Pictured above is the 2025 ACE sophomore cohort. All students are pursuing admission to master's and doctoral degree programs.
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Director's Message
I am pleased to share the fall edition of the Academic Community of Excellence (ACE) newsletter! ACE prepares high-achieving students for admission to master’s and doctoral degree programs. Scholars take courses and attend conferences together, are matched with experiential opportunities, engage with experienced alumni in their disciplines, receive pre-graduate school coaching, and more.
In this edition, we feature four alumni who were accepted to graduate and professional programs this year. We also highlight our students’ attendance at three professional school conferences and, finally, focus on two prelaw scholars. For more information about our mission and how we support our scholars, please visit www.lmu.edu/ace.
Steven Neal
Director, Academic Community of Excellence
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Scholars Attend Graduate and Professional School Conferences
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Pre-health scholars at the UC Davis Pre-health Conference on Oct. 18, 2025.
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Prelaw scholars at the Law School Forum on Oct. 25, 2025.
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Aspiring M.B.A. students at the Graduate Management Admission Council's Master's Tour on Oct. 29, 2025.
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This fall, ACE scholars attended three professional school forums to discover master’s and doctoral opportunities. These events featured keynote speakers, disciplinary and application workshops, and recruiters from programs across the country. Prelaw students participated in the Law School Forum sponsored by the Law School Admission Council; future MBA students attended the Master’s Tour organized by the Graduate Management Admission Council; and pre-health students participated in the UC Davis Pre-health Conference.
Business student, Jefferson Ramos, stated, “Attending the [business conference] was super eye-opening. I had the opportunity to connect with a good number of admission representatives, who provided great advice for the admission process, program opportunities, and what to expect in their institution in regards to student life. This provided helpful insight for what to do when applying to graduate schools, how to take advantage of financial aid opportunities, and how to potentially navigate other various opportunities."
Pre-health student, Bella Guzman, commented, “Initially, I was nervous about attending the UCD Pre-Health Conference since I did not know what to expect. It was an amazing experience being able to talk to representatives from different schools and learn about their programs and application process. After the conference, I reached out to some of the schools to continue the conversation and express my deep interest in their programs.”
Prelaw student, Taye Hines, said, “Attending the Law School Forum was an incredibly informative experience because I gained valuable insight into the admissions process that varies from each law school. I left feeling more confident and motivated about pursuing a legal career because of the direct opportunity to speak with or connect with law school representatives and admissions.”
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Alumni Reflect on their ACE Experience
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Daisy Huerta ('23) was accepted to the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Daisy reflected on her ACE experience:
"The ACE program prepared me through a sense of belonging and preparation for professional school. ACE provided a sense of community where we could share resources and navigate through the professional school application process. Additionally, my cohort began during quarantine for COVID, so having the Zooms and being able to engage with my ACE classmates was particularly helpful in having that sense of community even when all the classes were virtual. I was even able to meet one of my best friends through ACE! Even though she was pre-dental, we would share resources and support each other whenever we had questions or concerns.
"One tool that I found really helpful was making a road map of my undergraduate years to start thinking about what should be completed before applying. Additionally, I really enjoyed the [alumni] panels, hearing from individuals in professional school to gain more insight into the application process and their experiences in medical school and other professional schools.
"Overall, ACE was a wonderful program that truly helped me feel more prepared, and I couldn’t be more grateful for all the resources and opportunities that were provided to us!"
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Sarah Omachi ('25) was accepted to Harvard University’s master’s degree program in human development and education. Sarah recalled ACE's impact:
"Through joining the ACE program, I found amazing mentorship, a strong sense of belonging/community, and opportunities for professional growth. When I was invited to join the ACE program, I was not too sure about whether I saw myself going to graduate school. But, throughout my membership in the program, Mr. Neal's mentorship and commitment to exposing me (and the rest of my ACE cohort) to as many opportunities [as] would help us stand out as graduate school applicants reaffirmed my own passion [for] educational psychology research, and the path I am taking today.
"The most useful tool that I found to be most helpful was the classes that we took throughout the program. Setting aside the time to dedicate towards preparing for graduate school admissions while being an undergrad, juggling extracurriculars was much harder than it sounds. On top of this, knowing someone like Mr. Neal was sitting in the room with us, available to support us in any way possible, was a resource that, to this day, I appreciate endlessly. Furthermore, the guest speakers (i.e., ACE alumni) that Mr. Neal invited to our classes provided me with the confidence that I too could conduct research as an undergrad and removed barriers that could have hindered my inclination to pursue opportunities for professional development I initially thought were 'out of reach.'
"I thank the ACE community for welcoming me and continuing to maintain this relationship with me, even as an [alumnus]. Through ACE, I was able to learn many things about the graduate school application process, but most importantly, how valuable giving back to the community is. And for this, I thank previous ACE alumni for giving back to our community, and to my cohort, as it has pushed me to where I am today!"
