Computer Science Master’s Admissions Consultants

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)

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

✨FALL 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 (MBA) and former 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 evaluate your profile the way an admissions professional would, identify gaps and positioning opportunities, and help you build an application that makes the case for admission. I served on the Admissions Committee for Carnegie Mellon’s Master of Science in Computational Finance program, where I reviewed hundreds of CVs, essays, video interviews, and candidate interviews. I also saw firsthand how faculty evaluated coursework, grades, academic rigor, and technical preparation. For 10 years, I’ve coached Master’s and PhD applicants, from current undergraduates to experienced professionals making career pivots. I help clients strengthen their positioning, essays, CVs, portfolios, interview responses, and overall application strategy. Recent clients have been admitted to Stanford, Columbia, Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, UChicago, Yale, Duke, Cornell, Georgia Tech, University of Washington, and more. My approach is direct, supportive, adaptable, and Autistic- and ADHD-friendly. I focus on helping you understand what admissions is looking for, what makes you competitive, and how to communicate that clearly without making the process more overwhelming than it already is. You can also find my writing for incoming graduate students on QuantNet and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/acrosscareers

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.

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.

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

Hi, I’m Becky Song, Founder & Executive Director of Ivy Journey, Wharton MBA, former Wharton admissions fellow, and admissions coach with 15+ years of experience helping applicants earn admission to top graduate programs. For master’s applicants, my specialty is helping strong candidates turn their academic, professional, and personal background into a clear, differentiated admissions strategy. I’m especially strong with applicants targeting MS, MiM, MSBA, MFin, policy, management, analytics, AI/ML/engineering/STEM-adjacent, and career-pivot programs where schools need to see not only strong credentials, but also a compelling reason for why this degree, why this program, why now, and why you. My clients have earned admission to top programs and universities including Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Stanford, UPenn/Wharton, MIT, Columbia, Yale, Duke, Johns Hopkins, UC Berkeley, UCLA, NYU, Vanderbilt, and more. I also bring firsthand career strategy experience from management consulting, pharmaceutical/life sciences, research, entrepreneurship, government & nonprofits, which allows me to help applicants connect their graduate school goals to a credible long-term career story. I can help you with school selection, application strategy, personal statements/statements of purpose, resumes, recommendation strategy, scholarship positioning, interviews, waitlist strategy, and final application reviews. My approach is strategic, direct, and deeply personalized: we’ll identify your strongest admissions angle, sharpen your positioning, and make every part of your application reinforce a cohesive, memorable case for admission.

I know that choosing a Master’s program is about much more than getting into a good university. It’s about figuring out what you want to learn, where you want it to take you, and which programs genuinely fit your goals, interests, and profile. I hold a Master’s in Design Engineering from Harvard University, where I was recognized for teaching and leadership, and bring 15+ years of experience across product and technology at companies including Amazon, Meta, and Deloitte. I’ve also helped students think through graduate-school options and applications, including program selection, positioning their experiences, and developing a compelling and authentic application story. I enjoy getting to know what makes each person distinctive and helping them translate that into a thoughtful application and a well-considered graduate-school strategy. We can work through the big questions as well as the details, from deciding what kind of program makes sense for you to figuring out how to present your experiences in a way that feels genuinely yours.

I help people choose and get into master's programs that lead to a flourishing life and a career that makes an impact, thinking beyond rankings and salary figures. Whether you're coming straight from undergrad or changing careers, we start with where you want to go and how the right degree gets you there. I earned my Master of Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education, so I know firsthand what top programs look for and what the experience is like once you're in. I'm now pursuing a PhD at Boston College, and I've served as an assistant principal and worked in curriculum development and qualitative research at MIT and the Abigail Adams Institute. I've coached more than 25 people through applications and career moves. I'm especially committed to low-income applicants, helping them build a financial aid and scholarship strategy so an expensive program becomes a real option. Together we'll find the programs that fit your goals and build a CV, statement of purpose, and essays that show why you belong there.