Calling all HBS Applicants - (2015 Intake) Class of 2017

I too would like to wholeheartedly recommend Alice van Harten of Menlo Coaching (https://www.menlocoaching.com)
I contacted Alice for a free 30 minute consultation. after reading these words by flyingdragonamy: "More importantly, Alice believed in me and was always there for me especially when I doubted myself" If you've ever felt like this was you, please read on.

Background
I applied to HBS in round 3 of the 13/14 admissions cycle. I was waitlisted and ultimately rejected. Most people (friends, family, colleagues) thought it was because I had applied R3. They reasoned that if I retook the GMAT and mentioned my promotion in my new application, I would be fine. However I became concerned when I saw a fellow round 3 13/14 admissions cycle re-applicant get waitlisted in R1 of this year. So I reached out to Alice on a whim, just to see what she would have to say. I only planned on retaking the GMAT and updating my resume to reflection my promotion. I was also only going to make minor changes to my essay. But working with Alice changed all that.

The Basics
Alice will review your resume, your essay, your recommender packages, your application etc and provide insightful and grammatically correct edits. She has good inside knowledge of how Adcoms operate and think. She used to be a consultant, so she knows how to help you communicate what you are trying to say compellingly and concisely. But anybody can do that right?

Executive Summary
Choose Alice because she's not going to put you in a cookie-cutter archetype b-school applicant box. She will help you become the best, most compelling, most engaging version of you. She will help you become crystal clear and super specific about your short and long term career goals and why an MBA is needed. When you are done with your application, it will still look, feel, sound and read like you! Read on for further details

Menlo Coaching Difference
More importantly, Alice lets you be you, while you are working with her and when you tell your story in the B-school application. This is an unfortunate pitfall with many consultants. They say "why don't you say this, or write about this or have this as your long term goal" - because in their experience that's what someone like you (stats, background, work exp, X factor) should say to maximize chances of getting in. I did that the first go around and while the application all made sense and it seemed like someone like me could write it, I wasn't passionate about it, I couldn't defend my essay or my long term goals in the interview and it showed.

Alice let me show her my whole self and then she took it all - the good bad and the stuff I don't like to think about and helped me shape it into something that I am incredibly proud of and something that speaks incredibly well of me. She took all my life stories and helped me see the common thread in them, the X factor that makes me special and helps me standout from all the other under-represented minorities I may be compared with. She pushed me to think critically about my short and long term goals to the point where I did not just talk about them in the application, they are actually what I'm going to do after HBS. I'd always thought I'd get in and figure that stuff out later, but working with Alice has enabled me to be more focused about how I'm going to use my time at B-school. I'd like to add that my long term goals and my first essay for HBS remain true - they just weren't communicated in a way that was uniquely me or that I could be passionate about and defend. Anyone could have written my first HBS essay, but only I could have written the second one.

Responsiveness & Flexibility
Alice also took me on 3 weeks before the R2 deadline and helped me revamp my entire application! Then she helped me with my apps to Wharton and Sloan which I hadn't even started before I engaged her. Guys this was Christmas time and she has a family. That is the kind of amazing, kind-hearted, emotionally invested person she is. I was slacking on everything because I wasn't really convinced I could get in anywhere but Alice was a huge motivator. She would tell me stories about her life and background that were just what I needed to hear. It's uncanny how perfectly she understood why I was doubting myself and how she was able to give me strategies and pep talks to overcome my doubts. Her response time is amazing, she lets you know when she will get back to you and keeps the promise. If you need something quicker than she can manage, she'll give you some quick edits and general editing direction to help you get started while she works on fuller edits. That's how committed she is.

Interview Prep
After getting interview invites, I flew out to the west coast to practice with her in person and it made a world of difference. She was flexible enough to schedule more time with me because I needed more time. She helped my sister last minute with her GSB interview and I'm talking last minute here. My sister who is a tough customer said Alice provided better value than her main consultant did. My sister got into GSB!

Alice also helped me with Wharton TBD. I believe as a result of her help, my idea was selected. This allowed me to shine and contributed to my Wharton admit I'm sure.

Watch outs
Only watch-out with Alice as a result of her niceness. I like people to be blunt, otherwise I don't always get the feedback or suggestion they are trying to make. I told Alice this after she gave me some advice I did not want to take. After that, she was as blunt as I needed her to be. So make sure to let Alice know that if she disagrees with your direction, she should let you know loud and clear.

Conclusion
I'm so grateful to have had Alice's support this time around and I hope to work with her for many more years!

If you have any further questions, please PM me or ask on here. Happy to help!