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Jake K.

Jake Kirschner

Urbanist Helping Urbanists Pursue Grad School | Wharton MBA & Penn MCP

  • The Wharton School (UPenn) Logo

    The Wharton School (UPenn)

  • AJ Capital Partners Logo

    AJ Capital Partners

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About

I’m an urbanist that found his professional purpose and community in grad school, and I help other urbanists get into the MBA and graduate programs that will move their careers forward. I recently earned an MBA from Wharton and a Master of City Planning from Penn’s Weitzman School of Design, and I now work as a Development Manager at AJ Capital Partners on a mixed-use development in a culturally rich, evolving neighborhood in Miami. Before grad school, I worked in real estate as a consultant and multifamily owner/operator. Grad school changed the trajectory of my career, and I want to help you change yours. I believe my success in admissions came down to one strength: I could clearly explain how my experiences had shaped me, what I planned to do with my degrees, and where I wanted to go after school. I work with applicants pursuing real estate-focused MBAs, master’s programs in real estate and urban planning, and dual degrees that combine them, whether you’re pivoting into the field or growing within it. If you are passionate improving cities and the built environment makes you passionate and want to put it into words as you apply to grad school, I'm your coach. It would be my pleasure to help you navigate a process that meant so much to me.

Why do I coach?

I coach because I know what it’s like to have a clear passion without a clear path. I knew I wanted to build my career on using real estate as a tool to improve cities and the built environment, but I didn’t know what grad school options were out there until I started reaching out to people who had pursued similar degrees. Those conversations showed me that this path was possible for me. I want to make pivoting into a career that excites you more accessible to anyone who shares a passion for improving the built environment, whether through an MBA, a master's in urban planning, a master’s in real estate, or a related program. I find it deeply fulfilling to help people look inward, figure out what they want from grad school and their career, and put it into words. Most of all, I want my clients to feel that they can change the trajectory of their careers, too, and launch into work that is aligned with their professional values and interests.

Work Experience

AJ Capital Partners Logo

Development Manager

AJ Capital Partners

October 2026 - Present

Hines Logo

Summer Associate - Development

Hines

June 2025 - August 2025

The Enterprise Center Logo

Real Estate Associate Intern

The Enterprise Center

May 2024 - July 2024

Peak Capital Partners Logo

Associate, Acquisitions

Peak Capital Partners

November 2021 - July 2023

RCLCO Real Estate Consulting Logo

Analyst

RCLCO Real Estate Consulting

September 2020 - November 2021

Education

The Wharton School (UPenn) Logo

The Wharton School (UPenn)

Master of Business Administration, Real Estate

2024 - 2026

University of Pennsylvania Logo

University of Pennsylvania

Master of City Planning, Housing, Community and Economic Development

2023 - 2026

Brigham Young University Logo

Brigham Young University

Bachelor of Science, Economics

2014 - 2020

Jake was also personally admitted to

  • UCLA Anderson School of Management Logo

    UCLA Anderson School of Management

  • UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Logo

    UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School

  • University of California, Los Angeles Logo

    University of California, Los Angeles

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Logo

    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  • Columbia University Logo

    Columbia University

5.0 average review

8 reviews


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Jake has helped Leland clients get into The Wharton School (UPenn)


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