
Laurisa Ankley
5.0
(17)
You Belong in Graduate School. Let's Build the Application that Proves It.
2,600 min coached
27 followers
Studied at Michigan State University
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
Comprehensive PhD Application Package — Land Your Dream Program
Starting at $8,00020h+ of coaching
Best Value
Get Into Your Dream PhD Program — Getting Started Package
Starting at $612.755h+ of coaching
Save up to $129
Craft a Compelling Research Proposal
Starting at $980.408h+ of coaching
Save up to $154.80
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
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

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.

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.

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.

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
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
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
5.0
Knowledge
5.0
Value
5.0
Responsiveness
5.0
Supportiveness
5.0
Laurisa has helped clients get into these schools:
Laurisa has helped Leland clients get into Michigan State University