Leland+ for College

The Amy Approach: A Real Talk Guide to Picking the Right College

A step-by-step guide to picking the right college.

High School Resume Example for Top CS College Apps

Sample resume for high school student

Defining a Good Mindset & Perspective

Learn how to cultivate a strong, positive mindset and perspective to tackle challenges and achieve your goals in both your career and personal life.

Blank Page to Clear Outline: Get Unstuck on Your Personal Essay

​Feeling stuck on your personal essay? You're not alone. Trust, you are not the only senior who keeps putting off writing their application essay. You're sure you'll be able to finish once you start. You just need to put something - anything - on the page, but going from 0 to 1 feels harder than going from 1 to 100. And advice like "just start!", "show who you are," "brainstorm some ideas," isn't working, right? ​Join Isamar V., a former Stanford admissions officer and college application coach, in this workshop where she will guide you as you complete 3 exercises to go from a blank page to a clear essay outline in 1 hour. Get your pen and paper (or laptop) ready because this isn't just a lecture. You are going to put in the work in this workshop. ​If you have no idea what you want to write about --> You'll leave with several ideas, topics, and stories to choose from If you have an idea or story but don't know if it's good --> You'll leave with personal reflections to make it good If you have a story that you're excited about, but just haven't sat down to write --> You'll leave with an outline If you already have an outline, but just no written draft --> You'll have a dedicated hour to write ​You'll also get some tips for how to go from outline to a first written draft. Whether you're just starting or need a fresh perspective, the goal for you is to feel unstuck and excited to write your story.

DIY Your Stand-Out Summer Program or Project that Colleges Notice

Can't afford fancy summer programs? Didn’t get around to applying to summer programs? No problem! Create a summer experience that turns heads in admissions offices ands fuels your personal interests. This workshop reveals how to design and execute impressive self-directed summer projects that both strengthen college applications and deepen your unique interests. Learn how to transform curiosity into meaningful action without expensive programs. Perfect for ambitious high schoolers seeking authentic growth opportunities that naturally translate to applications that shine.

Elevate Your Common App: Craft a Powerful Activities List

Are you applying to college and nervous about how to talk about your activities? Join Isamar, a former Stanford Admissions Officer, for this live workshop focused on helping you highlight your story through your activities list. This workshop will help you craft a powerful Common App activities list that showcases your unique interests and accomplishments beyond superficial activity descriptions. Learn 3 strategies to ensure that your application makes a compelling impression on admissions committees, captures your essence, and maximizes your chances of standing out in the admissions process. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your application! Who is leading the workshop? As a former Assistant Director of Admissions at Stanford, Isamar personally reviewed over 7,000 applications. As an admissions consultant, she coached students to gain admission to universities like Yale, Harvard, Stanford, UC Berkeley, Georgia Tech, UVA, Pomona, and more. She has supported both US and international students, as well as first-gen students. Isamar’s personalized, empathetic, and strategic approach ensures that your unique strengths and experiences shine through in your application. Her goal is for you to feel that you are applying as your best self, no matter where you’re applying. Isamar is a proud first-generation college graduate with a BA and EdM from Harvard, and an MBA from Oxford.

Breaking Through: How International Students Can Shine in U.S. College Admissions

Are you an international student dreaming of studying at a U.S. university? Join Kevin P. for an interactive session where he will demystify the American college application process and share tips on how you can stand out from the crowd. ​With over a decade of experience supporting students students across the world, he will guide you through the essentials—from highlighting your unique strengths to navigating key application steps and understanding what matters most to U.S. colleges. ​Topics include: - ​Application essentials - ​Standing out ​- Scholarships & visas

UVA Choice Essay: Community with Quirks

This is a successful essay for an undergrad UVA applicant's choice essay about the quirks the applicant will bring to the community.

Why Notre Dame? Essay

This is a successful essay for a Notre Dame undergrad applicant's "Why Notre Dame?" essay.

Stanford University Admit: Deferred Essay Examples

Read the deferred essay responses that got me into Stanford based on the 2024 prompts.

Cracking the Common App: A College Admissions Panel

The Common App can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to tackle it alone. ​Join this session with Isamar V., former Assistant Director of Admissions at Stanford University, and Raina M., a Cornell University student. We’ll break down key parts of the application, offer guidance on how to approach each section strategically, and share insights to help your application stand out. ​From personal statements to activity lists and supplemental essays, this panel will offer practical tips, common pitfalls to avoid, and advice to help you move forward with confidence, wherever you are in the process.

Activity List for the Common App [Prep Template]

Activity List for the Common App [Prep Template]

Panel: Get Accepted to Your Dream College

​​​​​​Join Abigail L., Mel B., and Benito N., top Leland college admissions coaches and former admissions officers, for a panel packed with actionable advice to help you stand out in today’s competitive college landscape. We’ll cover everything from building a balanced school list and writing compelling essays to showcasing your extracurriculars and avoiding common mistakes. Whether you’re just getting started or deep in the application process, this session will give you the insights and confidence to apply strategically—and successfully. ​Let's get you into your dream school!

College Workshop: Three-Month Application Plan to Land Your Early Decision School

​Are you a high school student aiming to apply Early Decision (ED) to your top-choice U.S. university? Join Kevin P. for an interactive session that lays out a focused three‑month plan—from now to the Nov 1–15 deadlines—so you can craft a standout ED application on time and with confidence.With over a decade of experience supporting students across the world, he will guide you through the essentials—from weekly milestones and essay drafting to coordinating recommendations, understanding ED’s binding and financial implications, polishing your activities list, and building a smart backup plan for EA/RD. Topics include: ​90‑day ED timeline and task checklist (mid‑Aug → Nov 1–15): essays, supplements, testing, recommenders, and school documents ​Standing out fast: personal statement and “Why Us?” strategy, activities impact, and recommendation packets ​Readiness and backup: score strategy, financial/aid planning for ED, portal tracking, and an EA/RD contingency if ED doesn’t land

Stanford University Admit: Letter to Rommate Example

Read a short essay that got me into Stanford based on this 2024 prompt: Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate – and us – get to know you better.

Stanford University Admit: Distinctive Contribution Example

Read a short essay that got me into Stanford based on this 2024 prompt: Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University.

Stanford University Admit: Excited to Learn Essay Example

Read a short essay that got me into Stanford based on this 2024 prompt: The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.

Stanford University Admit: Short Response Examples

Read the short essay responses that got me into Stanford based on the 2024 prompts.

Stanford University Admit: Common App Essay Example

Read the Common App essay that got me into Stanford based on this 2024 prompt: Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Cracking the Common App: A College Admissions Panel

The Common App can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to tackle it alone. ​Whether you’re just getting started or putting finishing touches on your application, this panel will help you avoid common pitfalls, craft a standout narrative, and submit with confidence. ​Meet Your Panelists ​Amanda W. – Former Director of Admissions and Regional Enrollment Director, with 5+ years of coaching experience helping students gain admission to top universities including UCLA, Cornell, UPenn, Duke, and BYU. ​Alex L. – Stanford MBA and Northwestern alum, former Stanford admissions interviewer, and marketing executive with 20+ years of experience helping candidates differentiate themselves and gain admission to competitive programs. ​Skyler A. – Former Associate Director of Admissions at UChicago Booth and Assistant Director at Northwestern, with 10+ years of experience reading applications and helping hundreds of students gain admission to Yale, MIT, Berkeley, USC, Northwestern, and more.​​​