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PHASE 2: SCHOOL SELECTION & STRATEGIC RESEARCH

 

Strategic School List

Apply to Schools Where You’re Positioned to Succeed—Not Just Get Admitted

We research 10+ MBA programs to identify where your goals, strengths, and story are most valued—and where your gaps matter least.

You’ll apply with a clear strategy, stronger “Why this school?” logic, and a list built for both admissions and scholarship upside. An MBA is a major investment of time and money. We make sure it delivers.

Phase 2

Support for every step of the Application Process

Improve your score

GMAT Tutoring

Both group and one-on-one classes to improve your GMAT score. With a more relationship-based approach to teaching, we tailor our services to your specific needs.

Pick the right schools

School Selection

We understand the ideal student profile of top admissions committees, and we use this expertise to help you strategically select the most competitive and attainable programs for your skillset.

Write great essays

Essay Editing

We provide significant editorial feedback on your essays, empowering you to frame your professional narrative in an exciting way that will stand out.

 

 

Feel confident in interviews

Interview Preperation

After several rounds of our intensive mock-interview program, you will be prepared to answer difficult questions while also letting your personality shine.

School selection is where most MBA applicants lose leverage.

Most people treat it like a ranking exercise. In reality, it's the decision that shapes your odds, your funding, and your post-MBA outcomes.

The default approach is predictable.

Most applicants build a school list from rankings and brand names—without a real view of fit, outcomes, or scholarship likelihood. The result is predictable: wasted applications, missed funding, and a school that looks impressive but doesn't move your life forward.

The right school is a strategy.

The right school isn't just prestige. It's the place where you'll gain the skills, network, and recruiting pathways that match the future you want. Our job is to help you choose those schools—then prioritize them so your time and energy go to the applications that can actually win.

 

HOW IT WORKS: 3 SESSIONS

A focused, outcomes-driven sprint to choose the right schools—and prioritize the applications that can actually win.

Session 1

Strategic School List Development

Focus: Map your goals to programs and build a strategic target list
  • Align on your career vision (industry, function, geography), values, and definition of success
  • Review your full profile (scores, experience, strengths, differentiators, and gaps)
  • Research and evaluate 10+ programs for career pathways, culture fit, scholarship patterns, and where you're most competitive
Output: A Strategic School List with clear rationale for each program—why it fits, how you compete, where scholarships are most likely, and what each school helps you develop.
Session 2

School Selection & Prioritization

Focus: Rank your schools and concentrate effort where it matters
  • Tier your schools into Primary Targets, Secondary Options, and Backup/Waitlist activations
  • Decide a Round 1 vs. Round 2 strategy based on timing, competitiveness, and workload
  • Build an application roadmap with priority order, timelines, and decision checkpoints
Output: A tiered plan that protects your time, keeps momentum, and prevents last-minute list panic.
Session 3

Alumni Networking & School Engagement Plan

Focus: Build relationships and gather the intel that strengthens your application
  • Identify 5–10 alumni per primary school aligned to your background and goals
  • Create outreach templates and a conversation guide to extract high-value insight (culture, recruiting, classes/professors, scholarship dynamics)
  • Map a school engagement calendar (webinars, info sessions, campus visits, student events) so your interest is visible and strategic
Output: A repeatable engagement system that feeds directly into sharper essays, stronger interviews, and clearer decision-making.
What this unlocks: a high-conviction school strategy that improves scholarship odds, strengthens "Why this school," and keeps your application work focused and efficient.

 

What You Get

Strategic School List (10+ programs researched)

A school-by-school rationale for fit, competitiveness, scholarship positioning, and gap coverage.

Program Research Intelligence

Class profile signals, culture/values cues, recruiting pathways by geography/function, and priority professors/clubs/alumni.

Tiered School Selection

Primary targets, secondary options, and backups—with a strategy for how and when to use each.

Alumni Networking Toolkit

Target lists, outreach templates, conversation prompts, and follow-up guidance.

