Leland+ Content Library

3 Secrets of the GRE That Will Raise Your Score Today!

Getting ready for the GRE? Small changes in how you prepare and approach the test can make a big difference in your score. In this workshop, expert test prep coach Bruce H. will reveal three insider strategies that top scorers use to gain an edge on exam day. You’ll learn how to tackle tricky questions with confidence, manage your time more effectively, and avoid the common mistakes that hold test-takers back. Whether you’re just starting your prep or looking for a last-minute boost, these actionable tips will help you raise your score right away.

Bruce H.

From Draft to Done: Finalizing Your PhD Applications

Applying to PhD programs is a long process—and the final stretch can make all the difference. In this session, Madeleine L., Diane K., and Kenneth T., will teach you how to refine and polish your application materials so that every component works together to present a cohesive, compelling story. We’ll cover strategies for tightening your statement of purpose, ensuring your research interests are clear, aligning your recommenders, and avoiding last-minute mistakes. Whether you’re weeks away from submitting or just want a stronger review process, this event will give you practical tools to finalize your PhD applications with confidence.

3 contributors

Mock McKinsey Behavioral Interview (PEI)

Christina B. and Jeremy S. are two of Leland’s top management consulting coaches, and they’re teaming up to help you master McKinsey’s unique behavioral interview style called Personal Experience Interview (or PEI). Often underestimated, the PEI is one of the most pivotal parts of the consulting interview process. If you can tackle the PEI, you can likely ace any behavioral interview from any firm. Jeremy will interview Christina live. Learn what exceptional PEI performance really looks like from a former McKinsey hiring manager whose coaching helped 85% of candidates land MBB offers last cycle. We recommend this event whether you’ve kicked off your consulting interview prep process, or you're still deciding if consulting is for you.

2 contributors

McKinsey PEI Mock Interview

2 contributors

Before You Hit Submit: Tips to Make Your College App Shine

As deadlines approach, this workshop will walk you through the final steps that take a college application from good to unforgettable. Our expert panel will cover how to polish your essays, strengthen your storytelling, and make strategic last-minute tweaks that help you stand out in competitive pools. Meet Your Coaches: Jessica F. — Harvard alum with 30 years of experience helping students get into top schools through expert essay and application guidance. Liz C. — Duke MBA and storytelling specialist with an almost 100% BYU admit rate, known for elevating nontraditional and healthcare-focused applicants. Luzy G. — Harvard graduate with 4+ years of consulting experience whose students have been admitted to top universities—and who earned full-ride scholarships herself.

3 contributors

Your Med School Application Game Plan

Applying to medical school isn’t just about filling out forms—it’s a process that requires months, and often years, of preparation. In this 45-minute workshop, coach Avery W. breaks down exactly when to start and how to stay on track so you’re ready to hit submit with confidence. You’ll learn how to: Plan your MCAT prep timeline to align with your application goals Start and refine your personal statement without rushing at the last minute Strategically ask for recommendation letters and give your writers enough time Craft strong activities descriptions that highlight impact and growth Whether you’re one, two, or even three cycles away from applying, this session will give you a clear roadmap for managing the moving pieces of the primary application and avoiding the common pitfalls of poor planning.

Avery W.

The ACT Has Changed—Here’s How to Get Ready

With recent updates to the ACT, it’s more important than ever to understand what’s new—and how to prepare strategically. In this workshop, Rebekah R.—a perfect scorer with over a decade of test prep experience, including as a former SAT/ACT tutor at The Princeton Review—will break down the changes and share how students can adapt their study approach for success. Rebekah has guided countless students to their target scores by combining proven strategies with personalized support. She’ll walk you through what’s different on the test, what remains the same, and the most effective ways to prepare with confidence. Whether you’re testing soon or planning ahead, this session will help you stay ahead of the curve.

Rebekah R.

Build Your Personal Brand & Thought Leadership System with Claude + Notion [5/20/2026] (Recording)

Personal branding is your ticket to excelling in the AI age. Most professionals know they should be creating content yet almost none of us do it consistently. Not because we lack ideas, but because we have no system to enable consistency. In this session, we'll build one. Using the network analysis from last week, we'll use Claude to generate a content calendar built around your actual expertise, then turn each idea into multiple formats: a LinkedIn post, a story hook, a networking pitch, and more. Everything lives in a pre-built Notion template you duplicate at the start of the session, so you spend the full session generating content, not building infrastructure. Outcome for attendees: A content calendar tailored to their specific network audience and a reusable Claude + Notion workflow they can run every month independently Session pre-requisites: Claude account & Notion account — free is fine 🙂

Angela C.

