Admissions & Fellowship Coaching
College • Transfer • Grad (PhD/MD-PhD) • Postdoc Funding
Strategy • Writing • Interviews (virtual)
Previously worked with:
Who I am
I went from a GED to summa cum laude at Kent State and admission to every PhD program I applied to. Along the way I won an NSF GRFP, an HHMI Gilliam Fellowship and a Harvard Graduate Prize Fellowship. I finished my PhD in neuroscience at Harvard and was a Schmidt Science Fellows finalist. I’m now a Jane Coffin Childs postdoctoral fellow at Stanford, with over $500,000 in competitive fellowship funding.
I’ve also sat on the other side of the table. For two years I interviewed and scored applicants for Harvard’s Program in Neuroscience, reviewing full applications including essays, and I served as the program’s recruitment coordinator. So I know how a committee reads your statement.
I’ve been helping people with applications since 2019. I did it formally starting in 2020, as a mentor, mock interviewer and application reviewer with Científico Latino and Project SHORT, and I’ve worked independently since 2025. I’m also an alum of several programs I now help people apply to, including the Broad Institute Summer Research Program, WashU BP-ENDURE and the SfN Neuroscience Scholars Program.
I’ve won five Certificates of Distinction in Teaching at Harvard. Giving clear, useful feedback is something I’ve trained for, not something I picked up on the side.
What I Help With
I work with students and early-career researchers on the strategy and writing that make strong applications stand out — without losing your voice. You’ll get clear planning, thoughtful feedback, and a process that keeps you moving week to week.
Applications + admissions
College applications (Common App, UC essays, supplements, activities lists)
Transfer applications (positioning your academic path and goals)
Graduate programs (PhD, MD/PhD, MSTP, Master’s) — SOP/personal statement, research statement, CV polish
Summer research and post-baccalaureate programs (AMGEN, Leadership Alliance, Broad SRP, etc.)
Early-career materials (resume/CV, cover letters, interview prep)
Reapplications: a review of what held your last application back, and a plan for the next cycle
Fellowships + funding (grad + postdoc)
NSF GRFP, NIH F31 and other training/fellowship applications
HHMI Gilliam, Jane Coffin Childs, and similar competitive programs
Research narrative, broader impacts/mentoring framing, and reviewer-aligned clarity
Fellowship reapplications, including NSF GRFP and HHMI Gilliam
Academic coaching (ongoing support)
Monthly coaching for planning, time management, study strategy, and accountability
Especially helpful during heavy semesters or application cycles
If you’re not sure where to start, a single strategy session is often the fastest way to get clarity.
Experience & Outcomes
As of November 2026, I’ve supported applicants across a wide range of paths — from high school through postdoctoral funding — with a focus on clear storytelling, strong structure, and reviewer-friendly writing.
Graduate school (PhD / MD-PhD / MSTP / Master’s)
Supported 120+ applicants submitting graduate applications (typically to ~5–20 programs each)
95% of PhD-focused clients I worked with who submitted at least one application received an offer of admission*.
Acceptances include programs such as
PhD: Harvard PiN and BBS, Stanford Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins Biochemistry, Yale, Princeton QCB, Vanderbilt Biology, Duke Neurobiology, Washington University in St. Louis Neuroscience and Biology, and St. Jude Biology.
MD-PhD/MSTP: Harvard-MIT MEMP, UC Davis
Master’s: Brown Biomedical Engineering
Support includes statements of purpose/personal statements, research statements, short answers, CV polish, and mock interviews
Graduate fellowships (PhD funding)
40+ NSF GRFP applicants supported
35+ HHMI Gilliam applicants supported
4 NIH F31 applicants supported
3 Fulbright applications supported, 2 awardees
Additional programs include opportunities such as GWIS, SfN Neuroscience Scholars, and other discipline-specific awards
Postdoctoral (and beyond) fellowships + grants
10+ clients applying to programs including Jane Coffin Childs, HHMI Hanna Gray Fellows Program, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Helen Hay Whitney, AHA fellowships, NIH mechanisms (K99, K22, R01), Michelson Prize, NHMRC, and ERC Starting Grants
College applications (new as of 2025)
Supported 12 students applying across 50+ colleges total
100% of students I worked with submitted applications and received at least one acceptance* to schools including Yale, UPenn, Cornell, Northwestern, Rice, UC Berkeley, Johns Hopkins, and University of Washington, among 30+ additional acceptances at schools across the country.
