Leland+ Content Library

How to Create A Competitive College Application

​College admissions are more competitive than ever, and standing out requires more than just good grades and test scores. In this session, Kirsten S. (Admissions Committee @ Princeton), William F. (Director of Graduate Admissions @ UPenn), and Skyler A. (Assistant Director of Admissions @ Northwestern) will break down how to craft a cohesive, authentic application that highlights your unique strengths and story. ​You’ll learn how to approach your essays, choose the right recommenders, showcase your extracurriculars, and tie everything together into a compelling narrative that resonates with admissions officers. Whether you’re just getting started or finalizing your materials, this event will give you practical strategies and insider insights to put forward your strongest possible college application.

Comprehensive Guide to Letters of Recommendation

​Letters of recommendation can make or break a graduate school application—but too often, applicants underestimate their importance or don’t know how to manage the process strategically. In this session, we’ll cover everything you need to know: whom to ask, when to ask, how to prepare your recommenders, and how to ensure your letters complement and strengthen the rest of your application. ​You’ll also learn how to approach potential recommenders with confidence, provide the right context and materials, and avoid common pitfalls. With clear guidance from Jennifer P., a Harvard master’s graduate and experienced coach, you’ll walk away with a roadmap to securing strong, authentic recommendations that highlight your strengths and align with your overall story.

Comprehensive Guide to Letters of Recommendation

​Letters of recommendation can make or break a graduate school application—but too often, applicants underestimate their importance or don’t know how to manage the process strategically. In this session, we’ll cover everything you need to know: whom to ask, when to ask, how to prepare your recommenders, and how to ensure your letters complement and strengthen the rest of your application. ​You’ll also learn how to approach potential recommenders with confidence, provide the right context and materials, and avoid common pitfalls. With clear guidance from Jennifer P., a Harvard master’s graduate and experienced coach, you’ll walk away with a roadmap to securing strong, authentic recommendations that highlight your strengths and align with your overall story.

Early Stage Startup Fundraising Panel

​Raising capital is one of the biggest challenges early-stage founders face—and one of the most misunderstood. In this panel, you'll hear about the experience of Louis S., Jimmy M., and Garrett W., all founders who have gained wisdom and insight through their own entrepreneurial endeavors. ​We’ll cover what makes a compelling pitch, how to build relationships with investors before you need funding, what terms to watch out for, and how to decide whether fundraising is the right path for your startup. Whether you're preparing for your first round or just curious about how the process works, this session will give you real-world insight and actionable advice to navigate the fundraising journey with more clarity and confidence.

Weighing the GRE v. the GMAT! [6/18/2026] (Recording)

After this session, you will know how to choose between the GRE and GMAT based on your target programs, your testing strengths, and how each exam is actually evaluated by admissions committees. We will cover which schools still prefer one over the other, how to read your own diagnostic scores to predict where you will perform better, and what a realistic prep timeline looks like for each test. Attending live means you can describe your specific situation and get a direct answer, not a general framework that may or may not apply to you. The coach works with GRE and GMAT candidates regularly and will share the patterns that consistently guide that decision well.

The Resume That Landed Stanford & Harvard Deferred MBA Offers

A top mentor breaks down a successful resume with experience in tech, venture capital, and entrepreneurship, and shares how you can tell a compelling story with your experience.

Stanford GSB Essay B: EdTech Aspirations & GSB's Role

See a successful Stanford GSB deferred admit's Essay B, detailing aspirations in ed-tech leadership and how GSB's curriculum, clubs, and Silicon Valley ecosystem will help achieve them.

How to Write the Fuqua 25 Random Things Essay

A top MBA admissions expert analyzes a successful essay for Duke Fuqua's "25 Random Things" prompt and breaks down how to showcase your personality and "Team Fuqua" spirit.

Why Booth Essay: EdTech Goals & Booth's Impact

Booth deferred admit's essay on how the Chicago Booth Scholars Program and MBA will support their short-term goals during deferment and long-term aspirations in edtech leadership.

GMAT/GRE Behind the Curtain: What are they really testing?

A deep dive into the purpose behind each section of the GMAT and GRE, uncovering the core skills schools care about—and how to align your prep accordingly.

Negotiating the Offer: Compensation Research

Learn how to research and negotiate compensation. We'll show you how to find salary data, understand market rates, and use this information to get the offer you deserve.

Resume Example: New Grad to McKinsey or Microsoft

Learn how to craft a winning resume for a full-time role at top firms like McKinsey and Microsoft. Highlight your projects, internships, and leadership to impress recruiters.

"Why Our School?": Program Question Guide

A comprehensive guide to answering the "Why our school?" question by focusing on specific programs, research opportunities, and academic offerings that align with your unique goals and interests.

Finance to MBA Panel

A candid panel discussion featuring applicants and admits from finance backgrounds sharing insights on their MBA journeys, career pivots, and tips for standing out in the application process.

Career Move Criteria Template

This template helps you define and prioritize the key criteria for your next career move, giving you clarity on what matters most and a framework for evaluating opportunities.

Introduction to LBO Modeling - Mini

This is a great introductory model to LBO analysis and if you need to do a quick and simple LBO model to see how the math works out.

Crushing Your Dental School Interview

Get into your dream dental school! We give you the strategies and tips you need to prepare for and ace your interview, from common questions to powerful answers.

From Idea to Product with AI Agents [6/11/2026] (Recording)

After this session, you will know how to move from a raw product idea to a working prototype using AI agents, without a traditional engineering team. We'll cover how to scope an agent-driven build, which tools actually hold up in production, and how to think about iteration when the system is doing the work for you. Attending live means you can describe your specific idea or constraint and hear how to approach it directly, which is context a recording cannot give you. The coach works on AI-powered product development daily, and this session is a chance to see how that thinking applies in real time.

Beyond the GRE: Building a Winning Grad School Application

​In this session, Leland coach Loubna B. will walk you through how to build a compelling graduate school application that goes far beyond just test scores. Drawing on her experience mentoring students into competitive master’s and PhD programs, she’ll share what admissions committees really want to see in your essays, recommendations, and overall narrative. ​You’ll gain actionable strategies for highlighting your unique strengths, showcasing research or professional experience, and weaving your story into a cohesive, stand-out application. Whether you’re early in the process or putting on the finishing touches, this workshop will equip you with the tools to craft an application that sets you apart.

Developing Your MBA Story [6/7/2026] (Recording)

Your MBA story is the most important part of your application. The best applications use the story as a foundation that guides everything - the essays, the recommendations, the interview answers, even your resume! However, too many applicants fail to do this and instead submit vague or disjointed applications that leave admissions committees unimpressed. During this session, I will teach you how to develop a cohesive and thoughtful MBA story that will clearly explain: your background, why you need an MBA, and why you deserve to go to the school you are applying to - all in a way that will show admissions committees that you are ready for your MBA!