Leland+ Content Library

Your 3 Month Application Prep Plan with ex-GSB Admissions Director

With three months remaining to the first application deadlines in the 2026 cycle, there are several steps and approaches you can take to strengthen your application. Understanding what you can adapt (the content of your application) and what you can't (where you have worked, where you went to school, your GPA, etc.) needs to be evaluated strategically. Having worked in admissions at Stanford for more than a decade, I will offer tips to help you begin your business school learning journey now, using what you incorporate in your essays, recommendations and resume to tie together other aspects of your application and story.

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.

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.

The Three Biggest Secrets of the GRE (that will raise your score!)

​Join Leland coach Bruce H. for our Three Biggest Secrets of the GRE event! There are three secrets of how the GRE actually works. Nobody talks about them very much but when you unlock them - they are HUGE drivers of your score. ​If you're feeling the pressure to post an elite score but you're not exactly sure what steps you need to take or exactly how how or what to study - this event will help you a lot. ​And if you feel like you've been studying but your score is stuck and you'll never break into the top percentiles - then this event is definitely for you!

AMA/Office Hours: Sales "deal desk"

Got a tough deal you're trying to close? Not sure how to handle a tricky objection, or how to structure pricing for your early-stage product? Need help figuring out why a once-hot opportunity has gone cold? Bring your sales questions to this open “Deal Desk” AMA session. Whether you’re a founder doing your own sales, an AE trying to close faster, or a BDR struggling to get responses, this is your space to get unfiltered, tactical guidance from a startup sales coach who’s been in your shoes. I’ve helped dozens of venture-backed startups go from zero to repeatable sales processes, and I’m opening up the floor to help you work through your blockers in real-time. Think of this like having a VP of Sales on speed dial for 60 minutes. About me: I have an MBA from Stanford and was the first sales hire at two venture-backed startups that now have 9 figure valuations (Arc Technologies and Trunk Tools). I'm now a full-time sales coach and consultant to help B2B SaaS startups to scale beyond founder-led sales, turning interested prospects into paying customers. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights and strategies tailored to your needs.

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.

Ask Me Anything with a Former Stanford Admissions Officer

Join me for an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session to get answers to your college admissions questions. I'm Isamar, a former Stanford Admissions Officer, a Harvard grad, proud first-generation college graduate, and an experienced college admissions coach. With years working with students from all backgrounds, including US-based, international, and first-generation applicants, I'm here to help you navigate the college admissions process. My goal is to provide thoughtful, empathetic, and strategic guidance. Whether you're a high school student or parent, don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights from a seasoned professional. Note: Feel free to ask about any college admissions topic, regardless of your target school. This AMA is not exclusively focused on Stanford admissions.

Amazon Interview Prep: What You Need to Know to Succeed

You will get practical tips on what to do in days and weeks leading up to an Amazon behavioral interview. I am a professional coach and I worked at Amazon for 4 years. During that time I interviewed dozens of people. I myself went through several interview loops.

Develop Your Plan of Attack: Breaking 705 on the GMAT

Crushing the GMAT isn’t about memorizing facts—it’s about sharpening logic, mastering time pressure, and building test-day readiness. In this session, we’ll walk through how to practice effectively, which prep resources to trust, how to simulate the real exam environment, and how to craft a weekly study plan that builds stamina and precision. You’ll leave with a clear roadmap to cross the 705 threshold with confidence.

Booth Essay 2 Example

Booth Essay 2 example of an female consultant accepted into the class of 2027.

Ask. Me. Anything. AMA with a Former Stanford Admissions Officer

Join me for an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session to get answers to your college admissions questions. I'm Isamar, a former Stanford Admissions Officer, a Harvard grad, proud first-generation college graduate, and an experienced college admissions coach. With years working with students from all backgrounds, including US-based, international, and first-generation applicants, I'm here to help you navigate the college admissions process. My goal is to provide thoughtful, empathetic, and strategic guidance. Whether you're a high school student or parent, don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights from a seasoned professional.

Wharton 2025 Admit - Essay Set - Finance

Read a set of essays from a Wharton admit and see how you can apply these example essays to the new Wharton essay prompts.

Activity List for the Common App [Prep Template]

Activity List for the Common App [Prep Template]

Letters of Support Tips - 2025

Tips for Seeking Letters of Support Post-Application Submission

Ex-MBB (BCG & Dalberg) Strategy Consulting Resume

Ex-BCG and Oxford MBA Resume High-Impact Template

BCG Cover Letter | Post-MBA/Experienced Consultant

Cover letter for acceptance into BCG (Consultant)

Honors List for the Common App [Prep Template]

Use the sheet (or the Google Sheets version) to draft your honors descriptions. Check your character count & list order before you paste to the app!

Private Equity Case Study

Private Equity First Round Interview Case Study

How To Write Outstanding Law School Application Essays

Your law school application essays are arguably the most important aspect of your law school applications. To have the best outcomes and plenty of options at the end of the process, you need to craft compelling essays with solid narratives that paint a picture beyond your numbers. We will talk about different essay prompts and how best to tackle them, why it makes sense to have two 'main' essays instead of just one, how to handle optional essays and the dreaded 'why' essays.

How to Put AI to Work For Your Business

​The AI revolution is here, but how can we make it add value for us? Join Arjun B. to look at at least 3 use cases and some general tips to be more impactful in the daily operation of your organization, so normal work becomes faster, easier and better.