TESTIMONIALS
As a senior student at Peking University, I have applied to master programs with the incredible guidance of Steeve Simbert, and so far, I have received offers from Sciences Po and Cambridge University.
Steeve has been my mentor since November 2017, when I made a late decision to study overseas for a master’s degree. Applications have never been a smooth process, especially for students coming from non-English academic backgrounds. Luckily, I met Steeve, and it was his inspiring, delicate, and professional tutoring that helped me achieve my goals. Steeve has a tremendously rich experience of many world prestigious schools, which came as valuable first-hand suggestions when I consulted him for school choices. The most difficult part for me was the personal statement (PS), as applicants have to make themselves stand out amongst the competition of hundreds (sometimes thousands) of incredibly accomplished students. A distinctive personal statement requires not only unique personal stories, but more importantly, creative and impressive ways to present them. Steeve was the magician who inspired and instructed me to complete brilliant drafts through constant reviews of my work. Unlike most mentors I have met, Steeve is not only a professional who gives answers, but he is more of a true mentor and a close friend you can approach at any time. The way he brainstorms with me and reviews my work influences me to think holistically and confidently. These are valuable lessons I will carry with me throughout my life journey, beyond applications and interviews.
Steeve is an enthusiastic, inspiring, and humorous individual, and his experiences and aspirations could greatly impact young people in their life to make a difference. I would therefore genuinely recommend Steeve to any student who seeks advice or support in school or professional work. I believe Steeve will have a lifelong positive impact on every student he mentors and empower young social innovators to enable them to achieve their goals.
My name is Ashley Hu, and I am a senior student at China Foreign Affairs University. Steeve Simbert has been advising me with my Master of Public Policy admissions application since October 2017. With his tremendous support, I have successfully been accepted to my dream school, the University of Chicago, Harris School of Public Policy, for a Master of Public Policy.
As an experienced mentor, Steeve combined his success in applying to and graduating from Oxford University, Blavatnik School of Government, and his public policy work experience in the United States Congress to guide me with my personal statement and the overall graduate school application process. With my first draft, I was struggling to write a compelling story that would connect with the admissions committee. But Steeve helped me create a strong, logically consistent story that flowed beautifully. Steeve is also very adept at teaching how to captivate the reader from start to finish, and tailor a storyline that is both emotional and direct while providing meaningful substance. After our discussion, he meticulously edited, re-edited, and discussed details in my essays over and over again, to make sure they were both beautiful and readable.
Apart from his professionalism, I am most grateful to Steeve for his dedicated care and encouragement. I remember clearly that the night before my video interview, Steeve cheered me up and motivated me and conducted numerous practice interviews with me. He shared with me valuable and useful tips for my video interview, and gave a number of examples of how he would respond to different interview questions. In addition, he encouraged me to have fun with the process and not to take rejection personally, and that something better always works out in the end. He told me that being turned down would only make me stronger for the better opportunities that await.
Finally, Steeve is always approachable whenever I have questions. Either via email, Skype, or messenger, he was always there to answer my immediate questions at all times and demystified any questions I had. I truly believe that Steeve would be a responsible and devoted mentor for every student he works with. I have no doubt that Steeve will make a big impact on his mentees’ lives because of his infectious passion and positive attitude, his meticulous attention to details, and most of all, his everlasting enthusiasm for education.
Coming from a finance background, I was always looking for a path to transition from finance to international affairs. Over time, I realized I should be entering the public policy field, rather than international affairs.
When I met Steeve, I shared with him my dream to attend Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service for my Master. As a Georgetown alumni himself, he connected me with other MSFS graduates who could share their experiences. He shared with me his personal experiences to help me understand the core values valued by Georgetown Hoya in an application. When I look back to my graduate school application experience, I recognize how crucial Steeve was in helping me with advising me on writing my personal statement and resume. But what I appreciate the most is Steeve’s belief in me as a fellow Hoya and that I have what it takes to get into the MSFS. Steeve helped me write a compelling statement to present myself as an ideal applicant perfectly suited for the MSFS.
I could not count the hours we spent together online, crossing twelve-hour time zones when I was in China and he was in Washington, D.C. Every time I needed any help with my personal statement, Steeve would respond to me quickly. The application process itself is long and lonely, but Steeve was truly my strongest supporter. Last year in March, I received almost all the offers from my targeting schools, the University of Chicago, Columbia University, Georgetown SFS, and Johns Hopkins SAIS in New York. When I was debating about which one I should go to, Steeve again gave me the most genuine advice. He laid out all the pros and cons for each program and let me decide for myself. I finally chose my dream program, the MSFS. Now I have been in the program for a year and it was truly one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. As always, I keep in touch with Steeve, and I am continuously inspired by his work, and I hope more people will benefit from his mentorship.