
Emerson J.
Knight-Hennessy Scholar | Essay and Interview Pro | First-Gen
Studied at Stanford University
Works at Hoover Institution
Available Saturday at 6:00 PM UTC
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
Emerson's Coaching Offerings
Custom hourly · $115/hr
Get help with Letters of Recommendation, Essays, and .
Emerson also coaches for Master’s Programs and College. View all.
Emerson’s Prestigious Scholarships & Fellowships Qualifications
Coaches professionally
I've been on both sides of the scholarship process—as an applicant and as someone who's won some of the most competitive awards out there. I'm a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship recipient (U.S. Department of State), a Viceroy's Decree Scholarship recipient (U.S. Department of Defense), and, most recently, a Knight-Hennessy Scholar at Stanford University. I've also applied to and reached final-round interviews for several other major fellowships, so I know exactly what it takes to stand out. What I learned: these scholarships aren't just looking for perfect GPAs or impressive résumés. They want to see who you actually are, aka your story, your values, and what drives you. Whether you're aiming for the top graduate fellowships in the world or just your home department's annual award, I can help you craft a narrative that's deeply personal but also speaks directly to what selection committees want to see. It's about finding that balance between staying authentic and meeting their expectations. Whether you're trying to figure out which fellowships to apply for, navigate confusing timelines, brainstorm your essays, or polish your application, I'm here for all of it. I'll help you with everything from fellowship selection and strategic planning to application review and editing. My goal is to help you put together submissions that don't just check boxes; they tell your story in a way that sticks with readers. Let's get you that scholarship!
Emerson can help with:
Letters of Recommendation
Essays
Personal Statement
Application Strategy
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Editing
Research
Interview Prep
Resume Review
Emerson also coaches for Master’s Programs and College. View all.
About Emerson
As a first-generation, lower-income student, I know what it's like to go into the college admissions process blind. Without help, it is scary, discouraging, and most of all, tiresome. I don't believe it has to be this way, and that's why, having reached (what I hope is) the tail end of my application woes, I try my hardest to give back to students during the application process through dedicated, tailored coaching. My qualifications include my own success through various application cycles (including being admitted to 20+ universities as a prospective undergraduate, as well as all of the master's degree programs I applied to as a prospective graduate, attending both Northeastern University and Stanford University on full-ride scholarships, and being a US Department of State Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholar, a US Department of Defense VICEROY DECREE Scholar, a Knight-Hennessy Scholar, and a National Science Graduate Research Fellowship Honorable Mention in the field of Communication) as well as the success of those I've already coached, including their admission to programs at schools like the University of California, San Diego, the University of California, Los Angeles, and Columbia University and the numerous funding opportunities they've recieved, from department level grants at their respective universities to prestigeous fellowships like Knight-Hennessy and more. I focus my coaching on those applying to programs similar to those I've attended or applied to and received offers from. Those include: - Bachelor's programs in the social sciences, with a particular focus in politics, in philosophy, and in history, - Master's programs in the social sciences, with a particular focus in international relations, in technology policy, and in history, - PhD programs in communication and sociology, - and fellowship programs like Knight-Hennessy, Gilman, and more. My coaching style is highly tailored to each student. Together, we'll go through your goals, timeline, and constraints, and figure out the best path forward to wade through the weeds and get you to the best possible outcome. My strengths are essay ideation, development, and review, and interview preparation, though I have experience with the entire process from thinking of where to apply to deciding where to go.
Work Experience
Research Associate
Hoover Institution
June 2025 - Present
Technology Policy Accelerator
Sr. Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst
Cyber Threat Alliance
February 2025 - June 2025

Political and Economic Officer
U.S. Department of State
May 2023 - February 2025

Civil Affairs
United States Army Reserve
September 2020 - January 2025
Honorably discharged.
Partnerships Manager
HUMAN
June 2021 - May 2023
Education
Stanford University
Master of Arts, History and Philosophy of Science and Technology
2025 - 2027
Advised by Dr. Thomas Mullaney
Stanford University
Master of Arts, International Policy
2023 - 2025
Advised by Marietje Schaake
Northeastern University
Bachelor of Science, Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
2019 - 2023
Summa Cum Laude
Northeastern University
Bachelor of Arts, History
2019 - 2023
Summa Cum Laude