MBA Essay Questions Published So Far Probably the best MBA Admissions Consulting firm in the world

Essay Questions for MBA Programs That Start In 2018

Important Note! On rare occasions, schools change essay topics after they have been published.
In addition, we may inadvertently make a mistake in copying content.
In such cases, it may be that the information presented here is not accurate!
It is essential that you visit the school website to be 100% certain about the exact essay topics.

Please note that for re-applicants, the essay topics are often different from those below.

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Essay Questions by School

Your essays are the primary way for you to share your perspectives and plans with the admissions committee. The best essays are introspective, genuine and succinct in directly answering our questions. Please type or paste in your response within the word limit shown. Reapplicants (those who applied to the same program in the last two years) are only required to answer the Reapplication essay.

NEW APPLICATION — ESSAY 1: Describe your short-term and long-term career goals. How can the UCLA Anderson experience add value to your professional development? (500 words maximum) [text box, 500 words]

NEW APPLICATION — ESSAY 2: Describe how you would contribute to the UCLA Anderson community. (250 words maximum) [text box, 250 words]

REAPPLICATION: Reapplicants who applied for the class entering Fall 2016 or 2017 are required to complete the following essay: Please describe your career progress since you last applied and ways in which you have enhanced your candidacy. Include updates on short-term and long-term career goals, as well as your continued interest in UCLA Anderson. (750 words maximum) [text box, 750 words]

OPTIONAL: Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? Please use your best judgment. (250 words maximum) [text box, 250 words] Please note:

Your essays are the primary way for you to share your perspectives and plans with the admissions committee. The best essays are introspective, genuine and succinct in directly answering our questions and responding to our topics.

» You should try to distinguish yourself by showing what makes you different from others who share similar profiles.

» Personal expression is what we are looking for, not platitudes.

» Making a strong case for your future plans requires you to first do research on career paths and find one that resonates. Even if this target will change during business school, your application essays should lay out a clear trajectory for short-term and long-term goals. Do this by demonstrating how you expect to build on skills from your past, and those you expect to gain from the MBA.

» Essays are more compelling if they include specific courses, programs, groups, opportunities, activities, etc. from which you would benefit, if admitted to UCLA Anderson. These references are best found through website research, personal discussions and a campus visit (if possible).

» Content and clarity are key elements, as we seek superior communication skills.

» Style is a consideration, too, although we understand that those who speak other languages may have different manners of expression in English. We do check your essays for plagiarism, so make sure you always submit your own work.

» Length does not equal strength. A well-written short essay can have even more impact than a longer essay. Please try to respect the word limits indicated above.

» All essay responses are to be entrered directly in the text box provided in your application.

Additional open questions from the online application:

Academics

Please explain any failing grades received in college or university courses [text box, no limit]

Career

For each job:

  • Job Description [text box, no limit]
  • Reason for Leaving [text box, 50 words maximum]
  • Promotions and Dates Received [text box, 85 characters]
  • Please describe and quantify additional annual compensation (e.g., relocation, automobile or military allowances, variable compensation or stock options) (in $U.S.) [text box, 100 characters]

Activities and Distinctions

Please describe your participation in this activity. Include any honors won and accomplishments. [text box, no limit]

Please list the hobbies you are most interested in . [text box, no limit]

Other Information If you wish to provide additional information about circumstances or qualifications not included in this application, please so do here. [text box, no limit]

Required Essay

When reviewing applications for new members of our community, Babson College looks for students who embody a variety of characteristics. From the list below, choose one that resonates, and describe a past experience where you embodied this characteristic. (400 words or less)

  • Global Perspective
  • Comfort with Ambiguity
  • Social Impact
  • Creative Action/Problem Solving
  • Collaborative Spirit

Optional Essay

Use this optional essay to share anything not reflected in your application (or something on which you would like to expand) that you would like the admissions committee to know. This can be anything from hobbies, passions, extenuating circumstances, gaps in work or academic history, etc. Please share in whichever medium you prefer (essay, PowerPoint, video). Keep in mind we have many applications to review and your submission should be less than 250 written words or 2 minutes in video form.Upload PDF format / Video/presentation link:

Scholarship Essay (optional)

This essay is only required if you wish to qualify for the Frederic C. Hamilton Entrepreneurial Scholarship (a merit-based award) and/or the Price-Babson Fellowship (a need-based award): What are your specific entrepreneurial accomplishments and how will these accomplishments add value to the Babson MBA? (250 words or less)

View this collection of shared Booth moments. Choose the moment that best resonates with you and tell us why.

Presentation/Essay Guidelines:

  • Choose the format that works for you. Want to illustrate your response visually? Submit a slide presentation. Like to express yourself with words? Write a traditional essay. Use the format that you feel best captures your response, the Admissions Committee has no preference.
  • Determine your own length. There is no prescribed minimum or maximum length. We trust that you will use your best judgment in determining how long your submission should be, but we recommend that you think strategically about how to best allocate the space.

Technical Guidelines:

  • File Size: Maximum file size is 16 MB.
  • Accepted Upload Formats: Acceptable formats are PDF, Word, and PowerPoint. We strongly recommend converting your piece to a PDF file prior to submitting.
  • Multimedia Restrictions: We will be viewing your submission electronically and in full color, but all submissions will be converted to PDF files, so animation, video, music, etc. will not translate over.

Optional Essay:

Is there any additional information that you would like the Admissions Committee to know? If so, please address in an optional essay. (300 words maximum)

Re-applicant Essay:

Upon reflection, how has your perspective regarding your future, Chicago Booth, and/or getting an MBA changed since the time of your last application? (300 words maximum)

Additional open questions from the online application:

Post-MBA

What is your immediate post-MBA career goal? (250 characters or less)

What is your long-term post-MBA career goal? (250 characters or less)

Awards and Honors

Please list any collegiate academic or athletic awards or honors you have received. [text box, no limit]

Professional Awards

Please list any significant professional awards/recognition that you have received. [text box, no limit]

ACTIVITIES

Outside of the activities and professional experiences that you have already shared, please share hobbies and areas of interest that are important to you. [text box, no limit]

Applicants must complete one short answer question and three essays.

Short Answer Question: What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (50 characters maximum)

Examples of possible responses: “Work in business development for a media company.” “Join a strategy consulting firm.” “Launch a data-management start-up.”

