
Robert Ramirez
#1 Criminology PhD Admit - Computer Science Undergrad
Available Tuesday
Starting at 3:30 AM UTC
PLEASE READ: For undergrad interview prep, please select the 2- or 8-hour tier from my interview prep package (I recommend 8 unless you're pressed for time). My 1-hour/custom hourly consulting option is for help *other than* interview prep. 1 hour is too short for proper interview prep, and I offer an 18-30% discount to my hourly rate in my interview package.
Questions?
You can start chatting with Robert before you get started.
Work with Robert
About
Let me help you with your admissions interview, your transfer application, your grad school apps, and more. With 8 years living in Tokyo, I'm also an expert at helping international APAC applicants. PLEASE READ: My 1-hour/custom hourly consulting option is for help *other than* interview prep. For undergrad interview prep, please select the 2- or 8-hour tier from my interview prep package (I recommend 8 unless you're pressed for time). 1 hour is too short for proper interview prep, and in my interview package I offer a substantial discount to my custom hourly rate.
Robert also coaches for College and Master’s Programs. View all.
Robert’s PhD Programs Qualifications
Before I turned them all down to go to MIT for my 2-year Master's in Technology and Policy (TPP), I was admitted to the top Criminology PhD.s in the United States. I was one of only 5 people in my year admitted to the #1 such program, at UMD College Park. I went on to become a researcher after grad school. TPP itself was also a research Master's, so I was doing the same work as PhD. friends of mine at MIT, and it is not uncommon for TPPers to go on to do PhD.s after graduating. I personally continued to work with the PI who would have been my PhD. advisor, even as I turned down the program to go to MIT. I even dated a PhD. student for a few years, often visiting her lab, giving me a special view of their day-to-day and keeping me in touch with that life. Having transferred into the Ivy League for undergrad, worked in research labs from early in my undergrad career, and been admitted to both PhD. and Master's programs, I have a unique multi-faceted view of the admissions process.
Robert can help with:
Application Strategy
Editing
Essays
Interviews
Letters of Recommendation
Research
Resume
School Selection
Secondary Review
Why do I coach?
The interview is the only part of your application that you only get one shot at. You can revise your essays countless times. You get multiple letters of rec to round each other out. You can retake standardized tests. You can often even send in resume or grade updates after already submitting. My interviews were always the parts I regretted the most, and that I felt didn't do myself justice. When I first applied to college, I had all the wrong expectations about what interviewers were looking for, but afterwards I always felt that if I had just known what mattered beforehand and hadn't psyched myself out, then, even if my interviewer sucked, I could have knocked it out of the park, and at least lived with no regrets. After going through the application process all over again to transfer colleges to a school I finally wanted to be at, and now after 10 years as an interviewer myself, I'm in the exact opposite position as I was back then. Rehearsal and feedback are the only things you need in order to give yourself your best shot in your college interviews. When I taught Oral Communication at MIT, the students of mine who did the best were the ones who took my advice to repeatedly record themselves rehearsing and then watch themselves back with an informed critic's eye. That's my free advice to you. The informed part is what you still need. There's no need for months of meetings with me to understand how to present yourself for your interviews. Just 2 or 3 intensive 1.5-2 hour sessions, and you'll be set for life - for all your undergrad applications, for grad school, and for helping others. Need help with the other aspects of your college or grad school goals instead? Whatever it is, I've got you covered. We're not leaving anything on the table. When you work with me, you won't have to worry about college application regrets anymore.
Education

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Master's Degree, Technology and Policy (Cybersecurity)
2015 - 2017
The Technology and Policy Program (TPP) is the oldest program of its kind in the US. It was a 2-year interdisciplinary research degree. About half my time every week, I was doing security research, with the other half devoted toward a combination of a custom curriculum for me with specialized classes in cybersecurity or Internet policy, and general policy classes with other students in TPP who had their own research assistant jobs in separate engineering fields. I have also been an interviewer (Educational Counselor aka EC) for MIT for about 10 years now, writing lengthy reports on applicants and working indirectly with the admissions office, but I am not a "decision maker" proper.

Columbia University
Bachelor's Degree, Computer Science
2013 - 2015
I transferred in as a Junior from Washington University in St. Louis, which is no small feat: applying as a Junior to an Ivy League pitted me up against a roughly 1% admission rate at the time. President Obama was a Junior transfer to Columbia too - a rarity, since only ~20% of Columbia transfers are Juniors. I also changed my major when I transferred, which meant I had to hustle to fit all my coursework in and graduate on time, but I pulled it off because I know the grind. I have been an interviewer for freshman admissions to Columbia as well, but I primarily interview for MIT, out of choice.
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Robert also coaches for College and Master’s Programs. View all.
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