Leland+ Content Library

How to Approach Grad School Essays and Personal Statements

​Your essays and personal statements are some of the most important parts of your grad school application—and often the hardest to get right. In this session, Michael G. (Schwarzman Scholar) and Elijah D. (Gates-Cambridge), and Erika C. (UPenn M.S.) will walk you through how to craft authentic, memorable essays that make admissions committees take notice. ​By the end, you’ll have a clear framework for approaching your essays with confidence and a roadmap for writing compelling personal statements that stand out before deadlines hit.

What Top College Admissions Officers Look For [7/7/2026] (Recording)

College admissions can feel like a black box when you're trying to understand what actually makes one applicant stand out over another. This session is designed for students and families who want a clearer understanding of how applications are evaluated and what admissions officers prioritize throughout the review process. You’ll learn how admissions readers assess academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and personal storytelling, as well as the common traits that appear across compelling applications. Attending live gives you the opportunity to ask questions directly and get real-time answers about your own admissions strategy. The speaker has extensive experience evaluating applicants and will share the patterns they see across successful candidates, along with what they look for when reviewing applications in practice. If you want a better understanding of how admissions decisions are made and how to strengthen your candidacy, it’s worth joining live.

The College Application Decoded: What Improves Your Odds [9/29/2026] (Recording)

The college application process can feel difficult to navigate when you’re unsure which parts of your application will have the biggest impact. This session is designed for students who want a clearer understanding of how to strengthen their overall candidacy and make more strategic decisions throughout the application process. You’ll learn what admissions officers consider across your academic profile, activities, and essays, how to identify areas for improvement, and which common mistakes can weaken an otherwise strong application. Attending live gives you the opportunity to ask questions about your own application and get real-time guidance on where to focus your efforts. The speaker will share practical best practices from working with college applicants and the patterns they see across strong applications. If you want a more informed approach to building and improving your college application, it’s worth joining live.