))
In this podcast series, America’s top admissions consultant and audition coach, Michael Justin Lee interviews current students and recent graduates of elite American universities. Each episode covers the unique story of a guest, their childhood, a meticulous account of how they tackled each aspect of the college application process to their dream university, and how their life and studies at that university have shaped them.
…
continue reading
1
The Entrepreneur/Musician from Brown: Ben Hokenson
25:13
25:13
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:13
Born in New Jersey and raised in Mexico and Philadelphia, Ben is a senior at Brown University studying International and Public Affairs and Entrepreneurship. He also serves as a mentor and business advisor to graduate student founders in Harvard Business School's Field X and Field Y courses. Ben has experience building companies, including his own,…
…
continue reading
1
Ex-US Army Ranger | JD/MBA at Harvard | Laptis : Andrew Steen
46:25
46:25
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
46:25
Andrew Steen is the Founder of Laptis, a tech-enabled platform that streamlines access to effective substance use treatment. Andrew started Laptis as an extension of his deep desire for public service and social impact after he left the military. Andrew is also a rising fourth-year JD/MBA student at Harvard University and a graduate of Vanderbilt U…
…
continue reading
1
Rhodes to Knight Hennessy: Machmud Makhmudov
44:31
44:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:31
Machmud Makhmudov is a JD/MBA candidate at Stanford, Knight-Hennessy Scholar, political organizer, writer, and higher-ed admissions coach. Born in Uzbekistan, he grew up near Atlanta and played baseball at Oberlin College, where he studied Politics and earned both a Truman and Rhodes Scholarship. After reading for an MPhil in Political Theory at Ox…
…
continue reading
Hayley Batson (she/her) is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She received a BFA in Theatre, studying at The Atlantic Acting School, Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, and Stonestreet Studios as well as minoring in Producing. Hayley is continually pursuing opportunities in the entertainment industry and loves colla…
…
continue reading
1
Journey from IIT to Two Ivy League Schools: Subham Kedia
38:07
38:07
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
38:07
Subham grew in a small village called Bidhan Nagar in northeastern India – a region graced by the proximity of four nations: Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, and Nepal. This exposure to a myriad of traditions kindled in him an aspiration that transcended the conventional. He received his bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute…
…
continue reading
1
Overcoming Personal Biases at Columbia : Parizoda Asatilloyeva
22:12
22:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
22:12
Meet Parizoda Asatilloyeva, a first-year international student majoring in Political Science at Columbia University. “Hailing from a small city in Uzbekistan, my transition to the bustling metropolis of New York has been nothing short of transformative. The rich combination of academic and cultural experiences here has broadened my perspectives in …
…
continue reading
1
Global Pathways: Tokyo & Geneva to Cambridge & HBS – John Suzuki
35:02
35:02
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:02
Born in Tokyo, Japan and raised in Geneva, Switzerland, John chose to open doors in his career rather than follow his family’s path of becoming a medical doctor. After graduating from Collège du Léman, he went on to read Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge. He began his career in London, UK as a technical business …
…
continue reading
1
NYU, the Mecca for Artists: Madison Halla
47:57
47:57
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:57
“I definitely felt like I wasn’t supposed to be there but I know that a lot of people felt the same way. You just have to trust that people (on the admissions committee) put you there for a reason...”, reflects Madison Halla, while talking about feeling the imposter syndrome. Madison Halla is a current senior studying musical theatre at NYU Steinha…
…
continue reading
1
The Accidental New Yorker : Polina Tyurikova
41:15
41:15
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
41:15
“I remember when I landed I was listening to ‘The Empire State of Mind’, which is the classical New York song and I was in a little bit of shock and I had a little bit of fear and I was so excited, like I had a lot of feelings but I came with an open mind that this could be anything..” reminisces Polina, a New York University undergrad. Polina Tyur…
…
continue reading
1
The Boy from Aurangabad : Prateek Panghal
53:39
53:39
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:39
Born and raised in Aurangabad, India, a city famed for its Taj Mahal replica and mesmerizing caves, Prateek hails from a family of educators. Although he grew up playing multiple sports, a career in sport didn't materialize, leading him to pursue a bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. He began his caree…
…
continue reading
“During my time at Rosey, I did student campaigns that advocated for the creation of more resources for the student body like new period-product dispensers and I also helped negotiate with the administration to introduce new forms of sex education on campus..”, recounts Ali, a first year Yale undergrad student about his student advocacy projects th…
…
continue reading
1
International Diversity at Columbia : Valeriya Zherebtsova
32:57
32:57
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
32:57
“Anytime I leave the library, in the corridors, in the hallway, I always hear so many languages but I almost never hear English...”, exclaims Valeriya while talking about the support system of international students at Columbia University as they navigate college life together through their shared struggles. In this episode, listen to Valeriya talk…
…
continue reading
By Michael Justin Lee
…
continue reading
1
Inside the Harvard Classroom : Arela Solis
59:19
59:19
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
59:19
“...the reality is that the Harvard classrooms get super emotional. You can’t imagine how many times people cried in the classroom or that I even cried in some of the sessions..” says Arela, a recent graduate of Harvard Business School, in the first episode of Aspire. Tune in to hear Arela talk about her journey in this unfiltered insider account o…
…
continue reading
