28,137Leland Reviews

I had my first interaction with Manali when I participated in the Leland MBA event titled "Navigating M7 MBA Admissions with an Average GPA and Test Scores". I really loved Manali's presentation and how insightful it was. I then proceeded to schedule a coaching session with her. It was definitely worth it. Thank you, Manali!

A Great Reassurance & Guiding Hand Cathy was a great help throughout my application process for INSEAD, including an initial assessment of my candidacy and help with the selection of recommenders, review of essays, and additional guidance with resumes and tips on video interviews. As someone that likes to bounce ideas and receive confirmation I’m on the right path, Cathy provided the perfect foil, offering support and affirmation when needed, but also providing necessary criticism where things could be improved. I enjoyed that she encouraged me to treat the process as an opportunity to look introspectively and when writing essays was initially more of a guiding hand, which resulted in my essays maintaining a clear personal tone in a process where there is always a risk of essays conforming to an easily-identified consultant framework. She was always a pleasure to speak to and I would certainly recommend her to anyone for assistance with applying to INSEAD.

I've worked with Cathy on an hourly basis for support in my applications to IESE and INSEAD. Cathy has helped me significantly improve my essays and resume by prompting me to self-reflect and clearly articulate my thoughts to craft a personable application. Cathy was very positive and encouraging throughout our interactions and at the same honest with her feedback. Her approach to identifying and conveying weaknesses and opportunities for improvement as challenges has played a major role in the success of both applications. Cathy is very experienced and understands the nuances of different business school applications and what they look for. I would highly recommend her to anyone applying to those two schools.

Cathy was very helpful in guiding me through my INSEAD application. She was not only encouraging throughout the process but provided very clear and honest feedback ranging from big picture comments to small details.

Rusty brings strong insights on how non traditional candidates can build a strong profiles for top MBA programs.

Rusty provided excellent advice during his seminar for non-traditional applicants. His ability to break down the non-traditional story equipped me with the tools to create a comprehensive narrative threaded throughout my application.

Jenai helped me review my past application package that was rejected by GSB. She came prepared with all the notes and comments. I found her advise helpful!

Admitted to Top Choice! My experience working with Faisal was absolutely fantastic and I could not have asked for a more supportive, responsive, experienced and professional mentor. I currently work in private equity (previously worked in investment banking), with the objective of applying to several top US MBA programs (R1 and R2) for the Class of 2020. I had high aspirations but came from an overrepresented background. Additionally, I lacked direction as to my rationale to pursue an MBA (e.g. “why me? “why now?” “what will an MBA do for my career?”) After working closely with Faisal for 9 months, I’m proud to say that I received admission to my first choice (top 5 US ranking) and second choice! Faisal’s close mentorship and logical approach to drawing from all aspects of my life (professional and personal) to help form a clear and persuasive story was beyond anything I could have imagined. His focus on precision and tailoring my message to each school kept me focused and built my self-confidence every step of the way. Lastly, Faisal’s organization, responsiveness, and commitment to school deadlines were exactly what I was looking for in a mentor and consultant. This process was truly life-changing not only from the perspective of receiving admission to a school that I could have only dreamed of but helping me understand myself better and mapping a professional pathway that will allow me to achieve my short and long-term goals. I can confidently recommend Faisal and wish future candidates the best of luck in their application endeavors.

Deciding to work with Faisal was the best decision I could have made regarding the application process. I come from a non-business background and do not have many in my close network that is knowledgeable about MBA programs or even the graduate school application process in general. I was truly flying blind. Faisal took me under his wing and provided me with brainstorming materials and constructive feedback that forced me to be incredibly introspective. Brainstorming with Faisal was almost cathartic. Because he was so interested in learning about me, Faisal was able to point out strengths and unique qualities that I didn’t recognize in myself. The MBA Prep School brainstorming sessions and resources allowed me to brand myself as a top MBA candidate. I also never waited longer than a few days to get feedback and edits from Faisal on my essays, resume, interview prep questions, etc. He was prompt, professional, and clearly cared about my success. My investment in MBA Prep School resulted in an acceptance at Booth, Kellogg, Tepper, Goizueta, and Foster all with either partial or full scholarship awards! 😊

I started working with Faisal a couple of months before my first application was due. I knew my time with him would be extremely helpful once we finished our first session. In that meeting, I learned three things. First, that Faisal really cares. It’s quite clear from the first few moments that he’s really passionate about his clients getting into their dream schools. Second, he’s extremely smart and knowledgeable about the process. He’s able to give guidance on what the admission’s office looks for in every aspect of your application. And third, he’s effective. In every session we had together, he made sure we had an agenda of what needed to get done. He knew that not only his time was valuable, but my time also. Like many other applicants, the main weakness I had with my application was my exam scores and Faisal immediately knew how to handle the situation. We were able to confront the weakness throughout my application by following his recommendations. And because of him, I was accepted to all the programs I applied to, including a top ten program. Without a doubt, I’ll be referring all my friends and co-workers to Faisal.