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

The Wharton School (UPenn)
AJ Capital Partners
Successful clients at

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Starting at 11:00 PM UTC
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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
Development Manager
AJ Capital Partners
October 2026 - Present

Summer Associate - Development
Hines
June 2025 - August 2025

Real Estate Associate Intern
The Enterprise Center
May 2024 - July 2024

Associate, Acquisitions
Peak Capital Partners
November 2021 - July 2023

Analyst
RCLCO Real Estate Consulting
September 2020 - November 2021
Education

The Wharton School (UPenn)
Master of Business Administration, Real Estate
2024 - 2026

University of Pennsylvania
Master of City Planning, Housing, Community and Economic Development
2023 - 2026

Brigham Young University
Bachelor of Science, Economics
2014 - 2020
Jake was also personally admitted to

UCLA Anderson School of Management

UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School

University of California, Los Angeles

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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