Cornell / Johnson Essay Topic Analysis 2011-2012

As prospective students might have noticed when the Johnson School’s 2011-2012 application essay topics were announced last week, Cornell is shaking things up a bit this year.  The admissions committee has moved their goal-related prompt to the start of the set – a new place of prominence for this topic – and has eliminated altogether the “greatest professional achievement” question that had for years been a hallmark of the Johnson application.  Replacing it is a new question focused on future contribution rather than past accomplishment.  Finally, and likely to the chagrin of many an applicant, the school’s ever-tricky “life story table of contents” question returns for a fourth year running, appearing second (rather than third) on the list of essays for the first time this season.

Let’s take a closer look at each and consider some strategies for tackling this year’s Cornell application:

Essay 1: What career do you plan to pursue upon completion of an MBA degree and why? (400 words)
This is a fairly typical career goals essay.  Although Johnson has dropped the follow-up question – “How will the Johnson School help you achieve this goal?” – that appeared in this prompt last year, applicants would likely do well to understand this inquiry as implicit as they approach this response, including at least a few sentences on this subject. Economy of language will therefore be key here, as you may need to provide a brief overview of your career to date in order to establish a basis for your goals and to demonstrate that you would bring a valuable perspective to the MBA classroom. While it will make sense to touch upon prior work experience and to explain how a Johnson MBA will offer preparation for the future, it does remain that the candidate’s professional goals are the primary focus of this prompt.  With this in mind, be sure to provide a detailed treatment of the path you hope to take after completing business school, taking special care to address the “why” component of this question.

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.  Demonstrating an understanding of the unique merits of Johnson’s program will be crucial to an effective response to this question. Taking the time to learn about the school’s curriculum, special programs and extracurricular activities – whether through a visit to campus, conversation with alumni or reading the Clear Admit School Guide to the Johnson School at Cornell – will pay dividends here.

Essay 2: You are the author for the book of Your Life Story. Please write the table of contents for the book. Note: Approach this essay with your unique style. We value creativity and authenticity. (400 words)
This unusual prompt calls for a high-level and non-narrative overview of an applicant’s life to date. Internalizing the “Note” for this essay, applicants should understand that while the structure for this essay is set, there’s still a good deal of room for strategy and creativity: candidates are free to decide which eras or events to highlight, how to title each chapter, and so on. Though relying on a list format might be a viable approach, candidates will likely get more mileage out of this essay by structuring information in paragraphs or a series of sub-sections under broad chapter headings, offering a description of that “chapter” in your life and drawing out the important themes of the story. In addition, Johnson Director of Admissions Randall Sawyer suggested in an interview last season that applicants should feel free to abandon a written format altogether and express their Table of Contents through more artistic means, such as drawings, DVDs, and music. Regardless of the format you chose, make sure that it allows you to provide an authentic representation of yourself.

As for the content itself, the admissions committee is likely looking for a sense of each candidate’s background, as well as his or her trajectory and growth over time. Touch on those events and accomplishments that are most meaningful and important to you, highlighting the ones that have shaped your personal development. Remember, though, that this is a b-school application, so you will also want to share information that is relevant to your current work and your future objectives without too much repetition of points raised in your other essays. Overall, you want to make sure to highlight the unique aspects of your personality and candidacy, as doing so will allow you to stand out from others in the application pool.

Essay 3: What legacy would you hope to leave as a Johnson graduate? (200 words)
A new addition to the Cornell MBA application, this prompt asks applicants to go beyond their potential involvement in the school community and discuss some kind of lasting impact they’ll have on the program.  At its heart, this question invites applicants to reflect on the unique value they would bring to the Cornell community, as well as strategies for making that contribution endure even after their time on campus has ended.  This could take many forms, from an ambitious proposal to work with a faculty member to develop a new course or organize an annual conference in your area of expertise, to something as subtle as sharing your favorite recipe with Cookin’ the Books to be passed down to students for years to come.  Perhaps you’ll work with classmates to develop a study guide for a particularly challenging course, or a list of interviewing best practices to pass down to students who are seeking jobs in your field.

While starting a new student group is an easy way to leave a mark – and if you see a glaring hole in the roster of Johnson’s clubs, this could be a great place to begin – it’s not necessarily practical for every new student to start a new organization, and so we encourage you to think creatively about other ways you might leave a personal legacy on the program.  If you’re feeling stuck, begin by doing some research on the school’s initiatives and opportunities available to students.  The deeper your research into Johnson’s offerings, the more likely you’ll be to find an inspired way to make a lasting difference.