Essay 1:

Through your resume and recommendations, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals over the next 3-5 years and what, in your imagination, would be your long-term dream job? (500 words)

Essay 2:

The full-time MBA experience includes academics, recruiting, and networking. What are your personal priorities and how do you anticipate allocating your time at Columbia Business School? (250 words)

Essay 3:

Please select and answer one of the following essay questions: (250 words)

a. Please tell us what you feel most passionate about in life.

b. If you were given a free day and could spend it anywhere, in any way you choose, what would you do?

Optional Essay:

Is there any further information that you wish to provide the Admissions Committee? If so, use this space to provide an explanation of any areas of concern in your academic record or your personal history. This does not need to be a formal essay. You may submit bullet points. (Maximum 500 Words)

Knight-Bagehot Fellows:

Rather than answer Essay 1, current Knight-Bagehot Fellows applying to Columbia Business School should use the space allocated to the first essay (500 words) to complete the Wiegers Fellowship application essay.

Wiegers Fellowship Essay Question:

What are your career goals? How has the Knight-Bagehot Fellowship affected these goals? How will an MBA help you achieve these goals? (500 words maximum)

Additional open questions from the online application:

Employment

Please provide an explanation for any gaps in your employment history [text box, 1000 characters]

Education

Please list any professional credentials received (e.g. CFA, CPA): [text box, no limit]

Extracurricular Activities

Please list other activities or interests that you regularly engage in: [text box, no limit]

“When preparing for class at Darden, students formulate an opinion on each case before meeting with their learning teams and class sections. When encountering different views and perspectives from their own, opinions frequently shift. Tell us about a time when your opinion evolved through discussions with others.” (500 words maximum)

Additional open questions from the online application:

Interests

  • While in the MBA program, where do you want to go to explore a specific economy or business culture? (5 words)
  • Why? (40 words)
  • Tell us what you would want your learning team to know about you – personal, professional or both. (100 words)
  • In Charlottesville, you will find members of the Darden community engaged in activities such as: Running on the Rivanna Trail near Darden, tasting wine on the Monticello Wine Trail, listening to live music and dining on the Downtown Mall, tubing on the James River, hiking on the Appalachian Trail, or cheering on UVA’s athletic teams. What are you excited to explore in Charlottesville? (15 words)

Education History

  • Additional Information – Non-Degree Post-Undergraduate Coursework: Please list any non-degree post-undergraduate coursework here, including Coursera or other online courses: [text box, 250 words]
  • College Extracurriculars and Employment: List your extracurricular activities while in college including any offices held and awards received. Include dates of participation and list them in order of importance to you. If you were employed while in college, include employer, job responsibilities, hours worked per week and dates for each position held. College Extracurriculars and Employment: [text box, 200 words]

Employment History

What is your short-term, post-MBA career goal and why? (150 words) [text box]

Additional Information

Additional Comments – If there is further information you believe would be helpful to the Admission Committee, please provide it: [text box, 250 words]

Three short answer questions and two essays are required from all applicants.

Instructions for All Essays:

  • Responses should use 1.5 line spacing and a font size no smaller than 10-point.
  • Do not copy the essay question in the document you upload with your application.
  • Respond fully and concisely. Length requirements vary by question, and are detailed below.
  • Responses must be completed before submitting your application.
  • Prepare your responses carefully. The Admissions Committee considers your answers important in the selection process.
  • All essays are scanned using plagiarism detection software. Expressing your ideas by using verbiage from existing sources, including other applicants’ essays or materials, without properly crediting those sources constitutes an act of plagiarism. Plagiarism is considered a cheating violation within the Honor Code and will result in an application denial. Note: if you have worked with a consultant to complete your application materials, please ensure that the honor code policy is discussed and he/she will not share your essays with other potential applicants.

Required Short Answer Questions

Instructions: Answer all 3 of the following questions. For each question, respond in 500 characters only (the equivalent of about 100 words).

  1. What are your short-term goals, post-MBA?  [text box – 500 characters]
  2. What are your long-term goals? [text box – 500 characters]
  3. Life is full of uncertainties, and plans and circumstances can change. As a result, navigating a career requires you to be adaptable. Should the short-term goals that you provided above not materialize what alternative directions have you considered? [text box – 500 characters]

First Required Essay: 25 Random Things About Yourself

Instructions: Present your response in list form, numbered 1 to 25. Some points may be only a few words, while others may be longer. Your complete list should not exceed 2 pages, with a font size no less than 10-point. Do not copy the essay question in the document you upload with your application.

The “Team Fuqua” spirit and community is one of the things that sets The Duke MBA experience apart, and it is a concept that extends beyond the student body to include faculty, staff, and administration. When a new person joins the Admissions team, we ask that person to share with everyone in the office a list of “25 Random Things About Yourself.” As an Admissions team, we already know the new hire’s professional and academic background, so learning these “25 Random Things” helps us get to know someone’s personality, background, special talents, and more.

In this spirit, the Admissions Committee also wants to get to know you–beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript. You can share with us important life experiences, your likes/dislikes, hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you who you are. Share with us your list of “25 Random Things” about YOU. [upload document]

Second Required Essay

Instructions: Your response to this essay question should be no more than 2 pages in length, with a font size no less than 10-point and 1.5 line spacing. Do not copy the essay question in the document you upload with your application.

Fuqua prides itself on cultivating a culture of engagement. Our students enjoy a wide range of student-led organizations that provide opportunities for leadership development and personal fulfillment, as well as an outlet for contributing to society. Our student-led government, clubs, centers, and events are an integral part of the student culture and are vital to providing you with a range of experiential learning and individual development experiences.

Based on your understanding of the Fuqua culture, how do you see yourself engaging in and contributing to our community, outside of the classroom? [upload document]

Optional Essay

If you feel there are circumstances of which the admissions committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g. unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance). Note that you should NOT upload additional essays nor additional recommendations in this area. The Optional Essay is intended to provide the admissions committee with insight into your circumstances only.

Your response should be no more than 1 page in length, with a font size no less than 10-point. Please respond fully and concisely using 1.5 line spacing. Do not copy the essay question in the document you upload with your application. [upload document]

Re-applicant Essay

Candidates who applied to The Duke MBA between July 2016 and May 2017 are considered re-applicants. All re-applicants are required to complete the Re-applicant Essay in addition to the Short Answer Questions and Applicant Essays, with the exclusion of Essay 1. Re-applicants are not required to generate a new list of “25 Random Things About Yourself.” You have the option of resubmitting “25 Random Things” from your previous year’s application, or creating a new list of “25” Random Things.”

It is not uncommon for it to take more than one try to achieve a goal. Please share with us the self-reflection process that you underwent after last year’s application and how you have grown as a result. How did it shape your commitment to Fuqua and inspire your decision to reapply?

