Hello and welcome to my profile! With a Ph.D. and M.A. from Harvard University and a B.S. from Cornell University, I bring a wealth of academic experience to my coaching. My journey through these prestigious institutions has equipped me with a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in competitive master's programs. I am passionate about helping aspiring students navigate the complexities of the application process, from crafting compelling personal statements to selecting the right programs that align with their career goals. Let's work together to make your master's program aspirations a reality. Feel free to reach out to discuss how I can support your journey!

I worked at Stanford University for many years, managing admissions processes at several departments. Now I help prospective graduate students apply to their dream graduate programs, applying what I know from working behind the scenes at a top university. My clients get results and I can help you too! My process starts with a questionnaire, followed by a consultation and then covers every aspect of the process from brainstorming through navigating waitlists and scholarship offers. The majority of our process will be essay writing collaboration, which I strongly believe is the most crucial factor of a successful graduate school application. I also help with crafting school lists, figuring out who should write letters of recommendation, putting together addenda if needed, revising resumes, and interview preparation.

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.

For more than a decade, I oversaw admissions for the Stanford MSx Program, a specialized Master of Science in Management degree at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. In that role, I admitted eleven cohorts of Stanford Sloan Fellows, working in close coordination with MBA Admissions on operational and policy matters. My admissions work took me to more than two dozen countries, I reviewed thousands of GSB applications, conducted hundreds of interviews, and served as academic advisor to students. I learned a lot about what it takes to be admitted, and I learned even more about what it takes to get the most out of graduate school. Crafting a great application is a valuable step to having an exceptional graduate school experience, and not just because it gets you admitted. Applying can and should be a process that prepares you for what comes after--clarifying your rationale, helping you build confidence to tell a compelling, personal story. It should help you articulate the values you hold deeply and the value proposition you offer. Getting into a great program should not be the end in itself, but a step in an broader process of growth and impact. If you work with me, this is part of the perspective I bring. After leaving Stanford, I've had some opportunities to work with boutique admissions consulting firms, but I value the transparency and range of options Leland provides to you, the client. I don't like to work with an client unless I believe I can deliver more value than what it costs. Working with a coach/consultant is like finding a therapist, where chemistry matters, and there may be others that are a better match for what you need (or at least for some of what you need). After an initial consultation, I offer packages that allow us to spend a few hours reviewing your application or plan in detail, where I will draw on my experience to help you identify opportunities to clarify and strengthen your pitch, and possibly challenge assumptions you have, resulting in a clear plan of action. From there, we can better determine if additional engagement would be useful, where we would both commit to deliverables and a timeline if we believe, that by working together, you can succeed in hitting your goals. This might involve targeted assistance with specific components of your application, a more comprehensive effort, or simply helping you identify resources that can best serve you. Good luck! And if you've read this far, maybe let's set up a time to chat.

Over the past 5 years, I have helped my peers and coachees get into top public policy programs at the masters and PhD levels, specifically through their essays, resumes, and other application materials. I have a keen eye for editing and am honest and clear with feedback. Additionally, I helped students applying to the Kennedy School through HKS admissions programming.

I have worked with over 10 people to get into programs like Knight-Hennessy, Rhodes, and Schwarzman Scholars and I personally have gotten myself accepted into Dartmouth, Knight Hennessy Scholars, and GSB/HBS.