Leland+ Content Library

Managing Your Online Presence for MBA Apps

Social Media and Online Presence: 10 Tips for MBA Applicants

Showing Leadership Potential in your MBA App w/ex-Stanford Admissions Director [6/17/2026] (Recording)

Next to academics, the most important criteria that schools evaluate in your MBA application is 'leadership potential'. What is it, and how is it evaluated? While each school may differ slightly, there are several key elements that are common across MBA admissions. My goal is to offer actionable tips and a structured framework to strengthen your application in this area. I draw on more than a decade managing admissions at Stanford GSB, as well as helping to develop the school's core leadership curriculum. Following the session, I will share a video link (in case you miss it) and a PDF summary document.

Law School App Office Hours with a Former Stanford Admissions Officer [3/30/2026] (Recording)

Calling all law school applicants! Come join Office Hours to ask Indrani anything about the law school application process. She worked in the admissions office at Stanford Law School, and she is happy to provide best tips + tricks to help you be successful. She has helped hundreds of pre-law students attain their law school dreams and would love to help you as well!

Your Law School Applications: Why Starting Now Can Make a Difference [3/18/2026] (Recording)

Applying to law school is more competitive than ever—and timing can be a major advantage. In this session, you’ll learn directly from Indrani S., former Associate Director of Admissions at Stanford Law School, who has reviewed thousands of applications and knows exactly how top programs evaluate candidates. She’ll break down why early preparation matters, how to craft a compelling narrative, and what steps you should take now to strengthen your essays, recommender strategy, school list, and overall positioning. Whether you're aiming for T14 programs or navigating the process with less-than-perfect numbers, this session will help you build a clear, strategic plan.

Outstanding Law School Admissions Essays with Indrani, Former Stanford Law AdCom [6/24/2026] (Recording)

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 x school' essays. We will also have time for some 'Ask Me Anything' at the end!

Insider Tips for the Harvard Kennedy School App from Former AdCom [6/16/2026] (Recording)

Applying to Harvard Kennedy School requires more than simply demonstrating policy interest or public service commitment. This session will provide insider perspective on how the HKS admissions committee evaluates candidates, what distinguishes successful applicants, and the common mistakes that undermine otherwise strong profiles. Attendees will gain practical guidance on how to position their experiences, essays, and career vision to align with what HKS looks for in future public leaders.

Targeting M7 Schools? What It Really Takes [5/20/2026] (Recording)

1YR FREE LELAND+ GIVEAWAY FOR LIVE ATTENDEES ($119 VALUE). After this session, you'll know how to assess whether your profile is genuinely competitive for M7 schools and where the real gaps tend to appear. We'll cover how admissions committees at these programs actually differentiate candidates at the margin, what a strong post-MBA narrative looks like for the most common applicant profiles, and how to decide where to apply given your specific background and goals. Attending live means you can hear how experienced coaches thinks through cases like yours in real time, context a recording simply cannot replicate. These coaches work with M7 applicants daily and will share the patterns that separate candidates who get in from those who fall short at the final round.

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.

Deferred MBA Panel: Getting Started Early

​In this panel, expert MBA coaches Geri T. (Harvard Business School), Timothy F. (Chicago Booth), and Claire R. (Stanford Graduate School of Business) will break down what you need to know about applying to deferred MBA programs and how to set yourself up for success early. From understanding what top schools look for to planning your academics, internships, and extracurriculars, you’ll get insider guidance on how to build a competitive profile while you’re still in school. ​You’ll also hear strategies for writing compelling essays, securing strong recommendations, and avoiding the common mistakes that applicants make. Whether you’re a college junior, senior, or early-career professional exploring deferred programs, this session will give you the tools and confidence to start your MBA journey on the right foot.