  • Responses should be no more than 2 pages, using 1.5 line spacing and a font size no smaller than 10-point.
  • Make sure you address any gaps in your application and that you show progress.
  • You can access the re-applicant essay in the online application.

Additional open questions from the online application:

Please indicate if you are a member of or participate in any professional organizations. [text box – 250 characters]

Employment – for each job:

 – Briefly describe your organization: (Please limit your response to 250 characters or less)  [text box – 250 characters]

 – Reason(s) for leaving: (Please limit your response to 240 characters or less). [text box – 250 characters]

List any part -time work experience or internships and please explain employment gaps. Explain Briefly. (Please Limit your response to 96 characters or less) [text box – 96 characters]

Leadership Experience and Community Involvement –

Please list, in order of importance to you, all leadership experiences and community involvement activities in which you have been active during or after your university studies. Please do not include work related activities that are a part of your job responsibilities. Indicate the nature of the activity or organization, your role/contribution to the organization, the dates of involvement & the time devoted to each. If you are currently involved in an activity, please leave the “to” date blank.

For each activity (*4), write about the Role & Contribution [text box – 400 characters]

Essays help us learn about who you are as a person and how you will fit with our community. We seek candidates from a broad range of industries, backgrounds, and cultures. Our distinctive culture is defined by four key principles – Question the Status Quo, Confidence Without Attitude, Students Always, and Beyond Yourself. We encourage you to reflect on your experiences, values, and passions so that you may craft thoughtful and authentic responses that demonstrate your fit with our program – culturally, academically, and professionally.

Application essays will be screened through anti-plagiarism software. 

Below are the required essays, supplemental essays, and optional essays for Fall 2018.

Required Essays

Essay #1

Tell us a six-word story that reflects a memorable experience in your life-to-date. Elaborate on why it is meaningful to you. (250 words maximum)

Tip: A successful six-word story will pique the reader’s interest in the forthcoming explanation. Together, the story and explanation will share a specific and personal experience that helps the reader get to know you better, giving insight into your character, values, or how you would uniquely contribute to the Berkeley-Haas community. View sample six-word stories and video tips from the admissions committee.

Essay #2

Respond to one of the following prompts: (250 words maximum)

A. Describe a significant obstacle you have encountered and how it has impacted you.

B. Describe how you have cultivated a diverse and inclusive culture.

C. Describe a leadership experience and how you made a positive and lasting impact.

Tip: Responses can draw from professional or personal experiences. Through your response, the admissions committee hopes to gain insight into your achievements, involvement, and leadership footprint.

Essay #3

[select future industry]  [select future function]

Briefly describe your immediate post-MBA career goals. (50 words maximum)

How have prior experiences motivated and prepared you to pursue these goals? (250 words maximum)

Tip: You are encouraged to reflect on both what you want to do professionally after business school and why this path interests you.

Supplemental Information

  1. If you have not provided a letter of recommendation from your current supervisor, please explain. If not applicable, enter N/A. [no word limit]
  2. List, in order of importance, significant community and professional organizations and extracurricular activities in which you have been involved during or after university studies. Include the following information for each using the format below: [no word limit]
    • Name of organization or activity
    • Nature of organization or activity
    • Size of organization
    • Dates of involvement
    • Offices held
    • Average number of hours spent per month
  3. List full-time and part-time jobs held during undergraduate or graduate studies indicating the employer, job title, employment dates, location, and the number of hours worked per week for each position held prior to the completion of your degree. [no word limit]
  4. If you have ever been subject to academic discipline, placed on probation, suspended, or required to withdraw from any college or university, please explain. If not, please enter N/A (An affirmative response to this question does not automatically disqualify you from admission). [no word limit]

Optional Essay

Use this essay to share information that is not presented elsewhere in the application, for example: [no word limit]

  • Explanation of employment gaps or academic aberrations
  • Quantitative abilities
  • For re-applicants, improvements to your candidacy

Essay There is one essay question to be answered by all applicants:

As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School MBA program? There is no word limit for this question. We think you know what guidance we’re going to give here: don’t overthink, overcraft, or overwrite. Answer the question in clear language that those of us who don’t know your world can understand.

Please upload your document below. We have no preferences for font type or size. Note that we do not accept audio or video submissions in lieu of a written essay.  [Upload a Word or PDF document]

Additional open questions from the online application:

Additional Information

Please share additional information here if you need to clarify any information provided in the other sections of your application. This is not meant to be used as an additional essay. Please limit your additional information to the space in this section. We’ll know you’ll be tempted, but please don’t send us any additional materials (e.g., additional recommendations, work portfolios). To be fair to all applicants, extra materials won’t be considered. [text box – 500 characters]

Employment Please provide an explanation for any gaps in your employment history: [text box – 1000 characters]

Intended Post-MBA Information

Briefly tell us more about your career aspirations: [text box – 500 characters]

1. Why are you applying to the HEC MBA Program now? What is the professional objective that will guide your career choice after your MBA, and how will the HEC MBA contribute to the achievement of this objective? [text box, 500 words max]

2. What do you consider your most significant life achievement? [text box, 250 words max]

3. Leadership and ethics are inevitably intertwined in the business world. Describe a situation in which you have dealt with these issues and how they have influenced you. [text box, 250 words max]

4. Imagine a life entirely different from the one you now lead, what would it be? [text box, 250 words max]

5. Please choose from one of the following essays: [text box, 250 words max] a) What monument or site would you advise a first-time visitor to your country or city to discover, and why? b) Certain books, movies or plays have had an international success that you believe to be undeserved. Choose an example and analyse it. c) What figure do you most admire and why? You may choose from any field (arts, literature, politics, business, etc).

6. Is there any additional information you would like to share with us? [text box, 900 words max]

Additional open questions from the online application:

Academic Background

Which other MBA Programs are you applying to and why? [text box, 100 words max]

Professional Experience

Job Description – Description of the position [text box, 200 words max]

Career Goals – Please describe your immediate career goals following your MBA including location [text box, 200 words max]

Financing – Please explain how you plan to finance your MBA education [text box, 250 words max]

International & Extra-professional Activities

International Experience – Description [text box, no limit]

Extra-professional Activities – Description [text box, no limit]

Express Yourself

In this second part of the section “More about You” you have the chance to show us in a freer, more personalized way characteristics of the way you think and work, which will help us analyze your candidacy in more depth.

Important advice on this Express Yourself section:(1) Please remember you need to submit 3 express yourself questions. (2) At least one must be in written format, the other two can be alternative formats or written essays. (3) Remember! It is more about the quality of the work than the quantity. (4) For videos, we recommend to keep it around 2-3 minutes long and for presentations 20 slides or less. For written essays between 400-600 words maximum.

