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The Graduate School
Playbook

A 12-week coaching program that helps you get admitted to the right graduate program, fund your degree, and make a graduate school decision that supports your career, finances, and life.

Apply to Join the Playbook
91% of our clients get admitted to the right graduate program
100+ professionals admitted with a clear strategy and a plan to pay for graduate school
3,000+ readers started their application journey with Dr. Grimes' book "20 Questions to Answer Before You Apply"

Our clients have been admitted to programs at

Graduate school is too important and too expensive to figure out alone

You may have convinced yourself that you should be able to solve this on your own. You have a career and have made important decisions in the past.
However, if you are honest with yourself, you still have unanswered questions.

Am I choosing the right program? Is this degree actually going to get me where I want to go? How am I going to pay for this without putting myself
in a financial hole?

You have Googled programs, read reviews, and maybe even asked AI to help you narrow it down. And yet you still cannot confidently say: this is the right program for my goals, my career, my finances, and my life.

That's where the Graduate School Playbook comes in. You're not just pursuing a degree; you're making a significant investment in your future. That choice deserves more than another Google search.

The Playbook provides you with strategies, guidance, and exclusive insights from someone with experience in graduate admissions. It offers more than information; it brings clarity about what is right for you and builds 
confidence in your decision-making.

You are a high-value person making one of the most important investments of your life. From day one, we treat you that way.

Join the Playbook

Graduate school is too important and too expensive to figure out alone

You may have convinced yourself that you should be able to solve this on your own. You have a career and have made important decisions in the past. However, if you are honest with yourself, you still
have unanswered questions.

Am I choosing the right program? Is this degree actually going to get me where I want to go? How am I going to pay for this without putting myself in a financial hole?

You have Googled programs, read reviews, and maybe even asked AI to help you narrow it down. And yet you still cannot confidently say: this is the right program for my goals, my career, my finances, and my life.

That's where the Graduate School Playbook comes in. You're not just pursuing a degree; you're making a significant investment in your future. That choice deserves more than another Google search.

The Playbook provides you with strategies, guidance, and exclusive insights from someone with experience in graduate admissions. It offers more than information; it brings clarity about what is right for you and builds confidence in your decision-making.

You are a high-value person making one of the most important investments of your life. From day one, we treat you that way.

Join the Playbook

You Know Graduate School is the Right Move

Every time you sit down to work on your applications, you spend the time deciding where to start instead of starting. Twelve weeks from now, they could be submitted.

Join the Playbook

You Know Graduate School is the Right Move

Every time you sit down to work on your applications, you spend the time deciding where to start instead of starting. Twelve weeks from now, they could be submitted.

Join the Playbook

Imagine…

  • You submitted your applications to three to five graduate programs you are the perfect fit for, and you did not do it alone.
  • Your personal statement was reviewed, edited, and strengthened by an expert before you hit submit.
  • You have a funding strategy that shows you exactly how to pay for this degree without defaulting to loans.
  • You know what decision makers are looking for, and you have had a recorded mock interview to prove you are ready.
  • You are starting graduate school with a plan, a credential on the way, and zero regret about the investment you made to get here.

That is exactly what 12 weeks in the Graduate School Playbook makes possible.

Join the Playbook

This is what 12-weeks in the Playbook looks like

Phase 1
Laying the Foundation

Clarify your vision, goals, and build the personalized timeline that drives your entire application process.

Phase 2
Research and Building Connections

Identify the right programs and contacts and gather everything you need to submit a competitive application.

Phase 3
Securing Your Funding

 Build a personalized funding strategy that uses scholarships, grants, and employer benefits so you don't rely on loans.

Phase 4
Crafting Your Application

 Write, refine, and submit your personal statement and materials with expert editing and coaching at every step.

Phase 5
Preparing for Success Confidence

Master your GRE strategy, complete your mock interview, and finalize everything before submission.

Phase 6
Wrapping Up and Moving Forward 

 Review your completed plan, celebrate your progress, and prepare to start graduate school with confidence.

Join the Playbook

This is what 12-weeks
in the Playbook
looks like

Phase 1
Laying the Foundation

Clarify your vision, goals, and build the personalized timeline that drives your entire application process.

Phase 2
Research and
Building Connections

Identify the right programs and contacts and gather everything you need to submit a
competitive application.

Phase 3
Securing Your Funding

 Build a personalized funding strategy that uses scholarships, grants, and employer benefits so you don't rely on loans.

Phase 4
Crafting Your Application

 Write, refine, and submit your personal statement and materials with expert editing and coaching at every step.

Phase 5 
Preparing for
Success Confidence

Master your GRE strategy, complete your mock interview, and finalize everything before submission.

Phase 6
Wrapping Up and
Moving Forward 

 Review your completed plan, celebrate your progress, and prepare to start graduate
school with confidence.

Join the Playbook

In the Playbook, You Are Going to get

1-on-1 Coaching Calls

Three 45-minute coaching calls with Dr. Grimes, one per month

Scheduled Q&A Support

Support between every session, every week

Expert Review and Editing

Your personal statement reviewed and edited by the A2GS Editor

Mock Interview with Feedback

A recorded practice interview with detailed coaching feedback

Personalized Funding Strategy

Scholarships, fellowships, and employer benefits mapped to your situation

How to Write a Personal Statement Course

Step-by-step instructions from Dr. Grimes

GRE Accountability and Strategy

Test-taking strategy coaching toward your score goal with Achievable

12-Week Application Calendar

A structured week-by-week roadmap with accountability built in

By the time you finish the Playbook, you will have:

  • Submitted applications to 3 to 5 graduate programs
    you are the perfect fit for
  • Built a funding strategy that reduces what you pay out of pocket
    for graduate school
  • Submitted a personal statement that was professionally reviewed, edited, and ready to impress
  • Created a schedule that makes graduate school work around your career, family, and life
  • Learned what decision-makers want and how to
    communicate it with confidence
  • Identified the career options and income opportunities
    your degree will open for you     
Join the Playbook

