Master's Programs Admissions

Welcome to my profile! I'm a highly experienced coach specializing in helping individuals navigate the competitive landscape of master's programs. With a PhD from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University, I bring a strong academic background to my coaching practice. Additionally, I have firsthand knowledge of the admissions process, having served on the admissions committee at Cornell University. I have also worked as a Communications Manager at Compass Family Services, where I honed my skills in guiding individuals towards their goals. Whether you need assistance with application strategy, essay writing, or interview preparation, I'm here to provide personalized guidance and support. Reach out to me today and let's work together to make your master's program dreams a reality!

I’m qualified to coach professional master’s applicants because I’ve helped build and lead the programs they are applying to. At UC Irvine, I directed the Master of Data Science and Master of Computer Science programs, served as Associate Director for the MSBA and MFin programs, and helped develop the new Applied AI master’s program and its admissions framework. I’ve also served on admissions committees, advisory boards and currently teach graduate students. My path into higher education began in academic counseling, where I studied gaps in student retention and helped create support programs. That experience still shapes how I coach: I look closely at both your preparation and the opportunities or barriers behind your record. I can help you choose programs, assess where your application is strong, and use specific evidence in your essays, resume, and interviews to explain why you’re ready.

I work with applicants targeting elite European finance master’s programmes, especially those with some work experience to draw on. Clients have been admitted to the Oxford MFE, HEC Paris MIF, Cambridge MFin and Bocconi MSc Finance. I also work with applicants to LSE, Imperial and LBS (MFA). Committees read hundreds of essays about leadership and teamwork. I help you find specific proof points in your background and position them for how each programme reads applications. I was admitted to Oxford and HEC Paris (MSc International Finance) in the same cycle, with a different application for each, and completed the Oxford MSc Financial Economics with Distinction. My career since then has covered M&A, valuations, climate strategy and transition finance. That helps me shape your “why this programme” answer so it also holds up in recruiting conversations after the degree. I cover the full application: CV, essays, recommender briefing, and mock interviews built around each programme’s format. Most applicants start with a 5-hour package, which covers several rounds of sentence-level feedback, and add hours later if needed. To get started, book a 15-minute intro call. We’ll go through your target programmes and timeline, and agree whether I’m the right coach and which package fits. Send your CV and target list beforehand so I can assess fit. Detailed feedback starts in our first session.

Welcome to my profile! With over 20 years of experience in higher education, I specialize in guiding students through the intricacies of graduate program applications. As a Graduate Coach at InGenius Prep, I help students craft compelling applications that highlight their unique strengths and goals. My background includes roles at Stanford University, where I coordinated programs for current and prospective graduate students and led diversity initiatives, giving me a deep understanding of what top programs look for in candidates. Whether you're just starting your application journey or need targeted advice, I'm here to help you succeed. I’d love to support your journey. Book a session today to see how I can help you reach your goals!

Over the last six years, I have coached hundreds of students at a large R1 institution, guiding them as they prepare for graduate and medical school applications. I work with applicants from personal statement ideation all the way through decision making and I can't wait to do the same with you. Whether you're applying for the first time or reapplying and need a fresh take on your application, I'm confident that my coaching experience will be an asset to you. My approach centers around making meaning of your experiences, helping you to find the connections to your future goals, and translating those in a way that will resonate with the admissions committee. Let's work together to help you achieve your goals!

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.

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.

I’ve guided over 50+ students into top master’s programs in computer science, natural science, psychology, engineering and more at top programs like: Harvard, Stanford, Berkley, USC, UCLA, Yale, Columbia, and many more! Whether you’re refining your strategy, perfecting essays, or preparing for high-stakes interviews, I’ll work with you to highlight your unique strengths and craft a compelling story. Together, we’ll create a clear, actionable plan to get you into the masters program of your dreams.

Ryan Prior is an award-winning journalist telling stories at the front lines of science and democracy. Over the past 12 years, he has written hundreds of stories for CNN, Psychology Today, The Guardian, The Nation, STAT, USA Today, and The Daily Beast. He has produced work across documentary film, nonprofits, book publishing, and think tanks. His reporting spans pandemic response, science policy, geopolitical conflict, and national security. His recent experience includes field reporting in Ukraine, along with study trips to Israel/Palestine, the Balkans, and Western Europe through Harvard Kennedy School and RIAS. Ryan believes the best journalism connects the dots between high-level decisions and lived experiences of people on the ground — making the strategic personal, and the personal strategic. His writing combines the rigor of data-driven reporting, the intimacy of narrative memoir, and the pragmatism of a policy brief. It’s a rare, yet essential blend in today’s climate of misinformation and polarization. He is the author of The Long Haul: How Long Covid Survivors Are Revolutionizing Healthcare (MIT Press/Penguin Random House), which explores the global impact of the pandemic and the chronic illness crisis that followed. The book has been called “a book we need right now” by Senator Tim Kaine and “an important contribution” by the Secretary General of the World Health Organization. It has also been featured in Newsweek, Los Angeles Times, CNN, Democracy Now, Psychology Today, Science, and The Lancet.

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.