Admission to the Theater and
Music School with a $170,000 scholarship
Leonid dreamed of enrolling in a Master’s program in Theater and Music in the United States and receiving significant funding. His goal was more than just an education: through art, he wanted to influence people, create an atmosphere of acceptance and kindness.
The challenge was that he had little time to prepare, a low GPA, and limited creative experience.
But Leonid had strengths: charisma, strong motivation, and a sincere desire to express himself through art. We decided to build a strategy that would make these qualities the center of his profile.
We developed a comprehensive individual strategy aimed at enhancing Leonid’s strengths and compensating for his weaknesses.
We built a personal brand – shaping Leonid’s creative trajectory through theater, dance troupe, vocal group, volunteer work, event organizing, and winning creative competitions.
They compensated for his low GPA by emphasizing his victories in biology and geography Olympiads, strengthening the academic component of his profile.
We wrote a powerful motivational essay, revealing his personal story: how the experience of misunderstanding became the impetus for creating art that unites people.
We prepared letters of recommendation and selected teachers and mentors who identified Leonid as a leader and creative individual with great potential.
We improved our English by creating an individual TOEFL preparation plan and retaking it until our score was sufficient for admission.
They added public projects—organizing performances of original theatrical sketches and musical numbers at city venues, strengthening his portfolio.
We rehearsed an interview with the university admissions committee, working through typical and unexpected questions so that Leonid could confidently demonstrate his charisma and convince the committee.
We completed the entire package of documents—resume, essay, appendices—and everything met the university’s standards.
In less than a year, we transformed an “imperfect” profile into a compelling and competitive application. Leonid received an offer to enroll in a master’s program at Siena Heights University (Michigan, USA). The funding was $170,000, fully covering tuition and living expenses.
This case proves that even if your GPA is below average, your experience seems limited, and your time is tight, with the right strategy, you can achieve impressive results. The key is belief in your dream and consistent work.
Review by Leonid
