Master's Programs Consultants, Events, & Resources

Welcome to my profile! With over a decade of experience in graduate admissions, including senior roles at Stanford University, I have a deep understanding of what top programs are looking for in applicants. As a former Director of Graduate Admissions at Stanford, I reviewed thousands of applications and helped shape the admissions process for various departments. Since founding WISE Graduate Admissions Consulting, I've successfully guided 100+ clients into prestigious master's programs at institutions like Stanford, Harvard, and Columbia. My personalized approach ensures that each client receives tailored advice to enhance their application strategy. Let's work together to make your graduate school dreams a reality!

I currently teach entrepreneurship at Stanford and founded the Education Entrepreneurship Hub (joint program across all 7 schools). I have firsthand admissions experience with 5 out of 7 Stanford schools (everything except Law and Medicine), giving me unique insight into how different programs evaluate candidates. My focus areas span entrepreneurship (MBA, MS&E, and other entrepreneurial degrees), education, policy, and CS - allowing me to guide clients across diverse graduate programs and career transitions. I work with about 5 comprehensive clients per round (plus hourly coaching for others) because I believe in giving each person the attention they deserve. My 100% acceptance rate comes from one simple truth: every applicant has a compelling story - we just need to find it and tell it right. I love working with: 🌍 The Career Changer with Big Goals You want to pivot - whether into business school, policy, education, consulting, or social impact - but aren't sure how to connect your background to your new mission. That transition story is often your greatest asset. 🎓 The Professional Who Doesn't Fit the Mold You've taken an unconventional path and worry you don't look like the "typical" applicant. I help you reframe what makes you different as your competitive advantage. 📈 The High Achiever Who Undersells Their Impact Your resume looks great on paper, but you struggle to articulate the deeper transformation you've created or the leadership potential you bring. I help you tell that story compellingly. 🚀 The Purpose-Driven Professional Whether you're an entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, educator, or corporate changemaker, you've built something meaningful but need help positioning your vision in ways that resonate with admissions committees or hiring managers. My approach: I work primarily asynchronously, which means you get deeply thoughtful, comprehensive feedback rather than off-the-cuff reactions. You'll submit materials through our shared master Google Doc, and I'll provide detailed strategic insights within 48-72 hours (currently, my dedicated Leland days are Tuesday-Thursday). We'll also have ad hoc calls whenever you need them - whether that's to discuss feedback, work through a tricky essay concept, or strategize on positioning. What to expect: I give honest, direct feedback because I genuinely want you to succeed. My clients appreciate that I don't sugarcoat, but I also celebrate your wins and help you see strengths you might be overlooking. This is a partnership - I bring the strategic insights and admissions expertise, you bring the self-direction and willingness to dig deep into your story - you own your own journey! Our coaching partnership works best if: you're someone who values thoughtful, thorough feedback over quick responses, and who's ready to take ownership of crafting something authentically yours. If you're looking for someone with same or next-day call availability, my model might not be the right fit. But if you want a strategic partner who helps you write essays that feel genuinely like you - just the best, most compelling version - we'll do great work together! My Background: As a Stanford Master's in International Policy graduate (fewer than 30 admits annually), I was accepted to ALL programs I applied to - including Harvard Kennedy School, Columbia SIPA, Johns Hopkins SAIS, and elite dual-degree programs. I know exactly what separates admits from qualified applicants. Recent Wins: 100% acceptance rate across my own applications to top graduate programs. My clients have secured admits to competitive MBA programs, policy schools, and career transitions they initially thought were out of reach. Watch my admissions journey: My story has 66K+ views: https://youtu.be/Ovt5mF1_zoc?si=jH13aXDnLdqPsA5O

I am an alumnus of the 7th cohort of Schwarzman Scholars at Tsinghua University, where I earned a Master's of Management Science in Global Affairs between 2022-23 and was selected from competitive pool of 3,000+ applicants (<5% acceptance rate). I bring firsthand experience and deep insights into what makes a successful master's application and I've previously helped advise candidates who have gone on to be accepted to prestigious graduate programs across China, Europe, and the United States. Throughout my educational journey, I've learned how to strategically frame and present one's leadership, academic, and professional accomplishments to highlight their unique strengths and successfully stand out.

With a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Harvard University and extensive experience in health policy, I am well-equipped to guide you through the complexities of master's program applications. My background includes roles in Consulting, Philanthropy, Non-profits, and the Senate, working across public health, public policy, and international relations. I successfully navigated my own applications as a woman of color and first generation masters student, resulting in acceptances from Harvard University and Johns Hopkins University. I have also coached multiple individuals, helping them navigate their own masters program applications. I am especially eager to support and work alongside minority applicants such as people/women of color, LGBTQ+, and first generation students. Whether you need assistance with personal statements, interview preparation, or overall application and career strategy, I'm here to help you achieve your academic goals!

