Engineering Master’s Admissions Consultants

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’m a Schwarzman Scholar at Tsinghua University, selected from a global applicant pool of 5,000+ with a ~3% acceptance rate. I was also admitted to several M7 and T15 MBA programs — including Stanford GSB, Chicago Booth, Columbia Business School, and Cornell Johnson — with over USD 200K in merit scholarships. Professionally, I was Asia’s first-ever rotational Management Trainee at Morgan Stanley, working across multiple departments. I’m passionate about helping ambitious candidates cut through the complexity of elite admissions and secure offers from top master’s programs — particularly competitive fellowships and scholarships across China, Europe, and the United States. Let’s work together to craft an application that clearly communicates your story, strengths, and long-term potential.

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

With over two decades of experience as a Graduate Degree Admissions Consultant, I have guided countless clients to success at top programs throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. My background as a professional journalist and award-winning creative writer allows me to help applicants craft compelling narratives that captivate admissions committees. I specialize in identifying and honing the unique stories that set my clients apart, ensuring their applications stand out. Whether you're applying to a master's or doctorate program, I'm here to be your dedicated partner in the application journey. Let's work together to realize your academic and professional dreams—schedule a free session today!

Over the last six years, I have coached hundreds of students at a large R1 institution, guiding them as they prepare for graduate and medical school applications. I work with applicants from personal statement ideation all the way through decision making and I can't wait to do the same with you. Whether you're applying for the first time or reapplying and need a fresh take on your application, I'm confident that my coaching experience will be an asset to you. My approach centers around making meaning of your experiences, helping you to find the connections to your future goals, and translating those in a way that will resonate with the admissions committee. Let's work together to help you achieve your goals!

Elite admissions coach with Harvard/PhD credentials, 30+ years' experience and 100s of 5-star public reviews Decades of experience have enabled me to "crack the code" with regard to maximizing an applicant's chances of admission, helping you create compelling statements/essays and related collateral (e.g., activities lists, CVs, letters of recommendation). I don't just "give feedback" or perform mechanical edits—I work one-on-one with you in high-touch, live tutorial mode to help you craft your own compelling narrative, using proven techniques and methodologies that cut writing time by more than half. (New to Leland but well-established at other leading coaching/tutorial platforms.) Free 15-minute intro/discovery call available, schedule permitting, for qualified applicants.

Welcome to my profile! With a Ph.D. in American Studies/Public Policy and extensive experience in higher education, I am passionate about guiding students through the admissions process for MBA and MS in Business programs. As the Founder of The Admission Concierge, I offer a personalized, one-on-one approach to help you select the right school, craft a compelling application, and prepare for interviews. My background includes serving as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at the University of Miami, where I increased enrollment by 12% annually and launched three new Master's programs. I also bring insights from my role on the advisory board of businessCAS, promoting access and equity in college admissions. Let's work together to highlight your unique strengths and achieve your academic goals!

I am a public policy professional and have lived, worked, and studied in Panama, the United States, and China. I know what it's like to navigate highly selective admissions and hiring processes as an international applicant, and I'm here to share with you the insights that my clients and I have used land spots at the Ivy League, Oxbridge, M7, and Schwarzman Scholars. Let's work together to achieve your master's and career goals!

I evaluate your profile the way an admissions professional would, identify gaps and positioning opportunities, and help you build an application that makes the case for admission. I served on the Admissions Committee for Carnegie Mellon’s Master of Science in Computational Finance program, where I reviewed hundreds of CVs, essays, video interviews, and candidate interviews. I also saw firsthand how faculty evaluated coursework, grades, academic rigor, and technical preparation. For 10 years, I’ve coached Master’s and PhD applicants, from current undergraduates to experienced professionals making career pivots. I help clients strengthen their positioning, essays, CVs, portfolios, interview responses, and overall application strategy. Recent clients have been admitted to Stanford, Columbia, Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, UChicago, Yale, Duke, Cornell, Georgia Tech, University of Washington, and more. My approach is direct, supportive, adaptable, and Autistic- and ADHD-friendly. I focus on helping you understand what admissions is looking for, what makes you competitive, and how to communicate that clearly without making the process more overwhelming than it already is. You can also find my writing for incoming graduate students on QuantNet and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/acrosscareers

Welcome! I received my Master's in Linguistics from the University of Oxford, my BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and I have coached dozens of students through the admissions process for bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs. I made the jump from a mid-tier university to the number one university in the world, and with my extensive background in writing, research, and interpersonal communication, I can help you compose a compelling application tailored to your choice of university and program--whether it's based in the States or abroad. Having worked with students from all over the world, I can help you maximise your experiences to share the best of yourself to the admissions committee. My approach is tailored to each individual's goals, ensuring that you can make the most out of the application experience. I also offer support for resumes/CVs, finding the right program for you, and enhancing your academic and technical writing skills to aid you in reaching your full potential!