You have to choose and respond to three questions. At least one of these responses must be in text format. You have the option of responding to the rest of the questions through the following forms of human expression: poetry, photography, drawing, video (with a response that is spoken, sung, danced or played on a musical instrument), animation or presentation. With the exception of compositions in text format, all the rest of the responses must be linked to content hosting platforms. You may also choose to tweet your response using the hashtag #IEApplication and copy the link of your tweet in the bottom of this page.

We suggest the following platforms:

  • photography or drawing: Picasa Flickr
  • video or animation: Youtube Vimeo
  • presentation: Prezi Slideshare

All your compositions must be absolutely original and specifically intended for this admission application. The compositions must be composed, executed and completed by you alone, without the direct help of outside experts. Before submitting the links, check that they work correctly. The links must be active and available for consultation for a minimum of 18 months after the date the application is submitted.

These are the questions you must choose from:

A. If you had the opportunity, what actions would you demand of the United Nations Secretary General and why?

B. Describe the situation with the greatest ethical complexity that you have faced in your professional or academic life, and how your input helped resolve it.

C. Describe a time when you took a great risk. What was the outcome?

D. Cite at least one example of when your leadership had an impact on or changed a certain situation, and justify how an IE Master’s Degree program would help you to strengthen or improve this competence.

E. Describe the most outstanding leader you have worked with. Indicate some aspects of the way you work that are similar to the way this leader works and others that are different.

F. You have just participated in an important meeting with your superior. How will you ensure that every part of the instructions you received will properly reach all subordinates, suppliers and clients, located in different parts of the world?

G. Do you think that the lifestyle of the inhabitants of your town or city reflects behavior that is in line with the concept of sustainable development? In your opinion, what should be improved?

H. What do you believe are the greatest challenges facing the sector or industry you would like to specialize in at IE? What role do you hope to be able to play in this sector or industry in the medium term?

I. Show us an activity you enjoy doing. Tell us how you think it contributes to your personal and professional development

J. How do you imagine social interaction within 10 years, taking into consideration the impact of technology on human relations?

K. If all of the world´s cultural heritage (sports, music, fashion, architecture, literature, painting, etc..) was contained in a time capsule, what would you include to demonstrate the legacy of your country?

L. How do you envision the city of the future?

Upload your essay(s) in text format here:

Write between 400 and 600 words per essay (in .pdf, . doc or. docx, font size 11, line spacing 1.5). Remember that all the essays must be in one single file, with the question(s) being answered indicated in its header.

[Upload]

Include the link(s) if you are responding in a format other than text:

Additional open questions from the online application:

Education

Comments [text box, 2000 characters]

Professional experience

Briefly describe your duties and responsibilities. [text box, 250 characters]

Quick evaluation

  • Describe yourself in three words.
  • Indicate with three words how you believe your colleagues/classmates would describe you.
  • At what age did you first earn money from anyone other than your direct family? How did you earn it? [text box, 140 characters]
  • I wish that the application had asked me… [text box, 140 characters]

Upload Organizational chart – In your Organizational Chart, show where you are in the organization, who you report to, and who reports to you. People’s names are not required for any positions except yours, but position titles are suggested. If your organization is extremely large, show only your division or your immediate reporting structure. If you are self-employed with no employees, show your position and your business-to-business and/or business-to-customer relationship structure.

Upload Other Documents (optional)

Essay Question I

Please answer ONE (and only one) of the following two questions. (300 words)

1. If you look at yourself in the mirror, what do you see? Please give examples of both your strengths & weaknesses.

2. Describe a recent situation (1-2 years ago maximum) that demonstrates your fit with IESE’s mission and values.

[UPLOAD]

Essay Question II (Optional)

I wish that the application had asked me…

This essay can be submitted either written (200 words) or as a video (max 2:00 minutes total in length). We are aware that you are not a media professional.

[UPLOAD]

Additional open questions from the online application:

Post-MBA Goals

Briefly describe your career aspirations immediately after MBA. Please try to be as specific as possible by giving examples of position, Country and Company you would like to work in: (200 word limit) [text box]

JOB DESCRIPTION

1. Briefly summarise your current (or most recent) job, including the nature of work, major responsibilities, and where relevant, employees under your supervision, size of budget, clients/products and results achieved. (short answer) * [text box]

2. What would be your next step in terms of position if you were to remain in the same company? (short answer) * [text box]

3. Please give a full description of your career since graduating from university. Describe your career path with the rationale behind your choices. (short answer) * [text box]

4. Discuss your short and long term career aspirations with an MBA from INSEAD. (short answer) * [text box]

5. If you are currently not working or if you plan to leave your current employer more than 2 months before the programme starts, please explain your activities and occupations between leaving your job and the start of the programme. (optional)  [text box]

MOTIVATION ESSAYS

1. Give a candid description of yourself (who are you as a person), stressing the personal characteristics you feel to be your strengths and weaknesses and the main factors which have influenced your personal development, giving examples when necessary (approximately 500 words). * [text box]

2. Describe the achievement of which you are most proud and explain why. In addition, describe a situation where you failed. How did these experiences impact your relationships with others? Comment on what you learned(approximately 400 words). * [text box]

3. Describe all types of extra-professional activities in which you have been or are still involved for a significant amount of time (clubs, sports, music, arts, politics, etc). How are you enriched by these activities? (approximately 300 words) * [text box]

4. Is there anything else that was not covered in your application that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee? (approximately 300 words)  [text box]

Video Interviews

Upon submission of your application form, you will receive a message requesting you to record video interviews through Kira Talent. You will also be able to access this from your online application dashboard. Please complete your video interviews within one week of submitting your application. Through the videos we hope to get a deeper insight into your background.

Shortly after submitting this application form, you will receive a link to a video interview. This video component is required to start the evaluation of your application. You will have 48 hours after the application deadline you are applying for to complete the video interview. Once submitted, the video interviews will no longer be modifiable. Therefore please ensure that you carefully test your devices before starting the exercise. We are keen on getting to know you better and believe that through a video you can come to life, so be spontaneous, be creative and be yourself! We look forward to virtually meeting you!

Additional open questions from the online application:

Please briefly explain any time gaps (2 months or more) since leaving high school that are unaccounted for in your application. [text box, no limit]

Candidates applying for 2017-18 admission are required to complete a Goals Statement as well as two essays: 1) Impact Essay and 2) Table of Contents Essay.
Goals Statement

Use this short answer question to succinctly share your short and long term goals. If invited to interview, you will have the opportunity to elaborate further and should be prepared to connect your prior experience with your future aspirations.

