Leland+ Content Library

10 Must Haves to Land Multiple M7 Admission Calls

​Maximize your chances of M7 acceptance! In this powerful session, expert coach Timothy F., a Chicago Booth alum who has guided over 100 MBA applicants into every M7 school, will use his years of MBA admissions experience to unveil the 10 key ingredients for a standout application. Timothy's expertise includes extensive admissions committee experience and a unique ability to coach applicants from non-traditional backgrounds. Increase your odds of landing multiple acceptance letters and securing your future at a top business school like HBS, GSB, Booth, or CBS.

PhD Advisor Outreach Template

If you are in the middle of grad school applications, but haven't yet reached out to your potential supervisors, then this resource is for you. It breaks down how to structure your prompt for maximal response.

How I got into a dual program at Harvard and MIT [9/7/2026] (Recording)

How did I manage to be admitted into two of the best schools in the country - and into a dual degree program where I am attending both? Join me before MBA week kickoff for a session where I break down exactly what I did to be admitted to Harvard, MIT, and other M7 / top schools.

Example of a Winning Kellogg Personal Statement - Leadership Amidst Uncertainty

A breakdown of an actual personal statement that got a deferred candidate admitted to the Kellogg School of Management, focusing on how they addressed the prompt to "educate, equip and inspire brave leaders who create lasting value."

How Two M7 Admits Nailed Deferred MBA Apps

Are you a college senior aiming for a Deferred MBA program at a top business school? Join us for an insightful session on how two M7 admits successfully navigated the deferred MBA application process. I'm Mihir, your guide for this event. As an admit to both Columbia Business School and Chicago Booth Scholars, I bring firsthand experience and insider knowledge to help you stand out in your applications. With a background in Biochemistry, English, Business, and Computer Science, and professional stints at Capital One and Moderna, I offer a well-rounded perspective on crafting compelling applications. I'm thrilled to co-host this session with Kristen, an outstanding admit to both Harvard Business School and Stanford GSB through their deferred MBA programs. Kristen studied Business Administration and Management and has worked as an Associate Consultant Intern at Bain & Company, a Strategy & Operations Coach at Leland, and is the Co-Founder of Ignite Digital Wellness. She brings deep insight into building a powerful application from a non-traditional background and balancing startup, nonprofit, and consulting experiences. During this session, we'll cover everything from school selection and application strategy to essays and testing. Whether you're just starting or refining your final application, this event is designed to help you present your most authentic self.

Example Resume - Climate Infrastructure & Renewable Energy

This resume highlights the author's experience in climate infrastructure investment at BlackRock, clean energy ventures, and project management in renewable energy at NextEra Energy Resources, alongside their education from Harvard Business School and the University of North Carolina.

Letter of Recommendation Deadlines Tracker – MBA Applications

A spreadsheet to help applicants organize recommender deadlines across schools, ensuring timely submissions and clear communication throughout the application cycle.

UVA Admit Sample Resume [no legal work experience]

This applicant was admitted to several top law schools, including their Michigan, Duke, and UVA. Untraditional background/no legal experience.

Harvard/Yale/Stanford Admit with STEM Background — Resume

The resume of a law school applicant who was accepted to Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and Chicago. The applicant had no post-graduation work experience, so the resume highlights legal and STEM internships as well as volunteer and extracurricular involvement.

Unlock Your MBA Application Story

Use this comprehensive MBA questionnaire to articulate your unique story, define career goals, and strengthen your application for top business schools.

Template: How to Guide your Recommenders

A comprehensive guide for recommenders to craft impactful MBA letters, focusing on key attributes and application requirements for top business schools.

Successful MBA Client Case Studies: From Applying to Completing the First Year [8/25/2026] (Recording)

What does a successful MBA journey really look like, from developing an application strategy to completing the first year of business school? In this live conversation, I will be joined by Alana, a former client who has just completed her first year at her dream school, London Business School. Although her experience is at LBS, the lessons from her application, waitlist journey, school decision, and first year are relevant to applicants targeting leading MBA programs around the world. We will look back at her complete journey: how she approached the application process, presented her background and goals, navigated the uncertainty of being waitlisted, and ultimately earned admission. We will also move beyond admissions to discuss what happened after she arrived on campus. Alana will share how the academic, professional, social, and community experience compared with what she expected while applying. We will discuss: How Alana developed her MBA application strategy The challenges she faced during the application process What it was like to be waitlisted How she responded and continued strengthening her candidacy What helped her ultimately earn admission How she evaluated the opportunity and prepared for business school The biggest surprises from her first year How the reality compared with her expectations What she wishes she had understood as an applicant Her advice for current MBA candidates This will be an honest conversation about both sides of the MBA journey: what it takes to present yourself effectively during the admissions process, and what the experience is actually like once you arrive. Bring your questions about applications, waitlists, selecting a program, student life, career development, and the transition from applicant to MBA student.

