Rebecca Heath Anderson Reviews

I worked with Rebecca Anderson during the MBA application process, and I give her my highest recommendation. Rebecca was everything I needed in a counselor and more. She helped me get into my first choice MBA program (Wharton), which I would have never dreamed possible. Her assistance was crucial to helping me achieve the outcome I desired for the following reasons:
- Honest Feedback: I personally had to take the GRE multiple times in order to get a top score. There were many instances where I felt my score was ‘good enough’ and I was ready to stop trying for a better score. However I am lucky Rebecca never sugarcoated her feedback with me, and was direct in informing me that my scores would hinder my application significantly if I didn’t get them higher, and that I absolutely had to retake the test. Without her honest opinion, it is highly likely I may have given up much sooner, and would not have achieved my goal GRE score without her extra push. It was a lot of work, but Rebecca knew I would find the outcome worth it.
- Responsiveness: Rebecca understands that her clients are juggling a full-time job and in my case still studying every day for the GRE while still finding time to write multiple essays for multiple MBA programs. Rebecca’s extremely fast turnaround time and responsiveness made it possible to juggle all these deliverables, while still getting everything done on time. Rebecca’s reliability in this area was imperative when it came to me staying on top of my schedule as well as providing a sense of comfort in a very chaotic period of time. I knew that I could expect a response from Rebecca faster than most of my coworkers, which was extremely reassuring. Knowing I could always count on Rebecca to answer my emails quickly helped me to divide up my time between work, studying, and writing in a predictable, manageable manner.
- Organization: Without Rebecca’s assistance, it would have been extremely difficult to make sure I not only create personal application deadlines for myself, but also follow through with them. She was first to let me know when I was taking too long to complete a piece of the application, or when I needed to devote more of my time to applications. Between work, studying for the GRE, and writing applications, I absolutely appreciated her check-ins and warning regarding upcoming deadlines.
- Detail-Oriented: Like most individuals applying to top MBA programs, I took this process quite seriously and wanted to make sure my final applications were as ‘perfect’ as possible. At times this meant I might spend a whole day debating word-choice, the best way to phrase an email to an alum, the best zoom background to use for an interview, and so forth. I always felt comfortable asking for Rebecca’s advice on the smallest details, and she was willing to opine on even my most specific (and likely irrelevant) questions. On the flip-side, if n yet Rebeca felt it was not quite there, she would always get back to me letting me know that I needed to put more effort/thought into a specific deliverable, which I appreciated. Rebecca’s patience with my endless questioning helped alleviate much of the stress that I would have otherwise felt navigating a year-long, complex process. Beyond details, Rebecca helped me on a deeply strategic level. For example, she spent a lot of time helping me think strategically about which recommenders to engage. Rebecca also helped me think very critically about my network, and how to approach and leverage them throughout the application process.
Overall, Rebecca’s devotion to her clients is why I believe she is such an amazing counselor, guide, and mentor.

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Rebecca and the Menlo team were the consultative experts I needed to advance my MBA aspirations. Going into this process I knew that I was facing an uphill battle to get into the top-tier programs I was looking at; my undergraduate GPA was less than stellar, I am in an over-represented applicant pool and I just turned thirty. Rebecca’s help in framing my story, which in part explained my GPA troubles, was a key part of me not only getting into Booth, Kellogg, Stern and Jones but also being offered scholarship at three of the four. The process Rebecca and Menlo have created is challenging and highly structured in order to keep things moving and ensure that the final product best represents each applicant they work with. This process encompassed all aspects of the application, including working with my recommenders to help them create the most impactful letters.

Rebecca took the time early on to learn my story and motivations. With that insight she helped me identify an MBA path that worked for me as I was advancing at work (part-time over full-time or EMBA) and what schools I may fit best with. When it came to the applications and essays, Rebecca truly differentiated herself. I lost track of how many iterations we went through for each essay but it was significant. Her expertise in taking what I now realize was a rough starting point (but at the time thought was a near finished essay) and condensing it down to the points I was really trying to convey within the wordcount that I was given was exactly what I needed and worth every penny. Later on in the process, Menlo’s interview prep gave me extreme confidence going into an nerve wracking situation.

