Admissions & Research Advising | Former CMU Admissions Reader

Chancharik M.

I am an educator and admissions advisor with nearly a decade of teaching behind me. I studied Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at UC Berkeley, earned a master's in Machine Learning from Carnegie Mellon, and I am beginning my PhD at MIT this fall. I have also read applications on the admissions side at CMU, so I understand the process from both the applicant's chair and the reviewer's. Over close to ten years I have taught in nearly every format: as a Head Discussion and Content Teaching Assistant at Berkeley, where I led discussion sections and earned the Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor award, as a TA at Carnegie Mellon, as a research mentor to new assistants at both schools, and one on one with students from the high school through the graduate level. However, when I am teaching, my approach is the same: meet students where they are, explain the why and not just the what, and leave them with tools they can use without me.

My philosophy comes down to transparency, clarity, and respect for your time. I will not oversell you or stretch things out, and I aim to deliver as much value as possible in as few sessions as you actually need. I advise students from high school through graduate school on admissions, applications and essays, research planning and outreach, and career strategy. Before diving into real work, I like to start with a conversation to understand your goals and calibrate to where you are, so we can be sure I am the right fit. If I am not, I will tell you honestly and point you in a better direction.