Leland+ for MBA
Popular on Leland+
The MBA Story Bank Worksheet
Build your core story library before writing a single essay or preparing for a single interview. This fillable worksheet walks you through cataloging your 8–10 strongest career stories with the specificity MBA admissions committees and interviewers actually require — including a story card template for each experience, a theme matrix to map your stories to essay and interview categories, a coverage checker to identify gaps, and a goals and narrative prep section to build the spine of your entire application.
Getting into Stanford GSB
Are you aiming to secure a spot in a top MBA program? Join me, Sydney, for an insightful session on how to navigate the MBA application process and stand out among a competitive pool of applicants. As a recent MBA graduate from Stanford's Graduate School of Business and a former MBA Student Admissions Ambassador, I am passionate about guiding prospective students through this journey. During this event, we'll cover essential topics such as general exploration, essays, application strategy, recommendations, and networking strategy. Whether you're considering applying in round 2 or looking for an extra push for round 1, this session is tailored for you. Let's work together to present your authentic story and find your passion through business.
Waitlist Update Letter Builder
• Section 1: Greeting and opening tone • Section 2: New accomplishments or progress since submission • Section 3: Refined clarity on short- and long-term goals • Section 4: Reaffirmed school fit (specific to program culture and resources) • Section 5: Closing statement (gratitude + enthusiasm without pressure) • Example language snippets for each section
What Europe’s Top B-Schools are Looking For
Europe’s leading business schools evaluate candidates through a distinct lens, often prioritizing international mindset, clarity of goals, and cultural contribution alongside professional achievement. In this session, you’ll learn what top European MBA programs value most in applications, how their expectations differ from US schools, and how to position your background for maximum impact. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of how to tailor your strategy and strengthen your candidacy for Europe’s most competitive business schools.
Ace the INSEAD Interview
The INSEAD interview is known for being conversational yet deeply probing, designed to assess leadership maturity, cultural adaptability, and clarity of purpose. In this session, you’ll learn how INSEAD structures its interviews, what interviewers are truly evaluating, and how to craft responses that reflect global perspective, self-awareness, and impact. You’ll leave with practical strategies to prepare confidently and stand out in one of the most distinctive MBA interview processes.
Waitlist Self-Audit Worksheet
• Section 1: Application summary (GMAT/GRE, GPA, goals, recommenders) • Section 2: Strengths (what resonated or differentiates you) • Section 3: Gaps (academic, professional, narrative, or fit-related) • Section 4: Actionable improvements — list 2–3 moves in next 4–6 weeks • Section 5: Reflection prompt — “What new evidence can I show to close these gaps?”
Cracking Round 3 MBA: How I Got Admitted in the Final Round
Round 3 MBA admissions can feel unpredictable and highly competitive, but strong candidates still win seats with the right positioning and strategy. In this session, we’ll break down how to approach the final round strategically, address timing concerns head-on, and craft a compelling narrative that demonstrates urgency, fit, and readiness. You’ll gain practical insight into how admissions committees evaluate Round 3 applicants and how to maximize your chances even late in the cycle.
Overview of the Waitlist Process
• Visual timeline from decision release → movement → final outcomes • Key decision points: R2 admit shifts, summer yield management • Typical volume of waitlisted candidates and admit conversion rates • School-specific examples (generalized, not data-heavy) • Summary: What you can and can’t control at each stage
Columbia Business School: Essay Brainstorming Template
A template to help prospective applicants to Columbia Business School brainstorm essay ideas.
Free
MBA Application Master Checklist
Staying organized is half the battle in MBA admissions. This master checklist walks you through every step of the process, from locking your school list and preparing your recommenders to final essay polish and interview prep, so nothing falls through the cracks. Designed for applicants targeting top programs who want a proven structure to keep their application on track and their momentum going all the way through decision day.
Three Tricky GRE Quant Questions
An overview of 3 tricky quant questions for the GRE.
A Peek Behind the Curtain: How Your Application is Really Evaluated at Top Business Schools
Have you ever wondered what happens once you hit submit? Join this one-of-a-kind event to learn what really goes on behind the scenes from two coaches who have seen it all. Christine B.'s 25+ year admissions career has included as an Admissions Director for The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, London Business School and Yale School of Management. Faisal K. has been an MBA coach for 15+ years, and worked with Christine as an admissions committee member at the Chicago Booth. This fireside chat between Faisal and Christine will explore how an application is assessed, decisions are made to interview and admit, and offer tips on how to put your best foot forward at the world’s most selective business schools.