The cost is significant but having full access to a responsive and engaged consultant is worth it. Interestingly enough, as I look back on some of discouraging times in my application process with the exam, I question if I would have given up had I not already made that initial investment in a consultant and myself. My only other hesitation with engaging Rebecca was her European location but after going through this entire process, including dozens of calls and significant digital communication, I can say that the time difference was no issue at all. Rebecca made the times I and other stakeholders in my MBA were available work. If you are serious about getting your MBA at a top school, particularly if you know you are a less than perfect applicant, Rebecca and Menlo will give you the best shot at getting to where you want to be. I cannot recommend them enough!

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I knew that I was applying later on in my career and wanted to ensure I put my best foot forward in order to secure an acceptance to a top MBA program. From my first conversation with Rebecca, I knew she was the perfect person for the job- she immediately came across as down-to-earth, authentic, and very knowledgeable about the admissions process. These were all values that were extremely important to me. While I knew the MBA process was competitive, I never wanted to sacrifice my values to secure a spot. Rebecca proved over the course of the 9 months we worked together that our first call wasn’t a sales pitch but rather her true self.

The stresses of everyday life don’t stop while applying to MBA programs and I can’t emphasize enough around the importance of being able to connect with your consultant. Rebecca was extremely empathetic with me throughout the process, even at times when I’d become down on myself and want to give up on the application process. Rebecca would continuously check in on me to ensure that not only was I getting my application work done, but also to make sure that I was doing okay with other stressors going on in my life. She was able to break down the applications into bite-size chunks that allowed me to never become too overwhelmed with the process (even while re-taking the GMAT!).

Due to personal circumstances around COVID, I felt it was best for me to request a deferral. Rebecca was a great sounding board for thinking through this decision and on the best way to present my case to the admissions team. As a result, I was able to successfully and seamlessly secure my spot for the Class of 2023.

Menlo Coaching (and Rebecca) are truly exceptional consultants that leave no detail unturned. They provide you with a roadmap and give you honest feedback in order to make sure you have the best chances at securing an acceptance from a top MBA program. I have no doubt that choosing Rebecca made all the difference in me receiving offers from top MBA programs despite weaknesses in key areas of my application. While their price point might be higher, I can assure you that you will not regret it.

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I highly recommend working with Rebecca from Menlo Coaching. Rebecca's guidance throughout the MBA admissions process was unparalleled. Admittedly, I was slightly apprehensive to hire an admissions consultant given the high price tag, but I have absolutely no regrets. I was admitted to all but one of my top 10 MBA programs (including my #1 choice) despite having a subpar GMAT score and a non-prestigious academic background. Here are the top reasons you should strongly consider working with Rebecca:

1) I was extremely impressed with her commitment to helping me put my first foot forward in the application process. She showed extreme attention to detail for all of the materials she reviewed, and not once did she compromise on quality, even though we were working on a compressed timeline. Some documents that required significant feedback went through 20+ rounds of edits.

2) Rebecca's core competency is writing (journalist by training), which is exactly what you want from your MBA admissions consultant. Even if you already feel comfortable with your story, the other half of the battle is communicating it in a way that is clear, compelling, and authentic in the word count limits. I still apply some of the guidance Rebecca provided on written communication in my day-to-day job.

3) If you are in North America, the time difference (Rebecca is in Amsterdam) works in your favor - I got into a great routine of spending 2-4 hours in the evenings after dinner working on drafts and sending to Rebecca for feedback before going to bed (which she would provide during her workday while I was sleeping).

4) Rebecca is also a very pleasant person to work with - inevitably you will end up spending a lot of time talking to your consultant, so it is important that whoever you work with is easy to get along with. I felt comfortable opening up to her about my personal life very early in the process, allowing us to put together a very compelling narrative about my personal and career journey thus far and where I see my future going. I plan to stay in touch with Rebecca and hope that our paths will cross someday.

