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First-generation MBA applicants face a unique mix of opportunity and uncertainty – often without a ready-made roadmap or built-in network. This carefully curated list highlights elite coaches who’ve walked that path themselves or have a clear track record of helping first-gen candidates turn lived experience into standout applications. From methodical strategists to story-first editors and M7 specialists, you’ll find a range of styles to match your goals, background, and voice. See all MBA coaches.
Brandon T.
Experience: Stanford GSB deferred admit and management consultant at KPMG. First-generation background with hands-on experience reviewing dozens of essays and resumes. Leads ChallengeUS, a nonprofit engaging students in civics.
Specialties:
- Stanford GSB insight and deferred admissions
- Storytelling and essay strategy
- Resume development and polish
- First-generation and international applicants
- Early-career candidates
If you’re early in your career or eyeing deferred programs, Brandon brings recent, relevant wins and a methodical approach to every detail. His first-gen lens means he knows how to elevate impact without pedigree – helping you articulate a clear, compelling story that resonates at competitive schools, especially Stanford.
"Brandon was very helpful in my deferred MBA application process, helping me flesh out essay ideas and perfecting them in writing. He helped me figure out my strengths application wise and was my biggest cheerleader throughout the entire process. I would highly recommend him if you need help with your deferred applications."
Coached by Brandon, accepted to Booth, Wharton, and MIT Sloan
Daniel G.
Experience: Stanford GSB MBA candidate and former Deloitte strategy consultant with experience across change management and organizational design. Admissions advisor who has coached MBA and 50+ undergraduate applicants.
Specialties:
- Consulting applicants and career switchers
- Translating non-traditional backgrounds
- Application strategy and essays
- Interview preparation
- Structured planning and timelines
Daniel is a steady, practical guide for first-gen candidates who want to connect the dots between diverse experiences and top-tier outcomes. He helps you turn complexity into clarity – crafting a narrative that shows thoughtful career intent and strong leadership trajectory.
"Daniel was an incredibly supportive and enthusiastic mentor who genuinely cared about his mentees. He always encouraged me to believe in myself and step outside of my comfort zone. Thanks to his guidance and confidence in my capabilities, I found the courage to apply to competitive universities. Daniel helped me recognize that I was worthy of taking up any space that I occupy."
Coached by Daniel, accepted to Rice, Emory, Brown, and Princeton
Erik R.
Experience: First-generation HBS graduate (’24) and Bain consultant with recent HBS admissions committee experience. Coached clients to acceptances across all M7 schools, even with profile challenges like lower-than-average test scores.
Specialties:
- M7 targeting and school-specific insights
- Overcoming profile concerns (e.g., lower GMAT)
- Essays and authentic storytelling
- Rigorous interview prep
- International applicants
For first-gen applicants aiming high, Erik brings a rare mix of empathy and rigor – he’s done it himself and helped others do it too. Expect candid feedback, HBS-caliber preparation, and a precise plan to position your story and outcomes confidently.
"Erik is the kind of coach that will call it like it is, and that level of candor gives his clients their absolute best shot at securing a spot in the graduate school or firm of their dreams. Erik will help you think critically about your personal story and how you want to share it throughout the application process. Erik’s insight into MBA admissions and consulting recruiting is truly an invaluable resource to his clients; he will coach you to bring out your very best self as you write your essays and prepare for interviews. I wholeheartedly recommend working with Erik."
Coached by Erik, accepted to HBS, Kellogg, Yale SOM, CBS and Booth
Johnny N.
Experience: Dual admit to Harvard Business School and Stanford GSB, and joint degree with Harvard Kennedy School; former McKinsey consultant. First-generation coach who explicitly welcomes conversations about cost barriers.
Specialties:
- Authentic storytelling and voice-finding
- HBS/GSB strategy and joint-degree applications
- First-gen and mission-driven candidates
- Essay refinement and interview prep
- Confidence-building through the process
If you want your application to feel true to who you are, Johnny meets you where you are and helps you own your narrative. He’s especially strong for first-gen, purpose-driven applicants targeting HBS, GSB, or dual-degree paths who need both strategy and heart.
"Johnny played the biggest part in my college application journey. Coming from a first-generation background, I had a lot to say but didn’t always know how to say it, but Johnny helped me bring my stories to light in a way that felt true to myself and impactful. He helped me bring structure and clarity to what felt like a really daunting process—from breaking everything down into manageable steps to giving honest, actionable feedback on my essays. Thanks to his guidance, I gained the confidence to apply to my dream college. "
Coached by Johnny, accepted to UC Berkeley
Karthika P.
