Engineering 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

As a Harvard and MIT admit, I’ve seen that applicants who get in aren’t always the most “impressive” on paper. They’re the ones who can make sense of their experiences and connect them to a clear direction. I help applicants do exactly that across school and networking strategy, essays, resumes, and interviews. I specialize in the Harvard Kennedy School, mid-career policy applicants, and MPP-MBA applicants. I also work with applicants across a wide range of other Harvard and MIT master’s programs, including the Master’s in Real Estate, the Master’s in Design Engineering, and others. I believe access to these opportunities should not come down to having the “right” background, but to how you make sense of the experiences you already have. If you are looking to tell a story that feels both authentic and distinct, I would love to help you on your journey.

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!

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’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.

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.

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.

I have extensive experience successfully coaching students applying to engineering master's programs. Over the years, I have guided 8 individuals, achieving strong outcomes in admissions across top universities. As someone who transitioned disciplines myself, I offer invaluable insights to help candidates shift into engineering. My coaching covers all key aspects of the application process: Identifying strengths and crafting a compelling story Developing an impressive resume/CV and personal statements Interview preparation tailored to engineering programs Navigating complex admission requirements and timelines With deep knowledge of the latest trends at leading institutions, I provide customized advice to position applicants favorably. My track record demonstrates my ability to bring out the best in aspiring engineering graduate students and empower them to secure their academic goals.

Welcome to my profile! After gaining admission to Masters Computer Science programs at institutions like Stanford and Carnegie Mellon University with over $50000 in scholarships, I am happy to guide others through the masters application process. As a Fulbright Researcher at the Technical University of Munich, specializing in Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence, I bring a unique perspective to coaching students for master's programs. With a Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering from Columbia University, where I graduated Magna Cum Laude as an Egleston Scholar, I have a strong academic background to guide students through the application process. In addition to my research experience, I have worked as a Business Analyst at McKinsey & Company, where I developed strategies and implemented technical capabilities. I have also coached several individuals through masters applications in the past, helping them successfully navigate the admissions process and gain acceptance into their desired programs. If you're looking for personalized guidance and expertise, don't hesitate to reach out!