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I decided to apply to business school shortly before I turned 28; I therefore did not make decisions in my undergraduate training, early career, or extracurriculars that would directly funnel into my MBA applications. At the same time, I had immense passion for my experiences leading up to the MBA application. Having decided I wanted personalized help to make sure I put my best foot forward, I Initially expected only to turn to Rebecca for help communicating my excitement effectively. In practice, Rebecca guided me to a critical second prong in my overall application strategy: doubling down on the parts of my profile still under my control.

Without Rebecca as a coach I would not have reached a high-700 GMAT score, pivoted my application strategy due to new information at work, pushed beyond 3-4 essay drafts, connected personally with each of my target schools, or performed extensive interview prep. Each of these very concrete efforts, informed by Rebecca’s strategy, proved critical in my applications, and drove my overall outcomes. Rebecca helped me shift my focus from PT programs to FT during re-orgs at work and as the outlook for the overall job-market changed (just prior to the start of Covid-19). These insights proved very prescient; I now will be attending Kellogg FT in fall (which happens to be Rebecca’s alma mater). I was also admitted to McCombs, Tepper ($70K scholarship), and Ross ($30K scholarship). I ultimately canceled waitlist decisions at Haas and SOM.

The combination of these two focus areas -- making sense of my pre-MBA experiences and doubling down on the application -- also produced outstanding results off-paper. Having now turned my professional experiences inside-out and examined my interests from many different angles, I am much more confident in both where I came from and where I want to go. The process of expending tremendous amounts of effort and achieving a top outcome also encouraged me to continue setting reach-goals as I begin to plan for my post-MBA trajectory. This growth, in addition to the above results, came as direct results of working with Rebecca; both she and the team at Menlo have my strongest recommendation!

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I cannot stress enough how amazing it was to work with Rebecca throughout my business school application process. For me, Rebecca was not just an MBA admissions consultant. She was also my career coach, my cheerleader, and at times, my therapist. While I am ecstatic to be heading to the Wharton HCM program with a fellowship, what I found truly rewarding was the 12 months+ journey discovering who I was and how I wanted to shape my career. Without Rebecca, I would not have earned that acceptance, and more importantly, I would not have the clarity that I currently feel towards what I want to do with my life.


To be more specific, Rebecca was an outstanding partner during my application process for the following reasons, to name a few:

1) Pre-application preparation: Rebecca guided me through school selection, networking, and thinking through my personal story and potential career goals. Based on the conversations I had with other potential admissions consultants, I got the sense that they were trying to fit me into a particular mold and emphasize aspects of my life that fit their narrative. Rebecca was differentiated because she truly got to know me as a person right off the bat. We spent hours going over different aspects of my life, my previous roles, and medium and long-term aspirations. Rebecca went above and beyond and spoke with a close friend of mine and my little sister to get a better sense of who I was. She always asked insightful questions and put in hours of thoughtful time prior to essay prompts even being released.

2) Empathetic Communication: Rebecca is an exceptional storyteller and communicator. She had an uncanny ability to help me shape my story and give form to what I was trying to say. I had complete ownership over my story, never once did Rebecca try to mold me into somebody I am not. Because of her background in journalism, I felt like Rebecca was able to approach my story with the right amount of creativity and clarity. Beyond that, Rebecca is an incredibly empathetic person – a difficult part of the essay writing process involved honestly revealing my passions and motivations. That level of introspection was made easier because of Rebecca’s deep listening and skilled digging. She would ask questions in such a way that helped me arrive at what I truly wanted to convey in a succinct and coherent manner.

