Joy Pincus

I absolutely loved working with Joy throughout the 2024-2025 MBA application cycle, and I cannot say enough amazing things about my time working with her!

Joy is a seasoned expert in every aspect of the MBA application process, from researching schools, to fine-tuning career goals, from essay writing, to interview preparation. What stood out most to me while working with Joy is the very personalized approach she takes to working with her clients. During our initial meetings, Joy pushed me to introspect and dug deep into my background and life experiences to get to know the real me behind my resume and find the right stories to tell, often ones I wasn’t even aware of to begin with! Then, Joy was instrumental in helping me bring those stories to life on paper, with targeted feedback to naturally illustrate impact, leadership, community-building, growth, interpersonal connection, and so many other wonderful qualities through the power of story.

To write and refine over 10 essays over the course of just 2 months, while also refining my resume, professional experiences, and career goals seemed like a daunting proposition when I first started working with Joy. Joy and I corresponded almost daily, and her mix of tactical feedback, ideas, insights, and meticulous reviews were critical in getting me through it all. Beyond the nuts and bolts of working on the application itself, I’ll always remember Joy’s enthusiasm, positive encouragement, and emotional support, that made what might have been a stressful time a highly enjoyable experience.

I’ve always felt the very best mentors help you learn to help yourself – and Joy epitomizes this in every sense of the word. I can confidently say that I have grown as a writer and even learned more about myself through my time working with Joy! With Joy’s support, I was thrilled to be accepted to Stanford, my first-choice program, and I’m incredibly thankful to have gotten the chance to work with her. If you’re lucky enough to work with Joy, you can be confident you’re getting the absolute best!

I had the pleasure of working with Joy during the R2 application process, and I wholeheartedly endorse her to anyone who is considering applying to business schools. Before I began the application process, I was slightly worried because I was facing a tight timeline to meet the R2 deadline. However, from our first meeting, it became evident that Joy was a seasoned expert, and I felt assured in her capable hands.

Joy is exceptional not only in eliciting one’s life story but also in artfully assembling it in a manner that is compelling, personal, and relevant. This was particularly invaluable to me given that it’s been a while since I graduated college; she rekindled memories of my accomplishments and experiences both during and prior to college. When it comes to crafting essays, Joy is highly responsive and provides candid feedback, a quality I deeply appreciated.

Moreover, Joy’s prowess in resume editing is exceptional. While I had previously summarized my work history and education, she transformed the resume to vividly illustrate the impact of my experiences. However, what truly sets her apart is her unwavering emotional support and guidance throughout the entire process. Joy was always there for me as a cheerleader, believing in my potential even during moments when I doubted myself. Her infectious enthusiasm was empowering every time we convened. I highly recommend working with Joy!

I worked with Joy for several months leading up to R2 application deadlines, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that the help I received from her through that time was invaluable. Navigating the MBA application process turned out to be much more involved than I ever would have thought, and Joy was a constant source of guidance, support, and positivity in that time.

From the outset, Joy ensured that I stayed disciplined and on-track in my application, both checking in regularly and challenging me when necessary, such that I never felt pressed for time in any of my applications. She was willing to overcome time zone differences (often waking up incredibly early in the morning) to ensure we were able to keep a regular cadence of meetings, and was always available and responsive whenever I needed help or feedback.

Another great benefit of working with Joy is that she is refreshingly candid with her feedback, not settling for half-baked ideas when she senses that more lies underneath. The brainstorming I was able to do with Joy, both on big picture storytelling as well as the nitty-gritty of essay writing, were also very meaningful. She has the remarkable ability to facilitate conversations and help you arrive at ideas and language on your own, such that you don’t feel like you are compromising your voice.

I was incredibly happy with my outcomes with Joy’s help, with acceptances to both Ross and Yale SOM (with scholarship). I would highly recommend Joy to anyone looking for a consultant to help them navigate the MBA application process.

Joy was truly a pleasure to work with for the 2024 MBA cycle. She was not only my confidante during this entire process, but a wonderful cheerleader and supporter. My application certainly had obstacles as the job market for 2023 was challenging for startups and tech companies. However, Joy was undeterred. She helped me overcome the obstacles that felt like major roadblocks in my application and helped me see how the negatives were actually positives for my personal story. For any prospective clients, she is a great coach that will help you throughout the entire process.

