11,681Leland Reviews

I come from a non-traditional background, several years out of undergrad and knew I needed to hit this round of applications hard. I hired Nate for just 5 hours to supplement my work with a different coach on a few other schools and his Stanford expertise and essay editing is truly unmatched. If you're serious about Stanford Nate is worth the investment! (I'm sure he is great at all schools, but like he's VERY knowledgeable on Stanford and has very good insights) I got a full ride at a different school and will be pulling my application from Stanford as this other school ended up being a much better match for me, but I really couldn't say enough good about working with Nate, he is fantastic.

I feel incredibly grateful for Faisal and how much he helped me. I got accepted to Darden with a full-tuition scholarship as a Batten Scholars admit for entrepreneurship — and I truly couldn’t be more excited! I never expected to pursue a master’s degree. My career path has been anything but traditional — from launching failed and random businesses to working for underwhelming and unglamorous companies. But as my ideas grew in scale and impact, I realized an MBA could be a game-changer, especially with how much schools are investing in entrepreneurship. Before coming to Leland, I thought it was Stanford or bust. Faisal completely shifted my perspective — he absorbed my story, truly listened to my goals, and was actually the one who suggested Darden. Now, after being admitted with a full ride, I plan to withdraw my Stanford application before decisions even come out. Even if I got in, Darden is the perfect fit: rigorous business training, the real-world case method, a tight-knit community, proximity to DC, and top-tier entrepreneurial resources through the Batten Institute. I never would’ve found this path without Faisal’s guidance. What made working with Faisal so special is that he didn’t just help me write essays or check boxes — he explained the process through the brain of someone who has read and interviewed thousands of applicants. He broke down how each element is evaluated, helped me figure out where I could improve, and showed me how to turn weaknesses into part of a compelling, cohesive story. I wouldn’t say I’m the best test taker, but after Faisal helped me understand the importance of offsetting my lower GPA(3.51), it pushed me to focus on getting my GRE up to a 326. We also made sure to thoughtfully address my GPA in the applications. As a coach, Faisal is incredibly organized — think engineer-level precision. He mapped out every step in Asana with clear checklists, progress updates, and comment threads. He guided me through steps I didn’t even know existed and was always available for my freak-out moments or “dumb” questions (there were plenty, and he never made me feel anything but supported). This year was record-breaking for business school applications, and to come out of it with a full-ride scholarship feels surreal. I shopped around before choosing a coach, and while there are fantastic coaches out there who focus on one school or niche, if you’re looking for someone who can guide you calmly, strategically, and personally — with deep knowledge across multiple schools and help you think about how an MBA fits into the bigger strategy of your life — I couldn’t recommend Faisal more. He’s worth the investment. I spent $5–10K with Faisal, and I fully believe that was not only necessary to get into these schools, but could also be the difference between a good outcome and a life-changing one — in my case, a full-ride scholarship worth $166,000! The math just makes sense: invest in the right coach. I believe I’ll stay connected with Faisal — he’s a good guy to have in your corner. Thank you so much, Faisal!! Truly couldn’t have done this without you.

I decided to apply for my master’s at the very last minute, with only about four weeks to go before the deadline. That meant I had to take the GRE, refine my application materials, and craft strong essays—all while working a demanding job. Karla was absolutely incredible throughout the entire process. I felt like she was someone I could truly rely on. She was always responsive, willing to go above and beyond to make sure my essays were the best they could be. Her ability to work around my hectic schedule was invaluable, and she was amazing at editing and helping me shape a compelling narrative. Thanks to her support, I just found out that I got into all five schools I applied to and will be attending Columbia Business School for the Master’s in Accounting and Fundamental Analysis program. I couldn’t be happier with the result, and I truly couldn’t have done it without her! Highly recommend Karla to anyone going through the application process—she’s a lifesaver!

I reached out to Faisal shortly before my R2 deadline to Columbia. Faisal enthusiastically accepted my request for an Adcom style review. Although busy with his other R2 applicants, Faisal's review was thorough, quick, and professional. He encouraged me to answer questions that he knew would be top-of-mind for the Adcom in my materials. I followed his suggestions/edits and was admitted to a very competitive dual MBA program at Columbia. Faisal's experience speaks for itself, and I could not be more happy with the result. Thank you, Faisal!

Indrani really helped me see my story through the lens of an admissions officer, and the comments she provided led to material changes that reshaped my narrative for the better. It was a joy to work with her!

Machmud, by sharing his powerful personal journey and actionable advice, has empowered me to tell my story effectively throughout my law school application journey. His wisdom and insights helped me be my self and ultimately achieve admission to my dream law school and scholarship program.

I connected with Coach Mario for my grad school application. I love how he will always give me comprehensive feedback and straightforward suggestions. From the past few months work with Coach Mario, not only my overall writing skills improve quickly but also I have a specific goal for my future development! In addition, I like how Coach Mario is communicative and thoughtful.

Working with Debby is a game-changer. I had been struggling with my essays, in particular how to convey my journey and experience in ways that admissions would appreciate. Debby immediately knew the best steps and guided my throughout the process with amazing insights, edits, and direction. In the end, I had a very strong and clear application that was lightyears better than I could have imagined. She also directed me to other programs I had not previously known about or explored, and this opened my eyes to even more possibilities for grad school - I just accepted an offer of admission to UPENN, a school and program she recommended to me. I recommend Debby and sing her praises to anyone asking for help with applications, navigating programs, and everything else that goes along with this. She is a game changer and definitely someone you want in your corner throughout applications. She will leave you feeling very prepared, confident, and satisfied with your applications. Thank you for everything Debby!!!

Lucas is a great coach who always shows care and helps you understand the importance of telling your story authentically. He is able to relate to the challenges of applying to your dream school, and maintains an open and honest form of communication with his mentees. Through my application process Lucas helped me flesh out parts of my personal story that I didn't even know existed, or didn't think were worthy of being shared. Having gone through the MBA/MPP application process himself, Lucas is very sharp on the types of experiences that should be relayed to the admissions committee. I'm thankful to have gotten to work with Lucas and would recommend others looking for a mentor to do the same.

I reached out to Stetson on a very short notice over the New Year holiday to help refine my personal statement, and he was such a wonderful support. He went above and beyond our coaching hours to thoroughly review the essay and provide valuable feedback. In such a short amount of time, he was able to pinpoint aspects of my story to spotlight, tailored to the school I was applying to.