Schedule a call with a Leland team member who can help you explore your options.
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This package is built for ambitious applicants who are more than 12 months away from deadlines and want to proactively position themselves for success in top Master’s programs. Whether you’re still exploring your options or ready to start building your application story, this package helps you lay the groundwork for a standout submission. You’ll partner with a Leland coach to navigate the full landscape of the graduate admissions process—from big-picture strategy to tactical next steps. Together, you’ll focus on early moves that create long-term impact and give you a clear advantage come application season. Common coaching activities in this package include, but are not limited to: - Application Strategy: Craft a compelling narrative that connects your academic, professional, and personal experiences. - Recommender Planning: Identify the right recommenders and build strong relationships that lead to standout letters. - Extracurricular Development: Strategize meaningful activities that reinforce your goals and strengthen your profile. - Timeline Building: Create a month-by-month roadmap to stay organized and reduce stress throughout the process. - Profile Assessment: Conduct a deep dive into your candidacy to highlight strengths and uncover areas to enhance. - Test Prep Planning (if needed): Outline a personalized test strategy for exams like the GRE or GMAT based on your timeline and goals. - School Selection: Curate a mix of programs that align with your academic interests, professional aspirations, and personal values. - Essay & Statement Planning: Brainstorm themes and develop early outlines for essays and personal statements that tell your story with clarity and conviction. Your coach will be by your side every step of the way, helping you make smart, high-leverage decisions early in your journey. This package is your foundation for a confident, well-prepared, and strategic Master’s application process.
A clear application strategy that defines your unique narrative
Two (or more) recommenders selected and actively prepared to support your application
A thoughtful plan for extracurricular involvement (if needed)
A well-organized timeline you can confidently follow to meet deadlines
A clear profile assessment with insights on areas to improve or strengthen your candidacy
A well-defined list of schools that align with your goals and aspirations
A narrative you are eager to develop and communicate in your essays
Coaching delivered via live sessions and .
Services included:
School Selection
Application Strategy
Essays
Resume
Letters of Recommendation
Schedule a call with a Leland team member who can help you explore your options.
Schedule a call
Get help with Letters of Recommendation, Essays, and .

Joined June 2025
5.0
Ex-UC Berkeley MFE Director | 700+ Masters Admits | MFE/DS/CS/AI Masters
Fiona Taft is a highly experienced career and admissions coach for Master’s programs, with over a decade of demonstrated success in top-tier academic institutions such as UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. At Berkeley’s Master of Financial Engineering (MFE) Program, she was the Executive Director and Director of Careers where she directly influence and made admissions decisions, consistently achieved outstanding student placement outcomes (100% Internship placement & 95% placement by Graduatuib), designed and implemented strategic employer relations initiatives, and provided tailored coaching in quantitative finance and Data Science career pathways to students and early career professionals, networking, and interview preparation. In her prior role at Stanford, she led executive education programs and coached high-level professionals through career transitions and academic admissions processes. Fiona’s extensive background in admissions strategy, career development programming, and industry engagement—combined with her strong analytical and communication skills—positions her as a trusted guide for aspiring graduate students navigating the competitive admissions and recruitment landscape. My past Client Results Include UC Berkeley -MFE -MIDS -MEng -MIC -Analytics UCLA -MFE -MSBA -Analytics Boston University -Economics -Global Developmental Economics -Economics Policy & Practice -Data Analytics -Data Science Columbia University -MSFE -MSOR -MAFN -Financial Mathematics -Financial Engineering -Computer Science -Business Analytics -Electrical Engineering -Environmental Engineering -Management Science & Engineering -Mechanical Engineering -Operations Research -Economics -Statistics CMU -MSCF (MFE) -Chemical Engineering -Computer Science -Computational Finance -Economics -Mechanical Engineering -Statistical Practice Stanford University -ICME (All Tracks) -Computational and Mathematical Engineering -Statistics -Data Science -Economics -Engineering MIT - Data Science - Business Analytics -MSF Princeton -MFIN -MSE -PACM Cornell -M.Eng. in Data Science & Decision Analytics (DSDA) -M.Eng. in Computer Science -M.Eng. in Operations Research & Information Engineering (ORIE) -Financial Engineering (CFEM)
6h of coaching