After several years in managerial positions, I was unsure of which stories and experiences would be the most impactful for an EMBA admissions committee. Joy took the time to understand my background and motivation for business school, which helped me emphasize the right examples in my essays and interviews. Writing an admissions essay was very different than any previous writing projects I’ve worked on; she coached me on how to keep my writing clear and compelling. I applied to three top programs and was accepted into all three with scholarship offers. Joy was personable, direct, and knowledgable about the admissions process, which all attributed to me getting admitted into my top school of choice!

Joy Pincus is an absolute gem in the world of MBA admissions coaching, and I had an exceptional experience with her. From the moment I connected with Joy, I knew I was in capable hands. Her dedication to my success was unwavering, and her expertise proved invaluable every step of the way.

As someone navigating the EMBA application process with 11 years of experience, a non-traditional background, and minimal support from my company, I found Joy to be a beacon of support. She not only provided expert guidance, but also approached our collaboration with a level of attentiveness and kindness that set her apart.

One of Joy’s standout qualities is her keen attention to detail. She meticulously reviewed my application materials, offering insightful feedback that elevated my essays and resume to new heights. Her ability to draw out the most compelling aspects of my experiences truly made my application shine.

What ultimately sets Joy apart, however, was her genuine investment in my success. She was always available to address my concerns, offer encouragement, and celebrate milestones along the way. Her positivity and enthusiasm were infectious, making the entire process not only manageable, but also empowering and enjoyable.

Thanks to Joy’s support, I not only secured admission to 3 of my desired top-tier EMBA programs, but also received additional scholarships—which more than covered the coaching fee. Working with Joy was truly a wonderful experience, and I wholeheartedly recommend her services to anyone seeking to navigate the MBA admissions journey with confidence and success. She is, without a doubt, a five-star coach in every sense of the word.

Throughout the entire application process, Joy was professional, responsive, and extremely compassionate. She understood the task at hand, and delivered over and over again. It was very clear from the onset that she loves her job and she puts a lot of time, energy, and effort into her work. She is knowledgeable, and makes herself available to meet your needs. I highly recommend Joy!

I started working with Joy via Menlo in June 2023 to target R1 for the 23/24 cycle. From our first interaction, Joy took an immediate interest in my story and background. As an ORM candidate with nothing overtly outstanding in my profile, I was very skeptical of my chances. I felt Joy’s background in journalism really came through early on in our interactions when she was probing about my history. Our cultural differences made the whole personal story aspect of the application fascinating (something I personally enjoyed).

Throughout the whole resume, goals and essay process, Joy was very understanding of my work schedule and was very accommodating of my tendency to procrastinate.

I remember us having a chat late July in which I was saying I would have to cut down on the number of schools I was going to apply to in R1, but she pushed me to go that extra mile. Having someone in my corner like that really put me in overdrive for the month of August and I was able to apply to 8 schools in R1.

In the resume building process, I lucked out with having Joy as we had different backgrounds. She took my engineering resume and brought out the salient features that would read well for business school applications. During the essay process, I remember having spent many weeks on the Stanford application as it was so personal. Joy pushed me to introspect and really think about the why MBA and why XYZ school aspect.

She was able to catch inconsistencies in my thought process and even went the extra mile to discuss with her colleagues in Menlo about whether my goals made sense. I was very happy with how each of my essays turned out

Joy worked with me for mock interviews, and then also put me in touch with Obinna for the interview prep and I can’t thank her enough for that. I’m sure I would not have cracked Kellogg without his help and mock interview. Thanks to Menlo for this fantastic interview prep session guide.

Although I didn’t need Joy’s services after submitting all of my R1 apps and doing interview prep, she would still keep in touch and was interested to know how my results went. She was there with me during my rejections and celebrated all my wins.

To cap it off, I think Joy’s radiant personality really worked well for a reticent candidate like me and I’m so glad I cracked an M7 with her help. I would strongly recommend her to anyone who’s thinking of using Menlo for their MBA application journey.

