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20 Must-Read MBA Essay Tips

Business school admissions committees care about more than (just) your  GMAT scores and GPA —they want to know who you are and why you belong in their program . Your MBA essays are your best chance to sell the person behind the résumé. They should tie all the pieces of your business school application together and create a comprehensive picture of who you are, what you've done, and what you bring to the table.  Here's a roundup of our best MBA essay tips to keep in mind as you begin to write.

How to Write an Unforgettable B-School Essay

1. communicate that you are a proactive, can-do sort of person..

Business schools want leaders, not applicants content with following the herd.

2. Put yourself on ego-alert.

Stress what makes you unique, not what makes you number one.

3. Communicate specific reasons why you're great fit for each school.

Simply stating "I am the ideal candidate for your program" won't convince the admission committee to push you into the admit pile.

Read More: Find Your Business School

4. Bring passion to your writing.

Admissions officers want to know what excites you. And if you'll bring a similar enthusiasm to the classroom.

5. Break the mold.

Challenge perceptions with unexpected essays that say, "There's more to me than you think."

6. If you've taken an unorthodox path to business school, play it up.

Admissions officers appreciate risk-takers.

7. Talk about your gender, ethnicity, minority status or foreign background....

But only if it has affected your outlook or experiences.

8. Fill your essays with plenty of real-life examples.

Specific anecdotes and vivid details make a much greater impact than general claims and broad summaries.

9. Demonstrate a sense of humor or vulnerability.

You're a real person, and it's okay to show it!

BONUS: Don't Make These MBA Essay Mistakes

1. write about your high school glory days. .

Admissions committees don't care if you were editor of the yearbook or captain of the varsity team. They expect their candidates to have moved onto more current, professional achievements.

2. Submit essays that don't answer the questions.

An off-topic essay, or one that merely restates your résumé, will frustrate and bore the admissions committee. More importantly, it won't lead to any new insight about you.

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3. Fill essays with industry jargon.

Construct your essays with only enough detail about your job to frame your story and make your point.

4. Reveal half-baked reasons for wanting the MBA.

Admissions officers favor applicants who have well-defined goals. However unsure you are about your future, it's critical that you demonstrate that you have a plan.

5. Exceed the recommended word limits.

This suggests you don't know how to follow directions, operate within constraints or organize your thoughts.

6. Submit an application full of typos and grammatical errors.

A sloppy application suggests a sloppy attitude.

7. Send one school an essay intended for another—or forget to change the school name when using the same essay for several applications.

Admissions committees are (understandably) insulted when they see another school's name or forms.

8. Make excuses.

If your undergraduate experience was one long party, be honest. Discuss how you've matured, both personally and professionally.

9. Be impersonal in the personal statement.

Many applicants avoid the personal like the plague. Instead of talking about how putting themselves through school lowered their GPA, they talk about the rising cost of tuition in America. Admissions officers want to know about YOU.

Read More: How to Ace Your MBA Interview

10. Make too many generalizations.

An essay full of generalizations is a giveaway that you don't have anything to say.

11. Write in a vacuum.

Make sure that each of your essays reinforce and build on the others to present a consistent and compelling representation of who you are, what you've done, and what you bring to the table.

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MBA Essays: Everything You Need to Know

Scott Edinburgh - Personal MBA Coach

Scott Edinburgh is an mba.com Featured Contributor and the founder of Personal MBA Coach , a boutique MBA admissions consulting and tutoring firm.

Nearly all MBA hopefuls are familiar with the term “MBA essay”, but what exactly does this mean and why is the MBA essay so important? To help guide MBA hopefuls, Personal MBA Coach would like to answer some common questions about the MBA essays and share details on the most common MBA essay types.

Why do I need an MBA essay?

Beyond the obvious answer that nearly all schools require you to write one in order to be admitted, the MBA essay is your chance to show MBA admissions committee members who you are BEYOND the facts and figures. These essays are your opportunities to show what makes you unique, share your goals and discuss how you will add to the dynamic community at your target business school. 

Do I need different MBA essays for each program I apply to?

Unfortunately, YES! While there are some overlapping themes across the most common MBA essay types (more on this below), each business school has its own unique essays. Unless you are applying through an organization such as The Consortium (which has some specific requirements), you must complete a separate application for each MBA program and answer each school’s specific essay questions.

To make this daunting task more manageable, Personal MBA Coach helps clients identify common elements across essay types. Ultimately, however, you should develop a separate essay for each school you are applying to.

What should I write about in my MBA essay?

First and foremost, you should answer the question. It is surprising how often candidates write beautiful essays that do not actually answer the question. Instead of writing what you think admissions committee members want to hear, answer the question.

What are the most common MBA essay questions?

While there are countless different essay questions across MBA programs, the three most common types of essays questions are Goals Essays, Why an MBA? Essays, and Personal Story Essays. (Often one essay question will ask clients to discuss both their goals and why they want an MBA.)

Below, Personal MBA Coach shares our tips for answering each of these key essay types:

Goals Essay

When answering a question about your MBA goals , it is crucial that you are decisive . While no one will hold you to what you write in your MBA applications, you should have a specific post-MBA plan. For most schools, you will want a short-term and a long-term career goal. This goal should be logical for you. This means it should flow naturally from your passions and experience. If it doesn’t, it is crucial that you explain why this goal makes sense for you.

Finally, this goal should be attainable. You are not going to be the CFO of Pepsi two years after graduating from business school (sorry!). Do your research in terms of what position might be reasonable in your target industry.

Why an MBA? Essay

To answer a question about why you want an MBA or why you want to study at X school, you want to show that you have carefully thought through how an MBA (at your target program) will prepare you to achieve your career goals. To do so, Personal MBA Coach suggests being very specific in detailing the opportunities you plan to take advantage of on campus.

Discuss classes you are particularly interested in or perhaps professors you are looking to study with, etc. Do not include a laundry list. Instead, carefully think through how each offering will allow you to fill in your skill and/or experience gaps. Be sure to show an understanding of your target school’s culture and avoid writing vague statements and copying content from other MBA application essays.

Personal Story Essay

With a personal story essay, your objective is to show the reader how your story is unique and how you will add value and diversity to classroom discussions and on campus activities. This can be one of the hardest essays to write. To get started, Personal MBA Coach advises that you make a list of everything you have done in your life and take the time to write it all down. Then, think carefully about the decisions you have made, activities you enjoy and, most importantly, why you made those choices. Finally, look for a theme! What single idea connects these items? This is the hard part, so give it time.

How do you conclude an MBA essay?

Do not overthink the conclusion. In fact, with short word limits, Personal MBA Coach often advises clients to write just one concluding sentence or remove the conclusion altogether. Conclusions can be fluffy, generic or repetitive. You do not need (or want) to waste words here. If you have told your story well and you have addressed the question clearly and concisely, do not worry about the conclusion!

How far in advance should I start my MBA essays?

As soon as possible! It is never too early to start thinking about your MBA essays. In fact, Personal MBA Coach works with many clients 6 month – 3 years in advance through our Early Planning package, helping future applicants make the appropriate career and extracurricular decisions to ensure they have enough experience to write strong MBA essays.

That said, with diligence, some Personal MBA Coach clients are able to develop a compelling MBA essay within a month. (Keep in mind, this is a very compressed timeline and takes dedication to achieve!). Plus, you always want to leave time for proofreading and should avoid submitting your essays at the last minute. 

Founded by a Wharton MBA and MIT Sloan graduate who sits on the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants Board of Directors, Personal MBA Coach has been guiding clients for 14 years and is consistently ranked #1 or #2, currently holding the #1 ranking in the US on Poets&Quants.

We help clients with all aspects of the MBA application process including early planning, GMAT/GRE/EA tutoring, application strategy, school selection, essay editing and mock interviews. Our team includes a former M7 admissions director and former M7 admissions interviewers.

Last year, our clients earned more than $6M in scholarships!

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7 tips for writing a winning mba application essay.

Nervous about your MBA admissions essay? You’re not alone! Many applicants wonder how to put their best foot forward in a business school entrance essay.

In this article, I’ll tell you what admissions committees look for in application essays and offer MBA essay tips on how to make yours stand out. We’ll also take a look at the different kinds of business school essays and a few examples of MBA essay prompts.

Why Do Business Schools Ask for Essays? What Do They Look For?

Business schools ask for essays for several reasons, all of which help admissions committees determine whether you have the skills and traits to succeed in an MBA program.

First, MBA admissions committees want to see how you write. Communication skills—including concision, clarity, style, and fluency in English—will be essential to your success in business school. One way of discerning your level of writing ability is to require an original writing sample. In an MBA essay, you have to get your point across straightforwardly, elegantly, and concisely; being able to do this is a key element of succeeding in business school and the world of business in general.

Also, MBA admissions committees want to get a sense of who you are on a more personal level. MBA application essays tell admissions officials about you not only through what you say, but in how you say it. Are you self-aware, for example, and can you reflect on past challenges or mistakes in a thoughtful way? Do you demonstrate insight into who you are and your goals? How you answer questions about yourself, your career, and your journey can help MBA admissions officials discern your level of critical thinking and personal insight.

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You can have countless accomplishments, but to succeed in business school, you’ll also need to fit in with the campus climate, work well with your peers, and contribute to campus diversity in a meaningful way. The MBA essay is a place for you to talk about the background or experiences you have that are unique to you and that you believe could differentiate you from your colleagues and/or provide a fresh perspective to campus.

Finally, essays are a way for you to showcase the qualities that most MBA programs say they are looking for in applicants, such as leadership skills, community involvement, problem-solving skills, communication skills, clear goals, and a strong sense of ethics. Some of these traits might not be readily apparent from a resume alone, and an MBA essay can be a place for you to elaborate on how you’ve cultivated them in yourself.

MBA Entrance Essay Sample Prompts

Most MBA entrance essays ask you about one of several things. Many of them are variations on similar questions: the open-ended question, the leadership question, the personal growth question, questions on short- and long-term academic and career goals, and the diversity question. For each one, I’ll give an example of a real MBA essay prompt from 2016 or 2017.

#1: Open-Ended

The open-ended MBA application essay question is just that: open. It allows you to tell your own story, giving you quite a bit of freedom but also little to no guidance. For that reason, many applicants find it to be the most challenging MBA essay prompt.

Harvard Business School has only one essay for its MBA application, and it’s the quintessential open-ended MBA essay question. This is the prompt for 2017-2018 applicants.

As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School MBA program?

Note that, as in other open-ended MBA admission essay prompts, this question asks you to decide what you’ll write about. Successful Harvard applicants and HBS admissions counselors have advised applicants to use the prompt as a chance to demonstrate their past use of an especially desired trait, such as problem-solving skills. For example, many successful applicants use the prompt to describe a scenario in which they faced and overcame a challenge, especially as a leader or alongside a team.

Notably, Harvard also doesn’t list a word limit, so you can decide the appropriate length for your essay. However, most admissions counselors will advise you to keep it concise and straightforward.

#2: Leadership

Another common MBA essay prompt asks you to demonstrate your experience and skills as a leader. Leadership qualities are listed by nearly all MBA admissions counselors as fundamental to a career in business and, thus, to a successful business school application.

Let’s look at a sample leadership MBA essay prompt from Kellogg.

Leadership and teamwork are integral parts of the Kellogg experience. Describe a recent and meaningful time you were a leader. What challenges did you face, and what did you learn? (450 words)

In a response to this kind of prompt, you should be as specific as possible. Name the company you were working for or specifically describe the project you were heading. Who was on your team? What were your objectives? Did you meet them? How could you have done so more effectively?

While you shouldn’t be overly self-deprecating, don’t be afraid to address the challenges you met and how you overcame them (or would overcome them now, with more experience and knowledge). Remember that one important aspect of leadership is accountability, so if there were problems, don’t solely blame your team for them. Instead, reflect on how you successfully worked with your team to solve the problems, and/or on how you could have done so more effectively or efficiently.

#3: Personal Growth

The personal growth MBA admission essay prompt will ask you how you’ve changed in the past and how you want to grow in the future. Here’s one example from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management.

Pursuing an MBA is a catalyst for personal and professional growth. How have you grown in the past? How do you intend to grow at Kellogg? (450 words)

Don’t be afraid to get a bit personal with these kinds of prompts . They’re meant to gauge something about your personality and who you are, rather than only what you’ve done.

Many successful MBA admission essays that respond to these kinds of questions follow a past/present/future format. Ask yourself what traits you’ve gathered over the years that have benefited you personally and professionally, how you’ve improved, and what you’ve learned. What experiences have shaped you? Be as specific as possible.

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Then, take stock of yourself now: your career, your education, and where you see yourself in the future. What do you need in order to get there?

Finally, most essay MBA prompts in this vein (like Kellogg’s) will ask you how they can help you move towards that personal or professional goal. Be as specific as you can, focusing on the particular strengths of the prospective MBA program and how they match up with what you want to improve about yourself as a person, colleague, and leader.

#4: Your Plan

Some MBA application essay prompts will ask you about your career goals and how attendance at a particular business school will help you to achieve them. Let’s look at one from the USC Marshall School of Business.

Essay #1 (Required) – What is your specific, immediate short-term career goal upon completion of your MBA? Please include an intended position, function, and industry in your response. (word limit: 100)

As you can see, questions like these often request brief responses. So get straight to the point, and give details. Name a specific job you’d like to hold, what you’d like to do there, and even particular companies if you can.

Questions like this one will require some research. Research alumni from your prospective business school who’ve ended up in positions comparable to ones you’d like to hold in the future, particular companies and positions that match up with your personal and professional goals, and specific coursework or industry experiences offered by your prospective business school that would help you get there.

#5: Diversity, Culture, and Community

Finally, some MBA essay prompts will ask you how your unique background and experiences would contribute to the overall diversity and collegial atmosphere of a school’s campus climate and community. Here’s one example from USC.

Essay #2 (Required) – At Marshall, we take pride in the fact that our students work collaboratively, both inside and outside the classroom, to create a culture, a community, and an environment that truly defines what we call the Trojan Family. Please describe the contributions you expect to make to your classmates during your time at USC. How will they benefit from your presence in the program? (word limit: 500)

You can respond to questions like this, depending on the wording of the original prompt, by discussing your cultural background, identity, and/or personal experiences that have given you particular insight into a given community or that have lent you a unique perspective that could be valuable to your colleagues as you collaborate.

You can also discuss past community service projects or issues you’re passionate about and how you plan to carry those experiences and passions into your work at your prospective MBA program.

7 MBA Essay Tips

Writing MBA essays takes a particular skill set. Let’s go over the top seven MBA essay tips for making your application essay shine.

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#1: Write Early and Often

Even though MBA entrance essays are brief, they take a lot of polishing. Writing MBA essays takes time.

Don’t expect to write yours at the last minute or knock out a quality essay in a day. Most students need several drafts to make sure they’re getting their points across as elegantly and clearly as possible.

Start your essay well before the application deadline, when you don’t yet feel any pressure. For several weeks, don’t try to write at all. Instead, before crafting your essay for MBA admission, take notes on your past, present, and future. What have you learned? What unique experiences have you had? What have been the most meaningful projects you’ve undertaken? Ask friends, family, and mentors to tell you what they value most about you or what they see as your greatest personal and professional assets.

Only once you’ve gathered this material should you begin your first draft of your MBA application essay. Start with an outline for each one that includes the story you want to tell and the main points you want to get across.

Once you have a clear outline, you can start drafting. Taking the writing process seriously from start to finish will give you a much better product in the end than trying to write something hastily right before the deadline.

#2: Show, Don’t Tell

MBA admissions committees want to be able to tell that you have the qualities that are necessary to succeed in business school, such as leadership skills and integrity.

Your MBA admissions essay can be a great place to showcase those qualities. However, remember to show, not tell. Saying “I have strong leadership skills” doesn’t tell an admissions committee much. Through an anecdote about, say, meeting a difficult deadline or overcoming an obstacle, a reader should be able to tell that you have the qualities of a strong leader without your having to say so explicitly.

#3: Research Your Goals

When describing your future goals, be as specific as possible. Business schools know that your goals may change in the future, but stating specific goals now will show that you’ve done your research and have an idea of what you want and how an MBA program can help you get there.

