Marc Ma is a Graduate Coach with InGenius Prep and a fiction and screenplay writer currently completing his MFA in Fiction at The New School. A Chinese national who has lived and studied in the United States for over a decade, he brings a rare dual perspective to his coaching: the lived experience of navigating elite American academic institutions as an international student, and the creative and intellectual depth of a working writer trained at the highest levels.
Marc’s academic credentials are exceptional. He attended the Bement School and Choate Rosemary Hall before earning a BA in Creative Writing and an MA in Religion from Columbia University. His MA thesis, guided by Professors Gil Anidjar and Clémence Boulouque, examines the relationship between speech and writing through the work of French theorist Jacques Derrida and British philosopher J.L. Austin, reflecting the rigorous interdisciplinary thinking he brings to all of his work. At Columbia, he also served as Vice President and Director of Communication of Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity.
His professional writing career is equally distinguished. Marc has worked with Oscar and Emmy-winning screenwriters and producers, has been mentored by New York Times bestselling authors and a National Book Award Finalist, and has developed his craft alongside TV writers at Hulu. He is currently completing his debut novel at 150,000 words. Beyond his writing, he has served as a Seminar Leader at the Harvard Summit for Young Leaders in China, teaching courses in literature, philosophy, and film to students across the country.
Although he specializes in students pursuing liberal arts degrees, Marc has guided numerous students applying to STEM programs as well. As a Graduate Coach, he brings the storytelling instincts and analytical precision of a professional writer to every application, helping students find the voice, structure, and narrative that makes their story impossible to ignore.