Prior to hiring Menlo for helping with my application, I had applied to multiple highly-ranked full-time MBA programs and was rejected 12 times in a period of 2 years. I had a chance encounter with Alice from Menlo while at the Amsterdam MBA fair. She promptly connected me with Joy and that turned things around for me.

As a 32-year-old from an over-represented community, with 10 years of work experience, I had limited hope of carrying forward with my dream of getting into a top-tier MBA program. Joy brushed my fears aside and got down to the details of my story. She asked me questions I hadn’t considered before, encouraged me to get a little more personal with my essays and identified the strong areas in my profile. Thanks to her guidance, I received my first interview invitation and soon after, I was admitted into a top-5 MBA program!

Menlo’s team and its platform is truly amazing. As soon as you are onboard with Menlo, you are given access to their online platform, which will serve as your one stop for everything related to your MBA applications. It breaks down your applications into tasks with homework and deadlines. If you follow this, you will be able to submit your best application ahead of your deadline.

Menlo’s interview prep is incredible! My session with Obinna was a masterclass in interviewing.

As she is aptly named, Joy always has a smile on her face. The MBA application process can be grueling; make sure you have someone joyful & compassionate helping you through it.

Joy helped me through my application process for Executive MBA programs in 2023. I was 12 years past by college graduation, 16 years since my last standardized test or applications essay, and although I am in consulting, I have a non traditional background for MBAs. She helped me immensely in preparing for the applications process, challenged my perception of myself and my story, and kept me on track to meet all my deadlines. We worked together for almost a full calendar year, and she was always available to bounce ideas off of and listen to my concerns. She guided me successfully through at least one minor admissions crisis. From an ROI perspective, not only did I get accepted into all 3 of my schools, I received a merit scholarship offer from all 3 and negotiated an increase for the school I selected.

As I began the challenging journey of my 3rd round MBA applications, I was overwhelmed. I am beyond thankful that I was able to connect with Joy Pincus at this crucial juncture, and it is without a doubt that her invaluable assistance, unique insights, and exceptional essay/resume editing played a pivotal role in my ultimate acceptance and securing of scholarships.

From our first interaction, Joy demonstrated a deep understanding of the MBA application process, which immediately put me at ease. Her approach was highly personalized, and she took the time to comprehend my strengths, weaknesses, aspirations, and unique experiences. Throughout the collaboration, Joy displayed a level of commitment and dedication that exceeded all my expectations, turning what could have been a stressful process into an empowering and growth-oriented experience.

Joy is a seasoned expert in the MBA admissions world, and she was well-informed about the specific expectations of top-tier institutions. Joy challenged me to think beyond conventional boundaries, urging me to highlight my distinct qualities while tailoring my applications to each program’s ethos.

Joy reviewed initial drafts of resume and essays, providing meticulous feedback that was both constructive and encouraging. Her insights not only strengthened the structure of my essays but also brought out the most compelling aspects of my personality and achievements. I had a real challenge of converting my highly technical engineering resume into a compelling MBA resume, which Joy workshopped with me intimately. In addition to this support, Joy worked within my very tight timeline, often getting my drafts back to me within the same day. I truly felt like I was her only client with the amount of time and attention she provided me.

Perhaps the most impactful aspect of working with Joy was her unwavering support and encouragement. She acted as both a mentor and cheerleader, instilling confidence in my abilities and reminding me of my worth throughout the application process. Her positivity and enthusiasm were infectious, making me feel like I had a true partner in my journey toward an MBA.

Thanks to Joy’s dedication, guidance, and mentorship, I am now enrolled at Michigan Ross. I wholeheartedly recommend her services to anyone aspiring to stand out in the highly competitive MBA admissions landscape.

I worked with Joy when I was applying to EMBA programs. She was deeply curious about my story, helped me find interesting parts of it that I didn’t know would be interesting, and then helped me present myself in the most compelling way possible. She also helped me structure the process, which can seem overwhelming at first, so that I made steady progress, hit my deadlines, and was well-prepared for my interviews. I had a few lapses in confidence as well as a career change during the application preparation and Joy was able to adapt last minute and also gave me all the needed pep talks. It was an absolute pleasure working with her and I got into both of the top programs I applied to.

