Testimonials

“I was introduced to Alex’s Prep MBA through a close friend who got into MBA at MIT Sloan, and she told me Alex played an essential role to guide her in the process of self reflection to connect the magical dots in her life, which deeply touched me because since the very beginning, I thought my application, especially the essay should show the genuine me, even my weak sides, my emotional side, and I believe Alex would be the advisor that could help to unleash my potential, not like many other advisors in China, kind of forced everyone into some kind of format. My gut was proved super right. He pushed me hard to reflect on my past experience, and did not shy away from failures. I felt super safe and comfortable in showing all sides of me, that lead me to generate super genuine stories, and through the process, I have become clearer of the things I want to do in the future, not just to apply for MBAs. Eventually I got into Stanford Graduate School of Business and Harvard Business School, which are amazing results for me!!! I had dreamed for them, the Alex has helped me to make my dream came true. Thank you, Alex! .”

GSB

“I’m going to HBS, and I don’t think I ever would have gotten there without Alex’s guidance, judgment and ability to help me write compelling essays.  Alex had helped some friends in my circle, and now I will be the one referring him! He never stopped pushing me to do better and it was surprisingly enjoyable to work though his structured process.”

HBS

“I worked with Alex Leventhal on a 5 school package and got into 3 schools, including MIT, my dream program. The primary reason I chose him was that he was doing the work directly and not putting me in touch with another consultant with less experience getting a portion of the fee. Alex is very direct, passionate and results focused. I can also say that the brainstorming and editing sessions were often fun, and that made the process less tedious. He was a partner all the way through to the interviews, and that was perhaps the best part of the package. His analysis of my interviewing was great, and I was completely unaware of some key mistakes I was making. I can’t suggest Alex enough for anybody looking to apply to MBA programs!

MIT

Prep MBA was recommended to me by a friend who had worked successfully with Alex the prior year. Despite that, I still had some initial conversations with other firms. The difference was quite striking. While others were giving me sales pitches, Alex gave me a clear and honest assessment of my chances. I could tell even from our first conversation that Alex would be all in on my application and the fact that I would be working directly with him made it an easy choice for me to sign up. Looking back, teaming up with Alex was key to my eventual acceptance at my top choice, Kellogg. His incredible experience with the process and structured way of working made the admissions process highly transparent for me and helped me greatly in managing my applications in parallel to work obligations. Alex is very smart and through in his approach – being able to play back ideas to him and getting his very honest feedback (which often led to me changing substantial parts of essays) surely took my applications to a level I could not have reached on my own. In addition, I was always impressed by Alex’s turnaround times. Being based in Europe, I literally received answers overnight whenever I sent him something. Also, even as deadlines were rapidly approaching, I never had the feeling that Alex’s attention to my application wavered because of other client commitments. In fact, I felt like I was his only client. Finally, working with Alex was good fun, he has a great sense of humor and despite tight deadlines there was always time for a chat, which made the whole process that much more enjoyable for me.

Kellogg

I spoke to a few different companies before choosing Alex Leventhal. The differentiating factor was that for the larger companies I spoke to, I wasn’t sure whom I would be working with and simply didn’t want to take a risk on a consultant who simply wanted to review my essays on a part-time basis for extra cash on the side… I decided to go with a 3-school package with Alex knowing that I was going to apply to 5 programs and used his help with the first 3 schools that were due. I didn’t realize how much help I would get/receive from Alex. I thought he would simply help me polish my resume a bit as well as review essays. What I received instead was a significant improvement in my resume (you cannot tell between my first draft and the final product), a complete 180 in terms of my essays (Alex can come up with a very unique and positive way to spin any story to make any candidate stand out), and remarkable confidence through interview prep as well as video essay analyses. If you are simply looking for someone to make grammatical edits for your essays and make your resume aesthetically pleasing – Alex is not the consultant for you. If instead you want to position yourself amongst other candidates in a strategic manner as well as gain in-depth essay analysis – Alex is the consultant for you.

