28,568Leland Reviews

I worked with Joy when I was applying to EMBA programs. She was deeply curious about my story, helped me find interesting parts of it that I didn't know would be interesting, and then helped me present myself in the most compelling way possible. She also helped me structure the process, which can seem overwhelming at first, so that I made steady progress, hit my deadlines, and was well-prepared for my interviews. I had a few lapses in confidence as well as a career change during the application preparation and Joy was able to adapt last minute and also gave me all the needed pep talks. It was an absolute pleasure working with her and I got into both of the top programs I applied to.

As I began the challenging journey of my 3rd round MBA applications, I was overwhelmed. I am beyond thankful that I was able to connect with Joy Pincus at this crucial juncture, and it is without a doubt that her invaluable assistance, unique insights, and exceptional essay/resume editing played a pivotal role in my ultimate acceptance and securing of scholarships. From our first interaction, Joy demonstrated a deep understanding of the MBA application process, which immediately put me at ease. Her approach was highly personalized, and she took the time to comprehend my strengths, weaknesses, aspirations, and unique experiences. Throughout the collaboration, Joy displayed a level of commitment and dedication that exceeded all my expectations, turning what could have been a stressful process into an empowering and growth- oriented experience. Joy is a seasoned expert in the MBA admissions world, and she was well-informed about the specific expectations of top-tier institutions. Joy challenged me to think beyond conventional boundaries, urging me to highlight my distinct qualities while tailoring my applications to each program’s ethos. Joy reviewed initial drafts of resume and essays, providing meticulous feedback that was both constructive and encouraging. Her insights not only strengthened the structure of my essays but also brought out the most compelling aspects of my personality and achievements. I had a real challenge of converting my highly technical engineering resume into a compelling MBA resume, which Joy workshopped with me intimately. In addition to this support, Joy worked within my very tight timeline, often getting my drafts back to me within the same day. I truly felt like I was her only client with the amount of time and attention she provided me. Perhaps the most impactful aspect of working with Joy was her unwavering support and encouragement. She acted as both a mentor and cheerleader, instilling confidence in my abilities and reminding me of my worth throughout the application process. Her positivity and enthusiasm were infectious, making me feel like I had a true partner in my journey toward an MBA. Thanks to Joy’s dedication, guidance, and mentorship, I am now enrolled at Michigan Ross. I wholeheartedly recommend her services to anyone aspiring to stand out in the highly competitive MBA admissions landscape.

Joy helped me through my application process for Executive MBA programs in 2023. I was 12 years past by college graduation, 16 years since my last standardized test or applications essay, and although I am in consulting, I have a non-traditional background for MBAs. She helped me immensely in preparing for the applications process, challenged my perception of myself and my story, and kept me on track to meet all my deadlines. We worked together for almost a full calendar year, and she was always available to bounce ideas off of and listen to my concerns. She guided me successfully through at least one minor admissions crisis. From an ROI perspective, not only did I get accepted into all 3 of my schools, I received a merit scholarship offer from all 3 and negotiated an increase for the school I selected.

Prior to hiring Joy for helping with my application, I had applied to multiple highly-ranked full-time MBA programs and was rejected 12 times in a period of 2 years. I had a chance encounter while at the Amsterdam MBA fair and was promptly connected with Joy which turned things around for me. As a 32-year-old from an over-represented community, with 10 years of work experience, I had limited hope of carrying forward with my dream of getting into a top-tier MBA program. Joy brushed my fears aside and got down to the details of my story. She asked me questions I hadn’t considered before, encouraged me to get a little more personal with my essays and identified the strong areas in my profile. Thanks to her guidance, I received my first interview invitation and soon after, I was admitted into a top-5 MBA program! As she is aptly named, Joy always has a smile on her face. The MBA application process can be grueling; make sure you have someone joyful & compassionate helping you through it.