Experience: Current Wharton MBA; broke into investment banking from a non-traditional background and served as a DoorDash tech lead. First-generation immigrant who has helped friends gain admits to Booth and Harvard Kennedy School.
Specialties:
- Investment banking narratives and interview prep
- Essays and recommendations strategy
- Non-traditional and first-gen immigrant profiles
- Wharton, Columbia, Booth targeting
- Resume building and career positioning
Karthika has a fresh, practical read on what top programs value right now – and how first-gen immigrants can translate atypical paths into elite admits. She’s a strong partner if you’re threading the needle between tech, finance, and top-tier MBAs.
"Karthika is one of the sharpest MBA and career coaches out there. She gave me a lot of advice on how to break into finance starting from resume improvement to creating my deal sheet and positioning my investments. As a non-traditional candidate, there was a lot to figure out on how to crack finance interviews. Karthika broke down the process and went above and beyond in helping me prepare. She is especially strong with financial modeling for tech companies. In addition, because of her technical background, she's able to articulate how the product leads to business metrics. In addition, she's also very organized and resourceful during the coaching process. Karthika should be everyone's top choice for breaking into finance."
Coached by Karthika
Kieran C.
Experience: Admitted to both Stanford GSB and HBS without a coach; former investment banker, private equity investor, and impact investor. Author of Mastering B-School Apps, which has helped 100+ applicants gain admission to HBS and GSB; first-gen, international, and low-income background.
Specialties:
- HBS and GSB strategy
- Essays and storytelling that differentiate
- First-gen, international, and low-income candidates
- Interview prep and school selection
- Practical resources, including scholarship guidance
Kieran is the coach for first-gen and international applicants who wonder if they truly belong at the very top. Expect candid, precise coaching that turns your lived experience into an undeniable asset – and a playbook that’s helped hundreds reach HBS and GSB.
"Kieran is an outstanding tutor and admissions consultant who’s made a huge difference in my journey. His advice is sharp, clear, and always focused on what actually works. No fluff, just real, practical insight. Thanks to his strategies and the way he breaks things down, I ended up landing interviews at both Harvard and Stanford. That simply wouldn’t have happened without his help."
Coached by Kieran
Laura Vanessa K.
Experience: Stanford GSB MBA with a first-in-class undergraduate record from King’s College London; experience at Barclays and BCG. Accepted to all five MBA programs she applied to across the US, EU, and Asia; has coached applicants through the process.
Specialties:
- International and first-generation/low-income applicants
- Essay development and interview prep
- Strategy/operations profiles and consulting paths
- Cross-border school selection
- Resource-constrained planning
Laura understands how to break into elite programs without legacy advantages. For FGLI and international candidates navigating multiple geographies – or competing with groomed profiles – she brings pragmatic guidance and a lived blueprint for success.
"I worked with Laura while preparing my MBA applications, and her coaching was truly a game-changer. Thanks to Laura's guidance, I was able to get into my top-choice schools. She helped me refine my story, strengthen my application, and approach the process with confidence. I couldn’t have done it without her! Highly recommend!!"
Coached by Laura, accepted to INSEAD, Stanford GSB, and HBS
Obafemi A.
Experience: Stanford GSB deferred admit and founder of HeadStart Fellowship serving 300+ underrepresented students. Has coached college students to deferred admits, including Stanford GSB; experience in investing and tech with internships at Goldman Sachs, Uber, and Opendoor.
Specialties:
- Deferred MBA strategy (GSB and beyond)
- Early-career and college-senior applicants
- Essays, resume building, and positioning
- Finance and entrepreneurship tracks
- International applicants
Obafemi is close to the process and it shows – his advice is current, actionable, and grounded in what wins today. Ideal for first-gen students and early-career applicants who want to package authentic impact and a clear future vision for deferred programs.
"Helped me get into Stanford GSB!"
Coached by Obafemi, accepted to Stanford GSB
Vanessa D.
Experience: Wharton MBA and Harvard College graduate with roles at Salesforce, Uber, and Accenture. First in her family to graduate college and earn a master’s degree; has coached dozens of clients to top programs.
Specialties:
- Values-driven storytelling for first-gen candidates
- B2C/D2C, brand, and strategy-oriented profiles
- Career pivots and growth narratives
- Essay development and interview prep
- Confidence and clarity around goals
Vanessa brings warmth, pragmatism, and big-company savvy to help you name what matters and build an application around it. If you’re first-gen and looking to translate grit and community-rooted experience into standout essays, she’s a thoughtful guide.
"Vanessa is highly empathetic and takes the time to understand your individual goals. She's quite accomplished but does the rare thing of turning around to offer others a helping hand. There's no one else I'd recommend walking through the business school application journey with."
Coached by Vanessa
Yvette R.
