Master's Programs Admissions

Fiona Taft is a highly experienced career and admissions coach for Master’s programs, with over a decade of demonstrated success in top-tier academic institutions such as UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. At Berkeley’s Master of Financial Engineering (MFE) Program, she was the Executive Director and Director of Careers where she directly influence and made admissions decisions, consistently achieved outstanding student placement outcomes (100% Internship placement & 95% placement by Graduatuib), designed and implemented strategic employer relations initiatives, and provided tailored coaching in quantitative finance and Data Science career pathways to students and early career professionals, networking, and interview preparation. In her prior role at Stanford, she led executive education programs and coached high-level professionals through career transitions and academic admissions processes. Fiona’s extensive background in admissions strategy, career development programming, and industry engagement—combined with her strong analytical and communication skills—positions her as a trusted guide for aspiring graduate students navigating the competitive admissions and recruitment landscape. I have 100% Success Rate with my clients! My past Client Results Include UC Berkeley -MFE -MIDS -MEng -MIC -Analytics UCLA -MFE -MSBA -Analytics Boston University -Economics -Global Developmental Economics -Economics Policy & Practice -Data Analytics -Data Science Columbia University -MSFE -MSOR -MAFN -Financial Mathematics -Financial Engineering -Computer Science -Business Analytics -Electrical Engineering -Environmental Engineering -Management Science & Engineering -Mechanical Engineering -Operations Research -Economics -Statistics CMU -MSCF (MFE) -Chemical Engineering -Computer Science -Computational Finance -Economics -Mechanical Engineering -Statistical Practice Stanford University -ICME (All Tracks) -Computational and Mathematical Engineering -Statistics -Data Science -Economics -Engineering MIT - Data Science - Business Analytics -MSF Princeton -MFIN -MSE -PACM Cornell -M.Eng. in Data Science & Decision Analytics (DSDA) -M.Eng. in Computer Science -M.Eng. in Operations Research & Information Engineering (ORIE) -Financial Engineering (CFEM)

I am an alumnus of the 7th cohort of Schwarzman Scholars at Tsinghua University, where I earned a Master's of Management Science in Global Affairs between 2022-23 and was selected from competitive pool of 3,000+ applicants (<5% acceptance rate). I bring firsthand experience and deep insights into what makes a successful master's application and I've previously helped advise candidates who have gone on to be accepted to prestigious graduate programs across China, Europe, and the United States. Throughout my educational journey, I've learned how to strategically frame and present one's leadership, academic, and professional accomplishments to highlight their unique strengths and successfully stand out.

I’m a Schwarzman Scholar at Tsinghua University, selected from a global applicant pool of 5,000+ with a ~3% acceptance rate. I was also admitted to several M7 and T15 MBA programs — including Stanford GSB, Chicago Booth, Columbia Business School, and Cornell Johnson — with over USD 200K in merit scholarships. Professionally, I was Asia’s first-ever rotational Management Trainee at Morgan Stanley, working across multiple departments. I’m passionate about helping ambitious candidates cut through the complexity of elite admissions and secure offers from top master’s programs — particularly competitive fellowships and scholarships across China, Europe, and the United States. Let’s work together to craft an application that clearly communicates your story, strengths, and long-term potential.

With over a decade of experience, I’ve helped candidates gain admission to the world’s most competitive master’s programs in the U.S. and Europe—including MIT, Stanford, Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, and the Harvard Kennedy School. My work spans a wide range of programs including engineering, finance, public policy, economics, data science, and more. Qualifications include: ◉ 100+ successful master’s admits across MPP, MPA, MFin, MEng, MSc, and interdisciplinary programs ◉ Tens of millions in scholarships and fellowships secured for graduate school candidates ◉ Leland Top Coach in 2023, 2024, and 2025 (since rankings began), with reviews attesting to strategic, high-touch coaching ◉ Formal admissions experience at the Harvard Kennedy School, including collaboration with the head of Admissions to revamp evaluation processes and coordinate knowledge-sharing with M7 MBA programs (e.g., HBS, Wharton, Booth) to align HKS selection criteria with leading graduate admissions standards I’m especially helpful to: ◉ International applicants navigating U.S. and UK graduate admissions ◉ Engineering, finance, and data science applicants needing help translating technical experience into accessible, compelling narratives ◉ Scholarship-seeking candidates applying to fully or partially funded programs ◉ Joint/concurrent degree applicants balancing cross-disciplinary positioning (e.g., MPP/MBA, JD/MPP) ◉ Applicants with modest GPAs or test scores who need to reframe their academic potential ◉ First-gen, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC applicants seeking culturally informed guidance ◉ Applicants overwhelmed by multiple essays who need help creating a cohesive and differentiated story ◉ Reapplicants or waitlisted candidates looking to re-engage through informal channels

