Pascal Michels

When I first met Pascal, he gave me a very candid and realistic overview of my profile and how he could help me show the best version of myself to admissions. He is not shy to point out my weaknesses, which I really appreciated because it still gave me time to improve on them.
Throughout the application process, Pascal had been very supportive. We would schedule periodic catchups and review my progress on my applications and preparations. He was also very encouraging during my GMAT prep and gave a lot of advice.
After spending time to know me on a personal level, Pascal gave me meaningful comments and insights on my essays. Pascal was able to strategically find ways to improve the overall flow of my essays and tailor the message I want to deliver to the schools. I couldn’t have asked for a better counselor and wouldn’t be able to make it without his guidance and support!

I got into Wharton with a Joseph Wharton Fellowship and could not have done it without Pascal. What can I say that has not been said here?! My experience was flawless. Pascal is truly outstanding – an excellent coach and advisor, and an absolute pleasure to work with. Beyond his support with essays and general application (always incredibly responsive and helpful), Pascal spent hours helping me practice for the interviews, the part of the process I was most concerned about. I probably had a good chance of being called for an interview, but am 100% certain I would have not made it out with an offer had I not worked with Pascal. Other than that, having the Menlo team was a great asset as well, for all the resources they shared, the help in reviewing my resume, a mock TBD, etc. – all of which were included in the one-time fee.

Pascal is a phenomenal consultant whom I had the pleasure of working with as a re-applicant. I was apprehensive about working with an admissions consultant again, but Pascal is truly in a league of his own.

For some context, I had worked with a different admissions consulting company in the previous application cycle and was roundly rejected. It was admittedly a tough application year but I was devastated and demoralized. I was apprehensive about working with an admissions consultant again; the process can often feel so transactional and impersonal.

Pascal completely changed the experience for me. He is markedly different from any consultant I’ve spoken to or worked with before. He is so compassionate, thoughtful, and insightful. He really takes the time to get to know you and your past experiences, both professional and personal. I really felt like he cared, which made the application experience so much better. He’s great at delving into your life story and picking up on things you might not have even realized are important. He helped me craft a clear, compelling story to tell to AdComs, which I struggled with previously because my career path is non-traditional and a bit scattered.

For anyone who might be concerned that his professional experience is primarily in Europe, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. He is extremely experienced with top American MBA programs, as he is with European ones. The vast majority of his students apply and are accepted to US programs, myself included.

I am pleased to report that this cycle, I was offered interviews at multiple M7 schools and accepted to every one I interviewed at. A complete 180 from my experience last year, when I received zero interview invites. Pascal was a key difference-maker and I could not recommend him enough.

From the first time I spoke to Pascal, I could tell he was different from other consultants. During the free 30-minute consultation I had with him I could tell he cared. Pascal took the time to get to know me and what I was looking for. I can’t say the same about the other consultants I spoke to. I had a terrible undergrad GPA and was currently working in a sales role which isn’t exactly the most attractive job in a top MBA program. I had no idea what I was going to write about in my essays but using his experience as an admissions director Pascal took the time to help me craft a story that was appealing to top MBA programs. Pascal was also more than generous with his time. He was available anytime I needed him and the turnaround time on my essay drafts was amazing. The longest it ever took Pascal to get an essay back to me was two days! Other consultants I spoke to charged extra for such a quick turnaround time. He also had no issues going through the same essay 5+ times until it met his high standards. Pascal even took the time to personally prepare me for the many interview invites I received. Not only that but Pascal was a pleasure to work with. I actually found myself looking forward to our meetings. In the end, I got into multiple top schools that I no doubt wouldn’t have been able to without his help. I even received a $90,000 scholarship at one of them! If I had to give Pascal a rating of 1-10 I would give him an 11. If you need that extra push that will get you into the school of your dreams Pascal is the guy for you. I can’t recommend him enough.

I started to work with Pascal a year before I actually applied. He has been incredibly patient and helpful throughout the entire process. Despite being busy with more pressing deadlines for other candidates, he carved out time to have weekly discussions with me.

Through these meetings, we got to know each other quite well and I believe that served as a key advantage as we drew out stories in my life and career onto papers.

Moreover, when an unforeseen opportunity presented itself during that time, Pascal served as a sounding board and more importantly, directed Menlo’s resources to help me to fully take advantage of that opportunity.

Finally, with Pascal’s help, I received 9 out of 10 interview offers from the schools I applied to and was accepted into my dream school, HBS.

I knew that getting into a top 10 MBA program is important for me to even consider getting an MBA when I started my MBA admission journey in 2020. After breaking the 700 GMAT barrier, I decided to work with the best admission consultant out there and Pascal’s name came up multiple times during my due diligence. After our introductory meeting, I realized that Pascal would be the right person to work with to attain my goal.

And I was proven right. During our weekly calls, Pascal took the time to listen to my stories. The best part about him is that he encouraged me to go in-depth in every facet of my life during those sessions. This is important because writing essays become much easier when a student explores every aspect of his/her story.

