Leland+ for Deferred MBA

HELP -- I'm Non-Traditional! AMA with Jessica B [6/8/2026] (Recording)

You didn't take the standard path. That doesn't mean you can't get into a top program — it means you need a sharper strategy than most. This is an open AMA for applicants who don't fit the typical mold: career changers, military veterans, physicians, founders, late-career applicants, people with non-linear resumes, or anyone who's ever wondered whether admissions committees will know what to do with them. I've worked with all of you. Since 2006, my clients have come from backgrounds that don't map neatly onto the McKinsey-to-HBS pipeline — and they've gotten into M7 programs anyway, frequently with scholarship. Three times Poets & Quants has recognized me as one of the best admissions consultants in the field. Bring your specific situation. Ask me whether your background is a liability or an asset, how to frame a career that's hard to explain in 250 words, whether EMBA or full-time MBA makes more sense for where you are, or anything else that's been keeping you up at night. No slides. No agenda. Just answers.

Finding Your MBA Story: Confused About What Makes You "Unique"? [8/4/2026] (Recording)

Most MBA essays sound exactly alike. Yours doesn't have to. If you have ever stared at a blank essay prompt and thought "I don't know what makes me different" — this session is for you. The truth is that uniqueness is almost never what you think it is. It's rarely the startup you launched or the award you won. It's usually something quieter — how you think, how you connect, how you move through the world. And it's almost always already there. We just have to find it. In this drop-in session we'll cover: Why "standard" profiles actually have more to work with than they think How to find the thread that makes your story specific, coherent, and unmistakably yours How to align your essays, recommendations, and goals around one identity What admissions committees are actually looking for — and why being "impressive" is not the same as being memorable Bring your blank page. Bring your doubts. Bring the question you're embarrassed to ask. We'll find your story together — and we'll give you real answers, not generic advice. Your story is in there. We just have to find it.

Winning Essays from My Stanford GSB Admits [7/24/2026] (Recording)

Many applicants find a way to write at least one strong essay. But those who really maximize the essay-writing process develop clear narrative through-lines that connect the dots of their life, and articulate how they'll contributions to their target brand. Their two-dimensional writing brings out a three-dimensional personality. They have a “brand”. You know what they’re all about. This event will draw from example essays written by successful admits who I've personally coached, and helped land a spot at one or more top MBA programs. These essays were particularly strong in how they spoke to one another—how they created a holistic applicant who admissions committees could envision on campus. Their professional and judiciously placed personal experience offer evidence for why they’re the kind of person who will make a specific, meaningful difference in the world. During this session, we'll analyze these essays alongside you so you have a clear view into how you can apply what you've learned to your own writing, and put your best application forward for Stanford's top MBA program.

Stop a Generic LOR Before It's Written: 3 Things to Do Now [8/4/2026] (Recording)

A strong candidate with a weak, generic letter is a common and preventable mistake. Learn exactly what to send your recommenders so their letter reinforces your narrative instead of undercutting it.

The Best Recruiting Companion - Networking Tracker

There is no better way to tackle application cycle stress, than without this simple and fool-proof networking tracker! Navigating recruitment can be overwhelming, but managing your contacts does not have to be. Designed for ultimate efficiency, this foolproof tracker keeps everything you need to know perfectly organized and easy to access. It cuts out the unnecessary data so you can focus strictly on building relationships that matter. Download it now to streamline your process and start growing your professional network.

Vanderbilt Personal Statement (Pathway2MBA)

Please share what you hope to accomplish professionally before beginning your MBA at Vanderbilt. How does the MBA come into your plans and what are your short-term career goals after obtaining your MBA? (300 words)

Vanderbilt Personal Statement (Pathway2MBA)

Reflect on a challenge or stressful situation you have faced. How did you respond to this challenge, and what did you learn about yourself through the process? (300 words)

Practical Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Strong MBA Application

Applying to an MBA is not simply about filling out forms, writing essays, and submitting a GMAT or GRE score. A successful MBA application is a strategic project. It requires self-reflection, school research, career clarity, storytelling, execution, and careful timing. The strongest candidates are not always the ones with the most perfect profile. They are usually the ones who understand their own story, know why they need the MBA, choose the right schools, and present a coherent case to the admissions committee. This document provides a basic A-to-Z roadmap for preparing a successful MBA application.