Before writing your essay for MBA admission, research the ins and outs of the industry you want to enter, the position you’d like to have, companies you might like to work for, and coursework and internships or fieldwork that could aid you on your way to those goals.

#4: Keep It Concise

Never, ever go over a stated word count limit when you’re writing your essay for MBA admission. It might be tempting, but business schools want to see that you can get your point across concisely and straightforwardly.This rule goes for MBA essay prompts that don’t have specific word counts, too: sometimes, less is more.

One of the biggest mistakes applicants make in writing an essay for MBA admission is to use too much flowery language to come across as more professional. If you do this, it can be distracting and cause the admissions committee to miss the main points you’re making.

Bottom line, trim anything extraneous from your essay —that is, anything that doesn’t actively support the main point(s) you’re trying to get across.

#5: Show Self-Awareness

It might feel tempting to use the MBA admission essay as a space to list all of your accomplishments (and since your resume is already part of your application, this is unnecessary), but MBA admissions committees would rather see that you have insight into both your strengths and weaknesses. No one is perfect, and in your essay for MBA admission, you shouldn’t try to come across as if you’ve never made a mistake or faced a challenge that you’ve had to learn from.

Also, in business school and the business world at large, bouncing back from failures, being flexible, and problem solving are all essential skills. All of them require a thick skin and awareness of what you could do better.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t showcase your achievements, but if you’re asked about personal growth or an obstacle you’ve overcome, be clear about what you could have done more effectively in the past (at a job or in your education, for example) and the steps you’ve taken or will take to sidestep that mistake in the future.

#6: Share Your Personal Journey

Many applicants would prefer to focus only on their professional backgrounds and goals in their MBA essays, but you shouldn’t be afraid to get personal in your essay. You don’t need to tell your whole life story, but especially in response to questions that ask about your growth over time, you should showcase your personality and give the admissions committee an idea of your personal background and experiences.

#7: Ask for Edits

It might seem obvious, but many applicants don’t do it: proofread your work! When writing MBA essays, revision is key. Turning in an MBA essay with typos and other errors will come off as thoughtless and unprofessional.

You should also get a second (and, perhaps, a third and fourth) pair of eyes on your essay to make sure it’s coming across as you want it to. Going through several rounds of drafts is a necessary part of the writing process to ensure that you’re putting your best foot forward in your MBA entrance essay.

What’s Next?

Worried about how your GMAT score matches up to other applicants’? Find out more in our list of average GMAT scores by school.

Concerned about your chances of getting into an MBA program? Our guide to business school acceptance rates will help.

Ready to apply to business school? Check out our top eight tips for applying to MBA programs here.

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Author: Laura Dorwart

Laura Dorwart is a Ph.D. student at UC San Diego. She has taught and tutored hundreds of students in standardized testing, literature, and writing. View all posts by Laura Dorwart

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Mba essay guide 2024 | how to write a winning application essay.

Register to download the free BusinessBecause MBA Essay Guide 2024 | How To Write A Winning Application Essay

How do you write an MBA essay that lands you a place at business school? Find out in the BusinessBecause MBA Essay Guide 2024

Tue Oct 17 2023

In the BusinessBecause MBA Essay Guide 2024: How To Write A Winning Application Essay , find out why the MBA essay is important and what to include in your writing. Also, we’ve included MBA essay questions from top business schools such as Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business, Harvard Business School, and Stanford Graduate School of Business—providing insight into the different types of essay questions that you might face.

We also share tried-and-tested MBA sample answers from admits of MBA admissions consultancies, including application essays for Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton. 

Key facts about the MBA essay: 2-4 essay-type questions  are usually asked on MBA applications   10-20 is the average number of essay drafts MBA applicants write on average before submitting their applications to top MBA programs   6 images are required as part of NYU Stern’s ‘Pick Six’ visual essay component

Top MBA essay writing tips:   - Research the values and USPs of your target business school - Always bring your essay back to your goals - Identify and communicate your personal brand

Download the MBA Essay Guide 2024 for more tips and useful information from experts such as Lindsay Lloyd, executive director of MBA admissions at NYU Stern School of Business and J.R. McGrath, executive director of masters admissions at Tepper School of Business.

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MBA Essay Examples, Tips, and Analysis

Y our MBA application essays are your best opportunity to share meaningful life experiences that hide in the “white spaces” of the resume and to tell admissions officers not only “what” you have achieved but also “why” those achievements are meaningful to you.

Your MBA application essays are going to be crucial if you are competing for a spot at one of the world’s top business schools.

These resources will show you how to excel in the rigorous MBA essay writing challenges ahead of you, provide you with the guidance to create MBA essays that will impress admissions officers, and share MBA essay examples that illustrate our advice in action.

Second, we survey the five most frequently asked MBA essay questions. We preview video essay questions and link to detailed guidance on how to tackle this emerging class of application essays.

Third, we will teach you how to choose topics and stories for your essays and share a story-outlining technique to help you tell those stories.

Common MBA Essay Forms: Persuasive versus Narrative Essays

There are two primary forms that MBA application essays take: persuasive essays and narrative essays. In a persuasive essay, you must persuade your reader that your argument is a sound one. An op-ed column in a newspaper is one example of a persuasive essay.

The classic “What Will You Contribute to the Class?” question is an excellent example of a persuasive essay question that MBA programs like to ask. The essay you write must persuade the admissions committee that you will enrich next year’s class. You will generally present evidence from past experiences and achievements to support your claims about what you can offer the MBA community.

The other style of essay you’ll encounter in your MBA applications is the narrative essay. Certain MBA essay questions don’t sound like questions at all; they are, in fact, an invitation for you to tell a story. We refer to these as narrative essays – but others call them behavioral essays or expository essays.

The Leadership Story Essay is a perfect example of a narrative essay. It’s one thing to claim to be a leader – but it’s quite another to show the admissions committee that you’re a leader by telling a captivating leadership story in which you played the starring role.

While MBA essays often fall into these two categories, the actual prompts will differ from school to school. Let’s discuss the five most frequently asked MBA essay questions. ↑ To the Top

The Five Most Frequently Asked MBA Essay Questions

Every business school application requires you to answer one or more MBA essay questions. Although the essay prompts differ from application to application, we identified five types of MBA application essay questions that appear again and again.

Career Goals Essays

A career goals essay question regularly appears in one form or another on just about every MBA application. Even if you aren’t required to write this type of essay, you will almost certainly be asked about your post-MBA career goals during an admissions interview.

Admissions committees ask about your career plans because they want to understand what you aspire to do after your MBA and how the MBA degree fits into your career plan. As it turns out, a strong career goals essay is one of the best tools in your application to stand out from MBA candidates who don’t have a compelling career vision or haven’t effectively articulated their professional goals in their MBA application essays.

Leadership Essays

Leadership essays are your absolute best opportunity to convince MBA admissions committees of your leadership abilities. Remember that MBA admissions officers will be interested in your leadership achievements both inside and outside of work.

You probably won’t be asked directly, “Are you a leader?” Instead, you’ll be asked to tell stories about your leadership achievements. When given the opportunity, you need to supply evidence that you can rally other people and motivate them to work together to achieve an important shared vision or goal. Therein lies the objective of a great leadership essay.

Why MBA? and Why Our School? Essays

The “Why MBA? Why Our School?” essay is your chance to convince admissions officers that their school is the perfect fit for what you need from an MBA program. The best answers to these types of questions are both personal and specific. You need to effectively convey what you are looking for in an MBA program and tell the admissions committee why their school will best satisfy your learning goals and help you achieve your career development objectives.

“What Will You Contribute?” Essays

The “What Will You Contribute?” essay presents you with an opportunity to tell the MBA Admissions Committee why you would be a valuable addition to their incoming class. The schools are looking for candidates who can put in just as much as they take out. One critical thing to understand when preparing to answer these questions is that concrete and tailored answers about what you can contribute to each MBA program are crucial.

Professional Experience Essays

The professional experience essay is an executive summary of your career thus far. A resume is a record of jobs and achievements — a Professional Experience Essay provides the connections and interrelationships between those jobs and brings your resume to life. An effective Professional Experience essay will give the admissions committee a sense of the career decisions you’ve made, your major achievements in each step of your career, and the skills and knowledge you’ve acquired along the way.

MBA Application Video Essays

MBA admissions committees are increasingly relying on technology to help them evaluate and manage their growing applicant pools. MBA application video essays are becoming a popular tool, as MBA programs can use them to learn far more about candidates than the traditional application permits. In recent years, leading MBA programs including Kellogg Northwestern , MIT Sloan , and Chicago Booth have incorporated a video component into their evaluation process. Video essays are excellent screening tools that allow admissions officers to assess candidates’ professional presence and communication skills.

Free MBA Essay Writing Course

Please enter your email below to gain 30 days of free access to our MBA Essay Writing course. Learn about the five most frequently asked MBA application essay questions and access our brainstorming tools and sample essays.

No matter which type of MBA essay question you are tackling, your primary objective is to provide evidence that proves you possess the qualities that admissions committees value most. By doing so, you will move one step closer to an acceptance letter from a top business school.

Now that you have a better picture of the classic MBA essay questions you’re likely to face, let’s cover selecting the strongest stories to present in your MBA application essays.

How to Choose the Best Stories for your MBA Essays

Story selection is something all MBA applicants wrestle with. When you first read the MBA application essay questions, it may be hard to figure out which topics to cover or which of your stories to tell. We’ll explain how to go step-by-step to choose your best stories. Here are the steps:

Research the School’s Fit Qualities

Categorize the question.

• Brainstorm Topic/Stories

Choose a Topic or Story

To choose your best stories, you need to know what qualities MBA programs truly value when evaluating applicants. You want to tell stories that prove to the admissions officers that you possess the attributes they seek in MBA candidates. We refer to these as the school’s Fit Qualities . You might think of them as the highest-common denominators among the candidates who are accepted.

Early in your MBA essay writing process is the time to make some strategic choices about which qualities and strengths you will put front and center in your MBA essays. If you attempt to feature all of your strengths, you run the risk that admissions officers will finish your essays with no clear idea of any of them. Instead, select three or four of the qualities that your research tells you the school you are applying to prizes most of all.

Second, study the essay question to determine if it falls into one of the five essay categories discussed earlier in this article.

By categorizing each question, you’ll have a better idea of what the admissions committee will be looking for in your response. You’ll know the criteria for scoring top marks in that essay style, which will guide your application essay design decisions.

Brainstorm Topics/Stories

Third, you are ready to start brainstorming potential topics and stories. Remember that your central objective is to find opportunities to feature the key elements of your application strategy .

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help you to choose your best topic or story:

Are you the star of the story or supporting cast?

With very few exceptions, you need to write stories where you play the starring role. Don’t make the mistake some applicants make of writing a thrilling story about their parents’ hardships and triumphs, leaving little room for their own.

Did the experience occur recently?

It is usually best to choose stories that happened within the last three years. If an older story is incredibly compelling, then keep it on your list. However, bear in mind that admissions officers are rarely interested in reading about your high school glory days.

Does the essay feature several Fit Qualities?

Review your topic ideas objectively and ask yourself if they exemplify the school’s Fit Qualities. Because you’ll be limited to telling only a few stories, you’ll want to choose the ones that feature a few different Fit Qualities if at all possible.

Once you have selected your best stories, it is time to create an outline to organize your thoughts before jumping into the writing process. ↑ To the Top

How to Outline Your MBA Essay Stories

The persuasive essay writing style is prevalent in university and work settings, so it may have been some time since you were asked to write a story. For that reason, we want to share a powerful outlining technique called the STAR framework that will help with the “story-telling” essays you may be asked to write in your MBA application.

The STAR framework is designed to help you tell a concise story with a beginning, middle, and end.

The “S” in STAR stands for Situation .

The Situation is the time, place, and context of the story; you can think of it as the setting, but it might also include the broader challenge or conflict you or your organization faced. In essence, this is the set-up of the story.

“T” in the STAR acronym stands for Task . The Task is your role and goal in the story. What were you expected to accomplish by the end of the story? An effective story has built-in conflicts and complications.

The Action of the story is what admissions officers are really interested in because this is their chance to see your strengths and qualities in action. While it won’t be necessary to write down every step you took at the outlining stage, you’ll want to jot down the highlights.

Below is an MBA essay example told using the STAR framework. It outlines a story written by a candidate who served as a donation chair for a fundraising event for a non-profit organization.

Task: Assigning specific jobs to committee members, checking on their progress, helping teammates meet agreed-upon deadlines for obtaining the donations, and offering other assistance

Action: Motivated my team by having them meet Literacy Now children. Assigned tasks and checked in regularly. Successfully mediated team disputes. Visited 20 restaurants and called 12 wineries. Ensured deadlines were met.

Sample MBA Essays: MBA Applicant Beware!

MBA Prep School’s guide is replete with essay writing tips, and we do provide excerpts from sample essays to illustrate the most common MBA essay categories. However, while you will find page-after-page of helpful advice and building blocks for constructing your own original MBA essays and stories, we don’t publish an extensive catalog of MBA essays written by MBA Prep School’s past clients.

The problem with collections of sample MBA application essays is that they can mislead you into thinking that if you can just replicate one of those sample essays, you’ve got your golden ticket into business school. Unfortunately, the opposite can be true. The reason those essays “succeeded” is because they were an integral part of a complete story about an impressive human being whom the admission committee concluded belonged at their business school.

And the scary truth is that reading MBA essay examples might even harm your chance of admission for several reasons:

1. They might stunt your creativity and ability to express yourself. If you are trying to mimic someone else’s essays – the content, the style, or the approach – your story and voice are likely to get lost in the process. Admissions committees want to be impressed – but they want to be impressed by you. Feature the traits and tell the stories that depict “you” at your best.

2. Sample MBA essays can undermine your confidence in your MBA candidacy. The essays that get published as samples are often truly eye-catching, dramatic, and sensational – stories of exceptional accomplishment, rare feats, or extreme obstacles. It may seem, in comparison, that none of your stories stack up. The good news is that the whole package is what matters, not a single defining moment in a candidate’s life.

The last thing you need is to doubt your abilities or have a crisis of confidence when you’re trying to put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard). Trust in your own experiences and tell stories about what you – and only you – will bring to the MBA program.

3. Admissions officers can tell when you’ve “sampled” from sample MBA essays. The pesky thing about MBA admissions committees is that they’re filled with brilliant people who know how this game is played and what resources are available. They can spot themes and clichéd stories inspired by sample essay collections. More importantly, they can sense when you’re telling someone else’s story or when the story doesn’t ring true to your MBA application’s other elements. Don’t give an admissions officer reason to doubt your authenticity by risking even the appearance that you “sampled” from MBA sample essays that are swirling around on the Internet.

At MBA Prep School, we work with clients we believe in and help them tell their stories, not someone else’s. Remember that the MBA application process is not a storytelling contest; even if it were, the winners would be chosen based on the authenticity, originality, and integrity of the stories they tell!

Final Thoughts

Critics of MBA essays often wonder if they still have a place in the application process when admissions committees can rely on quantitative data points to choose among applicants. However, your transcripts, test scores, and resume are historical documents that only tell a fraction of the story. Your MBA essays represent a powerful opportunity to communicate your goals, strengths, reasons for applying, and potential contributions to the class.

The process of writing MBA essays provides you with a rare opportunity for self-examination and self-expression. Many applicants value the introspection required of them in the MBA essay-writing process and find they can better articulate their strengths and goals during their subsequent MBA interviews as a result. By putting ample thought and effort into brainstorming and writing your MBA essays, you will almost certainly increase your odds of being accepted to a top MBA program.

Related Articles: Essay Examples

• Career Goals Essay Example
• What Will You Contribute? Essay Example
• Why MBA? and Why Our School? Essay Example
• Leadership Story Essay Example
• Professional Experience Essay Example
• MBA Video Essays
• Consulting Terms & Conditions

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How to write powerful MBA essays that actually work

Candidates often wonder what it takes to write strong MBA essays that work. It can be a scary and confusing process. Let’s try to figure out a step-by-step process to write a great MBA essay.