Support includes Common App personal statements, UC essays, and college-specific supplements
Transfer + research pathway programs
3 transfer applicants supported
5+ applicants supported for summer research and post-baccalaureate programs (e.g., AMGEN, Leadership Alliance, Broad Summer Research Program, BP-ENDURE)
Academic coaching (monthly support)
Academic coaching for 1 year
Ongoing monthly coaching with 13 high school students (typically meeting once per month) focused on planning systems, study strategy, and accountability
*Outcome notes: results vary by applicant and program; I do not guarantee admissions or funding.
Choose the level of support that fits your timeline and budget. Some people want a single strategy session. Most want feedback across several drafts, and most of that work is written: comments and tracked changes in your own document. It’s the most efficient use of your hours, and you keep a record of every suggestion.
Your essays stay yours. I help you clarify your story, strengthen your structure and make your materials easy for reviewers to follow, and the writing is always your own.
Not sure which option fits? book a free 15 minute consultation and we’ll figure it out together.
Most of my work is written feedback. It’s the most efficient use of your hours, and you keep a record of every suggestion.
Services - 2026 season pricing - (virtual, flexible, and student-centered)
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Best for: one or two applications, or a quick look before you submit.
You send your documents with each prompt and word limit. I’ll quote the time up front, and once payment comes in, you get written comments and tracked changes back within 72 hours.
Typical times:
CV review: 15 minutes
One school’s SOP or personal statement, first round: 30 minutes
A school’s full set (SOP plus short answers): 30 to 60 minutes
NSF GRFP personal and research statements: 1 hour
HHMI Gilliam non-research statements: 30 minutes; full package with research proposal: 1 hour
Second rounds and final looks: usually 15 to 30 minutes
If you’re working on more than two or three applications, Guided Support usually costs less.
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Payable in up to four installments.
Best for: structured support across a few touchpoints when you want real momentum without a large package.
Most clients use this as written feedback: you send a draft, and within 48–72 hours you get it back with comments and tracked changes in your own document. Add a Zoom call whenever talking it through would help.
This option is ideal for one application “lane” (college/transfer or grad or a fellowship draft). Most clients use it over 2–4 weeks.
Includes
4 hours total, billed in 15-minute increments
Mostly written feedback (comments and tracked changes), with Zoom calls as needed
Kickoff planning + iterative revision support on 2–3 core materials (depending on length)
Written revision guidance that focuses on structure, clarity, and specificity (not just line edits)
Common uses
Grad apps: SOP + research statement + CV polish
College/transfer: personal statement + 2–3 supplements + activities list strategy
Fellowships: HHMI Gilliam full package (career, leadership and research statements) or NSF GRFP personal and research statements
A few short answers + one longer essay, plus a strategy session
Turnaround: typically 48–72 hours for draft comments; faster deadlines may be possible depending on schedule
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Payable in up to four installments.
Best for: competitive cycles and multi-deadline seasons (NSF GRFP / NIH F31, major grad cycles, fellowship-heavy timelines).
Full-cycle support includes strategy, accountability, and multiple revision passes so your materials feel cohesive and reviewer-friendly.
Most of the work happens in writing, so you can revise on your own schedule and keep every comment to come back to. We’ll add calls for strategy, interview prep, or when a draft needs a conversation.
