Master's Programs Consultants, Events, & Resources

As a Harvard Law School graduate and experienced attorney, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. With a background in advising candidates for undergraduate, law school, and medical school admissions, I've successfully guided clients to top institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and Columbia. My approach focuses on personal statement advising, supplemental essay crafting, and long-term admissions planning. Whether you're aiming for a master's program or another advanced degree, I'm here to help you navigate the admissions process with confidence. Let's work together to make your application extraordinary.

Having been one of 19 nationally to achieve the distinguished accolade of becoming a Fulbright Scholar in 2023, I have first-hand experience navigating the US admissions process as an international applicant. I made 3 successful applications to US universities and tailored application materials to the exact criteria for acceptance. I am further able to aid students in filling out the online portal, tailoring their CV, and practicing for the interview.

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've worked with numerous candidates applying to early career business masters programs including Master in Finance, Master in Management, and Master in Business Analytics

Welcome to my profile! With a Ph.D. in American Studies/Public Policy and extensive experience in higher education, I am passionate about guiding students through the admissions process for MBA and MS in Business programs. As the Founder of The Admission Concierge, I offer a personalized, one-on-one approach to help you select the right school, craft a compelling application, and prepare for interviews. My background includes serving as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at the University of Miami, where I increased enrollment by 12% annually and launched three new Master's programs. I also bring insights from my role on the advisory board of businessCAS, promoting access and equity in college admissions. Let's work together to highlight your unique strengths and achieve your academic goals!

My diverse experiences, from Deloitte and Samsung’s Global Strategy Group to high-growth tech startups and the halls of UCLA and USC, have given me a cross-industry, cross-functional perspective on what it takes to build a compelling graduate application. I’ve worked with applicants to master’s and specialized graduate programs across disciplines ranging from business and finance to healthcare, education, data science, and engineering, and I understand what each type of program is looking for and how to position your unique background to meet it. My commitment is to help you articulate your unique story and personal brand in an authentic and engaging way, ensuring that every aspect of your application reflects your full potential and speaks directly to the program you’re targeting. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗜’𝗺 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀. My approach is highly personalized. We’ll start with an in-depth conversation about your background, experiences, and aspirations. I’ll help you identify the programs that best fit your goals, coach you through every step of the application process, and provide honest, actionable feedback. With my support, you’ll approach each application component (i.e. personal statements, recommendations, resumes, and interviews) with confidence, showcasing your full potential. I work with a select group of clients each cycle to give each engagement the attention it deserves and ensure that no one gets lost in the shuffle. The results speak for themselves: ➤ 100% of clients receive offers of admissions. ➤ Clients admitted to Harvard, Stanford, University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern, University of Chicago, MIT, Columbia, Berkeley, NYU, Yale, Duke, Dartmouth, UVA, UCLA, and USC. I hold an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and a BA from Swarthmore College and LSE.

In addition to her undergraduate admissions experience, Kelly has also read and evaluated thousands of graduate applications as well as served as an academic advisor. At the Stanford Graduate School of Education, Kelly was a one-person operation, overseeing all aspects of graduate admissions operations, application reviews and academic advising for prospective students. Kelly reviewed 3,400+ graduate applications annually and uses that experience when guiding students in developing their graduate school narratives, research plans, strategic school lists, and crafting their personal statements to fit their specific schools of interest. During Kelly’s career in admissions, she reviewed applications from around the world as well as the US, in all majors, as well as BFA, MFA, and joint degree programs in Education and Law, and Business and Public Policy.

