Copyright © 2014 Accepted.com

An Accepted.com Special Report

by Linda Abraham

Top MBA Program Essay Questions:

How to AnswerThem Right

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Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................ 3 CEIBS ........................................................................................................................ 5 Chicago Booth ............................................................................................................ 8 CMU Tepper ............................................................................................................ 11 Columbia Business School ...................................................................................... 13 Cornell Johnson ........................................................................................................ 16 Dartmouth Tuck ...................................................................................................... 19 Duke Fuqua .............................................................................................................. 22 Emory Goizueta ....................................................................................................... 26 ESADE ..................................................................................................................... 29 Georgetown McDonough ......................................................................................... 32 Harvard Business School ......................................................................................... 34 HEC Paris ................................................................................................................. 37 HKUST .................................................................................................................... 40 INSEAD ................................................................................................................... 42 London Business School .......................................................................................... 47 Michigan Ross .......................................................................................................... 49 MIT Sloan ................................................................................................................ 51 Northwestern Kellogg .............................................................................................. 54 Notre Dame Mendoza .............................................................................................. 57 NUS .......................................................................................................................... 60 NYU Stern ................................................................................................................ 62 Oxford Said .............................................................................................................. 67 Purdue Krannert ....................................................................................................... 69 Stanford GSB .......................................................................................................... 71 Toronto Rotman ....................................................................................................... 74 UC Berkeley Haas .................................................................................................... 76 UCLA Anderson ...................................................................................................... 80 USC Marshall ........................................................................................................... 83 UVA Darden ............................................................................................................ 85 Wharton .................................................................................................................... 86 Yale SOM ................................................................................................................ 88 Epilogue ................................................................................................................... 90

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Introduction The best way to ace your application essays is to ANSWER THE ESSAY QUESTIONS. This may sound like an easy feat, yet so often applicants go into the essay writing process with ulterior motives: to write their preconceived essays based only loosely on the given essay topics.

Newsflash: No matter how compelling and well-written your essays are, if they don’t answer the questions as they are presented to you on the application, they will not impress the admissions committee – or at least not in the way you want them to.

In this special report you will receive the guidance you need to a) understand exactly what each essay question is asking, and to b) answer the question in the most compelling and impressive fashion.

To make sure you make the most of this special report, I recommend that you keep the following in mind:

• These questions were originally used in the 2014-2015 MBA application cycle. Whenever you read this, don’t assume they are unchanged. Check the schools’ websites for the current version.

• Each school asks different questions; therefore, each essay you draft should be unique to each essay question and to each program. While it may be tempting to use the same essay for a few different applications, adcoms can usually tell the difference between a recycled essay and an essay that was written specifically to answer their question – and they certainly prefer the latter.

• In our analyses below, you’ll find valuable tips on what to include in your answers, as well as advice on what you should avoid at all costs. Don’t stop reading after the “do’s”; the “don’ts” can be just as valuable, if not more so.

• Since “fit” is so crucial to each of these schools, be sure to research each program you apply to and to envision yourself at that particular school – on its campus, in its classrooms, interacting with its professors, etc. – while drafting your essay. If you want the adcoms to believe you will be an irreplaceable fixture in their next class, then you’ll have to convince them that your ideals and goals are one with theirs.

Finally, at the end of each section of this special report, I provide additional tips and advice for applicants, as well as how Accepted can further assist them with their application efforts. Our editors and consultants are standing by, ready to be of service to you.

Enjoy the report…and answer those questions directly. Effectively.

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Disclaimer: Please double-check the original application on each individual b-school’s website to ensure accuracy. Accepted.com is not responsible for any discrepancies in the text or any changes that may have been made to the original applications since the time of publishing.

Note: As you read through this special report you’ll find that we formatted it as clearly as possible so you can easily tell where Accepted commentary begins and ends. B-school directions and questions are typed in standard font, while Accepted comments are all italicized.

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CEIBS

CEIBS (China Europe International Business School, pronounced “Seebs”), located in Shanghai, is the longest-running MBA program in China, boasting the largest MBA alumni pool in China and over 10,000 alumni around the world. Ranked by the Financial Times second in China (behind HKUST) and seventeenth in the world, the program focuses on endowing students with a global business perspective plus a local Chinese cultural understanding. The curriculum places a great emphasis on understanding international business and how to apply these skills in China, in particular on providing students with soft skills like interpersonal communication, strategy development, and an integrated management perspective that allows graduates to solve challenging business problems across functional business lines. Program graduates seem to do quite well: The average salary for graduates in the past three years is over $127,000.

CEIBS’s essay questions can cause some anxiety because of the choices applicants have for questions 2 and 3.

Essays

1. Discuss your post-MBA career aspirations and explain how you plan to achieve them. (300 words maximum)

This is a straightforward career goal question. You need to demonstrate that your goals fit the range of outcomes for the CEIBS program: If your expectations are not aligned, the admissions committee cannot accept you since you will graduate unhappy – and possibly unemployed!

The second part of the question about how you plan to achieve these goals is also critical: You must demonstrate your insight into the skills and knowledge you will gain from the CEIBS program and also your understanding of the network, pavement pounding, and ladder climbing that you will need to do to reach your goals.

2. For question 2(a) and 2(b), you only need to answer one of the two questions.

a) CEIBS is situated in Shanghai – a truly global city, and the economic center of the world’s fastest growing economy. Given its unique location, how do you anticipate that Shanghai will differentiate your MBA experience and contribute to your goals? (400 words maximum)

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Applicants excited to learn in Shanghai will do well to answer this question since their passion will be reflected in their response. CEIBS’s location in Shanghai allows it to offer experiential learning programs with many companies that have corporate offices in the city. CEIBS also hosts many local companies for on-campus presentations and recruiting; professors are experts in the Chinese economy, finance, and politics; and important personages are able to speak on campus because of its location. Demonstrate not only your knowledge of these rich offerings but also how they will help you reach your learning and career goals.

b) Discuss a situation where you have demonstrated significant leadership ability. (400 words maximum)

This is a nice straightforward leadership question. Applicants who choose to answer this question should discuss a situation in which they summoned exceptional contributions from others to overcome challenging obstacles and produce extraordinary results. Given CEIBS’s focus on international business and China context, if you have a choice of a situation that took place in Asia – or required an understanding of cultural differences with team members from/in Asia, that might be the ideal anecdote to share.

3. For question 3(a) and 3(b), you only need to answer one of the two questions.

a) Many would argue that entrepreneurship is not necessarily a state of being, but a state of mind. Describe an entrepreneurial experience where you went against the grain or conventional way of thinking, to discover and create new value. (400 words maximum)

The premise of this essay is that entrepreneurship is a state of mind: It isn’t necessarily just starting a business but may also describe a situation in which you introduce something that didn’t exist before. People with entrepreneurial mindsets start new business streams in their current companies, they see opportunities, and they seize them. Applicants who have an experience in which they thought outside of the box to generate value should share those anecdotes here.

b) Identify up to 3 trends, big or small, that you see unfolding in the next decade. Discuss how the(se) trend(s) will affect you and how you plan to deal with them both on campus and in the future. (400 words maximum)

Look into your crystal ball – and/or read what global pundits are predicting – and choose three trends that will affect you professionally and/or personally. A strong answer to this question will not only discuss the trend but will try to determine the ways in which it will affect how consumers use products, how those products are distributed, and how the CEIBS curriculum and extracurricular programming will help prepare the applicant to thrive in these changing environments. This essay may also draw on past experiences in which you recognized and capitalized on an emerging trend.

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Optional Essay

Is there any other information that you believe would be helpful to the MBA Admission Committee in evaluating your application? Re-applicants are suggested to describe the progress you have made since your previous application. (200 words maximum)

If you feel that the above essays provide a full picture of your experiences, then there is no need to write anything here. However, I never like to leave space unfilled. Assess the answers you provide in the required essays and identify an area of your background that you weren’t able to include elsewhere: Your intercultural ability, your success in an extracurricular activity – particularly since the application form only allows you to list the names of the activities you have taken part in with no description of your roles in them – or an explanation of decisions you have made in your career path are just some of the many interesting facets of your background you can share here. I encourage you to use this space fully.

Application Form

Keep in mind that CEIBS does not request a copy of your current CV/resume in the application. The only area of the application where an applicant may describe his/her work experience is in the Work Experience section, which requests data about dates of employment and salary and allows 40 words each for four responsibilities to describe each position (that’s approximately 160 words to describe each role). This is actually a fine amount of space; just be sure to use it to describe your work and impact. Don’t make the mistake of simply filling in some general responsibilities and losing the opportunity to share details about your initiatives and impacts.

Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES

Round 1 November 5, 2014

Round 2 January 14, 2015

Round 3 March 23, 2015

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Chicago Booth Chicago Booth has always prided itself on valuing applicants who can handle ambiguity and lack of structure. And its application reflects that principle. In spades. This year’s Booth application mirrors the “streamlining” that has taken place throughout the b-school world as well as Chicago’s distinctive culture and love of ambiguity. This essay/presentation question, which is new for this year, is about as open-ended as it gets.

Presentation/Essay Chicago Booth values adventurous inquiry, diverse perspectives, and a collaborative exchange of ideas. This is us. Who are you?

This is a really difficult question.

What do you want to tell Booth that reflects your adventurous and curious nature, your distinctive perspective and experience, the ways in which you’ll contribute to the class’ diversity, and your ability to contribute to a vigorous but still collaborative exchange of ideas? And yes it should be genuinely you.

To start make a list of the experiences and achievements that you are most proud of and that best reflect who you are. Then review the presentation/essay guidelines below as well as the Booth admissions criteria. Next to each item on your list, add the qualities from Booth’s criteria that this experience or achievement reveals.

Also look at the other information you are providing in the application including your resume and those boxes. What about you is absent from these other parts of the application? Write those experiences and attributes down too in a separate list. Which items on your “absentee” list introduce the qualities Booth seeks? Are any of them on your first list of achievements?

Focus on the items that are on both lists and that are most important to you and distinctive about you. As Booth itself instructs “We’ve learned a lot about you throughout the application, but what more should we know?” The answer to that question is a critical part of an effective response to Booth’s essay question.

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Presentation/Essay Guidelines • Be reflective. We’ve learned a lot about you throughout the application, but what

more should we know? Interpret broadly. “Who are you?” can be interpreted in many different ways. We encourage you to think critically and broadly about who you are, and how your values, passions and experiences have influenced you. Determine your own length. There is no prescribed minimum or maximum length. We trust that you will use your best judgment in determining how long your submission should be, but we recommend that you think strategically about how to best allocate the space.

Don’t give in to temptation. Lack of a word limit or guideline is not a license for verbosity or permission to write the great American novel (or autobiography). Concision is valued in the business world. Show good judgment and consideration for the reader’s time. Keep it short, but tell your story.

• Choose the format that works for you. You can design your presentation or compose your essay in the format that you feel best captures your response. However, please consider the specific technical restrictions noted below. Think about you, not us. Rather than focusing on what you think we want to hear, focus on what is essential for us to know about you. Simply put, be genuine.

Technical Guidelines

• File Size: Maximum file size is 16 MB. Accepted Upload Formats: Acceptable formats are PDF, Word and PowerPoint. Multimedia Restrictions: We will be viewing your submission electronically and in full color, but all submissions will be converted to PDF files, so animation, video, music, etc. will not translate over. Preserve Your Formatting: We strongly recommend converting your piece to a PDF file prior to submitting to ensure that everything you see matches what we see.

A few thoughts:

Should you write an essay or use a visual presentation? That depends on you. If you are talented visually and love graphics and PowerPoint, use a visual medium as long as it will translate to PDF. If you are a “words person” comfortable expressing your thoughts in writing, write the essay. Do what will make it easiest for you to express your essence.

Optional Essay If there is any important information that you were unable to address elsewhere in the application, please share that information here. (300 word maximum)

The instructions are pretty clear. Is there something you want the admissions committee to know about that is not included elsewhere, here’s the spot for it. A gap in employment? A dip in grades caused by illness or family problems? This is the spot.

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Reapplicant Essay Upon reflection, how has your perspective regarding your future, Chicago Booth, and/or getting an MBA changed since the time of your last application? (300 words maximum)

This is a critical essay for MBA reapplicants. Remember, Chicago (and any school you are reapplying to) wants to see growth. Same ol’, same ‘ol got you a ding last time and probably will again this time. Let this brief essay show a maturation and evolution of your goals and reasons for wanting to attend Chicago Booth. Chicago loves to see critical thinking.

Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES

Round 1 September 25, 2014

Round 2 January 6, 2015

Round 3 April 7, 2015

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CMU Tepper The key to admissions success here is to exhibit your keen analytical capabilities through your essays – that and your strong passion for learning and your desire to expand your role as an innovative leader. Get those points across to the adcom members and you could be well on your way to the tech-savvy business education that only Tepper can provide.

Tepper has tweaked its application this year, changing the first question slightly under the Post-MBA Goals, replacing the second question, and dropping one of the other essay questions.

Post-MBA Goals 1. What is your professional goal immediately following graduation from Tepper? (1500 characters maximum)

What do you want to do immediately after you get your MBA and in which industry do you want to do it? If geography is important to you, then include that information too.

Since Tepper is giving you more room than is necessary to simply state what you want to do and where you want to do it, you can give Tepper background on the development of your goal. What experience convinced you this career path was right for you? When did you demonstrate the skills or qualities this role requires?

2. If you are not successful in your first choice of role after graduation, what other role would you consider? In other words, what is your Plan B? (1500 characters maximum)

This is an easy question to answer – if you have a Plan B. If you don’t have one, thoughtfully create one.

If you don’t get the job you describe in #1, how will you take advantage of your past experience and your new Tepper MBA? Would you slightly change long-term goals and go down a different path? Or would you stick with the long-term goals and attempt to achieve them in a different way? Either option is possible. Choose the one that best reflects you.

Essays 1. Describe a defining moment in your life, and explain how it shaped you as a person. (300 words maximum)

This question is an attempt to get to know you, the person. The previous questions are professionally focused. Use this essay to present a different side of you. Don’t write about work and your professional goals here.

Tell a succinct story of that defining moment. What happened and what was the impact on you? How has that event influenced you going forward? How is your behavior, your life different because of that moment?

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2. Based on your research and interactions with the Tepper community, share why you are a good fit with the Tepper MBA program. (300 words maximum)

Again, do your homework before you respond to this question. If you can, talk to current students or recent alumni from Tepper to get a feel for the culture. If you can visit, even better. Review the information on the Tepper website to get a picture of student and alumni life and research those activities you would like to participate in, initiate, or lead. Then write about one or two clubs or events that you would love to throw yourself into.

Optional Essay Is there anything else that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee as we evaluate your application? If you believe your credentials and essays represent you fairly, you should not feel obligated to answer this question. This essay is intended to provide a place for you to add information that you think is important but is not covered elsewhere in the application. This could include clarification of your employment or academic record, choice of recommenders or helpful context for the admissions committee in reviewing your application. (500 words maximum)

Use this optional essay, or lose an opportunity to provide even more reasons for Tepper to admit you. Just don’t rehash information found elsewhere. That’s a waste of time – yours and your reader’s.

Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES

Round 1 October 5, 2014

Round 2 January 4, 2015

Round 3 March 15, 2015

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Columbia Business School Columbia tweaked last year’s questions for this year. Relatively minor changes only. Specifically:

• Its short-answer question about your immediate post-MBA goal has gone from 100 to 75 characters. Yes, that was characters, not words.

• For question 2, there is a new video to watch and the question itself is more succinct with a different focus.

Other than cutting 25 characters from the goals question, CBS has not cut essays or essay length. Still, you will need to make every word, indeed every character, count to really allow your essays to effectively and compellingly present your qualifications.

Applicants must complete one short answer question and three essays.

Short Answer Question What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (75 characters maximum)

Note the character limit. Your response must be less than the length of a tweet. What do you want to do professionally and in which industry immediately after earning your MBA? You may want to provide a geographic location if it is important to your MBA goal. According to CBS, here are examples of possible responses:

“Work in business development for a media company.” “Join a consulting firm specializing in renewable energy.” “Work for an investment firm that focuses on real estate.”

Warning: This question is not asking about intended area of study while in business school or a non-professional goal or even a long-term goal. And the subject is assumed to be you. No need to waste characters by including “I.”

Essays 1. Given your individual background and goals, why are you pursuing a Columbia MBA at this time? (500 words maximum)

What aspects of your background are motivating you to pursue your MBA at Columbia now? Keep in mind that the MBA is a bridge between your past and desired future. Show Columbia why its program is the right bridge for you and why now is the right time for you to cross this bridge.

To answer this question well, you will need to really know the Columbia program thoroughly as well as why you want a CBS MBA at this point in your career. The essay that shines will do a great job of showing both fit and self-awareness.

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2. Please view the video below:

How will you take advantage of being “at the very center of business”? (250 words maximum)

This video is different from last year’s videos. Last year, the videos and question focused almost exclusively on the impact of Columbia’s New York City location. This year’s video incorporates that Manhattan location, but it’s more about Columbia as a center of business than NYC being the center of business. So your answer can incorporate the benefits of being at Columbia University as well as being in Manhattan. Just don’t repeat your answer to #1; this question asks you to take a broader perspective.

Watch the video and really think about the points it’s making in terms of what being at the center means: Access to an infinite variety of opportunities. Proximity to thought leadership and executive leadership. Convergence of theory and practice. NYC as an – if not the – international business center.

After watching the video, think about how you intend to take advantage of the infinite opportunities and energy that reside at Columbia University and in New York City. How will you take advantage of the entrepreneurial eco-system in New York and Columbia University? The ties to bio science and pharma? The cutting-edge research and thought leadership? Not to mention the practitioners who lead Wall Street and teach at Columbia. Or will you explore the cultural riches of NYC and take advantage of the incredible business opportunities present in the arts and media?

Be careful not to speak of those opportunities in the generalities that I have. If you are interested in luxury goods marketing, as stated in your short answer, then write here about how you will take advantage of Madison and 5th Avenues as well as Columbia’s offerings. If you are interested in finance or consulting, Manhattan and all the businesses in it are at your feet. How will you benefit from this incredible location as well as the practitioners teaching at CBS?

Final point: You don’t have to address all the points raised in the video, but you do have to write persuasively about at least one.

3. What will the people in your Cluster be pleasantly surprised to learn about you? (250 words maximum)

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Make sure you understand Columbia’s Cluster System.

You only have 250 words here. I would use them to bring out something fun that you like to do. Would you try to get your Cluster to train for a marathon? Set up a karaoke night? Plan a ski trip? Explore New York’s museums? How have you contributed to social groups in the past? Relate your plans to a past successful initiative, and you will enhance your answer to this question.

Or perhaps you would take a slightly more serious approach to this question and discuss a challenge overcome. Show that you are a survivor, not a victim and far stronger as a result of this experience. If you take this approach, don’t make it too heavy or too personal. No TMI. You will have barely met these people.

Optional Essay An optional fourth essay will allow you to discuss any issues that do not fall within the purview of the required essays.

Clearly you can use this optional essay question to address a weakness in your profile or qualifications, but in my mind, this question is also open-ended enough to allow you to discuss a diversity element in your personal background or simply some unique area of interest. Also, tucking a weakness explanation somewhere else would allow you to end the application with a strength and not a flaw.

Don’t use this essay as a grand finale or wrap up. And definitely don’t use it to rehash your reasons for wanting to attend Columbia; those reasons should be perfectly clear from the required essays. If you decide to respond to this essay, use it to educate the reader about another talent, interest, or commitment of yours. As always try to show leadership and impact. In short, give them more reasons to admit you.

Knight-Bagehot Fellows. Rather than answer Essay 1, Part A above, current Knight-Bagehot Fellows applying to Columbia Business School should use the space allocated to the first essay (500 words maximum) to complete the Wiegers Fellowship application essay.

Wiegers Fellowship Essay Question. What are your career goals? How has the Knight-Bagehot Fellowship affected these goals? How will an MBA help you achieve these goals? (500 words maximum)

Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES SUBMISSION TIME

January 2015 Entry October 8, 2014 11:59 PM EST

August 2015 Entry: Early Decision October 8, 2014 11:59 PM EST

August 2015 Entry: Regular Decision April 15, 2015 11:59 PM EST

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Cornell Johnson Are you looking for a close-knit, collaborative MBA program focused on experiential learning, committed to innovation, and further differentiated by an immersion learning component? Are you seeking a top b-school that’s located on an Ivy League campus with all the resources and networking opportunities the larger community provides? You’ll find all of that at Cornell Johnson.

Cornell Johnson now lets you link to your LinkedIn profile as part of your MBA application. In addition to saving you time, this optional step allows Cornell Johnson to see you as a potential employer would.

This innovation highlights two realities in MBA admissions:

1. Social media counts. For LinkedIn in particular, keep your profile up-to-date and professional. Make sure it’s something you’re proud of and happy to have others view.

2. Much of MBA admissions is driven by prospective employment at graduation. Schools want to know that you have the experience to attract recruiter attention and to land a great post-MBA job. Many schools will at some point in the application evaluation process seek input from career services if they have any doubt about the attainability of your post-MBA goals. Let your profile and any information about your professional experience speak to that point.

Finally since your LinkedIn profile doesn’t have the tight limits you have in your MBA application, you may be able to provide more context and information there than in your application. However, no one wants to read a detailed autobiography on LinkedIn. Keep the length of your job descriptions within reason if you choose to give Cornell access to your profile.

Essays 1. You are the author for the book of Your Life Story. In 2000 characters (including formatting characters) or less, please write the table of contents for the book in the space provided or upload it as an attachment. Note: approach this essay with your unique style. We value creativity and authenticity.

Have a little fun with the question. You certainly have a lot of options and flexibility here. You can reveal something about your youth, influential experiences or people, challenges, hobbies, interests, passions…perhaps where you intend to be in 30 years. It’s Your Life Story.

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2. Targeted Job Type: What is the job that you would like to have immediately upon graduating with your MBA? (2000 character limit, including formatting characters)

Be concrete in describing what you would like to do. “Pursue a position that I find personally satisfying” or “Have a positive impact on society” are non-starters. What task do you want to perform and in what industry do you want to perform it? The answer to that question is the foundation of your response to Cornell’s question.

2000 characters is a little less than 400 words so you may give a little background as to how this goal developed or why your previous experience when combined with a Johnson MBA, will help you achieve it.

3. Post-Collegiate Activities: List community activities (clubs, church, civic, etc.) and professional associations you contributed to since graduation from college. Please include the organization name, your role, hours dedicated, elected offices held, and dates of participation. (2000 character limit, including formatting characters)

Depending on how many activities you have, you may be able to go into a little detail or you may need to just stick to the facts. As much as possible, highlight evidence of impact, leadership, and collaborative teamwork. Quantify if you can.

4. Collegiate Activities and Employment: List your extracurricular activities while in college in order of importance to you. You may include details about your positions and the time commitment, honors or awards received, and dates of participation. The list may also include part-time and summer employment held while in college. Please list your employer, job title, responsibilities, hours per week, and the dates for each position. (2000 character limit, including formatting characters)

Very similar to #3, highlight impact, leadership and teamwork. Quantify when possible. The one twist with this question: list the extracurricular activities in order of importance to you.

5. Hobbies and Activities: Please describe any hobbies or activities that hold special significance for you. (2000 character limit, including formatting characters)

What do you do regularly when you aren’t working? Which of these activities would you like Johnson to know about? If you have too many to fit in the 2000 character limit, then choose those that show you contributing innovatively to your community and taking initiative.

Optional Essay Complete this essay if you would like to add additional details regarding your candidacy. For instance, if you believe one or more aspects of your application (e.g., undergraduate record or test scores) do not accurately reflect your potential for success at the Johnson School. (2000 character limit, including formatting characters)

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Clearly you can use this optional to add context for a weakness in your record. Either a low stat or a period of unemployment or some dip in an otherwise strong record of achievement. However the wording is pretty open. If there is something positive or if you want to provide context for an achievement – challenges you overcome or circumstances that made your accomplishment even more noteworthy – you can also do so here.

Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES

Round 1 October 1, 2014

Round 2 January 7, 2014

Round 3 March 11, 2014

Rolling June 3, 2014

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Dartmouth Tuck The Dartmouth Tuck adcom is interested in learning about what you as an individual, a businessperson, and a leader can contribute to Tuck’s small, close-knit program. Use your essays as a platform for expressing your earnest desire to enter the world of management and to make a difference.

Following the shrinking app trend, this year Tuck reduced its required questions from three to two and slightly tweaked the second required essay prompt.

I strongly recommend Tuck applicants read “The MBA Gatekeeper To Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business,” Poets and Quants interview with Dawna Clarke, Director of Admissions at Tuck.

Essays Please respond fully but concisely to the following essay questions. There are no right or wrong answers. We encourage applicants to limit the length of their responses to 500 words for each essay. Please double-space your responses.

1. Why is an MBA a critical next step toward your short- and long-term career goals? Why is Tuck the best MBA fit for you and your goals and why are you the best fit for Tuck?

The MBA is a means to an end; it is a “step” towards a goal. That means you have to briefly discuss the most influential stops on your journey to date and then your reasons for wanting a Tuck MBA to continue on that journey.

You have to know a lot about Tuck as well as your goals to respond effectively to this question. Why do you want a small, tight-knit program in rural New Hampshire? Why do you want a program that stresses the integration of business functions? Which of Tuck’s strengths appeal to you? How will they help you achieve your goals?

To respond to the fit part of the question, review Tuck’s six evaluation criteria for admission. You won’t have much room to address fit. Perhaps in your conclusion, succinctly make the case for your fit with Tuck’s criteria. Point to elements of your application that show you meet the criteria without repeating them. You want the reader to see a match made in heaven.

2. Tell us about your most meaningful leadership experience and what role you played. What did you learn about your own individual strengths and weaknesses through this experience?

This question reflects the importance Tuck, like many MBA programs, places on leadership. Last year, Tuck asked about “collaborative leadership.” This year it dropped “collaborative” from the question. Perhaps some applicants confused collaborative leadership with teamwork, and Tuck really wants to see you as a leader. Perhaps, and more likely given Tuck’s collaborative culture, Tuck wants to know what leadership example you will use and whether your definition of

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leadership is a fit for Tuck. Your example should reflect a collaborative and enlightened approach to leadership.

Have you co-chaired a fundraiser that raised a record amount of money? Have you been a board member for a not-for-profit organization? Have you captained a sports team that led your company league while having an excellent relationship with the coach or manager of the team? Have you been a team lead on a project that came in early and under budget while cooperating closely with other team leads or members of your team? Are you the head of a sales team who empowered other members of your team in a way that greatly contributed to the success of that initiative? These could all be examples of leadership. How did you motivate your teammates? What did you learn about yourself through the experience? In answering the last question, don’t be generic and don’t wonder “What do they want to hear?” What did you actually learn from this most meaningful experience?

The question asks you to reveal strengths and weaknesses. The first is fun and should be relatively easy. However we all cringe at the idea of revealing weaknesses, especially in a situation where you want to impress – like now. Nonetheless, resist that nasty impulse to write something fluffy and meaningless. Don’t even think about a phony weakness like “Sometimes I work too hard.” The adcom will see right through it. Reveal a weakness that hopefully you can show yourself addressing in this leadership experience or through another later experience. Don’t dwell on the weakness, but do include it.

Optional Essay Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere that may be helpful in reviewing your application (e.g., unusual choice of evaluators, weaknesses in academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes, etc.). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application.

It is almost impossible for two or three 500-word essays plus a bunch of boxes, a transcript, and a GMAT score to represent fully the uniqueness and talents of a truly impressive candidate. That comment has nothing to do with writing style and everything to do with the complexity of accomplished human beings. In my opinion this “optional essay” is optional in name only.

At the same time, don’t waste the reader’s time by writing a meaningless, superficial “grand finale” or summary. Don’t repeat what can be found elsewhere.

Reapplicant Essay How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally.

This is a straightforward MBA reapplication question. What has changed that would compel Tuck to admit you this year?

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Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES

Early Action October 8, 2014

November Round November 5, 2014

January Round January 6, 2015

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Duke Fuqua Leadership, teamwork, ethics, and a global approach to business are essential elements of the Duke Fuqua MBA, which is why you’ll need to make sure you express your passion for these ideals in your application essays. Impress the Fuqua adcom by positioning yourself as an innovative leader and team player, as someone who can see the big picture, work collaboratively, and shape global business.

Three short answer questions and two essays are required from all applicants.

• Responses should use 1.5 line spacing and a font size no smaller than 10-point. Respond fully and concisely. Responses must be completed before submitting your application. Prepare your responses carefully. The Admissions Committee considers your answers important in the selection process. All essays are scanned using plagiarism detection software. Plagiarism is considered a cheating violation within the Honor Code and will not be tolerated in the admissions process.

Application Tip: Check out Fuqua’s section criteria.

Short Answers Answer all 3 of the following questions. For each short answer question, respond in 250 characters only (the equivalent of about 50 words maximum).

1. What are your short term goals, post-MBA?

State what you see yourself doing in terms of function and industry. If location or geography are important to your goal, include them. If you know the type of companies you would like to work for, you can include that information too, but don’t say you want to work for Company X, unless Company X is sponsoring you. That’s probably too narrow.

2. What are your long term goals?

Your long-term goals should flow logically from your short-term goals. They can be fuzzier and both in terms of direction and timing. But you should have them. They can, but don’t have to, include larger aspirations and present a broader perspective on where you are headed. But please don’t go too general and say something like “I aspire to be a good person” or “I strive to leave a lasting impact on my community.” Nice sentiments, but way to general.

3. Life is full of uncertainties, and plans and circumstances can change. As a result, navigating a career requires you to be adaptable. Should the short term goals that you provided above not materialize, what alternative directions have you considered?

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What’s your Plan B? If you can’t get a job at a leading strategy consulting firm, what do you want to do? If Plan A is investment banking, what’s Plan B?

Essays 1. Answer the following question – present your response in list form, numbered 1 to 25. Some points may be only a few words, while others may be longer. Your complete list should not exceed 2 pages.

