Leland+ for College

Why is the Extracurricular Section Important?

An overview of why the extracurricular section is a vital part of your application, with a focus on how it showcases your passions, time management skills, and potential contributions to the campus community.

How to Stand Out in Your Application

Learn how to differentiate your application from the competition with strategies for crafting a compelling narrative, showcasing your unique skills, and making a lasting impression.

Extracurricular List 1: Example & Analysis

A detailed breakdown and analysis of a successful extracurricular list, with tips for showcasing your unique experiences and achievements.

Awards & Honors: An Overview

Learn how to effectively showcase your achievements on your application, with tips for formatting, context, and standing out.

BYU Activities Example Essay - Piano

An essay responding to BYU application prompt about extracurricular activities, detailing a long-term commitment to piano and the lessons it taught about perseverance.

Ask a Former Adcom: How to Get Into BYU

A former BYU admissions officer breaks down the holistic review process and shares what they're really looking for in applications.

"Tell Me About a Time...": Situational Question Guide

A comprehensive guide to answering behavioral and situational interview questions with the STAR method, with examples and tips for crafting compelling stories.

Ask Me Anything with Former Ivy League Admissions Reader + Journalist

What does it really take to get into an Ivy League? Watch questions being answered by a former admissions reader and journalist in this exclusive AMA!

Awards & Honors: Example & Analysis

A detailed breakdown and analysis of a successful awards and honors list, with tips for showcasing your achievements and making a strong impression on admissions committees.

What Not to Include in the Additional Info Essay

Avoid the most common mistakes on the "additional information" essay, including using it as a third personal statement, making excuses for poor grades, or simply repeating information found elsewhere in your application.

BYU "Losing Track of Time" Example Essay - Avatar

An essay responding to the prompt about a topic so engaging it makes you lose track of time, focusing on the show "Avatar: The Last Airbender."

Key Interview Question Styles

An in-depth guide to the different styles of interview questions, with tips on how to identify them and craft effective, tailored responses for each.

BYU Activities Example Essay - Leadership through United Sound

An essay responding to the BYU applicatino prompt about extracurricular activities, detailing participation in United Sound and how it developed leadership and communication skills.

Extracurricular List 3: Example & Analysis

A detailed breakdown and analysis of a successful extracurricular list, with tips for showcasing your impact and leadership in a community setting.

The Amy Approach: What Parents Need to Know About the College Search Process

A guide to help parents help with the college-search process

The Waitlist Strategy

A step-by-step guide on what to do after being waitlisted by a college, with strategies for writing a compelling Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) and maximizing your chances of admission.

Stanford/MIT Essays: Examples & Analysis

An in-depth breakdown of successful application essays for Stanford and MIT, with a focus on what makes them compelling and how to apply those strategies to your own writing.

What is an Extracurricular List?

An overview of the extracurricular list, explaining its purpose in the application process and how it is used to showcase your unique passions, skills, and personal growth outside of the classroom.

The "Why?" Essay

A guide to mastering the "Why this school?" or "Why this major?" essay, with strategies for showcasing genuine interest, specific research, and a compelling connection between you and the institution.

Letter of Continued Interest: How to Submit

Learn how to write and submit a compelling Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) to a college after being deferred or waitlisted, including what to include, common mistakes to avoid, and where to send it.