With Cornell’s unique five round system coming up on its third deadline at the beginning of next month, we thought we’d offer some tips on the Johnson School’s essay questions for applicants who’ve set their sights on programs with December deadlines.
General Thoughts
The greatest challenge with Cornell’s essays is the fact that applicants are essentially limited to only two required essays (at a mere 400 words each). While this may seem like a blessing to those of you who have had your fill of schools with 4-7 required essays, you may find it challenging to get your message across and share all of your attributes in such a short format. As such, it pays to approach these essays carefully.
1. What’s your greatest professional accomplishment and how you were able to add value to your organization? (400 words)
This is your fairly standard workplace achievement question. When selecting a topic, make sure that you are choosing a story that highlights your interpersonal skills and ability to work with others in addition to your capacity to affect positive change. Keep in mind that there are two main points you’ll need to cover: the impact you made on your organization, and the process by which you brought this about. It’s important that you provide quantifiable details and present the reader with a before and after picture in order to really illustrate the significance of your contribution. In addition to this, you’ll want to explain the thought process behind your approach and the steps you followed, as the explanation of your reasoning is really what’s going to show the adcom that you possess the skills and knowledge that would enable you to replicate this level of impact in another job and make a valuable contribution to the business school itself.
2. What career do you plan to pursue upon completing the MBA and why? How will the Johnson School help you achieve this goal? (400 words)
This typical career goals essay requests that you articulate your professional objectives and reasons for your interest in the school, and poses the added challenge of doing so in 400 words. Economy of language will be key here, as you’ll need to provide a very brief overview of your career to date in addition to the requested information, as this will hopefully establish a basis for your goals and demonstrate that you would bring a valuable perspective to the MBA classroom. There won’t be any room for a discussion of the general merits of a business education here – it will be crucial to include a significant amount of school-specific information to prove that you’ve done your homework on Cornell and are sincerely interested in the program.
3. Optional: Complete this essay if there is other information you would like to add regarding your candidacy. For instance, if you believe one or more aspects of your application (e.g., undergraduate GPA or test scores) do(es) not accurately reflect your potential for success at the Johnson School. (400 words)
This essay is set up as a place to address extenuating circumstances or issues with your application, but you might also consider including a brief comment on an important activity outside of work and suggesting that you would be an active member of the student community.
Contact Clear Admit to learn more about our counseling services for Cornell and other December/January MBA deadlines. You can set up a free initial chat with one of our admissions consultants by emailing your CV/resume to info@clearadmit.com.
