Leland+ for MBA

HBS Essay Ideation Guide : Craft Your Unique Story

Watch this video and use this essay ideation worksheet to explore your goals, identity, and growth, crafting an authentic and compelling personal statement for your application.

Sample Letter of Recommendation (Chicago Booth)

A top MBA admissions expert breaks down a real letter of recommendation that got an applicant into Chicago Booth's deferred program.

Awards & Honors: Common Mistakes to Avoid

Learn what not to do when listing accolades—avoid vague, outdated, or unimpressive entries.

Career Essay Brainstorming Template

Utilize this template to effectively brainstorm and structure your career essays for impactful and persuasive applications.

Yale Essay – The Biggest Commitment: Faith and Gender Equity

A deeply personal essay reflecting on an 18-month religious mission as a transformative commitment—reshaping the applicant’s worldview, sparking a gender equity journey, and laying the foundation for her social impact career.

Wharton Example Essays – Fashion, Heritage, and Inclusive Leadership

Two essays from an admitted applicant connecting operational excellence in fashion to a mission of sustainability and inclusion, with concrete plans to contribute across retail, DEI, and wellness communities at Wharton.

Kellogg Admit | Activities, Roles and Job Descriptions Example

A set of Kellogg MBA short answer examples covering activities, job roles, and extracurricular descriptions—designed to illustrate how to present personal impact and involvement with clarity and authenticity.

Sample Kellogg Personal Statement from an Admitted Deferred MBA Applicant

A breakdown of an actual personal statement that got a deferred candidate admitted to the Kellogg School of Management, addressing the values-based prompt.

A Sample "Why Wharton" Essay

A breakdown of an MBA essay example for Wharton, with a focus on how to answer the prompt, "What do you hope to gain professionally from the Wharton MBA?"

Engineering Example Resume for Harvard Business School

See a strong engineering resume for an HBS deferred admit, highlighting experience in product development and technical skills.

MBA Reflection Questions – Crafting Your Application Story

A guided worksheet with thought-provoking questions to help applicants reflect on background, values, and goals—ideal for shaping strong essays and interview responses.

Example MBA Recommender Prep Doc for M7 Programs

Learn how to prepare your recommenders so you can secure strong MBA recommendations that highlight your unique strengths and impact.

Awards & Honors Overview

Understand the purpose of the awards and honors section and what you should include in your application.

Get Off the MBA Waitlist

Learn key strategies to get off the MBA waitlist, including demonstrating continued interest, providing updates, and building relationships with the admissions committee.

HBS Example Resume: Investment Banking, Harvard English & African American Studies

This successful HBS resume showcases a Harvard student's experience in investment banking at Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse, leadership in the African Development Initiative, and academic achievements.

HBS Essay Example: Health Equity

Read an HBS essay on a commitment to health equity, outlining career goals as a corporate strategist and health foundation CEO, and the role of an HBS MBA. This essay was written in response to a previous prompt.