3) Responsiveness: Rebecca’s responsiveness went beyond table stakes. Throughout the process, I consistently felt like I was the only client that Rebecca was working with. We had a regular weekly (at times, multiple times per week) touchpoints during the months spent essay writing. These meetings were always productive as Rebecca came prepared with the directions that she wanted to see me further explore in my story. No matter the hour or day, Rebecca was always available within under 24 hours to check in on how I was progressing or answer my questions. There were many times when I asked for a ~12 hour turnaround to optimize for writing time on business trips and Rebecca was always accommodating of my internal deadline, sending back thoughtful edits and changes in short order.
4) Menlo Ecosystem: Being part of the Menlo ecosystem was helpful because the team genuinely wants its clients to be successful and provides as much support as possible. Throughout my application process, David, the co-founder, and others would help out when appropriate (e.g. further 1:1 interview prep, team-based discussion simulations, connections to others with similar career goals). Because Menlo has unparalleled access to those involved in the business school admissions process, the team was always able to give timely advice – e.g. Menlo was able to articulate the different plans and deferral policies associated with each business school in the spring.

Without too much disclosure, I had a challenging year because of events in my personal life that distracted me from many of my goals and affected my performance at work – by all evaluations, I should not have been able to receive a business school acceptance. Yet, with Rebecca’s help, I not only was able to secure a spot at one of the best MBA programs in the world, but have also been able to feel more confident in myself again. Menlo Coaching is at a relatively higher price point, on an absolute basis. However, if you are able to afford the service, I cannot emphasize enough how foolish it would be for you to not meet with Rebecca at least for an initial consultation to see if there is a good fit. The ROI on my investment has been immense, and I feel as though I have found a coach and friend for life.

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Rebecca helped me get into 3 top EU MBA programs with £52,500 in total scholarships, of course including my dream school. I knew I wanted to work with her the first time I spoke with her on the phone. Although there’s ton of material you can read online and obviously there are all sorts of calculators you can play with to see how likely you are to get into a certain business school, talking with someone like Rebecca who has the expertise, experience, and confidence to tell you where you stand in your application is something else. One thing that I appreciated the most from Rebecca as well as the rest of the Menlo Coaching team was their absolute honest. Unlike the case with some other MBA consultancy firms who’d only tell you what you want to hear, you can always count on Menlo to be 100% transparent and honest – they won’t sugarcoat anything they tell you, and they will tell you directly if you are overestimating or underestimating yourself.

Rebecca did a great job exploiting the biggest values from me as an MBA candidate – some of the values that I didn’t even realize myself. We worked on my resume for more than a month and went through more than 10 rounds! Throughout the process I not only learned more about myself, but also confirmed that I chose the right coach to work with. Rebecca wanted the best for me – she asked very detailed and specific questions on every single bullet point on my resume, just so that she understood everything I was trying to say. She guided to tell the story in a clear way, effectively showing my strengths and achievements and why those things were valuable. For essay questions, she patiently explained what story I could write about for each question and why, which was very helpful and honestly, I would’ve chosen to write about something else if I was working on my own (not sure if I’d still be able to get into my 1st choice if I did that!).

My relationship with Rebecca didn’t end after I got my offers. As 2020 has been such an interesting year, I felt comfortable reaching out to her and asking for advice on potential deferral. I see Rebecca as a friend, and her professionalism and sincerity makes her a great coach. I recommend anyone who wants to get into a top MBA program to work with her.

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With Rebecca’s help, I got into Kellogg, Columbia, Yale, Ross and NYU with $560,000 total in merit scholarships. Every school gave me money, including two full rides and two $100k scholarships. 

The year before I had also applied. I was rejected or waitlisted by every top school I applied to. I had also worked with a different well known consulting firm. Their help was somewhat rushed and impersonal, and I didn't really feel like it provided any edge in the process. 

As someone in his 30s with a winding career history that included some substantial gaps, I was undoubtedly an atypical business school candidate.  I was starting to wonder if I’d ever “fit in” at a business school. 

Rebecca’s help along with the broader Menlo ecosystem was the highest value and most comprehensive service I have ever received in my life. There’s no question about it: they were fundamental in the success I experienced during this second attempt to apply to school. 

