MBA & Graduate Admissions Consulting
I take a straightforward, collaborative approach to MBA admissions consulting - strategic, candid, empathetic, and grounded in your real story, always. I work with clients to clarify goals, sharpen materials, and stay sane during a high-stakes process.
Drawing from my experience as a full-time MBA admissions committee member, I have a strong understanding of the perspectives and priorities held by those evaluating your candidacy. I’ll guide you to put your candidacy forward in a way that feels like you and hits just right.
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From me, you can expect a competent, relatable, and responsive coach, who approaches this work with a sense of humility, levity, and drive to help others succeed.
I also take seriously the job of helping clients manage the stress and anxiety that comes along with the business school application process and remain attuned to the fact that this work is a marathon, not a sprint.
My goal is for each client to feel confident about their application by the time they push the “submit” button - and as an added bonus, they usually also learn more about themselves in the process.
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I started my career in the higher education space, spending 6 years in undergraduate and MBA admissions roles at New York University, including at the Stern School of Business. Sitting on admissions committees, I evaluated, interviewed, and rendered admissions decisions for thousands of candidates from diverse walks of life and represented NYU throughout the continental US, China, India, the UAE, and the UK. I also helped launch, position, market, and recruit for various new programs, including 1-year MBAs in Tech and Fashion & Luxury, degree-granting campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai, and undergraduate programs in Global Public Health and Real Estate.
I also hold an MBA with Strategy and Marketing specializations from the Stern School of Business. Please see the “About Me” section for my full credentials.
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My clients have been admitted to top MBA and graduate programs, including:
Stanford GSB, University of Pennsylvania Wharton, University of Chicago Booth, Harvard Business School, Northwestern University Kellogg, MIT Sloan, Columbia Business School, Yale School of Management, Berkeley Haas, Dartmouth Tuck, NYU Stern, Duke Fuqua, UVA Darden, Michigan Ross, Cornell Johnson, Carnegie Mellon Tepper, UCLA Anderson, UT McCombs, USC Marshall, Harvard Kennedy School, and more.
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I have a particular interest in working with LGBTQ applicants and also enjoy working with underrepresented groups and those who consider themselves to be nontraditional applicants.
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The AI landscape is evolving every day, and I am paying attention. I encourage my clients to judiciously use AI tools and help to discern when, where, and how to do so in ways that are appropriate, ethical, and additive.
Questions about your MBA candidacy? Book a focused MBA Power Hour for a read on where you stand, school selection, story framing, gap analysis, ROI, or whatever's most pressing. No package or ongoing commitment required. $250
Services Offered
I offer comprehensive and hourly admissions consulting services for MBA and other advanced degree applicants. I offer support in the following areas, and more:
Pre-Application Counseling & ROI Assessment
Program & Format Selection (Full-Time/Part-Time/EMBA)
Career Goal Development*
Recommendation Support**
School Selection
Personal Narrative Development
Resume development & review
Essay development & review
Interview prep
Waitlist Management
Pre-Matriculation Support
Application-related Stress Management
*Not sure yet if an MBA is for you? Need help aligning career goals before getting started?
**Recommenders write their own recommendations. I assist with recommender selection and ensuring that recommenders are prepared and empowered to vouch for you.
What People Are Saying
“What really sets him apart is how genuinely invested he is in his clients as people. When we first started working together, I was not even fully sure an MBA was the right path for me. Oren took the time to really understand who I am, what motivates me, and what I ultimately want long term before offering guidance. His advice always felt thoughtful, strategic, and deeply personal to my situation.”
ESRA, NYU STERN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
“The results speak for themselves. I was admitted to all 5 schools I applied to with scholarships, and I will be attending HBS in the fall. Even if I did not have the same success, I would choose Oren again every time, because I grew in the process and knew that I was putting forward an application true to myself. Not to mention – he was fun to work with. Thank you, Oren!”
KENDRA, HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL
“I doubted the strength of my candidacy, but from the beginning, Oren helped me craft my story in a way that highlighted how my unique background and perspective made me a perfect fit for several top programs. Without his patience, guidance, support, and confidence, I could not have achieved the results that I did, including securing admission to my dream business school.”
TAYLOR, UVA DARDEN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
“As a first-time international applicant, I valued Oren’s admissions experience, and through the process, recognized that he had a perspective that my friends and family would not have been able to provide. Oren was able to advise which parts of my stories would resonate, and I appreciated that he was always generous and upfront with his feedback.“
EUNICE, COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL
“As a nontraditional applicant, I can personally attest to his versatility and ability to support candidates from all backgrounds. I’m a teacher, and thanks to Oren’s guidance, I was accepted into several top MBA programs and am now attending the school of my dreams! If Oren can help someone with my unconventional background reach a top-tier school, he can help you too.”
JASON, YALE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
“Oren’s greatest strength is his ability to get the best of you out on paper, which can be so difficult, awkward, and daunting for many. He was able to stop me, redirect me with a ‘say more about that,’ and help me pursue thoughts and motivations as I was speaking them aloud. It was magic, and as a result, my essays were full of my personality, my professional value, and my aspirations.”
EDDIE, USC MARSHALL SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
“He helped me own and refine my MBA story without being overly prescriptive. Moreover, I found him to be highly engaged and empathetic – he encouraged me to genuinely reflect on my motivations and how I want to engage with the student community at my future school.”
LOGAN, WHARTON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
“As someone who is prone to over-stressing about things, working with Oren helped make the grueling admissions process much easier to manage, as I knew I was able to put my best foot forward. This not only helped my applications but sanity as well! ”
BRYANT, TEXAS MCCOMBS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
get in touch!
Book a call to grab time directly - or drop me a message if you’d prefer. I’ll follow up promptly!
Oren Margolis
oren@pinetreepalm.com
310-893-0959