Special Announcement: If you like our Write Like an Expert videos, don’t forget to check out our Navigating the MBA Admissions Process video course!

Special Announcement: If you like our Write Like an Expert videos, don’t forget to check out our Navigating the MBA Admissions Process video course!

1. Describe how your professional and personal experiences have led you to pursue an MBA at this time. Please share with us your short and long term goals and why the Texas MBA at McCombs is the program best positioned to help you achieve them. (Limit: 900 words) While most admissions committees are interested in the professional reasons behind applicants’ decisions to apply to business school and the motivations regarding timing, the fact that McCombs specifically asks about personal experiences shows that candidates will need to expand their essay to include non-professional experiences that have influenced their future goals.

One approach to this topic would be for candidates to summarize what they’ve done thus far in their career and personal life that have led them to define their career goals.  Then they can explain their future plans and demonstrate why an MBA is necessary to move forward. While that approach does place this question into the career goals essay category, it’s important to keep in mind that the McCombs adcom is most interested in the candidate’s assessment of their personal and professional experiences and the reasons that a turning point has been reached.  Therefore as you write about your professional and personal experiences, you should tie this discussion back to your greater professional goals.

Discussing how the Texas MBA fits into the picture will be key, and you can touch on how the McCombs program will provide you with the skill set necessary to begin reaching your objectives.  Taking the time to learn about the school’s special programs and extracurricular activities – whether through a visit to campus, conversation with alumni or reading the Clear Admit School Guide to McCombs School of Business – will pay dividends here. 2. At the McCombs School of Business, we are proud to have an active and diverse student community. What do you consider to be your personal strengths and how have you leveraged them in the past to enrich your work and non-work communities? (Limit: 500 words) Maintaining its position as an application essay for three years in a row, this prompt, which was altered slightly this year, signals the value that McCombs places on student contribution and involvement on campus.  This year, applicants are asked specifically to comment on how they have leveraged their personal strengths in the past to enrich the communities of which they are members.  A strong essay would be one that touches on several qualities . . . → Continue Reading]]> We wanted to take some time today to comment on the UT Austin – McCombs essay topics for the 2011-2012 admissions season, which differ slightly from last year’s three required questions.  The most conspicuous change this year is the removal of the leadership development essay.  Reflecting an emphasis on applicants who have contributed to their workplace and the community (and who will continue this level of personal engagement in an MBA program), UT Austin’s two questions focus on how candidates would enrich their environments through leadership commitment.

1. Describe how your professional and personal experiences have led you to pursue an MBA at this time. Please share with us your short and long term goals and why the Texas MBA at McCombs is the program best positioned to help you achieve them. (Limit: 900 words)
While most admissions committees are interested in the professional reasons behind applicants’ decisions to apply to business school and the motivations regarding timing, the fact that McCombs specifically asks about personal experiences shows that candidates will need to expand their essay to include non-professional experiences that have influenced their future goals.

One approach to this topic would be for candidates to summarize what they’ve done thus far in their career and personal life that have led them to define their career goals.  Then they can explain their future plans and demonstrate why an MBA is necessary to move forward. While that approach does place this question into the career goals essay category, it’s important to keep in mind that the McCombs adcom is most interested in the candidate’s assessment of their personal and professional experiences and the reasons that a turning point has been reached.  Therefore as you write about your professional and personal experiences, you should tie this discussion back to your greater professional goals.

Discussing how the Texas MBA fits into the picture will be key, and you can touch on how the McCombs program will provide you with the skill set necessary to begin reaching your objectives.  Taking the time to learn about the school’s special programs and extracurricular activities – whether through a visit to campus, conversation with alumni or reading the Clear Admit School Guide to McCombs School of Business – will pay dividends here.

2. At the McCombs School of Business, we are proud to have an active and diverse student community. What do you consider to be your personal strengths and how have you leveraged them in the past to enrich your work and non-work communities? (Limit: 500 words)
Maintaining its position as an application essay for three years in a row, this prompt, which was altered slightly this year, signals the value that McCombs places on student contribution and involvement on campus.  This year, applicants are asked specifically to comment on how they have leveraged their personal strengths in the past to enrich the communities of which they are members.  A strong essay would be one that touches on several qualities and involvements, illustrating a range of skills and their applicability to the MBA program.  That said, though this prompt invites a rather broad discussion, anecdotal evidence of your positive traits in action is essential.  For that reason, it will makes sense to hone in on 3 or 4 examples, linking each to some similar activity or contribution you could make to the classroom or an on-campus club.  Indicating what clubs, organizations, or programs you hope to participate in and how you will take on a leading role will go far in demonstrating your enthusiasm for and commitment to the program.