For many of us, writing an essay brings back memories of a hot, stuffy classroom on a sleepy summer afternoon, a strict English teacher keeping watch with hawk-like eyes, a mostly blank sheet of paper with the words “My Best Friend” written on top.

And in the middle of it all, you looking desperately at your friend seated next to you, hoping for some inspiration to strike. Or at the very least, for the school bell to strike, lest the English teacher see your as-yet blank sheet of paper and strike first.

In other words, you think of essays as boring. Perhaps even traumatizing, depending on how strict your English teacher was, and how inspiring your best friend was.

We’re here to tell you that that’s not what an essay should be.

An essay should be educating, entertaining, inspiring, thrilling, humorous, and heartbreaking.

Basically, anything but boring.

So if you’re writing boring essays, or if you think essays are boring, you’re doing them wrong.

What is the purpose of writing an MBA essay?

Everybody has seen The Wolf of Wall Street . Remember that famous scene where Leonardo di Caprio pulls out a pen from his coat pocket and tries to sell it to a spellbound, captivated audience hanging on to every word of his?

That’s how an essay should be.

Instead of the pen, you’re trying to sell your story. Your audience is the MBA admissions committee of your dream B-school, and at stake is your MBA dream.

But first, a word of caution – channelling your inner wolf of Wall Street does not mean that you throw form and formality to the wind. This is a B-school, and you’re still expected to wear a suit and tie.

An essay could be like a piece of classical music with multiple layers that merge seeamlessly. Or it could be like hip-hop with a catchy vibe and an impactful message.

But if you can demonstrate that you possess an aesthetic palette eclectic enough to accommodate both Beethoven and Busta Rhymes, that is impressive.

If however, you’re more of a Bollywood and Bhangra person with no appreciation or flair for classical music or hip-hop, you can still write a rocking MBA essay.

The point being, there’s no formula to create successful MBA essays. But you can still improve your odds of creating an essay that you’re proud of, if you follow these simple tips.

Here are 6 steps to writing an impressive MBA essay.

• Start early
• Understand the MBA essay prompts
• Demonstrate your fit with the MBA program
• Stick to the word count
• Add a little X factor to it
• Get someone to look over your essay

Let’s delve into each of them to understand the finer nuances.

How to write powerful MBA essays

1. start early.

Writing takes time. A slow cooked dish brings out the flavors of the food being cooked by allowing the spices to percolate, the aromas to emerge, and the textures to develop.

It’s the same with writing.

You need to let the thoughts in your head marinate on low simmer for days for them to develop into well-formed sentences that will delight your reader. Even if you think you’ve got it all sorted out in your head, putting it on paper is a different challenge altogether.

You’ll need a few days of contemplation to come up with points you want to put in. Jot these down as they strike you. Next, brainstorm with friends, foes, family – anyone willing to provide feedback, and whose judgement you trust.

Next, organize your ideas in a structured framework. What this means, in plain English, is that you need to be able to weave your ideas into a story your readers would love.

No, you don’t need a degree in creative writing to be able to do that.

It’s actually pretty simple. Every story has 3 parts – a beginning, a middle, and an end. In theater and film-making jargon, this is called the 3-act structure.

Act 1 is the set-up.

This is where we get to meet the protagonist (you!), and what is called the “inciting incident”, which is something that incites our protagonist into action. ( the need to do an MBA/ get into your dream B-school)

At this point, the stage is set for an exciting journey. The reader is now expecting an adventure of Tolkien-esque proportions. ( we’re kidding, this is an MBA application, not the Lord of the Rings)

Act 2 is the conflict

This is where our protagonist runs into challenges and obstacles. Their attempt to overcome these is the beating heart of the story. It’s the action that the reader started reading the story for, in the first place.

In your MBA essay, this is where you explain why you want to do an MBA, and why specifically from the B-school you are applying to, and how this will help you in achieving your career goals.

Act 3 is the resolution

This is the happy ending of the story. This is where you tie all the lose ends together, and the reader realizes that the protagonist has been transformed by the quest.

Remember that the journey from act 1 to act 3 is not any series of random actions strung together – it needs to be transformative. At the end of the story both the protagonist and the reader of the story get a sense of a change that has happened.

In the case of MBA essay, what this means is that your essay should convey a clear sense of how the MBA (and only this particular MBA from this particular school) will help you overcome the challenges you foresee in your career, and will thus be transformative.

Also keep in mind, that while it is important for your essay to be engaging, this does not mean by any stretch of imagination, that you invent incidents merely to spice things up. Always state facts and facts only.

Remember, facts are stranger than fiction, and the simplest stories are the most beautiful The novelist John Updike once said that the purpose of art is to give the mundane its beautiful due.

Any story can be made beautiful and exciting with the 3-step act. The journey of the caterpillar from egg to butterfly is a classic 3-step act.

There is no need to go chasing fantastic beasts and inventing imaginary islands; all the magic ingredients you need to write that rockstar MBA essay are already within you in the form of your own unique and wonderful life journey. Let the world hear it.

In the interest of time, some applicants may be tempted to use ChatGPT to write their MBA essays. Find out what should and shouldn’t be done if you are planning to use it, here .

2. Understand the MBA essay prompts

Most things in life come with user manuals. It’s the same with B-school essays.

Your school will usually provide instructions of what kind of essays they want, and what they are looking for in an essay. Make sure you follow these instructions to a T.

For instance, some B-schools might want one long essay, while others might want two to three shorter essays.

Often the essay would come with a question, or an essay statement, such as “state your short-term and long-term career goals, or “why do you want to pursue an MBA at this particular stage in your career”, and so on.

Pay close attention to what is being asked as what you write will depend on the question.

Unfortunately, most of us have a habit of tossing the user manual into trash unopened, and then call customer care when we can’t figure out how to operate the washing machine. Let this not be the case with your MBA essay.

Here’s an introduction to the most commonly used MBA essay questions

Why MBA now? MBA Essay question: Why this school? Long-term and short-term career goals essay Leadership in MBA essays Optional MBA essays – Career failure essay – career break , education gap, low GPA or any other aspects.

3. Demonstrate your fit with the MBA program

This is an exercise you need to perform as much for your own benefit, as for the admission committee’s. First and foremost, convince yourself that the particular MBA program is exactly what you need to meet your career goals.

Because MBAs are expensive, and confirmation bias is real.

Just because someone put it into our heads when we were 16 that xyz is a great B-school, it is entirely possible that we will psych ourselves into believing that this school is the perfect fit for us, even if it is not.

Then, at the other end of the spectrum are the cases where we just want to get into any B-school at all, and never really give a good thought into why we want to do an MBA.

If you’ve got USD 150,000 lying around the house, and all you want is to make more money, you’d be better off opening a post office savings account and living off the 7.5% interest you get on it.

An MBA is a different beast. It’ll take from you not just your money, but also two years off the prime of your life, a lot of energy (read pulling off all-nighters trying to crack case studies and making presentations), and time spent away from your loved ones.

If you’re going to be investing all this into an MBA, you need to be very sure of two things – why you want to do an MBA, and why you want to do it from the particular school you are applying to.

Once you have it all figured out, put it down in your MBA application. Remember, if you’re not convinced yourself, you will most certainly not be able to convince the admissions committee either.

Our MBA MAP process is a helpful tool used by many applicants to select the right business schools.

Read this: – How to write business school specific MBA essays – How to evaluate ‘Fit’ with MBA program

4. Stick to the word count

There’s an old bit of Jewish wisdom which says that a proverb has 3 characteristics – few words, good sense, and a fine image.

While the adage may be about proverbs, it is the hallmark of all good writing.

There’s a reason people remember proverbs but forget stories. Proverbs speak to us less with words, and more with sense and images.

Word counts exist for a reason. One of which, of course, is that admissions committees have to wade through a ton of applications, and their time is limited.

But, equally importantly, a word count tests your ability to communicate ideas effectively. If you can’t get your message across in a 1000 words, you definitely will not get it across in 10,000.

And a good manager is nothing if not a good communicator. So take the word count of your essay as another test that you must pass on your way to your dream B-school.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you obsessively start counting words after every sentence you type. A margin of (+/-) 5% to 10% is acceptable in most cases.

But even if the b-school’s online application form does not enforce a hard cut-off, we’d recommend erring on the conservative side and staying below the word count.

Try to fit in all you need to say within this. You really don’t need anything more than that to tell your story. You’re writing an essay, not an autobiography.

Oscar Wilde famously said that brevity is the soul of wit, and we have since come to accept that brevity is pretty much the soul of most forms of communication, MBA essays included. Be frugal with your words and fathomless in your meaning.

Read: How important is the word count for MBA essays

5. Add a little X factor to it

This one is a little difficult to pin down, since what this X factor means will differ from one candidate to another.

That little magic dust that you sprinkle on your application to make it stand out from the crowd.

This become more important when you’re fighting in very competitive applicant pools and your resume doesn’t have much that automatically grabs the admission officer’s attention.

Here are some examples of what you can look at.

A small aspect of your life-story that you may have overlooked could provide that X factor that converts a regular story into a memorable masterpiece.

Or it could be related to your extracurricular activities where you achieved or experienced something remarkable.

Or it could be your unique writing style, or the way you use analogies to bring your ideas to life.

With the right, structured introspection, you’ll find that there are several avenues to highlight that makes the essays unmistakably reflect the real you.

This is one of the reasons we strongly discourage MBA applicants from using sample MBA essays that worked for others.

At first glance, they may look impressive to a new applicant, but they weren’t designed for recycling.

Using sample MBA essays will kill the uniqueness of your essays and consequently the crucial X factor.

Read why sample MBA essays don’t work .

Before we share our 6th and final tip, let’s first delve a little into the reasons we kept it for the end.

Despite their best efforts, even the strongest applicants tend to make mistakes in their application. We invited a special guest from a top school to list them down.

Top 5 mistakes to avoid while writing MBA essays

By rebecca loades, director, career accelerator programs, esmt berlin.

Unfortunately, the following 5 mistakes are all too common:

• Not being authentic . No matter how qualified you may be on paper, authenticity counts. The biggest mistake we see is when applicants tell us what they think we want to hear, rather than showing us who they actually are.
• Not answering the question or going beyond the word count . There’s a reason we ask the questions we do and limit the word count. Ignoring the prompt makes you stand out for the wrong reasons
• Not trying . You might have stellar credentials and a super high test score but that doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed a place. Being successful in an MBA program requires more than pure academics. The essays are where you can help us see beyond your CV so that we get a sense of you, the unique perspective you will bring, and what you want to achieve.
• Spelling and grammar errors . Spellcheck is there for a reason, use it! Ditto for making sure that you’ve spelled the school’s name properly and/or are calling us by our name vs the last business school you applied to.

  With that context, it becomes apparent why this final tip is so important.  

6. Get someone to look over your essay

Once you’re done writing, take a break and get some one you trust to have a look at your essay.

Having a fresh set of eyes go over your writing is always helpful. This is the reason why editors even exist.

Even the most gifted writers – the madcap literary geniuses and the Nobel Prize winners – relied on editors to polish their rough drafts into the enduring literary classics we know them as today.

The thing with writing is that when you’ve been living with the ideas in your head for so long, and then you begin the long, slow, painful process of putting those ideas on paper, you become just too familiar with them to be your own critic.

Those words have been a part of you for so long, you can no longer tell whether they’re good or bad.

It’s like how when we stare at a screen too long without blinking we begin to see the fine pixels and dots that make up the picture, but lose sight of the picture itself?

That sort of a thing.

A good editor can make that draft shine like a lapidary polishes a rough diamond to brilliance.

A “good editor” does not mean you need to get in touch with the New York Times to ask if they can loan out their literary editor for a day.

Here’s a candidate who got a USA MBA admit despite a big mistake in application .

A friend or a mentor with the experience and knowledge of the admissions process can help.

If you don’t have anyone like that in your life, and if all this sounds a little overwhelming, consider hiring a good MBA application consultant .

MBA Crystal Ball has highly experienced admission consultants who can help you polish your application. Read more about our MBA essay editing services .

Drop us an email when you’re ready: info [at] mbacrystalball [dot] com

That’s all folks. Make sure you follow these steps, and we’re confident that you will be able to write an amazing MBA essay that with the potential to impress the admissions committee and to get you that elite MBA seat that could change your life.   Also read: – Top MBA application tips – Sample Harvard Stanford MBA essays using ChatGPT

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10 Essential MBA Essay Tips and Step-Wise Writing Guide

By Arvind Kumar

11 August 2023

Getting into a prestigious MBA program is a competitive endeavor, and a well-crafted essay can significantly enhance your chances of being accepted. Your MBA essay is an opportunity to showcase your personality, achievements, and aspirations in a way that sets you apart from other candidates. 

In this article, we will provide you with 10 essential tips to help you master the art of writing an impressive MBA admissions essay. Drawing from years of expertise and insights from admissions experts, including our own experiences working with candidates, we present a step by step guide to writing an MBA essay and 10 tips to help you structure, articulate, and present your qualifications, experiences, and aspirations in a way that resonates with the admissions committee.

Tales of 4 HEC Admits: Our Successful Candidates in the HEC MBA ’25 batch

It’s not only about what to do though; it’s equally crucial to be aware of the common pitfalls that could hinder the impact of your essay. Therefore, we have also compiled 10 critical mistakes to avoid during your writing process. Recognizing these missteps will enable you to steer clear of potential pitfalls and ensure your essay is a compelling and standout piece.

Whether you are starting your essay from scratch or seeking to enhance your existing draft, this article would equip you with the necessary tools to create essays that showcase your unique qualities, potential, and dedication to excel in the world of business. 

Before we delve into the strategies, insights, and practices that will elevate your MBA admissions essay to its full potential, let’s take a look at why MBA essays are important, what MBA admissions committees seek, and what kind of opportunities it gives you to solidify your candidacy.

Importance of Essays in the MBA Admissions Process

10 tips for writing a great mba essay, 10 mistakes to avoid while writing mba essays, step-by-step guide to writing an mba essay for admissions, sample essays, final thoughts.

MBA admission essays hold immense significance in the admissions process. Dedicate ample time to crafting your essay to effectively showcase your skills, characteristics, and experiences.

When evaluating essays, MBA admissions committees focus on:

• Writing Abilities : Admissions committees assess your writing skills, coherence, and clarity in presenting your ideas.
• Personal Characteristics : The essay provides insights into your personality, values, and traits that make you a unique candidate.
• Business Experience : Your essay highlights your professional experiences and accomplishments in the business world.

The essay offers an opportunity to:

• Share Background : Communicate your background, educational journey, and any distinctive life experiences that have shaped you.
• Highlight Uniqueness : Showcase any unique encounters or challenges that have contributed to your growth and character.
• Express Ambitions : Articulate your aspirations and reasons for pursuing an MBA, demonstrating your determination to succeed.

MBA programs seek applicants with:

• Creativity and Critical Thinking : A strong ability to think critically, creatively solve problems, and innovate in the business realm.
• Clear Goals : A clear and well-defined set of career goals that align with the program’s offerings.
• Well-Roundedness : Demonstrated efforts in engaging with individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Crafting an outstanding MBA admission essay allows you to present your best self, capturing the attention of the admissions committee and increasing your chances of securing a spot in your desired MBA program.

Crafting a compelling MBA essay is an art that requires careful thought, self-reflection, and strategic storytelling. It goes beyond listing achievements and qualifications; it delves into the essence of who you are as an individual and a future business leader.

Here are 10 tips that will help you navigate the essay writing process effectively. By following these tips, you will be better equipped to create an outstanding MBA essay that elevates your application and sets you apart from the competition. 