I had the opportunity to work with Joy as my coach for my MBA admissions applications, and she played an instrumental role in helping me get accepted to both of the programs that I applied to (in addition to securing a top scholarship offer to both programs). Joy was super responsive and provided valuable feedback within a short time frame throughout the entire process. I’m so grateful I got the chance to work with her! Her helpful insights made a huge difference in helping me prioritize the different steps of each application process and making it as stress-free as possible.

I highly recommend working with Joy and Menlo – you will not regret it.

In May 2022, I decided to reapply after missing my target schools in the 2021-2022 application season. Since my self-crafted application packages had not worked out, I knew I needed professional advice this time. When searching for admission consulting agencies, I looked for 3 things: 1. someone that could point out what I didn’t do well in my last application 2. someone that can see my past stories from my standing point and help me picture a vision for future 3. someone that has a flexible schedule and is willing to jump in a discussion with me whenever we need to (since I knew the application preparation has a lot of uncertainties).

I chatted with 4 agencies first, all of which, however, either have a strict consultation time limit or are just doing consultation as a part-time job. I was somewhat upset until I chatted with Joy. In our first chat, I immediately felt the great difference from the other agencies! Joy was super warm and friendly, and instantly answered YES to all of my 3 requests above. She patiently listened to my experience all the way from my childhood to who I am now. She appreciated my achievements, shared a laugh with me toward interesting stories, and understood my difficulties without judgment. She also quickly gave me thorough application strategies, including target schools, my strengths the schools love to see, and alignment of my career goals with the schools. The enthusiasm and optimism she showed while presenting was as if to say “We got this! Without a question!” That boosted my confidence and filled me with motivation to fight through another application season. Feeling such a strong connection with Joy, I immediately decided to work with her.

Throughout the application preparation, Joy has been as rigorous an inspirer as I thought she would be. She connected all my past experiences to create not just a “plea for admission”, but a 3D image of where I came from, who I am as a person, and where I will go. More importantly, I was worried that the difficulties and hardships in my experience would indicate vulnerability. However, Joy helped me discover shining qualities I didn’t realize in those twists and turns, turning my “weaknesses” into convincing highlights. With her advice, I dug out the best of myself.

Working with Joy does not feel like a business but more like you are teaming up with your closest and most warm-hearted friend toward a shared goal. She was always responsive whenever I had questions. She would spend hours beyond her regular schedule to discuss new ideas with me. When there were new changes in my career and life, she always swiftly adjusted our strategies and incorporated the updates in my essay and overall application packages. While preparing essays, Joy always pushed me to write as informative and concisely as possible, making every word count. After receiving interview invitations, Joy also tailored many mock interview sessions to specifically improve my interview approaches.

Our endeavor paid off when I received the offer from Columbia at the end of 2022. The sense of achievement was incomparable, and I knew I would not have it without Joy’s incredible support. Eventually, we became good friends because we could both look back at this amazing journey and say “We did it”.

I hope my experience working with Joy can be a good reference for all future candidates looking for guidance. If you hope to have new inspirations and breakthroughs, you will not want to miss Joy.

I was so lucky to have met Joy before the Round 2 deadline. I greatly enjoyed working with Joy and I don’t think I’d have gotten into Wharton (my top choice!) without her help. I met Joy only 3 weeks before the Round 2 deadline. Given the time constraints, I felt rushed and needed someone who could help right away. Joy provided just what I needed – starting from kick-off, she helped clarify my thoughts and transformed my rough drafts into essays that were ready to submit in only a few weeks. She was more than a consultant to me throughout my application process – her optimistic yet down-to-earth personality made my MBA application process much more enjoyable. I could not have asked for a better consultant & coach – thank you again, Joy! I would highly recommend working with her to anyone who is looking for a consultant.