Essay 1: What are your short-term and long-term post-MBA goals? How will USC Marshall help you achieve these goals? If interested in a dual-degree program, please address in this essay. (750 words) This essay is similar to the career goals essay required by many of the top schools. Although Marshall does not specifically ask for 250 words each on three distinct topics (short-term goals, long-term goals, and what will enable applicants to achieve these goals), it would be prudent for candidates to maintain a balanced approach to answering this question.  Because Marshall does not specifically ask for a career history section, applicants should keep any description of their professional experience to a minimum, connecting it to their interest in and potential to achieve their goals.  Taking the time to learn about the school’s special programs and extracurricular activities – whether through a visit to campus, conversation with alumni or reading the Clear Admit School Guide to USC Marshall School of Business – will pay dividends here.

Essay 2: How will other USC Marshall MBA students benefit from your background, experience, leadership and teamwork skills? (500 words) Although many applicants end their career goals essay discussing the contributions they would make to a school’s program, USC Marshall’s new second essay question specifically asks candidates to address the ways in which they can give back to the school.  This prompt is fairly broad, but applicants should remember to select unique information about their backgrounds, experiences, leadership and teamwork skills to help them stand out to the adcom.  Rather than simply addressing how they will contribute to courses, applicants should think of other avenues through which their skills and past experiences would allow them to benefit their fellow students at USC Marshall, i.e. clubs, programs.  In such a short essay, it’s probably best to focus your discussion to two or three topics.  The emphasis on leadership and teamwork indicates that candidates focus their essay on benefiting other students through collaboration and effective leadership.

Essay 3: Select three from the following and describe: (250 words each) a) A challenging international experience b) A personal or professional setback c) An entrepreneur you admire d) Your family, including any ties to USC e) Your most significant accomplishment f) A situation where your professional ethics were challenged Candidates have a wide range of topics they could consider discussing in response to this essay.  Applicants should make sure to use both work and personal experiences in responding to these three prompts, as doing so will provide a well-rounded picture of their candidacy. Because of the limited word-count for this essay, economy of words will be key; applicants will likely want to . . . → Continue Reading]]> USC Marshall’s essay topics remain the same as those posed to applicants for the past several years, demonstrating the school’s continued interest in applicants’ contributions to their communities, international experiences, and personal growth.  Let’s take a look at the questions asked for USC for the 2011-2012 application season:

Essay 1: What are your short-term and long-term post-MBA goals? How will USC Marshall help you achieve these goals? If interested in a dual-degree program, please address in this essay. (750 words)
This essay is similar to the career goals essay required by many of the top schools. Although Marshall does not specifically ask for 250 words each on three distinct topics (short-term goals, long-term goals, and what will enable applicants to achieve these goals), it would be prudent for candidates to maintain a balanced approach to answering this question.  Because Marshall does not specifically ask for a career history section, applicants should keep any description of their professional experience to a minimum, connecting it to their interest in and potential to achieve their goals.  Taking the time to learn about the school’s special programs and extracurricular activities – whether through a visit to campus, conversation with alumni or reading the Clear Admit School Guide to USC Marshall School of Business – will pay dividends here.

Essay 2: How will other USC Marshall MBA students benefit from your background, experience, leadership and teamwork skills? (500 words)
Although many applicants end their career goals essay discussing the contributions they would make to a school’s program, USC Marshall’s new second essay question specifically asks candidates to address the ways in which they can give back to the school.  This prompt is fairly broad, but applicants should remember to select unique information about their backgrounds, experiences, leadership and teamwork skills to help them stand out to the adcom.  Rather than simply addressing how they will contribute to courses, applicants should think of other avenues through which their skills and past experiences would allow them to benefit their fellow students at USC Marshall, i.e. clubs, programs.  In such a short essay, it’s probably best to focus your discussion to two or three topics.  The emphasis on leadership and teamwork indicates that candidates focus their essay on benefiting other students through collaboration and effective leadership.

Essay 3: Select three from the following and describe: (250 words each)
a) A challenging international experience
b) A personal or professional setback
c) An entrepreneur you admire
d) Your family, including any ties to USC
e) Your most significant accomplishment
f) A situation where your professional ethics were challenged
Candidates have a wide range of topics they could consider discussing in response to this essay.  Applicants should make sure to use both work and personal experiences in responding to these three prompts, as doing so will provide a well-rounded picture of their candidacy. Because of the limited word-count for this essay, economy of words will be key; applicants will likely want to state their topic and move right into an illustrative anecdote.  Candidates with family connections to USC should feel comfortable mentioning the relationship in this essay through selecting option d.

