Leland+ for PhD Programs

Knight-Hennessy Individual Interview Prep Guide

Sample Questions and Guideline of Knight-Hennessy Finalist Interview

How to Secure Top Graduate Fellowships: Rhodes, Truman, Knight-Hennessy & More!

​Curious about how to earn prestigious fellowships like Rhodes, Marshall, Schwarzman, Knight-Hennessy, and others? In this session, coaches Machmud M. and Claire R.—both Knight-Hennessy Scholars themselves—will share what it takes to stand out in highly competitive selection processes. You’ll learn how to craft a compelling personal narrative, choose and prepare strong recommenders, approach essay prompts, and succeed in interviews, all while highlighting leadership, impact, and academic excellence. ​Whether you’re exploring opportunities for graduate study abroad, pursuing a master’s in the U.S., or looking to expand your academic and professional horizons, this session will give you clear strategies and practical tools to strengthen your application. With proven frameworks and insights from past awardees, you’ll walk away ready to approach fellowship applications with confidence.

PhD to Industry: How to Successfully Navigate the Transition

Graduate students devote countless hours and effort into producing the best research possible. But little do we get the chance to candidly discuss midst all the papers and figures - how can we start laying the foundation that will help launch us into the next stage of our career? ​In this compact 30-minute session, Diane K. (PhD in Biomedical Engineering | Biotech Corp Dev | ex-Goldman), will share tips on how to best set up for success during your PhD studies for your long-term career goals. PhD students of all stages - from just applied/started to dissertation-ready, and even recently defended - will be able to walk away with actionable recommendations. Come with questions and leave with a roadmap to confidently navigate your PhD studies and transition into industry.

Start Early, Apply Strong: Successful PhD Timelines

Applying to PhD programs is a long process—and starting early can make all the difference. This session will help you build a strategic timeline to strengthen your application. You’ll learn how to plan each stage, from researching programs and preparing materials to securing recommendations and managing deadlines, while avoiding common pitfalls. Whether you’re just starting or refining your plan, you’ll leave with a clear roadmap for success.

Pivoting from Academia to Industry

Pivoting from Academia to Industry Transitioning from academia into an industry role requires more than strong technical skills—it demands the ability to clearly communicate your value, reframe your academic experience, and navigate a hiring landscape that looks very different from university admissions. In this workshop, Stefan E. will share the strategies he used to execute his own successful pivot, earning interviews at 10 of the 12 universities he applied to and early admits to four top programs. Drawing on his experience as a lecturer, instructor, and former international student, Stefan will teach you how to translate research and teaching into industry-ready impact, present your skills with clarity, and approach your career transition with confidence.

Start Early, Apply Strong: Successful PhD Timelines

Strong PhD applications are built over time, not rushed together at the last minute. In this session, PhD application expert Abigail H. will walk you through ideal PhD application timelines, from early research planning to faculty outreach and final submissions. You’ll learn how to sequence your work strategically, avoid common timing mistakes, and set yourself up to apply with confidence and clarity.

The PhD Interview Playbook: Strategy, Preparation, Confidence

PhD interviews can be intense, but the right preparation makes all the difference. This session is designed to help you approach PhD interviews with a clear strategy, strong preparation, and confidence in your research narrative. In this event, you’ll learn how to prepare for common interview formats, articulate your research interests and experiences effectively, and handle challenging academic questions with poise. We’ll also cover how to communicate fit with a program and faculty, and how to stand out in a competitive applicant pool. Whether you’re interviewing for your first PhD program or refining your approach, you’ll leave with practical frameworks and greater confidence.

Grad Student Loan Paydown Schedule

Stop Guessing. Start Seeing Exactly When Your Loans End. Most people with student debt make their monthly payment and hope for the best. This template lets you run the actual math so you can see, month by month, exactly what happens when you pay more. Built in Excel. No subscriptions, no logins, no apps. Just a clean, professional model you'll actually use. What's inside: Three side-by-side paydown scenarios run simultaneously your base schedule, a flat monthly extra payment, and a fully flexible column where you can plug in one-time lump sums for any month. Salary bonus coming in March? Tax refund in April? Type it in and watch your payoff date move in real time. Built for people who just finished an expensive degree and are serious about what comes next. Whether you're in consulting, finance, tech, or any high-growth field, this tool helps you layer your paydown strategy around how you actually earn, raises, bonuses, tuition reimbursements, and surplus months, not just a flat monthly payment. What you'll know in five minutes: > Your exact payoff date under any scenario > How much interest you'll save with different payment levels > The true cost of waiting vs. paying aggressively now Fully editable. Works with any loan amount, rate, or term. One-time purchase, yours to keep.

How to Get Started on Your PhD Application

Starting a PhD application can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure where to begin or how to position yourself for research-driven programs. This session breaks down the first steps that matter most, including identifying research interests, finding the right advisors, planning your timeline, and preparing key materials like statements of purpose and recommendations. You’ll learn how to build early momentum, avoid common missteps, and set yourself up for a strong application cycle.

What Admissions Committees Look For—And How to Prepare Strategically

Admissions decisions rarely come down to just grades or test scores. Committees are evaluating patterns—how your experiences, goals, and character come together to signal future impact. In What Admissions Committees Look For, you’ll learn how strong applicants position themselves across the entire application. Melissa works 1:1 with candidates navigating competitive admissions and will share the same frameworks used in coaching sessions to evaluate and strengthen an application. Who This Is For - Applicants preparing for competitive graduate or professional programs - Candidates planning to apply in the next 1–2 cycles - Students unsure how to position their experiences strategically - Re-applicants looking to strengthen their overall profile What You’ll Walk Away With - The key signals admissions committees look for across applications - How evaluators connect your academics, experience, and goals - The patterns I see across successful candidates - The common positioning mistakes I fix in 1:1 sessions - How to build a stronger application strategy months before applying