Engineering Master’s Admissions Consultants

Having earned my Masters and PhD from Stanford University, I am deeply familiar with every aspect of the admissions process, from writing personal and research statements to standardized testing, and creating a strategy for successful recommendation letters. I have also worked closely with undergraduate students throughout each step, resulting in acceptances from colleges such as Columbia University, Cornell University, and the London School of Economics. Throughout my time in academia, I have mentored students in various capacities, from career coaching to in-depth research project development, over the course of months and even years. If you are looking for customized and thoughtful coaching backed by extensive first-hand experience, I am happy to help!

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.

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.

Welcome to my profile! With an MBA from the Paul Merage School of Business and a BS in Materials Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, I bring a wealth of experience to my role as a Consultant at Leland. Since 2007, I've been dedicated to helping aspiring professionals gain admission to top-tier Master's programs by providing personalized application strategies, school selection guidance, essay advice, resume preparation, and interview training. My extensive background in engineering, product management, and business development, combined with my passion for mentoring, equips me to help clients craft compelling applications that stand out. Let's work together to achieve your academic and career goals—reach out to start your journey today!

Welcome to my profile! With a Master of Finance in Financial Engineering from MIT and a B.Tech from IIT Roorkee, I bring a strong academic foundation to my coaching. My professional journey includes roles as a Quantitative Analyst at Goldman Sachs and a Quantitative Researcher at a High Frequency Trading Firm, equipping me with real-world insights into the finance industry. As a former Graduate Teaching Assistant at MIT, I have a passion for mentoring and have helped numerous students navigate the complexities of master's program applications. Whether you're looking to refine your application strategy or need guidance on essays and interviews, I'm here to help you succeed. Let's connect and chart your path to a top master's program!

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!

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'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.

I have had several years experience with College Admissions consulting, helping students get into their dream schools including some of the most competitive institutions nationally and internationally (UCLA, Cornell, UPenn, Duke to name a few). I have also specialized in helping students apply to niche programs, graduate and MBA programs, and schools like Brigham Young University, but that's not all. My professional career has included my role as a management consultant, where I built pricing models for insurance companies, evaluated presidential foundations’ programming, and improved marketing at large corporations. What most informs my approach to admissions, however, is my time working on the other side of the admissions process as Director of Admissions for the University of Redlands School of Education and later Regional Director of Enrollment and Operations for both the School of Education and the School of Business. In addition, I was an Assistant Director of Recruitment for the Claremont Colleges, where I was responsible for the recruitment and marketing strategy of the Keck Graduate Institute working with prospective science and engineering students. Right out of my graduate program at Harvard, I worked for Google's HR department and at Kaplan, developing a national curriculum in reading, math and writing for K-8th graders. I've co-authored a Kaplan textbook on writing and was responsible for training instructors on best practices in pedagogy. As someone with a wide range of experiences personally and professionally, I love helping students shape and mold their own stories to help them stand out in the crowd. In my free time, I love all things British royals, ballroom dancing, traveling internationally, and watching movies with complex plot lines.

As a graduate of Harvard Kennedy School’s Master in Public Administration program and Creighton University’s Master in Investment Management and Financial Analysis program, I bring both the insider’s perspective and the strategist’s eye to the admissions journey. I have served on the Harvard Kennedy School admissions committee, participated in high-profile initiatives such as the Forte Foundation and Ladies Who Launch, and led numerous school tours and admissions events designed to shape and select the next generation of leaders. This dual vantage point, of both applicant and gatekeeper, allows me to guide clients with precision and candor. I know what elite admissions committees look for, what makes an application unforgettable, and how to transform a candidate’s story into a compelling case for acceptance. My coaching is rigorous, deeply personal, and grounded in the belief that every applicant can rise to meet the standards of the world’s most competitive graduate programs when their true narrative is brought to light.