Hello and welcome to my profile! With a background in finance (investment banking, venture capital, private equity), I bring a wealth of experience to my coaching practice. I hold a degree in Finance from London Business School, where I also served on the admissions committee, interviewing prospective students for the Masters in Finance program. My professional journey includes roles at top firms like Barclays and UBS, and I currently work as an Investment Consultant at Zinc. Over the years, I've successfully coached 62 individuals, helping them navigate the complexities of master's program applications and secure spots at prestigious institutions. Let's work together to craft a standout application that highlights your unique strengths and aspirations. Feel free to reach out to discuss how I can assist you in achieving your academic goals!

With over two decades of experience as a Graduate Degree Admissions Consultant, I have guided countless clients to success at top programs throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. My background as a professional journalist and award-winning creative writer allows me to help applicants craft compelling narratives that captivate admissions committees. I specialize in identifying and honing the unique stories that set my clients apart, ensuring their applications stand out. Whether you're applying to a master's or doctorate program, I'm here to be your dedicated partner in the application journey. Let's work together to realize your academic and professional dreams—schedule a free session today!

After my own journey applying and interviewing for MBAs and helping others for Master's, from rejections to full-time offers with scholarships, I can personally attest to the challenges, frustrations, and difficulties in determining the right school and executing to receive an offer. I visited 12 business schools in 5 countries in the US, Europe, and Asia in my own research and decision-making process. I've helped numerous applicants on essays, school strategy, narrative development, overall applications, etc. Would be pleased to share learnings and support other applicants in their own trajectories towards success. I've studied in 7 universities and lived in 9 countries, so I uniquely understand different education systems across borders.

Having arrived in the UK as a teenager speaking no English, I navigated complex institutional barriers to earn degrees from the University of Oxford and Harvard University. My personal journey drives my coaching methodology: I specialize in helping students, including newly arrived refugees and non-traditional applicants, translate unique lived experiences into compelling academic narratives and gain admission into top UK and US institutions. As a Teaching Fellow across 20 graduate-level courses at Harvard, I have evaluated academic work, advised prospective students, and learned exactly what top admissions committees value. I provide comprehensive support across every stage of the application process: identifying the right degree programs, securing full funding and competitive scholarships (such as fellowship awards), and refining personal statements and research proposals. Whether you are aiming for elite policy, education, or social science programs, or overcoming significant structural hurdles, I offer structured, analytical guidance to help you craft a standout application, pitch your story with authority, and maximize your funding opportunities.

With a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Harvard and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Florida's College of Journalism and Communications, I bring a strong academic foundation and a passion for health communication and policy to my coaching. My experience spans strategic communication and advocacy at the United Nations Foundation, where I influenced global health policy, and client engagement at Surgo Health, working with AI-powered healthcare solutions. I've mentored and coached people to improve their resumes, entrance essays, and Linkedin profiles. If you're looking to make your application stand out, let's connect and work together to achieve your academic goals!

Welcome to my profile! With over two decades of experience in higher education administration, I have held pivotal roles such as Assistant Dean of Enrollment at NYU Silver School of Social Work and Vice Provost of Enrollment at Teachers College, Columbia University. My extensive background includes serving as an Application Reader at Columbia University School of Nursing where I gained firsthand insight into the admissions process. I have a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University, which complements my practical experience in strategic enrollment and admissions. I am passionate about helping prospective master's students navigate the complexities of the application process and secure their place in top programs. Let's work together to craft a compelling application that stands out!