Natural Sciences Master's Admissions Coaches

Hello and welcome! I hold dual Master’s degrees from the University of Oxford—a Master’s in Public Policy and an MBA—as well as a First Class Honours degree in Economics from the University of Cape Town. My academic and professional experiences, including working with organisations like McKinsey & Company and KPMG, have equipped me to guide students through the rigorous admissions processes for competitive graduate programmes. Having personally navigated these challenges and co-founded a student chapter of Effective Altruism, I understand how to craft compelling applications that reflect your unique strengths and aspirations. Whether you’re refining your statement of purpose or building a targeted admissions strategy, I’m here to provide personalised guidance to help you achieve your academic and professional ambitions.

Welcome to my profile! With a robust background in public health and epidemiology, I bring a unique perspective to coaching for master's programs. I hold a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology from Colorado State University, where I conducted research on air pollution exposure. I also hold a Master of Science in Conservation Medicine from Tufts University, where I investigated the influence of climate disasters on zoonotic disease transmission. My experience as an infectious disease epidemiologist during the COVID-19 pandemic has equipped me with firsthand knowledge of data analysis and public health strategies. I am passionate about helping aspiring allied health professionals navigate the complexities of master's program applications. Let's work together to craft a compelling application that highlights your strengths and aligns with your career goals!

I have a strong background in admissions and coaching, with experience in both university settings and as the founder of a coaching company. I hold Masters degrees from New York University and Clemson University, and a Bachelors degree from the University of Georgia. As a staff member at New York University, Stanford University and The University of Texas at Austin, I gained valuable insights into the admissions process and effectively communicated the university's story to prospective students. Additionally, I founded The Mel Baxter Group, LLC, a coaching company focused on empowering women. With my diverse experience and passion for helping others, I am excited to leverage my expertise to guide you through the admissions process and help you achieve your goals. Don't hesitate to reach out and let's get started on your journey to success!

I turned my own skill with graduate-school applications--including admission to the US's top clinical psychology Master's/PhD program--into a way to help other applicants succeed. I do that by helping them find the right stories to tell and put their best foot forward, using my experience/success not only with applications but with writing fiction, narrative non-fiction, screenplays, and other story-driven work. Story is the best way to show admissions committees the "person behind the profile." That's what I help my clients do.

Through my 5 years at the MIT Communication Lab, I have coached over 50 students on applying for graduate studies (MS and PhD). Many of my students have been admitted into the top programs, which include MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Caltech, Oxbridge, etc. I'm very familiar with the application process, the essays required, and the narrative necessary to craft a compelling application.

Welcome to my profile! With a Master's degree in Atmosphere & Energy from Stanford University and a Master of Science in Petroleum Geoscience from Universiti Teknologi Petronas, I bring a robust academic and professional background to my coaching. My experience spans roles at Tesla, Shell, and Halliburton, where I developed a deep understanding of research and innovation (published in Nature). I have successfully guided 2 individuals through the intricacies of master's and MBA program applications (Stanford), helping them achieve their academic aspirations.

As someone who was recently admitted to Harvard’s SM in Computational Biology and Quantitative Genetics, I know firsthand what it takes to stand out in Ivy-level graduate admissions. I also received offers from other top-tier programs including Columbia (MS in Public Health Data Science), Yale (MS in Computational Biology and Biomedical Informatics), Cornell (MS in Computational Biology), Dartmouth (MS in Health Data Science), and Brown (MS in Biostatistics). I graduated from Boston University with a BS in Data Science and a minor in Statistics, earned multiple academic and research awards, and worked on high-impact projects in industry internships and in academic labs focused on machine learning, public health, and computational biology. I specialize in helping students from non-Ivy backgrounds break into elite graduate programs through compelling personal statements, strong academic narratives, and a sharp application strategy tailored to data-driven and biomedical fields.

You have a story worth sharing—I am here to help you tell it. As a Gates-Cambridge Scholar, Rhodes Scholarship Finalist, and an incoming MD candidate at Columbia University, I bring a unique perspective to the graduate school and competitive international fellowship application processes. My academic and professional journey has equipped me with a deep understanding of what top programs seek in applicants. I have successfully coached multiple individuals and have sat on professional panels, helping individuals craft compelling applications to best highlights their strengths and communicates their unique story. Whether you need guidance on personal statements, recommendation letters, interview preparation, or anything else, I am here to personally help you navigate your path to achieving a place in your dream program. I am excited to work with you!

I was able to match with a top-tier program during my first application cycle, something uncommon in genetic counseling. I have 3+ years of mentoring and have received formal training through a peer-mentorship course at Brigham Young University.

I'm Stanford GSB MBA/MS alum who has excelled in climate and impact work across roles spanning social entrepreneurship, climatetech and renewables consulting and development, and investing. I've also uniquely been through the process of applying to top schools from abroad (Mongolia). I know what it takes to pivot, to do a dual degree program, to apply to the U.S. from abroad, and to articulate the values that will make your application stand out. I have experience helping U.S. and international coachees with unconventional backgrounds gain admissions to top programs and get selected for life-changing scholarships. I am especially passionate about working with people who are focused on climate change and the environment. I want to help you uncover and authentically showcase your strengths so you can make moves toward a career that makes you tick. Whether you need help on big-picture essay framing or nitty-gritty details, I'm excited to work with you!