Question 1 (500 words) Please discuss your career progress to date and explain why now is the right time to undertake an MBA at London Business School?

Question 2 (300 words) Where do you see your career progressing five years after graduation and what is your longer term career vision? LBS has reverted back to the approach that it used during  the 2009-2010 admissions season and has broken down the typical career goals essay into two discrete inquiries. This format clearly underlines the importance of having both a short- and long-term career plan in the MBA admissions process. Though the compartmentalization of an applicant’s work experience to date and long term discussion might make it a bit more difficult to adapt content written for applications to other schools, it does signal the extent to which the adcom wants to hear about each of the topics raised. Developing one’s long-term vision discussion over 300 words could be a great opportunity for applicants who often cover this topic in a single sentence to meet the word limit in their essays for other schools. The first question also incorporates a “why now?” query, prompting candidates to explicitly justify the timing of their applications given the current stage of their careers.

Question 3 (250 words) Give a specific example of when you have had to test your leadership and team working skills. Given this experience what role will you play in a first year study group? Based on this recycled prompt from last year, applicants should discuss an experience in which they faced challenges to their leadership and teamwork skills, such as a time when a team member refused to get on board with a group plan.  After clearly outlining the situation, it’s crucial that applicants explain how they persevered through the challenge, as doing so shows one’s maturity and ability to overcome obstacles.  It would therefore make sense to end this essay by explaining the strategies you’ve subsequently developed to navigate difficult situations, and explain how you can apply these processes to future work at LBS.  Note that the question about LBS study groups offers applicants a great chance to showcase their familiarity with the program and prove that they’ve done their homework, as . . . → Continue Reading]]> Although three of London Business School’s essay topics are unchanged from the prompts on last year’s application, the school has reintroduced two new essay topics regarding an applicant’s career to date and career vision that are variations of the 2009-2010 essay questions.  These revised career-focused essay questions  indicate the school’s emphasis an applicant’s broader long-term vision and the timing of the MBA.  In addition, more than most programs, LBS asks applicants to share specific details of their future involvement on campus and contribution to the community.  From this, one can extrapolate and assume that LBS is interested in candidates who’ve spoken to students and learned a good deal about the program to better understand how and where they might fit.

Question 1 (500 words)
Please discuss your career progress to date and explain why now is the right time to undertake an MBA at London Business School?

Question 2 (300 words)
Where do you see your career progressing five years after graduation and what is your longer term career vision?
LBS has reverted back to the approach that it used during  the 2009-2010 admissions season and has broken down the typical career goals essay into two discrete inquiries. This format clearly underlines the importance of having both a short- and long-term career plan in the MBA admissions process. Though the compartmentalization of an applicant’s work experience to date and long term discussion might make it a bit more difficult to adapt content written for applications to other schools, it does signal the extent to which the adcom wants to hear about each of the topics raised. Developing one’s long-term vision discussion over 300 words could be a great opportunity for applicants who often cover this topic in a single sentence to meet the word limit in their essays for other schools. The first question also incorporates a “why now?” query, prompting candidates to explicitly justify the timing of their applications given the current stage of their careers.

Question 3 (250 words)
Give a specific example of when you have had to test your leadership and team working skills. Given this experience what role will you play in a first year study group?
Based on this recycled prompt from last year, applicants should discuss an experience in which they faced challenges to their leadership and teamwork skills, such as a time when a team member refused to get on board with a group plan.  After clearly outlining the situation, it’s crucial that applicants explain how they persevered through the challenge, as doing so shows one’s maturity and ability to overcome obstacles.  It would therefore make sense to end this essay by explaining the strategies you’ve subsequently developed to navigate difficult situations, and explain how you can apply these processes to future work at LBS.  Note that the question about LBS study groups offers applicants a great chance to showcase their familiarity with the program and prove that they’ve done their homework, as well as demonstrate that they’ve thought through the contribution they would make and the strengths they could bring to the program.  With only 250 words allotted for this essay, applicants will need to be highly efficient with their writing to ensure that they can respond to each component of the prompt.

