Leland+ for MBA

Sample Columbia Business School Essays

Stuck staring at the Columbia essay prompts? See exactly how admitted applicants pulled it off. This collection includes more than twenty complete essay sets covering every recent CBS question. Read across industries, geographies, and career stages to find approaches that resonate with your own story.

Successful Tuck Essays (with career goals)

Successful Dartmouth Tuck essays with career goals section, consultant, non-traditional application, volunteering, nonprofit, startup, family story, personal story, and thoughtful applicant positioning.

Consortium Example Essays

These essays helped an ally be admitted to Consortium and to UC Berkeley Haas and UCLA Anderson. They stand out due to the clarity in career goals, specific ways the applicant supported unrepresented groups, and multi-faceted plans for involvement and support in the future.

Starting Your GMAT Journey: An Introduction to the GMAT Focus Edition [5/21/2026] (Recording)

Starting GMAT prep can feel confusing when you’re not sure what’s changed in the Focus Edition or how to begin effectively. This session is for anyone looking for a clear introduction to the GMAT Focus Edition and what it takes to succeed. You’ll learn how the exam is structured, what each section tests, and how to build a study plan that aligns with your strengths and target score. Join live to ask questions about your starting point and get guidance on how to approach your prep with confidence. The speaker is an expert GMAT coach who regularly helps candidates navigate the early stages of studying. They’ll share the patterns they see across successful test takers and the foundational strategies typically covered in 1:1 prep sessions.

Professional CV - two Masters and three Doctorates + work experience!

For anyone looking for a clean, simple, thorough CV template! Includes my background of multiple undergraduate degrees, two Master's degrees, and three Doctorate degrees, along with research bibliography and work experience. Translatable for those entering MBA, Masters, PhD, medical school, dental school, physician's assistant and more.

Targeting M7 Schools? What It Really Takes [5/20/2026] (Recording)

1YR FREE LELAND+ GIVEAWAY FOR LIVE ATTENDEES ($119 VALUE). After this session, you'll know how to assess whether your profile is genuinely competitive for M7 schools and where the real gaps tend to appear. We'll cover how admissions committees at these programs actually differentiate candidates at the margin, what a strong post-MBA narrative looks like for the most common applicant profiles, and how to decide where to apply given your specific background and goals. Attending live means you can hear how experienced coaches thinks through cases like yours in real time, context a recording simply cannot replicate. These coaches work with M7 applicants daily and will share the patterns that separate candidates who get in from those who fall short at the final round.

REAL Sample Wharton MBA Essays

Multiple real, successful applicant essay sets covering all Wharton prompts. See exactly how admits structured winning answers before you write your own.

How to Stand Out When So Many Use Claude / ChatGPT for Essays [5/27/2026] (Recording)

As AI tools become more widespread in the admissions process, differentiation matters more than ever. This session will explore how applicants can rise above increasingly polished but increasingly generic essays by developing sharper self-awareness, stronger personal narratives, and more nuanced positioning. Attendees will learn what admissions committees notice immediately in AI-assisted applications and how to ensure their story remains distinctive, memorable, and authentically their own.

2026-2027 Wharton MBA Essay Brainstorm Exercise

A fill-in-the-blank workbook that walks you through all Wharton essays. Brainstorm tables, story selection guidance, and ready-to-use outlines take you from blank page to first draft.

Reaching Out for Recs? Here's How to Make Sure You're Set Up For Success [5/28/2026] (Recording)

Are you gearing up for your MBA applications and wondering how to secure stellar recommendation letters? Join me, Sabrina, for an insightful session on mastering the art of recommendations. With my experience as a Wharton MBA graduate and a member of the student admission committee, I understand the nuances of what makes a recommendation stand out. During this event, I'll share strategies to help you identify the right recommenders, guide them effectively, and ensure your recommendations align with your overall application narrative. Having interviewed industry leaders and held leadership roles at Wharton, I bring a wealth of knowledge to help you succeed. Spaces are limited, so RSVP now to secure your spot and take a crucial step towards your MBA dreams!