Joy not only got incredible results for me, but the experience of working with her was also completely smooth and painless. She is highly efficient and clearly understands the admissions process inside and out, and I believe that it is thanks to her guidance in framing my career and accomplishments that I was accepted to my first-choice program. On top of the incredible results she got me (acceptance to my first choice program, several other M7 acceptances, AND merit-based scholarships at most of the programs based solely on the strength of my application), she is a genuinely nice, easy person to work with. I could not recommend her highly enough.

I was grateful for the ability to work with Joy Pincus as my MBA coach for my Executive MBA applications. Simply put, Joy is the reason I gained acceptance into one of the highest-ranked EMBA programs in the country. As an applicant from a nontraditional background, (physician/healthcare), I needed assistance with packaging my scientific and quality/safety achievements into the business jargon and metrics highly regarded by the admissions committees. Joy was responsive and accessible in editing my essays and even helped with the wording of short answers on the applications. She never compromised my own voice or experiences, and my identity shined through all my work products. She always got back to me in 24-48 hours, and was very flexible in scheduling our weekly meetings, while always ensuring that I remained on task to meet application deadlines. She was very knowledgeable about the different types of EMBA programs, even beyond just name recognition, and guided me in school selection. When I was lucky enough to receive an interview invitation, she conducted a mock interview with me and allowed me to fine-tune my answers, which allowed me to be confident during the actual interview.

Joy was kind and easy to work with, and I looked forward to our meetings. I highly recommend her as an MBA coach.

Joy is the most incredible person you are fortunate to interact with, in fact, she positively changed my life. Her compassionate heart and bright mind are a unique combo. In fact, I have worked with world-renowned leaders and entrepreneurs through my own firm and Joy far and away has the “it” factor that will blow you away if you are lucky enough to work with her.

Her knowledge of the process and unique ability to encourage you to exceed your potential is what is so inspiring.

If you have the opportunity to work with Joy, I highly suggest you do so. There is no one else in the world I would recommend to have on your side during this process and in life. I plan on being a lifelong friend of Joy’s and believe she is the most well-suited and positive person in the business world.

Why Menlo

I was going through the process of selecting an admissions consulting company and met with 3 other firms besides Menlo. The other firms I met with felt more like a sales turnstile process and they are putting you into this rotation, with no clear visibility. I had heard horror stories and I didn’t want to be in that situation. I felt Menlo was by far the least “salesy” – it didn’t feel like they were selling me something, rather, it felt like an actual conversation that would progress into a strong partnership. Some of the other firms felt pushy, with a barrage of questions and statements during the free consultations. Speaking with David and Joy felt like a two-way engagement, and I thought, “This is how I want my application journey to be facilitated.”

What worked especially well

The frequency and flexibility of my meetings with Joy were great. I always felt that if I needed a question answered or raised a concern, I would be able to get in touch with Joy and she was very helpful in working with me to articulate my community fit at all of the programs I applied to. I thought everything from start to finish worked well.

I also didn’t realize from the beginning how important the online platform was, and I really, really liked it, as it helped me to keep pace during my hectic summer and work schedules. I pride myself on being organized, but this platform took me to the next level – having our communications embedded directly within the platform was quite helpful.

In summary

I absolutely recommend Menlo Coaching and Joy. When you are going to make an investment from a monetary and time perspective – you need someone who sees eye to eye and is on equal footing. The support, guidance, and thoughtfulness I received for my applications from Menlo were exactly what I was looking for.

As Joy’s client in Menlo coaching, I am so glad to work with Joy and get the Kellogg, Tuck offer and Ross offer with a full ride. Joy could empathize with my past experience and use her impressive writing skills to guide me to tell a whole story to others. Furthermore, she provides a lot of suggestions about my career goals, resume and interview. Not only does she give you a “fish” but also teaches you how to “fish”!

As a reapplicant who had worked with an MBA consultant from another firm last year with all dings, it was hard at first to trust any consultant. However, Menlo Coaching and Joy are definitely worth you to try if you have a similar case. My friend Susie got admitted to HBS last year with Menlo’s help and I should have listened to her and chosen Menlo Coaching a year earlier!

The founder David is also willing to help and hope you to be successful in your applications.

Anyway, the only advice I would give would be to trust Joy and Menlo Coaching, follow her steps and keep your fingers crossed!