The “Team Fuqua” spirit and community is one of the things that sets The Duke MBA experience apart, and it is a concept that extends beyond the student body to include faculty, staff, and administration. When a new person joins the Admissions team, we ask that person to share with everyone in the office a list of “25 Random Things About Yourself.” As an Admissions team, we already know the new hire’s professional and academic background, so learning these “25 Random Things” helps us get to know someone’s personality, background, special talents, and more.

In this spirit, the Admissions Committee also wants to get to know you – beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript. You can share with us important life experiences, your likes/dislikes, hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you who you are. Share with us your list of “25 Random Things” about YOU.

Have some fun with this list. It certainly allows a more creative approach than permitted by most essay prompts. Note that the question asks you to go “beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript.” So you can list your Pez collection or perhaps your brief membership in a rock band or the fact that you took violin from age 6-18 or your membership in a gospel choir or your volunteer work in a hospital, your needlepoint, your favorite recipe or photo. The possibilities are endless. Just let the items on your list reflect who you are. Think of this list as an introduction to potential friends. For more insight into this question and the motivation behind it, please read Megan Overbay’s, the former Director of Admissions’, advice. I believe you will find it helpful. And very friendly.

2. Choose only 1 of the following 2 essay questions to answer. Your response should be no more than 2 pages in length.

Choose the prompt that will let you reveal something important to you and impressive about you. Write the essay that you will be able to draft most enthusiastically and easily.

1. When asked by your family, friends, and colleagues why you want to go to Duke, what do you tell them? Share the reasons that are most meaningful to you

Why Duke? But you’re not talking to the admissions committee, whom you just may be a tad less than candid with. You are talking to your family, friends, and colleagues, people you know and like (at least the friends). The Fuqua admissions staff really wants to get to know you. Authenticity is the goal. The admissions readers want to be able to imagine you as a part of Team Fuqua – their family – as a friend or colleague.

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Will you be stiff and formal? Of course not. You will be friendly in a professional way. Don’t take this as an invitation to be inappropriate, coarse, or rude. Just friendly.

What appeals to you at Duke? What about its program, culture, and professional opportunities propel you to apply and would compel you to accept an offer of admission? Maybe start out by drafting a letter to a close friend and tell her why you want to go to Duke. That letter may morph into this essay.

2. The Team Fuqua community is as unique as the individuals who comprise it. Underlying our individuality are a number of shared ideas and principles that we live out in our own ways. Our students have identified and defined 6 “Team Fuqua Principles” that we feel are the guiding philosophies that make our community special. At the end of your 2 years at Fuqua, if you were to receive an award for exemplifying one of the 6 Principles listed below, which one would it be and why? Your response should reflect the research you have done, your knowledge of Fuqua and the Daytime MBA program and experience, and the types of activities and leadership you would engage in as a Fuqua student.

1. Authentic Engagement: We care and we take action. We each make a difference to Team Fuqua by being ourselves and engaging in and supporting activities about which we are passionate. 2. Supportive Ambition: We support each other to achieve great things, because your success is my success. The success of each individual member of Team Fuqua makes the whole of Team Fuqua better. 3. Collective Diversity: We embrace all of our classmates because our individuality is better and stronger together. 4. Impactful Stewardship: We are leaders who focus on solutions to improve our communities both now and in the future. We aren’t satisfied with just maintaining the status quo. 5. Loyal Community: We are a family who looks out for each other. Team Fuqua supports you when you need it the most. 6. Uncompromising Integrity: We internalize and live the honor code in the classroom and beyond. We conduct ourselves with integrity within Fuqua, within Duke, and within all communities of which we are a part.

Do your homework about Fuqua (and yourself) before responding to this question. What activities and groups appeal to you? How do you see yourself participating? Making a difference? Then look at the list of six principles above. Which do you most identify with? Imagine how you would exemplify that principle in your activities. The story of that role and how you would see yourself earning an award is your essay. While you can reference similar activities in the past, keep the focus of this essay on what you would do at Fuqua and why you would earn recognition for exemplifying one of these six principles.

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Optional Essay If you feel there are extenuating circumstances of which the Admissions Committee should be aware, please explain them in an optional essay (e.g., unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, or any significant weakness in your application).

• Do NOT upload additional essays nor additional recommendations in this area of the application. The Optional Essay is intended to provide the Admissions Committee with insight into your extenuating circumstances only. Limit your response to two pages.

Why isn’t your current supervisor writing your rec? Why is there a six-month gap on your resume? Why did your grades dip during the first semester of your senior year? What are your responsibilities while working for a family business after having left a prestigious investment bank, and why did you make the change? Answering any of those questions (but not all) could be the topic of your optional essay.

Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES

Early Action September 17, 2014

Round 1 October 20, 2014

Round 2 January 5, 2015

Round 3 March 19, 2015

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Emory Goizueta

To ace your Goizueta essays, you’ll need to show – not just tell – that you have the skills, passion, and motivation to excel in a rigorous academic environment, and in the business world at large. Illustrate who you are, what you want, and where you are going.

These essays are short. Be prepared to make tough decisions about which key points to include and which to leave out. Write simply and directly to squeeze as much meaning and impact as possible out of each word.

Essays

1. What is your short-term career goal and why is an MBA from Goizueta an important next step toward that goal? (200 words maximum )

There’s no room for backstory here. And notice the question is limited to your short-term goal, i.e., the role you are targeting immediately upon graduating. Address in specific terms your desired position, an example of your desired company, what you expect to do in that role, and why you want it. Next, identify two to three aspects of the program most important to you and, for at least one point, note why you need a Goizueta MBA to achieve it.

2. If your initial career plans are not realized, what else are you considering? (200 words maximum)

Present a credible “Plan B” short-term goal, noting why it’s still a good option and will be a viable path to your longer-term goals. Focus on the positive aspects of this other path, even if it is not ideal in your mind (i.e., avoid emphasizing why it’s not as good as your first choice).

3. The Business School is named for Roberto C. Goizueta, former Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, who led the organization for 16 years, extending its global reach, quadrupling consumption, building brand responsibility, and creating unprecedented shareholder wealth. It is his legacy and the strength of his character that gives rise to our vision: Principled Leaders for Global Enterprise. Goizueta once said, “The cynics will tell you that the good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. I’m telling you, do it anyway.”

Provide an example of the good you have contributed to an organization and the impact of your actions. (300 words maximum)

I suggest addressing this question as a story (a very succinct story): Describe a time you contributed to an organization. Walk through it crisply, “zooming in” on relevant details and focusing on your actions. In a final, brief paragraph reflect on the impact and why it’s meaningful.

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To select the best topic or experience to portray, look for something that is fairly recent and that has a clear impact. You can use a work or non-work experience, depending on what you strategically want to highlight, but most people should grab this opportunity to showcase their impact at work. Keep in mind that the contribution and impact should be to the organization.

4. Complete one of the following statements. (250 words maximum)

I am unique because… My most memorable cross-cultural experience… I am passionate about… The best piece of advice I’ve ever received is…

This question is an opportunity for you to introduce a non-professional interest or aspect of your background. Show yourself off the job as an interesting human being.

Which should you respond to? The one you will find easiest to answer in an engaging, enthusiastic, and authentic way. The one that will best complement the rest of your application.

5. Please share with the committee and your future classmates an interesting or fun fact about you. (25 words maximum)

Align this short essay with Essay 4 above – it’s another opportunity to round out your profile. This one can be work or non-work related. Be natural in your tone – don’t strain to sound “fun” if it doesn’t come naturally to you in writing, and don’t hold back if it does.

Optional Essay

If you have additional information or feel there are extenuating circumstances which you would like to share with the MBA Admissions Committee (i.e., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, academic performance issues or areas of weakness in application). (250 words maximum)

You can of course use this essay solely to address an extenuating circumstance. If you don’t need it for that purpose, if there is something you believe would add to your case for admissions that is not covered in the rest of the application, write about it here. Focus on one facet of your life or an experience that is important to you, reveals the human being you are, and isn’t described in other parts of the application.

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Reapplicant Essays

Applicants who have applied to Goizueta Business School in the past are required to answer two questions:

Complete each of the following questions.

1. What is your short-term career goal and why is an MBA from Goizueta an important next step toward that goal? (200 words maximum)

See tip above.

2. If your initial career plans are not realized, what else are you considering? (200 words maximum)

See tip above.

3. Explain how you have improved your candidacy for Goizueta Business School’s MBA Program since your last application. (250 words maximum)

This is THE key question for all MBA reapplicants. Goizueta just asks it explicitly. Please see MBA Reapplicant 101 for more advice.

Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES

Round 1 October 10, 2014

Round 2 November 14, 2014

Round 3 January 9, 2015

Round 4 March 13, 2015

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ESADE

The ESADE (pronounced eh-SAH-day) MBA program in Barcelona, Spain, is a great option for applicants looking for a program that requires fewer than two years out of the job market but also provides an internship and even an international exchange option. ESADE offers a 12-month MBA, a 15-month option that includes an internship or exchange program, and an 18-month option that includes both an internship and an international exchange opportunity. Graduates do well: 91% secure a position within three months of graduating, increasing their salaries by an average of 67% over their pre-MBA earnings. This really is an international student body: the 170 students in the class of 2013 hailed from 43 countries, and 60% of them choose to work outside of Spain upon graduation.

CV or Resume

The ESADE application form does not prompt the applicant to describe his/her accomplishments in each position, but allows space for a job description for each role. Savvy applicants will make sure that their resume/CV highlights the initiatives they led and the impact they made in each role.

Essays

(Each question is limited to 2000 characters including spaces, 30 lines approximately.)

Frankly, in my experience, 2000 characters is only approximately 20 lines, around 300 words for each essay.

1. Which aspects have you improved on during your academic and professional career so far? Which tools or values have helped you achieve this?

ESADE provides a “transformative” experience, but to benefit from it fully, students must be open to transforming. This essay provides an opportunity for you to demonstrate that you recognize areas in which you can improve, and then take action to do so. Among the most important aspects to ESADE are leadership, teamwork, and organizational skills. The second part of the question is asking for applicants to analyze what enabled them to make these improvements: Personality traits, introspection, trusted mentors, and even a comprehensive professional evaluation system may be among the tools that applicants have found most useful. Sharing a story or two in this essay that shows both the improvement and the tools/values at work will engage the reader and set a tone of interest for your entire application.

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2. How will your background, values and non work-related activities enhance the experience of other ESADE MBA students and add to the diverse culture we strive for at ESADE? (Note: The goal of this essay is to get a sense of who you are, rather than what you have accomplished) ESADE has only 170 students in each class, so each of them must be active to create a lively campus. This essay offers applicants an opportunity to demonstrate how they have helped create community in the past – on campus, in professional and social organizations, in their neighborhood, even in their family life. If an example from a professional environment is the one that best illustrates a personal quality, then, yes, feel free to use it.

3. What are your motivations in pursuing a full-time MBA at this point in your life? Describe your mid-term and long-term visions for your post-MBA career path. What is it about ESADE you think will help you reach your goals?

This is a standard goals question. Applicants need to demonstrate that their goals are ambitious but fully realizable. Anyone whose goals are not seen as reasonable cannot be accepted because they will graduate unhappy at the discovery of that reality – after losing 12-18 months of their lives and €60,000 of their hard-earned (or borrowed!) money.

4. Complete two of the following four questions or statements (1000 characters maximum per response)

a. I am most proud of… b. People may be surprised to learn that I… c. What has your biggest challenge been and what did it help you learn about yourself? d. Which historical figure do you most identify with and why?

Each of these essay prompts aims to discover interesting aspects of your background, both professional and personal. They provide applicants a chance to round out the admissions committee’s understanding of who they are, what obstacles they have faced in their lives, and what they’ve accomplished. These are very brief essays of approximately 150 words each.

5. Please provide any additional information that you would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee. This may include gaps in employment, your undergraduate record, plans to retake the GMAT or any other relevant information.

If you need to explain any of the standard issues – your direct manager doesn’t know you’re applying so you couldn’t ask him to write a recommendation, you completed your coursework in December but did not receive your diploma until the following May, etc. – then this is the place to make those clarifications. If you do not need to use this space for any of those mundane topics, then feel free to fill it with an example of your leadership, maturity, or innovation to provide further evidence of your fit with ESADE.

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Deadlines: In order to secure a place on the full-time MBA and an ESADE Scholarship, we strongly recommend applying early. Taking the visa application process into consideration, we recommend that non-EU citizens submit their completed application no later than (15 June 2015).

ROUND DEADLINES

Round 1 October 6, 2014

Round 2 December 1, 2015

Round 3 January 12, 2015

Round 4 February 9, 2015

Round 5 March 2, 2015

Round 6 April 13, 2015

Round 7 May 18, 2015

Round 8 June 15, 2015

Round 9 July 6, 2015

Applications should be submitted by 11:59 PM CET (Central European Time) on the date in question. Applications are considered complete once the Online Application and all supporting documents have been received.

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Georgetown McDonough Georgetown McDonough, the top MBA program at the intersection of business and government, takes advantage of its Washington D.C. location, its connections to the greater Georgetown University community, and its Jesuit roots while at the same time focusing on the global nature of twenty-first century business. Your application should show that you need the education provided by McDonough to achieve your goals and that you wholeheartedly embrace its values.

Essay Essays should all be double-spaced using 12pt. font. Prepare your attachments offline in separate document files and upload them individually. Please follow the instructions regarding length of each attachment, and label each page with your name.

Why You? (Hint: We are looking for an answer that cannot be found from research on our website.) (750 words maximum)

This question is all about fit. It is an attempt by Georgetown to learn about you and why you think you are a good fit for Georgetown and why Georgetown is a good fit for you. Georgetown wants to see how you think and come to a major decision.

There are lots of different ways to approach this essay. Clearly you shouldn’t spit back the McDonough website. If you can, talk to current students about the culture and distinctive elements of the program to gain a deeper understanding of it. You also need to reflect on the reasons you personally would choose McDonough. Why is it the best program for you?

You could start with a highly influential experience that influence your decision to pursue an MBA, go into more depth about what you hope to achieve and why you believe Georgetown is the best place for you to achieve it.

Alternatively, you could start with a day in the future where you attain your goal and then circle back to discuss the development of that goal and McDonough’s role in helping you achieve it. You can also discuss how you intend to contribute to McDonough’s community.

In short, why should McDonough accept you? How will you make the school proud that they did?

Optional Essays 1. If you are not currently employed full-time, use this essay to provide information about your current activities. (250 words maximum)

Show them that you are using this period to acquire new skills, contribute to your community, or grow in some way.

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2. Please provide any information that you would like to add to your application that you have not otherwise included. (500 words maximum)

Please see “The Optional Essay: To Be or Not to Be.”

Reapplicant Essay How have you strengthened your candidacy since your last application? We are particularly interested in hearing about how you have grown professionally and personally. (500 words or fewer)

This is a key question (whether asked explicitly or not) for all reapplicants to any MBA program. What has changed? How are you “new and improved” since last year – when you were rejected? Georgetown does you the favor of providing this explicit prompt so you can address this question while retaining the ability to address the main essay.

Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES

Round 1 October 10, 2014

Round 2 January 5, 2015

Round 3 April 1, 2015

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Harvard Business School For the second year in a row, Harvard Business School is simultaneously demanding less and much more of applicants: No essays. Fewer words. Fewer characters. More thought. More brevity. And as much substance as you can cram into the responses limited not to a few hundred words, but to a few hundred characters. If any of you think creating a compelling HBS app will be easy, think again.