A statement of your goals will begin a conversation that will last throughout admissions process and guide your steps during the MBA program and experience. To the best of your understanding today, please share your short and long term goals by completing the following sentences:

Immediately post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) ____[Role]____ at ___[Company]___within___[Industry]___.

Targeted Job Role:

Target Job Company:

Industry:

In 5 – 10 years post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) ____[Role]____ at ___[Company]___within___[Industry]___.

Impact Essay

This essay is designed to explore the intersection of engagement and community culture. Whether during the program or following graduation, our students and alumni share a desire to positively impact the organizations and communities they serve. To help you explore your potential for impact, we encourage you to engage with our students, alumni, faculty, and professional staff. You may choose to connect with them via email or phone or in person during one of our on campus or off campus events. As you seek their input and insight, please be respectful of their time and prepare a few discussion points or questions in advance.

At Cornell we value, students who create impact. Please indicate the opportunities for impact that you’ve identified through engagement with our community and describe how what you learned has influenced your decision to apply to Johnson. Please limit your submission to 500 words or fewer.

Table of Contents Essay

This essay is an opportunity to present yourself as an individual. We encourage you to think about your proudest accomplishments, moments of adversity that have been overcome, and interesting personal highlights that will help us to get to know you as a person and potential community member.

You are the author of your Life Story. Please create the table of contents for the book in the space provided or upload it as an attachment. We value creativity and authenticity and encourage you to approach this essay with your unique style. Alternative submission formats may include a slide presentation, links to pre-existing media (personal website, digital portfolio, YouTube, etc.), as well as visually enhanced written submissions.

Maximum file size is 5 MB. If you choose to submit a written Table of Contents, please limit your submission to 500 words or fewer. Multimedia submissions should be under 5 minutes.

Optional Essay

If you are reapplying for admission, please use this essay to indicate how you have strengthened your application and candidacy since the last time you applied for admission. Please also review our Admissions Policy for additional information about re-applying and limit your response to 500 words or fewer.

If you are not reapplying, you may use this essay to call attention to items needing clarification and to add additional details to any aspects of your application that do not accurately reflect your potential for success at Johnson. Please limit your response to 500 words or fewer.

Additional open questions from the online application:

Employment

Description of Organization [text box]

Describe your duties* [text box]

If applicable, please explain your reason for leaving.* [text box]

Are you affiliated with a family business?* If yes, please describe the company as well as your relationship to it. [text box]

Education History

Academic awards, activities, honors, fellowships or scholarships. [text box]

Collegiate Activities and Employment

List your extracurricular activities while in college in order of importance to you. You may include details about your positions and the time commitment, honors or awards received, and dates of participation. The list may also include part-time and summer employment held while in college. Please list your employer, job title, responsibilities, hours per week, and the dates for each position. Limit your response to 250 words or fewer. [text box]

Post-Collegiate Activities

List community activities (clubs, church, civic, etc.) and professional associations you contributed to since graduation from college. Please include the organization name, your role, hours dedicated, elected offices held, and dates of participation. Limit your response to 250 words or fewer. [text box]

Hobbies and Activities

Please list any hobbies or activities that hold special significance for you. Limit your response to 250 words or fewer. [text box]

Financial aid

What steps have you taken to prepare financially for your MBA study? [text box]

Miscellaneous Information

Have you ever entered a plea of guilty, no contest, nolo contendere, or an Alford plea or received a deferred prosecution or prayer for judgment continued to a criminal charge? If yes, please explain. (Please limit your response to 500 words or fewer). [text box]

Have you ever been disciplined or placed under academic sanction (for example, expulsion, suspension, probation or formal reprimand) by any college or university you have attended, or are there disciplinary charges pending against you at the present time?* If yes, please explain. (Please limit your response to 500 words or fewer). [text box]

Essay question 1

What did you learn from your most spectacular failure? (up to 200 words)

Essay question 2

Describe a situation where you had to work jointly with others to achieve a common goal. What did you learn from the experience? (up to 200 words)

Additional information

Please provide information on any aspect of your candidacy that requires further explanation, or information that you would like the Admissions Committee to know (300 word limit).

Work experience

a. Do you plan to return to your current employer after completing your studies? (Maximum 100 words) [text box]

b. Previous roles/promotions at your current company – including dates (Maximum 150 words) [text box]

c. Describe your primary job responsibilities: (150 word limit) [text box]

    1. type and size of internal and external teams with which you work or supervise

    2. type and number of clients or projects you manage;

    3. size of budget or revenue for which you are responsible;

    4. international experience or exposure

d. What is your most significant challenge? [text box, no limit]

e. What is your most significant accomplishment? [text box, no limit]

Career objectives

Please provide a personal statement. It should not exceed 500 words and must address the following questions: [text box]

  • What are your short and long term career objectives and what skills/characteristics do you already have that will help you achieve them?
  • What actions will you take before and during the MBA to contribute to your career outcome?
  • If you are unsure of your post-MBA career path, how will the MBA equip you for the future?

All applicants are required to respond to our Department Questions. Upload all responses together as one document in the upload space below. Your essays will give us an idea of your personality, perspectives, and opinions and will let us know how closely your professional objectives match the objectives of the MBA program. We encourage you to be honest, informative, creative, and concise.

Required:

1. Discuss your immediate post-MBA professional goals. How will your professional experience, when combined with a Kelley MBA degree, allow you to achieve these goals? Should the short-term goals you have identified not materialize, what alternate career paths might you consider? (500 words)

2. Respond to one of the following short essay prompts. (300 words)

   a. My greatest memory is…

   b. I’m most afraid of…

   c. My greatest challenge has been…

   d. I’m most proud of…

3. Share a brief fact about yourself that your classmates would find interesting, surprising, or noteworthy. (25 words)

Optional:

4. Is there anything else that you think we should know as we evaluate your application? If you believe your credentials and essays represent you fairly, you shouldn’t feel obligated to answer this question. (300 words)

Additional open questions from the online application:

Activities

Nature of Activity/Organization and Accomplishments/Role in Organization: [text box]

Employment History

Accomplishments & Responsibilities: [text box]

Reason for Leaving Job: [text box]

Additional Upload

Upload additional file if needed.