During the essay writing part, Pascal’s guidance was very essential. He pointed out the part of my stories that are unique and helped me focus on those aspects during my writing. Also, Pascal was always available in giving his feedback even during hectic times. For example, Pascal once responded to one of my questions late at night when I was not expecting him to answer me.

Beyond essays, Pascal and I did plenty of mock interviews before my MBA admission interviews; those mocks really helped me go into the interviews with a lot of confidence. He also utilized other resources from Menlo Coaching because he really wanted me to get into my top schools of choice.

The result of all his efforts is me getting into my top choice school in 2021. At the end of the process, I must say we have become great friends and I am grateful for all the work Pascal has done for me.

Pascal has a unique, holistic approach to admission counseling. He possesses a deep understanding of the admission process and is there for you throughout the entire process. Business school applications are stressful and to me, an international student, quite unfamiliar.
Backed by Pascal’s guidance and knowledge, I was able to navigate the ambiguity a lot better. He greatly helped me to identify the MBA programs that fit me best and were able to estimate my chances at any one of them. Furthermore, whenever I had questions, he always responded immediately with clear guidance. Perfection is in the details and I personally felt that all these little tips and to-do’s made a significant difference in the end. MBA applications are much more than a GMAT score and some essays.
That brings us to the inevitable question: “Can he help you to write a stellar essay?”. The answer is yes, undoubtedly so. He helps you to understand your profile, to identify your strengths and weaknesses and those aspects that make you unique as a candidate. By doing so, he enables you to craft a unique story with resonates strongly with the admission committee.
I come from a rather non-traditional background and was struggling to match those traditional profiles. Pascal really helped me to realize that there was no need to and, together, we were able to tell my story in a very sympathetic and compelling way.
Of course, an application does not end there. Compelling essays are usually followed up by an interview. I already mentioned the holistic approach. We took our time to practice. Possibly, even too much since, in all honesty, once your story is clear and compelling, delivering a strong interview is only a small step. It did pay off however, every interview invite was converted into an offer.
In the end, I greatly advise anyone who is seriously considering an MBA to hire an admission consultant. For me, Pascal was a great stress relief and helped me to stay on track. Moreover, we booked incredible results together. I applied to 6 programs and got accepted into 4, waitlisted at another. Among my offers are top international programs, an M7 program and a scholarship at a top 10 program.

If you are on the market for an MBA consultant, look no further than Pascal of Menlo Coaching. I spent weeks interviewing various MBA consultants and could not be happier that I decided to work with Pascal. From my experience, the three key differentiators between Menlo Coaching and other consultants are the following: (i) personalization of the consulting process, (ii) time invested, and (iii) complementary resources.
First, Pascal recognizes that every MBA applicant is different. As a female from a “non-traditional” sales background, Pascal encouraged me to lean into the parts of my life that make me unique. Throughout the application process, he so adeptly helped me create a narrative that highlighted these differences. Pascal ensures that the admissions committees are presented with a 360-degree view of you as a person, not just you as an applicant. Pascal spends the requisite time (and then some) understanding his clients so that he can help you present your best, most holistic self in your applications.
Second, and most importantly, Pascal cares. He demonstrates this by investing as much time and energy as is necessary to help you present your best possible self to the adcoms. There were countless times I sent Pascal panic emails asking him to hop on a call to discuss a component of an application or to review one last essay or email. He was there to assist no matter the time or situation.
Lastly, outside of the one-on-one time that is spent with your consultant, Menlo offers group applicant sessions, coaching from external communication coaches, and mock interview prep with Menlo consultants. During the group sessions, I was able to ask questions to other Menlo applicants and receive valuable feedback on my essays and resume.
To help applicants prepare for interviews, Menlo facilitates one-on-one sessions with professional communication coaches and provides mock interview prep with Menlo interview consultants. If you are someone that struggles with interviews I would 10/10 recommend Menlo for these resources alone.
Candidly, I underestimated how arduous the MBA application process would be for me. If it weren’t for Pascal and his constant encouragement I’m not sure I would have been able to hit those submit buttons! Now I have acceptances from Kellogg and Columbia and on the waitlist at Stanford (fingers crossed!). I cannot recommend him and Menlo Coaching enough.