Question 4 (300 words)
Student involvement is an extremely important part of the London Business School MBA experience and this is reflected in the character of students on campus. Please describe how you will contribute to student clubs and the community and why?
This question, which appeared as the third essay topic on the 2010-2011 application, asks candidates to broadly discuss the clubs and events in which they would like to participate. This framing gives candidates a wide berth to discuss how their interests and experiences to date would translate to contributions on several fronts. As with any essay of this sort, it would be ideal to link the clubs and events you cite to established interests or elements of your career goals, as these will help the admissions committee readily see how you are poised to make a contribution. Taking the time to learn about the school’s special programs and extracurricular activities – whether through a visit to campus, conversation with alumni or reading the Clear Admit School Guide to London Business School – will pay dividends here.

Question 5 (250 words)
London Business School offers a truly global and diverse experience. Describe any significant experiences outside of your home country or culture. What did you gain and how will your experience contribute to London Business School?
Previously the fourth prompt on last year’s application, this question allows applicants the opportunity to showcase their international experience, both professionally and personally, and is designed to gauge the applicant’s ability to navigate unfamiliar terrain and resolve cross-cultural issues.  In order to answer both components of this question, we suggest that applications quickly outline important experience abroad, and then focus on providing detail about the lessons and skills gained from these situations, as well as how the experiences would help the applicant benefit from and contribute to LBS.  Based on the first sentence of this prompt, it will be important for applicants to show that not only can they contribute to the diversity at LBS, but also that they will thrive as a member of the diverse student body.

Question 6 (250 words)
Considering what you have already included in the application, what else would you like to tell us about yourself?  You can approach this question however you like.
This question leaves the door open for a wide range of examples.  One’s choice of topic here will likely depend on what has been covered elsewhere in the application up to this point.  No matter what topic one chooses to write about, applicants should keep the discussion focused on their actions and impact in the situation.  This is an ideal opportunity to add color and personality to an  application.

Let’s consider each of the school’s questions for this year:

Essay 1: Share your perspective on leadership in the workplace and describe how it has been shaped by the increasing influence of globalization. (500 words) New to Darden’s application, but similar to last year’s second topic, this essay gives applicants the opportunity to discuss their perspective on leadership and to offer their thoughts how globalization has shaped this perception.  It’s important that applicants follow Darden’s instructions and include their general observations on leadership as well as a detailed discussion of the influence of globalization on how they view leadership in the workplace.

Ideally, applicants will use an example from the workplace that highlights them in a leading and active role to explain the origin of their perspective on leadership.  As there isn’t much space for elaborating on one’s professional experience and achievements in other essay questions, it’s crucial to take full advantage of this chance to do so.  No matter how you choose to frame how globalization has affected your perception of leadership, the admissions committee is looking for applicants who are clearly attuned to current realities, have thoughtful ideas about leadership, can adapt to changing circumstances, and are prepared for increasingly global management positions down the road.

Personal Information Essay: At Darden, a core part of your academic experience is your participation in and contributions to your learning team. What will you contribute to your team? (150 words) This straightforward question presents an opportunity for applicants to highlight their team work skills, strengths, personality and general interests to the admissions committee.  Keep in mind that this question also offers applicants a great chance to showcase their familiarity with the Darden program and prove that they’ve done their homework, as well as demonstrate that they’ve thought through the contribution they would make and the strengths they could bring to the program.  With only 150 words allotted for this essay, applicants will need to be highly efficient with their writing.

Employment History Essay: If you were on an elevator with your dream company CEO or angel investor, what would you tell him/her about your professional ambitions and goals? (150 words) Rather than have a full-length essay devoted to an applicant’s career plans, Darden has framed the typical career goals essay as an elevator pitch.  With only 150 words at the applicant’s disposal, it is imperative that one present a clear and . . . → Continue Reading]]> UVA Darden’s MBA application essay questions for the 2011-2012 season are brand new for this year, with a greater focus on leadership in an increasingly global world.  Requiring three essays with an allowance of just 150 words for the shorter two prompts found in the personal information and employment history sections of the application, UVA’s application is now one of the shortest  among leading business schools.  Of course, “shorter” doesn’t translate to “easier;” less room to comment on one’s background forces candidates to think carefully and strategically as they decide which aspects of their experiences to highlight.

Let’s consider each of the school’s questions for this year:

Essay 1: Share your perspective on leadership in the workplace and describe how it has been shaped by the increasing influence of globalization. (500 words)
New to Darden’s application, but similar to last year’s second topic, this essay gives applicants the opportunity to discuss their perspective on leadership and to offer their thoughts how globalization has shaped this perception.  It’s important that applicants follow Darden’s instructions and include their general observations on leadership as well as a detailed discussion of the influence of globalization on how they view leadership in the workplace.

