Today marks the first application deadline for Cornell’s Johnson School. The Johnson School offers four different application rounds, with the second round slated for November 14 (see below). In keeping with our series of essay topic analyses, let’s take a closer look at the essays.
2007-2008 Cornell / Johnson Application Deadlines
Round 1
Deadline: October 10, 2007
Notification: December 7, 2007
Round 2
Deadline: November 14, 2007
Notification: January 11, 2008
Round 3
Deadline: January 9, 2008
Notification: March 5, 2008
Round 4
Deadline: March 19, 2008
Notification: April 30, 2008
2007-2008 Cornell / Johnson Essay Analysis
The format of the school’s questions, with just two pointed inquiries of only 400 words each, make this one shorter – and more challenging – than some of the other top programs’ applications. The relatively short format might be a welcome change for those applicants who are accustomed to composing 4-6 essays per school, but some will find it challenging to present a comprehensive and truly rounded picture of one’s candidacy. It is therefore important to approach these essays carefully and arrive at topics that are truly representative of your most important qualities.
Essay 1: Describe your greatest professional achievement 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 effect 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.
Essay 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 may need to provide a very brief overview of your career to date in addition to the requested information, so as to 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.
Optional Essay: 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.
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