Leland+ for College

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.

Personal Statement Office Hours — Ask a Stanford & Columbia Writing Expert [8/30/2026] (Recording)

Have a personal statement topic but don't know if it's the right one? Stuck on your opening? Worried your essay sounds cliché—or simply doesn't sound like you? Bring your questions, ideas, or draft to this live office-hours session. I'll answer your questions and offer practical, personalized guidance on the spot. We'll talk about what makes a personal statement memorable, how to find the deeper story beneath an obvious topic, how to avoid the most common essay traps, and how to make your writing sound authentic rather than “admissions-y.” You can come with a question, a rough idea, a partial draft, or a completed essay. You don't need to submit anything in advance. By the end, you'll have a clearer sense of what is—and isn't—working in your essay, along with concrete next steps for making it stronger. This is an interactive session, so come ready to participate!

The Standout College Essay: How to Find the Story Only You Can Tell [9/10/2026] (Recording)

Many college essays fail the same way: they sound impressive, polished — and interchangeable. A standout essay does one thing instead: it tells the story only you could tell. I'm a Stanford- and Columbia-educated writing coach, and over 8+ years I've built a process that gets students to that story — the one that makes an admissions reader stop and pay attention. In this working session I'll show you what admissions officers are really looking for, the four qualities every standout essay shares, and then we'll do a live brainstorming exercise together to start uncovering your story. Bring paper and a pen — you'll leave with a real thread to pull. Key takeaways: What admissions officers actually look for · The 4 qualities every standout essay shares · A live exercise to uncover the story only you can tell · Different essay types: how to choose your structure.