Ideally, applicants will use an example from the workplace that highlights them in a leading and active role to explain the origin of their perspective on leadership.  As there isn’t much space for elaborating on one’s professional experience and achievements in other essay questions, it’s crucial to take full advantage of this chance to do so.  No matter how you choose to frame how globalization has affected your perception of leadership, the admissions committee is looking for applicants who are clearly attuned to current realities, have thoughtful ideas about leadership, can adapt to changing circumstances, and are prepared for increasingly global management positions down the road.

Personal Information Essay: At Darden, a core part of your academic experience is your participation in and contributions to your learning team. What will you contribute to your team? (150 words)
This straightforward question presents an opportunity for applicants to highlight their team work skills, strengths, personality and general interests to the admissions committee.  Keep in mind that this question also offers applicants a great chance to showcase their familiarity with the Darden program and prove that they’ve done their homework, as well as demonstrate that they’ve thought through the contribution they would make and the strengths they could bring to the program.  With only 150 words allotted for this essay, applicants will need to be highly efficient with their writing.

Employment History Essay: If you were on an elevator with your dream company CEO or angel investor, what would you tell him/her about your professional ambitions and goals? (150 words)
Rather than have a full-length essay devoted to an applicant’s career plans, Darden has framed the typical career goals essay as an elevator pitch.  With only 150 words at the applicant’s disposal, it is imperative that one present a clear and concise statement of his or her career goals. Given the restrictive word limit and that the essay should address a CEO or angel investor, it is not prudent to include one’s reasons for applying to Darden in the pitch.   

Essay 1: Explain why you chose your current job. How do you hope to see your career developing over the next five years? How will an MBA assist you in the development of these ambitions? (750 word maximum) This prompt requests a fairly standard career goals essay, and thus the general advice we’ve offered in the past on how to tackle this sort of question applies here. The Oxford adcom looks for applicants who offer fully defined long- and short-term career goals, sound reasons for pursuing an MBA at this time, a well-informed rationale for their interest in SBS and specific plans to contribute to the campus community if they are admitted. Note that Oxford specifically asks applicants to explain why they chose their current jobs and to discuss their five-year career plans; while it is certainly fine to look beyond this second part of the prompt to explore longer-term objectives as well, it is at minimum essential to explore one’s next five years in depth.

The key to successfully tackling each of these components is specificity. In presenting their goals and explaining their motivation for seeking an MBA, it is crucial for applicants to present well-defined and feasible short-term and long-term career objectives, specifying the job title they hope to hold in their target industry and commenting on what they hope to accomplish in their target positions. In most situations, a career goals essay is more compelling when it includes a brief but coherent career history that summarizes the applicant’s work to date, revealing the continuity between one’s previous professional experiences and goals for the future.

Essay 2: Which recent development, world event or book has most influenced your thinking and why? (1,000 word maximum) This question, which covers the full range of global current events, literature and topics both factual and fictional, is about as broad as they come. The rather high word limit makes responding to the question all the more challenging, as many applicants find it difficult to sustain a coherent and relevant discussion over 1,000 words. In selecting a topic, think carefully about what your event or book selection will tell the reader about your concerns and priorities, ideally selecting a subject that meshes well with the positioning you established in Essay 1. In terms of structuring the discussion, it might be helpful to think about ways in which this book, development or event has influenced your subsequent actions as well as your thinking; this could provide a way to introduce a fair amount of information about . . . → Continue Reading]]> The school’s essay topics remain unchanged this year with the word limits still hovering at 1,750 words in total. The SBS application presents a unique challenge to applicants, who need to be able to share important and relevant information about their candidacies while consistently staying on topic throughout. For this reason, careful reflection and outlining is even more important when approaching this sort of application than one with a long series of shorter answers.

Essay 1: Explain why you chose your current job. How do you hope to see your career developing over the next five years? How will an MBA assist you in the development of these ambitions? (750 word maximum)
This prompt requests a fairly standard career goals essay, and thus the general advice we’ve offered in the past on how to tackle this sort of question applies here. The Oxford adcom looks for applicants who offer fully defined long- and short-term career goals, sound reasons for pursuing an MBA at this time, a well-informed rationale for their interest in SBS and specific plans to contribute to the campus community if they are admitted. Note that Oxford specifically asks applicants to explain why they chose their current jobs and to discuss their five-year career plans; while it is certainly fine to look beyond this second part of the prompt to explore longer-term objectives as well, it is at minimum essential to explore one’s next five years in depth.

