Leland+ for MBA

Ace Your Chicago Booth MBA Interview (2026 Intake)

This practical guide shows you how Booth interviews work and how to prepare effectively, based on real candidate experiences.

MBA Interview Series: Wharton Team Based Discussion

Wharton’s Team-Based Discussion is unlike any other MBA interview—and succeeding requires a distinct approach. This session is designed to help you understand the format and stand out in a collaborative, high-pressure setting. You’ll learn how to contribute thoughtfully, lead without dominating, and communicate your ideas clearly while elevating the group. We’ll also cover what Wharton evaluators look for and common mistakes candidates make. Whether you’re preparing for your first TBD or refining your approach, you’ll leave with practical strategies to perform with confidence.

How Top MBA Applicants Nail “Why MBA” and “Why Now”

“Why MBA” and “Why now” are two of the most important—and most challenging—questions in any MBA application. This session is designed to help you craft clear, convincing answers that show purpose, timing, and fit. In this event, you’ll learn how top applicants connect past experiences to future goals, articulate strong motivations, and avoid common pitfalls that weaken these essays and interview responses. We’ll also cover what admissions committees look for and how to make your story stand out. Whether you’re just starting your application or refining your narrative, you’ll leave with practical frameworks and greater confidence.

The MBA Story Bank Worksheet

Build your core story library before writing a single essay or preparing for a single interview. This fillable worksheet walks you through cataloging your 8–10 strongest career stories with the specificity MBA admissions committees and interviewers actually require — including a story card template for each experience, a theme matrix to map your stories to essay and interview categories, a coverage checker to identify gaps, and a goals and narrative prep section to build the spine of your entire application.

Resume from a HBS + GSB Deferred Admit - Entrepreneurship/Tech

View the resume from somebody who worked across consulting, entrepreneurship, and tech in their undergrad and was accepted into Harvard and Stanford's deferred programs.

The Wharton TBD Interview Prep Guide (2026 Intake)

The Wharton TBD Interview Prep Guide (2026 Intake) is your strategic roadmap to excelling in one of the most distinctive MBA interviews. Inside, you’ll find actionable insights on: - How the TBD actually works - Crafting a sharp, differentiated 60-second pitch - Common team roles and group dynamics - Key do’s and don’ts - How evaluators think, and what truly sets standout candidates apart

How to Ace Your MBA Interview (2026 Intake)

This playbook is designed for candidates targeting M7 and Top 15 schools who want to turn an interview invite into an acceptance.

M7 MBA Essay Question Bank: Prompts by School (2024–25)

A reference guide to official M7 MBA essay prompts — organized by school. Covers all seven programs with each school’s full prompt list, word counts, what the admissions committee is actually evaluating per prompt, the most common mistakes that cost applicants, and strategic tips on what each school’s adcom is really looking for. Includes a format comparison table and universal essay principles that apply across all M7 applications.

What Top Deferred MBA Admits Do Differently

Top deferred MBA admits don’t just have strong resumes, they position themselves with clarity, maturity, and long-term vision that stands out in a crowded applicant pool. In this session, we’ll break down the specific behaviors, strategic choices, and storytelling techniques that differentiate successful deferred candidates, from how they articulate career goals to how they demonstrate leadership and impact early on. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of what admissions committees are truly looking for and how to elevate your own candidacy.

AI in MBA Admissions: Opportunity, Risk, and Strategy [3/26/2026] (Recording)

AI is quickly changing how applicants research schools, refine essays, and prepare for interviews—but most candidates aren’t sure how to use it strategically without weakening their application. This session is for MBA applicants who want to understand where AI can genuinely strengthen their process and where it can quietly undermine authenticity. You’ll learn practical ways to use AI for brainstorming and feedback, how admissions readers may detect overly AI-generated materials, and how to maintain a strong personal voice while leveraging new tools. Join live to ask your questions about essays, school research, and interview prep in an AI-enabled world. The speaker is a Stanford instructor with experience in both MBA admissions and AI research, and regularly advises applicants navigating these decisions. They’ll share the kinds of frameworks and examples that typically come up in 1:1 strategy conversations with candidates.

How to Create a Winning DMBA Resume

The resume is one of the most important elements of your Deferred MBA application. Besides being the basis of your entire application, it's also where you get to sell the Admissions Committee on your story, and prove to them why they should take a chance on you. In this event, we'll review the various components of the resume and discuss how to mine your background and experience to make you stand out!

2025 Knight-Hennessy Scholars - Rec Template

Downloadable template to prepare your Knight Hennessy Scholars Recommenders - see associated PDF Guide for instructions!

Live Mock MBA Interview

​In this workshop, you’ll experience what it’s really like to be in the MBA hot seat through a mock interview led by top Leland coaches Angela C. and Ben L. With years of experience coaching applicants into programs like Stanford GSB, HBS, and Wharton, they know exactly what admissions committees are looking for. ​You’ll practice tackling the toughest questions, get real-time feedback on your answers, and learn strategies to communicate with confidence and authenticity. Whether you’re preparing for your first interview or refining your approach for final rounds, this session will help you sharpen your skills and stand out in the competitive MBA admissions process.

2025 Knight-Hennessy Scholars - How to Answer the Short Answer Questions

This insider guide reveals what KHS really wants beyond stated criteria, offering specific frameworks for the three critical short answer questions

2025 Knight-Hennessy Scholars Recommender Guide

Comprehensive guide to preparing your recommenders for the Knight Hennessy Scholarship

GRE Arithmetic - Percent Bakery Question

This is a review for how to structure and solve a percent change question for the GRE.

Resume for Knight-Hennessy Scholarship Application

Resume of an admitted Knight-Hennessy scholar

Managing MBA Application Stress (Deck)

Learn from the slides of a past event designed to help you think through the honest realities of the process and buckling down of it all, how to keep your health and life in the foreground even with a lot going on, and how to not think of your health like firewood in service of a work product.

Writing Standout Application Essays

​Led by Tim F. (Former Adcom at Chicago Booth), Laura N. (Former Adcom at Michigan Ross), and Angela C. (Stanford) this session will provide you with valuable insights, proven strategies, and expert guidance to help you create impactful essays that reflect your unique experiences and aspirations. ​​​Discover top tips for capturing the attention of admissions committees, structuring your essays effectively, and showcasing your authentic voice. Whether you are just starting your application or looking to refine your existing essays, this workshop will equip you with the tools and techniques necessary to make your application shine.

Writing the “Why MBA?” Essay

Learn to clearly articulate why you need an MBA now, why each school fits, and how it connects to your long-term vision.