Master's Programs Consultants, Events, & Resources

I've guided students to success at top universities worldwide, including Harvard, Oxford, and INSEAD. My admissions committee experience equips me with insider knowledge to enhance your application strategy. Whether you're aiming for a top-tier program in Europe or the US, I'm here to help you craft a compelling application that stands out. In recent years, my clients have been admitted to master's programs at: University of Oxford University of Cambridge LSE: London School of Economics & Political Science King's College London Sciences Po (Paris School of International Affairs) HEC Paris INSEAD Università Bocconi ESSEC ESCP Esade Erasmus University Rotterdam Duke University University of Chicago Tufts University I love helping candidates sharpen their research proposals and statements of academic purpose. My own diverse academic and professional background allows me to support candidates across the social sciences, humanities and business. What's more, I've pursued graduate research in both France and the United States, and I've taught at the bachelor and master level in France, the US, and Germany. For candidates who aim to span geographic or disciplinary boundaries in their work, I'm happy to be a resource.

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!

For more than a decade, I oversaw admissions for the Stanford MSx Program, a specialized Master of Science in Management degree at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. In that role, I admitted eleven cohorts of Stanford Sloan Fellows, working in close coordination with MBA Admissions on operational and policy matters. My admissions work took me to more than two dozen countries, I reviewed thousands of GSB applications, conducted hundreds of interviews, and served as academic advisor to students. I learned a lot about what it takes to be admitted, and I learned even more about what it takes to get the most out of graduate school. Crafting a great application is a valuable step to having an exceptional graduate school experience, and not just because it gets you admitted. Applying can and should be a process that prepares you for what comes after--clarifying your rationale, helping you build confidence to tell a compelling, personal story. It should help you articulate the values you hold deeply and the value proposition you offer. Getting into a great program should not be the end in itself, but a step in an broader process of growth and impact. If you work with me, this is part of the perspective I bring. After leaving Stanford, I've had some opportunities to work with boutique admissions consulting firms, but I value the transparency and range of options Leland provides to you, the client. I don't like to work with an client unless I believe I can deliver more value than what it costs. Working with a coach/consultant is like finding a therapist, where chemistry matters, and there may be others that are a better match for what you need (or at least for some of what you need). After an initial consultation, I offer packages that allow us to spend a few hours reviewing your application or plan in detail, where I will draw on my experience to help you identify opportunities to clarify and strengthen your pitch, and possibly challenge assumptions you have, resulting in a clear plan of action. From there, we can better determine if additional engagement would be useful, where we would both commit to deliverables and a timeline if we believe, that by working together, you can succeed in hitting your goals. This might involve targeted assistance with specific components of your application, a more comprehensive effort, or simply helping you identify resources that can best serve you. Good luck! And if you've read this far, maybe let's set up a time to chat.

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.

Studied at four universities across three countries. Now I help international students navigate European graduate programs that launch global careers. I specialize in low-tuition public universities across Germany, France, the UK, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the Nordic countries. Choosing the right graduate school isn't just about rankings. It's about finding the program that accelerates your international career. I've personally studied engineering, management, and marketing programs across Germany, the US, and France, and each degree opened doors I hadn't imagined. Now I help students worldwide discover Europe's hidden gems: world-class master's programs taught entirely in English, many at public universities with little to no tuition. My coaching covers the complete journey: identifying programs that match your aspirations, navigating admission processes across different educational systems, understanding visa requirements, and planning how to integrate directly into companies through strategic internships. Having led international teams for 25 years after my own multi-country educational path, I know which graduate programs truly prepare you for global careers versus those that just look good on paper. We'll explore how a German engineering program differs from a French business school, when language skills become essential versus optional, and most importantly, how to choose both your school and your target employers simultaneously. From understanding cultural adaptation in Nordic universities to positioning yourself for post-graduation work opportunities across Europe, I provide the insider perspective that comes from living the international education and career path myself. I coach in English, German, French, and Spanish, and I'm passionate about making European education accessible to students who can't afford expensive private school programs but deserve world-class opportunities.

Why do outstanding applicants get rejected while others with similar profiles are admitted? Because great applications don't begin with writing—they begin with understanding who you are. As a University Professor, Associate Dean for International Affairs at Francisco de Vitoria University (UFV), and former Vice President of EUCA, I combine an International PhD in Education (UCM) with deep expertise in psychology and character education. Having guided dozens of students into competitive undergraduate and graduate programs, fellowships, and academic careers across Europe and North America, I understand firsthand what leading selection committees truly value. I don't believe in generic templates or telling universities what they want to hear. My role is to help you discover where your unique story meets the mission of your target institution, crafting a compelling narrative that is strategically strong and unmistakably authentic. I don’t help you become the applicant universities want; I help you discover why the right university should want you.

I've navigated elite admissions firsthand — UCL for my undergraduate degree, then LBS as a Merit Scholar — and I've coached candidates into competitive Master's programmes since. Coming from a Natural Sciences background before moving into finance, I understand the non-linear applicant especially well: how to turn an unconventional path into a coherent, compelling case rather than a liability. I coach the whole application — story, essays, and interview — with the same focus on clarity and conviction that gets borderline-strong candidates over the line.

Welcome! I received my Master's in Linguistics from the University of Oxford, my BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and I have coached dozens of students through the admissions process for bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs. I made the jump from a mid-tier university to the number one university in the world, and with my extensive background in writing, research, and interpersonal communication, I can help you compose a compelling application tailored to your choice of university and program--whether it's based in the States or abroad. Having worked with students from all over the world, I can help you maximise your experiences to share the best of yourself to the admissions committee. My approach is tailored to each individual's goals, ensuring that you can make the most out of the application experience. I also offer support for resumes/CVs, finding the right program for you, and enhancing your academic and technical writing skills to aid you in reaching your full potential!

I provide a unique perspective on the graduate school journey, having successfully pivoted from a non-STEM undergraduate background at Cornell to a Master of Science in Systems Engineering at Johns Hopkins. My transition into a competitive graduate program required me to compile an application showing my technical capabilities without formal training. This personal experience allows me to demystify the bridge between non-technical foundations and rigorous engineering curricula. I have used this expertise to coach students to gain admission to master's programs for Business, Information Technology, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, and Chemical Engineering, regardless of whether they had any experience in a related field. My qualifications are rooted in my ability to help students overcome the specific hurdles of a master's application, such as lower GPAs or non-traditional transcripts. By focusing on how to translate professional accomplishments and analytical potential into a technical academic context, I help my students build profiles that stand out to admissions committees. My goal is to provide the step by step guidance I wish I had, ensuring that your background becomes a strength rather than a barrier to entry for top-tier graduate education.

I completed my MBA at Wharton and MA in International Studies in Latin America at the Lauder Institute. I focused on joint degree programs in International Relations/Public Policy and also was admitted to Harvard Kennedy School, Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs, Columbia School of International and Public Affairs, and LSE. I want to help you perfect your apps to these programs individually or as a joint MBA!