Leland+ for College

Getting Started on Your Writing

A comprehensive guide to overcoming writer's block, from brainstorming unique ideas to putting a pencil to paper and writing your first draft.

Early Applications: What Not To Do

Avoid the most common mistakes students make with Early Action, Early Decision, and Restrictive Early Action to maximize your success.

Early Application Options: What to Know

A comprehensive guide to understanding Early Action, Early Decision, and Restrictive Early Action, and how to choose the best option for you.

College List: What Not To Do

Avoid the most common mistakes students make when building their college list and learn how to create a strategic list that sets you up for success.

Creating a College List: Strategies & Tips

Learn how to create a strategic college list with a balanced mix of safety, target, and reach schools to maximize your chances of success.

Essay Writing Best Practices

Learn the best practices for writing a compelling application essay, from brainstorming to drafting to polishing your final submission.

Common Mistakes on Application Essays

Avoid the most common mistakes on your application essays and learn how to write a compelling narrative that stands out from the crowd.

Time Management 101

A beginner's guide to mastering time management, with proven strategies for prioritizing tasks, setting goals, and avoiding procrastination to boost your productivity and reduce stress.

How to Choose an Essay Topic

A step-by-step guide to choosing a compelling and unique essay topic that highlights your strengths and personal story for college applications.

How to Choose an Early Application

A comprehensive guide to understanding Early Action, Early Decision, and Restrictive Early Action, and how to choose the best option for your goals.

Steps to Landing Academic Research Through Faculty Outreach

Build rapport with professors and land the research opportunities you want. This is the complete outreach checklist.

Essay Analysis: What a Bad Essay Looks Like

Avoid common mistakes! This guide breaks down a cringe-worthy essay to teach you what not to do when writing your college applications.

Make the Most of Your Time in College

Go beyond classes and learn how to make your college years a powerful launchpad for your career and life. We'll cover everything from academics to networking and personal growth.

Making the Most of Alumni Networks

Tap into alumni communities for mentorship, referrals, and real-world insights that boost your career.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Recommendations

Don’t let weak recs sink your app—avoid these common pitfalls and set your recommenders up for success.

Extracurricular Secrets: What Colleges Actually Care About

A concise, insider guide that breaks down the most common misconceptions about extracurriculars and explains what admissions committees at selective colleges are actually evaluating. Designed for ambitious students and thoughtful families who want to build focused, high-impact profiles rather than guess their way through the process.

What a Strong Extracurricular Profile Actually Looks Like

This simple visual model explains how strong applicants balance deep interests, supporting activities, and broader exploration to create a compelling extracurricular profile.

How Admissions Committees Evaluate Extracurriculars

A behind-the-scenes look at how admissions committees evaluate student activities. Learn the five signals that help applicants stand out and how to demonstrate them in your application.

Personal Project Timeline: From Idea to Impact

This example timeline shows how a student can deliver a self driven project over time, from early ideation to meaningful outcomes, and why colleges care. Thoughtful, independent work demonstrates initiative, depth of interest, and leadership.

Specialists vs. Well-Rounded: What Colleges Want

Should students focus deeply on one interest or try many different activities? This guide explains how admissions committees think about specialization, exploration, and how strong applicants strike the right balance.