• Start Early : Give yourself enough time to brainstorm, write, and revise. Rushed essays may lack depth and coherence.
• Focus on the Opening : Make your introduction captivating to grab the reader’s attention and set the tone for the rest of the essay.
• Address Weaknesses Positively : If you have any weaknesses in your profile, such as gaps in employment or low GMAT/GRE scores, address them honestly but positively, emphasizing how you have learned and grown from these experiences.
• Show Cultural Fit : Demonstrate how your values and personality align with the school’s culture and values.
• Emphasize Impact : Highlight not just what you did but also the impact of your actions on your team, organization, or community.
• Avoid Generic Statements : Stay away from cliches and generalities. Be specific and unique in your essay.
• Answer the Question Directly : Stay focused on the essay prompt and ensure your essay directly answers the question asked.
• Stay Within the Word Limit : Adhere to the specified word limit. Admissions committees appreciate candidates who can convey their ideas concisely.
• Connect Your Past and Future : Draw a clear connection between your past experiences and your future aspirations, explaining how the MBA program will bridge the gap.
• Proofread Thoroughly : Typos and grammatical errors reflect poorly on your attention to detail. Proofread your essay meticulously before submission.

Want to create an impeccable Video Essay. Take a look at this article on MBA Video Essay Tips that work .

• Copying from Sample Essays : Admissions committees read numerous essays and can spot generic content or plagiarized sections. Write an original essay that represents your unique story.
• Exaggeration and False Claims : Be honest about your achievements and avoid exaggerating your accomplishments. False claims can lead to a negative impression.
• Neglecting the School’s Specifics : Each MBA program has distinct features. Avoid submitting a generic essay that could be used for any school. Tailor your essay to the specific program you are applying to.
• Too Much Jargon : While some industry-specific language may be appropriate, excessive jargon can make your essay hard to understand for non-experts.
• Ignoring Instructions : Follow all the application instructions carefully. This includes word limits, formatting guidelines, and any additional materials required.
• Second-guessing the Admissions Committee: Avoid changing anecdotes, adding points or providing justifications (e.g. for why MBA, what is your post MBA goal, etc.) with your expectation or guess of what the AdCom would like to read. Authentic essays are key to differentiate yourself, and any responses resulting from second-guessing can be spotted.
• Lack of Proofreading : Spelling and grammar errors can create a negative impression. Always proofread your essay thoroughly before submission.
• Superficiality : Avoid writing a superficial essay that merely lists your accomplishments without providing context or reflection. Go beyond the surface and delve into the reasons behind your choices and experiences.
• Negativity or Blaming Others : Refrain from expressing negativity, blaming others for your failures, or making excuses. Instead, focus on how you have overcome challenges and grown as a result.
• Repeating Information from Other Application Components : Avoid duplicating information already present in your resume, transcripts, or recommendation letters. Your MBA essay should complement the rest of your application rather than rehashing the same details.

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Writing an MBA essay for admissions can be a daunting task, but with careful planning and a step-by-step approach, you can create a compelling and standout essay. Follow this guide to craft an essay that showcases your strengths, aspirations, and fit with the MBA program:

Step 1: Understand the Essay Prompt

Carefully read and analyze the essay prompt provided by the school. Take note of the specific questions asked and the word limit. Understand what the admissions committee is looking for in your response.

Step 2: Brainstorm Ideas

Reflect on your experiences, accomplishments, strengths, and future goals. Make a list of key points you want to highlight in your essay. Consider how these aspects align with the MBA program you’re applying to.

Step 3: Create an Outline

Organize your ideas into a logical structure. Create an outline that includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph should focus on a specific aspect of your candidacy.

Step 4: Start with a Strong Introduction

Begin your essay with an engaging and attention-grabbing introduction. Consider starting with an anecdote, a thought-provoking question, or a compelling quote related to your goals or experiences.

Step 5: Highlight Your Achievements

In the body paragraphs, showcase your professional achievements, leadership experiences, and any unique contributions you’ve made. Use specific examples, metrics, or data to support your claims.

Step 6: Connect Your Goals with the MBA Program

Explain your short-term and long-term career goals and demonstrate how the MBA program aligns with these objectives. Mention specific resources, courses, or extracurricular activities at the school that will help you achieve your goals.

Step 7: Demonstrate Fit with the School

Show your genuine interest in the MBA program by discussing how the school’s values, culture, and opportunities resonate with your aspirations. Avoid generic statements and be specific about why you believe the program is the right fit for you.

Step 8: Address Weaknesses and Learning Goals

Acknowledge any weaknesses or areas for growth and show how the MBA program will help you address them. Admissions committees value self-awareness and the willingness to improve.

Step 9: Maintain Clear and Concise Writing

Use clear and concise language to communicate your ideas effectively. Avoid unnecessary jargon and complex terminology that may confuse the reader. Make your essay accessible to a broad audience.

Step 10: End with a Strong Conclusion

Summarize the key points of your essay in the conclusion and reiterate your enthusiasm for the MBA program. End with a powerful closing statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

Step 11: Edit and Revise Thoroughly

After completing the first draft, take a break before revising. Edit for grammar, spelling, punctuation errors, and clarity. Ensure your essay flows smoothly and adheres to the word limit.

Step 12: Seek Feedback

Share your essay with trusted friends, family, or mentors for feedback. Consider their suggestions and make necessary improvements. Fresh perspectives can help you refine your essay further.

Step 13: Finalize and Submit

Make the final revisions and proofread your essay one last time. Ensure all instructions and requirements are met. Once you are satisfied with your essay, submit it along with the rest of your MBA application.

Step 14: Relax, and Begin Prep for Interviews!

You have done it. Now it’s time to relax (but wait, you don’t have the admit yet!), and get started with the interview preparations in parallel. Start by going through your essays, particularly the why MBA, why our school and post-MBA goals essays, to etch them in your mind for the interviews.

Take a look at this page to read sample essays of top business schools

The road to writing an impeccable MBA essay may be challenging, but it is a voyage worth undertaking. Your essay is a window into your potential as a future business leader, and the effort you invest will be rewarded with a remarkable and compelling application. 

Armed with a step by step guide, the ten tips for success, and the ten mistakes to avoid, you now have the tools to craft an exceptional MBA essay that propels you toward your dreams of academic and professional achievement. Embrace the journey and seize the opportunity to stand out among the best as you embark on your MBA adventure. Good luck!

Need help with your MBA essays? Let’s talk.

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Mba personal statement examples.

Get accepted to your top choice business school with your compelling essay.

MBA Personal Statement Sample Essays & Tips

Your academic record, GMAT scores, and GPA are important factors in the MBA application process. But, more than that, business schools ultimately care about who you are and whether you would be a good fit for their program. This is where your application essays come in. The goal here is to complete the picture that your scores and stats began sketching. Take your time when writing these essays. They will form the image the admissions committee will see before they meet you at your interview. Write, edit, and edit again. Be sure there are no spelling or grammatical errors in your essay. You want your portrait to be clean and clear. Once you are satisfied with your essay, ask a trusted friend, mentor, or admissions pro to read it. A fresh pair of eyes can often see things that you can’t.

7 tips for creating the best MBA essays

Here are some important things to remember when writing your MBA essays.

• Show who you are in a background essay Use this opportunity to reveal your values and personality, the obstacles you’ve overcome, and the seminal experiences that have shaped you into the person you are today. No two people have the same history. Use stories and examples to make your background bright and stand out to demonstrate what makes you special. Discuss how your history has brought you to this point. What is there in your background that compels you to pursue an MBA at this time?
• Show your direction in the goals essay Use this opportunity to show that you have clear direction and purpose based on experience and planning. Business school is not another opportunity to “find yourself.” Even if you have had one career path and will use your MBA to launch another career, this essay must describe the reasons behind your career-change, your new goals, and how the program will help you achieve them.
• Use your optional essay to explain negatives in your stats If your GPA was lower than you would have liked early in your undergraduate education, use your essay to show how you learned from this experience. Everyone makes mistakes. How you deal with your mistakes shows a lot to the admissions committee – determination, discipline, success, resilience, and breadth of experience are qualities that will serve you well in your MBA studies and later in life. Be sure that you explain your negatives and don’t try to justify them. Show that you understand the mistake you made, learned from it and changed as a result of processing the experience. That response shows maturity. Justifying – instead of learning or changing – is a sign of immaturity. MBA programs want mature adults. Almost all of them have made mistakes.
• Say what you mean, and mean what you say Admissions committees read thousands of essays during each admissions round. A concise, well thought-out essay will have them reading yours to the end.  You need examples and stories to support your statements and make your essay interesting and readable. Each of these needs to be to the point. These professionals are trained to spot an essay that is full of fluff and without substance.Avoid rambling and the use of keywords that you think the reader wants to see. A non-substantive essay will lead the reader to conclude that you, too, are without substance.
• Find your passion This relates to tip #4 above. You want to grab the reader right away and create an essay that will keep their attention to the very end – and leave them wanting to meet you and get to know you even better. In other words, offer you a coveted interview! Find a theme, and weave it throughout your essay. If you can identify a passion that you had from an early age and follow it through the different stages of your life, you will have an interesting, readable essay. Connect your passion to your childhood and you professional and extracurricular experiences and accomplishments. Demonstrate how your passion will influence your future career and serve the community at the school you want to attend.
• Focus on your professional experience and achievements Not everyone has a passion that they have carried with them throughout their life. However, since you are planning on attending an MBA program, you must have had professional and personal achievements. Highlight your professional skills and successes, as well as personal accomplishments. Show how these experiences and achievements have brought you to this point, and how they have influenced your long-term plans and reasons for pursuing an MBA.
• Highlight your experience in your EMBA essay An applicant to an Executive MBA program is an executive or manager currently in the workforce, usually with at least eight years of business experience. As an EMBA student you will be expected to excel in your coursework while continuing to hold down your full-time job. You must demonstrate significant leadership, impact, potential, and the legitimate need for the degree to be accepted. Highlight your current responsibilities and recent achievements, as well as your skill sets. Discuss your goals and how an EMBA will help you reach them. Include how you will positively impact the community at the program you are applying to.

Read MBA Personal Statement Examples

Now that you have the tools to write your compelling essay, check out our sample MBA application essays to see what you will be able to accomplish.

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BONUS: You'll also receive a free copy of our popular guide,  5 Fatal Flaws To Avoid in Your MBA Applications Essays.

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Essay Editing Tips from the Pros: Preparing for Your MBA Journey

Mar 14, 2024

Importance of Essay Editing in MBA Applications

Common mistakes to avoid in mba essays, strategies for effective mba essay editing, understanding the mba essay requirements, key elements of a strong mba essay, proofreading techniques for polished essays, seeking feedback and revision approaches, utilizing professional editing services, tailoring your essays for different mba programs.

• Get Expert Help

Editing your essays for your MBA applications is crucial. Attention to detail is key in presenting your ideas clearly and effectively. Here are a few reasons why essay editing is significant:

• Impression : Your essays are a reflection of who you are. Editing ensures that your message is conveyed professionally.
• Clarity : Clear and concise essays help the admission committee understand your goals and aspirations.
• Professionalism : Well-edited essays demonstrate your commitment to excellence in all aspects of your MBA journey.

Many MBA applicants make common mistakes in their essays. 

Avoid these errors to strengthen your application:

• Lack of Clear Goals : Clearly state your career goals and how an MBA will help you achieve them.
• Generic Statements : Be specific and personalize your essay to showcase your unique qualities.
• Ignoring Word Limits : Adhere to word limits to demonstrate your ability to convey information concisely.
• Neglecting Proofreading : Carefully proofread your essays to catch any grammar or spelling mistakes.
• Overusing Jargon : Avoid excessive use of technical terms that may hinder understanding by the admissions committee.
• Failing to Show Fit : Connect your experiences and aspirations with the MBA program you are applying to.
• Forgetting to Edit : Edit your essays multiple times to ensure clarity, coherence, and impact.

Remember, for competitive MBA programs at elite schools like Harvard , Stanford , or Wharton , there is no room for mistakes when it comes to your admissions essay. 

We wrote more about the 4 biggest mistakes applicants often make and how to fix them here , so make sure to check that out.

When editing your essays, start by taking a break after writing to refresh your mind. Then, read your essay aloud to catch any awkward phrasing or errors. Use a grammar checker tool to identify common mistakes, and consider asking a friend or a mentor to review your essay for fresh perspectives. 

Additionally, focus on improving clarity, coherence, and conciseness in your writing. 

Finally, don’t forget to proofread your essay multiple times before submission to ensure it is polished and error-free.

MBA essay requirements vary across different schools. Each program has specific guidelines, prompts, and word limits you must follow. Failing to meet these criteria is a failproof way to get yourself dinged. Even if you go over your word limit by just 1 word, your application will be discarded. 

Here are some key aspects to consider before starting your MBA essay journey:

• Prompt Analysis : Understand the essay prompt fully to address all aspects effectively.
• Word Limit : Pay attention to the word count requirement to convey your message succinctly.
• School Fit : Demonstrate specific reasons why the program aligns with your career goals.
• Personal Story : Share personal anecdotes that showcase your unique qualities and experiences.
• Proofreading : Edit your essay multiple times to eliminate errors and ensure clarity.

To craft a compelling MBA essay, focus on showcasing your unique experiences, skills, and aspirations. With admissions rates at elite MBAs like Stanford Graduate School of Business hovering around 6%, standing out from the crowd is one of the most important challenges you will face during your business school application journey.

Though there are many elements that make up a successful MBA application, one of the most important is your admissions essay. 

Writing admissions essays that cut through the noise and help the admissions committee connect with you and your ideas means getting into your target business schools.

And how do you write compelling essays? 

It’s simple: tell a good story. 

For advice on HOW to tell a good story and why that matters, click here. 

Aside from telling a good story, here are a few additional key elements that make a strong MBA essay:

• Clear Career Goals: Clearly articulate your short and long-term career goals, showing how an MBA aligns with your aspirations.
• Personal Narrative: Share personal anecdotes that highlight your values, leadership skills, and resilience.
• Specific Details: Provide concrete examples to support your achievements and qualifications.
• Unique Perspective: Stand out by presenting a fresh perspective or tackling a topic from a unique angle.

By incorporating these elements into your essay, you can effectively communicate your readiness for the MBA journey. Adcoms of top MBA programs read thousands of essays annually; needless to say, they are presented with plenty of stories and examples of candidates who want to prove to them that they stand out. 

While you are writing your MBA application essays , make sure that your impact and strengths are highlighted , while staying true to your voice and story. Remember, if this sounds difficult and overwhelming, you don’t have to do it alone. Our team is always ready to help! 

We highly suggest you take a look at other successful essay responses before you begin writing. 

Our MBA Resource Center has dozens of past successful essays and detailed brainstorming worksheets to help you plan out an essay that gets you into your top-choice MBA. 

Our library also includes guides for all top global MBA programs, interview tips and mocks, CV templates, and recommendation letter guides. Click to join !

Proofreading is a crucial step in essay writing to ensure your work is polished. 

Here are some essential techniques to help you perfect your essays:

• Read Aloud : Reading your essay aloud can help you catch errors that your eyes may miss.
• Take Breaks : Give yourself some time between writing and proofreading to look at your essay with fresh eyes.
• Focus on One Aspect at a Time : Concentrate on grammar, then punctuation, then formatting to prevent feeling overwhelmed.
• Get a Second Opinion : Have someone else read your essay to catch mistakes you might have overlooked.

Don’t skip this step. Grammar mistakes and typos show a lack of attention to detail and sloppiness – definitely a wrong picture to portray to the adcom. 

When seeking feedback on your essay, consider asking trusted individuals like professors, colleagues, or writing tutors for their input. They can provide valuable perspectives and suggestions to improve your work. 

Additionally, revising your essay involves reviewing the content for clarity, coherence, and organization. Make sure to address any weak arguments, inconsistencies, or grammatical errors to strengthen your writing. 

Remember, incorporating feedback and revising diligently will enhance the quality of your essay, preparing you for success on your MBA journey.

When preparing your MBA application, utilizing professional editing services can greatly enhance your essay. They can provide valuable feedback on your content, structure, and grammar, helping you present a polished piece. Professional editors can also offer insights on how to effectively convey your goals and experiences, making your essay stand out to admissions committees.

When you think of editing, you probably have an image in mind that includes correcting grammar mistakes, polishing phrasing, emphasizing clarity, and ensuring your text meets all length requirements. While these elements – what we call technical editing – are an essential part of writing great essays, our editing services go far beyond that.

Our secret? Developmental editing!

