The Ivy Dream

Jasper Burns is a Stanford Law School student and one of the Knight-Hennessy Scholars. He served 8 years in the U.S. Navy flying EA-18G Growlers, deploying aboard the USS Carl Vinson, and later supporting the intelligence community in D.C. He also served as The White House Social Aide and concluded his Navy career as a Military Fellow at McKinsey & Company. He graduated from Boston University with a double major in Computer Science and Economics, interned at the White House, studied Chinese in Shanghai, and won the largest committee at World Model United Nations in Rome. In this new episode of Aspire, The Ivy Dream’s podcast, hosted by Michael Justin Lee, CFA, Jasper talks in detail about his application to Stanford and KHS, his career so far and his definition of success. #collegeadmissions #ivyleague #khs #stanford https://lnkd.in/edpVdWQD

Danielle Mikaelian is a Columbia University graduate with a BA in English Literature. She occupied positions on over ten Columbia executive boards, being named Columbia's 2021 Student of the Year, a King's Crown Leadership and Excellence Award Recipient for Community Building, a Robert Harron Award recipient, an Alumni Prize Finalist, and a member of the National Residence Hall Honorary. Some highlights of Danielle's Columbia experience included serving as Wellness Chair for Columbia's undergraduate and graduate schools, being elected to the board of Columbia's Undergraduate Law Review, overseeing all student publications as Head of Publications for the Activities Board, and acting as President of the Columbia Armenian Society. She also interned at SAGE Publications, a major publishing company, for two summers in a row. Danielle built off her editorial experience at SAGE by becoming Editor-in-Chief of the Columbia Women in Law and Politics Journal and acting as an editor for the Columbia Journal of History and Columbia Journal of Global Health. Danielle Mikaelian is currently in her third year at Harvard Law School. At Harvard Law, she is a Dean's Scholar Prize Recipient and an executive board member of the Harvard Association for Law and Business. Danielle Mikaelian has also worked as a Student Attorney for Harvard's Cyberlaw Clinic, Entrepreneurship Project, and Recording Artists Project. She has served as Co-Managing Editor for the Harvard Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law, a Submissions Editor for the Human Rights Journal, an Editor for the The Harvard Business Law Review, and an Editor for the International Law Journal. For the past semester, she has been working alongside the Federal Reserve of Boston as a Legal Fellow. Outside of school, Danielle Mikaelian is a published poet who has been named a 2024 Akerman Scholar, a 2024-2025 Ms. JD Fellow, a two time Huys Foundation Scholar, an ARMENIAN BAR ASSOCIATION scholarship recipient, an Arisdine Krikorian scholarship recipient, a WhoWeAre scholarship recipient, an ArmeniansForSuccess scholarship recipient, and a Ms. JD Law Student Limitless Leadership Award recipient. She plans to move to New York after graduating to work in transactional law and is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of law students. Danielle Mikaelian has spoken at schools like Columbia, UCLA, Berkeley, and USC to help provide advice to aspiring law school applicants. This episode of The Ivy Dream‘s Aspire is hosted by Michael Justin Lee, CFA, America’s top admissions consultant and auditions coach. https://lnkd.in/eHnH599y #harvard #columbiauniversity #collegeadmissions #jd

Bill De La Rosa is a JD/PhD candidate at Yale Law School and University of Oxford, Hurst Horizon Scholar, writer, and public speaker. Raised in South Tucson, Arizona, he became the primary caregiver for his family following his mother’s removal from the United States during his sophomore year of high school. Bill graduated from Bowdoin College Phi Beta Kappa with degrees in Sociology and Latin American Studies, receiving notable awards such as the Dell, Gates Millennium Scholars Program, and Truman Scholarship. He was also named the 2016 national Hispanic Scholar of the Year. As both a Marshall and Clarendon Scholar, Bill completed two master’s degrees at the University of Oxford—one in Migration Studies and another in Criminology and Criminal Justice—and is now pursuing his PhD in Criminology, where he focuses on the human impact of U.S. border security policies. With extensive experience advocating for immigrant rights, Bill continues to advocate for immigrant rights and hopes to inspire others through public service and legal scholarship. This episode of The Ivy Dream‘s Aspire is hosted by Michael Justin Lee, CFA, America’s top admissions consultant and auditions coach. https://lnkd.in/euasKqTq #yalelaw #oxford #yaleuniversity #collegeadmissions

