Client stories
In their own words
Every story on this page was written by the client. We asked them to tell it straight: where they started, why they wanted an MBA, what working with us was actually like, and where they landed.
Some had great scores. Some had a 3.1 GPA, a 311 GRE, or a test they took four times. A few doubted they belonged in the pool at all. Read the one that sounds most like you.
Every story starts somewhere different
Chicago Booth
Ilana
From music teacher to strategy consulting
Admitted to seven schools, including Chicago Booth, NYU Stern, and Michigan Ross, with $121,000 in scholarships.
“After one meeting and reading my Discovery document, she articulated things about who I am that no one had ever put into words before.”
USC Marshall
Kaaya
From legal compliance billing to entertainment marketing
Test waived, a 3.1 GPA, and a $90,000 scholarship she negotiated herself.
“Overall, I was able to approach my dream school applications with far more confidence than I ever could have had going through this process alone.”
Harvard Business School
Emily
From private credit to healthcare leadership
Admitted to HBS, Columbia, Yale, and Duke, with $500,000 in scholarship offers.
“That gave me confidence that MBA Protocol would help me tell a more authentic story.”
Michigan Ross
Carlos
From insurance analyst in Colombia to management consulting
Admitted to Ross with a $100,000 scholarship, with a 311 GRE.
“Thanks to this, I understood the true appeal I had as an international candidate, which boosted my confidence in myself and my application to the dream MBA.”
Chicago Booth
Julie
From venture capital investor to founder
Admitted to Wharton, Booth, and Kellogg, with $335,000 in scholarships, including a full ride plus stipend at Booth.
“I now feel a lot more confident about telling those stories as well.”
ESADE
Mark
From hospice nurse in the US to healthcare consulting in Spain
New industry, new role, new country. Admitted to ESADE and EADA, with $21,000 in scholarships.
“More than anything, it helped me connect the different parts of my story into something that felt authentic and meaningful.”
Dartmouth Tuck
Kate
From international trade law to a values-led food company
Seven admits, including Tuck and Booth, and $275,000 in scholarships, after taking the GRE four times.
“I also learned to believe in myself and my story more which will carry over to my MBA and life beyond!”
Cornell Johnson
Jake
First in his family to go to college, now headed for consulting
From operations in retail and pharma to an Ivy MBA. Admitted to Cornell and Georgetown.
“With MBA Protocol, I found not only supportive coaches who agreed and reinforced my beliefs, but also a team of other prospective students who cheered me on along the way.”
Cambridge Judge
Patricia
From social media marketing to consulting
Admitted to Cambridge Judge, her first choice, and Toronto's Rotman, with $28,000 in scholarships.
“I had to dive deep into my personal and professional history, which helped me own my story and become more confident when telling it, knowing that I have as much a right as anyone else to pursue an MBA and to earn my place in a program.”
Chicago Booth
Alex
From FAANG sales to brand and marketing strategy
Five admits (Ross, Haas, Yale, Kellogg, and Booth) and $500,000 in scholarships.
“And, of course, MBA Protocol is a great confidence booster, as they show you your values from Day 1 and start crafting the applications exactly from there.”
Dartmouth Tuck
Andrew
From management consultant to the partner track
One admit the year before he worked with us; six the year he did, including Tuck, with $180,000 in scholarships.
“I truly believe that Brian’s ability to sherpa my story into something more strategic is the reason I went from 1 acceptance in R2 of 2024-2025 to 6 acceptances on R1 of 2025-2026.”
Kellogg
Peter
From clinical trials in biotech to healthcare consulting
Admitted to Kellogg, his top choice, despite a rough undergraduate record.
“I have no doubt that understanding myself better after MBA Protocol allowed me to become more comfortable in making that adjustment in my career trajectory.”
Berkeley Haas
Andy
From engineer to strategic product manager
Twelve years of experience, one application, one admit: Berkeley Haas.
“Brian helped me realize that I already had a compelling story and meaningful experiences worth sharing, which ultimately gave me the confidence to move forward with applying this year.”
Michigan Ross
Camila
Into sustainable finance leadership for Latin America
From finance at the Global Green Growth Institute to Michigan Ross.
“For starters, it broke down the entire application process into very manageable steps, transforming something overwhelming into a journey I felt confident about.”
Columbia EMBA
Sheila
Twenty-five years in, ready for executive leadership
She applied to one school and got in: Columbia's Executive MBA.
“It allowed me to be less nervous and be confident in myself and what I accomplished.”
Two more ways to see the work
Client reviews
Short reviews from Poets&Quants, GMAT Club and our own clients, sorted by what was on their mind when they started.
Read the reviewsCase studies
The coach’s side of the table: the numbers each applicant came in with, what was going on underneath, and what we did about it.
See the case studiesYour story could be next
Every one of these people started with a free 25-minute call. You’ll get an honest read on where you stand, which schools make sense, and what we’d do first.
Nobody will push you to buy anything.