| MBA applicants have to face a challenging application | | | | Describe a situation in which you led a team. What |
| process due to the financial tsunami that has deflated | | | | challenges did you face, and how did you overcome |
| the financial sector recently. As a result many are | | | | them?Most students fall into the trap of talking about |
| heading back to schools and applications have risen | | | | how they heroically led the team and succeeded. The |
| astronomically. | | | | committee wants to see how you helped create an |
| While many have astounding work experience and | | | | environment in which your teammates contributed, |
| better undergraduate GPA than you do, the only | | | | ultimately proving the point that your team |
| variable factor left is your essay. What makes MBA | | | | succeeded based on your ability to work within a |
| application especially more challenging is the fact that | | | | team, not solely because of your ability to lead the |
| the application process requires a series of essays | | | | group. Be sure to include convey a sense of "We" |
| rather than a single personal statement. | | | | instead of "I", especially towards the latter part of |
| • Pre-Work | | | | your essay. |
| It is always to your advantage to start your | | | | Tips on writing MBA essays |
| application early. Before you start writing, give | | | | 1) Feel free to discuss your achievements in the past. |
| enough time to gather your thoughts and do some | | | | There is nothing wrong about listing your |
| homework: | | | | achievements. In fact, the committee wants to know |
| - Read and ask around about the list of schools that | | | | about your merits. However, don't over do it to the |
| you are interested in. Find out more information on | | | | point where it sounds like you are bragging. Do not |
| what makes these schools stand out from the | | | | compare to someone else's achievements or their |
| others; their area of focus, extensive research | | | | performance when explaining yours. |
| resources, famous faculty etc. | | | | 2) Be personal. |
| - Read through the application materials very | | | | You can explain that you may be the smartest |
| carefully. Grasp an idea of the school's methodology | | | | person and most capable as a leader, but if you can't |
| of getting to know you. | | | | back it up with examples, it will sound nothing more |
| - If you are near the school that you are applying to, | | | | than an advertisement in a newspaper. Give specific |
| introduce yourself to current students and find more | | | | examples from your experiences which can |
| information about their experiences. | | | | legitimately validate your claims. The goal is to create |
| These small steps will familiarize you with the school | | | | a vivid image of something that has uniquely |
| and you may be able to relate more to its culture | | | | happened to you, instead of sounding like something |
| and their focus of academics in your essay. Be sure | | | | that could be read elsewhere. |
| to write down all the information you can find and | | | | 3) Stay focused. |
| stay organized. | | | | Many MBA applicants suffer in this category because |
| Why our School? | | | | they are busy listing their merits and writing about |
| Almost every business school you apply to will want | | | | their exciting experiences. Keep in mind what the |
| to know your answer to this question in one form or | | | | question is asking and make all of your key points |
| another. From your pre-work above, you can now | | | | and examples to support answering the question in |
| confidently answer this question. Make a connection | | | | the end. |
| between the school's strengths and your skill sets | | | | 4) Don't be a model student. Be a clown. |
| and background. | | | | Keep in mind that many applicants are trying to |
| Prove that you can benefit the most from the | | | | impress the committee with their immense amount |
| school's program relative to other applicants and also | | | | of leadership, experiences, and their wonderful GMAT |
| how you can benefit the school community. Aside | | | | scores. You must figure out a way to make your |
| from academics, also show your enthusiasm for | | | | essay stand out from thousands of essays in the pile |
| extracurricular activities the school may take pride in. | | | | and the worst thing you can do is to follow the herd |
| Perhaps the school has a reputable community | | | | and dwell on just how wonderful your life has been |
| service organization or nationally recognized acapella | | | | so far. Spend enough time on your introductory |
| singing group. Whatever it may be, show that you | | | | paragraph to catch the officer's attention and |
| like every aspect about the school as a whole and | | | | maintain it throughout your writing. |
| that you are the best fit candidate to mutually | | | | 5) Keep clarity and organization. |
| benefit. | | | | Have an outline of how your essay will be structured |
| Popular Business Essay Questions | | | | and make sure to execute according to plan. The |
| What is your reason for pursing MBA? | | | | main paragraphs should consist of events, |
| In one way or another, your admission officer will | | | | experiences and activities you have thought to |
| find out the answer to this question from you at | | | | include. Keep your sentences concise and to the |
| some point in your application. They like to ask this | | | | point. Each paragraph should have a theme relating |
| question because of the fact that many applicants do | | | | back to the topic of the essay. Be sure there aren't |
| not have a clear reason for applying for MBA. Make | | | | any vague words or sentences that could potentially |
| sure you are prepared to answer this question with a | | | | confuse the reader or deviate from answering the |
| clear set of goal in mind both for essays and | | | | question. |
| interviews. Reference your background, skills and | | | | Revise! |
| career goals, reflecting how this degree is vital to | | | | No matter how well you think you've written your |
| reach your ultimate career goal. | | | | essay, chances are, your essay will be infested with |
| Discuss a failure in your life. What did you learn from | | | | grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. Part of |
| your experience? | | | | your revision may even involve deleting parts of your |
| Many applicants feel that if they discuss a real failure, | | | | essay! You may also need to write more to make |
| it will make them look bad. Some people fail to | | | | your paragraphs look more transitioned and easy to |
| discuss the real failure and instead they talk about | | | | follow. Also be mindful of choice of words, content |
| something positive. By doing so, you are not | | | | and structural issues, and overall style and that the |
| answering the question. Also, remember that | | | | parameter of your essay fits the required criteria. |
| admission officers will be able to tell whether you are | | | | Revising is not an easy task. It is not only time |
| trying to avoid the topic or being genuine. | | | | consuming, but also the chance of improving |
| Write about a genuine failure you faced, preferably | | | | something you've written yourself is low. Have your |
| the one where you took the most risk. Show what | | | | essay professionally edited. Whether it is for a college |
| you've learned from the mistake and how it has | | | | application, academic purpose, or for a business |
| shaped you to become competent and mature. Think | | | | presentation speech, a single undetected error can |
| of this as a chance to reveal your honesty and | | | | jeopardize your chance of admission, your GPA, or |
| character. | | | | acceptance by your audience. |