thankful for his partnership and could not recommend him enough if you are looking for someone who can help you navigate this challenging process. 100% worth the investment – both in terms of money and time.

The whole process with Alex was incredibly smooth and professional from the get-go. I had worked with a different consultant in the past and interviewed other consultants during my search process before engaging with Alex. From the time we had our introductory call, it was clear to me that Alex was exactly what I needed to be successful: knowledgeable, direct, kind, and flexible.

I am currently based in Asia, but that was not an issue whatsoever (which felt like it could have been had I engaged with someone else). Alex was always responsive (within 24 hours ALWAYS, even while he was traveling and during the holiday season) and was very flexible when it came to scheduling any calls needed despite the time zone differences. We had calls on weekends, mornings, evenings – you name it. To me, this was a critical part of being successful with my application, as I knew I could rely on Alex’s help whenever it was needed (particularly being so distant geographically).

Alex has a unique combination of being kind and direct – he was able to provide constructive criticism in a way that was honest and actionable. He provided a clear action plan and milestones we had to achieve along the way, including a series of frameworks to tell my story in a holistic way. I felt the benefits of working with Alex through every step of the journey, from deciding on which schools to apply to all the way to interviews and accepting my offer. The revisions and suggestions he made on my essays were transformational, and his help for my interview prep was crucial to be able to perform well during the real thing.

During times of setbacks, he was able to get us back on track by providing real feedback while being able to motivate me in a realistic manner (he never overpromised nor put me down – it felt like he always had the right words to remain balanced yet effective).

Lastly, I really appreciated Alex’s global mindset. His cultural understanding was incredibly effective – both in terms of working with me and in terms of being able to tell a story that resonated with the school.

Again, I cannot emphasize enough how much value Alex added to my application and overall experience applying to business school. It should come as no surprise that his incredible credentials, deep experience, and strong feedback from others translate into actual results. I am incredibly excited for what is next for me and can say with certainty that I would not have been able to do so if not for Alex’s help and guidance along the way.

Alex is the perfect combination of structure and feel. Guided by a proprietary process, Alex takes you through a very in-depth set of exercises to perfectly set you up for success as you take on every step of the MBA application journey: essay writing, interviews, finding the write recommenders, etc etc. While the process is mainly grounded in his multi-step program, Alex seamlessly incorporates a very human side to your consultant-client relationship. He went out of his way to make me feel understood and taken care of during what is often a very vulnerable and time consuming undertaking. In the end, I applied to 6 schools and I got into four of them (Wharton, Columbia, Kellogg and Tuck), waitlisted at one (NYU Stern) and rejected from one (MIT). However, it’s important to note that Alex worked directly with me on 3/4 of the schools I got into which tells you a lot about how pivotal he can be if you put in the time and effort and actually listen to his advice. I did not work with him on my MIT application which was clearly a mistake! I have recommended Alex to all of the people I know who are starting their MBA application journey.

I applied as an older candidate, and I decided to make the investment to get a coach because I knew I needed help to put my best foot forward. I needed guidance in how to compile a competitive application, and leverage my age and experience as strengths. I chose The MBA Exchange, and ultimately Alex, because of his extensive experience and his own relatability to my circumstances.

I appreciated the structured approach to crafting my story. Before we even looked at the schools, there was clarity on my strengths and points of improvement. There was so much information that leveraged his experience, that I would have never known had I not worked with him. He is structured yet flexible, knowledgeable yet open to different perspectives. It made me feel understood, so despite him being the expert, he never put down my concerns or suggestions. Alex helped me choose the right schools, and with his guidance, the research and prep I did for all schools helped me secure an admit decision with a scholarship at one of my top choices.

If you are still making a decision about which consultant to work with, I strongly recommend Alex. The investment is absolutely worth it. He is kind, patient and flexible, and is such a pleasure to work with.