If you’re like I was prior to working with Rebecca, you’re probably looking for tangible, specific evidence of how she and Menlo drive success. Rebecca stands out because: 

1. She has a true informational edge: Rebecca and the broader Menlo crew are incredibly well networked with admissions departments, students and alumni at the top business schools. Rebecca quoted recent conversations she had with admissions committee members at top schools while helping me. Down to the specific anecdotes I mentioned in my essays, Rebecca helped me target the tone and specific content that she knew each individual school would be looking for. Plus, she was able to bring knowledge from her peers at Menlo to the conversation too. 

2. She has a strong, consultative point of view on… everything. Rebecca provided strategic advice on everything from checkboxes on applications to how to write thank you notes to students I met while visiting schools. I sent Rebecca hundreds of e-mails, worried about every detail and interaction in the process. She provided quick, sharp advice, no matter the question. This was a lifesaver for someone as detail-oriented and neurotic as me! 

3. She helped me develop a holistic, strategic plan for success, given my atypical profile. Rebecca stressed that due to my profile I would need to gain an edge by networking intensely with the schools. I am not a natural networker. So: from choosing the events to attend, admissions members to speak to and professors to contact… Rebecca helped me build a networking plan for success. The results: Admissions committee members knew me by name and cited our relationship as part of their decision to admit me. Students I met volunteered to write me letters of support to admissions. And with Rebecca’s guidance on how to ask the right questions to the right people, I learned enough to weave very specific anecdotes about students and schools into essays and interviews. Multiple interviewers said that my ability to name specific students, classes and professors was a key reason they strongly recommended me for admission.

4. She is an incredible storyteller and editor. I am not concise; I also struggled to build a story that made sense around my winding and atypical career history. Rebecca worked with me to build multiple, ultra concise pitches that conveyed my interest in business school, career goals, and personal history within minutes. Not only did these immediately resonate with admissions committee members (every AdComm member I met responded quickly and favorably to these pitches), but they became the backbone of my essays. Rebecca’s incredible ability to help you build a strategic story about yourself — both the good and the bad — that exposes the essence of who you are, while still appealing to the admissions committee… and then edit it down to a powerful but concise narrative is savant-like and undoubtedly changed the course of my applications. Plus she helps you tailor these narratives to each school and what they are looking for in candidates. 

5. She is rooting for you every step of the way. Rebecca brings such warmth, care and support to her consulting process that you can’t help but feel true confidence in yourself and your story. This helped me wow admissions committee members, ace interviews, and leave a favorable impression on everyone I met during campus visits. 

Menlo initially seemed expensive to me. Now I wonder how they don’t charge more. 

Rebecca is so comprehensive, so knowledgeable and so responsive — for months on end — that you’re going to wonder how she has time to do anything else in her life. You’re also going to be so well prepared, write such awesome essays, and wow every student and admissions committee member you meet.

I haven't once questioned my decision to work with Rebecca (for an older reapplicant, the results speak for themselves) and I can guarantee you won't either. 

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Rebecca's help made all the difference in the world. As a reapplicant, I was no stranger to disappointment. I had applied to several schools in the top 10 rankings on my own in 2018 and only managed a few waitlists where I remained all summer with no success. I signed up with Rebecca the following year, and I can confidently say every aspect of my application improved. First, she recommended I improve my GMAT score. It took a lot of work, but with the help of resources she recommended I ultimately boosted my score from 730 to 780. Next, she helped me compile a list of target schools based on my interests and feedback. She taught me how to extract information from students and alumni to learn what certain programs were really like. 

Throughout the summer, Rebecca's help was instrumental when drafting application essays. We spoke for several hours up front, where she got to know me and heard my many stories. Going forward, her feedback was crucial as I drafted my essays. She helped me decide which examples to use and which stories to tell. Rebecca was great working with me--I never felt as though I was mindlessly following her direction, and she always listened to my preferences when advising. For those worried that Menlo's location in the Netherlands could be problematic--don't be. It's actually a benefit for clients in the U.S. Every night when Menlo closed it's the doors for the day, I'd be home from work and drafting/editing, and by the time I woke up the next morning, feedback would already be waiting for me!

