Your dream school is within reach.

Karen Hamou

Karen

Hamou

  • Columbia University, BS Civil Engineering, Economics, Spanish

  • Columbia Business School, MBA

  • Retail and Technology strategy

  • Deloitte Consulting Manager

Karen has guided hundreds of applicants on six continents to obtain admission to the university of their dreams. She partners closely with each individual to strategically position their personal brand, build a compelling story to showcase values, achievements and school fit, and structure their narrative clearly and effectively. Her client experience spans the most selective MBA programs, primarily Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, and Columbia, as well as a range of master’s, law, and undergraduate programs.

Karen has been consistently ranked as a top admissions consultant globally by Poets & Quants.

#6 - 2022 | #2 - 2021 | #7 - 2020

“I received interview invites to Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton, and was ultimately admitted to Harvard and Wharton with a $100K scholarship. Karen really cared about seeing me succeed, and was optimistic and supportive.”

Karen Hamou

Tell YOUR story.

A Columbia engineering and MBA graduate, former Deloitte consultant, tech executive, and fashion buyer, Karen is truly the ideal mix of an analytical strategist and creative thinker. She asks direct, tough questions that have helped countless clients look in the mirror, dig deep, and understand their unique personal values and motivators, far beyond the classroom or office.

Karen has developed expertise around highlighting her clients’ differentiators, turning weaknesses into strengths, guiding clients to demonstrate self-awareness, vulnerability, and optimism in their application materials.

Karen is a true collaborator, thought partner, and mentor. She believes that two heads are far better than one, and is alongside her clients every step of the often overwhelming admissions process.

To explore what Karen’s former clients have said about working with her, check out her testimonials on Poets & Quants and GMAT Club.

“Karen was critical in helping me position my experience and story. With Karen’s help, I was granted scholarships to Wharton and Kellogg, and also earned an admit to Columbia Business School.”

Earn a seat at the world’s most elite academic institutions.

  • "I do not think I would have gotten into both Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan without Karen’s help. Karen truly took me to the next level as an applicant. From essays to resume, every part of my application was elevated by Karen’s sharp and strategic reviews. Even her mock interview was incredibly rigorous and effective for my preparation. Whether you need tactical help to get you over the edge or a full application roadmap, I strongly encourage you to work with Karen. She has an endless wealth of knowledge about the admissions process and is a pleasure to work with."

    Harvard Business School admit

  • "Upon my consultation with Karen, I distinctively felt she believed in me as a person and was going to be in my corner throughout this experience. She was sharp, thoughtful, and masterful at piecing together the many vignettes of one’s life into a beautiful canvas. Every time we spoke live or exchanged emails, it was clear that Karen put a ton of thought into my applications, coming in with recommendations and ideas to strengthen the materials. Our efforts proved successful when I got accepted to Stanford, Wharton, and many other top programs–you will not regret working with Karen!"

    Stanford Graduate School of Business admit

  • "As a non-traditional candidate, Karen was critical in helping me position my experience and story. Karen’s advice, expertise, and perspective were invaluable – I would be lost without her! With Karen’s help, I was admitted to Wharton (with scholarship), Northwestern Kellogg (with scholarship), and Columbia Business School. Karen is an excellent writer/editor and has a great eye for storytelling. She is straightforward while also encouraging. Lastly, Karen is a true coach and friend – she really cares about getting to know you and understanding where you come from and where you’re headed. I highly recommend working with Karen!"

    Wharton MBA admit

  • "It’s difficult to put into words how incredible Karen is. There are so many things that I could say about her – intelligent, strategic, thoughtful, organized, focused. But, what stood out the most during the application process was her unwavering belief in me. I came into the process unsure of my chances. Throughout my anxiety and despair, Karen was steadfast in her belief that my story was strong and that I was worthy of admission to the school of my dreams. I’ve come out of this process not only with admission to my top school (Columbia) but also more confident in my own capabilities, all thanks to Karen."

    Columbia Business School admit

  • "Karen is such a fantastic coach – I cannot recommend her highly enough!When it came to writing my essays, she stopped me in my tracks when my initial idea was not up to par. She highlighted the ideas that had merit and pushed me to dig much deeper. She shared several ideas on how I could build my themes across my application materials. I ultimately received interview invites at Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton, was admitted to Harvard and Wharton, and received a $100K scholarship to Wharton. Karen really cares about seeing you succeed, and was optimistic and supportive."

    Stanford Graduate School of Business admit

  • "As an international student, I was very stressed by the interview process, especially as English is not my native language. Luckily, I had my secret weapon – Karen. We did some tough mock interviews. Karen did not go easy on me, not in the interview and nor in the feedback. She dug very deep and peeled almost every layer that I had. She explained carefully how I can improve, always with a smile and a great attitude. She was so engaged in the process, that sometimes it felt that she wanted it more than I did. My work with her was critical for my success. I got accepted to all three schools that I applied to."

    Stanford Graduate School of Business admit

  • "Stop your search, Karen is the best coach out there. Karen listens and works with you to accomplish your goals. She helped me completely revamp my resume, strategically craft my story for interviews and other networking calls, and create an impactful personal statement that got me an admit and a large financial package. She is extremely reliable and has an incredibly quick turnaround time. I can’t wait to share her services with my friends and family!

    Columbia University Master’s of Science admit

“I’ve come out of this process not only with admission to my top choice school, Columbia, but also more confident in my own capabilities, all thanks to Karen.”

Put your best foot forward.

Services include:

  • Degree / School Selection: determine which degree and programs are the right fit for you, and create a short list of schools

  • Personal Branding: explore your core values, and identify key differentiators

  • Career Visioning: map your short- and long-term goals, and develop concrete reasoning around why this is your vision

  • Recommender Support: select recommenders and craft guidance for them, highlighting your strengths and key examples

  • Resume: showcase your achievements and unique differentiators, professionally, extracurricularly, and personally

  • Essay Strategy: identify core themes, build your story to creatively share your past achievements, future vision, values, influences, and motivations

  • Essay Crafting: execute on essay plan, iterate essay drafts, ensure concise writing that effectively tells the intended story and meets word limits

  • Short Answers and Final Application Review: develop answers for application forms and get final sign-off on application proofs

  • Video Preparation: for applications with a video component, develop key talking points and scripts, and practice your delivery

  • Interview Support: prepare answers for interviews and perform live mock sessions, with a focus on clearly communicating your actions and impact

Please fill out the contact form below to inquire about pricing of application packages or hourly consulting.

“I would not have gotten into both Harvard and MIT without Karen. Karen truly took me to the next level as an applicant.”

Let’s chat.

Karen Hamou

Please fill out your details in the form below to request a free 30-minute session to discuss your profile and consulting needs.