For 2017-2018, the following two essays are required of all applicants:

  1. Kellogg’s purpose is to educate, equip & inspire brave leaders who create lasting value. Tell us about a time you have demonstrated leadership and created lasting value. What challenges did you face, and what did you learn? (450 words)
  2. Pursuing an MBA is a catalyst for personal and professional growth. How have you grown in the past? How do you intend to grow at Kellogg? (450 words)

Certain applicants will respond to additional questions:

  • Dual-degree applicants: For applicants to the MMM or JD-MBA dual degree programs, please explain why that program is right for you. (250 words)
  • Re-applicants: Since your previous application, what steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? (250 word limit)

All applicants have the opportunity to provide explanations or clarification in Additional Information:

If needed, use this section to briefly describe any extenuating circumstances (e.g. unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, etc.) (no word count)

Additional open questions from the online application:

Employer – Career Goals

What has been your most significant career accomplishment? [text box, 240 characters]

What is your desired position after Kellogg? [text box, 150 characters]

What is your long-term career goal after Kellogg? [text box, 150 characters]

What drives your interest in these short and long-term goals? [text box, 240 characters]

Education

If you held a paid part-time job or work study position during your undergraduate studies, please list the average number of hours per week spent working, and a brief description of your employment. Internships, summer positions, and other activities listed on your resume do not need to be included.

  • Brief description of employment: [text box, 200 characters]
  1. Essay One (Required) Please describe your short and long term goals post-MBA. Explain how your professional experience has shaped these goals, why this career option appeals to you, and how you arrived at the decision that now is the time and the MBA is the appropriate degree. Additionally, please briefly address a backup plan should your short-term goal not come to fruition for any reason. (500 words maximum)
  2. Essay Two (Optional) What personal qualities or life experiences distinguish you from other applicants? How do these qualities or experiences equip you to contribute to UNC Kenan-Flagler? (300 words maximum)
  3. Essay Three (Optional) If your standardized test scores are low, or if you have not had coursework in core business subjects (calculus, microeconomics, statistics, financial accounting), please tell us how you plan to prepare yourself for the quantitative rigor of the MBA curriculum. (300 words maximum)
  4. Essay Four (Optional) Is there any other information you would like to share that is not presented elsewhere in the application? (300 words maximum)

Essay Question Instructions:

The Admissions Committee will carefully consider your answers to the following questions. Please complete all of the essay questions beginning your answer below each question and giving word counts for each answer. Once complete, please attach this document to your online application following the instructions given on the web form.

You are required to add the word count at the end of each question. Please do not write more than the specified word limit for each essay. Any extra words or essays may be disregarded.

Candidates should not contact us to ask for advice on how to answer the essay questions. We expect all candidates to interpret the questions as they see fit.

  • What are your post-MBA goals and how will your prior experience and the London Business School programme contribute towards these? (500 words)
  • Is there any other information you believe the Admissions Committee should know about you and your application to London Business School? (Optional) (500 words)

Additional open questions from the online application:

Current employment

What’s your organisation’s main area of activity? [text box]

Tell us about your responsibilities. Describe your day-to-day role, details of any clients you work with/for, the level/title of the person you report to, the size of budget for which you are directly responsible and the number of people in your team. (400 words max) [text box]

If you are currently not working, or if you plan to leave your current employer more than three months before the programme starts, please explain your activities between leaving your last role and the start of the programme (max 300 words). [text box]

Is your employer willing to support you? In what way – time, tuition, or both? [text box]

Previous employment

What was your organisation’s main area of activity? [text box]

Your responsibilities [text box]

Education

Academic performance

Do you feel that your academic performance so far gives an accurate indication of your potential for success on the programme? If so, why? If not, why not? [text box]

Have you ever received formal disciplinary action from an academic institution or been forced to withdraw from a course of study? If so, you must declare the information here. [text box]

GMAT / GRE test

Please outline your experience of working or studying in an English-speaking environment. Do you plan to take further English language tuition before the programme starts? [text box]

Additional information

Please tell us your most significant international experiences to date: (100 words max) [text box]

Tell us about your main interests and activities in your free time (400 words max) [text box]

We encourage applicants to take into consideration the impact of study on family and friends. Who have you discussed your plans with and what was the response? (300 words max) [text box]

If you know any London Business School Alumni or Students, please give their names, graduating class and tell us how you know them. (300 words max) [text box]

Essay #1 (Required) –

What is your specific, immediate short-term career goal upon completion of your MBA? Please include an intended position, function, and industry in your response. (word limit: 100)

Essay #2 (Required) –

Please respond to ONLY ONE of the following essay topics. (word limit: 500)

  • Please describe the contributions you expect to make to your classmates outside of the classroom during your time at USC.
  • You have been asked to design a course to be taught at the Marshall School of Business. Please provide a title and description for the course.
  • What has been the most interesting day or moment in your life and why?
  • You have been hired by the Marshall MBA Admissions Committee to create an essay question for next year’s application. Please state the question and answer it.

Essay #3 (Optional)

Please provide any additional information that will enhance our understanding of your candidacy for the program. (word limit: 250)

  1. Introduce yourself. Select only one communication method that you would like to use for your response.
    • Write an essay (250 words), OR
    • Share a video introduction (one minute)
  2. Picture yourself at graduation. Describe how you spent your two years as a Texas MBA student, and how that experience helped to prepare you for the post-MBA world. (500 words)
  3. Optional Statement:

    Please provide any additional information you believe is important and/or address any areas of concern that will be beneficial to the Admissions Committee in considering your application (e.g. unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, academic performance, or extenuating personal circumstances). (250 words)

Part 1: Short Answer Questions

Select one prompt from each group. Respond to your selected prompts using 100 words or fewer (<100 words each; 300 words total).

Group 1

I want people to know that I:

I turned an idea into action when I:

I made a difference when I:

Group 2

I showed my resilience when I:

I was humbled when:

I am out of my comfort zone when:

Group 3

I was aware that I am different when:

I find it challenging when people:

A valuable thing I have taught someone is:

Part 2: Essay

Please share your short-term and long-term career goals. What skills/strengths do you have that will be relevant to your career goals? How will Ross prepare you for your goals? (300 words)

Optional Statement

This section should only be used to convey information not addressed elsewhere in your application, for example, completion of supplemental coursework, employment gaps, academic issues, etc. Feel free to use bullet points where appropriate.

Additional Information Upload

If you need to provide additional information not provided in another part of the application, please upload below. Include your name and the type or purpose of the document in the header for identification. Please attach your file using the following button: (Limit files to under 10Mb ; Accepted File Types: .pdf, .doc, .docx, .rtf)

When reviewing your essays the Admissions Committee will be looking for evidence of the following: Good communication skills, leadership potential, analytical skills, fit within the Oxford MBA community, among other characteristics.

