28,622Leland Reviews

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Doug is lovely to work with. He gave incredibly thoughtful feedback, took the time to read through all of my materials before our session even though it was short, and genuinely cares about his clients and their success. I left the conversation feeling much more confident and supported. Highly highly recommend!

I was initially skeptical about how much value an admissions counselor could add. But after going through the process, I can confidently say that Tim's expertise and guidance was truly pivotal in putting my best application forward. From brainstorming narrative to adjusting word counts, strategizing letters of recommendation, and giving mock interview prep, Tim was fantastic, and an imperative part of this process. So far, I've received interviews at Booth and Stanford and am waiting on a few others. Regardless of the outcome, I couldn't give a higher recommendation to work with Tim. He's extremely responsive and overall an exceptional counselor.

I've been very satisfied. The time spent together has been very useful mostly to look back at my past and go through not only my professional career but also my life. Seda helped me to understand what has taken me until here, at this specific moment of my life, and which are aspirations and my dreams for the future.