Hi! I’m Betul Erbasi Yilmaz.
I’m a certified life coach specializing in college and graduate student support.*
I was born and raised in Turkey, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in Foreign Language Teaching in 2012 and a master’s in Linguistics in 2015—both from Bogazici University. In 2015, I moved to the U.S. to pursue a PhD in Linguistics at USC, which I completed in 2022. So yes—I’ve done a lot of school without a break. In fact, I was a student until I was 32 and did as much studenting as possible. Believe me when I say—it was challenging, and I get you.
While working on my dissertation, I started noticing just how many of us were struggling—burnout, uncertainty about the future, and the constant pressure to perform. This led me to searching for answers to questions like Could this experience be made easier? Could we do it with more balance and less stress? This curiosity became the foundation of my efforts to help students. First, I started by leading an informal support group for grad students in my department in 2018, and later became a certified life coach in 2021. Since then, I’ve been supporting students as they navigate both academic and life challenges. In my practice, I combine lived experience with powerful coaching tools to help you move forward.
I won’t give you a checklist. My coaching involves methods to help you think, reflect, and take action that aligns with who you are. In my coaching, I am merely a guide but it is you who is in control of your process. I will help you:
- develop and maintain work-life balance in college and grad school
- improve your time management skills
- plan your future
- apply for jobs by
- developing an understanding of job descriptions
- understanding your skill set and experience in detail
- develop and curate your resume/CV
- improve your interview skills
- have a smooth transition from student life to work life
Let’s get started!
*Disclaimer: Knowledge shared on this website and in my sessions is my own learnings and it is independent of the company and the industry I work at.
How to Grad & Beyond with Betul 