Required Portions The required portions represent what Harvard wants to know about you. The HBS admissions committee is quite clear and specific about what it wants to know. And how much it wants to know. Please realize that your resume and the boxes are now the heart of your application. Before you begin completing the application, first review Harvard’s three criteria for admission. Write your descriptions and response so that you show these qualities:

• Habit of Leadership • Analytical Aptitude and Appetite • Engaged Community Citizenship

For additional understanding of Dee Leopold, Director of Harvard Business School’s Admissions, and her thought process, please review the Poets and Quants interview with Dee, published in June 2014.

Because of the brevity required – most of the longer answers have a 500-character limit – you must be succinct:

• Focus on business and leadership achievements, not technical feats. • Don’t merely describe your responsibilities; highlight your accomplishments–

where you have made a difference, where you have gone above and beyond the expected, the typical, and the ordinary.

• Quantify as much as possible. • Write tight.

Optional Essay You’re applying to Harvard Business School. We can see your resume, school transcripts, extra-curricular activities, awards, post-MBA career goals, test scores and what your recommenders have to say about you. What else would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy? (No word limit)

Now what else – really and truly – do you want HBS to know about you? The HBS admissions committee has told you what it wants to know. That’s in the required sections of the application. What do you want the HBS readers to know?

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The answer to that question is not something I can give or even suggest to you in a guide aimed at the many. (For individual advice, please see Accepted’s MBA Admissions Consulting.) It should be different for each of you. Again, refer to the HBS criteria, as you contemplate possible topics, but the options are infinite. A few possibilities:

• Context for events described in the required elements. • Motivations for the decisions or commitments you have made. • Challenges you have faced. • Something you would like to do at HBS. • More depth on an activity or commitment that is particularly important to you.

Please don’t limit yourself to these suggestions. I am offering them to stimulate your creativity, not to shut it down. Some of you may wonder if you should write this essay given that it is optional. If you don’t have anything to say, say nothing. Nonetheless, I can’t believe that accomplished, remarkable people have nothing valuable to add to the required portions of Harvard’s application. A persuasive, impressive essay simply gives Harvard more reasons to accept you, and you should want them to have those reasons. On the other hand, if you slap together something hastily or rehash or copy-and-paste another school’s essay, then you run the risk of actually reducing the quality of your application. Bottom line: Make it worth reading. Write a thoughtful essay that reflects you and complements the required components.

Since I’ve been in MBA admissions consulting (almost 20 years now), HBS has valued concision. And, in today’s tweet- and sound-bite-driven world, it is requiring even shorter responses, at least in the required portion of the application. Don’t take the absence of a word limit on the optional essay as a license for verbosity. Make every word count. If you must pull a number out of me, don’t go over 800 words. And if you can say what you need to say in less than 800 words, do so. A few caveats and warnings on the essay. It is not:

• Stanford’s “what matters most to you and why?” • The kitchen sink in which you throw everything. • An autobiography.

Interview Reflections

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Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES

Round 1 September 9, 2014

Round 2 January 5, 2015

Round 3 April 6, 2015

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HEC Paris

These essays give the adcom a well-rounded view of you – not just what you’ve done but how you think and respond. Moreover, they require you to communicate some complex thoughts and experiences in few words. For the four short essays especially, don’t waste words on conventional introductory and concluding paragraphs. Jump right into your point or story, and use straightforward sentences that avoid wordy constructions like “had the opportunity to,” “was able to”; don’t be shy using straightforward declarative sentences. Added benefit: You come across as more confident. Once you’ve sketched your ideas for all the essays, step back and look at how all these facets add up as a whole, to see if you should adjust any content to avoid redundancy.

Essays

1. Why are you applying to the HEC MBA Program now? What is the professional objective that will guide your career choice after your MBA, and how will the HEC MBA contribute to the achievement of this objective? (500 words maximum)

This is a traditional goals question with a couple of twists. First, the “why now” part should be explicitly addressed, even if it seems obvious. Second, the “professional objective” is essentially your long-term career vision, and the question assumes that this vision or goal will drive your preceding steps, so present your short-term goal in that context, i.e., how it will be a prelude to your ultimate professional objective. Otherwise, as always with this type of goals question, connect the dots. Let the reader see that your goals grow organically from your experience and are achievable given your past experience and an MBA from HEC.

2. What do you consider your most significant life achievement? (250 words maximum)

Most significant life achievement – few work accomplishments rise to this level. Not that you can’t use a work story, but if, for example, you state that boosting your organization’s bottom-line is your greatest life achievement, the adcom might wonder about your values. If you can say that the accomplishment, while boosting the bottom line, also saved jobs or lessened negative environmental impacts, however, that’s different. For some people, this story will be personal – I think of clients who have persevered through challenging medical diagnoses for example; for others, it will involve impact at work or outside of work.

Structure: Simply narrate the story, and at the end, clarify why you deem it most significant.

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3. Leadership and ethics are inevitably intertwined in the business world. Describe a situation in which you have dealt with these issues and how they have influenced you (250 words maximum)

Again, keep the structure simple: Tell the story, and end with a brief discussion of how the experience has influenced you. It may seem like a challenge to identify an experience that encompasses both leadership and ethics. However, addressing an ethics challenge will almost inherently require leadership (often informal), whether on your part or someone else’s. When you explain how it influenced you, don’t just state generalities; give a specific example.

4. Imagine a life entirely different from the one you now lead, what would it be? (250 words maximum)

This essay is an opportunity to show a different side of yourself. Describe an imagined life that reflects something meaningful to you. Make it vivid, show your passion. Note that the question does NOT ask what you would do if not your current life/role; it just asks you to “imagine a life.” Use that openness to express your imagination, passion, and interest vividly. In doing so, however, do not make it abstract. Weave in and employ your knowledge and experience, e.g., if you love ballet and are an avid ballet-goer, you could build your imagined life in a way that uses your knowledge of and passion for dance. The reader would learn something interesting about you – and your prospective contribution to the social context of the program.

5. Please choose from one of the following essays: (250 words maximum)

a) What monument or site would you advise a first-time visitor to your country or city to discover, and why?

b) Certain books, movies or plays have had an international success that you believe to be undeserved. Choose an example and analyse it.

c) What figure do you most admire and why? You may choose from any field (arts, literature, politics, business, etc).

All of these options are equally good – choose the one that resonates the most with you, the one that you want to answer. It’s another opportunity to showcase your interests and passions. The “why” part is key: Avoid platitudes, be specific and present focused, fresh insights.

6. Is there any additional information you would like to share with us? (900 words maximum)

This question invites you to explain anything that needs explaining (e.g., gap in employment, choice of recommender if not direct supervisor, a bad grade, etc.) as well as to present new material that will enhance your application. If you choose to do the latter, make sure it’s a point that is essential for a clear and full picture of your candidacy. They give you a lot of words to work with; don’t think that you have to use all 900!

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Deadlines:

DEADLINES

August 15, 2014

September 15, 2014

October 15, 2014

November 15, 2014

December 15, 2014

January 1, 2015

February 1, 2015

March 1, 2015

April 1, 2015

May 1, 2015

June 1, 2015

July 1, 2015

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HKUST

HKUST aims to educate global leaders with cultural insight and strong Chinese business understanding. HKUST prides itself on the large percentage of career function and industry changes that its graduates are able to make: 77% of grads switch job functions and 67% change industries from their pre-MBA role after HKUST. Its essay questions aim to understand your goals and what you can contribute to the class.

Essays

1. Tell us about your short-term and long-term career goals after the MBA, and why you think HKUST MBA would be a good fit for you. (7500 characters maximum, ~500 words)

To answer this question well, you need to know what direction you want to take your career in after the MBA. While a career change is likely, applicants need to convey how their career and experiences until now have prepared them for these ambitions. They must also explain how the HKUST MBA will complement those experiences to enable them to succeed in reaching and performing well in their target roles. Explain why HKUST’s curriculum is a good fit for you will require an understanding of HKUST’s three-tiered core curriculum and insight into some of the areas you will want to explore in the 40+% of the HKUST MBA courses that are electives. And it will almost certainly require some discussion of why the Chinese context, global perspectives, and management insight that HKUST offers will be critical to your advancement.

2. Our mission is to inspire and transform individuals to be future business leaders for Asia and the world. We embrace diversity, and are looking for ambitious and open-minded candidates with a passion to contribute. With your background and professional experience, what unique values can you bring in to enrich the learning experience at HKUST MBA? (7500 characters maximum, ~500 words)

With just 100-120 students each year, HKUST aims to include a diverse range of backgrounds and industries in the class. You don’t want to be pigeon-holed as a generic consultant or financier; you need to demonstrate in this essay that you are a worldly candidate with experiences that your classmates will be eager to hear about and learn from, and that you have the personal qualities that will allow you to share those experiences. The best essays will include two or three examples of values adhered to, experiences gained, and/or achievements accomplished that demonstrate that you are ambitious, possess a wealth of experience, and are personable.

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Application Form

Keep in mind that HKUST does not have a place to upload your current CV/resume. The only area of the application where you may describe your work experience is in the Work Experience section of the application, which requests data about dates of employment and salary and allows 1000 characters to describe each position (that’s approximately 150 words to describe each role). This is actually a fine amount of space; just be sure to use it to describe your work and impact. Don’t make the mistake of simply filling in some general responsibilities and losing the opportunity to share details about your initiatives and impacts.

Deadlines:

The HKUST MBA program intake 2015 will start in August 2015.

ROUND DEADLINES

Round 1 November 13, 2014

Round 2 January 13, 2015

Round 3 March 13, 2015

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INSEAD

INSEAD is bucking a trend – whereas many b-school applications have recently leaned toward “minimalist” essays, for INSEAD you still have to write several thought-provoking and challenging essays. In the program with perhaps the most intensive global focus, verbal acuity matters because the ability to reflect on, synthesize, actualize, and communicate complex ideas across cultures is central to global leadership.

The INSEAD essays are divided into two categories: Job Description Essays and Motivation Essays. The use of the word “motivation” should be forefront in your mind as you draft those essays; the concept should appear directly or indirectly in each. It means that the adcom wants to know what drives you, what propels your choices, decisions, and actions.

Essays

1. Briefly summarize your current (or most recent) job, including the nature of work, major responsibilities, and, where relevant, employees under your supervision, size of budget, clients/products and results achieved. What would be your next step in terms of position if you were to remain in the same company? (350 words maximum)

The key to strong job descriptions is “results achieved.” Definitely provide the other requested elements, but the distinguishing factor will be those results. Quantifying outcomes usually shines a spotlight on your impact and contribution.

The second most important element is “major responsibilities.” Don’t list the mundane or the aspects of your job that everyone with your title will share. Where did you shoulder “major responsibility”? Focus on responsibility above and beyond what is typically expected of someone at your level. Be specific in these descriptions to differentiate yourself, especially if you come from a common professional group in the applicant pool. Address the hypothetical next step question succinctly; a sentence or two will usually suffice.

2. Please give a full description of your career since graduating from university. It should be written as if you were talking to someone at a social gathering detailing your career path with the rationale behind your choices. Discuss your short and long term career aspirations. (350 words maximum)

Yup – this is a goals essay question, hidden within the “career summary” question hidden within the “job description” section! The implication is that INSEAD sees your career goals as part of a continuum, and so present them that way – even if changing careers. The emphasis on the decision points of your career trajectory underscores this implication. The adcom wants to see how you conceive and conceptualize a career path as much as what happened in it.

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Also, don’t confuse “full description” with “complete history.” Choose the most important elements – those elements that show contribution, leadership, and, since this is INSEAD, a multi-cultural and global perspective.

Optional Essay

If you are currently not working or if you plan to leave your current employer more than 2 months before the program starts, please explain your activities and occupations between leaving your job and the start of the program.

State the facts straightforwardly – not just what you’re doing but why you’re doing it. If you have room and if it’s relevant, consider addressing why you are unemployed at the moment.

Motivation Essays

1. Give a candid description of yourself (who are you as a person), stressing the personal characteristics you feel to be your strengths and weaknesses and the main factors which have influenced your personal development, giving examples when necessary. (600 words maximum)

For a question like this I recommend providing two strengths and one weakness. An efficient way to save space and strengthen your essay would be to choose one anecdote that reveals both the strengths and the weakness. Don’t forget to discuss how these qualities influenced your personal development. For more on INSEAD and writing about weaknesses, please see this video:

A word on weaknesses. Be honest without going overboard. Don’t make up a phony weakness. I attended an HBS info session a few years ago. One of the alumni said that he discussed a “phony weakness” in his essays (required for HBS that year), and his interviewer focused right on it, and basically said, “Come on. What’s a real weakness?”

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The applicant had to get real in a hurry. Take advantage of the essay: Give it some thought and respond with the benefit of that reflection. For more information, please see “Flaws Make Your Real.”

At a recent AIGAC conference one of the adcom members remembered that an applicant in response to a similar question had listed his weakness as “pitching new ideas in a meeting.” The adcom member felt that the applicant was specific, real, and showed self-awareness by revealing this flaw. In fact, by demonstrating these qualities in addition to the requested weakness that he was working on, the applicant actually enhanced his chances of acceptance with his response.

Don’t write about “weakness in pitching new ideas in meetings” as your flaw just because you saw it here. It will become the lame, stale example everyone uses. However, you all have weakness. Just be thoughtful enough and honest enough to reveal yours.

(Note: There is potential for some overlap in this essay with Essay 2 (following), so look at both questions together and organize content before writing them.)

2. Describe the achievement of which you are most proud and explain why. In addition, describe a situation where you failed. How did these experiences impact your relationships with others? Comment on what you learned. (400 words maximum)

With only 400 words to describe two significant experiences and the specified discussion points, you need to use stories that can be told without a lot of background information. And keep in mind Essay 1 – don’t use stories that reflect exactly the same messages. “Achievement of which you are most proud” is a high bar, and it can be from either work or outside of work. It also should be something that reveals qualities or attributes about you that are positive and relevant. I suggest using something from the last two to three years. Luckily you don’t have to write about the failure about which you are most ashamed… Discuss a failure that is specific, fairly recent, and meaty enough to have rattled you a bit. Again, a work or non-work topic is fine.

In discussing what you learned from the experiences and how they impacted your relationships, identify one specific thing for each point for each story – there isn’t room for more. And there isn’t need for more, because one can be very powerful if it’s insightful.

3. Tell us about an experience where you were significantly impacted by cultural diversity, in a positive or negative way. (300 words maximum)

In choosing your topic story, think about “impact.” Often people describe being surprised or emotionally challenged by encountering new or different cultures, but that’s not enough to make this a good essay. Impact is what happens after the initial response: How did the experience change your behavior, or change your perception, or inspire you to learn something, or cause you to reconsider beliefs/ideas – these are impacts.

Narrate the story succinctly, vividly portraying the impact on you. The adcom wants to see that you are thoughtful, resourceful, and responsive in encountering cultural diversity, because it is a key attribute of their program.