I started working with Joy in June 2023 to target R1 for the 23/24 cycle. From our first interaction, Joy took an immediate interest in my story and background. As an ORM candidate with nothing overtly outstanding in my profile, I was very skeptical of my chances. I felt Joy’s background in journalism really came through early on in our interactions when she was probing about my history. Our cultural differences made the whole personal story aspect of the application fascinating (something I personally enjoyed). Throughout the whole resume, goals and essay process, Joy was very understanding of my work schedule and was very accommodating of my tendency to procrastinate. I remember us having a chat late July in which I was saying I would have to cut down on the number of schools I was going to apply to in R1, but she pushed me to go that extra mile. Having someone in my corner like that really put me in overdrive for the month of August and I was able to apply to 8 schools in R1. In the resume building process, I lucked out with having Joy as we had different backgrounds. She took my engineering resume and brought out the salient features that would read well for business school applications. During the essay process, I remember having spent many weeks on the Stanford application as it was so personal. Joy pushed me to introspect and really think about the why MBA and why XYZ school aspect. She was able to catch inconsistencies in my thought process and even went the extra mile to discuss with her colleagues about whether my goals made sense. I was very happy with how each of my essays turned out Joy worked with me for mock interviews, and then also put me in touch with Obinna for the interview prep and I can’t thank her enough for that. I’m sure I would not have cracked Kellogg without his help and mock interview. Thanks to Joy for this fantastic interview prep session guide. Although I didn’t need Joy’s services after submitting all of my R1 apps and doing interview prep, she would still keep in touch and was interested to know how my results went. She was there with me during my rejections and celebrated all my wins. To cap it off, I think Joy’s radiant personality really worked well for a reticent candidate like me and I’m so glad I cracked an M7 with her help. I would strongly recommend her to anyone who’s thinking of using Joy for their MBA application journey.

Throughout the entire application process, Joy was professional, responsive, and extremely compassionate. She understood the task at hand, and delivered over and over again. It was very clear from the onset that she loves her job and she puts a lot of time, energy, and effort into her work. She is knowledgeable, and makes herself available to meet your needs. I highly recommend Joy!

Joy Pincus is an absolute gem in the world of MBA admissions coaching, and I had an exceptional experience with her. From the moment I connected with Joy, I knew I was in capable hands. Her dedication to my success was unwavering, and her expertise proved invaluable every step of the way. As someone navigating the EMBA application process with 11 years of experience, a non-traditional background, and minimal support from my company, I found Joy to be a beacon of support. She not only provided expert guidance, but also approached our collaboration with a level of attentiveness and kindness that set her apart. One of Joy's standout qualities is her keen attention to detail. She meticulously reviewed my application materials, offering insightful feedback that elevated my essays and resume to new heights. Her ability to draw out the most compelling aspects of my experiences truly made my application shine. What ultimately sets Joy apart, however, was her genuine investment in my success. She was always available to address my concerns, offer encouragement, and celebrate milestones along the way. Her positivity and enthusiasm were infectious, making the entire process not only manageable, but also empowering and enjoyable. Thanks to Joy’s support, I not only secured admission to 3 of my desired top-tier EMBA programs, but also received additional scholarships—which more than covered the coaching fee. Working with Joy was truly a wonderful experience, and I wholeheartedly recommend her services to anyone seeking to navigate the MBA admissions journey with confidence and success. She is, without a doubt, a five-star coach in every sense of the word.

After several years in managerial positions, I was unsure of which stories and experiences would be the most impactful for an EMBA admissions committee. Joy took the time to understand my background and motivation for business school, which helped me emphasize the right examples in my essays and interviews. Writing an admissions essay was very different than any previous writing projects I’ve worked on; she coached me on how to keep my writing clear and compelling. I applied to three top programs and was accepted into all three with scholarship offers. Joy was personable, direct, and knowledgeable about the admissions process, which all attributed to me getting admitted into my top school of choice!

Joy was truly a pleasure to work with for the 2024 MBA cycle. She was not only my confidante during this entire process, but a wonderful cheerleader and supporter. My application certainly had obstacles as the job market for 2023 was challenging for startups and tech companies. However, Joy was undeterred. She helped me overcome the obstacles that felt like major roadblocks in my application and helped me see how the negatives were actually positives for my personal story. For any prospective clients, she is a great coach that will help you throughout the entire process.

I worked with Joy for several months leading up to R2 application deadlines, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that the help I received from her through that time was invaluable. Navigating the MBA application process turned out to be much more involved than I ever would have thought, and Joy was a constant source of guidance, support, and positivity in that time. From the outset, Joy ensured that I stayed disciplined and on-track in my application, both checking in regularly and challenging me when necessary, such that I never felt pressed for time in any of my applications. She was willing to overcome time zone differences (often waking up incredibly early in the morning) to ensure we were able to keep a regular cadence of meetings, and was always available and responsive whenever I needed help or feedback. Another great benefit of working with Joy is that she is refreshingly candid with her feedback, not settling for half-baked ideas when she senses that more lies underneath. The brainstorming I was able to do with Joy, both on big picture storytelling as well as the nitty-gritty of essay writing, were also very meaningful. She has the remarkable ability to facilitate conversations and help you arrive at ideas and language on your own, such that you don’t feel like you are compromising your voice. I was incredibly happy with my outcomes with Joy’s help, with acceptances to both Ross and Yale SOM (with scholarship). I would highly recommend Joy to anyone looking for a consultant to help them navigate the MBA application process.