Pascal is an extraordinary coach and consultant. When I started the MBA application, I was not in a great place. I came from an international, non-traditional background. I had an interesting career path, but my GMAT score and my GPA were not stellar, and I had little confidence in my application prospects.
I interviewed several consultants and was disappointed that they tended to steer me towards “easy” schools. Speaking with Pascal and David for the first time, I felt that they genuinely believed in me, and cared about helping me craft the best possible application.
I started working with Pascal in April 2020 for a Round 1 application targeting 8 schools. At first, I was uncomfortable telling my story. Pascal has a way of putting people at ease and drawing out the best. Rather than filling out an intake form, we had twice-weekly calls and developed a wonderful rapport.
Pascal was brilliant at connecting the dots and posing thoughtful questions that coalesced into a solid narrative. Going through this process, it was a breeze to craft the essays. Pascal is a wonderful writer, making the process less intimidating (and actually fun). He was incredibly responsive and generous with his time, happy to go through dozens of mock interview sessions until I felt confident and thoroughly prepared.
Pascal’s genuine warmth and kindness, his ability to draw out the best in each person, and his thorough knowledge of the different perspectives in the application process were invaluable.
Combined with Menlo’s resources and program, I could not have asked for a smoother and better application resource. Menlo’s video modules were efficient and organized, breaking the application down into manageable steps, and let me work at a pace that fit my schedule. The interview prep sessions Menlo provided were excellent, giving me tools to relax and structure my preparation. Finally, Menlo encouraged me to retake the GMAT and connected me with an amazing tutor who helped me achieve my target score.
I am so grateful to Pascal and Menlo for helping me get interview invites to almost all the schools I applied to, and for getting me into my dream school – Wharton! Also, as an unexpected bonus, I thank Pascal for helping me figure out my deepest motivators and passions, and map out what I actually want to do with my life.

It has been a pleasure working with Pascal and Menlo Coaching. I started my engagement with Pascal in Mar 2020. I had access to byte-sized videos not only explaining the various aspects of the application but also providing valuable insights. Coming from a non-feeder industry, I needed someone to guide me through the application process. We spent a lot of 1-1 time discussing about my background, motivations and post MBA career options. Pascal is very good at putting pieces together and looking at the big picture. I really appreciated the honest feedback about my application strategy and countless essay drafts. As for interview prep, I think we have beaten it to death and the constructive feedback was very helpful. I ended up getting an offer with a scholarship from one of the top MBA programs (and my first choice) in the world. I highly recommend working with Pascal!

I worked with Pascal for interview preparation and strategy for a globally recognized Top 10 MBA program (and my #1 choice). Pascal took the time to thoroughly understand my candidacy, identify the potential areas of weakness for me, and teach me how to professionally address them in an interview setting. He taught me what an admissions committee primarily looks for in a candidate and how I could shine a light on those areas in my profile. As a former admissions head himself, he knows the ins and outs of this game.

Furthermore, he was instrumental in helping me craft my answers to not only the common MBA interview questions that matter the most, but also the tricky and curveball questions that one cannot expect. After speaking with him, I realized I had a huge scope for improvement, and he helped me get there. He pushed me to dig a level deeper into my answers and tested me where it mattered. It all really made the difference on interview day; I was super prepared – smooth sailing.

Long story short – a few weeks later I was accepted into this program, and I’m looking no further. Could not have done it without him, and I am truly grateful for his guidance and support. Would recommend 1000 times over. Good luck to everyone reading this!!

I worked with Pascal for interview preparation and strategy for a globally recognized Top 10 MBA program (and my #1 choice). Pascal took the time to thoroughly understand my candidacy, identify the potential areas of weakness for me, and teach me how to professionally address them in an interview setting. He taught me what an admissions committee primarily looks for in a candidate and how I could shine a light on those areas in my profile. As a former admissions head himself, he knows the ins and outs of this game.

Furthermore, he was instrumental in helping me craft my answers to not only the common MBA interview questions that matter the most but also the tricky and curveball questions that one cannot expect. After speaking with him, I realized I had huge scope for improvement, and he helped me get there. He pushed me to dig a level deeper into my answers and tested me where it mattered. It all really made the difference on interview day; I was super prepared – smooth sailing.

Long story short – a few weeks later I was accepted into this program, and I’m looking no further. Could not have done it without him, and I am truly grateful for his guidance and support. Would recommend 1000 times over. Good luck to everyone reading this!!

Pascal is a wonderful consultant that helped me prep 6 MBA applications, one of which I only had 2 weeks to complete! He is incredibly generous with his time, meeting with me at practically any time of day, and responds with feedback very quickly. He also helped me immensely to craft my story, a piece that I was most nervous about initially, to something I know is miles ahead of what I would have come up with on my own. We dug very deep into my background, my motivations, and the experiences that made me who I am today, a process that has been incredibly beneficial even outside of the MBA application process. All in all, he helped me craft an application that I am actually very proud of and I am excited to be going to Wharton soon!

I was very happy with the overall process and support provided by Pascal. He gave me invaluable input on how to structure my essay and tweaked my tonality wherever needed and assisted me with the whole interview prep process. Besides the quality of his work what sets him apart from other consultants is his ability to take a personal interest in his clients cracking the application processes of top schools. Menlo coaching is a one-stop solution for prospective MBA students.

Pascal helped me prepare for the interview that got me into INSEAD MiM. In only 3 days, he helped me become much more confident about the interview. He gave me really specific and detailed advice on what and how to improve.
I would totally recommend Pascal to anybody!