✨SEPTEMBER SPECIAL: I’m currently offering special limited time pricing for my MBA and Masters Application Packages (including unlimited hours)! Check out my packages or DM me for details. ✨WHY CHOOSE MELANIE? • 🎓STEM MASTERS EXPERT: I've helped over 200 applicants achieve results in Masters programs, with a focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Example schools I have had success in are Stanford University, Harvard University, Columbia University, Cornell University, and other prestigious institutions. Example programs I have had success in are Master of Science (MS) in Computer Engineering; Master of Finance; MS Applied Analytics; M.S. in Technology Management; and more. Furthermore, as a Columbia Masters alumna and Admissions Committee Interviewer, I have insider knowledge of what top-tier schools seek across a variety of masters program. • ✍️ESSAY CONCIERGE: I’m not just a coach - I’m a writer and editor with an eye for detail. With years of experience writing successful masters essays, career coaching courses, and crafting works of fiction, I bring a keen sense of storytelling, language mastery, and technical precision to every essay I work on. Whether it’s structure, flow, or word choice, I’ll make sure your essay is perfectly polished and reflects your best self. Through powerful storytelling, I help them build a brand that truly stands out in the admissions process. We fine tune every written piece of your application, including essay, resumes, short-answers, and even LinkedIn profiles! • 🚀PROVEN RESULTS: I’ve helped over 200+ applicants secure spots at top masters programs. My clients’ success stories are a testament to the tailored strategies and guidance I provide. • 🎯PROFESSIONAL COACH: With over 10 years of coaching experience, I’m not just an admissions consultant—I’m an ICF-certified Executive Coach & Life Coach. My approach goes beyond getting you into business school; I focus on your application branding, leadership development, and executive presence to prepare you for the journey ahead. ✨WHO I WORK WITH: • Masters Degrees, with a focus on STEM • Traditional and Non-Traditional Candidates • Diverse Applicants including POC, Veterans, and LGBTQIA+ • Candidates with High and Low Test Scores ✨SCHEDULE YOUR FREE CONSULTATION: Contact Melanie Espeland for your free consultation today. With my insider knowledge, executive coaching expertise, and essay-writing mastery, I’ll help you craft a standout application that positions you for success—both in admissions and beyond.

I've been coaching candidates through Masters admissions for over 10 years, across MiM, Masters in Finance, Engineering (mechanical, electronic, computer science), and Data Science programmes. I've worked with 400+ students overall, and nearly all who completed the full journey were admitted to their target programme, including top schools such as LBS, INSEAD, HEC Paris, Bocconi, IE, IESE, Imperial, Cambridge, Oxford, MIT, Stanford, Columbia and ETH Zurich. I hold an MBA from SDA Bocconi and Columbia Business School, a mechanical engineering degree from Politecnico di Milano and the University of Illinois, and I work as a BCG consultant. This combination means I understand both technical and business-oriented programmes from the inside — whether you're applying to MSc Engineering, MiM, Masters in Finance, or looking to transition from a STEM background into a business programme. I cover the full process: school selection, application strategy, CV, personal statement and essays, letters of recommendation, and interview prep. The goal is a cohesive application where every piece reinforces who you are and why you're a strong fit for that specific programme. If what you've read resonates, write to me.

My approach to coaching comes from lived experience, not theory. I recently navigated the graduate admissions process myself and earned offers from the following top programs: The University of Toronto Masters of Science in Applied Computing, Carnegie Mellon Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence Engineering, Columbia Dual MBA/Executive MS: Engineering & Applied Science, UC Berkeley Electric Engineering & Computer Sciences Master of Engineering, and Carnegie Mellon Master of Science in Machine Learning program. I have confirmed my decision to attend the Machine Learning program at Carnegie Mellon this fall. Before that, I graduated Summa Cum Laude from UT Austin with a 3.96 GPA in Computer Science. I know firsthand what it takes to build a compelling application because I have done it across both technical and business programs. My strength is narrative strategy. I help you identify the through line in your experiences, position your story for the specific program type you are targeting, and write essays that are punchy, defensible, and free of inflated claims. Beyond admissions, I bring real-world credibility as someone that has worked at startups, big companies, and nonprofits as well as research experience. I will give you honest assessments, not validation, and I will work with you draft by draft until every word earns its place.