Leland+ for College
Popular on Leland+
Proven Brainstorming Q's to Ace Your College Essay
Effective questions to help you create a college admissions essay that will open doors for you.
Optimizing for Success
Learn how to optimize your application for success with strategies for showcasing your unique strengths, crafting a memorable narrative, and making the best possible impression on admissions officers.
The Amy Approach: A Real Talk Guide to Picking the Right College
A step-by-step guide to picking the right college.
Gap Year: Is It Right for You?
A comprehensive guide to the pros and cons of taking a gap year, with key questions to consider before making your decision.
Elevate Your Common App: Craft a Powerful Activities List
Are you applying to college and nervous about how to talk about your activities? Join Isamar, a former Stanford Admissions Officer, for this live workshop focused on helping you highlight your story through your activities list. This workshop will help you craft a powerful Common App activities list that showcases your unique interests and accomplishments beyond superficial activity descriptions. Learn 3 strategies to ensure that your application makes a compelling impression on admissions committees, captures your essence, and maximizes your chances of standing out in the admissions process. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your application! Who is leading the workshop? As a former Assistant Director of Admissions at Stanford, Isamar personally reviewed over 7,000 applications. As an admissions consultant, she coached students to gain admission to universities like Yale, Harvard, Stanford, UC Berkeley, Georgia Tech, UVA, Pomona, and more. She has supported both US and international students, as well as first-gen students. Isamar’s personalized, empathetic, and strategic approach ensures that your unique strengths and experiences shine through in your application. Her goal is for you to feel that you are applying as your best self, no matter where you’re applying. Isamar is a proud first-generation college graduate with a BA and EdM from Harvard, and an MBA from Oxford.
High School Resume Example for Top CS College Apps
Sample resume for high school student
Ask Me Anything with a Former Stanford Admissions Officer
Join me for an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session to get answers to your college admissions questions. I'm Isamar, a former Stanford Admissions Officer, a Harvard grad, proud first-generation college graduate, and an experienced college admissions coach. With years working with students from all backgrounds, including US-based, international, and first-generation applicants, I'm here to help you navigate the college admissions process. My goal is to provide thoughtful, empathetic, and strategic guidance. Whether you're a high school student or parent, don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights from a seasoned professional.
BYU Activities Example Essay - Piano
An essay responding to BYU application prompt about extracurricular activities, detailing a long-term commitment to piano and the lessons it taught about perseverance.
Panel: Get Accepted to Your Dream College
Join Abigail L., Mel B., and Benito N., top Leland college admissions coaches and former admissions officers, for a panel packed with actionable advice to help you stand out in today’s competitive college landscape. We’ll cover everything from building a balanced school list and writing compelling essays to showcasing your extracurriculars and avoiding common mistakes. Whether you’re just getting started or deep in the application process, this session will give you the insights and confidence to apply strategically—and successfully. Let's get you into your dream school!
BYU Activities Example Essay - Leadership through United Sound
An essay responding to the BYU applicatino prompt about extracurricular activities, detailing participation in United Sound and how it developed leadership and communication skills.
BYU "Losing Track of Time" Example Essay - Avatar
An essay responding to the prompt about a topic so engaging it makes you lose track of time, focusing on the show "Avatar: The Last Airbender."
BYU "Tell Us Your Story" Example Essay - Listening
An essay responding to the prompt to "tell us your story," focusing on the importance of listening and understanding diverse perspectives to contribute to the community.
BYU "Tell Us Your Story" Example Essay: Physical Difference
An essay responding to the BYU application prompt to "tell us your story," sharing a personal experience of growing up with a physical difference and what it taught about self-acceptance.
BYU "Significant Needs in the Community" Example Essay - Coaching
An essay responding to the BYU application prompt about significant needs in the community, detailing how the student coached a youth basketball team to help improve local sports.
UC Application Power Workshop: Maximize Your Essays + Activities List
Join expert college admissions coach Hillary H. for an engaging UC Essay & Activities Workshop designed to help students craft compelling and authentic responses to the University of California Personal Insight Questions (PIQs) and maximize the impact of their Activities & Awards List. In this session, we’ll explore how to choose the right prompts to showcase your strengths, align your writing with UC’s 13 Comprehensive Review Factors, and present a cohesive, well-rounded application. Students will learn how to write with clarity and purpose, make their four essays distinct yet connected, and elevate the activities section to support their narrative. Whether you're just getting started or refining your drafts, this workshop will give you the tools and confidence to write with impact.
College Workshop: Three-Month Application Plan to Land Your Early Decision School
Are you a high school student aiming to apply Early Decision (ED) to your top-choice U.S. university? Join Kevin P. for an interactive session that lays out a focused three‑month plan—from now to the Nov 1–15 deadlines—so you can craft a standout ED application on time and with confidence.With over a decade of experience supporting students across the world, he will guide you through the essentials—from weekly milestones and essay drafting to coordinating recommendations, understanding ED’s binding and financial implications, polishing your activities list, and building a smart backup plan for EA/RD. Topics include: 90‑day ED timeline and task checklist (mid‑Aug → Nov 1–15): essays, supplements, testing, recommenders, and school documents Standing out fast: personal statement and “Why Us?” strategy, activities impact, and recommendation packets Readiness and backup: score strategy, financial/aid planning for ED, portal tracking, and an EA/RD contingency if ED doesn’t land
Supplemental Essays: An Overview
A comprehensive guide to understanding supplemental essays, with tips on why they're important, how to approach them, and how to make them stand out.
Supplemental Essays: What Not To Do
Avoid the most common mistakes on your supplemental essays and learn how to write a compelling narrative that is specific to the school and prompt.
The Informative Essay
An in-depth guide to writing an informative essay, with strategies for providing essential context, highlighting unique experiences, and showcasing your authentic self to admissions committees.
The Interview: What Not to Do
Avoid the most common mistakes in your interviews, from poor body language to unprepared answers, to make a lasting and positive impression on your interviewer.