While we see it as the baseline of our job to correct your text for errors, developmental editing is how we can help you go above and beyond so that your writing can compete with that of your peers around the globe. 

Our developmental editing services not only help you decide what to highlight in your essays so that you present a consistent brand to the admissions committee but also show you how to do this in your voice through multiple revisions of your work.

To help you develop your text, our editors investigate all the elements of your story to make sure that everything is clear, no essential detail is missing, and nothing is superfluous. Beyond that, our editing services help you find the thread that connects your experiences with your values and future ambitions, and make sure it is clear throughout your draft.

By helping you choose and structure your most powerful narrative, our iterative process can help you craft a text that does the job: persuade the admissions committee that you belong in their program.

Different MBA programs look for specific qualities in applicants. 

Tailoring your essays for each program can increase your chances of standing out. Research each program’s values and emphasize how your experiences align with them. Highlight relevant skills and achievements that match the program’s focus. Personalizing your essays shows dedication and effort, increasing your potential for success.

Get Help Fixing Your MBA Essays Today

To set yourself up for success in your MBA journey, start by familiarizing yourself with the program’s requirements and expectations. Build a strong foundation in key subjects like economics, accounting, and finance. Network with current MBA students or alumni to gain valuable insights and advice. Develop better time management and organizational skills to balance your coursework, extracurricular activities , and networking events effectively. Lastly, seek feedback on your essays from professionals or mentors to refine your writing and make a strong impression on the admissions committee.

This is a lot to keep in mind when writing your MBA admissions essay, especially when you want to do your best to impress the admissions board and convince them to accept you to their school. 

You want to be sure to avoid key mistakes . 

For example, it is utterly important to make sure your texts are clear and free of ambiguities. Simultaneously, we highly recommend using storytelling – thoroughly infused with motivations, emotions, and a solid structure – to really build a rapport with the reader and spark their empathy. Of course, it would also be a mistake to hand in an essay full of grammatical or syntactical errors, which is why it is essential to proofread and edit your essay before you settle on a final version. And lastly, you don’t want to spend time crafting an excellent essay only to leave the readers wondering how it relates to their MBA program. This is why it’s important to show how you will enrich the school and use your MBA in the future.

Our editing services can help make sure you do not fall prey to these mistakes – or any others that may pop up. Not only can we help make sure your essay is written in proper, error-free English, but we can also go beyond that to help you shape your essay to make sure the adcom sees you as a winning candidate. 

Your MBA application is the time to shine and be your best. At Ellin Lolis Consulting , we are determined to help you get there. Whether you need help brainstorming a theme or simply need a second pair of eyes before clicking send , reach out to take advantage of our editing services today!

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MBA Essay – How to Write, Expert Tips & Mistakes to Avoid

Admit expert.

• MBA Application Tips , MBA Essay Tips
• October 28, 2023

Writing an MBA essay can be a pivotal step in your journey towards earning a coveted spot in a top business school. It’s a chance to let your personality shine, communicate your goals, and explain why a particular institution is the perfect fit for you.

In this comprehensive article, we delve into the importance of MBA essays, the various types you might encounter, and provide a roadmap for crafting impeccable B-School essays. Whether you’re pondering “Why MBA and Why Now?” or tackling the intricate “Why this Business School?” question, we’ve got you covered. Dive into the world of MBA essays, where your aspirations and abilities find their voice.

The Importance of MBA Essays 

Types of mba essays , how to write an impeccable b-school essay, 10 common mistakes to avoid while writing mba essays .

• How we’ll help you write amazing essays 

MBA Essay – FAQs 

MBA essays are a perfect opportunity to showcase your strengths and explain any weak points in your application. A well-written essay can provide context to a low GMAT score or GPA, but strong numbers will never make up for a weak essay.

Renice Jones, Ex. Assistant Director of Recruitment and Admissions at Schulich MBA program rightly said:

“Candidates who are below average can use the other components of the application, such as the essays, to exhibit why they may be a great fit for Schulich.”

MBA essays also become very important if you are from an over-represented pool of candidates, such as an Indian male IT/software engineer. Like you, many candidates will have similar work profiles and experiences. You cannot change your work experience but can make sure that you portray your spikes to the admission committee through your essays.

Stanford MBA admissions committee gives this advice to its applicants every year,

“There is no typical Stanford MBA student, no ideal for applicants to chase. Our advice is to just focus on you and ensure that your application is a true reflection of yourself.”

MBA Essays – A way to showcase your personality 

A compelling MBA essay helps the Adcoms get a peek inside your personality. Chad Losee, HBS Managing Director of MBA Admissions and Financial aid, pointed out that their primary goal in the essay is to get to know you better. The decisions you have made, your motivations, or any formative experiences. However, you must not shy away from your personality in the process.

The MBA admissions team at Yale School of Management held a webinar , where they talked about what they are interested in knowing through its essay.

How to impress the MBA admissions committee in the admissions events. Here are a few tips in this article .

Yale SoM MBA essays are generally open-ended, like – “Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made.” For this essay question, the admissions committee is interested in knowing how you approach commitments and the behavior that supports them. It can be a personal or a professional story, as long as it is something distinctive to your life and helps them know more about your personality. 

It is the story that you put together about your passion, experience, goals, and how business school fits into that mix that sets you apart from other candidates.

Looking for expert help for MBA essays?

At Admit Expert, we have helped hundreds of students get into top MBA programs around the world. We would be happy to help you too. Schedule a free call with us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you achieve your goals.

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Although the MBA admissions essay questions differ across schools, they tend to evaluate you based on who you are, what you have done, and what value you can add. 

Thus, there are a certain set of questions that help the Adcoms evaluate your candidacy. The length of an essay can range from anywhere between 200 – 1500 words, depending on the business school. But, remember each question is crafted in such a way that helps the Adcoms to know you better and evaluate your fit with the B-school.

We have helped many students craft their MBA essays and created a list of 6 most common essay questions that you can expect on your MBA application: 

Here are the 6 most common essay questions that you can expect on your MBA application:

• Why MBA and Why Now? 
• Why this Business School?

Leadership essay 

• Video essay 
• Open-ended essay 
• Community/Contribution essay 

Why MBA and Why Now?  

This essay is the most common question, which requires you to logically craft a link between your past experiences, your future aspirations, and how pursuing an MBA fits in. This essay aims to understand your motivation to pursue an MBA. In hindsight, this type of essay question can also incorporate your goals. 

However, you can even get a question that is just focused on what your short and long-term goals are? For example, Tuck MBA question on why MBA and how your prior experience and MBA from Tuck fits in. 

Why this Business School? 

This essay aims to see how your goals fit into applying to XYZ business school. In this essay, you need to state how pursuing an MBA from that particular B-school will enable you to achieve your short and long-term goals. 

The admissions committee wants to know if you have done your research on the business school.

For example, Kellogg is known as one of the best business schools for Marketing. So, if you aspire to become a successful marketer, schools like Kellogg can be a good fit for you. 

Leadership qualities are ones that every top business school looks for in a candidate. This essay aims to know about instances where you have shown leadership.

Remember, you don’t have to be a manager or lead a team to showcase leadership qualities. Cases in which you have changed opinions, shown integrity, take crucial decisions, displayed structured thinking, etc. can also demonstrate leadership skills. 

For example, essay questions that ask you to provide instances where you have shown leadership and challenges related to ethics you have faced (HEC Paris).

ISB also has a question on similar lines –examples of the most important personal quality that will lead you to become a successful leader. 

Video Essay 

The video essay evaluates your language skills, confidence, and capability to think on your feet. It is an opportunity for you to create a good first impression on the admissions committee. 

Moreover, video essays give a chance to the Admissions committee to put a face on the application received. 

Kellogg and MIT Sloan are a few business schools that ask candidates to submit video essays. MIT Sloan asks you for a 60-sec video where you need to introduce yourself to your future classmates. Kellogg’s video essay consists of three questions – An introduction about yourself, the path you are interested in pursuing, and the challenges you have faced.  

Open-ended essay (Value-based/personality)

This type of essay question evaluates your values and personality. For example, describe your biggest commitment (Yale), values that have guided your life and work (Kellogg), or showcase your personal characteristics by providing instances (INSEAD).

Community contribution

Contribution to the community is an integral part of many top business schools. The aim is to reflect upon your unique background and think about the values you can add to the community. For example, the Cornell essay analyzes your desire to impact communities and organizations positively. They want to understand how you will make a meaningful impact on Cornell’s MBA community. 

Do you want to impress the MBA Adcom with your essay?

The admissions committee reads thousands of essays every year. For your essay to stand out, you must put a comprehensive picture of who you are and how you fit into the B-school program.  Your essays need to be interesting and unique if you want to grab Adcom’s attention. 

Here is a stepwise process that you should follow to write an essay that Adcom would want to read: 

Step 1 – Start Early 

One of the mistakes that candidates make is to start writing their essays near the application deadline. Writing compelling MBA essays needs deep introspection. You need to take a step back and look into various instances in your life, such as:

• Your past experiences that led to where you are today.
• Your future aspirations
• The turning points and defining moments in your life
• Your accomplishments – past, present, future
• The decisions that helped in shaping your core values
• Your learnings from failure
• Your perspective and experiences that shaped your passion 

Jotting down such instances requires you to sit down, clear your mind, and think about everything that has led you to become who you are and what you want to be. Thus, it would be best to give yourself enough time to introspect. Your mind will respond better when you don’t have a deadline to meet. 

It’s recommended that you start your essays at least 5-6 months before the deadline. This way you’ll get enough time to self-reflect and inculcate the process of thoughtful introspection in your routine. 

 Identify incidents around some common skills that Adcoms look for – Academic Excellence, result-oriented, Leadership, Team management, and Learning. 

Step 2: Know your Whys 

You must get familiar with the most common essay questions:

• Why MBA? 
• Why is it the best time to do an MBA? 
• Why XYZ MBA Program?

Although not all business schools ask you these questions, they are bound to come up in the interview if not in your essays. Moreover, answering these questions can help you get clarity and focus on how to position yourself. You must create a logical link between these three questions by connecting your goals and aspirations. 

Tips on answering the ‘Why’ MBA essay questions

Here are a few tips on how you can go about finding the answer to these questions:

• Why MBA? Look into your future aspirations and how pursuing an MBA fits into them. You should establish a clear, logical, and career-oriented reason for pursuing an MBA. 
• Why MBA Now? Look into your past experiences and provide context as to how pursuing an MBA now fits into your plans. You need to make sure that Adcoms understand that it is the right time for you to pursue an MBA.
• Why XYZ MBA Program? Evaluate how aligned the business school is with your career goals. For example, if you are looking for leadership development during the course, check if that B-school offers such a program. You also need to align your values with the school. Go to the selected business school website and see if their values align with yours. For example, ISB values openness, passion for excellence, collaboration, initiative, and innovation. So, if these values are in-line with your values, ISB is a good fit for you. 

Step 3: Decode the essay prompt 

Once you self-reflect and get familiar with the standard essay questions, it’s time to decode the essay prompt. Each B-school has a unique essay question through which Adcoms evaluate a specific set of things. Understand what the Adcoms are looking to know from that particular question. For example, essay prompts such as, “Describe what you learned from your most spectacular failure?” Here, the Adcom wants to know how you overcame your biggest failure and learned something meaningful from that experience.

Step 4: Create a draft and respect the word count 

After understanding what is required in a particular essay question, create a draft within the word limit. Chad Losee from HBS points out that essays should be about the right length. Use your judgment and be clear and concise in your writing. Moreover, you need to make sure that your essay adds new information. What more is there to you apart from your resume, LOR, and numbers? 

Here are a few tips for writing an essay: 

• Provide instances wherever necessary. Write instances in the form of stories. We suggest using a SAR format – Situation, Action, and Result. Start your story by providing a context, and mention the action you took and the results of your actions. 
• Make sure the essay is in a flow. Have your story structured so that it conveys the overall message. 
• Make sure that your essay has correct/genuine content. It should be concise, cohesive, clear, and convincing. 
• Your Essays should be in line with your overall MBA application.
• Do not be afraid to show your vulnerability. Adcoms are more interested in knowing how you tackle them. 
• Invite inputs from others. 

Step 5: Review and Submit 

You must review your application before submitting it. Readout your essay aloud and ask yourself, could this essay also describe someone else? If yes, it’s probably not personal enough to add to your overall application. 

It helps to get a fresh perspective on your essay. Ask your friend, family, or colleague to read it. Their inputs can be valuable as they know who you are and provide characteristic traits that you might have missed. Moreover, they can also help you understand how others perceive you and if it is consistent with what you have written.

Here is a quick overview of mistakes that you should avoid while writing essays:

• Going over the word count. 
• Lack of the 5C’s – Correct content, cohesive, concise, clear, and convincing. 
• Too many instances.
• Not providing something new. Repetitive content. 
• Lack of introspection. 
• Candidates tend to copy/paste the same answer that they used in a different B-school application. 
• Not proofreading.
• Not addressing each part of the question. 
• Lack of flow.
• Lack of reason for why MBA, Why now, and Why XYZ B-school?

We hope that this article provides you with insights into how to write your MBA essay. We can help you write amazing essays.

Our MBA admission consultants have been part of the actual MBA admission team and interview panel at top global B-schools. Therefore, we know what the MBA admissions team actually looks for in a candidate and can guide you accordingly. 

Book your free one on one consultaion today! 

How we’ll help you write amazing essays  

Our MBA admission consulting services are structured considering the above points. Broadly, our services cover the following: 

• Narrative building by a lead consultant, who is a top B-school alum and has got extensive admission consulting experience 
• Identifying your leadership personality trait 
• Identifying and Shortlisting incidents from your personal and professional life having a significant impact and leadership traits 
• Aligning your post MBA career goals with these skills and leadership traits that you have displayed in the above incidents 
• Customizing the narrative by school mentors, who are alumni of the B-schools you are applying to 
• Customizing the narrative by an industry mentor, who is a top B-school alum from your industry/function 
• Essay editing – multiple iterations 
• Essay review by school mentors 
• Resume and Letter of Recommendation guidance 
• Interview prep 

If you follow the above method, you can crack any B-school essay. For more information on our plans and pricing, please visit our  plans and pricing page . For a free profile evaluation, please write to us at  [email protected]  or fill out the  form . 

MBA essays are your chance to showcase your worth to your target business school. They are an excellent means to distinguish your application and let the admissions committee know the real you.  

Yes. Essays are the only place in your application where you can reveal your aspiration, why an MBA makes sense as the next step in your career path, and address any drawbacks in your application. They help the Admission committee know the person behind those facts and figures in your application. Thus, an MBA essay is a crucial part of your application. 

The length of your MBA essay depends on the program, but generally, essays are anywhere between 200-1200 words. The important thing to remember is that you should not go over the word limit and if the limit is not set by the program, make sure your essay is cohesive, concise, and clear. 

To start an MBA essay, make sure that you self-reflect and do some introspection about your life and career. Think about your past experiences and how they have shaped you. Get yourself familiar with the common essay questions like why MBA and why now. It is important that you identify incidents around some common skills that Adcoms look for – Academic Excellence, result-oriented, Leadership, Team management, and Learning. 

Do you want to get into your dream business school?

Take the first step towards your MBA dream and schedule a free 1 on 1 application strategy call with us.

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How to Write a Killer MBA Essay

Introduction.

Writing a great MBA essay is a crucial component of applying to business school . According to Lisa Koengeter , the Director of Admissions at Booth School of Business , your essay provides them with “a better understanding of you, your self-assessment and your aspirations.” 

This article will outline what MBA admissions committees look for in your essays, show you how to write a killer MBA essay, and tell you what mistakes to avoid.

Types of MBA Essays

There are a few different types of MBA essay questions you will answer as part of your MBA application. The type of essay can be determined through the keywords used in the essay question. Each type of essay will have its own length requirements, depending on the business school.

This type of essay asks you to detail your personal and professional goals and how attending business school will help you achieve them. An essay question that asks about your aspirations or what you hope to gain from an MBA program is classified as a goal essay.