Alex is the most knowledgeable, helpful, detail-oriented, and genuinely caring individual I have ever worked with. It wasn’t just the application itself. He had entire processes, methodologies, frameworks, and approaches in assessing and developing my candidacy before we even got to the mechanics of the application components. That was one of the many things that set him and The MBA Exchange apart. He really got to know me, assess candidacy strengths and less strong areas, come up with actionable plans to accentuate strengths, mitigate or neutralize less strong areas, and apply everything to the applications in the best ways possible. Alex chooses to only work with a very small number of clients each admissions season. I think that’s part of the reason he provides such individualized attention. I felt like I was his only client, but I obviously benefitted from his decades of experience working with all manner of clients. No question I had was too small or too large, and he was able to tailor each bit of advice to my personal situation. What I also appreciated was his ability to describe things from the perspective of the adcoms and let me know the “why” behind things. I was able to get into my dream school, Wharton. All the work we did also helped me massively with getting into every other school I applied to. I was able to leverage all the knowledge I learned from the engagement with Alex and the body of work we produced for all the schools I applied to. Alex knew how to take my story – which is very difficult to translate (military work experience that’s specialized, even within the military) – and put things into context that the adcoms would understand. The applications I was able to submit ended up conveying what I had done, and the connection of those past experiences to my future aspirations, in the best ways possible. He was extremely generous with his time, moved heaven and earth to be available within my limited free time, and kind enough to advise me on other MBA-related topics that were not strictly within the consulting agreement. I always looked forward to our calls because he was such an absolute joy to work with and extremely empathetic. Furthermore, he was pragmatic and would not hesitate to tell me something challenging to hear, but always in a kind and constructive way. He is a subject matter expert for all things admissions related with experience working with clients from all sorts of industries and functions. Being a Veteran himself, I especially benefitted as translating military work experience in ways that make sense and resonate with adcoms is challenging. Alex helped me tell my story in ways that I couldn’t have even imagined, had I gone it alone. I cannot recommend Alex enough to anyone from any background but especially Veterans or current service members who are committed to getting into their dream school.

To put it simply, Alex Min is a treasure and I could not have gotten through the MBA application process without him. Alex is far superior than any other consultant and goes above and beyond to help his clients succeed. Alex is thoughtful, accessible, detail-oriented, methodical, and realistic. Alex puts the process into perspective for his clients, and in the best way possible, is not afraid to push you to present the best version of yourself in each aspect of the application. Alex responded to every one of my questions and comments, in a thorough manner, and was willing to work with me on one sentence, for example, as long as I needed, until I felt it was right. Alex is patient, understanding, and most importantly, smart.

I can say with confidence that Alex is the best of the best; when I began my admissions process with the MBA Exchange, I worked with a different consultant, not Alex Min. Unfortunately, after 2 months of working with my initial consultant, things did not work out and with one month left before applications were due, I switched to work with Alex Min, who had been described to me as the best of the best. Alex far surpassed my expectations and helped me take my application to the next level. I admittedly was not the strongest of candidates, but applied to 5 of the top schools, and was admitted to 3 of those 5. I believe that Alex helped me get my application to the next level, and played a large role in my admittance to these schools. Words cannot describe how strongly I recommend Alex as a consultant for the MBA application process and wish that everyone had the pleasure of working with Alex.

The MBA Exchange played an integral role in helping transform my application from average to excellent. The consultants took the time to understand who I am as a person, professional, and applicant. They were able to combine my work experience with my goals and personality to create an authentic portrayal of who I am. The consultants were extremely professional and very timely with their work turnaround. They were honest in their critiques (something that I believe is essential and invaluable) and provided detailed direction on how to improve. I would not have been accepted into my preferred program without their help, and sincerely refer them to anyone in search of an admissions consultant. I cannot emphasize how effective and valuable the knowledge that the MBA Exchange has to offer. Their feedback and guidance were worth every penny!

Alex and the MBA Exchange are simply in a league of their own. Far from being just another group of consultants, the MBA Exchange truly becomes your best partner. Their level of service and the quality of their insights are extraordinary!! Throughout the whole process, Alex demonstrated the highest levels of professionality and his profound knowledge of the arcane admissions world. From exploring potential essay ideas to planning interview strategies, Alex’s support was absolutely crucial. I’m very glad I chose to work with them and would gladly work with them again.

