ihl shield logo
Apply Now

Graduate School Admissions

Over 20 Years of results

Apply Now

Program Overview

Graduate School Admissions

IHL has been advising students on the graduate school application process since 1996. The company’s original service offering included LSAT preparation and law school admissions consulting. Over time, we expanded our program to include all major graduate school disciplines (law, business, medical professions, most master’s disciplines, doctoral and post-baccalaureate) and have continued to work with only a limited number of students each year. We are proud to be one of the most exclusive admissions advisory firms in the country. Mayssoun is a master of the graduate school application process, and she is regarded as one of the foremost experts in the field.

Mayssoun has guided three of my children, all having different strengths, goals and challenges. One of my daughters had a very difficult challenge in obtaining a medical school admission, with low-end, borderline credentials. One other prominent counselor turned my daughter down as a client, because her admission was so unlikely, as to be unrealistic. Conversely, Mayssoun gave my daughter the confidence and courage to persist. Mayssoun also guided two of my other children in best presenting their own strong characters, academic records and other achievements leading them to gain admissions to highly competitive universities which included the University of Southern California and the University of Michigan and then Berkeley Law School and Harvard Law School. Mayssoun’s guidance and encouragement allows her clients to effectively perform application and essay work by engendering confidence, reducing anxiety and prioritizing credentials. Her very deep understanding of her clients emanates from how much she cares and is a key element to her unique success. I consider Mayssoun to be the ideal counselor, and to have become an appreciated and loved member of our family.

0

Number of students who were NOT admitted to at least one graduate program of their choice with us last cycle!

7

Average number of schools our students apply to for graduate school.

1996

IHL has offered graduate admissions consulting services since 1996, helping thousands of students continue their educational journeys.

1.2M

Over 1 million students apply to graduate programs each year in the U.S. Let us help your application shine!

Graduate School Admissions Process

To get started, complete a brief contact form. Our Chief of Staff Alex Kopko will contact you to discuss your goals and needs and get you started with a more detailed enrollment form

IHL Founder Mayssoun Bydon oversees all admissions files, working with a select number of students each year. IHL’s consulting team collectively has decades of experience and an established track record of success. Ultimately, our record speaks for itself; we owe our success in this business to the success of our students
Our consultants work around your schedule and can meet in person at one of our offices or remotely via Skype or Zoom. The majority of our students meet remotely, and we have found it to be as effective as in-person consultation. As with all IHL programs, our admissions consulting services are completely à la carte. You can work with us on a single element of your application or utilize us for a comprehensive cover-to-cover service.


Graduate School Admissions Process

To get started, complete a brief contact form. Our Chief of Staff Alex Kopko will contact you to discuss your goals and needs and get you started with a more detailed enrollment form

IHL Founder Mayssoun Bydon oversees all admissions files, working with a select number of students each year. IHL’s consulting team collectively has decades of experience and an established track record of success. Ultimately, our record speaks for itself; we owe our success in this business to the success of our students
Our consultants work around your schedule and can meet in person at one of our offices or remotely via Skype or Zoom. The majority of our students meet remotely, and we have found it to be as effective as in-person consultation. As with all IHL programs, our admissions consulting services are completely à la carte. You can work with us on a single element of your application or utilize us for a comprehensive cover-to-cover service.


School Research/Selection

Our process begins with getting to know as much as we can about you, including grades, classes, test scores, desired career objectives, target geography, etc. We then work with you to generate a list of schools divided into “high reach,” “average reach” and “low reach” programs, and we help you determine your early action/early decision options. We are intimately familiar with all the major graduate programs in the country; there isn't a program that we haven't encountered and if we are facing something unfamiliar, our team will do whatever homework is needed to get up to speed.

Application Strategy

Our consultants will help you address such topics as standardized entrance exams; which extracurricular activities to become involved in; how to frame application answers; the appropriate tone and content for all communications with schools; how to appeal to an admissions committee by leveraging particular aspects of your background; selecting recommenders and soliciting effective letters of recommendation; how to utilize connections to a particular school; how to handle bad grades or disciplinary issues; interview preparation; waitlist strategy and deposit advice; obtaining and maximizing scholarships; and managing communications with alumni and development offices.

Writing

Our consultants are world-class writers who can advise you on résumé development, Personal Statement development, school-specific supplemental essays, relevant addenda, letters of commitment and statements of continuing interest.

Meeting Your Goals

Wherever you want to go, we can help you get there. We work with students of all different backgrounds and abilities. We have been just as successful and effective advising students who seek admission to top-notch state schools as we have been advising students who are targeting Ivy League programs. We know how each school views applicants and how best to position you for any given program. Our ultimate goal is to give you a number of options and help you make an informed decision about where to attend graduate school based on your personal goals, strengths, personality and background.

Comprehensive Assistance

IHL’s graduate school admissions consulting program is a comprehensive, full-service offering designed to help you and your family navigate the increasingly complex application process and maximize the probability of a successful outcome. We advise students on all graduate programs: law, business, medicine, most master’s disciplines, doctoral and post-baccalaureate. We also advise students on the transfer application process. In an environment where your choice of graduate program is having increasing influence on job prospects, it is vital that you seek and obtain the right advice to guide your application process and strategy.

Your Graduate School Admissions Prep Team

Mayssoun Bydon

Founder

Kristin Baumgardner

Executive Director

Alex Kopko

Chief of Staff

The next step toward success.

Apply to prep with us.

Apply Today

Questions About Graduate School Admissions Prep

Each graduate program will have its own timeline, but generally, the earlier you start, the better your outcome. This gives you ample time to craft compelling essays, obtain letters of recommendation, and develop your résumé. Keep in mind: applications for many medical programs run a full year in advance; and business schools often offer several rounds of applications each cycle and require work experience prior to applying.
All graduate admissions consulting services are billed on an hourly basis. As with all IHL programs, our consulting services are completely à la carte. You can work with us on a single element of your applications or utilize us for a comprehensive cover-to-cover service. There is no minimum number of consulting hours required to enroll with IHL. Contact our Chief of Staff Alex Kopko to discuss your options.
Wherever you are in the world, you can take advantage of our services. Graduate admissions consulting is available in-person at our offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan, or New York City, or remotely via Skype, Zoom, FaceTime or other videoconferencing platforms. The majority of our students study with us remotely, and we have found it to be as effective as in-person consultation.
The foundation of IHL’s business model is client service and sophisticated advice. IHL does not take a cookie-cutter approach to working with students. We believe that an individualized plan and mutual trust are necessary for any effective tutoring and mentoring relationship. IHL works with only 100 to 200 students a year, to ensure that we maintain our high level of service and intimate client focus. We take a team-based approach to everything we do.

Services Related to Graduate School Admissions

All Services