You've Started Your MBA App ... But Now What?

You've started your MBA application, but now what? You need to create a compelling application while navigating a landscape that has undergone a shift from last year. In this session, using real examples from past clients, you will learn how to craft a compelling elevator pitch that will drive ALL your application content. With over 15 years of experience in MBA coaching and a background as a former admissions committee member at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, I have helped over 100 applicants secure their spots at top business schools and will share what separates good applications from the bad. Whether you're applying for a traditional full-time, executive, or part-time MBA, this session will provide you with the tools and insights needed to craft a compelling application. Don't miss this opportunity to gain a competitive edge in your MBA application process!

Faisal K.

Deploy Your Own App

SESSION GUIDE: https://www.lelandcourses.com/ai-builder/deploy-an-app/ Vibe coding got you to a working app. Now how do you actually get it on your phone, or anyone else's? Join Jon Metz, Principal AI Product Manager at Nike, for a hands-on session covering everything between finished code and a real product. Whether you're trying to launch something to the world, get your app on the App Store for a real user base, or just want that AI personal trainer you built last week actually living on your phone, Jon will walk you through how to get there. You'll cover Apple Developer setup, connecting Claude Code to your Supabase backend, the final production checklist, and how to install an app on your own device without touching the App Store at all. Come with your own app or use the example. Either way, you leave with something real on a real device.

Jon M.

HBS Post-Interview Reflection Letter | 2027 Admit Example

Attached is an example of somebody I worked with who got in last cycle and I think did a great job with their HBS interview reflection letter. My core guidance: - Right after your interview, take a few minutes and write everything down. It's going to be helpful for later so that you don't have to rely exclusively on your memory. Then take an hour or two, decompress and get writing. - Short and sweet — grateful-professional is your tone - Directly reference your convo. Nothing generic whatsoever. If it sounds impersonal, delete it. - Don't brag or flex, but do mention a highlight/detail/nuance or two you would've gotten to with 5 more minutes of time. - About two-thirds of a page is right length-wise. - Make sure if they don't offer, that you get your interviewer's names anyway. That's important. They probably will but just in case. You'll feel silly writing a letter to someone whose name you don't know.

Ben L.

Craft Winning Cover Letters & Resumes for PE: How to Tell a Deal Story

In private equity recruiting, your deal experience is your story—and how you tell it can make or break your candidacy. In this workshop, James W.—a Wharton MBA with experience as an M&A attorney at Kirkland & Ellis and Paul Weiss, an investment banker at Guggenheim Securities, and a private equity operator at GenNx360—will walk you through how to craft resumes and cover letters that showcase your deal experience with clarity and impact. Having sat on every side of the table, James will share what recruiters and hiring managers actually look for, how to structure your deal descriptions, and how to highlight the strategic thinking behind your work. Whether you’re recruiting for your first on-cycle role or positioning yourself for a post-MBA move, this session will give you the insider perspective and tools to stand out in the competitive PE hiring process.

James W.

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.

4 contributors

Cool, Calm, and Laser-Focused: Tame GMAT Test Anxiety

Join Leland coach Jennifer P. D. for a session packed with actionable tips and strategies for developing the calm, confident, laser-focused mindset that powers your best performance. If you've ever been frustrated at the way you lose your cool when the clock starts ticking, you're not alone! In Jennifer's 12 years of GMAT, GRE, and SAT coaching experience, she's encountered dozens of smart, utterly competent individuals who struggled to demonstrate their capabilities during these high-stakes exams. This fueled her drive to read research in neuroscience and performance psychology, to train in mindfulness meditation techniques, and to speak with candidates directly about what's playing out in their minds. Now she incorporates these concepts into all of her group classes and coaching - and it makes a difference! What's going on in your mind? Why is that normal? How can you shape it to work for you? Let's discuss. One of Jennifer's recent students wrote, "Working with Jennifer has been nothing but amazing and did wonders not only for my GMAT Focus score but also my general 'mindset' when it comes to high-pressure situations (as you experience during the exam). My GMAT Focus score jumped 110 points."