Once interview invitations came in, Rebecca conducted numerous mock interviews with me. She helped me package my story and main points in several succinct responses that made me feel so much more comfortable once interviews actually came. These mock interviews familiarized me with certain schools’ unique interview formats, such as Wharton’s TBD. Menlo also has additional resources, such as a recent graduate from Tuck named Obinna, who conducted mock interviews with me to help me bone up in certain areas (i.e. school-specific or behavioral questions). By the time the interviews came around, where the previous year I felt unprepared and nervous, this time around I felt confident and calm. I can honestly say that I walked out of each interview with no regrets.

In terms of results, Rebecca's help speaks for itself. This year I'll be enrolling at Wharton, my top choice program, and also where I was rejected without an interview the previous year. For those looking for financial assistance, Menlo is a great choice as well—I was awarded a full scholarship at my safety school. Working with Rebecca was also personally rewarding--I feel more prepared to take on the next two years in school than I ever have!

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A Life Changing Decision

There are few decisions in life that are truly life changing, that help you learn about yourself, discover new opportunities, and vault toward your potential. Working with Rebecca at Menlo Coaching was my life changing decision, and I could not feel more grateful for the experience nor more excited about my future prospects.

Rebecca brings a personalized touch to the experience rather than pushing you through the gauntlet of an application checklist. She takes time to get to know you, and from our first conversation, Rebecca’s empathetic and thoughtful disposition put me at ease and encouraged me to open up and tackle difficult but important topics. Her feedback was always frank and direct, and it was a relief to be able to get straight to the point in a process that requires the applicant to be extremely honest with him or herself. Rebecca went above and beyond in every aspect, and I came away from this process not only with 7 Round 1 applications I was immensely proud of and admission to my top school, but also with a deeper understanding of myself and my goals. I could go on and on, but I will instead summarize just a few key areas below.

Essay Feedback:
- Kicked off the process by encouraging me to do a free-write of my life story, which was invaluable later on when addressing specific questions in essay prompts or short answers
- Helped me approach essay prompts from the lense of the admissions reader, so that my message was communicated clearly, precisely, and emphatically
- Asked insightful questions to extract or discover deeper meaning to what I was trying to say
- Never compromised quality, even if it meant patiently answering my questions or providing feedback repeatedly on the same short sentence
- Never compromised my identity, guiding me to craft essays that were the purest expression of myself

Networking Connections and Guidance:
- Provided guidance on how to get the most out of networking events and school visits, which can be overwhelming with so many people to talk to and a day jam packed with programming
- Introduced me to past clients at my target schools, current clients in industries that interested me, and more senior professionals that had successfully navigated a similar path to the one I had in mind

Wealth of Resources:
- Connected me with a body language coach, since an interview is not all about words
- Provided countless informational videos covering every topic related to MBA programs, career opportunities, and the application process
- Organized a clear and thoughtful approach with a calendar and to do list available online
- Encouraged collaboration with her other current clients, creating a network of peers we could rely on for school visit reports and interview feedback
- Facilitated 3 mock interviews, with opportunities for more if I needed them

Personalized Approach:
- Brought a customized approach, not cookie cutter at all. I applied with my partner, so Rebecca tailored her approach to consider both of our goals and likely outcomes
- Helped me and my partner negotiate offers with schools
- Was literally always available and responsive. I was concerned the time zones would be a problem, but it is actually an advantage for US clients since she always had lots of feedback for me when I woke up in the mornings
- Accommodated my busy work schedule and helped me create a plan that took advantage of my mornings and late evenings
- Helped me navigate a difficult political situation that arose while networking with alumni
- Gave me peace of mind knowing that an experienced professional was guiding me through the very involved and often overwhelming process of applying to top MBA programs

If you are looking for an MBA admissions coach who will elevate your applications, guide you through the process, and help you realize your potential, look no further than Rebecca at Menlo Coaching. I guarantee you will also have a life changing experience.

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