3 Tricky GRE Quant Questions
Example of 3 tricky quantitative GRE questions
Columbia Business School: The NYC Advantage
A deep dive into how Columbia Business School's geographic positioning puts it at a unique advantage.
MBA Admissions Panel: How to Get into your Dream School
Breaking into a top MBA program takes more than strong grades and work experience — it requires a compelling application strategy that sets you apart. In this panel, you’ll hear directly from Kelsey K. (Admissions at Columbia), Ben L. (Stanford MBA), and Allie K. (Wharton MBA) who have successfully navigated the admissions process at leading business schools. Our panelists will share their best advice on crafting standout essays, building a competitive profile, securing strong recommendations, and preparing for interviews. They’ll also dive into common mistakes to avoid and the strategies that helped them get admitted to their dream schools. Whether you’re just starting to think about an MBA or are in the thick of applications, this session will give you the insider guidance you need to stand out.
Video Walkthrough: GMAT Data Sufficiency
Comprehensive video walkthrough of examples for GMAT Data Sufficiency questions
ClearAdmit x Leland: Nail Your MBA Interviews
The MBA interview is one of the most important steps in the admissions process—your chance to move beyond the application and show schools who you really are. In this session, expert coaches Faisal K. (Admissions @ Chicago Booth), Charlotte W. (Stanford GSB), and Abdi S. (Harvard Business School) explain what top programs are evaluating, how to approach common interview formats, and strategies to highlight your unique story with confidence and clarity. We’ll also cover proven techniques to structure your answers, demonstrate leadership and impact, and avoid the common mistakes that hold applicants back. Whether you’re preparing for your very first interview or fine-tuning your final rounds, this session will give you the insights and preparation tools you need to stand out.
8 Steps to an MBA app: 1) Life Story, Timeline, & MBA Resume
Applying to business school can feel overwhelming! You have dozens of moving pieces: essays, short answers, video content, resume, recommendations, outreach, research, and more. This workshop is the starting point of a structured 8-part MBA Identity Mapping series designed to take you from fragmented tasks to a clear plan of action. In this session, you will build your foundational Life Timeline of all your key stories and begin transforming your resume into MBA format. These sessions walk you step by step through building one fully aligned MBA application. In every workshop, you will be assigned tasks to complete over the next two weeks, keeping you organized and accountable. By the end, you will have strong, authentic essays and a cohesive narrative that runs consistently through your resume, goals, recommendations, school strategy, and interviews. You are absolutely welcome to attend individual sessions if you only need focused help on a specific component(s) of your MBA application. Event 1 identifies your significant experiences and reshapes your resume into MBA format: • Understand the full trajectory of the 8-phase MBA Identity Mapping process and how each piece connects. • Build a comprehensive Life Timeline that captures the raw material of your life. • Begin transforming your professional resume into MBA format. The MBA Identity Mapping process has guided 100+ applicants into every M7 program, all other top 20 U.S. programs, and leading international programs including INSEAD, London Business School, IESE, Esade, Oxford, Cambridge, NUS, and more. Clients consistently describe it as transformative because it replaces scattered effort with forward momentum and strategic clarity. If you are ready to stop juggling tasks and start building an organized, cohesive MBA application, this is where you begin. (Please message me if you would like a copy of the super helpful free resource mentioned in the video: MBA Resume Transformation Guide.)
Final Tips Before You Submit Your Deferred MBA Application
In this session, you will leave knowing how to tighten your essays in the final hours, what admissions committees at top deferred programs actually look for in the "future vision" prompts, and how to self-evaluate your recommender package before you hit submit. These are the specific pressure points that separate competitive deferred applications from strong ones.
MBA Interview Series: Chicago Booth
Jumpstart your Chicago Booth MBA interview prep with up-to-date insights and stage-specific strategies. As application deadlines approach, join expert coach Tim F. who will help you understand what’s expected, how to prepare, and how to stand out. You’ll learn about the format of the Chicago Booth interview, key evaluation criteria, and how to craft strong stories using frameworks, while balancing polish and authenticity. By the end of this session, you’ll have a clear action plan for your interviews—what to practice, how to outline your answers, and how to present your best self when your invitation arrives.