The key to successfully tackling each of these components is specificity. In presenting their goals and explaining their motivation for seeking an MBA, it is crucial for applicants to present well-defined and feasible short-term and long-term career objectives, specifying the job title they hope to hold in their target industry and commenting on what they hope to accomplish in their target positions. In most situations, a career goals essay is more compelling when it includes a brief but coherent career history that summarizes the applicant’s work to date, revealing the continuity between one’s previous professional experiences and goals for the future.

Essay 2: Which recent development, world event or book has most influenced your thinking and why? (1,000 word maximum)
This question, which covers the full range of global current events, literature and topics both factual and fictional, is about as broad as they come. The rather high word limit makes responding to the question all the more challenging, as many applicants find it difficult to sustain a coherent and relevant discussion over 1,000 words. In selecting a topic, think carefully about what your event or book selection will tell the reader about your concerns and priorities, ideally selecting a subject that meshes well with the positioning you established in Essay 1. In terms of structuring the discussion, it might be helpful to think about ways in which this book, development or event has influenced your subsequent actions as well as your thinking; this could provide a way to introduce a fair amount of information about your past experiences and your candidacy in general while still sticking to the topic.

For more guidance on how best to present yourself to Oxford, please reference our guide, the Clear Admit School Guide: Saïd Business School, or  send us your resume or CV to info@clearadmit.com for a free initial assessment.

In the process of preparing for this task, applicants may want to consider Anderson’s preamble to this season’s essay set:

We are interested in getting to know applicants on both a professional and personal level. We encourage you to be introspective, genuine, and succinct. Remember that we are more concerned with the content of your essays than their form or style.

By explicitly stating that they value content over delivery, UCLA suggests that they want applicants to focus on thoroughly answering the questions rather than sacrificing detail in order to find a creative method of expression.  Based on these instructions, candidates should also ensure that in describing their past experiences and future plans, they provide a mature and accurate portrait of themselves.

Let’s take a closer look at each of the school’s required responses:

Essay 1: What events or people have had the greatest influence in shaping your character and why? (750 words maximum) Returning for a second consecutive year, this prompt centers on the events or people that have played a major role in shaping the applicant’s character. While the experiences you share will ultimately be a large part of your response, the first real task presented by this essay will be to clearly define your character to the admissions committee. What aspects of your personality, values, and personal principles most central to who you are? Once you arrive at a set of core beliefs and/or traits, take some time to reflect on some meaningful experiences through which you arrived at these. The topics you select could be drawn from childhood or adult life; from the professional or personal realms. For example, perhaps a growing up in difficult socio-economic circumstances developed your work ethic, or working abroad has made you an open-minded and adaptable person. In responding to this essay, applicants should also ensure that they depict themselves as self-aware and introspective, as this is integral to responding to the “why” component of the prompt as well as satisfying the preamble’s requirements.

Essay 2: What are your short-term and long-term career goals, and how will an MBA from UCLA Anderson specifically help you achieve these goals? (750 words maximum) This is a fairly standard career goals essay. While it’s important to provide a candid account of your professional objectives and interest in Anderson’s program, remember that a compelling set of essays will complement each other, and thus the way in which you describe your character in the first essay should correspond to the . . . → Continue Reading]]> UCLA’s essay topics for the 2011-2012 admissions season are quite similar to last year’s, in terms of the content of the school’s two required essays.  Meanwhile, the program has eliminated an optional response inviting applicants to share something about themselves that others might find surprising, meaning that most candidates will have just 1,500 words to work with this year in presenting their candidacies to the admissions committee.

In the process of preparing for this task, applicants may want to consider Anderson’s preamble to this season’s essay set:

We are interested in getting to know applicants on both a professional and personal level. We encourage you to be introspective, genuine, and succinct. Remember that we are more concerned with the content of your essays than their form or style.

By explicitly stating that they value content over delivery, UCLA suggests that they want applicants to focus on thoroughly answering the questions rather than sacrificing detail in order to find a creative method of expression.  Based on these instructions, candidates should also ensure that in describing their past experiences and future plans, they provide a mature and accurate portrait of themselves.