Example HEC Paris MBA Essays

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

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.

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.

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.

MBA Essay Self-Discovery Workbook: Unlock Your Narrative & Write

This is a reflection-focused, 13-section workbook for MBA applicants to uncover and build your story before embarking on the complex, layered process of writing your essays. This resource is informed from my time in Stanford GSB's Interpersonal Dynamics (Touchy Feely), my time helping dozens of other GSB classmates find their voice as the Managing Editor for Stanford GSB's Paper (Nondisclosure), and in helping over 500 MBA applicants self-reflect in a way that feels genuine, personal and clarifying. I wrote this resource with just enough structure (but not too much), and with a practical eye towards covering the ground you'll need for your MBA apps. You'll go deep, but every question has a purpose. I also use this with everyone I work with, and it's something we'll cover at the very beginning of our process. My hope is that this resource, in addition to being a big help, feels like we're in conversation. The goal is just to get to know you a little better, one step at a time, in a way that feels natural, even enjoyable. Even if you're the only one who ever sees it, I've tried to write this in a way that I'd speak about this kind of thing with you. Because I think humans are the best way to help other humans see themselves a little deeper. And trust me, plenty of "coaches" could use more of that too ;) This workbook will cover your background, motivations, short and long-term goals, values, behavioral stories, and more. A PDF is attached here, but there's also a downloadable Word file I recommend using to make things much easier for you to fill out as you go. This took me about 20-30 hours of time to put together, and I suggest putting at least 5-10 into filling this out. Some go at it all at once, but most do it in a few sittings. Long walks are good to interperse between writing sessions, and I actually recommend you reflect and go back to this to update your answers several times throughout your MBA process. Save new versions as you go and you'll be able to see your application pixellate over this monthslong process. If you're reapplying, I'd push you to compare what you end up with here with what you submitted last time. The differences may be revealing. I hope ends up a real tool for you, and that it helps you find answers you might not have found otherwise. It also will give you a glimpse into what coaching together feels like. Don't hesitate to reach out if you feel like sharing this. Working on your writing and applications together is a natural byproduct of the kind of reflection you'll be doing here, and it's my favorite thing to help someone with. Happy writing :) -Ben

2026-2027 Columbia Essay Brainstorm

The complete brainstorming workbook for Columbia's 2026-2027 essays. Inside: step-by-step exercises for every prompt, from short answers to Essay 1 goals to Essay 2 collaboration stories to Essay 3 "co-create" arguments, with structured charts to help you organize your stories, research, and outlines before you start drafting.

Example MBA Side Letters

A curated set of real, successful side letters covering both the general format and the specific question prompts required by Chicago Booth, Duke Fuqua, and London Business School. A "general" style side letter (like those requested by INSEAD) is also included. See exactly how effective recommenders structure their letters and answer each school's questions before briefing the person writing yours.

Sample MBA Reapplicant Essays

Six real, successful reapplicant essays from candidates admitted to top MBA programs. See exactly how they addressed past weaknesses, demonstrated growth, and reinforced fit, giving you concrete models to study before drafting your own second-chance essay.

Your Complete Guide to MBA Scholarship Essays

A complete playbook for writing scholarship essays that actually win funding. Inside: a clear framework for what committees want to see. This guide includes ten real, successful examples spanning multiple essay question types and direct scholarship reconsideration requests.

Sample MBA Interview Answers

A comprehensive library of sample MBA interview responses across every major question category: leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, communication, self-awareness, resilience, ethics, and adaptability. Each example uses the STAR method to show you exactly how to structure compelling, quantified answers you can adapt with your own experiences.

Writing your MBA Goals Paragraph

A focused exercise for drafting the goals paragraph that anchors your entire MBA application, from essays to interviews. Map your short- and long-term roles, target companies, and intended impact in a structured table, then translate it into a 100-150 word paragraph using the included checklist. At the end, you'll have a sharp, reusable goals statement you can adapt across every school.

Example Optional Essays for MBA Applications

The most comprehensive optional essay sample library you'll find: 20+ real, successful examples organized by scenario. Whether you're explaining a low GMAT, a work gap, your recommender choice, or a unique background, see exactly how admitted candidates handled the same challenge before drafting your own.