Darden’s application essay topics this year mark a rather large departure from those of the prior years. Last year, Darden posed rather narrow questions that seemed designed to force applicants to self-select and cultivate a certain type of community. Meanwhile, this year’s essays have swung back toward a more mainstream focus, making them somewhat easier to answer. Let’s take a closer look at each of these questions:
Essay 1: What pivotal choices have you made in your life that have influenced your decision to pursue an MBA? (500 words)
Whereas last year’s ‘why MBA’ question was framed in terms of what mattered most to them both professionally and personally, Darden has reworked this question to focus instead on specific, significant choices rather than enduring priorities. The fact that the prompt sets the applicant’s life as the scope indicates that the school still invites personal reflection, though the main focus should likely be on professional turning points, given the end result of seeking an MBA in pursuit of specific career goals. In approaching this question, you should thus think about the motivation behind your career goals and what has encouraged you to develop these objectives. The choices that you discuss should be ones that had, and continue to have, ramifications for your career development and growth.
Essay 2: From the following categories, describe the one that has taught you the most: a creative challenge, an ethical dilemma or an experience of failure. Why? (250 words)
Here, applicants have the opportunity to discuss leadership capacity within the context of confronting a creative challenge, professional and personal integrity in working through an ethical dilemma, or maturity and growth in overcoming a failure or a setback. The three options presented by this prompt allow applicants to draw on a wide range of situations and contexts in selecting a topic for this essay, though the rather narrow word limit will require that they pare whichever story they choose down to its core. In addition to simply sharing the relevant details of the story, candidates will need to discuss what they learned as a result and, ideally, also touch on how they have continued to draw upon these lessons since.
Essay 3: Describe how you are a fit with the case study method. (250 words)
Darden’s focus on the case method of instruction has long been one of the program’s major selling points, and in turn, the school is now asking applicants to sell the adcom on their preparedness for this unique classroom environment. In thinking about how to address this question, it might be fruitful to reflect on your leadership, teamwork, and general interactive approach. You will want to highlight examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your ability to think creatively, assert your opinion, reconcile differing points of view, and define and work towards goals. Of course, any firsthand knowledge of the case method gained through class visits or discussions with current or former Darden students would strengthen your case. Candidates may also wish to investigate the Clear Admit School Guide to Darden for further insight into the learning environment.