Includes
10 hours total, billed in 15-minute increments
Strategy + timeline build (deadlines, weekly priorities, what to draft first)
Narrative “through-line” development so your documents reinforce one story
Multiple rounds of revision on key documents (scope defined up front)
Option to include mock interview / oral pitch practice (when relevant)
Mostly written feedback, plus Zoom calls for strategy and interview prep
Common uses
Grad apps across 10+ programs: core SOP and personal statement, school-specific versions, short answers and interview prep
Postdoc fellowships: JCC, Helen Hay Whitney, NIH K99 and similar, from research narrative to final coherence pass
NSF GRFP or NIH F31: personal and research statements, broader impacts framing, final coherence pass
Turnaround: typically 48–72 hours for comments; most clients use this bundle over 6–10 weeks
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Best for: when you’re stuck, just starting out, or want someone to check your plan.
One Zoom session to sort out your goals, find your strongest story, and leave with a clear plan for what to do next.
Includes
A 60-minute Zoom session
I read one document ahead of time (up to about 2 pages): a draft essay, your CV or a research summary
A timeline, your priorities and the next steps we agree on
A recap email afterward with action steps and suggested edits, so you don’t have to take notes during the call
Common uses
“Help me pick programs, figure out my story or build a timeline”
“I have a draft. Tell me what’s working and what’s missing”
“What do fellowship reviewers look for?”
“I need a reset: systems, accountability and a study plan”
Turnaround: the recap email usually arrives within 48–72 hours.
Kickstart+, $225: Same as above, with time to review two documents ahead of the call.
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Walk into your interview with a clear story and a plan.
Pre-review of your application statement (before we meet)
30-minute mock interview (realistic committee-style questions)
Post-call recap email with tailored feedback + next-step advice
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Best for: reapplicants who didn’t get the result they wanted and want to know why before they try again.
I read your full application before we meet: statements, CV and your program or fellowship list. On the call, we go through what likely held it back and what to change next time.
Includes
A full read of your past application ahead of the call
A 60-minute Zoom session
A written summary of what to fix, in priority order, and a plan for the next cycle
Common uses
PhD reapplicants deciding whether to reapply, and where
Fellowship reapplicants (NSF GRFP, HHMI Gilliam, F31) revising for the next round
“I got interviews but no offers. What happened?”
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Best for: students who want consistent momentum without weekly meetings.
Monthly check-ins to plan, prioritize, stay accountable, and troubleshoot what’s getting in the way, especially during heavy semesters or application cycles.
Includes
6 coaching sessions (30 minutes each), intended for monthly use over 6 months
Monthly plan + goal check-in + accountability support
Study strategy, organization, time management, and workload planning
Optional brief recap notes after each session
Common uses
“I’m overwhelmed - help me build a system that works”
“I need accountability to actually follow my plan”
“I’m balancing school + applications + life and need structure”
“Study strategy reset before exams”
Turnaround: recap notes (if used) typically sent within 48 hours
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Best for: multiple deadlines, unique situations, or a mix of application + coaching support.
If you’re applying across categories (college + scholarships, grad + fellowships, postdoc + grants) or your timeline is complex, I can build a plan around your goals, deadlines, and budget. If cost is a concern, that’s okay — tell me what’s doable for you, and I’ll suggest the lightest plan that still moves the needle (often starting with a Kickstart session).
To request a Custom Plan, include:
what you’re applying for
deadlines
what kind of support you want (strategy, writing feedback, accountability, interviews)
your budget range (even a rough number is helpful)
My Process
Clarify Your Goal
We set your target programs or fellowships, your deadlines and your constraints, then decide what to work on first.
Build Your Narrative
We find the through-line that connects your motivation, preparation and fit, so every document tells the same story.
Draft & Iterate
You send a draft, and within 48–72 hours you get it back with comments and tracked changes in your own document. We focus on structure, clarity and specificity, and the writing stays yours.
Finish Strong
We do a final pass on the full application, checking word limits, consistency between documents and every prompt, so you can submit with confidence.
Let’s Work Together
If you're interested in working together, complete the form with a few details about your project. I'll review your message and get back to you within 72 hours.