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4. Describe all types of extra-professional activities in which you have been or are still involved for a significant amount of time (clubs, sports, music, arts, politics, etc). How are you enriched by these activities? (300 words maximum)

Simply discuss the range of activities you participate (or have participated) in – those that are major passions and those that are “just fun” – clarifying their relative role and importance in your life. Be straightforward in how they enriched you – no need to strive for something “different” that no one has ever felt or experienced before. Imagine you are meeting with clients or superiors – between business dealings (and perhaps over a drink), you and they might chat about non-work interests – approach this essay like such a conversation. Not quite as casual as with a peer, but still conversational, straightforward, and intended to connect on a person-to-person level.

Optional Essay

Is there anything else that was not covered in your application that you would like to share with the admissions committee? (300 words maximum)

Use the optional essay to explain anything that needs explaining and/or to give them one more reason to accept you. DON’T use it for a superficial summary, a restatement of your other essays, or anything similarly boring and trite. If you choose to write it, produce a tight, focused essay revealing something you haven’t yet discussed.

September 2015 Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES

Round 1 September 12, 2014

Round 2 November 12, 2014

Round 3 January 14, 2015

Round 4 March 4, 2015

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January 2016 Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES

Round 1 March 4, 2014

Round 2 April 22, 2015

Round 3 June 17, 2015

Round 4 August 5, 2015

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London Business School

The LBS essay questions get right to the point, covering the core factors and that’s it. No nonsense, no meandering, no excess verbiage in the questions – therefore, ensure there’s none of those in your essays. Although succinct, these two questions together create a well-rounded picture of your candidacy: who you are as a professional (including past experience and future goals) and who you are as a person more broadly (in ways that are relevant to and will enhance LBS). In answering each question, keep in mind the picture that they create together. Note that the London Business School has historically been very concerned about your contribution and fit, and these essays continue that emphasis.

Essays

1. What are your post-MBA plans and how will your past experience and the London Business School programme contribute? (500 words maximum)

A solid, user-friendly, and effective structure for this essay starts with an intriguing fact, anecdote, or quote. This opening should relate to your goals and engage the reader. Then detail your post-MBA plans, focusing more on the practical aspects and the short-term phase.

For the second part of the question, either (a) weave in salient points from your career as you delineate your goals or (b) discuss the relevant past experience in a separate paragraph, whichever works best for you. Then add a paragraph addressing specific aspects of the LBS program that support your plans.

2. How will you add value to the London Business School community? (300 words maximum)

Identify and describe two to three distinctive points (can be professional or non-work, but at least one should be professional) that show the adcom what you’ll contribute to the program. Show how they’ll add value by specific anecdote and/or detail. In doing so, consider the LBS culture. This short essay is a way to demonstrate your appreciation of the program’s culture, values, and personality, so address those factors in discussing how you will add value.

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Optional Essay

Is there any other information you believe the Admissions Committee should know about you and your application to London Business School? (300 words maximum)

You can use the optional essay not just to explain a problem (e.g., low GMAT, employment gap, choice of recommender) but also to present new material that you think will enhance your application. However, if you are making the adcom read more than is required, there should be a good reason. First, succinctly explain any points that need explaining. Then, if there is something you feel is important that you haven’t had a chance to discuss elsewhere, write about it, noting why it’s important for your application.

Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES

Round 1 October 3, 2014

Round 2 January 5, 2015

Round 3 February 27, 2015

Round 4 April 17, 2015

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Michigan Ross Ross completely redid the essay part of its MBA application this year. Getting rid of its long-standing goals essay, a fairly new “elevator pitch” question, and a question about dealing with frustrating or disappointing situations, it added two questions on achievements. The overall word count is down 150 words.

Since the application is not live, I can’t see the short answer questions or the online boxes. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Ross asks about goals in the non-essay portion of the application.

Review Ross’ Evaluation Criteria before you sit down to write the essays. And remember: Your essays should reveal the qualities Ross seeks – not just mouth them. Show that you walk the walk, not just talk the talk. Also, read carefully the introductory paragraph to the essay questions. The advice is excellent.

Essays Our goal with these new questions is that we’ll get a sense of who you are, how you think about yourself and how you process your experiences. The range of responses can be quite wide – from an accomplishment to a challenge or difficult situation that you overcame or a characteristic about yourself. There isn’t a “right” or “preferred” type of response. Applicants often ask how they can differentiate themselves. The essays are the best way to do it. Your undergraduate school and major may be similar to another applicant’s. Your career path and goals may be similar to another applicant’s. But your experiences and what you take away from them will be unique.

1. What are you most proud of professionally and why? What did you learn from that experience? (400 words maximum)

The first part of the question is fairly straightforward. What are you truly proud of professionally? The reasons for your pride and the lessons learned require thought and soul-searching. And of course, you only have 400 words.

Good reasons for the choice: Contribution to your team, department, company, or society. Impact on you or others. Try to quantify this part of your answer. Numbers are a great way to show both contribution and impact. However, if your #1 achievement is qualitative or difficult to quantify, don’t let lack of numbers stop you from using it.

For the lessons learned part of the question, choose one lesson that has changed how you think or behave and describe those changes. You don’t have room for many lessons learned, so select the most important one.

2. What are you most proud of personally and why? How does it shape who you are today? (400 words maximum)

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This response should complement your response to #1 and obviously it should not be professional. Ross wants to know that you have a life off the job and that you make a difference then too.

What have you done off the job that you are really proud of? Raised money for a favorite charity by running a marathon? Organized a political event? Engaged in interfaith dialogue that broke down communications barriers? Led a sports team to victory?

Any of the above and many, many other non-professional achievements would qualify as a good topic for this essay.

What was the impact of that accomplishment on you? Please don’t write that you learned you can do anything you put your mind to. That response is clichéd and not really true. It’s a non-answer. A good response will show how your behavior or thinking has changed as a result of this accomplishment.

Optional Essay Is there anything not addressed elsewhere in the application that you would like the Admissions Committee to know about you to evaluate your candidacy? (300 words maximum)

Optional questions aren’t junk drawers or shoe boxes in which to jam “stuff.” Focus on one facet of your life or an experience that is important to you, reveals the human being you are, and isn’t described in other parts of the application.

Of course, you can also use this essay to provide context for a weakness, but I prefer not to end your application on that note if possible. So weigh your options. If you have something to explain, do so. If you can slip in the explanation somewhere else, great. If the best place for the explanation is this last essay, so be it.

Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES SUBMISSION TIME

Round 1 October 6, 2014 11:59 PM EST

Round 2 January 5, 2015 11:59 PM EST

Round 3 March 23, 2015 11:59 PM EST

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MIT Sloan For years MIT Sloan asked applicants to create a cover letter as part of its application. MIT dropped that requirement last year, but this year the big news is that MIT is asking you to write your own recommendation. And while many of you write your own reviews at work and some of you may have been asked to write recommendations for your recommender’s signature, which the schools hate, this year it’s from you to MIT Sloan. More on that below.

Resume Please prepare a business resume that includes your employment history in reverse chronological order, with titles, dates, and whether you worked part-time or full-time. Your educational record should also be in reverse chronological order and should indicate dates of attendance and degree(s) earned. Other information appropriate to a business resume is welcomed and encouraged. The resume should not be more than one page in length (up to 50 lines). We encourage you to use the resume template provided in the online application.

Go beyond mere job description to highlight achievement. If your title is “consultant,” saying that you “consulted on projects” is redundant and uninformative at best. Writing that you “Led a 6-member team working on a biotech outsourcing project to Singapore with a budget of $X; it came in on time and under budget.” conveys infinitely more. Quantify impact as much as possible. You want the reader to come away with a picture of an above average performer on a steep trajectory.

Essays We are interested in learning more about you. In each of the essays, please describe in detail what you thought, felt, said, and did. Please draw upon experiences which have occurred in the past three years.

1. The mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management is to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and to generate ideas that advance management practice. Discuss how you will contribute toward advancing the mission based on examples of past work and activities. (500 words maximum)

First identify examples that illustrate you either “developing others into principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and generate ideas that advance management practice” or practicing your own form of principled leadership. You can choose professional and non-professional examples. Once you’ve jotted down several examples, choose between 1-3 that you want to focus on. What should you focus on? The examples that show you transforming an innovative idea into a reality. Remember MIT Sloan’s “commitment to balancing innovative ideas and theories with hands-on, real-world application.”

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Show how your leadership and impact in this experience has improved the world in some small way; you don’t need to have cured cancer or ended starvation in Africa. Then tie those examples to future plans. How will you build on that experience at MIT Sloan and beyond? How will you fulfill MIT Sloan’s mission on the job and off?

2. Write a professional letter of recommendation on behalf of yourself. Answer the following questions as if you were your most recent supervisor recommending yourself for admission to the MIT Sloan MBA Program:

• How long and in what capacity have you known the applicant? • How does the applicant stand out from others in a similar capacity? • Please give an example of the applicant’s impact on a person, group, or organization. • Please give a representative example of how the applicant interacts with other people. • Which of the applicant’s personal or professional characteristics would you change? • Please tell us anything else you think we should know about this applicant.

(750 words maximum)

Quite the curve ball! You can have a little fun with the first bullet, but then get serious. And yes you are supposed to write this as if you are your manager.

First of all think about the questions. Reflect on how you stand out in a positive way from your peers. If possible focus on leadership and interpersonal skills and give an example of your ability to lead, to diffuse tension, to listen, to be entrusted with responsibility or whatever way you feel you stand out. And of course reveal impact. You need to show that your attributions have made a difference and perhaps allowed you to contribute more and progress faster than most.

The bullet that will make many of you squirm is the second to the last one. It is asking for a weakness and before you tie yourself up in nervous knots about dealing with that point, please see “Flaws Make You Real.” You don’t have to make your response to this bullet the longest part of the essay, but do respond honestly and effectively.

Optional Essay The Admissions Committee invites you to share anything else you would like us to know about you, in any format. If you choose to use a multimedia format, please host the information on a website and provide us the URL.

I discussed this question with someone in MIT Sloan’s admissions office. First of all realize that you can choose an essay or multimedia presentation. The media option is there so you can express yourself in the way you find easiest and most revealing. MIT does not want a recycled essay from another school. The person I spoke to was explicit about that. If you choose the multimedia format, realize it should be something viewable in about a minute – no 20-minute videos or 100-slide expositions or lengthy orations. Keep it short. It’s also fine to link to something you have created for a club, event, or cause that’s important to you.

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What’s behind the option? A deep and sincere desire to meet you as a human being. A genuine, animated, real live human being. So don’t regurgitate your resume or spew stuff found in the required elements of your application. Have the confidence to share a special interest or deep commitment. I’m not suggesting Mommy Dearest or True Confessions; use judgment. I am suggesting that you allow the reader to see a good side of you not revealed elsewhere in the application. Let them see what makes you smile, motivates you to jump out of bed with joy, and gives you a feeling of satisfaction when you turn out the light at the end of the day.

MIT Sloan has an excellent video with advice on its optional essay. Here it is: Jeff Carbone-Optional Information Tips

Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES SUBMISSION TIME

Round 1 September 23, 2014 3:00 PM EST

Round 2 January 8, 2015 3:00 PM EST

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Northwestern Kellogg In September 2014, Kellogg “rebranded” itself and moved away from the more obscure “Think Bravely,” which was difficult to wrap your mind around. It’s returning to its traditional core values or at least to a more concrete mission: “Inspiring growth.” The video below explores and clarifies this mission as well as the values Kellogg holds dear. I highly recommend that you watch it to grasp understand Kellogg’s fundamental principles.

A couple of key takeaways from the video – Kellogg seeks individuals who:

• Have a growth mindset (for details, please see Caroline Dweck’s Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, one of my favorite books).

• Work well in a collaborative environment while striving to grow individually and at the same time inspiring growth in individuals, organizations, and markets.

Essays 1. Resilience. Perseverance. Grit. Call it what you will….Challenges can build character. Describe a challenging experience you’ve had. How were you tested? What did you learn? (450 words maximum)

A perfect prompt for an essay showing that you take responsibility for you actions – even in challenging situations – and that you courageously face those challenges, deal with them, and grow from them.

The question asks you to describe one experience that you found challenging. I suggest you open with either a difficult moment or interaction, then describe what led up to it and continue with how you dealt with it. Reveal results both in terms of the situation and more importantly in terms of your personal character growth.

For more thoughts on resilience, please see Resilience: Moving On.

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2. Leadership requires an ability to collaborate with and motivate others. Describe a professional experience that required you to influence people. What did this experience teach you about working with others, and how will it make you a better leader? (450 words maximum)

This question reflects Kellogg’s emphasis on collaborative leadership. As in question 1, Kellogg is asking you to describe one experience. This time the school seeks a professional one where you influenced others. You can use a STAR framework for this response (Situation, Task, Action, Results). Start with the situation and simply describe what was going on. Then relate your group’s task and responsibility. How did you motivate the others to move in one direction? How did you influence and persuade? Finally what were the results for the group, but more importantly for you? What did you learn about leadership, collaboration, and influence?

While it isn’t a requirement and I can imagine instances where this may not be true, in general, examples where you led by virtue of your stature and others’ respect for you will be more compelling than those where you led by virtue of station and title.

Reapplicant Essay Since your previous application, what steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? (250 words maximum)

No trick questions here. How are you a better candidate today than when Kellogg rejected you? Have you addressed weaknesses in your previous application? Check out MBA Reapplicant 101 – a lot of free resources there.

Optional Essay If needed, use this section to briefly describe any extenuating circumstances (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, etc.) (No word limit)

This is a true optional question. If necessary, use it to provide context for possible negatives. Take responsibility for mistakes if necessary and discuss what you have changed so that you don’t err in the same way again.

Keep this section short and to-the-point. Don’t be fooled by “No word count.”

Video Essays The Video Essays provide applicants with an additional opportunity to demonstrate what they will bring to our vibrant Kellogg community – in an interactive way. Each applicant will complete two short video essay questions. The questions are designed to bring to life the person we have learned about on paper.

• After submitting a completed application, each applicant will be asked to complete two Video Essay Questions. One will be about the candidate’s interest in Kellogg and the other will be a “getting to know you” type of question.

• There are 10 practice questions which candidates can complete as many times as they like to get comfortable with the format and technology.

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The practice questions and experience will simulate the actual video essay experience, so this is meant to be a useful tool and help applicants feel prepared.

• There is not an opportunity to re-do the answer to the official video essay questions. We encourage applicants to practice so they are comfortable with the format once it is time to complete the official questions.

• Candidates will have 20 seconds to think about their question and up to 1 minute to give their response.

• We estimate the Video Essays will take 30 minutes to complete – which includes time for set-up and answering all the practice questions.

To prepare for your webcam session, you need to practice for the experience of talking to a video camera with no responses from another human being. For tips on how to prepare and behave during the webcam session, please see Kellogg’s “Video Essay” on its Application Components page as well as my Tips for Video MBA Essay Questions.

Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES SUBMISSION TIME

Round 1 September 24, 2014 5:00 PM CT

Round 2 January 7, 2015 5:00 PM CT

Round 3 April 1, 2015 5:00 PM CT

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Notre Dame Mendoza

You need to clearly convey to the Mendoza adcom that you have what it takes to be an effective leader – an integrated mind, a broad perspective, tenacity, and heart. Use your career experiences, your career goals, and your personal values to help you demonstrate these key elements.

