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Description
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.
What you'll get from this package
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
Additional details
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:
Essays
Editing
Talk to a team member
Schedule a call with a Leland team member who can help you explore your options.
Schedule a call
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Offered by Laurisa A.
Joined September 2025
5.0
You Belong in Graduate School. Let's Build the Application that Proves It.
Supporting graduate students is my full-time career. As Director of Graduate Student Success at Michigan State University, I work every day at the intersection of admissions and student success across the natural sciences. I partner with faculty on admissions decisions, advise students on program fit, review applications, and build strategic plans that help students not just get in but thrive once they're there. I see the entire arc of a graduate student's journey, from recruitment to graduation. That means when you work with me, you're not getting advice based on memory. You're getting real-time, inside knowledge of what graduate programs are looking for right now. Before stepping into this role, I earned my own PhD in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from MSU, navigating the process as a first-generation student without a roadmap. I then founded GRIT, an equity-focused admissions and recruitment program that I ran across multiple PhD departments, reviewing real applications and training others to do the same. I've sat on admissions committees. I know what a compelling application looks like from the inside. I also know the researcher's path firsthand, from an accidental start washing lab dishes to leading my own project and publishing a first-author paper. When you're trying to articulate your research experience or scholarly identity, I can help you do it with precision and confidence. Schedule a free intro call today! -------- Summer Head Start: 20% off through July Right now, I'm offering 20% off all sessions booked through July 31st for applicants who are ready to get ahead of the process and start shaping your story before the pressure hits. Schedule an intro session to receive a discount this summer.
Starting at $612.75
5h+ of coaching