Experience: Harvard Business School alum and veteran MBA coach with 10+ years of experience, including admits to all M7 and top global programs. Offers additional review by former admissions officers; background includes Deloitte and UBS; featured in Poets&Quants.
Specialties:
- Goal-setting and bold, credible career visions
- Essay frameworks and storytelling
- Interview prep and confidence-building
- Technical and non-traditional candidates
- Global programs, dual degrees, and deferred/EMBA/PT
For first-gen applicants who want a strategic, no-nonsense partner, Yvette blends empathy with proven frameworks. She pushes you to articulate ambitious, well-connected goals and a leadership voice—turning uncertainty into a sharp, competitive application.
"Working with Yvette was easily the best choice I made during my MBA application process. While I had a sense of my goals and internal motivations, Yvette helped me organize everything into a cohesive, easy to follow story. At the start I wasn't even sure if an MBA was 100% the right next step, and only began working on applications about a month before the deadline; Yvette worked with me regardless, and I was ultimately accepted to every school I applied to."
Coached by Yvette, accepted to HBS, Stanford GSB, Wharton, and MIT Sloan
Find the Best MBA Admissions Consulting For You
For many first-generation MBA applicants, navigating the MBA admissions process and broader business school application process can feel overwhelming. Partnering with an experienced MBA admissions consultant provides the structure, guidance, and support needed to succeed. The right coach will help you refine your resume, strengthen your essays, and shape your story into a compelling MBA application that resonates with admissions committees at top business schools like Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Wharton School, Columbia Business School, and London Business School.
Leland’s network of expert admissions consultants includes former admissions committee experience holders, graduates of target MBA programs, and professionals with proven success rates helping clients gain admission and earn scholarships. Whether you want mock interviews, interview preparation, or valuable advice across the entire process, you’ll find multiple consultants who bring expert insights, deep knowledge of MBA programs, and a track record of helping clients succeed.
Explore the profiles above, compare approaches, and book a free 15-minute intro call to ask questions and assess fit. Not sure where to start? Schedule a free strategy and coach-matching call with a member of the Leland MBA admissions consulting team, and we’ll connect you with the best partner to maximize your chances at your top program – and to ensure your hard work pays off with future MBA successes.
Read more:
- MBA Application Deadlines of the Top 25 Business Schools
- How to Build a Lasting Connection in Your MBA Interview
- How to Accelerate Your MBA Application – From an Expert Coach
- Why I Coach—Rafael Martinez
First Generation Student MBA – FAQs
Am I first generation if only one parent went to college?
- You may still be considered a first-generation MBA applicant if only one parent earned a business degree or graduated from a university, depending on the business school application process definition. Many admissions committees view students whose parents did not complete a four-year college degree as first-generation, even if one parent had some higher education. Since each MBA admissions process differs, it’s important to confirm how your target MBA programs define first-generation status before applying for scholarships or admissions consulting support.
What qualifies you for a first generation scholarship?
- Most first-generation scholarships are for MBA applicants whose parents did not earn a four-year business degree or attend a top business school like Stanford GSB, Wharton, or Columbia Business School. The application process may also consider financial background, leadership potential, and your ability to bring diverse perspectives to the MBA class. Working with an experienced MBA admissions consultant can help you position your story and highlight your hard work in a way that resonates with admissions committees and scholarship reviewers.
How much do MBA admissions consultants cost?
- Fees for MBA admissions consultants vary. Some consulting firms charge $200–$500+ per hour, while full MBA admissions consulting packages for the entire process – from essays and resume help to mock interviews – can range from $5,000 to $12,000 or more. However, platforms like Leland offer access to a broader network of admissions consultants, with more flexible and affordable options. This allows MBA applicants to find tailored support for their MBA admissions process without paying the premium rates of top firms.
Is an admissions consultant worth it?
- Yes, working with the right MBA admissions consultant can make all the difference in a business school application process. Consultants bring expert insights, past admissions committee experience, and a proven success rate helping MBA applicants earn admits to Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Wharton, and other top MBA programs. A good consultant helps refine your essays, strengthen your resume, and prepare you for interview preparation. For first-generation applicants, admissions consulting can be especially valuable, providing structure, confidence, and guidance throughout the MBA application process.
Is an MBA worth it for a consultant?
- For those in management consulting firms or aspiring to a successful consulting career, an MBA remains one of the most powerful career accelerators. Graduates of top business schools like Harvard Business School, Stanford GSB, and Wharton often transition into leadership roles at top consulting firms such as Boston Consulting Group or McKinsey. The MBA admissions process not only builds advanced business knowledge and problem-solving skills, but also expands professional networking and increases long-term career opportunities in the consulting industry.