Essay

Your response to the essay questions is extremely important in the selection process. Create a file for your essay and include your name on each page. Your essay should be typed, double-spaced, and no longer than 2 pages.

Your responsibility as a lifelong member of the Mendoza community is to Ask More of Business – to exemplify individual integrity, organizational excellence, and a concern for the greater good. How do you plan to do this in your professional career?

This is a question asking you to show that you belong in the Mendoza community with the emphasis that it puts on service and ethics, as well as organizational leadership. There are different ways to approach this question. Here are two possibilities:

1. Present an experience that shows you demonstrating managerial ability, integrity, and a concern for the greater good or a commitment to service. Tell that story and then analyze what you learned from the experience. How did your understanding of these essential (for Mendoza) values evolve as a result of this event? How do you intend to apply that understanding and those lessons in the future?

2. Use three different experiences to show each of the qualities that Mendoza is looking for and weave them together with a unifying theme. Then take the lessons you learned from these different experiences and show how you intend to use them going forward.

With the first approach, you can go into greater depth, both about the experience and what you learned, but you may have trouble defining such an experience. With the second approach, you risk a travelogue type of approach, but it may work better in terms of the three values.

In both cases, make sure you answer the question about how you intend to fulfill your responsibility as a member of the Mendoza community in the future.

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Slideshow Presentation

• Effective business communication is a central skill for managers and visual presentations are an important and frequent method of communication. Demonstrate your ability to clearly, concisely and persuasively communicate important information by telling us about yourself using a short slide presentation.

• Please consider the following guidelines when creating your presentation. • You are free to cover any material about yourself that you think would be of value to the

Admissions Committee. • Please use whatever software programs you like to develop your presentation but note

that the only acceptable formats for upload in the online application system is Adobe PDF.

• There is a strict maximum of four slides, though you can provide fewer than four if you choose.

• The slides that you submit will be printed and added to your application file for review by the Admissions Committee. As a result, only text and static images will be seen. Videos, music, hyperlinks, etc will not be conveyed and should not be included. Color may be used.

• Your goal is to clearly, concisely and persuasively convey key information. Slides will be evaluated on these dimensions and not on graphic or presentation elements.

• Notes pages will not be accepted. You should plan to convey your entire message on the actual slides themselves.

• To assist MBA Applicants with the development of their slide presentation, please consult this PowerPoint Guide.

Think strategically here. What do you want the admissions reader to know about you that isn’t found elsewhere in the application and can be presented well visually? Usually hobbies and non-professional experiences are good topics for this kind of question, but the key is that the experience or achievement can be presented graphically in four slides.

Optional Essays

The Notre Dame MBA Admissions Committee will accept supplemental essays from applicants who wish to provide additional information that has not been captured within other areas of the application.

For example, applicants with low undergraduate GPA’s may address any circumstances surrounding their performance or applicants who have been dismissed from school may want to consider addressing that issue. Also, if you want to explain your work history in greater detail, please use the Supplemental Essay to provide us with a chronology of your work history.

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If you are a reapplicant, you must complete a Supplemental Essay outlining your activities since you last applied.

Ultimately, we will accept supplemental essays on any topic that you feel is important to the Committee and not explained fully within other portions of the application.

Please keep all submissions to one page, typed and double-spaced.

Again, the response to this MBA essay should complement the other essays and information found in your application. In my view, this essay is optional in name only. If you are impressive enough to get into Notre Dame, you should have more to say than can be captured in the required goals essay and the slide presentation.

If you are a reapplicant, the key question to address is: How has your candidacy improved since you last applied? An improved GMAT is easy to point to, if you have it, but don’t limit it to that. Be sure to discuss increases in responsibility on and off the job, a sharpened career goal, a community service initiative, or anything else that reflects well on you that hasn’t been discussed in the other essays.

Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES

Round 1 October 13, 2014

Round 2 January 12, 2015

Round 3 February 23, 2015

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NUS

National University of Singapore (NUS) hosts approximately 100 students each year in its full-time MBA program – 91% of those students come from outside of Singapore, representing 18 countries. The curriculum concentrates on global business with a focus on Asia in particular, and the program successfully places graduates in a variety of functions: 22% of the class enters consulting, 24% finance/accounting, 14% general management, 22% sales/marketing (with the remainder entering HR, Operations, and other functions).

Contrary to the global trend, NUS has not reduced the number of essay questions it asks of applicants this year.

Short Answer Question

Why is it important for you to embark on your MBA now? (500 characters maximum)

This is a very brief (500 characters is about 5 lines of typical text) opportunity for you to explain what is happening in your professional and personal life that make now the right time to pursue this education and what business skills and knowledge you need to reach the goals you have set before you.

Essays

1. We would like you to tell us about your post-MBA immediate career goals and how your professional experiences have prepared you to achieve these goals. You may do so by a 300 words written essay or a two-minute video.

If you feel comfortable in front of a camera or know how to create fun graphic videos, the two-minute video offers you an opportunity to say a lot more than the 300-word essay can (in a practice session, I was able to read 430+ words with a calm, storytelling demeanor in the two minutes). Once you’ve decided on the delivery medium, the content of this essay will be straightforward: NUS wants to hear what job you will aiming for when you graduate and what skills and network you have already gained that have prepared you for that path.

2. The mission of NUS Business School is to advance knowledge and develop leaders so as to serve business and society. Discuss how you will contribute toward advancing the mission based on examples of past work and activities. (300 words maximum)

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The phrasing of this question can be confusing, but what they are really asking for here are examples from your past when you advanced the mission of a business, organization, or society at large. Ideally, your examples of advancing a business will also have some benefit to society – minimizing waste, improving relationships with the surrounding community, for example – but that isn’t a requirement.

Given the word limit, you probably could provide 2-3 examples.

3. Tell us something interesting or unique about yourself which you think would be helpful for the Admission Committee to better evaluate your candidacy. (300 words maximum)

I have a love-hate relationship with open-ended questions like this: On the one hand they are great for people with something truly unique in their background that doesn’t fit into any of the traditional MBA application essays; on the other hand, they strike intense fear in the hearts of most applicants in need of a more direct question!

As you analyze your profile, identify the one aspect that best distinguishes you from your peers: Are you a great leader, community activist, analyst, athlete, or team builder? You may wish to ask your boss, peers, and friends what they think is really special about you, but you should only write the essay about a quality that is beneficial to the NUS program. Talking about something superfluous like your cooking skills or antique collection isn’t useful unless you use that skill to build community or make an impact in some way.

Reapplicant Essay

Please provide an update on any new aspects of your professional, international, academic or personal profile that would not have been included in your previous application. Please do also explain your motivation for re-applying to NUS. (300 words maximum)

This is a gift to reapplicants: You’re being granted 300 extra words to make the case that you are ready for the NUS education. Briefly comment on any improvement in your GMAT score and/or GPA, then shine the spotlight on the ways in which you have developed your leadership skills and made a greater impact on your company or community since you last applied. How has this year helped you see ever more clearly how the NUS MBA will help you reach your goals more quickly and effectively?

Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES

Round 1 January 31, 2014

Round 2 March 31, 2014

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NYU Stern Your essays will need to highlight your qualities as a successful, leadership-driven, creative thinker and businessperson. For NYU Stern, you’ll want to reveal that you are a perfect fit with the program, the Stern community, and the global business world at large. Keep in mind that Stern is a place that values EQ as much as IQ.

Our Stern essay questions give you the opportunity to more fully present yourself to the Admissions Committee and to provide insight into your experiences, goals and thought processes.

Please note the following details when completing your essays.

• All written essays must be typed and submitted using the standard U.S. 8 1/2” x 11” format, double-spaced, in 12-point font. Word limits apply to the total question. For example, your response to Essay 1 should answer all parts of the question with a total maximum of 750 words. Label the top of each essay with the following: Name, Date of Birth (month, day, year), Essay Number and Page Number (e.g.: Joe Applicant, January 1, 1983, Essay 1, Page 1). Your essays should be written entirely by you. An offer of admission will be revoked if you did not write your essays.

Essays

1. Professional Aspirations (750 words maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font)

a. Why pursue an MBA (or dual degree) at this point in your life? b. What actions have you taken to determine that Stern is the best fit for your MBA

experience? c. What do you see yourself doing professionally upon graduation?

Stern states explicitly that it seeks students with a “well-articulated plan to achieve their career aspirations.”

Stern’s first question is an MBA goals question with a couple of small twists. A and C are fairly typical of this genre, only C doesn’t ask about long-term goals. At the heart of this question: What do you want to do after you graduate that requires an MBA, and A asks why is now the right time to get it? You should be able to answer Stern’s first question, or you shouldn’t be applying.

Another small twist occurs in B: Have you done your homework about Stern? What have you done to research the program, its curriculum, career opportunities, and student life? What aspects of the program will help you achieve the goals you provide in C?

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The part of the question asking about your career goal “upon graduation” is critical. Are you realistic about where your past experience plus a Stern MBA can take you? Stern doesn’t want people in la-la-land who will be impossible to place.

Finally make sure you answer all elements of the question while staying within the word limits (not guidelines). No adcom member sits there and counts words, but the readers can tell when you are significantly over. “Significantly” in my book is more than 10%. Write succinctly.

2. Choose Option A or Option B (500 words maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font)

Answer the question that will best complement your answer to Essay 1 (above) and the rest of your application.

Option A: Your Two Paths

The mission of the Stern School of Business is to develop people and ideas that transform the challenges of the 21st century into opportunities to create value for business and society. Given today’s ever-changing global landscape, Stern seeks and develops leaders who thrive in ambiguity, embrace a broad perspective and think creatively about the range of ways they can have impact.

• Describe two different and distinct paths you could see your career taking long term. How do you see your two paths unfolding? What factors will most determine which path you will take? How do your paths tie to the mission of NYU Stern?

This is a relatively difficult question. It forces you to embrace that broad perspective, ambiguity, and creativity, or you can’t answer the question. Let’s assume you get that first job out of Stern that you describe in Essay 1. What are the two most desirable paths you would take from there? Alternatively, chart two alternatives starting with that first job. In each path, how will you create value for others? For society? Why would you choose one path over the other?

You may have a clearly preferred Plan A and a less desirable Plan B that ultimately ties to Plan A. You can have two parallel or divergent paths. I think the feasibility of your path given your past experience and an NYU MBA plus your enthusiasm, dare I say, passion for you goals are going to determine the success of this essay.

If I urged concision for Essay 1, it is even more important for Essay 2, which has a 500-word maximum.

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Option B: Personal Expression

Please describe yourself to your MBA classmates. You may use almost any method to convey your message (e.g., words, illustrations). Feel free to be creative.

If you submit a non-written piece for this essay (i.e., artwork or multimedia) or if you submit this essay via mail, please upload a brief description of your submission with your online application.

Please note the following guidelines and restrictions:

• Your submission becomes the property of NYU Stern and cannot be returned for any reason.

• If you submit a written essay, it should be 500 words maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font. If you submit a video or audio file, it should be five minutes maximum. If you prepare a multimedia submission, you may mail a CD, DVD or USB flash drive to the Admissions Office. These are the only acceptable methods of submission. Please do not submit an internet link to any websites or to a video hosting service such as YouTube. The Admissions Committee reserves the right to request an alternate essay if we are unable to view your submission. Do not submit anything perishable (e.g., food), or any item that has been worn (e.g., clothing). Mailed materials must be postmarked by the application deadline date. Please follow our mail and labeling instructions.

Please note that mailed packages are subject to size restrictions. Submissions that exceed the stated size restrictions will not be accepted for review by the Admissions Committee. Please see the table below for the maximum package size guidelines:

Packaging Type Dimensions: Metric Dimensions: Non-Metric

Box 36cm x 31cm x 8cm 14” x 12” x 3”

Cylindrical tube 8cm x 91cm 3” x 36”

Triangular tube 97cm x 16cm x 16 cm x 16 cm 38” x 6” x 6” x 6”

Bribes won’t work, so don’t send a check in the mail with a “pretty please” note.. Candidates can get very creative with this essay and use different media (other than edibles and worn attire), but many of you will convey your ideas in words. Think of how you describe yourself in a social setting when meeting people for the first time.

If it’s the first day of class or a mixer early in the pre-term, how would you break the ice? Would you try to set up a tennis game or golf match? Would you find someone to explore NYC’s museums? Or do you hate museums and prefer hiking through the woods? What would you say if you were in the campus coffee shop and sat down with some new classmates? Could you create a dialog? A short skit?

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NYU Stern also permits the use of multimedia in response to this question. While the medium may vary, the point again is to introduce yourself to friends. Given the other questions, this can be a great venue for discussing hobbies, extracurricular interests, and community service.

When I visited NYU Stern a few years ago, the admissions officer I met with proudly showed me several “personal expressions.” Her faves. They were incredibly creative, but much less slick than you might imagine. This past May, Stern hosted AIGAC for a day and again presented two of the videos filmed in response to this question. They were thoughtful introductions to the applicants who created them. But neither one was super-slick or professional. Just revealing, creative, and clever.

If you want to submit something three-dimensional or multimedia, don’t worry if you aren’t ready for the Louvre or the Academy Awards as long as your creation is authentically yours, introduces you, and sticks to the above requirements. It will be taken seriously and appreciated.

If you are considering creating a video, view Audio/Video in Admissions: Get Ready for Prime Time, a free special report.

Optional Essay Please provide any additional information that you would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee. This may include current or past gaps in employment, further explanation of your undergraduate record or self-reported academic transcript(s), plans to retake the GMAT, GRE and/or TOEFL or any other relevant information.

If you are unable to submit a recommendation from your current supervisor, you must explain your reason, even if you are a re-applicant.

If you are a re-applicant from last year, please explain how your candidacy has improved since your last application.

Obviously if you fit into one of the categories described in the three points above, you need to write this essay. If you don’t fit into the above categories and have something you want the admissions committee to know that isn’t part of the required essays, then you still should write this optional essay.

If you are an MBA reapplicant, please realize that the question posed here by NYU Stern is THE key question you need to answer as a reapplicant. What have you done to improve your candidacy that should change the outcome?

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Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES

Round 1 October 15, 2014

Round 2 November 15, 2014

Round 3 January 15, 2015

Round 4 March 15, 2015

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Oxford Said

This program packs a lot into its one year, including a lot of team and group work. Therefore, it needs students who can quickly connect and form working relationships (and hopefully personal relationships). Also, its short duration means there is not time for creative soul searching and for exploring this and that industry or function – to get the most out of it and to gain desirable employment upon completion, you need to have self-awareness and focused goals. These essays will elicit those qualities.

Essays

1. What should Oxford expect from you? (500 words maximum)

Interesting question. Can they expect you to get involved in specific activities? Which ones? How would you like to contribute to the school? Any activities you would like to initiate?

Do you have a business idea you want to develop as part of Oxford’s entrepreneurship project? Are you also thinking of participating in the strategic consulting project? Any places you would like to go on an optional student trek?

Oxford is giving you 500 words here. You have the room to show how you have contributed in the past and how you intend to contribute at Oxford. If you are getting the idea that you need to know something about the program before you respond to the question, you’re getting the right idea.

If you have specific ideas (along with relevant past experience), you can also mention how you will represent the school after you graduate.