Wharton

As I researched and connected with various admissions consulting firms, Alex immediately stood out from the rest. On our initial call, he personally reviewed both my strengths and (very candidly) my weaknesses, and took time (well over the published allotment) to really understand my story and identify my chances of success at a range of programs I was interested in. I also liked that Alex would be my single point of contact throughout my application process, and would not hand me off to a junior consultant, or ‘essay reviewer’ team, but instead would work with me step by step to develop and execute an admissions strategy. Throughout the process his sense of humor, intelligence, ability to communicate, and creativity helped alleviate the stress and potential panic of the admissions process. I did a 3 School package with Alex and was admitted to all three programs, including Tuck (my top choice). Alex’s guidance and long ‘man-hours’ spent connecting dots to logically present my story and ‘brand’ my application was undoubtedly key to my admission. He is uncommonly bright, hard working, and efficient – his availability to me and rapid review of my work left me feeling like his only client.

Tuck

“As a Harvard MBA and experienced admissions advisor, Alex is intimately familiar with the process and the keys to differentiating yourself. He is also a very intellectual, intelligent individual who is genuinely interested in getting to the right answer. This combination proved invaluable as I struggled with how to draft my application and let my true voice emerge. I have already wholeheartedly recommended Alex to several of my friends. If you are looking for someone who will challenge you to think creatively and dare to take your application to the next level, Alex is your guy. He invests his heart and mind into your application process start to finish, and makes you feel like you are the most important client. I was ultimately accepted to my top choice, Stanford GSB.”

Stanford

“I came across Alex through a referral from two colleagues. In the end, the results continue to speak volumes. I did a complete 2-school package with Alex and got into both of the schools I applied to (Columbia and HBS). Based on his guidance, there were several instances where I decided to take my essays in a more personal, self-reflective direction than I otherwise would have. It was Alex’s honest and direct feedback that led me to embrace this approach. Ultimately, I believe this was a key factor in helping me standout amongst other applicants.”

HBS

“I actually called Alex after receiving impersonal and poor advice from another major consulting firm during a round 1 application, which proved unsuccessful. Alex read my initial essays and explained that my character and personality hadn’t emerged effectively. Through his in-depth personal assessment process, Alex really took the time to get to learn about all aspects of my story- from my family background, to academic interests, to personal quirks, and of course professional goals. With the assessment as a springboard, we worked together to hash out the key themes that cut to the core of both my personal and professional narratives. Narrowing down a topic and picking poignant examples proved more difficult and emotional than expected, but Alex was painstakingly persistent. His tough but supportive and humorous manner really helped bring out the best of my work. This coaching style also proved extremely helpful in preparing for interviews, as he put me on the spot with questions that I hadn’t come across online but which actually came up in the interview. Thanks to Alex, I wrote a very strong essay, excelled during the on-campus interview, and was accepted to Harvard Business School in round 2. Alex is not only a great consultant, but also a great guy with whom I look forward to staying in touch.”

HBS

“Alex is a straight shooter. I rewrote essays many times and there was a world of difference between my first and final drafts. Alex’s turn around time was rarely over a couple of days, and in some cases it was within the hour! We also had a mock interview session and the questions he asked and his feedback about my body language and answer choices were very helpful in putting me at ease. I had a great interview and it went exactly as Alex had explained it to me.”

Booth

“Prior to starting my MBA application I reached out to different MBA consultants. I wanted independent opinions about my admission chances since as a European I was not sure if I would be able to make it into one of the Top-10 programs. During the initial consultation with Alex, he gave me his honest opinion about my chances. He told me that it would be possible to make it into my top schools Haas and LBS but that I could end up getting none as well. I appreciated his honesty and that was one reason why I signed up with him. The second reason was that I wanted to work directly with Alex because of his longtime experience. Working with Alex was great. Like during the initial consultation he would always give honest and very critical feedback, which could mean rewriting whole essays. Since it was sometimes tough for me to find the necessary motivation after work obligations I was thankful to have Alex on my side who provided me with extra motivation. After our regular Skype calls I felt energized again to give my applications an extra push. His methodical process of brainstorming ideas and clearly defining the career goals upfront help me writing gripping essays and tailor them to the specific school. His long experience was great when he explained what different schools are looking for in an applicant and how to understand and answer the essay questions accordingly. The response time and his availability were flawless despite the time difference of 8 hours (Europe and west coast). I was thrilled when I received the news that I was admitted to both LBS and Haas. I felt that with the coaching and support from Alex the quality of my application reached a different level. I can wholeheartedly recommend Alex also to European applicants.”