School Engagement Calendar + Application Roadmap

A timeline for touchpoints, deadlines, and priority order—plus a Round 1/Round 2 plan.

 

WHY WE GET SCHOLARSHIP RESULTS

Fit creates funding.

Our clients average $36,000 in scholarships—not because we negotiate harder, but because we help you apply where you're genuinely the right fit. Schools invest in candidates they believe will thrive and elevate the class. When your profile aligns with what they value, funding follows.

 

Proof

Case studies

CASE STUDY 1

The Strategist Who Targeted IESE

Profile: Consultant, Mexico City (GMAT 631)

Insight: IESE's focus on Latin American leadership + healthcare fit aligned with his goals

Outcome: IESE admit + $50K scholarship; Bain Madrid offer

CASE STUDY 2

The Underdog Who Earned 3 Admits

Profile: GMAT 585, non-elite company, 5+ years experience

Insight: INSEAD, IE, and Cambridge Judge value experience and impact over test scores

Outcome: 3 admits; chose INSEAD

 

Invest in your
MBA future
Make your MBA application process clearer,
stronger, and faster — and apply your full
investment toward The Merchant Partnership.

Continue with us to turn your initial investment
into significant savings for your MBA journey.
INVESTMENT
Standalone Module: $X,XXX
3-session School Selection Sprint
 
What's included
  • 3 strategy sessions
  • All deliverables
  • Email support throughout
 
Or included in the comprehensive package
Prefer full admissions support? This module can be included as part of our end-to-end package.
Services & Pricing
 
Book a Free Strategy Call

 

FAQ
How many schools should I apply to?
Typically 3–5 primary targets—plus a small set of strong secondaries and backups. Quality beats quantity. A tight list improves execution and outcomes.
What if I have a low GMAT—can I still get into top schools?
Yes. We target programs that reward experience, leadership, and unique backgrounds—not just scores. 77% of our clients with 600–649 GMAT scores (old scoring) earned admits to top programs by positioning their full profile.
How do you choose which 10+ schools to research?
We start with your goals, values, and profile, then cast a wide net to identify fit and scholarship upside. From there, we narrow to the schools worth your best effort.
Do I need to contact alumni before applying?
It's not required, but it's a strategic advantage. The right conversations strengthen your "Why this school?" story and give you insight most applicants never get.
How is this different from doing my own research?
We go beyond rankings and marketing pages. We connect class profile signals, culture cues, recruiting pathways, and scholarship patterns to your specific strengths and gaps—so your list is built to win.

 

Ready to choose your schools strategically?
Book your free strategy call.
45-minute consultation to discuss your goals and school fit.
Book Your Free Strategy Call Download: The School Research Framework
Free guide: how to research MBA programs strategically.

 

Why Merchant?

What Makes Us Different

We go beyond the application to prepare you for the career that follows. Our approach is designed for depth, not just editing.

Life Vision—Not Just Rankings

Most start by asking "Which MBA?". We start by asking "What kind of life do you want?". Then we work backward to map the career path that gets you there.

Proven, Structured Process

Our 4-step method takes you from confusion to clarity: Strategy & Vision → School Selection → Story → Interviews & Scholarships.

Identity Work—Not Just Editing

Before writing a single word, we help you understand who you are. Your values, strengths, and defining moments become the foundation of your application.

Partner Before, During & After

We don't disappear when you get accepted. You join a community of 450+ alumni building careers globally—and that network becomes yours.

 

WHY MERCHANT

What Makes Us Different?

We go beyond the application to prepare you for the career that follows.

We Start with Your Life Vision—Not MBA Rankings

Most people start by asking "Which MBA?" We start by asking "What kind of life do you want in 10 years?" Then we work backward to map the career path, post-MBA goals, and program that will actually get you there. When you're clear on where you're going, everything else becomes easier.