MBA Scorecard: Rank Every Program to Find Your Fit

A personalized Excel scorecard for ranking every top MBA program that autopopulates based on key criteria you should evaluate in narrowing down your list to your top-choice programs. Weight only the factors that matter to you (e.g., specific career funnels, geography, cost, culture, academics), and score each program out of 100, and see your rankings update live. This includes a filled-out example as well so you can see what a final product looks like. Delete anything that isn't useful, and keep the rest so this search is custom-tailored to you.

Deferred MBA M7 Series: Columbia

Applying to Columbia Business School’s deferred MBA program is a unique opportunity—and a uniquely competitive one. In this session, Melanie E.—a multi-disciplinary coach featured in Forbes, NBC, ABC, CBS, Business Insider, and TEDx—will break down exactly what CBS is looking for and how to position yourself as a standout candidate. With deep experience coaching applicants into top MBA programs and a coaching style tailored to each individual’s strengths, Melanie will walk you through how to craft a compelling narrative, highlight leadership potential, and approach Columbia’s essays and recommendations with clarity and strategy. Whether you’re early in your MBA exploration or preparing to hit submit, this session will give you actionable insights to strengthen your CBS deferred application.

Starting Your GRE Journey: An Introduction to the GRE General Test [5/14/2026] (Recording)

Starting your GRE prep can feel overwhelming when you’re not sure what the test actually involves or how to begin. This session is for anyone looking for a clear introduction to the GRE General Test and how to approach it effectively. You’ll learn how the exam is structured, what each section tests, and how to build a study plan that sets you up for steady improvement. Join live to ask questions about your starting point and get guidance on how to approach your prep with more confidence. The speaker is an experienced GRE coach who regularly helps students navigate the early stages of preparation. They’ll share the patterns they see across successful test takers and the foundational strategies typically covered in 1:1 prep sessions.

Crafting an MBA Essay That Actually Stands Out [5/12/2026] (Recording)

FREE LELAND + FOR 1 MONTH FOR ALL LIVE ATTENDEES. Strong MBA essays aren’t just well-written, they clearly communicate who you are and why you belong at a program. This session is for applicants who want to move beyond generic advice and craft essays that genuinely stand out. You’ll learn how to develop a focused personal narrative, avoid common mistakes that dilute your story, and align your essays with what admissions readers are actually looking for. Join live to hear from MBA admissions experts and ask questions about your own essay ideas. The panelists regularly work with applicants on essay development and will share the patterns they see across successful submissions. Expect practical feedback and insights similar to what’s covered in 1:1 coaching conversations.

Haasome (ie. Awesome Haas) Essays

These winning Haas essays show a clear vision of the applicant's career, a plan for how to make the most of her time at Haas, and the self-awareness and personal growth that Haas values. Talking points for the "What Makes You Feel Alive When You're Doing It" video essay are also included.

Successful UCLA Anderson Essays

See how this applicant made the most of Anderson's very short essays, securing admission and a full-ride scholarship!

Guide to Negotiating MBA Scholarships

Everything is negotiable, including your MBA scholarship. This guide walks you through the full strategy for increasing your award, from leveraging competing offers to highlighting recent achievements to following up effectively, plus four plug-and-play email templates covering the most common scenarios so you can negotiate with confidence.

How to Write an MBA Goals Essay

A complete framework for writing the goals essay that nearly every MBA program requires. Learn the winning formula, then use fillable tables to map your goals, select supporting past experiences, and connect to opportunities at up to four target schools. At the end, you'll have everything you need to draft a focused goals essay.

What AI Can’t Do in MBA Admissions [5/18/2026] (Recording)

Artificial intelligence has transformed how applicants brainstorm, draft, and prepare for business school applications, but the strongest MBA applications still require far more than polished prose. This session will break down where AI can help, where it often hurts, and the critical aspects of strategy, reflection, and storytelling that technology cannot replicate. Attendees will learn why top admissions committees continue to reward authenticity, judgment, and narrative depth, and how to use AI as a tool without allowing it to dilute what makes an application compelling.