Haas

“I did the two school package, and was accepted at my top choice, Stanford. Alex’s knowledge and understanding of what the top schools are looking for and advice on tailoring your application were essential. His help in preparing for the interview process was also an extremely useful tool – helping me bring more excitement and confidence into my answers. With Alex, you know what you’re getting. He’s a Harvard MBA so he understands the process from first-hand experience. He is also a one man “firm” who is focused on achieving the best outcome for his clients, so you know you won’t get passed off to a junior staff member. He’s always available, and most importantly, will give you his honest opinion. I would and have recommended Alex’s services highly to many of my friends.”

Stanford

“I spoke with several friends who went through the admissions process a year prior and all of them emphasized the importance of a strong admissions consultant. After speaking with several, I chose Alex Leventhal based on his creative approach to my story and ability to tie what were seemingly disparate thoughts and events in my life together in a cohesive manner. Coming from a rather traditional background (banking, private equity), presenting myself as a unique candidate was of utmost importance and through Alex’s brainstorming exercises and willingness to work with me 1×1 on idea generation and thinking outside of the box, I was able to not only identify a strong essay MBA purpose, but also become excited about a potential career path post business school. Alex was extremely helpful throughout the admissions process in its entirety (application strategy, idea generation, timeline setting, essay writing and mock interviews). I did a 6 school package (although only applied to three – start early, lol) and was admitted to two out of three schools and will ultimately be attending my top choice, HBS, in the fall. I very much appreciate Alex’s working cadence and challenging approach. He is not a consultant that will simply tell you what you want to hear. He will respectfully challenge your perspectives and writing style, but in the end the process will yield a very complete application. Alex is very well educated and experienced in his field; he understands how to navigate the MBA admissions process and did a great job in helping me identify and then share less travelled ideas / application stories. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Alex and would recommend him strongly to anyone interested in the MBA application process.”

HBS

“Alex Leventhal (Prep MBA) was great – he’s practical, clear, honest and obviously an expert in his field, which helped move the process along quickly and thoroughly. He’s also friendly and approachable, and I always looked forward to talking to him. I never once felt like the clock was ticking with Alex – he continuously made himself available for my questions (some of them silly ones) and to talk me through my experiences to help me craft essays that would stand out but would also be completely true to who I am. I had applied to business school years before with no luck, and after working with him and learning his techniques – techniques I would have never come up with myself – I can see that I really couldn’t have done it without his help!”

INSEAD

“Alex Leventhal came highly recommended by several of my college classmates. They felt Alex had “significant value-add” and noted that they would “fully recommend him without any hesitation.” Now I feel the same. With Alex’s help I was admitted to my top choice school – Wharton!”

Wharton

“I am from Europe and was thus also interested in European programs. Alex lived in Europe for a long time and is therefore not only pretty knowledgeable about MBA programs from the US, but also about MBA programs from Europe. I booked the 2 school package for a European and an American school. I got admission to the MBA at Oxford University and got waitlisted for a Top MBA American program. This is a fairly high success rate considering that these programs have an admission rate of presumably less than 30%, particularly when you consider that I am from an overrepresented group. What I found notably helpful was Alex interview preparation. I did many interviews in my life, but the interview for my MBA program was the best and I owe much of this success to the MBA admission guru Alex Leventhal. Alex has fantastic humor and even though he is probably a genius and Harvard MBA grad, Alex is down-to-earth and can put himself into your shoes. In my view, Alex is a MBA admission mastermind and I can wholeheartedly recommend anyone who wants to go to an Top MBA program to talk to Alex Leventhal!”