Jennifer P. D.

Build a Job Search Operating System (JSOS) [5/13/2026] (Recording)

Build Anything Series · Event 01 · Free · Live The job search is the most expensive workflow most people will ever run — and the one they're least equipped for. Spreadsheets, sticky notes, half-tracked outreach, lost interview notes. By the end of this hour, you'll learn how to create a complete Job Search Operating System to help you land your next offer. What we'll walk through live: - A real applicant tracker | every role, company, and contact in one view. Status, last action, next step, follow-up date. - Automated outreach + research | pull company context, drafts personalized outreach, surfaces the right people to message. - Synced notes, prep, offer comparison | interview notes that auto-link to the role, prep doc generation per company, structured offer comparison when it's time to choose. Who it's for: - People actively job searching or about to start - Career switchers, returning-to-work folks, recent grads - Anyone who's run a search before and remembers losing track of half of it Not a fit if: - You enjoy manual data entry and Excel-tab chaos - You'd rather pay $300 for a static prompt template that fails instead of learning the principles yourself - You want a one-click magic button I'll be honest about where AI helps and where it doesn't, and how to keep the system running without me. Bring your laptop and follow along, or lean in, watch, and replicate after.

Ben L.

Big 10 to MBB + Big Tech: Positioning Yourself to Get Offers

This guide was written by a former Bain & Company Associate Consultant, now in a Strategy and Operations role at LinkedIn, who went through the full MBB recruiting process out of Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. It covers everything that actually matters when you are trying to break into a top consulting firm or land a Big Tech strategy role from a non-target school. Inside you will find a no-nonsense breakdown of how MBB firms actually differ, what a competitive application looks like, how to build a resume that passes the ten-second scan, and the networking approach that moves the needle versus the one that wastes your time. The guide goes deep on case interview preparation, including the pyramid framework approach and what interviewers are genuinely evaluating in the room, and covers the behavioral and fit interview with the same level of honesty. The final chapter covers what transfers from consulting to Big Tech, how that recruiting process works, and how to negotiate an offer once you have one. This is not generic advice. It is based on having gone through the process recently, having sat on the other side of the table at Bain, and having made the transition to Big Tech firsthand.

Justin S.

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.

Isamar V.

MBA Self-Discovery Workbook: Unlock Your Narrative & Write Freely

This is a reflection-focused, 13-section workbook for MBA applicants to uncover and build your story before embarking on the complex, layered process of writing your essays. This resource is informed from my time in Stanford GSB's Interpersonal Dynamics (Touchy Feely), my time helping dozens of other GSB classmates find their voice as the Managing Editor for Stanford GSB's Paper (Nondisclosure), and in helping over 500 MBA applicants self-reflect in a way that feels genuine, personal and clarifying. I wrote this resource with just enough structure (but not too much), and with a practical eye towards covering the ground you'll need for your MBA apps. You'll go deep, but every question has a purpose. I also use this with everyone I work with, and it's something we'll cover at the very beginning of our process. My hope is that this resource, in addition to being a big help, feels like we're in conversation. The goal is just to get to know you a little better, one step at a time, in a way that feels natural, even enjoyable. Even if you're the only one who ever sees it, I've tried to write this in a way that I'd speak about this kind of thing with you. Because I think humans are the best way to help other humans see themselves a little deeper. And trust me, plenty of "coaches" could use more of that too ;) This workbook will cover your background, motivations, short and long-term goals, values, behavioral stories, and more. A PDF is attached here, but there's also a downloadable Word file I recommend using to make things much easier for you to fill out as you go. This took me about 20-30 hours of time to put together, and I suggest putting at least 5-10 into filling this out. Some go at it all at once, but most do it in a few sittings. Long walks are good to interperse between writing sessions, and I actually recommend you reflect and go back to this to update your answers several times throughout your MBA process. Save new versions as you go and you'll be able to see your application pixellate over this monthslong process. If you're reapplying, I'd push you to compare what you end up with here with what you submitted last time. The differences may be revealing. I hope ends up a real tool for you, and that it helps you find answers you might not have found otherwise. It also will give you a glimpse into what coaching together feels like. Don't hesitate to reach out if you feel like sharing this. Working on your writing and applications together is a natural byproduct of the kind of reflection you'll be doing here, and it's my favorite thing to help someone with. Happy writing :) -Ben

Ben L.

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