The Graduate Admissions Insider Report
Written by
Esther Lee
Chief Admissions Officer, Ivey Bridge Scholars (IBS)
Shortly after earning a master’s degree in education at Harvard, Esther joined the
admissions side of higher education. As a former admissions officer herself, she reviewed thousands of applications and learned exactly what separates the “strong” from the truly admitted. Today, she brings that insider perspective to Ivey Bridge Scholars.
Graduate admissions are not random. It only feels random when you do not know what the reader is scoring.
Behind the scenes, former admissions officers and faculty reviewers tend to look for the same signals: intellectual direction, evidence of research readiness, fit with the program, and a track record that suggests you will finish strong and contribute meaningfully.
This report breaks down how decisions are really made and what you should do to build a file that reads like an obvious yes. Not louder. Just clearer, sharper, and more aligned.
If you are applying to competitive master’s and PhD programs, this is the roadmap that helps you stop guessing and start positioning.
What you will learn inside
In The Graduate Admissions Insider Report, you will learn:
What graduate admissions readers look for beyond grades and rankings
The common mistakes that quietly weaken strong applicants
How to demonstrate research readiness, even without publications
How to choose programs based on fit, not prestige alone
How to write a statement of purpose that sounds specific, mature, and academically grounded
What recommendation letters must prove to move your application forward