For example, Wharton is one of many schools that ask for a goal essay from applicants using the question: “What do you hope to gain professionally from the Wharton MBA?” Columbia , NYU Stern , Darden , Dartmouth Tuck , and McCombs are some of the many other schools that ask about your goals.

Self-Reflection

A self-reflection essay is an opportunity for you to showcase the values and characteristics that make up your personal identity. It also requires you to discuss how you handled a failure at some point in your life or how you would approach an ethical dilemma.

Yale School of Management is one business school that uses self-reflection questions in its MBA essays . They want to know what the biggest commitment you have ever made is, including why you chose it and how you went about making it. 

Answering this question will require you to do some deep reflection in order to answer it thoroughly. 

Contribution

The objective of this type of essay is to show an admissions committee how you will add value and contribute to their MBA program. 

Booth School of Business poses this question: “An MBA is as much about personal growth as it is about professional development. In addition to sharing your experience and goals in terms of career, we’d like to learn more about you outside of the office. Use this opportunity to tell us something about who you are.” 

Booth clearly wants you to elaborate on who you are, what you value, and how you live those values in your everyday life.

Some business schools want to know about the impact you will have on their program and pose a question that asks you to describe a time when you demonstrated leadership. This will involve discussing why you took on the leadership role in your chosen situation and your leadership impact.

Darden School of Business poses essay questions designed to gauge your leadership capabilities and the impact you’ll have on the program. As Dean of Admissions Dawna Clarke states, they are interested in “cultivating high impact leaders.” 

It’s no surprise that one of their essay questions from a recent application cycle was, “Darden strives to identify and cultivate responsible leaders who follow their purpose. Please provide an example of a situation in which you have made a meaningful impact.”

Instead of writing a traditional essay, some business schools ask you to submit a video essay. The types of questions asked for a video essay can range from a short introduction to longer, multi-component questions.

Kellogg is one business school that uses video essays . They will ask you three questions. First up is an introduction, and the second is about your career goals and how Kellogg will help get you there. 

The third question varies annually and is generally more randomized, so you and all the other applicants won’t necessarily respond to the same question. 

How to Write a Great Business School Essay

Successfully writing business school essays is tricky. Many factors go into constructing a successful one. However, the top tips we’ve provided below outline how to write an MBA application essay that stands out from the crowd. 

Pay Attention to Your Essay Structure

Blair Mannix , the Admissions Director at Wharton, noticed successful essays all had the same structure: the setup, the pivot point, and the future. 

The setup is the opening of your essay, where you tell the admissions committee about who you are, what you do, and what you have learned so far. 

The pivot point is where you shift from discussing what you already know and do to talking about what you would like to learn and how that will help you succeed. Mannix also describes this as a lightbulb moment, where something clicks, and you realize that if you had more education in one or two areas, you would be better at your job. 

The final section of your essay is your opportunity to describe how gaining knowledge and skills in the area(s) you identified in the pivot point will help your career and why that specific MBA program will make this possible.

For essays that ask you to describe how you will contribute to the institution’s MBA community, Mannix states successful essays are personal, set up as a story, and show how your experiences resonate with the community.

Consider the Tone You Use While Writing Your Essay

It’s important to be genuine in your essay. Admissions committees want to know about you as a person and know if you’re being insincere or simply writing what you think they want to hear. 

As Laurel Grodman from Yale School of Management states, your essay is an “opportunity to speak in your own voice about something meaningful and distinctive in your life.” Don’t waste this opportunity by writing about something you think will make you look better. 

Write something that actually matters to you.

Authenticity is another key element to incorporate in your essay. Clarke recommends integrating aspects of your personality into your essay. For example, she suggests showcasing your creativity, humor, or any other attributes you possess. This allows admission committees to get to know you even better.

The Best MBA Essays Are School-Specific 

At first, this seems like an obvious one; of course, writing a business school essay means writing about the business school itself. However, this is a great opportunity to show off your research and explain why you specifically want to attend this institution. 

Have you looked into the school’s curriculum? Have you found which extracurricular opportunities you want to pursue if you are admitted? Are there any research centers that you want to become involved in? 

Show how this school is the ideal stepping stone to help you achieve your future ambitions. The University of Cambridge Judge Business School provides two MBA application essay examples that highlight the importance of this: 

Example 1 - “The programme will equip me with an entrepreneurial toolkit, allowing me to efficiently evaluate and capitalise on future business opportunities, further bolstering my credibility with future stakeholders.”

Example 2 - “Upon completion of the MBA programme at Cambridge Judge Business School I want to be a decisive and successful business professional.”

The first example is far more compelling; it explains what the student will gain from the program and how they will use it to achieve future success. 

Pick an Event or Situation That Matters to You

When you select your topic to write about in your MBA essay, you need to make sure it is something that had a significant impact on your life and resonates with you personally. This will help ensure your authenticity shows through.

Kellogg Director of Admissions Jennifer Hayes , says that “the best essays [she has] read have heart, are not over-edited, and let the applicant’s personality emerge.” This is best done when you do not force yourself to write something you think admissions directors want to read, but rather tell an organic story that carries significant personal meaning.

The Importance of Storytelling in MBA Essays

Business school admissions officers want to see how you approach traits like leadership and commitment in your MBA application essay. Yet, if you describe an experience and don’t reflect upon it, you will not highlight your mindset, dedication, and motivation. 

The best writers outline the traits that business schools want to see by telling personal stories and anecdotes. But how can you do that? It’s simple — show how your experiences impacted you. Don’t just tell us about it. 

Indeed, to use the idea of commitment as an example, Yale’s admissions committee “cares less about the commitment you choose and more about the behaviors surrounding the commitment.” They want to “come away learning something new about you as a person that helps us understand your values and motivations.”

Illustrating how your experiences affect your values and motivations is difficult; this process requires a lot of introspection and self-reflection. The trick is to use plenty of real-life examples and explain how they embody your values. 

One way to successfully do this is to use the STAR technique . The STAR technique is split into four distinct steps: 

• Situation - Describe the situation and when it took place.
• Task - Explain the task and what was the goal.
• Action - Provide details about the action you took to attain this.
• Result - Conclude with the result of your action.

Using the four steps outlined above, you can create concise, compelling answers to your essay prompts. Let’s use one of the Berkeley Haas essay prompts as an example for an MBA essay outline:

What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why? (300 words maximum) . 

We can split this prompt into two sections: 

• Describe an activity, hobby, or anything that makes you “feel alive” when you do it. 
• Explain why you find so much enjoyment in this one thing. 

Storytelling is key here, and the STAR technique can help you break down exactly what you want to say. Remember, it is important to reflect upon your experiences and, in this case, show why you enjoy something. 

If you manage to do this in your essays and show how you achieved results along the way, you will submit a strong MBA application essay. 

Plagiarizing Your MBA Essay 

Plagiarism is a big deal. 

Even if a student doesn’t intend to plagiarize someone’s work, colleges can and will detect it. If colleges detect plagiarism, they will likely reject the application outright; UCLA’s Anderson School of Management rejected 52 MBA hopefuls for application plagiarism. 

Applicants can easily and accidentally plagiarize someone else’s work by following MBA essay examples too closely. Essay examples are useful, as they can inspire you and give you an idea of how you can reflect upon your experiences. However, someone has written that example about their own experience in their own words, and you can’t copy it. 

If you are worried about plagiarism, the simple fix is to be original. After all, admissions committees want to hear about your experiences, motivations, and opinions. 

Authenticity is also an extremely important part of writing well; you will come across as more genuine writing about your genuine thoughts and experiences. If you want to check your work, you can use reliable and low-cost plagiarism checker tools like PrePostSEO and Copyscape .  

MBA Essay Examples

US News wrote an article on what makes for a successful MBA essay. They provided the following MBA entrance essay sample essays written by applicants recently admitted into highly reputable business schools.

This sample was written for Fox School of Business at Temple University .

This essay was well-received by the admissions committee because it was written clearly and concisely, free of grammatical errors, and told a story. The candidate showed their personality and explained why a Fox MBA would help them achieve their career goals. 

This particular candidate was honest in their essay about their weaknesses and professional growth, which is generally well-received by admissions committees. The candidate detailed the initiative they had taken in learning about the MBA program at Fox and why they decided to apply.

This next successful essay sample was written for the Yale School of Management.

Similar to the previous example, this essay told a compelling story through a clear narrative. This particular essay began with an anecdote that demonstrated the candidate’s work ethic, initiative, leadership, and resourcefulness.

This show-don’t-tell essay displayed what was important to the applicant and offered the admission committee insight into their personality and values. It also provided as much detail as was possible, given the 500-word limit.

Don’t Rely Too Much on MBA Essay Examples 

While MBA essay examples are valuable tools to see what got applicants into business school, they all have one problem: They are not yours. Other peoples’ essay examples don’t focus on your achievements, values, motivations, or experiences. 

In their essays, originality and authenticity are two critical themes that business schools look for because your life is unique. Remember, MBA essay writing is all about getting to know you , and your essays should truly reflect who you are as a person. 

MBA essay examples are useful. They can provide you inspiration, an idea of what can work, and outline how to discuss your own experiences. However, you need to draw a line in the sand and write your own essay at some point. 

People are admitted to particular schools for a wide variety of reasons. While their essays are one of those reasons, what works for one person might not work for you. Try not to overthink it — write about your experiences, background, and, most importantly, opinion. 

Mistakes to Avoid While Writing Your MBA Essay

In addition to following the steps for writing a great MBA essay outlined above, there are also some common mistakes you’ll want to avoid while writing your essay. These mistakes are listed below, along with solutions to fix them.

Submitting an Overly Complex Essay

Admissions committees don’t want to know how many buzzwords and how much industry-related jargon you know. They’re looking to find out about you as a person, not solely as a business person. 

Committees may become frustrated if they have to decipher what you’ve written in your overly complicated essay, especially since your application isn’t the only one that needs reviewing.

The fix : Use your own words and write as if you were talking professionally to a coworker. That way, your essay will sound more straightforward and personal and allow you to make a better connection with your reader.

Not Reading the Essay Question Closely or Misunderstanding the Question

You need to know how to answer MBA essay questions. Misreading or misunderstanding the question will lead you to write an essay that completely misses what the admissions committee wants to learn about you. 

This can lead to your application being discarded.

The fix : Find the keyword(s) in the question first. This will provide you with what the admission committee hopes to learn about you in the essay. 

In the Types of MBA Essays section above, identifying terms such as “contribute,” “gain,” and “lead” shows what the admissions committee is looking for you to answer. It is also a good idea to seek clarification if you find the question confusing. 

Restating Your Resume or Letters of Recommendation

Admission committees don’t want your essay to be a restatement of what’s already outlined in your business school resume and letters of recommendation . Your MBA essay should be unique and should tell a story that can’t be found elsewhere in your application.

The fix : Take some time to think about what you want to write about that answers the essay question and isn’t detailed anywhere else in your application. But suppose the moment or experience you want to write about is already included. 

In that case, you could instead focus on a particular project and describe some of the challenges you encountered, how you overcame them, the project’s outcome, and what you learned from the experience. 

Starting Your MBA Essay Close to the Deadline 

Starting too close to the deadline means you won’t have enough time to put together a clear, concise, and expertly written narrative. If you’re rushed, you’re more likely to make simple mistakes.

The fix : Start planning your essay(s) as soon as the essay questions are made available. Take time to create an outline for each essay so you have a solid plan for when you start to write your draft. 

By starting well ahead of the application deadline, you’ll give yourself plenty of time to write and revise without being crunched for time and stressed.

Giving Half-Baked Reasons for Attending Business School  

Business school admissions committees use your essays to gauge your interest in their program and institution. So, if you are vague about your career plans and why you should get an MBA at a specific school, take the time to outline them. 

Admissions officers want to see applicants who demonstrate clear and well-defined goals. So, do your college research and explain why you want to attend their program. 

1. How Long Should My MBA Application Essay Be?

The length of your MBA essay will depend on the specific school; some schools allow up to 500 words, while others want a very short and to-the-point response of 150 words. 

The length set out by the MBA program you’re applying to is an important consideration, and it is not a good idea to go over the word limit. Admissions committees want to see that you can follow instructions and are capable of writing succinctly. It will not reflect well on you to go over the allowed word count.

2. Is the MBA Essay Less Important Than My GPA and GMAT Score?

No, your MBA essay is at least equally as important as your GPA and GMAT score . While your GPA and GMAT scores are good indicators of your academic abilities, the MBA essay is the admission committee’s first opportunity to get to know you personally. 

This is also the first impression you will make on the committee, so it’s imperative that you write a strong and compelling essay. Most business schools use a holistic approach to assessing applications, and your response to the essay question can determine whether you are a good fit for their program.

3. Is There an MBA Essay Guide for Reapplicants?

Many schools will require or suggest that reapplicants submit an additional essay. 

This will vary by school, and it is important to check with each school’s website for the exact details of what’s expected of reapplicants. If it’s optional, it is a good idea to submit one because it allows you to explain how you’ve grown personally and professionally since your previous application. 

4. Can I Use the Same Business School Essay if I’m Reapplying?

It’s unlikely you’ll be successful using the same essay since your response could have been the reason you were rejected the first time around. 

It’s best to consult with an MBA admissions expert or mentor to find out where you went wrong and what you can do to make your reapplication essay strong and stand out in the best way possible.

5. How Do I Edit My MBA Essay Draft to Make It Better?

First of all, make sure there are no errors with your spelling, grammar, and syntax. Business schools want students with superb communication skills, and having basic errors in your MBA essay does not demonstrate that you have strong communication skills. 

Then, you should go through the common mistakes outlined above and make sure those are not present in your essay; if they are, fix them. Seeking a second opinion from a friend, mentor, colleague, or MBA essay editing expert will also help locate errors or improvement areas.

6. How Can I Ensure My Business School Essay Stands Out?

Whether you are faced with the Wharton MBA essays , Harvard Business School essay , or Booth MBA essays , to name a few, there are a few things you can do to make your essay stand out. 

The event or experience you choose to write about should be something you are able to write about in a compelling narrative. It should also be something you can write about with passion, which will allow the admission committee to see your genuine and authentic voice. 

Your strengths should be woven in with the story you’re telling. These things will make your essay stand out to the admission committee and help them remember you.

Unlock Your Future with the Perfect Business School Essay

Knowing how to write a great MBA essay can be a challenging component of the business school application process. 

But, if you know where to start, make an outline for each essay, and get expert assistance, the process becomes significantly more manageable. Following these steps will help you write a killer MBA essay.

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How to Find the Best MBA Essay Consultant

Looking for an MBA essay consultant? MBA consultants can be excellent professional tools to help you get into very competitive MBA programs, such as the Kellogg Business School . MBA essay consultants guide students on how to write MBA admissions essay, how to craft an essay that stands out and provides personalized, one-on-one feedback. Aside from your GMAT scores and your MBA resume , the MBA essay is the most important part of your application, so creating the best one possible is very important. Students often ask if hiring an MBA essay consultant is worth the investment, and while it may not be for everyone, it can be the right move for many students who need an extra hand with their MBA application. In this blog, we’ll look at what MBA essay consultants do, why the MBA essay is so important, how to write an MBA essay and a guide on finding the right MBA essay consultant for you.

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 6 min read

What mba essay consultants do.

MBA essay consultants offer students professional help in applying for MBA programs, providing guidance and feedback on writing excellent admissions essays or MBA personal statements. Similar to college essay advisors , MBA essay advisors provide student assistance with the written sections of your graduate school application and focus specifically on MBA programs. You can find MBA essay consultants who specialize in essay help, or you can hire an MBA admission consulting service.

Plenty of students hire professional assistance when applying to college or grad school. But many wonder if hiring an admissions consultant or MBA essay consultant is worth it. If you want to know how to get into grad school or a prestigious and highly competitive program like an MBA, a grad school admissions consultant or MBA essay consultant can make the difference.

Want to learn how to write a stellar essay for Harvard MBA?