2. How do you hope to see your career developing over the next five years? How will the MBA and Oxford assist you in the development of these ambitions? (500 words maximum)

This essay focuses on shorter-term goals – the one MBA year and the four years following. Describe your target post-MBA position, give an example or two of preferred organizations, and describe what you expect to do in that role. Also, explain briefly why you are choosing this path, what motivates you. Then sketch how you will likely advance over the four years – this timeframe may include one company move or new position, but probably not more than that. Finally, identify aspects of the program most important to you – those that will yield skills and knowledge relevant to your goals, and/or are meaningful to you for personal reasons.

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3. Plus your preferred essay from the options below:

Sport is pure competition. What does it teach us about companies, individuals, and markets? (500 words maximum)

OR

The business of business is business. Is this true? (500 words maximum)

Both of these options challenge you to express your thoughts about concepts related to business. Therefore, they both present the danger of luring you to expound for 500 words in abstract terms about competition, the nature of business, etc. Please do the opposite. Whichever question you choose to answer, and whatever point you posit, ground your essay and your argument in specific examples, details, and/or experience. That will make it both interesting and credible. As for which to answer, which one elicits your interest and ideas? Don’t hold back and be bland and mild in your opinions. The adcom is looking for people who have something to say and can make a case for their ideas.

Reapplicant Essay

What improvements have you made in your candidacy since you last applied to the Oxford MBA programme? (Maximum 250 words maximum)

This is the key question for all MBA reapplicants. What has changed that will make you a more compelling applicant this year than you were last time you applied?

Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES

Round 1 September 15, 2014

Round 2 October 31, 2014

Round 3 January 9, 2015

Round 4 March 13, 2015

Round 5 April 24, 2015

Round 6 May 29, 2015

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Purdue Krannert

First, the statement of purpose will introduce you to Krannert – it is in essence a classic goals essay. Then you must address an issue clearly of high interest to Krannert in the required essay: integrity. That essay will illuminate not only what you think about integrity, but also your thought process itself. The key to making these very different essays work together is to create a synergy between them – i.e., the experiences and plans you portray in the statement of purpose will form a vivid foundation for the thoughts, examples, and ideas you discuss in the required essay.

Essays

Statement of Purpose – Please submit a statement introducing yourself to the admissions committee. (500 words maximum)

Some topics you may wish to discuss include:

a. Brief academic and professional background

b. Reason for seeking an MBA or Master’s degree at Purdue

c. Desired career path after graduation

d. Your thoughts on giving back as a student and as an alumnus

This question doesn’t technically require you to discuss the a-b-c-d points listed. But if the adcom mentions them, you can be sure the adcom is interested in them. So you can’t go wrong in addressing these points, even if you weave in something else as well.

A natural and effective approach is to portray aspects of your experience (educational and/or professional) that animate your goals, and then elaborate on your goals. Use your response to Point B to demonstrate understanding of the program. Point D gives you an opportunity to present distinctive experiences, including ones that may not necessarily relate to your goals, but that will enable you to enhance and invigorate your MBA class.

Required Essay

Integrity – What does integrity mean to you? How does integrity relate to building communities of trust in academic, personal and professional settings? What expectations should Purdue have towards its students with regards to academic integrity? What consequences should students who do not uphold these standards face? (500 words maximum)

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This is really four questions (each one of which could use more than 500 words!). Your answer to the first question, what integrity means to you, will shape the essay and guide your responses to the subsequent questions. Answer this initial question with a succinct definition and illustrate it with a concrete example showing what integrity means to you and why. Address the subsequent questions in a way consistent with your initial definition, adding further brief examples as warranted. In the part about Purdue’s expectations, weave in specific details of Purdue’s program structure or approach.

Optional Essay

If you feel there are any parts of your application that require additional explanation, or if there is any additional information you wish to share with the admissions committee, please use this optional essay as an opportunity to do so. (250 words maximum)

This question invites you to explain anything that needs explaining (e.g., gap in employment, choice of recommender if not direct supervisor, a bad grade, etc.) – and also to present new material that will enhance your application. If you choose to do the latter, make sure it’s a point that is essential for a clear and full picture of your candidacy.

Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES

Round 1 November 15, 2014

Round 2 January 15, 2015

Round 3 March 1, 2015

Round 4 May 1, 2015

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Stanford GSB Stanford cut its essays from three to two, actually returning to the same two essays it asked for several years (or slight variations of them) before it increased the number of essays for the 2007 entering class.

The other change in these questions is that Stanford has done away here with the behavioral questions that it added for the applications for the classes entering in 2007-2013. It will be interesting to see if those types of questions show up as short answer questions within the application or if they are used more in the Stanford interview.

Stanford gives a lot of advice and guidance as to what it’s looking for in the essays. You should access that advice.

Application Questions Essays help us learn about who you are rather than solely what you have done. Other parts of the application give insight to your academic and professional accomplishments; the essays reveal the person behind those achievements.

When writing your essays, resist the urge to “package” yourself into what you think Stanford wants to see. Doing so will only prevent us from understanding who you really are and what you hope to accomplish. The most impressive essays are the most authentic.

Essays We request that you write two personal essays. The personal essays give us glimpses of your character and hopes. In each essay, we want to hear your genuine voice. Think carefully about your values, passions, aims, and dreams prior to writing them.

Essay A. What matters most to you, and why?

A strong response to this question will:

• Focus on the “why” rather than the “what.” Reflect the self-examination process you used to write your response. Genuinely illustrate who you are and how you came to be the person you are. Share the insights, experiences, and lessons that shaped your perspectives, rather than focusing merely on what you’ve done or accomplished. Be written from the heart, and illustrate how a person, situation, or event has influenced you.

This superficially straightforward question has been Stanford’s first for the last several years, and it is actually one of the most difficult, if not the most difficult MBA essay questions to answer. It demands introspection. Before you put finger to keyboard or pen to paper, really reflect on what you value, how you have acted upon those principles, and why you value them. Stanford’s advice urges reflection. The question requires it.

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When I reflect on our many successful Stanford clients, initiative in the face of need is the common thread among them. They are always the ones who revealed, especially in Essay A, that they do not turn away when they see a problem or need for action. They grab the initiative when faced with an opportunity to contribute. They are comfortable expressing emotion and their values, and their actions reflect both, but particularly the latter. Think purpose-driven, principle-driven lives.

More than anything else, initiative and self-awareness characterize the successful Stanford applicant. Implication: You have to know your values and those times you have acted upon them. Yes I wrote that a few seconds ago, but it bears repeating. Climbing Mt. Everest or suffering from terrible social ills is not a requirement of admission, but you do have to know the person occupying your skin.

Essay B. Why Stanford?

Enlighten us on how earning your MBA at Stanford will enable you to realize your ambitions.

A strong response to this essay question will:

• Explain your decision to pursue graduate education in management. Explain the distinctive opportunities you will pursue at Stanford.

This question is succinct, and really says what they want to know.

Similar to questions that have occupied this Stanford application slot for years, this question is a variation of a standard MBA goals question, as revealed in the two bullet points after it. For this forward-looking question, you must say why you want an MBA. The best way to do so is in terms of your desired post-MBA professional direction. Then explain how Stanford’s program specifically will help you attain them.

Understand the flexibility inherent in Stanford’s curriculum, its integrated approach to management, its entrepreneurial culture, and how both will help you learn what you need to know to achieve your career goals. Realize that the curriculum allows for personalization based on your goal and your past experience, specifically your previous business education. Two pieces of information are required to answer this question: A clear MBA goal and an in-depth understanding of Stanford GSB’s curriculum. (Folks: It’s not just the ranking, brand, or location.)

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Essay Length:

Your answers for both essay questions combined may not exceed 1,100 words. Below are suggested word counts per essay, but you should allocate the maximum word count in the way that is most effective for you.

• Essay A: 650-850 words Essay B: 250-450 words

Additional Information (Optional Essay) If there is any information that is critical for us to know and is not captured elsewhere, include it in the “Additional Information” section of the application. Pertinent examples include:

• Extenuating circumstances affecting academic or work performance Explanation of why you do not have a letter of reference from your current direct supervisor Work experience that did not fit into the space provided Academic experience (e.g., independent research) not noted elsewhere

This is optional. Respond if you have something to explain or need the additional space because you can’t fit in your work experience or all academic info. Responses should be succinct and to-the-point and should provide the context necessary for Stanford to understand the circumstances surrounding whatever difficulty you are writing about.

Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES SUBMISSION TIME

Round 1 October, 1, 2014 5:00 PM PST

Round 2 January 7, 2014 5:00 PM PST

Round 3 April 1, 2014 5:00 PM PST

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Toronto Rotman The University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Business is one of the leading business schools in Canada. Known for its design approach to MBA education and strong emphasis on problem solving, Rotman’s program is growing in size and renown.

Essays 1. Please state your professional goals and how you plan to achieve them. (250 words maximum)

This is a pretty straightforward goals question, requiring a concise answer. What do you want to do and where do you want to do it? The “where” refers to industry, not necessarily geography, but geography could be a part of your goal. If it is, you should include it in your response.

Your essay should show Rotman that you have thought about your career path, Rotman’s role in that chosen path, and how your career can realistically progress after you receive your Rotman MBA.

2. Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have received recently. Please detail the circumstance and your plan to address it. (250 words maximum)

Tell a brief story here. What were you told? What was the context? How has it proven constructive? If you have room in your essay and you feel it fits with the rest of your response, include a situation similar to the one that prompted the criticism and that you handled well as a result of the advice you received.

Alternatively, you could even start with the situation that ended well, and then provide the background, including the story of the constructive feedback.

3. Reflection Question: List 3-5 attributes or characteristics that best describe you. Limit response to 50 characters. (3-5 word maximum)

My suggestion here would be to avoid what my friend and colleague from Maxx Associates, Maxx Duffy, calls “umbrella words.” These are general terms for valued attributes, but they tend to be abused and overused in the MBA application process. There is nothing wrong with them other than the reality that they are sapped them of meaning and impact. And if you use these umbrella words, you will blend in with all the others who are also using them, just like one more black umbrella on a rainy day.

An example: leadership. I guarantee that attribute (or any form of “lead”) will be the most commonly mentioned term. I encourage you not to use a form of “lead” or “leader.” It is an umbrella word. Instead, use one of the key attributes you have that make you a great leader. Those are the qualities that go under the umbrella. They will be more distinctive and more memorable.

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Video Interview The video interview component is a required part of Rotman Admissions process designed to give all candidates guaranteed “face time” with the Admissions Committee and showcase your personality, characteristics, passions, and values.

You will have an opportunity to test the technology, and then will be asked two taped questions. Both questions are personality/values based and are designed to be answered without any advanced preparation and will only take a few minutes to complete. After completing your questions, you will receive a confirmation email and unique URL to input into this section of the application and complete the video component. Good luck and have fun with the process!

We’ve written blog posts on the video essay, and last year I had a fascinating interview with Niki da Silva, Rotman’s Admissions Director, who provided excellent advice on the Rotman video interview. It is by far, our most popular podcast.

Here are links to these resources.

• Tips for Video MBA Essay Questions • MBA Video Essays: A Conversation with Rotman’s Niki da Silva • MBA Interview Tips: Video Essays

Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES

Round 1 November 3, 2014

Round 2 January 12, 2015

Round 3 March 2, 2015

Round 4 April 20, 2015

Round 5 June 1, 2015

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UC Berkeley Haas Haas’ application this year has relatively minor changes. It replaced the first question on last year’s application, which was a somewhat artsy question about a song that expresses who you are, with a straightforward question about a transformational experience.

The other significant change is that Haas provides word length guidelines that provide range, for instance 400-500 word maximum, instead of the more traditional single number, for example, 500 words max.

Supplemental Information 1. If you have not provided a letter of recommendation from your current supervisor, please explain. If not applicable, enter N/A.

Keep it short and sweet. This is primarily for those of you who don’t want to tell your boss yet that you plan to leave.

2. List in order of importance all community and professional organizations and extracurricular activities in which you have been involved during or after university studies. Include the following information for each organization or activity using the format below:

• Name of organization or activity Nature of organization or activity Size of organization Dates of involvement Offices held Average number of hours spent per month

Whenever possible, quantify your impact or contribution. Please note that Haas is not interested in high school grades or activities. Note also that they want the list not in chronological order, but in order of importance – however you define “importance.”

3. List full-time and part-time jobs held during undergraduate or graduate studies, indicating the employer, job title, employment dates, location, and the number of hours worked per week for each position held prior to the completion of your degree.

Again, quantify your responsibilities and impact as much as possible. Focus on achievements. Avoid job descriptions that are obvious from your job title.

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4. Please explain all gaps in your employment since earning your university degree.

Provide the circumstances, but as always, be succinct. If your position was eliminated during a restructuring and it took you three months to find a job, say so. No harm, no foul. If the layoff was much longer, also indicate how you used your time, other than job-searching. Learning new skills or serving your community, if true, would be great to mention here.

5. If you have ever been subject to academic discipline, placed on probation, suspended, or required to withdraw from any college or university, please explain. If not, please enter N/A. (An affirmative response to this question does not automatically disqualify you from admission.)

Please, please, please don’t “forget” to answer this question if it applies to you. It’s far worse to omit it than to answer it.

Essays At Berkeley-Haas, our distinctive culture is defined by four key principles – Question the Status Quo; Confidence Without Attitude; Students Always; and Beyond Yourself. We seek candidates from a broad range of cultures, backgrounds, and industries who demonstrate a strong cultural fit with our program and defining principles. Please use the following essays as an opportunity to reflect on and share with us the values, experiences, and accomplishments that have helped shape who you are. (Learn more about Berkeley-Haas’ Defining Principles.)

As you are answering the following four questions really think about Haas’ defining principles and when possible, tie your answer and experiences to those principles. As I frequently do, I want to warn you against simply repeating the principles or stuffing them into your essays. That’s a waste of time and space. Use your essays to reveal that you share those values and have those qualities.

1. Describe an experience that has fundamentally changed the way you see the world. How did this transform you? (400-500 words maximum)

This is a new and very different questions from the one that occupied this slot last year.

The question is fairly straightforward and clear. Plus it leaves you room to start with the experience. Paint a picture for the reader of the scene that had such tremendous impact, or tell the story of that experience. How has your life changed as a result? How did your perspective change? What do you do differently? While discussing perspective or outlook is fine, don’t leave your essay with theory alone. Transformation isn’t merely theoretical; it has to influence practice.

2. What is your most significant professional accomplishment? (200-300 words maximum)

What are you most proud of? When did you make a real contribution and go “beyond yourself”? Tell the story of your accomplishment, but also reflect on it. Why do you consider it the “most significant”? Was it the impact you had on others, or the impact the experience had on you, or what the experience says about you?

For a brief article on accomplishments, please see “What is an Accomplishment?”

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3. What is your desired post-MBA role and at what company or organization? In your response, please specifically address sub-questions a., b., and c.

a. How is your background compelling to this company? b. What is something you would do better for this company than any other employee? c. Why is an MBA necessary and how will Haas specifically help you succeed at this company?

(500-600 words maximum for 3a, 3b, and 3c combined)

This is a probing question. Generalities won’t do here.

