Leland+ for MBA

Strategies for Crushing the New HBS Essays

​The Harvard Business School essays have changed—and so has the strategy you’ll need to stand out. In this workshop, Leland coach Andy P. will walk you through proven approaches for tackling the new prompts with clarity and impact. ​You’ll learn how to identify the stories that best showcase your leadership, values, and potential, while avoiding common pitfalls that weaken otherwise strong applications. Andy will also share practical tips for structuring your essays, weaving a cohesive narrative across your application, and highlighting the qualities HBS is really looking for. Whether you’re just getting started or refining a draft, this session will equip you with actionable strategies to make your essays rise to the top.

Pre-MBA Resume Sample

Pre-MBA resume showcasing strategic leadership in tech and analytics, used to earn admission to both HBS and MIT Sloan in Round 1

Example INSEAD MBA Essay

Essay for INSEAD (waitlisted based on GMAT)

Example Harvard MBA Essay - Career Aspirations

This example essay for Harvard Business School answers the "Briefly tell us more about your career aspirations" prompt and focuses on goals to be a cross-cultural leader.

Stanford MBA Essay - "What Matters Most to You and Why?"

Read an example essay for the Stanford Graduate School of Business focused on helping emerging markets grow.

Top 10 Ways to Strengthen Your Profile While Waitlisted

• Examples of high-impact updates: promotions, certifications, quant coursework, new leadership roles • How to frame achievements for the admissions committee • How to show ongoing engagement with the school (events, conversations, visits) • Building credibility through thoughtful updates, not volume • Quick-reference chart: “Update ideas by category (Academic / Professional / Personal / Fit)"

15 Challenging GMAT Questions

An overview of 15 challenging GMAT questions and walkthroughs.

Video Essay Guidance

Unique to Kellogg, the video essay is your chance to show personality, presence, and energy. Learn what makes a great response and how to prepare naturally.

CBS MBA Example Essays

CBS MBA successful example essays. Asian Male - Consulting.

MBA Recommendation Letter Example

MBA Recommendation Letter Example

Tuition, Cost of Living, and ROI

Real budgets, affordability planning, Deferred Tuition education

Building a Kellogg-Ready Resume

Transform your resume from a job summary into a leadership showcase that highlights collaboration, impact, and growth potential.

From Waitlisted to Admitted: Insider Tips for MBA Admissions

Navigating the MBA waitlist can feel like walking a tightrope—but with the right strategy, it’s often your strongest chance to turn a “maybe” into a “yes.” Join Karla M., a seasoned AdCom-trained strategist who has coached over 300 MBA applicants, helped more than 150 M7 admits, and has deep insight into waitlist dynamics. Drawing on her experience shaping successful narratives and guiding candidates through revisits, updates, and communication, she’ll walk you through proven tactics to strengthen your profile, re-engage with schools, and advocate for your admission.

MBA Reapplicant Guide

While it is disappointing to have put so much effort into applications and not get into the school you wanted, there is still hope! Admissions committees tend to look favorably upon reapplicants, provided you can show that you’ve improved your candidacy. During this session, we will discuss how to navigate the MBA admissions process as a reapplicant. We will discuss common reasons people are rejected, how to show growth and MBA readiness, and other ways to improve your chances this time around. We will have tips for those who have applied recently, as well as those who are reapplying again after a break.

Great First MBA Interview Answer. Ready for Follow-Ups? Learn to be!

▶ Your first answer went well. Then the follow-ups started. And they didn’t stop. In many MBA interviews, interviewers drill far beyond your initial response. If you are prepared, this is where you shine. If you are not, this is often where an otherwise strong application quietly slips away. I have helped applicants succeed in even the most demanding interview formats. In this 30-minute live session, I will introduce and demonstrate one of the core techniques I use with clients, the Dual Lens Interview Prep method, a practical approach designed to help you prepare not just answers, but real interview conversations. 🚩Do not miss this event - you will not learn this technique anywhere else!🚩 ▶You will learn how to: ◆ Prepare for follow-up questions that dig beneath your initial response ◆ Step into the interviewer’s mindset to anticipate deeper probing ◆ Build a flexible story bank that adapts across questions and schools ◆ Practice effectively on your own using recorded responses and structured reflection ◆ Go multiple layers deep on a single story without sounding rehearsed or scripted ▶ What we’ll do live I will walk through an example of the Dual Lens method in action, showing how one core story can generate multiple rounds of natural, high-quality follow-ups. I will also show how to organize this practice using simple tools, how to evaluate your own responses, and how this method fits into the broader interview prep system I use with MBA admits each year. ✔ What you’ll leave with A clear, repeatable framework you can start using immediately, whether you are preparing solo, with friends, or alongside a coach. ▶ Register now to learn how to handle MBA interview follow-ups with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions About Resume Writing

Many people have asked me a set of questions frequently. These questions will answer some of your questions quickly!

From College to Stanford GSB: The Deferred MBA Strategy Session (Dec 11)

Getting into Stanford GSB’s Deferred MBA program is not about checking boxes: it’s about building a strategy years before most candidates even think about business school. In this exclusive session, Dr. Loubna Bouamane, former MBA Admissions Director and founder of Admission Concierge, will walk you through exactly how top students position themselves for Stanford straight from college. You’ll learn how to craft a compelling early-career narrative, select the right internships and leadership experiences, stand out academically, and avoid the most common mistakes that derail otherwise strong candidates. Whether you’re a freshman, sophomore, junior, or recent graduate, this session will give you a clear roadmap to Stanford’s deferred MBA pathway with real-world insights from inside the admissions process.

Columbia Business School Interview Series

Columbia Business School interviews are a critical step in the admissions process—and strong preparation can set you apart. This interview series is designed to help you approach CBS interviews with confidence, clarity, and a compelling story. In these sessions, you’ll learn how to structure your responses, communicate your career goals effectively, and handle common behavioral and fit questions. We’ll also cover what CBS interviewers look for and how to highlight your strengths in a competitive applicant pool. Whether you’re preparing for your first interview or refining your approach, you’ll leave with practical strategies and greater confidence.

International Students & US Master's Admissions

Learn what Admissions Committees in the US look for in your graduate application.

From College to Stanford GSB: The Deferred MBA Strategy Session (Feb 5)

Getting into Stanford GSB’s Deferred MBA program is not about checking boxes: it’s about building a strategy years before most candidates even think about business school. In this exclusive session, Dr. Loubna Bouamane, former MBA Admissions Director and founder of Admission Concierge, will walk you through exactly how top students position themselves for Stanford straight from college. You’ll learn how to craft a compelling early-career narrative, select the right internships and leadership experiences, stand out academically, and avoid the most common mistakes that derail otherwise strong candidates. Whether you’re a freshman, sophomore, junior, or recent graduate, this session will give you a clear roadmap to Stanford’s deferred MBA pathway with real-world insights from inside the admissions process.