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Isabella Lopez ('23) was admitted to the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University Chicago. Isabella recalled the following about her time in ACE:
"The ACE program really prepared me in many ways, not only to attend medical school but also to succeed in undergrad too. ACE provided so many resources during my undergraduate years that really helped me feel better prepared for applying for and attending professional school. Through the many mentorship opportunities provided, the opportunities to speak with previous ACE students and learn from them and the workshops and resources provided through ACE I really felt prepared for professional school. I also feel that ACE provided such a beautiful community of students who worked together to help each other and create long-lasting friendships. Overall, ACE helped me in countless ways, both school-related and not, and made me very well prepared for what I wanted to pursue.
"Some resources that I thought were especially helpful included the study plan and timeline that we made in junior year. I used this when I was studying for the MCAT and when I was applying to medical schools. This was incredibly helpful because it helped me stay on task and organize everything that was happening during that chaotic time! We also wrote personal statements during that year and got others' feedback, including Mr. Neal's, which was also incredibly beneficial in preparing for applications. Lastly, in ACE, we also made resumes and learned to write cover letters. I have continued to use the ACE format for those to this day! Lastly, Mr. Neal is so wonderful and helpful; he is an incredible mentor, and I greatly appreciate all the help and advice he gave me both during my time at LMU and after."
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Megan Mingo ('24) began law school at Howard University School of Law this fall. She commented on her ACE experience:
"The ACE program prepared me for professional school by providing me with an introduction to the law school application process. As a first-generation law student, the prospect of applying to law school was extremely daunting. The ACE program provided me with the resources, connections, and tools I needed to successfully matriculate into Howard University School of Law. ACE also played an instrumental role in my professional growth by providing me with access to various experiential opportunities, such as the UCLA Law Fellows Program. I am grateful for my experiences with the ACE program and am very happy to be a continued member of the ACE community!"
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| Scholars Give Back to ACE while
Preparing for Law School
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Juniors Isabella Madrid and Jordan Curiel joined ACE in 2024. Now in their second year of the program, they also serve as peer success leaders. As peer success leaders, Isabella and Jordan co-facilitate the sophomore classes, coordinate social events, recruit for ACE, and lead special projects. Isabella and Jordan reflected on their time in ACE and its impact.
What are your post-college plans?
Isabella: My postgraduate plans include pursuing my J.D. in law school to better understand the foundation that makes our world go round…. At the moment, I aspire to be a lawyer, but given my varied interests, I am also interested in a master’s in public policy or even social work.
Jordan: Looking ahead, my postgraduate plans include attending law school and ultimately building a career in [constitutional] law. I’m especially drawn to roles where I can combine my academic background with my interest in working to build a stronger nation and promote fairness and equality.
Why did you join ACE, and how has the program impacted you?
Isabella: I joined ACE because I knew that my love of learning would lead me to pursue higher education. As a first-generation college student, I felt lost in the process of how to reach that goal. When I heard about ACE, I jumped at the opportunity to receive assistance and mentorship in the process to get me to law school. I was also particularly drawn to the community aspect, as I had multiple of my peers who were joining the cohort alongside me. ACE has opened my eyes to the reality that I truly have multiple academic pathways to choose from….I learned that there were so many other options, such as taking a gap year and completing service work via LMU, that I would've never learned otherwise.
Jordan: I decided to join ACE because I wanted to be part of a community that values collaboration, academic growth, and personal development. I knew ACE would surround me with people who were equally motivated and supportive, and that environment has been incredibly influential. Academically, [ACE] helped me strengthen my study habits and time-management skills; socially, it connected me with peers and mentors who made LMU feel smaller and more welcoming; and professionally, it introduced me to leadership opportunities that have pushed me to grow.
Why did you become an ACE peer success leader? What do you enjoy most about your role?
Isabella: I [decided] to become a peer success leader because I wanted to create a positive impact and touch the lives of students the same way my peer success leaders did. The aspect that I enjoy the most is getting to know the sophomore cohort personally. As a junior, I most likely would [not have] had the opportunity to connect with these students otherwise. Being able to hear about their endeavors, success, and goals motivates me to keep going in my own personal studies.
Jordan: I wanted to become a peer success leader because I felt ready to give back what ACE had given me. The role has taught me how to communicate clearly, listen empathetically, and lead with patience. These are skills that carry directly into my future career goals. Whether it’s facilitating workshops, checking in with students, or helping someone find experiential opportunities, the work has strengthened my confidence and affirmed my interest in supporting others in their academic journeys. Overall, being part of ACE and serving as a peer success leader have been some of the most fulfilling aspects of my time at LMU. They’ve shaped who I am as a person.
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Do you know any students interested in a career that requires a master’s or doctoral degree?
Then encourage them to apply to ACE!
First-year students and sophomores may apply.
Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
For more information, visit www.lmu.edu/ace.
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