Let’s take a closer look at each of the school’s required responses:

Essay 1: What events or people have had the greatest influence in shaping your character and why? (750 words maximum)
Returning for a second consecutive year, this prompt centers on the events or people that have played a major role in shaping the applicant’s character. While the experiences you share will ultimately be a large part of your response, the first real task presented by this essay will be to clearly define your character to the admissions committee. What aspects of your personality, values, and personal principles most central to who you are? Once you arrive at a set of core beliefs and/or traits, take some time to reflect on some meaningful experiences through which you arrived at these. The topics you select could be drawn from childhood or adult life; from the professional or personal realms. For example, perhaps a growing up in difficult socio-economic circumstances developed your work ethic, or working abroad has made you an open-minded and adaptable person. In responding to this essay, applicants should also ensure that they depict themselves as self-aware and introspective, as this is integral to responding to the “why” component of the prompt as well as satisfying the preamble’s requirements.

Essay 2: What are your short-term and long-term career goals, and how will an MBA from UCLA Anderson specifically help you achieve these goals? (750 words maximum)
This is a fairly standard career goals essay. While it’s important to provide a candid account of your professional objectives and interest in Anderson’s program, remember that a compelling set of essays will complement each other, and thus the way in which you describe your character in the first essay should correspond to the goals you have set for yourself in the future. For example, an applicant who discusses his or her commitment to social justice or poverty alleviation in the first essay would support this argument by unveiling his or her plans to join the World Bank after business school or start an NGO focused on a mission in line with these values.

The second part of the question, meanwhile, focuses on the ways that UCLA’s MBA program will satisfy one’s learning objectives and advance the applicant toward his or her stated professional goals.  In order to tailor your response to Anderson’s unique merits and offerings, you will need to be able to identify certain programs and courses that are relevant to your goals and stated interests. 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 Anderson School of Management – will pay dividends here.

One final thing to note is that MIT once again requests that applicants select experiences or events from the past three years.  While it’s possible that there is some flexibility to draw essay subject matter from early experiences if the subject matter is very compelling, it would be prudent to showcase experiences from the past three years in as many essays as possible.

Cover Letter: Prepare a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA Program. Describe your accomplishments and include an example of how you had an impact on a group or organization. Your letter should conform to standard business correspondence and be addressed to Mr. Rod Garcia, Director of MBA Admissions. (500 words or fewer) Rod Garcia has long likened the MBA application process to the recruiting process; MBA aspirants, just like job applicants, need to demonstrate that they know how to market themselves. This is why the school requires a cover letter as part of their application.

As you approach this assignment, keep in mind that many of the standard cover letter themes need to be discussed – your attributes and skills, why you are interested in joining the ‘company’ (MIT/Sloan), and what you feel you could contribute. These certainly intersect with the ideas covered by other schools’ “career goals” essays, so much so that it may be tempting to simply tack a greeting onto the beginning of a career goals essay you’ve prepared for another program. MIT’s request for these ideas in cover letter format, however, actually makes it very easy to spot recycled material, so it’s important that you tailor your response to the school’s unique process. A potential outline for this essay might open with a ‘greeting’ to the committee followed by a statement of your interest in MIT and what you would bring to the school, then a short statement of your career goals with a summary of the ways in which your experience to date has prepared you, then a “why . . . → Continue Reading]]> Now that MIT Sloan has released its 2011-2012 essay questions, we’d like to take some time to offer some advice on how to best approach these questions.  With just one essay changing from last year’s set , this season’s batch of essay prompts reflects an emphasis on proactiveness, encouraging applicants to reflect upon how they have taken charge and led others to achieve some objective.  As has been the case in prior years, the essay questions are open in terms of the nature of the examples an applicant can use – work, current activities and even appropriate personal stories are fair game here.  In answering the questions, applicants should provide a complete and chronological narrative that touches on their thoughts, feelings, words, and actions.  It’s important to note that the philosophy behind Sloan’s approach is that past behavior is a reliable predictor of future behavior, so it will be wise to select examples that show you at your best.

One final thing to note is that MIT once again requests that applicants select experiences or events from the past three years.  While it’s possible that there is some flexibility to draw essay subject matter from early experiences if the subject matter is very compelling, it would be prudent to showcase experiences from the past three years in as many essays as possible.

Cover Letter: Prepare a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA Program. Describe your accomplishments and include an example of how you had an impact on a group or organization. Your letter should conform to standard business correspondence and be addressed to Mr. Rod Garcia, Director of MBA Admissions. (500 words or fewer)
Rod Garcia has long likened the MBA application process to the recruiting process; MBA aspirants, just like job applicants, need to demonstrate that they know how to market themselves. This is why the school requires a cover letter as part of their application.

