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This package is designed for aspiring PhD candidates who want to craft a compelling and standout personal statement, maximizing their chances of acceptance. This package includes the following, but feel free to adapt based on your unique situation and goals: - Initial kickoff and planning session: Begin with an in-depth session to discuss your academic background, research interests, and goals. Your coach will help you create a roadmap for writing a standout personal statement. - Personal statement brainstorming: Work closely with your coach to uncover key themes, experiences, and research passions. Together, you'll identify what makes your candidacy unique and how to showcase it effectively. - Personal statement drafting: Collaborate with your coach to draft a strong and authentic personal statement, focusing on effectively aligning your narrative with the priorities of your target programs. - Personal statement editing: Refine your personal statement through multiple rounds of feedback from your coach. They will help you polish the structure, tone, and content to ensure it resonates with admissions committees. - Final review: Your coach will complete a thorough review of your personal statement, ensuring it is submission-ready and highlights your academic potential. To summarize, this package pairs you with a world-class coach who will guide you through every step of creating a standout personal statement. They will provide honest and constructive feedback, helping to ensure your personal statement reflects your strengths, motivations, and aspirations.
A compelling personal statement that is differentiated, personalized, and thoughtful
An outline and several drafts of your personal statement, refined through multiple rounds of feedback and edits
A polished final personal statement that you can feel proud of submitting and sharing with the admissions team
Coaching delivered via live sessions and .
Additional expectations or terms of engagement may be provided by coaches (e.g. expected response times, etc.).
Services included:
Editing
Essays
Schedule a call with a Leland team member who can help you explore your options.
Schedule a call
Get help with Resume, Data Collection, and .

Joined April 2026
5.0
Expert Coach for PhD Programs in Engineering/Life Sciences | Ex Penn, Yale
Welcome to my profile! With a PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania, I am well-equipped to guide you through the PhD journey, starting with crafting winning personal statements for admissions, designing strong research proposals, applying to fellowships and internships, and preparing a successful dissertation. My experiences at Penn have given me insider knowledge of PhD programs from end to end. I sat on student admission committees, led recruitment and interview weekends, and effected changes in university policy by working with administrators on the Dean's Doctoral Advisory Board member and serving as the President of the Graduate Association of Bioengineers. I also have extensive experience advising individuals who face significant challenges and setbacks in their program, including changing labs and handling difficult advisors or committees. Through my current role as a Principal Scientist at BrainSpec Inc and a Postdoctoral Researcher at Harvard Medical School, I bring interdisciplinary research perspectives in computational neuroscience and medical devices to my coaching as well as practical experience with navigating post-PhD careers in academia and industry. I've mentored 20+ aspiring and current PhD candidates. Let's work together to make your PhD aspirations a reality and support your journey to a successful defense!
5h+ of coaching