Mandatory essays:

  1. Consider a statistic or trend that shocks you. Why it is important to you and how could it be changed for the better? (Maximum 500 words)
  2. Is there anything not covered in the application form which you would like the Admissions Committee to know about you? (Maximum 250 words)

If you are applying under the 1+1 scheme you also need to submit the following essay:

Explain why you see this as particularly beneficial for you and how it fits with your careers and personal development aims (Maximum 250 words)

Re-applicants will need to complete the essays mentioned above and another essay on the topic:

What improvements have you made in your candidacy since you last applied to the Oxford MBA? (Maximum 250 words)

Additional open questions from the online application:

Additional Academic Information

Have you undertaken degree-level study at any institution which you have not completed? If yes, please provide details of the course and the institution, and give an account of the circumstances. [text box, 100 characters]

Are you planning to begin studying for a degree at any institution or will you be in the course of studying for a degree at any institution at any time when you would also be studying at Oxford for the programme for which you are now applying? If yes, please provide details of the course, the institution and how you believe it will be possible to pursue both programmes of study at the same time. [text box, 100 characters]

Please provide details of any period of study, complete or incomplete, taken in the UK that you have not already listed. Please list start and end dates, course title, level and institution. Please only complete this section if you require a Tier 4 Visa. [text box, 500 characters]

Please provide details of any research, publications and/or awards. [text box, 500 characters]

Professional Qualifications

Please provide information regarding any relevant professional qualifications that you hold including the professional firm or educational institution attended, qualification, subject, year achieved and result. [text box, 500 characters]

You at Work

Please list your main responsibilities, your most significant challenge and your greatest achievement: [text box, 5000 characters]

Career Development

What are your immediate post-MBA career plans? Please select all options that apply

  • Employment
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Other
  • Unsure

Employment (respond ONLY if you have selected “Employment”):

  1. Describe below your immediate post-MBA plans: [text box, 1000 characters]
  2. How does your preferred sector in your preferred location recruit MBA talent? Describe the research you have done so far. [text box, 1000 characters]
  3. How do you meet these requirements? [text box, 1000 characters]
  4. What do you plan to do between now and starting your MBA to prepare and maximise your chances of success? [text box, 1000 characters]
  5. Should you not be successful in securing your first choice of role, what is your alternative? [text box, 1000 characters]

Entrepreneurship (respond ONLY if you have selected “Entrepreneurship”)

  1. Describe your business idea including details of your business plan and the steps you have taken so far to develop or launch your business idea [text box, 1000 characters]
  2. How will the MBA help you start, or further develop, your own business? [text box, 1000 characters]
  3. What do you plan to do between now and starting your MBA to prepare and maximise your chances of success? [text box, 1000 characters]
  4. Should you not be successful in developing or launching your own business, what is your alternative? [text box, 1000 characters]

Other (respond ONLY if you have selected “Other”)

  1. Describe your immediate post-MBA plans [text box, 1000 characters]
  2. How does the MBA fit in your plans and how will it enhance your post-MBA direction?: [text box, 1000 characters]

Unsure (respond ONLY if you have selected “Unsure”)

  1. How will you develop your career goals before starting your MBA? [text box, 1000 characters]
  2. What research have you already conducted? What further research will you do? [text box, 1000 characters]
  3. How will the MBA help equip you for the future? [text box, 1000 characters]

How did you hear about the programme?

Which interactions with the Said Business School have strongly influenced your decision to apply?  [text box, 200 characters]

Cover Letter

MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion.

Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA Program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to Mr. Rod Garcia, Senior Director of Admissions (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation).

Resume

Please submit a resume that includes your employment history and academic record in reverse chronological order. Other information appropriate to a business resume is welcomed and encouraged, including extracurricular activities, awards, and achievements. The resume should be no more than one page in length.

VIDEO STATEMENT

Please introduce yourself to your future classmates via a brief video statement.

Videos should be a single take (no editing) lasting no more than one minute and consisting of you speaking directly to the camera. We recommend using an application such as QuickTime or iMovie to record yourself.

Upload Instructions:

  1. To upload media to your digital portfolio, add the files using the “Select Files” button below and click “Start upload.” Uploading may take anywhere from seconds to several hours depending upon the size of the media file and your connection speed. If your file is large, we recommend that you upload from a wired connection if possible.
  2. Once your file has been received, it will be displayed under the “Your Portfolio” tab. Your file will be processed and converted into its final form soon after uploading. Processing may take several minutes or hours depending upon the file size. You do not need to remain on this page after the media has been uploaded, as processing will occur automatically and independently.
  3. You may re-order your uploaded media at any time by dragging the slides around. Please supply title and media information by clicking Edit Details.
  4. Should you experience difficulties uploading your file, please ensure that you’re using a modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, or Safari) on the fastest wired Internet connection available. An intermittent or slow Internet connection can cause uploads to timeout.

File Sizes and Types:

Although we technically support media files as large as 5 GB, please be advised that larger files will take longer to upload from your Internet connection and may stall if you are on a wireless connection or one that cannot sustain a connection for the necessary period of time. Uploaded documents may contain no more than 75 pages. We support the following file formats:

Video: .avi, .flv, .m1v, .m2v, .m4v, .mkv, .mov, .mpeg, .mpg, .mp4, .webm, .wmv

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (OPTIONAL)

Please provide any additional information you would like the Admissions Committee to know that may be helpful in evaluating your candidacy (i.e. choice of recommenders, areas of concern in your academic record, other extenuating circumstances, etc.). This information should be provided in a written format (200 words or less).

INTERVIEW ESSAY

Those invited to interview will be asked to answer the following question: The mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management is to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and to generate ideas that advance management practice. We believe that a commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and well-being is a key component of both principled leadership and sound management practice. In 250 words or less, please describe how you, as a member of the MIT Sloan community, would work to create a campus that is welcoming, inclusive and increasingly diverse?

Additional open question from the online application:

Employment Information – If there are any gaps in your employment history, please use the space below to explain. [text box, 1000 characters]

Essays help us learn about who you are rather than solely what you have done. Other parts of the application give insight to your academic and professional accomplishments; the essays reveal the person behind those achievements.

When writing your essays, our best advice is simple: answer the question. Resist the urge to “package” yourself into what you think Stanford wants to see. Doing so will only prevent us from understanding who you really are and what you hope to accomplish. The most impressive essays are the most authentic.

