Top 5 tips to write the perfect MBA essay

Tone

Essays that truly shine are those that strike the right tone. Admission committees are eager to uncover the person behind the faceless application, and essays offer a medium for them to vicariously experience and genuinely connect with applicants. Robotic, pompous, bragging, or resume-like essays are swiftly rejected or reconsidered from the application's standpoint. To make your essays resonate, infuse them with humanity. This entails being vulnerable, although it's essential to navigate this fine line carefully. Instead of emphasizing your accomplishments or distinctions, showcase your motivation and passion. This approach defies the conventional notion of selling oneself like a resume. Essays that come across as sales pitches can be detrimental to your efforts.

Values

In MBA essays, it is vital to comprehend and align with the distinct values of each school, as this greatly influences the writing process. For instance, WashU MBA emphasizes integrity, collaboration, and leadership, while Dartmouth Tuck focuses on personal, connected, and transformative values. Crafting your stories around one or more of these values that resonate with you the most is highly recommended. Admissions committees seek individuals who are the right fit for their institution, and by incorporating and reflecting these values in your essays, you increase your chances of admission. It also translates to the cultural fit between the school and the student.

Depth

MBA admission committees prioritize applicants who have conducted thorough research to pursue the right-fit school. This is because schools aim to maximize student engagement while minimizing potential regrets, so they seek clues to determine if applicants truly understand the program they are pursuing.

a. Goals: Clearly defined short-term and long-term goals are essential for admission to top MBA programs. These goals should be ambitious yet grounded in reality, aligning with your past career trajectory, present circumstances, and future interests/ambitions.
b. Introspection: MBA essays are tailored for mature professionals who possess self-awareness and a clear sense of their desires, at least on paper. These essays should demonstrate profound introspection regarding your needs, wants, professional and personal life circumstances, and core values.
c. Research: Comprehensive research encompasses the 4Cs - Curriculum, Clubs, Culture, and Contribution. Essays that effectively articulate the "Whys" and "Whats" behind these 4Cs are crucial for impressing the admission committee and winning their favor.

Writing style and punctuation

No one likes crappy writing with grammatical and punctuation errors. This is an absolute killer when it comes to MBA essays. Impeccable writing style and punctuation are crucial for MBA essays, as they can make or break the overall impression. Avoiding typos, grammatical, structural, and punctuation errors should be the applicant's topmost priority. To achieve this, seeking assistance from MBA consultants or utilizing online writing tools is highly recommended. A valuable resource in this regard is "On Writing Well" by William Zinsser.

Storytelling

Storytelling is essential for crafting an essay that not only triumphs but also makes a lasting impression on the reader, who may be fatigued from encountering numerous essays featuring monotonous and mundane writing. To create impactful essays using storytelling, employ a simple framework: introduce an idea in the opening paragraph, delve into the intricacies of that idea while showcasing your strengths, expertise, experience, passion, and motivation, and conclude the essay by revisiting the initial idea, forming a satisfying narrative arc for the reader to follow.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about MBA Essays

Q1: How personal or vulnerable should I be in my MBA essays?

Authenticity is key. Being genuine and showing some vulnerability can make your essay more relatable and memorable. However, it's a fine line. Focus on experiences that demonstrate growth, resilience, and self-awareness relevant to your MBA aspirations. Avoid oversharing or details that don't contribute to showcasing your character, leadership potential, or reasons for pursuing an MBA.

Q2: Is it okay to reuse essays for different MBA programs?

While core stories about your experiences can be adapted, you should never submit an identical essay to multiple schools. Each school has unique values, culture, and specific essay prompts. Your essays must be tailored to demonstrate why you are a strong fit for that particular program and how it aligns with your specific goals. Generic essays are easily spotted and reflect poorly on your interest level.

Q3: What's the ideal length for an MBA essay?

Always adhere strictly to the word limits specified by each school for each essay prompt. Going over the limit, even slightly, can be seen as an inability to follow instructions. If no limit is given (which is rare), aim for concise and impactful writing, typically between 500-750 words for main essays, but always prioritize quality and relevance over length.

Q4: How can I make my "Why this MBA?" essay stand out?

Show, don't just tell. Go beyond listing program features. Connect specific aspects of the program (courses, clubs, faculty, specializations, culture) directly to your clearly defined career goals and personal development needs. Demonstrate thorough research by mentioning unique resources or opportunities that particularly resonate with you and explain how they will help you achieve your specific post-MBA objectives.

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