Personalized MBA admissions consulting for applicants targeting Harvard, Stanford GSB, Wharton, MIT Sloan, Chicago Booth, Kellogg, Columbia, Berkeley Haas, Yale SOM, NYU Stern, Duke Fuqua, and other leading US business schools.
Watch our students share their experiences of preparing applications, overcoming challenges, and pursuing opportunities at leading universities.
From GMAT/GRE preparation to your final admit, our structured MBA admissions consulting process helps you build a competitive application for top business schools in the USA.
From profile evaluation to final admission, our MBA admissions consultants provide personalized guidance to help you build stronger applications and make confident decisions.
Strategy Tailored to Your Profile
We identify your strengths, address profile gaps, and build a personalized MBA admissions strategy aligned with your target schools.
Mentorship That Makes a Difference
Gain insights from experienced MBA admissions consultants and business school alumni to navigate applications with clarity and confidence.
Applications That Stand Out
Craft authentic, compelling MBA essays, resumes, and recommendations that showcase your impact, leadership, and future ambitions.
Support Beyond the Admit
Make informed decisions with guidance on school selection, interview preparation, scholarships, and choosing the right MBA program.
LilacBuds is led by Rajiv Ganjoo, an MBA admissions expert with 20+ years of experience helping 1,000+ applicants secure admits to the world’s top business schools. Clients work directly with a senior mentor and benefit from admissions committee-style application audits, industry-leading interview and video essay preparation, and an integrated GMAT/GRE and application strategy. Our students have earned offers from Wharton, Columbia, Yale, Kellogg, LBS, Oxford, Cambridge, HEC Paris, ISB, and more. Rajiv holds a 9.6/10 rating with 82 verified 5-star reviews on Poets & Quants.
Get admissions guidance from experienced mentors who understand what top business schools look for. From choosing the right program to preparing a strong application, get the support you need at every step.
Preyash
Johns Hopkins University
Tanya
INSEAD
Utkarsh
University of Chicago
Michelle Vetekar
Columbia Business School
Here’s a look at the duration and tuition fees for full-time MBA programs.
| School Name | MBA Program Duration | Latest Tuition Fee per Year (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley (Haas) | 2 years | ~$89,033 |
| UVA (Darden) | 21 months | ~$86,730 (est.) |
| Michigan Ross | 2 years | ~$84,960 (est.) |
| Duke (Fuqua) | 22 months | ~$83,700 (est.) |
| Dartmouth (Tuck) | 2 years | ~$84,000 (est.) |
| NYU Stern | 2 years | ~$86,916 |
| Cornell (Johnson) | 2 years | ~$83,106 |
| Kellogg (Northwestern) | 2 years | ~$83,610 |
| MIT Sloan | 2 years | ~$89,000 |
| Harvard Business School | 2 years | ~$78,700 |
| Columbia Business School | 2 years | ~$88,300 (approx.) |
| Stanford GSB | 2 years | ~$85,755 |
| Carnegie Mellon (Tepper) | 2 years | ~$76,000 |
Read firsthand experiences from students who received admits to leading business schools through their MiF journeys.
LilacBuds helped me bring clarity to my goals and highlight my strengths through a compelling application. Their personalised guidance made the entire admissions journey more structured and gave me confidence in presenting my story.

Ishita
INSEAD
The team at LilacBuds helped me strengthen my application and communicate my experiences and aspirations effectively. Their thoughtful guidance throughout the process helped me secure admission with a 100% scholarship, making the journey truly rewarding.

Ashutosh
Georgia Tech Scheller
100% Scholarship
LilacBuds helped me present my experiences, strengths, and long-term goals in a clear and compelling way. Their personalised approach and thoughtful feedback helped me develop an application that reflected my journey and aspirations.

Abhishek
UCLA Anderson School of Management
Get the same value at 40% lesser fees than other internationally reputed consultants.
Includes:
$ 3500
$ 4500
Apply with LilacBuds to identify the right MBA programs in the USA and build a stronger application strategy.
Assess your profile strengths and areas for improvement.
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Strengthen your MBA essays, resume, and application materials.
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We understand that choosing the right mentor and guidance can be overwhelming. Here are some commonly asked questions to help you make an informed decision.
LilacBuds supports applicants targeting a wide range of US MBA programs, including M7 and other leading T20 business schools. Depending on your academic background, professional experience, GMAT/GRE scores, career goals, and budget, your shortlist may include Harvard Business School, Stanford GSB, Wharton, MIT Sloan, Chicago Booth, Northwestern Kellogg, Columbia Business School, Yale SOM, Berkeley Haas, Michigan Ross, NYU Stern, UCLA Anderson, and other suitable programs.
Our MBA admissions consultants develop a personalized school shortlist based on your profile and career objectives rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all list.
The course includes subjects like Perspective Management, Financial Accounting, Business Statistics, Operations Management, Managerial Economics, Marketing Management, Human Research Management, Business Research methods, etc. The course offers specialisation in 5 areas i.e, Finance, Marketing, Human Resource, Information Systems, and Operations. The MMS course seems to be confused with MBA, but it is an entirely different pursuit. It is designed for freshers, who have just graduated and looking to expand their knowledge of management studies or planning to switch domains into management studies.
There is no single GMAT or GRE score that guarantees admission to a top US MBA program. Competitive scores vary by business school and applicant profile. Admissions committees also consider academic performance, professional achievements, leadership, career progression, extracurricular involvement, and the overall quality of your application.
LilacBuds can help you evaluate your current score in the context of your target schools and determine whether a retake or a different school-selection strategy may strengthen your application.
A lower-than-target GMAT or GRE score does not automatically rule out admission to a competitive US MBA program. Your chances depend on the overall strength of your application, including academic readiness, career impact, leadership experience, career goals, and school-specific requirements.
An MBA admissions consultant can help you assess whether a retake, a balanced school shortlist, or stronger application positioning would be appropriate. No consulting strategy can guarantee admission.
Yes, some US business schools offer GMAT/GRE waivers or test-optional application routes, but policies differ by program and admissions cycle. Eligibility may depend on your academic background, quantitative coursework, professional experience, or other evidence of analytical ability.
Before applying without a test score, review the current requirements of each target school. LilacBuds can help you evaluate suitable programs and understand how applying without a GMAT or GRE may affect your application strategy.
M7 refers to a group of seven highly regarded US business schools: Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, MIT Sloan, Chicago Booth, Northwestern Kellogg, and Columbia. T20 generally refers to a broader group of leading MBA programs, although the exact list varies by ranking and year.
The right choice depends on your career goals, industry preferences, geographic interests, academic profile, financial considerations, and the opportunities offered by each program. A strong MBA shortlist should balance ambition with program fit and realistic alternatives.
Yes. MBA essay guidance is an important part of admissions consulting. The process typically involves brainstorming your experiences, identifying meaningful leadership examples, clarifying career goals, and connecting your story to each business school's values and opportunities. LilacBuds helps applicants structure, refine, and edit their essays while preserving their individual voice. The experiences, ideas, and final representations should remain authentic to the applicant.
Yes. Interview preparation can include reviewing your application, developing clear responses to common MBA interview questions, practising behavioural and leadership examples, refining your career goals, and conducting mock interviews with feedback.
Depending on the target program, applicants may also need to prepare for video essays or other recorded responses. Preparation should reflect each school's format and expectations.
Yes. Reapplicants can benefit from reviewing their previous applications to identify areas that need improvement. This may include clearer career goals, stronger examples of leadership and impact, improved essays, additional professional achievements, updated test scores, or a more suitable school shortlist.
A reapplication should demonstrate meaningful development rather than simply repeat the previous year's application with minor edits.