Laurisa A.

Laurisa Ankley

5.0

(17)

You Belong in Graduate School. Let's Build the Application that Proves It.

2,600 min coached

27 followers

Michigan State University Logo

Studied at Michigan State University

Michigan State University Logo

Admissions Committee at Michigan State University

Successful clients at

Available Friday at 10:00 AM UTC

Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.

Laurisa's Coaching Offerings

Custom hourly · $129/hr

Get help with Application Strategy, Data Analysis, and .

Laurisa’s PhD Programs Qualifications

10+ people coached for PhD Programs

Laurisa has helped clients get into these schools:

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.

Laurisa can help with:

Application Strategy

Data Analysis

Data Collection

Defense Preparation

Dissertation Proposal

Editing

Essays

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Interviews

Letters of Recommendation

Research

Resume

School Selection

Secondary Review

View all of Laurisa’s categories

About Laurisa

As a student, I didn't know you could get a PhD (let alone get paid to do one) until my junior year of college. By that point I'd already stumbled my way into research by accident: I started in my department's stockroom as a work-study student, found an opening washing dishes in a lab, and ended up leading my own research project and publishing a first-author paper. Nobody handed me a roadmap. I just kept saying yes to the next open door. That experience is why I do this work. I'm a first-gen PhD graduate from MSU, and I have spent years inside graduate admissions by founding programs designed specifically to help students figure out how this process works and make a genuine case for themselves. I know what a strong application looks like from both sides, and more importantly, I know what it feels like to not know where to start. When we work together, it won't feel like a checklist. We'll figure things out together from where to apply, what to say, and how to tell your story in a way that's completely, authentically yours. We start with one question: why do you want to go to graduate school? And we build everything from there. Whether you're a first-generation student, a career-changer, or simply someone who wants to get this right, let's chat.

Why do I coach?

Because I've been that student, the one who didn't know the unwritten rules, who almost talked themselves out of applying, who needed someone to say 'you belong here, and here's how to show that.' That experience gave me a deep empathy for anyone navigating this process, regardless of where they're starting from. Helping students walk into graduate applications with clarity and confidence, and walk out with acceptances is some of the the most meaningful work that I get to do.

Work Experience

Michigan State University Logo

Director of Graduate Student Success

Michigan State University

April 2024 - Present

Admissions Committee

Partner with faculty and graduate programs to support admissions and graduate student success across the natural sciences. Advise students on navigating graduate school, from application through completion.

A Developing Small Business Logo

CEO and Founder

A Developing Small Business

2024 - Present

Lead a venture focused on creating innovative solutions to support graduate students in their academic and career journeys.

Michigan State University Logo

Founder and Director of the GRIT Application Feedback Program

Michigan State University

2021 - 2023

Interviewer

Designed and led an application review program for PhD applicants, creating accessible, supportive pathways and resources to ensure high-quality feedback—especially for first-generation and historically excluded students.

Michigan State University Logo

Founder of the MSU Graduate Recruitment Initiative Team (GRIT)

Michigan State University

2020 - 2023

Interviewer

Developed and led equity-focused recruitment and retention programs for multiple Ph.D. departments, managing a team of 10, securing grant funding, and using data-driven strategies to optimize impact and align with institutional goals.

Education

Michigan State University Logo

Michigan State University

PhD, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics

2018 - 2023

Developed expertise in research, professional development, and student mentorship, drawing on experience as a first-gen, LGBTQ student to support peers and build skills for graduate admissions coaching. Highlighted experiences include: CGIU Fellow, Peer Mentor, GRIT Founder, Application Feedback Program Founder, Small Business Owner, five publications, and nine research presentations.

Eastern Washington University Logo

Eastern Washington University

Bachelor of Science, Biology

2016 - 2018

My first-generation college experience shaped my perspective on navigating higher education and supporting others through admissions and academic success. Developed foundational skills in research, critical thinking, and academic writing. Highlighted experiences include: TRIO McNair Scholar, NSF S-STEM recipient, one research publication, and nine research presentations.

17 Reviews

Overall Rating

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Knowledge

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Value

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Laurisa has helped clients get into these schools:


Laurisa has helped Leland clients get into Michigan State University

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Laurisa A.

Laurisa A.

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