8 Steps to a Complete MBA App: 7) School Fit & Application Strategy [6/18/2026] (Recording)

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 seventh 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 map your story directly to each school’s application components and develop a clear strategy for how your application will come together. 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. This session moves your MBA application forward by translating your story, goals, and strengths into a clear strategy for each target school: • Map your themes and key stories to each school’s essay prompts. • Determine which experiences and examples will appear in each component of the application. • Integrate insights from your outreach conversations with students and alumni. • Identify any gaps or risks in your profile and plan how to address them. This is the phase where preparation turns into a clear application plan. Instead of staring at essay prompts and wondering where to start, you will have a structured outline of exactly what each part of your application will communicate. 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 translate your story into a clear plan for each school on your list, this is your next step.

Stop Sounding Generic: How to Write a Standout Law School Personal Statement [5/27/2026] (Recording)

Many law school personal statements sound polished but forgettable, making it hard for applicants to truly stand out. This session is for candidates who want to write essays that feel distinctive, authentic, and memorable to admissions readers. You’ll learn how to identify the strongest parts of your story, avoid overly generic themes and language, and structure a personal statement that creates a clearer sense of who you are. Join live to ask questions about your own essay ideas and get guidance on how to sharpen your narrative before submitting. The speaker is an experienced law admissions coach who regularly helps applicants strengthen their personal statements and overall positioning. They’ll share the patterns they see across standout essays and the kinds of feedback typically given in 1:1 coaching conversations.

Inside Deferred Admissions: AMA with a Founder of the HBS 2+2 Program

Few people understand Deferred MBA admissions better than Kerry P., who helped launch the Harvard Business School 2+2 Program and has since guided countless candidates into top deferred programs. In this exclusive AMA, Kerry will pull back the curtain on how Deferred MBA programs really evaluate applicants — from what schools look for in undergraduates to how they assess potential and fit.

Waitlist Strategy

Updates, new achievements, school engagement

Beyond the MBA: Building a Career Story Schools Want to Invest In

Top MBA programs do not admit candidates solely on ambition, strong credentials, or polished essays. They admit individuals whose career direction is clear, compelling, and rooted in authentic personal motivation. Your career story is the lens through which every element of your application is evaluated—and when developed correctly, it becomes the most differentiating part of your candidacy. In this session, two MBA admissions consultants with more than 25 years of combined experience will walk you through the framework used by the most successful applicants to define career goals that resonate with top programs. You will learn how admissions committees assess career vision, what signals readiness and conviction, and why thoughtful goal-setting must come before selecting target schools. What You Will Learn • How to articulate a career direction grounded in personal meaning, not buzzwords or manufactured narratives • The specific traits admissions committees look for when evaluating career goals • How to demonstrate feasibility and alignment with program strengths • Ways to incorporate future-focused thinking—including but not limited to AI and industry evolution • How to connect your past experiences, present capabilities, and long-term aspirations into a coherent, differentiated narrative • Why a strong career story increases your likelihood of admission and makes you a more compelling future alum

An Example of a Deferred Candidate’s “Why Columbia” Essay

A top MBA admissions expert analyzes a successful deferred MBA essay for Columbia Business School and breaks down how to answer the "Why this school?" question.

Session 1 - Application Strategy and Fundamentals

Session 1 from Mar26 Dental School bootcamp

Essay Strategy

“Why MBA,” goals essays, school vision essays

Leland MBA Week (June 2-6) Kickoff

​Join us for Leland's FREE MBA Week (June 2-6) Kickoff! You’re invited to the ultimate MBA admissions prep week, designed to help you get into your dream program. ​This week will feature a series of online sessions hosted by some of Leland’s top admissions coaches—former admissions officers and application experts who have helped hundreds of applicants get into schools like GSB, HBS, Wharton, Booth, and more. ​Throughout the week, you’ll gain extremely tactical insight on school selection, application strategy, essay writing, interviews, and more. Last year, more than 3,000 participants joined us, and we can’t wait to welcome even more of you this year! ​In this kickoff session, we’ll cover essential topics like crafting your personal story, selecting the right schools, and what MBA programs are really looking for. Our expert panelists include Timothy F. (former Chicago Booth Admissions Fellow with 150+ M7 admits), and Geri T. (former Associate Director of Harvard Business School with 75+ M7 admits). With their extensive experience reading applications, conducting interviews, and coaching successful applicants into every M7 school, they’ll provide top insights to help you stand out in a competitive admissions process.