I’m qualified to coach in this category because I’ve personally navigated the global master’s admissions journey and helped hundreds of others do the same- successfully. I hold a Master in Management-Grande Ecole from ESCP Business School (FT Global Top-5) (with admits into HEC, LBS, LSE, ESSEC, Duke, etc.) and bring 7+ years of international experience across investment banking, strategy consulting, corporate strategy, and venture capital, working with firms such as Morgan Stanley, PwC, RTL Group, Citi, and Adler Group. This means I don’t just understand applications on paper, I understand how top schools evaluate profiles, potential, and long-term career fit, and how that translates into real outcomes after graduation. Over the years, I’ve worked with a wide range of international candidates from diverse academic, cultural, and professional backgrounds, many of whom have secured strong admits across Europe, the UK, North America, and Asia. My reviews reflect that track record, but they’re only one data point. I strongly believe the best way to assess fit is a 15-minute conversation, where you’ll quickly see how I think, work, and challenge you. My style is straightforward, honest, and high-standards. I don’t over-promise, sugarcoat feedback, or “please” clients. I focus on clarity, precision, and execution, because that’s what top schools reward. If something doesn’t make sense for your profile, I’ll tell you. If something can be improved, we’ll fix it properly. If you’re looking for real guidance, not scripted advice, and want to approach your master’s applications with strategy, integrity, and confidence- I’d be happy to help.

Here's something people don't know about me: prior to business school, I worked on Capitol Hill and for a lobby group of business CEOs. I chose not to go to HKS because I didn't need more politics in my life. However, policy is in my blood, and I love working on the all MPP type applications, including Columbia's SIPA or Georgetown, or Johns Hopkins SAIS. For the Kennedy School, in the two-year and the mid-career program I have close to a 95% success rate. That's because in addition to thinking like a policy wonk, I consider these applications a labor of love. There's no interview for HKS, and the application and resume are demanding! But I'm here for it.

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 both 2023 and 2024 (since rankings began), with reviews highlighting high-touch, strategic support ◉ 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

Welcome to my profile! With a Master's in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and a Certificate in Data Analysis with Statistical Programming, I bring a robust analytical background to my coaching practice. As an Instructor and Program Director of Data Science at the University of California, Irvine, I've honed my skills in teaching and guiding students through complex subjects, including college planning and data science fundamentals. My experience as a Reviewer for admissions and as an Interim Program Director for the Master of Computer Science program has given me unique insights into the admissions process. Having coached 62 individuals, I am passionate about helping you navigate your master's program applications with tailored strategies and expert advice. Let's work together to achieve your academic and career goals!

Hi and welcome! 😊 Are you looking to apply to your dream school and secure a scholarship? Happy to help! As an international first-generation student from a low-income family, I successfully navigated the complexities of the application process, gaining admission to prestigious schools such as Harvard, UC Berkeley, London School of Economics, King's College, and Leiden University, securing over $200,000 in scholarships. I am excited to support you with selecting the right school and program, crafting compelling narratives and applications, and finding the right funding opportunities! Over the years, I have gained much experience and look forward to sharing my learnings with you. Before joining grad school, I built the Recruitment department for Germany's largest Women's Leadership network where I helped match our members to leadership positions at companies like Accenture, Deloitte, BMW & VW. In that role, I have seen hundreds of resumes and mastered the skill of matching profiles to application requirements. I hold a Master of Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School. My interdisciplinary academic journey includes coursework at MIT, and Harvard's Law, Divinity, and Education Schools, providing me with a comprehensive perspective on policy, economics, AI governance, and more. During my undergraduate studies in Governance, Economics, and Development at Leiden University's Honors College, I spent an exchange year at UC Berkeley, focusing on Business and Sociology. Financing my education through scholarships from the German Academic Scholarship Foundation and Heinrich Boell Foundation, I was also honored to be one of six McCloy Fellowship recipients at Harvard. In the past, I have successfully guided students to prestigious institutions like Cambridge, Oxford, Leiden, Berkeley, Columbia, and Harvard. When you join my coaching program, you'll receive personalized guidance tailored to your unique aspirations. I'm committed to supporting your success and excited to work together to achieve your dreams and potential for impact!

I served on the Admissions Committee at Carnegie Mellon for the MSCF Program (heavy in data science, ML, stats, math, and finance) as a representative from Career Services. As part of the committee, I evaluated hundreds of candidate materials - including CVs, application essays, video interviews, and conducted some interviews. By sitting on the committee, I also learned what faculty were looking for in coursework, academic rigor, and grades from candidates. In total, I've spent 10 years coaching Masters and PhD applicants (both those fresh from undergrad and those looking to pivot careers) research programs, prepare essays & CVs, connect with alumni & industry professionals, refine their portfolio, and upskill to prepare for admission into competitive programs. I'll help you understand the different programs' requirements and help you manage multiple applications in one cycle - while ensuring you're aligning your interests, materials, and skills with programs that will get you closer to your career goals. My approach is direct, adaptable, supportive, plus Autistic- and ADHD-friendly: mitigating anxiety and minimizing the overwhelm that comes with navigating graduate admissions on top of the rest of your life. You can check out some articles I've written for incoming grad students on QuantNet and my LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/acrosscareers