Oxford

“Alex came highly recommended by several of my college classmates, and truly exceeded my expectations. He went to great lengths to really get to know me, and took an ultra-personalized approach to helping me shape my essays. You can tell he cares. Perhaps the best part was when I actually got interviews—Alex’s mock sessions were extremely helpful, which gave me a level of comfort going into the real interviews. I’d recommend him to any of my friends in a second.”

Stanford

“Working with Alex on everything from selecting references and writing essays to prepping for interviews really gave my application a cohesive feel. Crafting a unique story for yourself is definitely a key advantage in the admissions process, and Alex really helps draw that out by getting to know you beyond just the bullet points on your resume.”

Wharton

“Alex was a wonderful MBA consultant throughout my business school application process. Not only was Alex extremely knowledgeable about the Harvard 2+2 program, but his guidance helped me improve my own personal writing skills. His mentorship played a large role in my acceptance into the 2+2 program. I cannot thank Alex enough for all of his help in the application process!”

HBS 2+2

“I am going to HBS next fall! I will be recommending Alex to my sister for sure. He is highly experienced and stopped me from making a few mistakes I would have made on my own. My essays were so strong, and he got me very prepared for my interviews.”

HBS

“Alex worked with me to turn my essays into truly compelling stories. I felt that he really cared about making my application as strong as it could be and the brainstorming and mock interview sessions with him were invaluable. I am convinced that without his help, I would not have been accepted in my first-choice MBA, let alone received a substantial scholarship! I have already recommended his services to all of my friends applying next year!”

Chicago Booth

“Alex was a phenomenal help throughout the application process, from conception to completion. He is extremely professional and has spent years as an MBA consultant. I highly recommend his consulting services and mock-interviewing sessions. He tailored my overall brand message, strengthened my writing style, and improved my interviewing skills tremendously. As a result, I gained admittance to my first-choice MBA program. I would recommend him in a heartbeat.”

Columbia Business School ‘2014

“Alex always seems to suggest another angle on your story and inspires you to think out of the box when it comes to essay writing. He’s also straightforward and realistic – in such a challenging process as business school admissions, you will not find better guidance and coaching!”

MIT

“Alex not only had a clear approach to the b-school application step by step, but he also guided my self-reflection process for the applications: my strengths, weaknesses and career path. The work will continue to have a positive impact on me throughout my future career, and I was so excited to get one of the few spots for the Yale Silver Scholars program.”

Yale Silver Scholars

“There is no way I would have gotten into Darden without Alex’s guidance. I was nervous about the MBA process because of a low GPA, but I wound up getting into every school we applied to with a comprehensive package. I never felt like I was working with a company, but always with an older brother or friend. I would recommend Alex without any reservation. You want this professional on your side.”

Darden

“I was coming from a family company and concerned about this in terms of getting accepted. Alex had great experience with past clients coming from family firms and I got into Wharton and Cornell. Alex is a Harvard MBA and I could tell from our first conversation that he was very bright and driven. I can tell you I would never have been accepted without his constant pushing and contributions.”

Wharton

“I was targeting part time programs and got into Berkeley. Alex knew the part time programs cold, and after getting in nowhere the previous year, my reapplications worked!”

Haas

“Not only did I get into HBS, but Alex really improved my writing. He’s passionate about his process and I highly recommend the interviewing sessions.”

HBS

“I am so grateful to Alex for his consistent insights and for pushing me each time to get my essays to the next level. I just finished my MBA at Booth and landed an awesome job with McKinsey!”

Chicago Booth

“Alex has solid experience and insight into the Executive MBA process. I am in my second year of Wharton now and so thankful that I made the investment.”

Wharton Executive MBA

“The other firms I looked at were essentially referral firms and more expensive. Alex made me feel like I was his only client. I’m now Wharton Class of 2012!”

Wharton MBA

“The competition out there is so tough, this service is a total competitive advantage. Alex is awesome as a coach and we have stayed in touch.”

Stanford MBA