Overview
Menlo Coaching is a top-notch MBA admissions consulting firm, perfect for ambitious applicants aiming for elite business schools. They excel at personalized guidance, offering up to 300% more counseling time than competitors. Their low client-to-coach ratio ensures individualized attention. However, watch out for their pricing – they don’t disclose it upfront, so be prepared for a potentially hefty investment.
✓ Pros
- Comprehensive support with unlimited coaching sessions
- Experienced consultants with diverse backgrounds, focusing on strong writing and storytelling skills
- Data-driven approach, having analyzed over 51,000 student profiles
- Low client-to-coach ratio, ensuring personalized attention
- Positive client testimonials, with some reporting multiple acceptances and significant scholarship awards
- Offers up to 300% more counseling time compared to competitors
- Flexible and tailored approach to each applicant’s unique situation
- Provides a digital platform with project management tools and centralized communications
✗ Cons
- High cost, with full-service packages ranging from $9,000 to $25,000. May not be suitable for applicants with strict budget constraints
- Pricing structure may be less transparent, requiring a consultation for an exact quote
- Does not offer hourly or à la carte services for those seeking limited assistance
- Limited availability due to selective client approach
- Fewer online reviews compared to some competitors
- Interview prep packages for Harvard Business School are more expensive than for other schools
Other Ratings & Reviews
9 /10 (specifically Alice van Harten)
5 / 5 Stars
About Menlo Coaching
Menlo Coaching represents a sophisticated MBA admissions consulting service with a proven track record of guiding ambitious candidates to top-tier business schools. Established in 2012, the firm has developed a reputation for delivering comprehensive, strategic support to MBA applicants.
Their pricing positions them in the premium consulting segment. While not the most economical option, Menlo distinguishes itself by offering substantially more counseling time—up to 300% more than many competitors—which translates to deeper, more personalized guidance.
The firm’s service portfolio is remarkably comprehensive, encompassing:
- GMAT/GRE test preparation
- Strategic school selection
- Application essay development
- Interview coaching
- Career planning and positioning
Their ideal client profile includes high-potential professionals who are:
- Targeting elite MBA programs
- Seeking meticulously tailored guidance
- Willing to make a significant investment in their application process
- Committed to a detailed, structured approach to admissions
What sets Menlo apart is their deliberate approach to client selection. With a low client-to-coach ratio, they ensure each candidate receives exceptional, individualized attention. Their consultants typically include MBA graduates from prestigious programs and professionals with extensive admissions expertise.
For serious MBA candidates looking for a white-glove, strategic admissions consulting experience, Menlo Coaching offers a compelling value proposition.
Menlo Coaching Expertise & Track Record
Menlo Coaching, founded in 2012, is a premium MBA admissions consulting firm known for its sophisticated approach to guiding candidates to top-tier business schools. Their team includes professionals with diverse backgrounds, prioritizing excellent writing and storytelling skills over traditional MBA or admissions committee experience. Their philosophy is that creating a winning MBA application is fundamentally a persuasive writing exercise. Therefore, they seek individuals with strong communication skills who can effectively craft compelling narratives
The firm’s consultants possess deep program-specific knowledge and insights into the nuanced requirements of elite schools like Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton. Key team members, such as Alice van Harten, have received consistent recognition from industry publications like Poets&Quants.
Menlo Coaching’s data-driven approach sets them apart, having analyzed over 51,000 student profiles to provide insights into pre-MBA backgrounds and post-MBA career trajectories. Their methodology combines personalized guidance with comprehensive statistical analysis, offering unlimited coaching sessions and access to instructional videos.
While their services represent a significant investment, Menlo Coaching aims to provide a strategic, research-backed approach to MBA admissions. They focus on crafting compelling narratives and maintaining a low client-to-coach ratio, making them a compelling choice for serious MBA candidates seeking a structured, professional admissions consulting experience.
Menlo Coaching Offerings
Menlo Coaching provides a comprehensive suite of MBA admissions consulting services designed to support candidates through every stage of the application process. Their offerings encompass a holistic approach to MBA admissions preparation.
Core Services Include:
- Unlimited coaching sessions
- Comprehensive profile development
- Strategic essay writing guidance
- Personalized interview preparation
- GMAT/GRE test preparation strategies
Their digital platform distinguishes their service, offering:
- Custom project management tools
- Centralized communication channels
- Organizational tracking systems
Unique Data-Driven Features:
- Analyzed 51,991 student profiles
- 40+ instructional strategy videos
- Detailed insights on pre-MBA and post-MBA career trajectories
Specialized Offerings:
- Bespoke services for high-profile clients
- Family office consulting
- Targeted support for specific demographic groups
The firm’s approach emphasizes a low client-to-coach ratio, ensuring highly personalized guidance. Their methodology integrates strategic consulting with data-backed insights, providing candidates with a nuanced understanding of competitive MBA admissions landscapes.