As you approach this assignment, keep in mind that many of the standard cover letter themes need to be discussed – your attributes and skills, why you are interested in joining the ‘company’ (MIT/Sloan), and what you feel you could contribute. These certainly intersect with the ideas covered by other schools’ “career goals” essays, so much so that it may be tempting to simply tack a greeting onto the beginning of a career goals essay you’ve prepared for another program. MIT’s request for these ideas in cover letter format, however, actually makes it very easy to spot recycled material, so it’s important that you tailor your response to the school’s unique process. A potential outline for this essay might open with a ‘greeting’ to the committee followed by a statement of your interest in MIT and what you would bring to the school, then a short statement of your career goals with a summary of the ways in which your experience to date has prepared you, then a “why MIT” section explaining why it is the best place for you in terms of what you need from an MBA and your fit with the school, concluding with a thank you.

With the “impact” angle, there’s a good deal of ground to cover in this essay. The best way to satisfy this requirement might be to build a brief professional accomplishment into the overall career background narrative. It will also be important to conduct a fair amount of research on the program in order to efficiently reference the most relevant programs and offerings. Taking the time to learn about MIT’s curriculum, special programs and extracurricular activities – whether through a visit to campus, conversation with alumni or reading the Clear Admit School Guide to MIT Sloan – will pay dividends here.

Essay 1: Please describe a time when you went beyond what was defined, expected, established, or popular. (500 words or fewer, limited to one page)
This prompt calls for an anecdote in which a candidate sets him- or herself apart from the pack by demonstrating the confidence to deviate from the norm or explore new channels, or the ability to see a situation or problem in a different light.  Fitting topics might include developing an innovative solution through a nontraditional avenue or challenging the status quo with an eye for how operations could be enhanced.  Ideally, the end result would be one in which you reached new insight or perspective, created a new process, or established a new process or standard in a professional or extracurricular setting.

Essay 2: Please describe a time when you convinced an individual or group to accept one of your ideas. (500 words or fewer, limited to one page)
This prompt calls for a discussion of how the applicant handles opposition or resistance to an idea, while managing potential interpersonal fall-out in navigating the situation.  In providing a detailed description of the situation and the steps taken to garner support from others, applicants should highlight their ability to persuade and inspire others to accept their ideas, as well as their sensitivity and receptiveness to others’ concerns and suggestions.  In doing so, applicants will highlight their problem-solving and leadership skills, thus showing the adcom that they possess the abilities to succeed through challenges at MIT Sloan and in their future careers.

Essay 3: Please describe a time when you had to make a decision without having all the information you needed. (500 words or fewer, limited to one page)
A new addition for this admissions season, this prompt centers on the applicant’s decision-making process, requiring a discussion of a time he or she had to make a choice or choose a path without having all the facts.  Making decisions based on incomplete information is often a necessity in the fast-moving business environment, and while an MBA program will no doubt impart some useful tools in this area, the Sloan adcom is likely seeking students who demonstrate a strong set of baseline skills and good instincts in this area.  It would therefore behoove applicants to showcase their sound judgment and, if applicable, willingness to consult others in arriving at a highly defensible (and ideally beneficial) decision, walking the reader through their attempts to track down the information they needed and their ultimate weighing of the options.

For more detailed guidance on your approach to MIT Sloan’s essay topics, feel free to contact Clear Admit directly to learn more about our admissions consulting services.

Clear Admit and Beat The GMAT (BTG) are working together to provide prospective applicants with detailed analysis of the essay questions from nine of the top business school programs as part of BTG’s 2011 “Write Like an Expert” series. The free series of online events debuts next Tuesday and Wednesday and will feature Clear Admit senior admissions counselors providing a full breakdown of the current essay questions from Harvard Business School and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

BTG tapped Clear Admit’s Stacey Oyler, a former admissions officer at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Management, and Deena Maerowitz, a former Columbia Business School admissions officer, to provide analysis of the essays for those schools last year as part of the series. This year, BTG has decided to partner exclusively with Clear Admit for all nine of the schools featured in the series.

Clear Admit’s Oyler, Maerowitz, and Graham Richmond, all former admissions officers, will be guests on the BTG site for the online events. Each event will include a full examination of one featured school’s essay questions followed by a Q&A session with participants.

There will be nine events in total, roughly two per week over the course of the next five weeks. Featured schools include Harvard, Wharton, Columbia, Berkeley Haas, Tuck, Stanford, Chicago Booth, Kellogg and MIT Sloan. For the complete “Write Like an Expert” series schedule and to reserve your spot, click here.

Don’t miss this free opportunity to hear strategic recommendations from former admissions officers on how best to approach the essay questions at your target top-tier MBA programs.