MBA programs are notoriously competitive, especially at the top business schools. Almost all will require you to submit an MBA admissions essay or other writing samples like a diversity secondary essay as part of the application. And the admissions essay is heavily taken into consideration for admissions decisions. Want to know how to get into Harvard Business School or the Wharton School of Business ? You’ll need an excellent MBA admissions essay, high GMAT scores and an overall strong application to stand out among thousands of applicants. In fact, admissions experts agree that the MBA essay is the second-most important part of your application, after your GMAT score.

How your MBA application is weighted

MBA essays are crucially important to getting that acceptance letter, so hiring an MBA essay can be well worth the time and money. Especially if you want to get into your top-choice school or avoid having to go through a long and grueling admissions process alone.

If you already know how to write a college essay , you’ll be familiar with the short essay format. An MBA essay is almost identical. Keep it short, with one paragraph for the introduction, a maximum of 3 paragraphs for the body and one final concluding paragraph. For an MBA essay, don’t exceed more than 2 pages. Aim to keep things concise, to the point and highly polished. MBA programs want to see that you can be detail-oriented, highly focused and persuasive in your writing. The MBA essay is your chance to demonstrate these skills. And luckily, an MBA essay consultant can guide you on writing one.

An MBA essay consultant provides professional help for students in three key areas:

An excellent MBA essay consultant will be able to teach you not just how to write a winning essay, they\u2019ll know how to turn a good essay into a great essay by trimming the fat and home in on the key details that really grab the attention of admissions committees. To set yourself apart from thousands of other applicants, your essay should be memorable and insightful on top of being well-structured with good flow. Read some Harvard MBA personal statement samples for an idea of how detailed your essay should be and what sort of content an MBA essay contains. MBA essay consultants can work with you to brainstorm what life experiences or personal traits have contributed to your motivation to study business. "}]">

Where do you look to find an MBA essay consultant? It’s different than looking for a tutor or writing coach. MBA essay consultants are highly specialized professionals, and they provide laser-focused advice and guidance on getting into MBA programs. They don’t show you how to write a short essay, they will coach you on writing specifically for MBA graduate programs.

A quick internet search will turn up hundreds of results for professional MBA essay consultants. But there are other options if you want great recommendations and to narrow the search a bit. It’s likely you have a set budget and short timeline to work with, so it’s in your best interest to hire an essay consultant early and quickly. Application deadlines approach fast, and you need time to write a killer essay on top of preparing the rest of your application. International students can also speak to their international student advisor to see if they offer essay writing help or have any recommendations.

Anyone considering hiring an MBA essay consultant or similar professional service wonders if college advisors are worth the cost and investment. Or they want to know how to sort through the hundreds of available consulting services to determine the best fit for them. With so many excellent services and hundreds of five-star reviews, how do you choose the best MBA essay consultant? How do you get excellent service on a budget?

These are important questions. And a quick internet search will reveal dozens of options. How do you sort through these to find the best choice for you? In general, look for a consultant that provides one-on-one coaching and personalized feedback, rather than just a formula to follow or a standardized guidebook. An MBA essay is meant to be highly personal and genuine, so look for those personalized services to match. Below is our quick guide on finding the right MBA essay consultant for you.

1. Think About Cost

Cost is a huge factor for plenty of students. An MBA is already a big expense, and there may be a tight budget for the application and admissions process. If you’re fortunate to have a scholarship or funding for your degree, there may be money specifically for consulting services. If so, definitely take advantage and use this part of the budget to hire a good MBA consultant service. Depending on the level of service you’re looking at, MBA consultants can cost anywhere from a few hundred for basic services to over $10,000 for comprehensive, multiple-school applications. For a basic MBA essay tutoring experience, expect to spend on the lower end of this estimate.

Reading reviews can be a quick way to determine the level of satisfaction an essay consultant provides MBA students. But there are dozens of five-star-rated consultants. How do you know which one is the best for you? Don’t rely on reviews alone to make your own evaluation. Check out a consultant’s services, prices and advertised expertise. Are they a former MBA student? Admissions expert? Communications specialist? Try to find an MBA essay consultant who knows their stuff and understands how MBA admissions work. To put it in perspective, don’t ask MBA students how they wrote a winning essay. Ask someone who has successfully coached MBA students just like you. To bake an amazing cake yourself, ask an experienced baker for their secrets.

Preparing for your MBA interview? Check out our tips:

3. Evaluate Your Options

Many MBA consultants offer free initial meetings for students to gauge their services. Take advantage of these initial consultations and ask plenty of questions! How many years of experience do they have? What’s their professional background? What’s their success rate? Their strategy for teaching students? What does their consultation process look like and how long does it take? Make sure the service you eventually choose matches your expectations and needs. Think of the initial consultation as a job interview where you are the interviewer. Grill them on their professional services and how they operate. Top consulting services will be able to answer all your questions without issue.

An MBA essay consultant can be your secret to success when applying to prestigious MBA programs. MBA essay consulting may not be the best choice for everyone, but it can be an excellent experience for students who want to improve their writing and communication skills or created a well-rounded MBA application to start their graduate degree off right. If you decide to invest in an MBA essay consultant, it’s best to start looking now and get started on your MBA essay writing early.

MBA essay consultants coach students on writing winning admission essays for MBA programs. MBA program admissions are well-known to be highly competitive and a well-crafted essay counts for a large part of your overall application.

An MBA essay consultant isn’t necessary for everyone, but they can make a huge difference for students who struggle with writing, international students or applicants who need to add an edge to their application.

MBA consultants charge anywhere from a few hundred for more basic services to over $10,000 for all-inclusive, comprehensive packages. Prices can add up quickly, but for simple MBA essay consulting, prices can be more reasonable.

MBA essay consultants help guide students on writing excellent MBA admissions essays, including planning structuring and editing your essay. They can also provide feedback on your writing and help you to brainstorm the personal anecdotes you’ll include in the essay.

Hire an MBA essay consultant if you want to offset weaknesses in other parts of your application or you generally struggle with writing. It’s also best to hire an MBA essay as early as possible, so you have the time you need to draft, write and revise your essay before the application deadline.

The internet offers plenty of MBA consultants with varying services. You can also ask your professors, university faculty or your college advisor for recommendations.

Finding the best MBA essay consultant can be tricky, but you want to evaluate your options based on price, services offered and the professional background of the consultants. Take advantage of free initial consultations and be sure to ask plenty of questions before you sign on.

Yes, there are services that offer to write your MBA admissions essay for you, but this is not a good idea. Admissions committees want to hear your genuine voice in your essay, and it will be clear to them during the admissions interview if you are not the same person who wrote your admissions essay.

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The Top 15+ MBA Essay Writing Services

Are you an MBA applicant struggling to write your application essays? The prompts and requirements for each essay can be overwhelming, especially if you want to stand out from a pool of competitive applicants. An MBA essay-writing service can help you write the most successful essays.

Posted March 11, 2024

Table of Contents

The mba essays: an overview.

Most business schools require the submission of one or more essays for applications to their MBA programs. The most common types of essay questions ask you to explain who you are and why you want to pursue an MBA degree at a specific business school. These are commonly referred to as Personal Statement essays and Why This School essays. Other common essay questions and prompts include “How will you contribute to the community at this business school,” “What experiences have influenced your academic or professional journey,” or “Describe a time you had to overcome a challenge.”

In addition to these more traditional essay types, some schools require more creative submissions. For example, MIT Sloan requires a video essay and cover letter instead, and NYU Stern has a “Pick 6” portion that asks for six photos.

Most business schools have relatively short word count requirements. The M7 business schools–Stanford GSB, Harvard Business School, UPenn Wharton, UChicago Booth, Northwestern Kellogg, MIT Sloan, and Columbia Business School–have a word limit of between 300 and 900 words for their MBA essays, so applicants should make sure they use their essays to communicate who they are effectively and efficiently to the admissions committee.

Any great MBA essay will require self-reflection, concrete career goals, examples of professional achievements or experiences that fulfill the prompt, and a clear vision of your personal story. Working with an MBA application coach can help you better define your career aspirations, communicate your personal characteristics, and demonstrate how you will contribute to the incoming class of an MBA program to highly selective admissions committees through your MBA essays.

General MBA Essay Services

Mba essay-focused package.

• Work with Ben : Stanford GSB alumnus, ex-McKinsey Consultant, writer, and former speechwriter who has helped hundreds of applicants with their essays
• What’s included: One-on-one essay workshop, timeline tracking, and unlimited reviews and feedback

A five-star-rated coach, Ben has worked with many applicants in one-on-one and group settings to perfect their essays and impress admissions committees. With a background in speechwriting, Ben provides expert advice, timely feedback, and project management skills.

The MBA Essay Perfectionist: Final Review & Proofreading

• Work with Karla : M7 application expert with 10 years of admissions and coaching experience, including at the Harvard Kennedy School admissions office
• What’s included: Initial consultation and assessment, essay drafting and revision with live debriefs, final editing and polishing

Have you already written your essay but want a second opinion from an experienced coach? Karla will help you take your MBA essay to the next level and assess how it aligns with your overall application with a 24-hour turnaround time on edits.

Craft Your Winning Essay - 360° Package from Ideation to Submission

• Work with Emilie : Current MBA student at Harvard Business School with experience in deferred MBA applications
• What’s included: Brainstorming session, unlimited essay revisions, editing check-in, essay polishing

Unsure how to start your essay? Emilie will guide you through every step of the essay-writing process, from brainstorming compelling essay ideas to polishing a perfect final draft with a target timeline to keep you on track. Whether you’re working on a self-reflection essay, why this school essay, or anything else, Emilie has got you covered!

Perfect Your MBA Essay

• Work with Ed : Wharton MBA alumnus, former BCG Consultant, and PE executive who has tons of experience helping applicants with essay prep
• What’s included: Brainstorming session, essay editing and review

Ed is a Wharton alumnus with experience helping applicants approach business school applications from a strategic perspective and perfect their essays. Having transitioned from management consulting to private equity, Ed is a great choice if you’re also looking to take on business school as the first step of a new career path.

Full-Service Essay Writing & Editing Package

• Work with Charlotte : Stanford GSB alumna who has helped clients gain admission to MIT Sloan and Kellogg, among other programs
• What’s included: Brainstorming session and live essay editing sessions

If you’re looking for a hands-on approach with live sessions, Charlotte is a great choice. Charlotte will help you formulate a strong answer to the essay questions of your dream school and create a powerful MBA application essay.

Ultimate MBA Essay Guide

See the MBA essay prompts, top tips from experts, and real examples from admits with this comprehensive guide.

School-Specific MBA Essay Services

If you’re looking for more targeted advice tailored to your dream business school, try a school-specific essay package. Our coaches can offer information on what each admissions committee is looking for and how you can write the best MBA essays for these highly competitive business schools.

Chicago Booth Essay Review

• Work with Timothy : Chicago Booth alumnus with admission committee experience, reviewing dozens of applications and interviewing candidates
• What’s included: Brainstorming session, outline drafting, edits, live calls

Is Booth one of your dream schools? With experience working for the Booth admissions committee, Timothy is familiar with what admissions officers are looking for in an MBA application essay and will help you craft a top-notch essay.

Stanford GSB Essay Editing | Exclusive Package

• Work with Sowa : Former Stanford GSB MBA co-class president who has years of teaching, coaching, and essay-writing experience
• What’s included: Brainstorming session, essay outlining, editing for up to 6 drafts

If you’re struggling to tackle the “What matters most and why” and “Why GSB” essay questions, Sowa has got you covered. She will help you brainstorm your personal story and present your career goals and future ambitions with an authentic voice, nailing these notoriously difficult prompts.

HBS Essay Review

• Work with Regan : HBS alumna with admission committee experience
• What’s included: Final editing and polishing

Looking for a second opinion from someone familiar with the HBS admissions process? Regan has helped dozens of prospective students navigate the application process and will edit your essay into a powerful component of your HBS application.

MBA Essay / Resume Review & Consultation

• Work with Vanessa : A current Kellogg MBA student with two years of admission committee experience as a Kellogg admissions interviewer
• What’s included: Brainstorming session, essay and/or resume editing, detailed feedback

Vanessa can help you perfect your essay and/or resume to blow away admissions officers, especially at Kellogg. With experience interviewing for Kellogg admissions, Vanessa knows how to make you stand out as a candidate.

For other school-specific essay services, including for schools like MIT Sloan that have a video essay and other non-traditional requirements, browse all MBA packages here .

Comprehensive MBA Application Help

Looking for help with more than just your essays? These MBA application coaching packages will guide you through every step of your MBA journey, including school selection, application strategy,MBA essay writing and editing, resume tailoring, interview preparation, and more.

MBA Admissions Success Package: Your Path to Academic Achievement

• Work with Jeffrey : Columbia Business School deferred admit with experience helping applicants navigate the entire admissions process
• What’s included: School selection strategy, test preparation study guides and practice exams, essay brainstorming and editing, admissions strategy, interview preparation

If you’re looking for expert guidance throughout the admissions process, Jeffrey is a great choice, with resources and advice for every step of your application. With sessions tailored to your application needs and goals, you’ll get personalized help to maximize your chances of admission.

Applicant-Specific MBA Essay Help

If you’re applying for special programs such as a deferred MBA program or joint degree program, or if you’re applying with a unique background, a more specialized coach may be right for you. A coach can help you present your personal story to admissions committees in a unique and compelling way that will help you craft the strongest application possible.

MBA Essay Services for Deferred Applicants

Deferred MBA programs are an increasingly popular choice for ambitious students who want to secure their spot at a top business school while also having opportunities for industry experience prior to matriculation. As these programs become more competitive year after year, an application coach can help you secure your spot and get ahead in your professional and academic journey.

Complete Essay Review Package

• Work with Smita : Deferred admit to Harvard, Columbia, and UVA who has helped applicants get into Wharton, Booth, HBS, and Yale
• What’s included: Initial consultation and assessment, essay drafting and revision with live debriefs, final essay editing and polishing

Tackling application essays can be intimidating as a deferred applicant with less industry experience. Smita will walk you through each step of the essay-writing process and help you create a successful MBA essay that will impress admissions committees.

Deferred MBA Essay Workshop

• Work with Sydney : Deferred admit to Stanford GSB with experience helping clients on essays and interviews
• What’s included: brainstorming session, essay editing, detailed feedback

Sydney can help you effectively communicate your story as a deferred candidate and demonstrate your fit for a specific school to admissions officers through your business school essays. Having recently gone through the admissions process herself, Sydney provides an immersive and relatable perspective to coaching.

MBA Essay Services for International Applicants

If you’re applying to business school from another country, you face unique challenges that require more personalized attention. Coaches can help you navigate each step of the process and help you understand the admissions requirements at top MBA programs.

European MBA Admissions Consulting

• Work with Stetson : International admit to Oxford and London Business School with experience in the global MBA application process
• What’s included: Resume review, behavioral and case interview prep, networking strategy, LinkedIn review, essay review and feedback, school selection strategy

With a deep understanding of what European business schools are looking for and experience helping students looking to go abroad in their studies, Stetson can help you put your best foot forward in your MBA application essay.

MBA Package Step 2: CV & Essays Review

• Work with Olga : Stanford GSB alumna with an international background and experience working with international applicants
• What’s included: CV and essay review and editing, live debrief and Q&A call

If you are an international student looking to attend an MBA program in the United States, Olga is a great choice. Olga provides support and effective writing techniques to help you present your unique strengths to admissions officers.

MBA Essay Services for Non-Traditional Applicants

It’s easy to feel intimidated as a non-traditional applicant without the same experiences as other candidates, but our experienced coaches can help you present your personal and professional growth in your essays and show admissions officers how your background makes you a unique candidate.

MBA Essay Review (15% Discount)

• Work with Claire : HBS alumna with a non-traditional background and admissions committee experience
• What’s included: Live calls, detailed feedback, essay editing

As a former non-traditional candidate herself, Claire is familiar with the challenges faced by non-traditional applicants and will help you tell your story in a strong MBA essay. Claire’s background is in account management, product strategy and operations at Meta, and privacy. She’d love to help you nail your narrative.

MBA Essay Services for Veterans

While a military background is not the most conventional among applicants, an MBA coach can help you draw upon your own experience to demonstrate leadership capabilities and personal growth in your application essays.

