Joyce Shin

Hi, I’m Joyce! I graduated from Emory University with a degree in Neuroscience & Behavioral Biology and later earned my MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. I know firsthand that the path to college—or graduate school—is rarely as straightforward as it looks on paper. I attended three different high schools in three different countries, navigated some significant challenges along the way, and ultimately built a career that has taken me across neuroscience, strategy, technology, and entrepreneurship. That’s a big part of why I love helping students with their applications. My strength is in helping you figure out the story only you can tell and then helping you tell it clearly, authentically, and memorably. I especially enjoy working on personal statements and supplemental essays, where the goal isn’t to sound impressive for the sake of being impressive. It’s to help an admissions reader understand who you are, how you think, what has shaped you, and what you might bring to their community. Professionally, I’ve worked in strategy and operations at companies including Dropbox, Instacart, and CNN, advised leaders and organizations, and spent much of my career thinking about people, potential, and what makes someone stand out beyond their credentials. Whether you’re applying to college or an MBA program, I can help with brainstorming your story, shaping your narrative, reviewing and editing essays, and making sure your application actually sounds like you. Applications can be stressful. My goal is to make the process a little clearer, more thoughtful, and hopefully even enjoyable.