Menlo Coaching’s multi-dimensional service model addresses not just application mechanics, but holistic professional positioning and strategic career development for MBA candidates.
Pricing
Menlo Coaching positions itself as a premium MBA admissions consulting service with a strategic pricing model that reflects their comprehensive approach to candidate support. Most clients should expect to pay a “low five-figure amount” for comprehensive support.
Pricing Structure:
- Menlo doesn’t do hourly rates or per-school packages. Instead, they offer full-service packages ranging from $9,000 to $25,000, depending on where and when you’re applying.
- Pricing varies based on application timing and target schools
- But here’s the kicker – they offer unlimited coaching sessions. No cap on how much guidance you can get.
Specialized Service Offerings:
- Standalone interview preparation: $2,500 for most schools
- Harvard-specific interview prep: $3,000
Pricing Methodology:
- Consultative approach with personalized quote after initial consultation
- No standard hourly rates published
- Pricing reflects depth of service and potential value to candidate
Key Differentiators:
- Low client-to-coach ratio ensures personalized attention
- Comprehensive support beyond traditional consulting models
- Pricing reflects expertise and potential ROI for candidates
An exact quote is provided after the consultation. While Menlo Coaching represents a significant financial investment, their pricing model emphasizes quality over quantity. Candidates receive a tailored, data-driven approach to MBA admissions consulting that goes beyond traditional service offerings. And their services reportedly offer up to 300% more counseling time than competitors.
The firm’s pricing strategy reflects their commitment to providing high-touch, strategic guidance for competitive MBA program applications.
The ApplicantLab Client Experience
What Clients Like
Many clients report on the high quality of service they received from Menlo…
“I applied to 10 schools in the end. It’s pretty all inclusive. 7 days a week for 3 months, I was getting edits to my various school’s essays everyday. On top of that they have videos and modules that you work from that covers the admissions process…Is it expensive ? Hell yea it is. But, I ended up with a scholarship greater than the cost of the service to my highest ranked school I applied to..”
–Reddit user, posted April 2021
Many have positive experiences with Menlo’s’ diverse background of consultants, especially when it came to crafting their personal story…
“There are lots of admissions consultants, but Rebecca is unique for a variety of reasons. Her background in journalism allows her to help you dig for your best stories. She has a warm, friendly demeanor, and is always thinking about how she can support your unique needs as you navigate a challenging process. She is flexible, and accommodated my time zone halfway around the world. But most of all, beyond the MBA applications, she truly cares about helping you chart the long-term career you aspire to. Working with Rebecca allowed me to gain self-awareness and perspective about myself as a person, and that will help me long after business school.”
–GMAT Club review, posted January 2025
“My background as a MBB consultant with limited additional experience puts me in a category of applicant where it was difficult to differentiate myself. But Leslie cared to fully understand and help co-create a compelling story, using her experience (and 100s of successful applications) to pitch it to the HBS adcoms. In total we must have gone through >30 revisions of the key essay. And at every stage I felt like Leslie would go over and beyond for me, and would not settle for anything less than perfect.”
–GMAT Club review, posted January 2024
“Rebecca helped me identify unique characteristics about my life and career that would enable my personal story to stand out. Differentiating myself from my peers was one area Rebecca brought out the best in me as I was struggling to communicate what unique abilities and perspectives I could bring to the b-school classroom. I have a fairly “cookie-cutter” business school background (top public undergraduate institution and Big 4 consulting firm), but Rebecca helped my story come to life through highlighting life experiences from my upbringing and family dynamics that had previously unknown parallels to my professional career and goals.”
–GMAT Club review, posted March 2023
What to Watch Out For
Clients reported a high investment required for services…
“I used Menlo Coaching, was expensive ($600 for the interview prep session), but they shared previous questions, and helped give me the confidence to succeed in the interview. Got into 2/3 of the M7s I interviewed at.”
–Reddit user, posted January 2024
“The catch is it’ll cost you near 20k so I can’t tell if you can justify that or not. It’s certainly not magic, you’re doing the work. They just helped me make my app that extra level of polished that I don’t think I could have done solo.”
–Reddit user, posted February 2022
The Bottom Line
Menlo Coaching is a premium MBA admissions consulting service best suited for ambitious applicants targeting top-tier business schools. Their strengths include unlimited coaching sessions, a data-driven approach, and a low client-to-coach ratio ensuring personalized attention. They excel in comprehensive support, from profile development to interview prep, and offer unique features like communications training with professional actors.
However, their services come at a premium price, with full packages ranging from $9,000 to $25,000. While they provide extensive support, this high cost may not be suitable for budget-conscious applicants. Prospective clients should also be prepared for a selective intake process, as Menlo Coaching maintains a limited client load to ensure quality service.