By the time you finish the Playbook, you will have:

  • Submitted applications to 3 to 5 graduate programs
    you are the perfect fit for
  • Built a funding strategy that reduces what you pay out of pocket
    for graduate school
  • Submitted a personal statement that was professionally reviewed, edited, and ready to impress
  • Created a schedule that makes graduate school work around your career, family, and life
  • Learned what decision-makers want and how to
    communicate it with confidence
  • Identified the career options and income opportunities
    your degree will open for you     
Join the Playbook

Meet the Coach Behind 1,000+ Admissions

Dr. Justin Grimes is not just a graduate school admissions expert. He is the person who helps you turn a graduate degree into a six-figure salary, the promotion you have been passed over for, and a life that finally matches your ambition.

With more than 17 years in higher education spanning recruitment, admissions, teaching, and one-on-one coaching, Dr. Grimes has helped over 1,100 people gain admission to graduate programs with a 91% acceptance rate. He earned his Ph.D. from a Top 5 Research 1 institution with full funding and knows this process from every angle.

In the Playbook, Dr. Grimes does not just point you in the right direction. He gets in the trenches with you, reviews your work, helps you build your strategy, and stays in your corner until you have the applications submitted, the funding plan, and the confidence to start graduate school and never look back.

Meet the Coach Behind 1,000+ Admissions

Dr. Justin Grimes is not just a graduate school admissions expert. He is the person who helps you turn a graduate degree into a six-figure salary, the promotion you have been passed over for, and a life that finally matches your ambition.

With more than 17 years in higher education spanning recruitment, admissions, teaching, and one-on-one coaching, Dr. Grimes has helped over 1,100 people gain admission to graduate programs with a 91% acceptance rate. He earned his Ph.D. from a Top 5 Research 1 institution with full funding and knows this process from every angle.

In the Playbook, Dr. Grimes does not just point you in the right direction. He gets in the trenches with you, reviews your work, helps you build your strategy, and stays in your corner until you have the applications submitted, the funding plan, and the confidence to start graduate school and never look back.

Hear from our Clients

Over 1,100 people have been admitted with our help.

Join the Playbook

Enrollment Chart

Most Popular
— Paid in Full
$3,997

A graduate program will cost you two to four years and up to $80,000. The Playbook is the $3,997 investment that makes sure you choose the right one, get admitted, and have a plan to pay for it before you commit to anything else.

Total investment: $3,997

  • 1-on-1 Coaching Calls:3 coaching calls with Dr. Grimes (45 minutes each)
  • Scheduled Q&A Support:support between every session, every week
  • Expert Review and Editing:your personal statement reviewed and edited by the A2GS Editor
  • Mock Interview with Feedback:a recorded practice interview with detailed coaching feedback
  • Personalized Funding Strategy:scholarships, fellowships, and employer benefits mapped to your situation
  • How to Write a Personal Statement Course:step-by-step instructions from Dr. Grimes
  • GRE Accountability and Strategy:test-taking strategy coaching toward your score goal with Achievable
  • 12-Week Application Calendar:a structured week-by-week roadmap with accountability built in

All Blueprint Resources Included:

  • 20 Questions Book
  • 13 Steps to Get Into Grad School Workbook
  • Personal Statement Starter
  • Time Management Guide
  • Program Selection Framework
  • Apply to Graduate School Course
  • Using AI to Find and Fund Grad School
  • 5 to 7 Curated Programs You Can Get Into
Join the Playbook
Payment Installments
3 monthly
payments of $1,399

A graduate program will cost you two to four years and up to $80,000. The Playbook is the investment that makes sure you choose the right one, get admitted, and have a plan to pay for it before you commit to anything else. Start today with three payments of $1,399.

Total investment: $4,197

  • 1-on-1 Coaching Calls:3 coaching calls with Dr. Grimes (45 minutes each)
  • Scheduled Q&A Support:support between every session, every week
  • Expert Review and Editing:your personal statement reviewed and edited by the A2GS Editor
  • Mock Interview with Feedback:a recorded practice interview with detailed coaching feedback
  • Personalized Funding Strategy:scholarships, fellowships, and employer benefits mapped to your situation
  • How to Write a Personal Statement Course:step-by-step instructions from Dr. Grimes
  • GRE Accountability and Strategy:test-taking strategy coaching toward your score goal with Achievable
  • 12-Week Application Calendar:a structured week-by-week roadmap with accountability built in

All Blueprint Resources Included:

  • 20 Questions Book
  • 13 Steps to Get Into Grad School Workbook
  • Personal Statement Starter
  • Time Management Guide
  • Program Selection Framework
  • Apply to Graduate School Course
  • Using AI to Find and Fund Grad School
  • 5 to 7 Curated Programs You Can Get Into
Join the Playbook

Upon enrollment, you'll receive an email to log in to your course portal.
You will be given full access to the program, resources, book,
and the schedule link for your call immediately.

Your Questions about the Graduate School Playbook,  Answered

Your Questions about the Graduate School Playbook, Answered.

Disclaimer

Individual results will vary. Apply to Graduate School (A2GS), and Dr. Justin Grimes makes no guarantees or promises regarding admission outcomes, funding awards, or career results based on the coaching, courses, or resources provided.

Any examples of client results, including program acceptances, scholarships, and funding strategies, reflect the unique circumstances, academic backgrounds, and personal efforts of those individuals, which are beyond our control.

Graduate school admission decisions rest solely with each institution and are influenced by factors outside the scope of our coaching services. Please consult with a qualified academic advisor or financial professional before making any graduate school or financial decisions.