Leland+ for MBA

The MBA Resume Breakdown: How to Show Impact, Trajectory, and Fit on One Page [7/29/2026] (Recording)

Your MBA resume isn't your job resume with a new header. Adcom is reading it differently than a hiring manager would — and most applicants don't adjust. They submit a resume optimized for getting a job, not for getting into a program. This session covers what they're actually looking for and how to make sure your resume is telling the right story. How Adcom Reads Your Resume -The difference between a hiring manager scan and an adcom read -What adcom is actually pulling from your resume: leadership signals, trajectory, and impact -Why formatting, included components, and structure matter differently for MBA applications Writing Bullets That Show Impact, Not Just Activity -How to quantify impact even when your role wasn't revenue-generating -What strong vs. weak bullets actually look like when an adcom reader is scanning them Telling a Coherent Story Across Your Career -How to frame promotions, transitions, and pivots so they read as intentional rather than accidental -What to do if your career path looks scattered on paper -How to make sure your resume sets up your essays rather than contradicting them

Ross MBA 101: The Insider's View

Deck from a previous Leland event (recording is also available). The content includes: what adcom is looking for, as well as how to approach networking, essays, and interviews - all from a Ross alum and admissions interviewer.

Fuqua Essays

Accepted with $55K/year scholarship. Applied during Round 1 of 2021 (class of 2024).

Marshall Essays

Accepted with full-tuition scholarship. Applied in Round 1 of 2021 (class of 2024).

Anderson Essays

Admitted with full-tuition scholarship. Applied in Round 1 of 2021 (class of 2024)

Kellogg MBA Essays

Admitted to Kellogg with $20K/year scholarship during Round 1 of 2022 (class of 2024).

Supplemental Essay

This essay is used to explain a low undergrad GPA. I was admitted to 6/6 schools (Kellogg, Ross, Fuqua, Anderson, Marshall, McCombs), all with scholarships.

McCombs Essays

Accepted with a full-tuition scholarship. Applied in round 1 2021 (class of 2024).

Ross Essays

Admitted with full-tuition scholarship (Health Innovation Scholarship + Forte Fellowship). Applied Round 1 2021 (Class of 2024)

Ross MBA 101: The inside view of Ross from an alum and admissions interviewer [6/29/2026] (Recording)

A free session with a Ross MBA alum and admissions interviewer covering what adcom actually wants, how to nail your essays, and why most "Why Ross" answers miss the mark. Is Ross Right for You? Not every top program is built the same; Here's what makes Ross distinct and how to know if it belongs on your list. -The academics, culture, and community that define the Ross experience -How to pressure-test your interest before you put in the work What Adcom Actually Wants: What Ross is really evaluating beyond the resume and how to show it. -The criteria, values, and defining traits adcom consistently selects for -Common mistakes applicants make and how to avoid them -How to frame a non-traditional background as an asset, not a liability Building Your Ross Network Before You Apply: The applicants who get in aren't just applying, they're doing their homework. -How to reach out to current students and alums without being awkward about it -What to ask, what to track, and how to use it in your essays -Why this step matters more than most applicants realize Nailing Your Essays: The Ross essays reward specificity and vulnerability, and here's how to give them what they want. -How to approach each prompt, what the question is really asking, and how to demonstrate the characteristics they're looking for -What strong vs. weak essays actually look like -How to tell a cohesive story across your entire application The Interview: How to Answer "Why Ross" Without Sounding Generic: Most applicants blow this question. Here's how to not be one of them. -What adcom is listening for in your Why Ross answer -How to build a specific, credible answer that doesn't sound like you Googled it -What to expect from the full Ross interview format and how to prepare

The Non-Traditional Applicant's Playbook: How to Turn an Unconventional Path Int [7/30/2026] (Recording)

Most MBA prep content assumes a standard path: two or three years at a bank or consulting firm, clean career progression, obvious "why MBA." If that's not you, most of the advice out there doesn't apply, and following it will make your application worse, not better. As a Ross admissions interviewer who has interviewed candidates with every kind of background, I know what separates the non-traditional applicants who get admitted from the ones who don't. This session is for anyone who's ever worried their resume won't make sense to adcom. What "Non-Traditional" Actually Means to Adcom: It doesn't mean what most applicants think — and the anxiety around it is usually misplaced. -How adcom actually defines non-traditional and what it signals to a reader -The difference between a non-traditional background that's an asset and one that raises real concerns -Why some of the most compelling applications come from candidates without the standard pedigree Reframing Your Story So Your Background Works For You: Trying to make an unconventional path sound traditional is the wrong move. -How to find the through-line in a career that doesn't look linear on paper -Why your differentiated experience is more valuable than you've been told -How to position yourself as a distinct perspective Where Non-Traditional Applicants Lose Points (And How to Avoid It): The mistakes that hurt non-traditional candidates are specific and largely avoidable. -The essay and resume mistakes that come up most often in non-traditional applications -How to handle "why now" and "why MBA" when your path doesn't have an obvious answer -What adcom is actually concerned about when they see an unconventional background — and how to address it directly -How to use your recommenders strategically when your background is atypical