When I started looking for MBA coaches, I had very little knowledge of the MBA process. I spoke to a few different consultants, but felt like most were a factory farm for MBA coaching; bringing you through the basics and relying on their credentials as a selling point. During my first meeting with Court, he gave me a path forward and a rundown of the approach we would take in order to achieve my goals. I felt a strong connection with Court during our first meeting and I'm glad I followed my instinct.

From the very beginning, Court assumed the role of teacher and psychiatrist. He taught me about writing actively rather than passively; expressing why I would be a welcome addition to each program rather than hoping I was up to their standards. He encouraged me to take pride in my achievements and to bring that passion forth in my essays and applications. Throughout the process, I was constantly battling a feeling of imposter syndrome. I felt like my college background and professional experience would not be enough to craft a strong application compared to my peers. Outside of my family and close friends, nobody has been as supportive as Court was during this process. He constantly reassured me and made sure I believed in myself, which ultimately translated directly to my applications. It was his recommendations that not only crafted my essays, but helped me get the exam score I was pursuing.

Beyond that, Court was instrumental in helping me identify my goals and strategically map out the path I am now pursuing. It not only changed the approach of my applications, but my goals in attending business school. I have never met someone more invested in the success of their students and I can't express how grateful I am to have met him during one of the most stressful periods of my life.

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came to MBA Pre School looking for an MBA coach. In Court, I found far more: a top application partner, editor, mentor, life coach—and ultimately, a friend.

I originally chose to work with Court because of his outstanding credentials. An HBS alumnus, professor at top U.S. schools, and a deeply-integrated member of the AIGAC community, he knows exactly what elite programs seek. His writing, often featured in outlets like Forbes, along with his extensive media background, made him an exceptional editor and a crucial asset during interviews.

Court pairs his background with a meticulous coaching system. His frameworks helped me sharpen the core elements of my story and uncover building blocks I simply hadn’t thought of before. His reviews on my drafts—always swift and thorough—remarkably improved my writing in ways I’ll be carrying with me for the rest of my career.

But Court’s greatest strength lies in the personal support he gives to the applicants he works with. He invested deeply in understanding me, pushing me to grow not just as an applicant, but as an individual. His candid feedback and unwavering encouragement prompted me to address any insecurities and stay motivated during the many tough moments. Without a doubt, Court brought out the best of me and helped turn my non-traditional background into my greatest strength.

Whether as an MBA coach or as simply a life mentor, truly, Court has my highest and most heartfelt recommendation.

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Like many others from non-traditional backgrounds, I wasn’t sure how to approach the MBA application process. I didn’t have big brand names on my resume, and coming from an overrepresented nationality added another layer of uncertainty. I also started late—took the GMAT in the summer and was still finalising school choices as round 1 deadlines loomed.

I was looking for someone who could not only understand where I was coming from but help me turn that background into a strength. That’s exactly what Faisal did.

From our first conversation, he stood out—calm, thoughtful, and honest. He didn’t try to impress me with buzzwords or cookie-cutter advice. Instead, he helped me focus. There was a long list of things I could fix, but he helped me cut through the noise—pushing me to retake the GMAT to strengthen my profile, while also letting go of anything that wouldn’t actually move the needle.

More importantly, he helped me reframe how I saw my own story. I hadn’t realised how much of my experience could actually be a strength until he pushed me to dig deeper. He gave very specific, actionable feedback that made each draft better than the last—not just in content, but in clarity and tone. His comments always made me think harder, and they made my writing process stronger.

Faisal also genuinely cares. When I missed internal deadlines or delayed a draft, he was often more worried than I was—but instead of pressuring, he calmly pushed me to stick to our plan. When personal stuff came up, he didn’t flinch—he just helped me reorganise timelines to make sure the plan still worked for me. I could always rely on his turnaround time.

When I was debating whether to apply to Duke last minute, he encouraged me to go for it. That application turned out to be one of my best—and even ended up earning me a scholarship. I wouldn’t have even submitted it if he hadn’t nudged me toward progress over perfection.

Looking back, I’m incredibly grateful to have worked with someone like Faisal. He brought a balance of structure, sharp feedback, and genuine empathy that made all the difference. I’ve already recommended him to others and wouldn’t hesitate to do so again.

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Strengths:

Chris was extremely thorough, efficient, and very to the point in our conversations. He was exceptionally good at asking me the right questions that helped crystallize my story. Most importantly, he was just a genuine pleasure to work with and made the entire process pretty stress-free.

Would make the product better:

Nothing really comes to mind here and I'd rather not make anything up for the sake of it!

Working with Chris was one of the best experiences of my career. I initially sought his help to write a strong essay, but the journey became so much more. He challenged me to reflect deeply on the person I aspired to be—something I had never done before in my professional life. That introspection enabled me to craft a unique and authentic story, ultimately helping me secure my spot at HBS. Chris was an absolute pleasure to work with, and I can't recommend him highly enough to any prospective candidate. Regardless of the outcome, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat!

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Strengths:

Having one coach for the entire process (especially editing) helps flesh out the candidate's story and keep it coherent. The entire team was extremely responsive to anything I needed and checked in often to from the top-down to make sure I was happy.

