Mathematics & Statistics Master’s Admissions Experts

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

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. --- My recent clients have been admitted to Stanford, Columbia, Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, UChicago, Yale, Duke, Cornell, Georgia Tech, UWash, and many more. --- 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

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.

Having been one of 19 nationally to achieve the distinguished accolade of becoming a Fulbright Scholar in 2023, I have first-hand experience navigating the US admissions process as an international applicant. I made 3 successful applications to US universities and tailored application materials to the exact criteria for acceptance. I am further able to aid students in filling out the online portal, tailoring their CV, and practicing for the interview.

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)

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

✨SEPTEMBER 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 and 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.

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, 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.

My diverse experiences, from Deloitte and Samsung’s Global Strategy Group to high-growth tech startups and the halls of UCLA and USC, have given me a cross-industry, cross-functional perspective on what it takes to build a compelling graduate application. I’ve worked with applicants to master’s and specialized graduate programs across disciplines ranging from business and finance to healthcare, education, data science, and engineering, and I understand what each type of program is looking for and how to position your unique background to meet it. My commitment is to help you articulate your unique story and personal brand in an authentic and engaging way, ensuring that every aspect of your application reflects your full potential and speaks directly to the program you’re targeting. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗜’𝗺 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀. My approach is highly personalized. We’ll start with an in-depth conversation about your background, experiences, and aspirations. I’ll help you identify the programs that best fit your goals, coach you through every step of the application process, and provide honest, actionable feedback. With my support, you’ll approach each application component (i.e. personal statements, recommendations, resumes, and interviews) with confidence, showcasing your full potential. I work with a select group of clients each cycle to give each engagement the attention it deserves and ensure that no one gets lost in the shuffle. The results speak for themselves: ➤ 100% of clients receive offers of admissions. ➤ Clients admitted to Harvard, Stanford, University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern, University of Chicago, MIT, Columbia, Berkeley, NYU, Yale, Duke, Dartmouth, UVA, UCLA, and USC. I hold an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and a BA from Swarthmore College and LSE.

I am a alumna of Stanford University's MS in Financial Mathematics program and have coached clients getting into top MFE and MS in Financial Math/Financial Engineering programs in the US and Canada, including Columbia University, Cornell University, NYU, and University of Toronto. I have also coached clients who received MBA admission offers from Yale School of Management and University of Michigan's Stephen M. Ross School of Business.