How to Nail the “Why Us” & Other Supplemental Essays [9/13/2026] (Recording)

Your personal statement tells colleges who you are. Your supplements show them why you belong at their school. At selective colleges, the “Why Us” essay is one of your biggest opportunities to stand out—and one of the easiest places to blend in. Too many students write a generic essay: great academics, great location, great community, felt like home. That essay could have been written for any school. I’m a Stanford- and Columbia-educated writing coach, and in this livestream I’ll show you what a strong “Why Us” essay is actually asking you to do, the mistakes that can undermine an otherwise strong application, and how to write supplements that are so specific and personal that no other applicant could have written them. We’ll also tackle other supplemental prompts you’re likely to encounter, including community, identity, and extracurricular essays. Bring your college list—you’ll leave with a clear strategy for researching each school and turning what you discover into compelling, highly specific essays.

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.

Should I Reapply This Cycle? I'm So Confused! [7/24/2026] (Recording)

Feeling uncertain about whether to reapply to dental school this cycle? Join me for an insightful session where we'll tackle this common dilemma together. With decades of experience in prehealth advising and admissions, including my role as Director of Admissions at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, and Assistant Dean at both Fordham University and Columbia University, I've guided countless applicants through the complexities of the dental school application process. Whether you're considering reapplying with the same material, or retooling your whole application, this session will provide you with the clarity and confidence you need to make informed decisions.

MiM, Masters and MBA Essays, Dissected: Same Four Questions, Almost Everywhere [10/7/2026] (Recording)

Most essay advice is a list of tips. This is the version I give paying clients, using a real submitted essay and the rebuilt one next to it. I did a Master in Management (MiM) and have spent 8+ years in strategy and finance across six countries. I have mentored clients on their MiM, Master in Finance and MBA applications across the US, Europe and Asia. I have read a lot of drafts that were competent and forgettable, which means I can tell you what a reader actually sees. In 1 hour, I will cover why fifteen prompts across five schools are really only four questions, and why that changes how much work this is. What each of the four is actually asking underneath the wording, and the word split I would recommend for each. Why most why-this-school paragraphs survive having the school name swapped, and what to write instead. The five things your goals answer needs, and the one sentence almost nobody includes that makes it read as considered rather than hopeful. The four angles on the contribution question, including the one schools care about more than applicants realise. What the personal question is actually testing, and the tone mistake people make while believing they are being self-aware. Where AI helps you, where it quietly sinks you, and the completely honest mistake that gets applicants flagged as dishonest. And the order I actually work in with clients, which starts nowhere near a first draft. This is for anyone writing essays for a MiM, Master in Finance, MBA or specialised master's, whether you have a blank page or a draft you are not happy with. Forty five minutes of content, then live Q&A, hands or chat. Bring a question about your own draft. Everyone who attends gets the Essay Ideation Workbook by email afterwards.

How to Ace Your MBA Interview (2026 Intake)

This playbook is designed for candidates targeting M7 and Top 15 schools who want to turn an interview invite into an acceptance.

Overview of the Waitlist Process

• Visual timeline from decision release → movement → final outcomes • Key decision points: R2 admit shifts, summer yield management • Typical volume of waitlisted candidates and admit conversion rates • School-specific examples (generalized, not data-heavy) • Summary: What you can and can’t control at each stage

AI in MBA Admissions: Opportunity, Risk, and Strategy [3/26/2026] (Recording)

AI is quickly changing how applicants research schools, refine essays, and prepare for interviews—but most candidates aren’t sure how to use it strategically without weakening their application. This session is for MBA applicants who want to understand where AI can genuinely strengthen their process and where it can quietly undermine authenticity. You’ll learn practical ways to use AI for brainstorming and feedback, how admissions readers may detect overly AI-generated materials, and how to maintain a strong personal voice while leveraging new tools. Join live to ask your questions about essays, school research, and interview prep in an AI-enabled world. The speaker is a Stanford instructor with experience in both MBA admissions and AI research, and regularly advises applicants navigating these decisions. They’ll share the kinds of frameworks and examples that typically come up in 1:1 strategy conversations with candidates.

Military-to-MBA Panel

Thinking about transitioning from the military to business school? Join us for the Military-to-MBA Panel, where both MBA experts and veterans who have successfully made the leap will share their journeys, advice, and lessons learned. You’ll hear how they navigated the admissions process, translated their military experience into strong applications, and chose the right programs for their goals. ​This session is a great opportunity to get tactical tips on everything from selecting schools and writing your essays to building your MBA network as a veteran. Come with questions—our panelists are here to help you take the next step with clarity and confidence. ​Meet our panelists: ​Matt K. - Nuclear Submarine Officer for U.S. Navy, MIT MBA ​Angela C. - Expert MBA Coach, 8,545 Minutes Spent Coaching ​Austin W. - Aviation Officer for U.S. Army, Stanford GSB MBA