Comprehensive MBA Application Coaching

• Work with Nils : A current HBS student with an extensive military background and experience helping students apply to M7 schools
• What’s included: Resume editing, essay writing and feedback, interview prep, application timeline planning, guidance for requesting letters of recommendation

As an HBS student from a military background, Nils has experience navigating the application process as a veteran and will help you present your strengths to stand out from other students. Demonstrating professional development from military experience in a way that makes sense to the admissions committee can be tough, but Nils has got your back!

MBA Essay Services for Dual-Degree Applicants

As the intersections between business and other sectors grow, dual-degree programs are becoming increasingly popular. Applications can be highly competitive, as admitted cohorts are usually small and you may need to submit two separate applications, so an experienced coach can guide you through the application process.

Business & Environment Dual-Degrees

• Work with Greg : A dual-degree alumnus from Stanford GSB specializing in climate-focus applications
• What’s included: Resume template and editing, guidance for choosing recommenders, live essay review sessions, unlimited essay edits, interview prep, waitlist strategy

This comprehensive package is ideal for applicants to dual-degree programs, especially those interested in the environment. Greg will walk you through each step of the dual-degree application process with a personalized and collaborative approach.

Bonus: Free MBA Events

MBA coaching events can be a solid introduction to the application process. Led by one of our expert MBA coaches, these events are a great opportunity to dive into the different MBA programs out there, what admissions committees are looking for, and connect with other prospective applicants. Check out our Free MBA events here .

For more advice about writing a successful MBA essay, check out our free articles:

• How to Write a Powerful MBA Essay—With Examples
• A Guide to the Booth Essays
• Craft a Powerful Essay for Stanford GSB: What Matters Most & Why?
• A Guide to the HBS Essay
• How to Nail Your Kellogg MBA Application Essays
• A Guide to the Wharton MBA Essays
• Expert Guide to the MIT Sloan Short Answer Question
• A Guide to the Columbia Business School Essays (2023-2024)

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Essays help us learn about who you are rather than solely what you have done.

Other parts of the application give insight into your academic and professional accomplishments; the essays reveal the person behind those achievements.

Essay Questions

We request that you write two personal essays.

In each essay, we want to hear your genuine voice. Think carefully about your values, passions, aims, and dreams. There is no “right answer” to these questions - the best answer is the one that is truest for you.

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

For this essay, we would like you to reflect deeply and write from the heart. Once you’ve identified what matters most to you, help us understand why. You might consider, for example, what makes this so important to you? What people, insights, or experiences have shaped your perspectives?

Essay B: Why Stanford?

Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs.

Both essays combined may not exceed 1,050 words. We recommend up to 650 words for Essay A and up to 400 words for Essay B. We often read effective essays that are written in fewer words.

Editing Your Essays

Begin work on the essays early to give yourself time to reflect, write, and edit.

Feel free to ask friends or family members for feedback, especially about whether the tone and voice sound like you. Your family and friends know you better than anyone. If they think the essays do not capture who you are, what you believe, and what you aspire to do, then surely we will be unable to recognize what is distinctive about you.

Feedback vs. Coaching

There is a big difference between “feedback” and “coaching.” You cross that line when any part of the application (excluding the letters of recommendation ) ceases to be exclusively yours in either thought or word.

Appropriate feedback occurs when others review your completed application - perhaps once or twice - and apprise you of omissions, errors, or inaccuracies that you later correct or address. After editing is complete, your thoughts, voice, and style remain intact. Inappropriate coaching occurs when you allow others to craft any part of your application for you and, as a result, your application or self-presentation is not authentic.

It is improper and a violation of the terms of this application process to have someone else write your essays. Such behavior will result in denial of your application or revocation of your admission.

Additional Information

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 your candidacy, including academic, work, or test-taking experiences
• Academic experience (e.g., independent research) not noted elsewhere

This section should not be used as an additional essay.

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Five Reasons to Write an MBA Optional Essay

April 17, 2024

Jeremy Shinewald

As you are working on your MBA applications, you will inevitably come across an opportunity to write an optional essay. Virtually every application has one. But do you need to write an optional essay? What exactly is it for? And who should use it?

Most business schools offer the optional essay as a space where you can proactively address weaknesses in your profile or preemptively answer any questions you feel an admissions committee reader might have after they review the other parts of your application.

Here is what a sample optional essay prompt looks like:

If needed, use this section to briefly describe any extenuating circumstances, unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, etc. or if you wish to provide further information or additional context around your application to the admissions committee, please upload a brief explanation of any areas of concern in your academic history or personal history.

Usually, you can tell from the wording of these prompts that the admissions committee does not expect every applicant to use the space. For example, this prompt begins by specifying “if needed.” You should really only take advantage of the optional essay or the “additional information” text box if you feel you have something that is critical to explain or address.

We have identified five scenarios in which you should definitely consider writing an optional essay. These are not the only reasons you might submit such an essay, but if any of these resonate with you, we strongly urge you to take this opportunity to clarify your circumstances for the admissions committee.

Reason 1: Poor academic performance

One of the topics we see MBA applicants address in the optional essay most frequently is a weakness in their past academic performance. If you feel that your academic record is not as strong as it should be for your target program, then proactively discussing this potential concern or weakness in the optional space can be beneficial. For example, you might have a low overall GPA, or your grades dipped substantially during a particular semester, or you have a few specific failing grades, an academic probation, a number of dropped or incomplete classes, a change of major in the middle of your degree, or some other aberration on your transcript.

You might be wondering why you would draw the admissions committee’s attention to your academic weakness this way. Be aware that the committee is going to see and notice everything in your profile, and they will note any shortcomings on your transcript whether you mention them or not. The schools always look closely at applicants’ academic records, because they want to know that the candidates will be able to successfully manage the MBA coursework. If your academic background includes anything that might call your abilities into question, you want to take control of that narrative and reassure the admissions committee, rather than leaving them to guess or wonder. You want to offer the necessary information that will enable them to either view your challenges in the most positive light possible or understand how you have overcome them. Simply put, you cannot hide your weaknesses. So you should use the optional space to explain anything problematic from your past and/or to reassure the admissions committee about your future academic potential. 

So, how should you address these issues? First, explain and acknowledge the weakness in a straightforward manner. Provide any additional context, as needed, and of course, be honest. If you had a personal situation that negatively affected your academic performance, such as an illness, a family problem, or financial challenges that required you to work a full-time job while you were studying—whatever the issue might have been—spell out the situation clearly yet briefly.

Second, take responsibility for any factors over which you had control but perhaps did not manage in an ideal manner—for example, you might have struggled in your transition to college life or engaged in behavior you are not proud of. Third, if applicable, make the case for how you have grown and changed since that time and why you are prepared for the academic challenge of business school now. 

Reason 2: Gaps in your resume or transcript

Admissions committees will pick up on any notable gaps on your resume or academic transcript. Perhaps you were laid off or fired from one of your prior roles. Or perhaps you had a personal health or family issue you were dealing with during that time off. The admissions reader will not know what your situation was unless you share it with them.

Many MBA applications specifically ask whether you have any gaps of a certain length, typically, three months or more. If you feel you can offer a sufficient explanation in the space provided in the application, you probably do not need to use the optional essay space, but if you have a gap that could use some clarification, and the application does not offer a dedicated space in which to do so, you can submit an optional essay that addresses the issue.

Reason 3: Disciplinary or criminal issue

Again, you will not be able to hide a problematic issue from the admissions committee. Even if a certain matter is not apparent anywhere in your application, if you are offered admission to a school, they will conduct a background check, and this could uncover anything you might have hoped to keep quiet. Rather than letting the admissions committee wonder about the details of a situation—or worse, make up their own theories—the best thing you can do is offer clarification yourself. Use the optional essay to help them fully understand what you dealt with, what you learned from the incident, and, most importantly, how you have changed since that time. Explain the occurrence succinctly. Take responsibility for your actions, and demonstrate your subsequent growth. We have seen numerous clients overcome these kinds of situations and get accepted to business school—including an applicant who had been charged with drunk driving and got into the Stanford Graduate School of Business. 

Reason 4: Lower than average test scores

Another common weakness that applicants address in the optional space is a lower than average test score that they do not feel is indicative of their potential academic performance in business school. However, be aware that simply acknowledging your lower test score in the optional space does not mean that the admissions committee will overlook it or give you a pass. If your score is lower than the program’s average, it will still be a weakness in your application that you will need to mitigate in some way.

That said, if you feel that your score does not reflect your true academic ability, you can use the optional essay to highlight other evidence of your quantitative, analytical, data interpretation, verbal, and/or communication skills. Schools will be particularly interested to see that you have demonstrated quantitative ability somewhere in your past, given that MBA programs are inherently quantitative.

If you have a low Quant score on your GMAT or GRE, for example, the admissions committee will definitely want to see your quant skills evidenced elsewhere. Maybe in your professional life, you regularly perform quantitative analysis, create financial models, or do extensive analytical problem-solving. You can point this out in the optional space. Also, spotlight any certifications you have earned that are quantitative in nature, such as the CFA Charter or the CPA; these can serve as additional evidence of your ability to handle the rigors of business school.

Reason 5: Choice of recommender

Applicants also commonly use the optional essay to explain why their current supervisor is not providing a recommendation for them, especially if the school’s application instructions note that a letter from one’s supervisor is preferred. You would therefore need to explain why you did not choose this individual as your recommender. This is actually relatively common. For example, you might not want to disclose yet that you plan to go to business school, because doing so could negatively affect your chances for a promotion or bonus. Or perhaps you have not worked under the supervisor for very long, so they would not be able to speak to your abilities and past achievements. Simply explain the situation briefly and clearly.

Be aware that many applications actually include a short-answer question that specifically asks you to comment if you have not asked your supervisor to recommend you. So, before you move forward with writing an essay about the situation, review your target school’s application thoroughly to see whether it includes such a question. If so, go ahead and use that space instead. 

Optional essay tips

When providing an explanation in an optional essay or additional information text box, keep your submission brief, take responsibility for your actions (if needed), and demonstrate growth, when applicable. Do not waste an admissions reader’s time with long-winded storytelling. And remember that this is optional . Not submitting an optional essay or leaving an additional information box blank will not be detrimental to your candidacy if you have nothing in your profile that warrants clarification. So unless you indeed have something problematic to address, do not use the space at all.

If you are not sure whether your specific situation merits an optional essay or any other form of additional explanation, feel free to reach out to our experienced MBA admissions consultants for advice. We offer complimentary 30-minute consultation calls across many time zones, and we would be happy to discuss your personal situation and ideal plan of attack. Also, download a copy of our free Optional Essays Guide for even more tips and examples.

Tags: optional essay

Upcoming Events

• Apr 25, 2024 Assessing Your MBA Profile (Online)
• May 19, 2024 Admissions Q&A with Booth, Fuqua, Sloan, Tuck & Yale (Online)

Upcoming Deadlines

• Apr 12, 2024 UCLA Anderson (Round 3)
• Apr 15, 2024 USC Marshall (Round 3)
• Apr 29, 2024 Toronto Rotman (Round 4)
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• Apr 30, 2024 Georgetown McDonough (Round 4)

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2023–2024 MBA Essay Tips

• Berkeley Haas School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• BU Questrom School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Cambridge Judge Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Chicago Booth School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Columbia Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management Essay and Examples
• Dartmouth Tuck School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Duke Fuqua School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Emory Goizueta Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• Esade Essay Tips and Examples
• Georgetown McDonough School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Harvard Business School 2+2 Deferred MBA Program Essay Analysis 2024
• Harvard Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• HEC Paris Essay Tips and Examples
• HKUST Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• IE Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• IESE Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• INSEAD Essay Tips and Examples
• International Institute for Management Development (IMD) Essay Tips and Examples
• Ivey Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• London Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• Michigan Ross School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• MIT Sloan School of Management Essay Tips and Examples
• Northwestern Kellogg School of Management Essay Tips and Examples
• Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• NYU Stern School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Ohio Fisher College of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Oxford Saïd Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• SMU Cox School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Stanford Graduate School of Business Application Essay Tips and Examples
• Texas McCombs School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management Essay Tips and Examples
• The Wharton School Essay Tips and Examples
• Toronto Rotman School of Management Essay Tips and Examples
• UCLA Anderson School of Management Essay Tips and Examples
• UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• USC Marshall School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• UVA Darden School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• UW Foster School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management Essay Analysis, 2023–2024
• Villanova School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Yale School of Management Essay Tips and Examples

Click here for the 2022–2023 MBA Essay Tips

MBA Program Updates

• Berkeley-Haas
• Boston University (Questrom)
• Cambridge Judge Business School
• Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper)
• Columbia University (Columbia Business School)
• Consortium for Graduate Study in Management
• Cornell University (Johnson)
• Dartmouth College (Tuck)
• Duke University (Fuqua)
• Emory University (Goizueta)
• George Washington University (GWSB)
• Georgetown University (McDonough)
• Harvard University (Harvard Business School)
• IE Business School
• IESE Business School
• Indian School of Business
• Indiana University (Kelley)
• Ivey Business School
• London Business School
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)
• New York University (Stern)
• Northwestern University (Kellogg)
• Notre Dame (Mendoza)
• Ohio State University (Fisher College)
• Oxford University (Saïd Business School)
• Penn State Smeal College of Business
• Rotman School of Management
• Saïd Business School
• Southern Methodist University (Cox School of Business)
• Stanford University (Stanford Graduate School of Business)
• University of California Los Angeles (Anderson)
• University of Cambridge (Judge)
• University of Chicago (Booth)
• University of London (London Business School)
• University of Michigan (Ross)
• University of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)
• University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
• University of Southern California (Marshall)
• University of Texas at Austin (McCombs)
• University of Virginia (Darden)
• Vanderbilt University (Owen)
• Villanova School of Business
• Yale University (School of Management)

The main problems with creating a college essay

Let’s face it: creating a great essay is the most stressful part in the lives of future college students. There are just so many things at stake. As the burden of making an outstanding narrative summariz-ing your experience in several passages keeps growing, you can’t help but think “Can someone write my paper?”.

Yes, it’s more than possible and quite affordable. As you ask the experts to do the “dirty” job, you can benefit from it in many ways.

Here’s the main pain points you can avoid if assigning the task to professionals:

• grammar and spelling mistakes
• wrong choice of words
• poorly expressed thoughts
• incorrect length
• improper structure

As a newbie, there are potentially thousands of mistakes you can make. If you don’t have a personal counselor, it’s better not to waste time on fruitless attempts to impress the admission committee. Why? Because there’s something else you can do.

Finding the best essay writing help

Just when you decide that you need this kind of assistance with your admission paper, the Internet will be generously offering you advertisements with essay writing services. Are they any good?

Yes and no. The fact is all of them will help you with getting the paper but the quality of it may be poor. For example, it’s never been a secret that colleges value originality, strong personality, and a serious approach to studying. Nothing can show it better than an essay.

When looking for an essay rewriter, check his experience and education. On our website, only high-quality and reliable experts in different spheres are listed.

What does paper writing service actually do

When it comes to paper writing assistance, plenty of people mistakenly believe that they get a free ticket to college with essay writer help. It’s not exactly true. First of all, the committee will evaluate you as a sum of your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and personal traits and be-liefs. The latest should be reflected in your work.

The person who will be helping you to reach the minds of professors should create a well-thought piece of writing. He or she should also be fluent in English and have rich imagination to shape the thoughts and ideas into appealing sentences. Moreover, the entire work should be free from plagia-rism or borrowed thoughts.

This is what you get when hiring a pro-writer to do the most important paper in your life. Be sure to ask for no less.

Why hiring a pro-writer is better than making everything yourself

Just like you hire a plumber to fix the fixing sink, a professional writer with relevant experience and education will make your paper outstanding and memorable. As a result, you’ll save your time and nerves on the task. Another great advantage speaking in the favor of essay assistance is timing. For-get about deadlines and due time – with the pro service, the job will be done precisely when you need it.

Moreover, the knowledge of rewriter and his ability to give the members of the admission commit-tee exactly what they want (in terms of content, spelling, dividing the whole narrative into meaning-ful parts, etc) is far more superior as he or she is used to such kind of job. Why not benefit from someone’s experience?

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