The College Admissions Experts
HOW TO WRITE AMAZING BUSINESS SCHOOL ESSAYS
One of the most critical parts of your MBA application is your essays. Almost every MBA program includes a variation of this question in their application: “What are your goals, and why do you want to earn an MBA from our school?” To make a strong impression, you’ll need to answer it with intention, clarity, and specific details. So, how can ensure your essays will stand out and make an impact? Below, we answer this question.
Top programs, such as Harvard and Wharton, don’t just look at strong academic credentials, and they don’t just look at your stats. They are seeking candidates that have leadership, professional, and interpersonal skills that are necessary for business. Top MBA programs are looking for candidates with a history of organizational and community contribution as well. Other qualities such as authenticity, communication, originality, self-awareness and responsibility weigh heavily when admissions determine whether a candidate is the right fit for their program. Often, these factors are as important as academic credentials. They want to understand the person behind the résumé. You have a story worth telling and your essays are where you shine!
What Business Schools Are Looking For In The Essays
Types of Business School Essays
When applying to a top MBA program, several business school essays are required. While the specific essays that are required vary from school to school, here are some common essays that you could potentially need to write:
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Personal Statement - Your personal statement is where you introduce yourself.
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Career Goals Essays - This is where you state both your short term and long-term goals.
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Behavioral or Story-Based Essays - Tell a story about a time when you demonstrated leadership by stepping up, guiding others, and how you made an impact.
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Why Our School Essays - How will this school help you achieve your goals?
For Example…
At Harvard, candidates are required to write 5 supplemental essays at 150 words each. The specific prompts vary but they usually focus on the candidate’s life experiences and how they have played a part in shaping them, what the candidate can contribute to the school, and their aspirations and extracurricular activities.
At Columbia University, they require applicants to submit a personal statement along with a supplemental essay and five short answer questions. The number and specific topics of the supplemental essays vary each year.
At Wharton University, there are two essays that are required for all applicants. The admissions committee wants to get to know you on both a professional and personal level. They want to know how their program can help you achieve your future goals and how you plan to make a meaningful contribution to their community.
Tips For Creating Impactful Business School Essays
Be Authentic - The key to a business school essay is authenticity. Being your authentic self allows your real personality, values, and ambitions to shine through, resulting in a story that is more engaging and memorable. Don’t fall into the trap of writing what you think the admissions team wants to hear.
Write with a Structure - Staying organized is key when writing your essay. Your essay needs a beginning, a middle, and an end. The beginning should have an opener that is attention grabbing and have a direct answer to the prompt. The middle paragraphs should dive into your examples. In the last paragraph, this is where you wrap everything up, come back to your opener, summarize your main points, and tie it all together.
Brainstorm, Write, Revise, and Repeat - Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to write before the deadline because you want to brainstorm and make edits and revisions to perfect your essays before submission. This is your chance to make a great impression on the admissions committee and prove to them you’re a great fit at their school and that their school can get you to your goals, so preparation is the key here.
Showcase Your Leadership, Teamwork, and Decision-Making - Be sure to include real examples that show your teamwork, leadership, and decision-making skills. These are traits business schools pay close attention to during admissions. Think about moments when you stepped up, guided others, or made an impact. These can be either in a work or personal setting. Focus on stories that bring your leadership to life. What challenges have you faced and what actions did you take? What was the outcome of your actions? Also, reflect on what you learned from those experiences and how they've shaped you into the leader you’re becoming.
Mistakes to Avoid When Writing the Essays
When writing your business school essays for your preferred school, there are a few things to avoid:
Stray Away from The Topic - Keep focus on the topic at hand from the beginning to the end. It can get easy to get carried away sometimes and stray.
Exceed The Word Limits – Essays have specific word limits. Make sure you monitor your word count to keep you on track.
Submit with Errors - Common college essay mistakes include subject-verb agreement errors, dangling modifiers, inconsistent verb tenses, and incorrect use of articles and punctuation marks like semicolons and commas. Avoid cliches, contractions, and slang.
Your MBA Journey Starts Here
Writing your essays is more than just submitting an application. Approach each essay with authentication, clarity, and strategy. You aren’t just answering the prompts. You are building a bridge between where you are now and where you want to be in the future. MBA program admissions committees want to see the REAL you. They want to know your values, ambitions, and your potential. With the right storytelling, reflection, and preparation, your MBA journey will be great!