Kenzie Elizabeth is a performing artist who is currently earning her Master in Music (MM) in Vocal Performance: Musical Theatre at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. She is also a TikTok influencer with a following of 260k+. In 2018, she attended American Musical and Dramatic Academy (LA & NY campus) for a year before transitioning to Western Oregon University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA in Acting. Her original music has an Alt-Pop feel with similarities to artists such as Sara Bareilles, Regina Spektor, and Fiona Apple. She also takes inspiration from Lizzy McAlpine and WILLOW. In this episode of The Ivy Dream‘s Aspire, she talks in detail about her applications to AMDA and Steinhardt. She also talks about the importance of signing an agent, the NYC art scene and the life of an artist in the city. The episode is hosted by Michael Justin Lee, CFA, America’s top admissions consultant and auditions coach. Michael is also a professional musical and cinematic artist. IG/TikTok: @kenzieeofficial #newyorkcity #newyorkuniversity #auditionscoach #nyusteinhardt #collegeadmissions https://lnkd.in/eRhgCNwu

Lesley Yupa is a first-year student at New York University studying Psychology and Global Public Health. Passionate about health and education equity, she hopes to pursue a career within the medical field as a physician. Lesley is also a 2024 Coca-Cola scholar, Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar, Milken Scholar, and a recipient of the BigFuture Scholarship. Lesley has worked in the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, where she helped verify physicians and practices membership databases and payments throughout the COVID-19 vaccine support program and assisted in the Data Collection for Equity Program. She conducts DNA Nanotechnology research at the NYU Ned Seeman’s Lab and is an active volunteer trainer at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital. In her free time, Lesley enjoys dancing, listening to podcasts, and learning how to rock-climb. Tune in to listen to Lesley talk about her application to New York University, Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and Milken Scholars Program. She also shares her career aspirations and life goals in this exciting new episode of Aspire, The Ivy Dream‘s podcast channel, where America’s top admissions consultant and auditions coach, Michael Justin Lee, CFA interviews current students and recent graduates of elite American universities. Link: https://lnkd.in/eMbUVQt6

Kuzey Kantarc?o?lu is a first-year student at Stanford University with an interest in computer science and linguistics. Fascinated by the function of language in both humans and computers, he aspires to advance AI language models. Originally from Istanbul, Turkey, he was an international college applicant. Outside of academics, he enjoys learning new languages and playing guitar, drums and trumpet. Tune in to listen to Kuzey talk about his application to Stanford and his career aspirations in this exciting new episode of Aspire, The Ivy Dream‘s podcast channel, where America’s top admissions consultant and auditions coach, Michael Justin Lee, CFA 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. Link: https://lnkd.in/e4HQp8sJ

Born in New Jersey and raised in Mexico and Philadelphia, Ben Hokenson 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, in industries such as technology, social media, entertainment, and education. He has performed internal risk management consulting for Goldman Sachs in New York City and marketing consulting for Soulsight. Ben is a passionate musician and has experience as a professional singer. Ben is an alumnus of The Haverford School, Harvard Business School’s Summer Venture in Management Program, was a Latitude Fellow at The D. E. Shaw Group, an MLT Careers Prep Fellow, a 2021 Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar, and a Bridging the Gap (BTG) Power Awardee. He also studied at the The University of Edinburgh while pursuing his undergraduate degree. In his free time, Ben enjoys traveling, playing tennis, scuba diving, and cooking. We hope you enjoy this episode! https://lnkd.in/e8gjTwuN

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 University, where he got his B.A. in Mathematics. Prior to Harvard and Laptis, Andrew was an Army Ranger. You can also read about him at https://lnkd.in/gRuNabHu Tune in to listen to Andrew talk about his life and career in this exciting new episode of Aspire, The Ivy Dream‘s podcast channel, where America’s top admissions consultant and audition coach, Michael Justin Lee, CFA 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. https://lnkd.in/ejyGw6Fc #usarmy #ivyleague #collegeadmissions #harvard

Machmud Makhmudov is a JD/MBA candidate at Stanford University, 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 University of Oxford, Machmud worked in speechwriting and on a number of political campaigns, including the Biden 2020 campaign. He also worked at the White House on the COVID Response Team and has recently spent time in corporate law firms as well. Machmud is a proud immigrant who hopes to continue to pursue public service in a variety of capacities throughout his life. Tune in to listen to Machmud talk about his life, career & aspirations in this exciting new episode of Aspire, The Ivy Dream‘s podcast channel, where America’s top admissions consultant and audition coach, Michael Justin Lee, CFA 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. https://lnkd.in/gZMxZtB7 #ivyleague #collegeadmissions #mba #knighthennessy #rhodes #stanford