We Use a Proven, Structured Process

Our 4-step method takes you from confusion to clarity: → Strategy & Vision: Define your goals and build your story → School Selection & Research: Find programs that align with your vision → Story, CV & Recommendations: Create a compelling, cohesive narrative → Interviews & Scholarships: Win the offer and maximize funding

We Do Identity Work—Not Just Essay Editing

Before we write a single word, we help you understand who you are: your values, your strengths, the moments that shaped you, and what makes you different. That self-awareness becomes the foundation of your entire application—and it's what admissions committees are really looking for.

We're Your Partner—Before, During, and After Admission

We don't disappear when you get your acceptance letter. We help you prepare for the MBA experience, navigate recruiting, and make career decisions years after you graduate. You join a community of 450+ alumni building careers across the world—and that network becomes yours.

Who We Work With

Three profiles that capture 90% of our clients.

THE ACHIEVING STRATEGIST

CONSULTANTS, FINANCE, TECH

Seeking leadership roles
Data-driven mindset
Proven track record

 

THE TRANSFORMATION

Elevates impact to scale for executive-level influence.

THE CAREER SWITCHER 

OPS, MARKETING, HR, NGOS

Leveraging transferable skills
Reinventing professional identity
Navigating new industries

 

THE TRANSFORMATION

Builds confidence and clarity to launch a new professional path.

HIGH-POTENTIAL UNDERDOG 

NONTRADITIONAL BACKGROUND

Diverse perspectives
Resilience and grit
Untapped potential

 

THE TRANSFORMATION

Unlocks opportunities and defies expectations for rapid growth.

We Don't Let You Do This Alone

Structure, accountability, and partnership through every step—from your first callto life after graduation.

What truly sets Merchant apart is the level of structure, accountability, and support. Even when I felt stuck or wanted to give up, I knew someone was looking out for me, pushing me forward with a clear plan.

Chicago Booth

Jorge V. 🇲🇽

Booth MBA '26

Going through the MBA process with Merchant forced me to slow down and ask myself the right questions about my story, my values, and what I really want long-term. It wasn’t just about getting into an M7—it gave me a clearer framework for decisions I’ll be making for the rest of my career.

HBS LOGO

Santiago G. 🇲🇽

Harvard MBA '26

I had plenty of accomplishments but no real narrative. Merchant’s Strategy & Career Vision framework helped me connect the dots so clearly that every part of my application felt aligned—essays, interviews, and ultimately my decisions. When the results came in and every school I applied to said yes, I didn’t just feel admitted to Harvard; I felt like I finally understood why I belonged there.

HBS LOGO

Emilio D. 🇲🇽

Harvard MBA '27

Merchant wasn’t just an admissions service—they were there at every step, challenging me, supporting me, and helping me think beyond the application. By the time I chose between Kellogg and MIT, I wasn’t just picking a school; I was making a well-grounded decision about my life and career.

Kellogg School of Management

Mark L. 🇦🇷

Kellogg MBA '25

    From Latin America to the World's Best Programs

    We've helped our clients earn admission to the most selective programs on the planet.

    European Leadership

    • London Business School
    • INSEAD
    • IESE Business School
    • HEC Paris
    • IE Business School
    • Oxford Saïd
    • Cambridge Judge
    • IMD
    • ESADE
    • SDA
    • Bocconi

     

     U.S. Strategic Excellence

    • Harvard Business School
    • MIT Sloan
    • Wharton
    • Columbia
    • Yale SOM
    • Tuck
    • NYU Stern
    • Cornell Johnson
    • Chicago Booth
    • Kellogg
    • Michigan Ross
    • Carnegie Mellon Tepper
    • Duke Fuqua
    • UVA Darden
    • UNC Kenan-Flagler
    • UT Austin McCombs 
    • Rice Jones
    • Stanford GSB
    • Berkeley Haas
    • UCLA Anderson
    Our alumni don't just attend these schools—they're building careers and lives in the cities that matter to them. This is the Merchant community. When you work with us, this network becomes yours.

    Not Sure Where to Start?

    In 45 minutes, we'll help you get clarity on your vision, your goals, and whether the MBA is the right next step. 

    No sales pitch. No pressure. Just honest guidance from someone who's been there.