28,622Leland Reviews

Pamela’s candid and caring nature is what got me into INSEAD! Unlike most other consultants I had enquired with, Pamela wanted to be as candid as possible and not falsely inflate anything just to get a client. I realized this candidness would help me make the largest improvements and get the best chances possible! It did. I prepared for my materials very late and made so many mistakes, I thought I would get scolded by Pamela, but what came was nothing but care and encouragement. She extended our contract twice just to accommodate for my needs and mistakes, she wanted to make sure I submitted the best application possible for INSEAD and clearly, I did. Furthermore, during the application process, I had an interview with a top firm, not only did she accommodate this but also gave me tips and we ran mocks that helped me immensely, clearly, she goes above and beyond to ensure her clients receive everything she can possibly offer. Beyond all this, Pamela is a great and easy person to talk with. She has not only helped me with my application but also improved my writing and communication skills, one of which is how to be precise. Since I know she will be reading this, I will just say it would have been 5x longer before! But in all seriousness, she’s amazing!

Long before I started the MBA application process, I knew that I wanted to attend MIT-Sloan. Even though it was my top choice, I was reluctant to apply, given Sloan’s intimidating acceptance rate and the weaknesses in my application profile – sub par undergrad GPA and zero extracurricular involvement. While I was proud of my professional work experience in big tech, I knew it was only valuable to my application in so far as my ability to tell a compelling story. To stand any chance of getting in to Sloan, my application essays and letters of recommendation would have to be exceptional. When I started writing my initial drafts, I really struggled to find my story – faced with broad essay prompts, yet tight word limits. I spent a few weeks shoving as many of my professional accomplishments into 500 words as I could, but it came out sounding scattered, superficial, impersonal. I went to a couple of friends for their thoughts—first, an English teacher and then later a colleague–but neither had the sort of advice I needed to give my essays the dimension they were missing. A colleague recommended that I try an “admissions consultant.” I was hesitant to go this route, after hearing stories of how impersonal and expensive these services could be. When I finally spoke with Farrell, she must’ve sensed my hesitation, so she offered to read through my material before I committed to working with her. Her feedback was so eye-opening and honest. I found it hard to understand why I hadn’t seen it before. After hours of video chat, last-minute proofreads, and candid feedback, I’d come to learn that Farrell has a unique talent for framing context, probing with questions, and smashing through writer’s block to bring out the best in her clients. I’m a procrastinator by nature, but Farrell held me to relentlessly high standards while keeping me motivated and on track. In the end, she helped me transform my essays, resume, optional video, and letters of recommendation into a story of my own personal journey. Best of all, I am so proud that the work is my own! Farrell saw that I had it in me all along–I just needed help finding it. My dream of attending MIT-Sloan is now a reality.

Simply put, Farrell goes above and beyond what I would ever expect from an MBA prep coach. When I went to her, I had a resume that showed no impact and provided unclear, confusing details of my roles. Farrell was able to show me ways that I had contributed to my company that I had not even realized. She opened my eyes to how to quantify impact and describe problems I had solved in language that would make sense to even people outside of my industry. Apart from working wonders on my resume, Farrell helped me understand more about my professional aspirations. When I first started working with her, I had no real long or short term career goals. She was tough and critical of my inability to articulate what my goals were and motivated me to figure it out. She pushed me to self-reflect and determine goals that aligned with my natural abilities and interests. She was essentially a life coach for me. She helped me craft cohesive essays that told a story of me as a candidate. I had a GMAT score in the low 600s, but with her help, I was able to get in Booth. I could tell that she truly cares about her clients and thinks about them even outside of scheduled appointments. She was constantly shooting me quick emails, interesting job postings, resources about the school I was interested in. When I was getting close to deadline, she went out of her way to accommodate my schedule and get my applications where they needed to be. I would 100% recommend Farrell to anybody seeking a coach.

Akbar coached me from the start of my MBA application until I received my acceptance letter - he was an invaluable coach and motivator during my application process. Akbar is different from other Veteran Coaches: Not only is he a great teacher, but he is also an empathetic and active listener. In addition to the usual GMAT and interview preparation, he also spent significant energy dealing with the intangibles of an MBA interview application: the burnout of continuous GMAT study before applications, the imposter syndrome during application submissions, and the anxiety after applications. I could not have imagined applying for MBA programs without his coaching.

Karla's coaching when it comes to navigating the MBA/MPP application process was invaluable. Having gone through this experience herself, Karla effectively delivered insights that were strategic, clear and refreshingly candid. She effortlessly balances analytical assessment with a warm and relatable approach. Karla has a powerful story and evident tenacity that left me encouraged and inspired. Thank you, Karla! You're amazing!