Would make the product better:

The project management software wasn't all that useful, but this is a tiny nitpick and may not be avoidable.

Working with Court on my MBA applications exceeded all expectations, culminating in acceptance at Stanford Graduate School of Business. I interviewed several coaches, and I knew Court was the right choice in our first consultation call.

My background is very non-traditional, so I wasn’t sure that attending a school like Stanford would be possible for me. Court assured me that I wasn’t crazy for applying to GSB, and that we could produce a compelling application that would give me a good chance.

I knew I would need help making my unconventional story coherent with a limited word count. During the writing process, I learned a lot about myself and found that Court was always there with honest and pragmatic feedback that made my writing shine. Court was very good at pulling anecdotes out of me that didn’t seem important at first, but later came to define my application and interview. No stone was left unturned, and I am 100% confident that I submitted the best application possible.

Court was always willing to make time to talk, and it was obvious that he truly cared about me and my future. By the end of the process Court felt like a friend who was very invested in my success, because that’s what he was. He’s a wonderful person and coach, and I would recommend him to anyone looking for help on their MBA applications.

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I was introduced to Court through a referral a few weeks before my application deadline, and I reached out for his assistance with a particularly challenging situation. He not only agreed to help but also collaborated with me closely, forming an amazing team.

I am deeply grateful for his support, which was key in my acceptance into the top MBA program I was aiming for. It has transformed my life.

The preparation process is rigorous and demanding, yet Court's guidance was the support and advantage I needed. He has a remarkable ability to go deep and bring out one's best qualities.

I absolutely recommend working with him.

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Through out my whole application journey for MBA, Christine was very professional, responsive, and genuine. I was targeting Columbia from the beginning and she was there for every steps that required. I didn’t not set any budget on hiring consultant because my only goal was to get admitted to the school that I want. I am based in New York and I was only targeting Columbia. I talked to about 10 different consultants including some consultants that my mba friends recommended. From the complimentary video call with Christine, I was able to know right away that she is professional and very experienced. With her solid background of working at admission offices at different schools, she really knows how to effectively tell your own, authentic and personal story into application essays. When it comes to mba application, I knew that it’s all about strategy on how to present yourself through applications ( essays, resume and interview) and how to be the well rounded applicant for schools. With her many years of experience at this field, she really knows how to craft the best application. I am very happy with the result and deeply thankful to her for everything.

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Court Stroud is the best investment I've made in my professional development. Our almost year-long collaboration transformed me into a stronger writer, a better storyteller, and a more engaging public speaker.

The journey of writing my MBA applications with Court was incredibly fruitful, not only because I gained admission to two Ivy League schools, but also because it significantly advanced my professional skills. I came out of our collaboration as a more confident and polished leader.

Before selecting Court, I spoke with 14 different highly-rated consultants. Some of them were risk-averse, especially with non-traditional backgrounds like mine. Many of them leaned on their experience as former admissions officers. Court leveraged his background in communications, entertainment, journalism, and publishing. And precisely these skills proved invaluable in crafting a compelling application. If you wanted to become a Michelin star chef, would you choose to train under a food critic or a Michelin star chef? Court is this Michelin star MBA-chef. He has this rare talent for uncovering the good story, no matter where it originates.

From our first meeting, I immediately felt trust in Court’s expertise and his genuine interest in my story. I consider myself lucky that he also wanted to work with me. His feedback was always clear and constructive, and his sense of humour made every session enjoyable, helping his insights resonate even more. The MBA application process is challenging, with many highs and lows. Court was always there to listen, support, and empathise. By the end of our collaboration, he was not only an effective coach but also a friend.

Despite the seven-hour time difference, communication was seamless and quick. Court’s responsiveness and commitment ensured that I never felt the distance.

When I build my startup, I hope Court will again be the person who helps me take my stories to the world.

For anyone looking for the best MBA coach, I wholeheartedly recommend Court.

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I'm from Mexico City and had previously worked with two other consultants who weren't confident in my chances of getting into a top MBA program. Fortunately, one of Court's former mentees recommended him to me. From our first 1:1, Court believed in my ability to craft a strong application and was a constant source of encouragement when I struggled with the GMAT. He served as both a psychologist and a motivator, always pushing me to reach my full potential and letting my true personality shine through. Court's thought-provoking questions led to introspective work, helping me express myself authentically in my applications. His clear and straightforward method was ideal for balancing work, applications, GMAT prep, and personal life. Choosing Court as my mentor was the best decision I made, and I'm incredibly grateful for his knowledge, professionalism, and support.

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Working with Court offered me a peace of mind during the MBA application process that I would be hard-pressed to find through other means. He was a great listener that thought deeply about the best ways to tell my story. His eye for crafting a story and willingness to work through numerous edits of my first essay helped improve my writing significantly.

However, for the price that I paid, I felt that things could have been better about my experience. I regularly received feedback later than the window in our contract. I would have appreciated clearer communication regarding when I should have expected to receive this feedback. More importantly, I did not appreciate Court's approach when we encountered a shortcoming in my application strategy - his first response was to emphasize that he recommended a different approach, which I do not recall him doing.

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