A Trusting Coach Who Listens and Elevates Your Story

Strengths:

Very responsible coach with deep experience and great listening skills to elevate your story

Would make the product better:

N/A

I was quite stressed when I decided to apply for an MBA just one month before the round’s deadline. I needed a trusted advisor who could eliminate the guesswork in how to best represent myself—someone with both experience and my best interests at heart. I was very fortunate to meet Pete, who turned out to be exactly that and more, ultimately helping me gain admission to two of the three schools I applied to (Berkeley and UCLA).

Given my short timeline, Pete was an incredibly responsible and calming presence. He helped me set clear priorities and efficiently navigate school selection, recommender preparation, and the crafting of my essays and résumé—all without compromising thoroughness or attention to detail. I particularly appreciated his relentless effort in iterating on my essays and résumé. Every time I sent him materials for review, he didn’t just focus on the latest updates; he reread everything carefully to incorporate new perspectives and ensure consistency. His professionalism also kept me accountable, pushing me to submit only my best work throughout this intense process. Additionally, Pete proactively involved other consultants with specific expertise in certain schools or areas, providing invaluable additional feedback. I’m also incredibly grateful for his flexibility—he made himself available on weekends and holidays to promptly address my questions and requests as the deadline approached.

What pleasantly surprised me about working with Pete was his ability to listen deeply and work with my existing materials with both respect and expertise. Like many applicants, I found that my application stories became quite personal and vulnerable at times. Pete’s thoughtful approach made me feel comfortable sharing my experiences, and his deep admissions expertise helped me identify the stories that best represented me while staying true to myself.

By the end of my process with Pete, every word in my application felt like me—just at my very best. This became a grounding force throughout my application journey, helping me stay confident despite the overwhelming noise online about what schools are looking for. It also proved invaluable during interviews, where candidates and their stories truly come to life for schools.