Tara Allegra
MBA admissions coach for deferred applicants and international students
| Hourly rate range | $70 to $150 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | MBA admissionsCollege essaysIvy League and top schoolsInternational studentsCareer clarity and purpose |
| Works with | Students |
| Also coaches | Career coach |
| Based in | East Africa |
| Credentials | Degree in Political Economy, UC Berkeley |
Tara Allegra is an MBA admissions coach who helps deferred applicants and international students. She was admitted to the Stanford GSB at 21 as the first Indonesian accepted through its deferred enrollment program. She worked at the World Bank for over three years and later held a Princeton fellowship in Rwanda. Today she invests in early-stage companies in East Africa. She helps clients shape their story into the core of their MBA application.
What Tara helps with
Tara helps clients build a strong story for their MBA application. She also supports people who want a global career.
- Crafting a compelling personal story for MBA applications
- Application strategy
- Cover letters
- Applying to MBA programs as a deferred applicant
- Applying as an international student
- Careers in impact investing, venture capital and development finance
- Careers in diplomacy, policy and research
- Planning a global career
Who Tara works with
Tara works with international students and deferred applicants. Many of her clients are interested in where development, finance and policy meet. This includes impact investing, venture capital, development finance, diplomacy and research. Her clients are pursuing or considering a global career.
Background and qualifications
Tara grew up in Indonesia. She holds a degree in Political Economy from UC Berkeley, with concentrations in Law, Institutions, and Development. She began her career at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. and Brussels, where she spent over three years. There she worked on investor engagement for the Bank's $54+ billion annual bond program, and on climate and education policy research. She later joined a Princeton fellowship in Rwanda with a consulting firm focused on private-sector development. She now works in venture capital in East Africa.
Tara Allegra pricing
Programs and services
- Hourly coaching
- Application strategy and cover letter help
Tara Allegra reviews
Tara Allegra has a 5.0 out of 5 rating from 4 reviews on Leland, as of September 2026.
The CoachVouch take
She was the first Indonesian admitted to the Stanford GSB through its deferred enrollment program, and she now works in venture capital.
Best for international students and deferred applicants who want a career in development, finance or policy.
Common questions
How much does Tara Allegra charge?
Coaching with Tara runs $70 to $150 an hour. Message Tara from this page for an exact quote.
What does Tara Allegra help with?
Tara Allegra helps with crafting a compelling personal story for MBA applications, application strategy, cover letters and applying to MBA programs as a deferred applicant.
Does Tara Allegra have reviews?
Tara Allegra has a 5.0 out of 5 rating from 4 reviews on Leland, as of September 2026.
Is Tara Allegra certified?
Tara Allegra lists: Degree in Political Economy, UC Berkeley.
Does Tara Allegra work with international students?
Yes. She names international students as a group she works with. She is originally from Indonesia.
Can Tara help with deferred MBA applications?
Yes. She coaches deferred applicants, and she was a deferred admit to the Stanford GSB herself.
How do I contact Tara Allegra?
Send Tara a message from this page. It's free and takes a minute.
Similar coaches to compare
Tick "Compare" to message several coaches at once.
Alex Leventhal
Alex Leventhal runs Prep MBA, an admissions consultancy for people applying to MBA programs, law schools and other graduate programs. Alex has worked with hundreds of US and international applicants, in person and by video. Alex stays a boutique firm, so clients work with Alex directly and not with a junior consultant. Poets & Quants added Alex to its MBA Consultant Hall of Fame in 2021. Alex has more than 19 years of experience.
Amritha Mani
Amritha Mani is an admissions consultant who helps people apply to master's programs. She holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and worked as an MBA admissions consultant with The Red Pen. She has helped 50+ applicants get offers at schools including LSE, Michigan, Columbia, IIM, and Harvard (MPA). Before admissions, she spent 14+ years leading strategy and transformation work at Director and Principal level in financial services, government, and global consulting.
Barbara Coward
Barbara Coward is an MBA admissions consultant who helps applicants get into business schools around the world. She has worked in admissions for over two decades. She was the Director of Admissions at the University of Bath and an admissions reader at Johns Hopkins University. Her clients have gained admission to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton and INSEAD. She has helped more than 100 people earn top MBA admits. She works with clients on every continent except Antarctica.
Beatriz Gorostiaga
Beatriz Gorostiaga is an MBA admissions consultant who helps international applicants build strong applications. She graduated from Harvard Business School in 2025 and went through the MBA process as an international applicant herself. She has worked in financial services, non-profits and tech ventures in the U.S. and Latin America. She has also mentored international students applying to U.S. colleges through the EducationUSA program since 2017.
Browse related
Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.