Within the first hour of speaking with Alex Min over the phone, his targeted insight into the MBA admissions process became readily apparent. The MBA Exchange as a whole treats their clients with warmth, respect, and truly personalized care. Every cent I spent for their services was paid back one hundred-fold with respect to the knowledge I gained and the level of preparedness I was able to achieve for the grueling admissions process. My only regret is that I did not seek them out sooner. An MBA can have lifelong implications, and the MBA Exchange goes out of their way to give their clients the best chance at positioning themselves toward the future they want. Even after completing the admissions process, having earned acceptance to my top choice of MIT Sloan, Alex continued to share words of support and guidance showing a truly unparalleled level of client care. I strongly recommend Alex’s services to anyone who wants to give the MBA Admissions process their absolute best shot.

Bottom Line Up Front: The admissions consulting service that Alex Min at The MBA Exchange provided exceeded all expectations. His guidance was a key factor in getting accepted into both HBS & HKS! I HIGHLY recommend The MBA Exchange to anyone applying to an elite graduate school!

More info: The MBA Exchange was clearly the best choice when it came time for me to choose an admissions consulting firm. From our first conversation, it was clear that Alex not only possessed the professional tools & insider’s knowledge to help me compete for a spot at HBS/HKS, but he also cared deeply about my success. Of all the firms I contacted, only Alex displayed this level of commitment and care (traits that continued even after I was accepted).

From essays to interviews and everything in between, The MBA Exchange’s process and proprietary materials greatly simplified the application process. With Alex’s help, I came to understand each school’s unique (and sometimes unstated) values and how the ADCOMs determine if a candidate is a good fit with their culture. Then, with the materials and frameworks he provided, I was able to take a mélange of different career/life experiences and winnow them down to the few that painted a clear picture of who I am and why I would be an excellent fit for that school. I definitely would not have been able to articulate these ideas nearly as clearly without Alex’s guidance or the firm’s tried and true processes.

I can’t say enough about the exceptional service that I received from Alex and The MBA Exchange. They simplified the application process and helped me get into my dream schools. I give them my highest endorsement!!

Alex is a consummate professional and I credit him very highly in helping me get admission into a top-tier business school. As the CEO, Alex embodies what the MBA Exchange stands for in terms of caring for their clients and providing very specific and actionable advice. I know I would have done well working with any of the consultants in the firm, but I must say it was a genuine pleasure working with Alex.

My case was a little unusual because we had to work through a couple of waitlists in our first year of working together before finally getting acceptance the following year. Alex guided me through every single step of the process with very prompt and sound advice. Alex has a deep understanding of the values each school is looking for and helped me emphasize those characteristics in the applications. Although he almost always knew how to guide me and had the answers to my questions, Alex would never hesitate to pull in former adcoms and other top-tier MBA consultants from the vast pool at the MBA Exchange. While I worked exclusively with Alex, I felt like I had the benefit of the entire company. Throughout our engagement together, Alex was very encouraging, deeply insightful, and took a personal interest in making sure I succeeded. I enthusiastically recommend Alex and the MBA Exchange!

When I started my applications I was military officer who knew next to nothing about MBA admissions. Six months later I was admitted to four of the five Top 10 MBA programs that I applied to (including my top three choices). I could not have pulled that off with out Alex’s help. At every stage of the application process Alex’s insight and advice was invaluable. Alex is much more that a proofreader. As a former admissions committee member he brings a deep understanding of what top schools look for in an applicant, and the best ways to demonstrate those qualities in your application. Before hiring him I had no idea how much I didn’t know. I am now certain the applications I would have submitted on my own would not have been successful. I won’t attempt to relay his entire process, but the MBA Exchange has some unique strategies up their sleeve that I never saw in any admissions blog or book. Working with Alex is not a shortcut to success. I put far more time and effort into my applications under his mentorship that I would have on my own. But if you are willing to put in the work, Alex will get you admitted to a top program.

I was thoroughly impressed with the assistance I received from Alex and MBA exchange. His advice and the rigor that he introduced to the application process are largely responsible for the fact that I was accepted by many of my top choice schools. Alex brought order to the chaos of the MBA application process and instituted deadlines that allowed me to tackle the multiple items that I needed to complete to submit my applications. At every step of the admissions process he was there to provide me with the MBA exchange guide for each item and to walk me through what I needed to do to accomplish that step. I enthusiastically recommend Alex and MBA Exchange for all students who are seeking admissions to a top tier school.