It’s unusual that Haas is asking you to be so specific as to name a company you would like to work for. They’re not asking for a type of company or industry. Regardless, do the homework necessary so that you can specify a company as well as the role you would like to play in that organization.

First, what role would you like to have after you earn your MBA and what would be your first choice in terms of employer. Now do your homework about the company. Read its employment site. If you can, speak to current employees. If you can’t interact with real live people, go on Vault or LinkedIn and network with current employees who are alumni of your college or somehow connected to you in some other way. What is a typical career path at this company? What does the organization seek in people it hires for your desired role? Why would this company want to hire you given your background and education? Why would you be (after you get your Haas MBA) a compelling candidate?

And finally, how will Haas help you snag your dream position at your dream company. What gaps will your MBA fill? What skills will it hone?

Think about a common thread between what you’ve done, your Haas MBA, and that dream position. That core idea can really unify your essay.

Optional Essays 1. Please feel free to provide a statement concerning any information you would like to add to your application that you haven’t addressed elsewhere. (500 words maximum)

A bonus! If there is an element in your background, be it personal, academic or professional, that you have not revealed elsewhere and would like the adcom to know about, this is the spot. Give them another reason to admit you, but don’t submit the grand summary, appeal, or closing statement. Keep it succinct and focused. Obviously, you could use this essay to explain a weakness, but that would leave your application ending on a weakness, which is less than optimal. Try to fit that explanation in somewhere else in the application or if necessary tuck the weakness into this essay, but have the main focus of this essay be something positive. For example: Your pride in working your way through undergrad, the challenges, and the ultimate satisfaction of learning to manage your time. An essay with this core idea explains a less than stellar GPA; but it won’t justify a 2.0.

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2. If not clearly evident, please discuss ways in which you have demonstrated strong quantitative abilities, or plan to strengthen quantitative abilities. You do not need to list courses that appear on your transcript. (250 words maximum)

If you are a liberal arts graduate or the proverbial poet applying to business school or if you simply don’t have a lot of math on your transcript or on your resume, you need to respond to this question. You could show that your work may be more quantitative than initially assumed or you could discuss quantitative courses you are taking now that do not yet appear on your transcript.

Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES

Round 1 October 1, 2014

Round 2 January 7, 2015

Round 3 March 11, 2015

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UCLA Anderson The advice that UCLA Anderson provides below is excellent, not just for Anderson’s essays, but for most MBA essays. Read it carefully.

Your essays are the primary way for you to share your perspectives and plans with the admissions committee. The best essays are introspective, genuine and succinct in directly answering our questions and responding to our topics.

• Essay questions are listed below for both first-time applicants and re-applicants. You should try to distinguish yourself by showing what makes you different from others who share similar profiles.

• Personal expression is what we are looking for, not platitudes. • Making a strong case for your future plans requires you to first do research on career

paths and find one that resonates. Even if this target will change during business school, your application essays should lay out a clear trajectory for short-term and long-term goals. Do this by demonstrating how you expect to build on skills from your past, and those you expect to gain from the MBA.

• Essays are more compelling if they include specific courses, programs, groups, opportunities, activities, etc. from which you would benefit, if admitted to UCLA Anderson. These references are best found through website research, personal discussions and a campus visit (if possible).

• Content and clarity are key elements, as we seek superior communication skills. • Style is a consideration too, although we understand that those who speak other

languages may have different manners of expression in English. • We do check your essays for plagiarism, so make sure you always submit your own

work. • Length does not equal strength. A well-written short essay can have even more impact

than a longer essay. Please try to respect the word limits indicated below. • All responses to essays must be on double-spaced pages that are uploaded as a document.

We do not accept essays in any other media but written form.

Essay UCLA Anderson is distinguished by three defining principles: Share Success, Think Fearlessly, Drive Change. What principles have defined your life and pre-MBA career? How do you believe that UCLA Anderson’s principles, and the environment they create, will help you attain your post-MBA career goals? (750 words maximum)

Anderson has simplified its essay requirements but still gives you enough room to write a revealing response. Make sure that essay shows that you can answer the question articulately and that you belong at Anderson.

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First think about what’s important to you. What guides and drives your behavior? If you can summarize those principles in two words as Anderson does, that’s great. If not, don’t sweat it, but do be succinct. If you come up with more than three principles, choose the three that are most important to you, but I advise against going with more than three. If you want to use fewer than three, that’s OK too. And, for heaven’s sake don’t be tempted to say that your guiding principles are verbatim identical to Anderson’s.

A great way to approach this essay would be to discuss an experience or anecdote that represents your guiding principles and then connect that story and your values to UCLA’s critical principles and the Anderson culture. Then conclude by addressing the last part of the question: How Anderson’s principles and “environment” will help you realize your post-MBA career goals.

Optional Essay Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? (250 words maximum)

If there are extenuating circumstances that would add perspective on or “explain” a weakness, you can discuss them here. A few years ago, UCLA added the following: “Please do not submit redundant information in the Optional Essay.” This is good advice for all optional questions. For more on this, please see The Optional Question: To Be or not To Be.

Reapplicant Essay Reapplicants who applied for the class entering Fall 2013 or 2014 are required to complete the following essay. Please be introspective and authentic in your response. We value the opportunity to learn about your aspirations and goals.

Please describe your career progress since you last applied and ways in which you have enhanced your candidacy. Include updates on short-term and long-term career goals, as well as your continued interest in UCLA Anderson. (750 words maximum)

This is the key question in every MBA reapplication: How have you enhanced your candidacy? Career progress is an obvious place to start and something you must address, but if academics were a weakness, then what have you done since you last applied to show you can excel at Anderson?

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Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES

Round 1 October 22, 2014

Round 2 January 7, 2015

Round 3 April 15, 2015

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USC Marshall

On the one hand, the new USC Marshall MBA essay question is very focused: goals, why Marshall. There is a little twist, however, which gives the question an intriguing complexity: personal and/or professional goals…

What does this twist say about Marshall? That the adcom trusts you to frame your goals in the most meaningful way, and to reveal or not reveal personal considerations and plans as you see fit. Knowing yourself – what you want and need and why, and knowing how to present and share what’s important about you will be keys to contributing to Marshall’s collaborative community and making productive use of Marshall’s flexible program. In this one essay, convey that knowledge.

Required Essay

What are your short-term and long-term personal and/or professional goals following graduation from USC Marshall? How will USC Marshall enable you to develop or improve your skills in order to reach your goals? (500-700 words maximum)

Most people will want to address professional goals in this essay, and I suggest doing so. As far as personal goals, there is no one formula that works for everyone; some may address this point extensively, and some not at all – and both approaches may be exactly right for those particular applicants. That said, there is not necessarily a solid line between personal and professional goals, and so if you address (a) how you intend your career to develop and (b) how you want to grow through the MBA experience, that will likely be just fine, and you needn’t worry about personal versus professional.

The key is to be specific about whatever goals you do discuss. Clarify why the goal is important to you, and give some concrete and practical expression of what achieving it will look like. Don’t forget to discuss both short- and long-term goals, and for the former, for professional goals be specific about industry, function, type of company, perhaps geography.

In explaining how USC Marshall will facilitate these goals, cite particular qualities and aspects of the program that address your learning and growth needs, and/or your academic or professional interests. Rather than citing ten things you like about the program, focus on the top two to four in some depth, with thoughtful insight about their applicability to you.

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Optional Essay

Please provide any additional information that you believe is important and/or will address any areas of concern that will be beneficial to the Admissions Committee in considering your application. (250 words maximum)

This question invites you to both discuss points that will enhance your application and explain anything that needs explaining (e.g., gap in employment, choice of recommender, etc.). For the former, if you ask the adcom to read additional material, make sure that it truly illuminates and is germane to your candidacy. It should not be something that is just nice for the adcom to know.

Reapplication Essay

Please describe any significant professional, personal, or academic growth since your last application to the USC Marshall School of Business. Discuss your specific professional goals and how the USC Marshall Full-Time Program will help you achieve these goals. (500 words maximum)

The key to a successful reapplication is to show growth and that’s the job of this essay. At least one of the growth points you present should be professional – there are the obvious things like a promotion or a new project to lead, and less obvious things like new industry or functional exposure, informal leadership, a challenge or problem that “stretched” your skills and perspective. In describing goals, if they’ve changed from the previous application, note why.

Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES

Round 1 October 15, 2014

Round 2 January 15, 2015

Round 3 April 15, 2015

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UVA Darden Darden led the way with a one-essay application. Some may feel that fewer essays indicate that essays are losing importance. My suspicion is that the remaining essays and short-answers are as or more important than they ever were. Especially at a program emphasizing the case method and experiential learning, evidence that you can communicate, analyze a problem from multiple perspectives, and handle the rigorous program that Darden is famous for are all critical.

Essay Describe the most courageous professional decision you have made or most courageous action you have taken at work. What did you learn from that experience? (500 words maximum)

First of all, I strongly encourage you to watch the video with Darden’s Assistant Dean of MBA Admissions Sarah Neher where she lays out what they’re looking for in this essay:

What is courage? The strength to act in the face of fear, difficulty, criticism, opposition, and possibly danger. Hopefully you didn’t need courage because you were facing true danger on the job, but perhaps you needed it for some of the other reasons I provided. When did you have the strength and courage to take ownership of a project, position, or initiative? When did something become your baby? What was the decision? What did you do? Why was it so important to you? What was the result? And most importantly (per the video), what did you learn?

They not only want to know your reaction to a particularly challenging situation; they want to see how you respond when you are personally invested and excited about a challenge, initiative, or project.

Final tidbit: Make sure you answer all elements of the question. That’s critical.

Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES

Round 1 October 10, 2014

Round 2 January 7, 2015

Round 3 April 1, 2015

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Wharton Wharton is still marching in the MBA application shrink parade. It now has one required question and has dropped the question about contribution to Wharton’s learning community. However, it has made the optional question a broader question than it was last year and has increased the optional essay word limit. Overall the Wharton essay word limit count has declined from 1250 to 950 including the optional.

The Admissions Committee wants to get to know you on both a professional and personal level. We encourage you to be introspective, candid, and succinct. Most importantly, we suggest you be yourself.

Essay What do you hope to gain both personally and professionally from the Wharton MBA? (500 words maximum)

What do you want to achieve personally and professionally that you can’t do now and that a Wharton MBA will help you achieve? Note that the question is not just asking what you want to do after you graduate, and it’s not asking for exclusively professional aspirations. It is giving you the option to dream a bit.

As with most MBA goals questions, Wharton still wants to see how you connect your Wharton education to your future. Keep in mind that Wharton has an incredibly rich curriculum. How will you take advantage of its premier offerings to prepare yourself to achieve your vision for the future?

Reapplicant Essay All reapplicants to Wharton are required to complete the Optional Essay. Explain how you have reflected on the previous decision about your application, and discuss any updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, extracurricular/volunteer engagements). You may also use this section to address any extenuating circumstances. (250 words maximum)

The key part of this question is the update part. Don’t ignore reflection on your previous decision, but focus on the new and improved you. For more reapplication advice, please see MBA Reapplication 101.

Optional Essay Please use the space below to highlight any additional information that you would like the Admissions Committee to know about your candidacy. (400 words maximum)

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You can use the optional essay to explain or provide context for decisions you have made or events in your life. For example:

• Why isn’t your current boss writing your recommendation? • Why is there an eight-month gap between your first and second job? • Why did your grades dip during the last semester of your junior year? • What are your responsibilities while working for a family business after having left

a prestigious consulting firm, and why did you decide to go into the family business?

Your optional essay can respond to any of those questions (but not all).

Or you can use your optional essay to highlight something in your experiences, background, personal or professional life that didn’t fit into the required essay and that you want the admissions committee to know about. You can discuss a diversity element, a unique area of interest or an accomplishment that you don’t feel is adequately described elsewhere.

Don’t use it as a grand summary of your application or reasons for wanting Wharton. Make sure it adds value.

Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES SUBMISSION TIME

Round 1 October 1, 2014 5:00 PM EST

Round 2 January 5, 2015 5:00 PM EST

Round 3 March 26, 2015 5:00 PM EST

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Yale SOM Yale is down to one essay this year from two last year. 500 words max. What does this shrinkage imply? You need to make the most of that single essay, but you also need to take the time to make every box in the application a home run. They are not afterthoughts. Your job descriptions and activity history are increasing in importance. Write and edit them carefully. Focus on achievements. Quantify when possible and keep in mind Yale’s commitment to “educating leaders for business and society.”

Essay The Yale School of Management educates individuals who will have deep and lasting impact on the organizations they lead. Describe how you have positively influenced an organization – as an employee, a member, or an outside constituent. (500 words maximum)

This essay would do really well with an anecdotal response telling the story of how you positively affected your department, team, club, company, client or any entity that benefited from your contribution. You can start with a moment of challenge or triumph. Then go back, provide context, and tell your story of contribution, hurdles overcome, and complexity handled. If your impact has lasted, say so.

Video Questions As part of your application, you will be asked to answer three video questions. These questions are intended to give you another opportunity to tell us about yourself. These questions are not meant to be difficult and should not require extensive preparation or special knowledge to answer. After hearing each video question, you will have 20 seconds to formulate a response, followed by up to 60 seconds to respond.

After August 15th, you will see a link in your applicant status page checklist that will allow you to complete the video questions once you have submitted your application and fee. To answer the questions, you simply need an internet connection and a webcam. These questions will take roughly 15 minutes to complete, and you will have the opportunity to test your connection and respond to a sample question before answering the questions. Once you have completed the questions, your responses will be added to your application and we will begin the review process.

To prepare for your webcam session, you need to practice for the experience of talking to a video camera with no responses from another human being. It is a weird experience. For tips on how to prepare and behave during the webcam session, please see Tips for Video MBA Essay Questions.

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Optional Essay If any aspect of your candidacy needs further explanation (unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, academic performance, promotions or recognitions, etc.), please provide a brief description here. (200 words maximum)

You can use the optional essay to explain or provide context as Yale SOM suggests or you can use your optional essay to highlight something in your experiences, background, personal or professional life that didn’t fit into the required essay and that you want the admissions committee to know about. Consider relating a diversity element, a unique area of interest or an accomplishment that you don’t feel is adequately described elsewhere.

Don’t use this optional essay as a grand summary of your application or reasons for wanting to attend Yale. Make sure the optional adds value.

Reapplicant Essay Since your last application, please discuss any updates to your candidacy, including changes in your personal or professional life, additional coursework, or extracurricular/volunteer activities. (200 words maximum)

Deadlines:

ROUND DEADLINES

Round 1 September 18, 2014

Round 2 January 8, 2015

Round 3 April 23, 2015

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Epilogue

Thank you for downloading this exclusive Accepted.com admissions guide. We are confident you’ve learned valuable tips on how to optimize your business school applications by writing compelling, thoughtful answers to the essay questions.

If you are still not confident about your ability to write effective application essays, or just want to save time, please contact Accepted.com. While our experienced professional editing staff won’t write your essays for you, we can help you from the beginning, as you’re defining your topics and themes, or we can edit your essays to ensure that your application is as strong as it can be.

If you have any questions about this report, or questions about MBA admissions in general, please feel free to post them to our Facebook wall, or LinkedIn group.

We look forward to hearing from you!