I connected with Akbar last fall through, and Army transition program and he was instrumental in guiding me through my transition out of the Army and helping me apply and get into the University of Georgia full-time MBA program. Akbar was a great coach and mentor during a very stressful time in my life. Not only did he help me get into an MBA program, but he helped me put to words my story. I was severely wounded in 2020 causing me to be medically retired from the military, and before I worked with Akbar. Through working with Akbar on my application essays he helped me put to words what I have experienced over the past two years since being wounded and going through recovery. Not only did this make for a great essay but this was the first time I had really talked about what I had been through and being able to write it down was a tremendous boost to my self-confidence and PTSD. I am extremely grateful to have crossed paths with Akbar and for everything he has done for. I believe he can be a huge help to any transitioning veteran, whether it be with getting into an MBA program or helping to find out what you want to do next, he is a phenomenal coach and mentor.

While I was initially unsure whether a consultant was right for me, my first conversation with Pamela made me confident that she could help me best articulate my story. Her expertise, empathy, and genuine interest in my success stood out among the consultants with whom I spoke. A few reasons why Pamela is exceptional: 1. Pamela takes time to deeply understand who you are and why you want an MBA. By the time I began the applications, Pamela and I had already worked extensively to refine my personal brand and achieve clarity on which programs were the best fit. This significantly increased the quality of my applications and ensured that my efforts were focused on the programs that best aligned with my goals. 2. Pamela is a true expert, and it shows. As an AIGAC consultant who frequently attends conferences, she is well-versed in the latest developments among top programs. Her insights were invaluable in forming and executing a successful application strategy. 3. Pamela is highly organized and takes a structured approach to the application process. With so much work to do for every MBA application, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to proceed. Through crystal-clear expectations, prompt turnarounds, and actionable advice, Pamela helped me stay on track and finish my applications with time to spare. 4. Pamela is incredible at giving no-nonsense yet empathetic feedback. One of the most important aspects of the MBA admissions process is acknowledging your strengths and limitations and which limitations you can control. Pamela exceeded every expectation in this regard, providing the perspective I needed to best leverage my strengths and account for my weaknesses. Thanks to Pamela’s support, I was admitted to my top choice M7 program and a T15 program with a significant scholarship! For anyone looking to put their best foot forward in their MBA applications, Pamela has my highest recommendation.

I worked with Leland for my Wharton 1v1 interview preparation, and it was amazing! He asked me to focus on several questions, which were exactly what I was asked during the real interview. He gave very constructive feedback on my TBD pitch and responses to different interview questions. Our session was extremely helpful and efficient. If you want someone to help you prep for the Wharton interview, I highly highly recommend Leland! He knows the interview and Wharton inside out.

Wharton and Kellogg admit. I had a fantastic time working with Alex. Not being too familiar with the ins and outs of MBA applications, Alex was super helpful in providing the initial guidance I needed to put together competitive packages for my top schools. Throughout the process, he provided very thoughtful and actionable feedback that truly helped me get my applications to where they needed to be. Alex was extremely responsive, flexible, and timely with his feedback. It was a pleasure working with Alex, and I would recommend him without hesitation to anyone looking for a no-bullsh*t, top-tier consultant.

After battling through the MBA applications and essays alone for several months, I decided I needed help. I was targeting some of the most elite schools in the country, and I knew I could not do it alone. I found Farrell through a close friend who was working with her at the time on his MBA essays. I was having trouble framing my message clearly and concisely, and I was looking to gain a perspective outside my own that would help enrich my essays, but still remain true to my story. I would write essays but they would end up being 1,500 words for a 750 words maximum essay or would meander and abruptly end with no strong conclusion. Farrell was a tremendous help in these areas! She helped to focus in on the key message I was trying to create and helped me refine that message over multiple iterations. It was tough and challenging to have your hard work picked apart and analyzed, but that is exactly what the AdCom committee would do, and in the end made my essays stand out. She also was a lifesaver when it came down to helping me minimize my content but retain my message. I cannot tell you how many times she took an essay several hundred words over the essay word limit, and was able to cut out the “fat” but still leave the “meat” of the message. What helped the most out of this entire process was Farrell’s high expectations and belief in me as a candidate. It was tough to go over the same essay multiple times, but in the end I am grateful I did. If I had not, I would have never achieved my dream of attending Wharton. I also realized that through our sessions, that I had the capacity to create good content, but under her guidance and critiques I could truly create great content. Her perspective improved my essays, made my applications stronger, and in the end, also helped me better understand my own writing style. I found Farrell to be an invaluable resource during my MBA application and I would recommend anyone to use her as an MBA Essay Coach.