Essay Questions We request that you write two personal essays. The personal essays give us glimpses of your character and hopes. In each essay, we want to hear your genuine voice. Think carefully about your values, passions, aims, and dreams prior to writing them.

Essay A: What matters most to you, and why?

For this essay, we would like you to:

  • Do some deep self-examination, so you can genuinely illustrate who you are and how you came to be the person you are.
  • Share the insights, experiences, and lessons that shaped your perspectives, rather than focusing merely on what you’ve done or accomplished.
  • Write from the heart, and illustrate how a person, situation, or event has influenced you.
  • Focus on the “why” rather than the “what.”

Essay B: Why Stanford?

Enlighten us on how earning your MBA at Stanford will enable you to realize your ambitions.

  • Explain your decision to pursue graduate education in management.
  • Explain the distinctive opportunities you will pursue at Stanford.
  • If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs.

Length Your answers for both essay questions combined may not exceed 1,150 words (1,200 words if you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs). Each of you has your own story to tell, so please allocate these words between the essays in the way that is most effective for you. Below is a suggested word count, based on what we typically see.

Essay Suggested Word Count

Essay A 750

Essay B 400

Essay B (if applying to both the MBA and MSx programs) 450

Formatting

  • Double-spaced
  • Indicate the question you are answering at the beginning of each essay (does not count toward the word limit)
  • Number all pages
  • Upload one document that includes both essays
  • Be sure to save a copy of your essays, and preview the uploaded document to ensure that the formatting is preserved.

Additional Information

Through all of the elements of your application, we believe that we get to know you well. Complete this section only if you have critical information you could not convey elsewhere on your application (e.g., extenuating circumstances affecting academic or work performance). Do not include essays, and please be brief.

[Upload additional information document]

Editing Your Essays

Begin work on the essays early to give yourself time to reflect, write, and edit.

Feel free to ask friends or family members for feedback — especially about whether the tone and voice sound like you. Your family and friends know you better than anyone. If they think the essays do not capture who you are, how you live, what you believe, and what you aspire to do, then surely we will be unable to recognize what is most distinctive about you.

Feedback Vs. Coaching There is a big difference, however, between “feedback” and “coaching.” You cross that line when any part of the application (excluding the letters of reference) ceases to be exclusively yours in either thought or word.

Appropriate feedback occurs when others review your completed application — perhaps once or twice — and apprise you of omissions, errors, or inaccuracies that you later correct or address. After editing is complete, your thoughts, voice, and style remain intact. Inappropriate coaching occurs when you allow others to craft your application for you and, as a result, your application or self-presentation is not authentic.

It is improper and a violation of the terms of this application process to have someone else write your essays. Such behavior will result in denial of your application or revocation of your admission.

Additional open questions from the online application:

Background

Tell us about a time within the last two years when your background influenced your participation at work or school. [text box, 1200 characters]

Professional Experience

Please write a sentence or two about what you aspire to do after graduating from Stanford GSB. (Limit 255 characters.)

Have you had any gap(s) of four months or more in your employment or educational history since secondary school? Let us know what you did during that period. (Limit 145 characters)

Activities and Interests

For your first (most significant) activity or interest listed, why did you become involved? (Limit 255 characters.)

Our Stern essay questions give you the opportunity to more fully present yourself to the Admissions Committee and to provide insight into your experiences, goals, and thought processes.

Please note the following details when completing your essays:

  • Written essays must be submitted using double-spacing and 12-point font.
  • Your response to Essay 1 should answer all parts of the question with a maximum of 500 words.
  • Your essays should be written entirely by you. An offer of admission will be revoked if you did not write your essays.

Uploading Formats You may upload Word and PDF documents into the online application.

Essay 1: Professional Aspirations

(500 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font)

  • What are your short and long-term career goals?
  • How will the MBA help you achieve them?

[Upload] Essay 2: Program Preferences

NYU Stern offers a portfolio of MBA programs designed to meet the needs of our applicants. Your program preferences are very important as you may be admitted to only one program. You cannot switch your program option after receiving your admissions decision.

  • A. Primary Program Preference (250 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font)
    • Please indicate the primary MBA program for which you would like to be considered, as indicated in the Primary Program Selection section of the application.
    • Explain why the program you have selected is the best program for you.
  • B. Alternative Program Preference(s) (250 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font)
    • Please indicate any alternative program(s) for which you would also like to be considered, as indicated in the Alternative Program Selection section of the application and why you would also like to be considered for this/these program(s).
    • An alternate program does not need to be selected. If you have no alternate programs you do not need to complete this essay, just indicate “N/A”.

[Upload] Essay 3: Personal Expression (a.k.a. “Pick Six”)

Describe yourself to the Admissions Committee and to your future classmates using six images and corresponding captions. Your uploaded PDF should contain all of the following elements:

  • A brief introduction or overview of your “Pick Six” (no more than 3 sentences).
  • Six images that help illustrate who you are.
  • A one-sentence caption for each of the six images that helps explain why they were selected and are significant to you.

Note: Your visuals may include photos, infographics, drawings, or any other images that best describe you. Your document must be uploaded as a single PDF. The essay cannot be sent in physical form or be linked to a website.

[Upload] Essay 4: Additional Information (optional)

(250 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font)

Please provide any additional information that you would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee. This may include current or past gaps in employment, further explanation of your undergraduate record or self-reported academic transcript(s), plans to retake the GMAT, GRE, IELTS or TOEFL, or any other relevant information.

[Upload] Additional open questions from the online application:

Activities and Achievements

Activities

List college and post-college extracurricular, professional, or community activities in the order of their importance to you. Include dates of involvement and any offices held (e.g., Activity – Dates of Involvement – Office Held). [text box – no limit]

Achievements

List any college and post-college awards, scholarships, or other types of recognition you have received (academic – for example, Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude; military; extracurricular; professional; community). [text box – no limit]

Professional Certifications

List any professional certifications you have received (e.g. CFA, CPA, PMP, Series 7, etc.) [text box – no limit]

Goals and Essays

Tell us about your professional goals and then give us a little insight into who you are and why you should be part of the Tepper MBA.

First, tell us your career goals – where are you headed?

Next, answer our essay question so we can learn more about you.  That’s right, just ONE essay question!

Finally, there is an optional essay for you to share whatever you like with us.

We can’t wait to see what you have to say.

Career Goals

Desired Industry? [select]

Desired Function? [select]

Post-MBA Goals

We know that you have a lot to tell us but to keep it fair, your answers are limited to 150 words.

1. What is your professional goal immediately following graduation from Tepper? [text box]

2. What other role would you consider? In other words, what is your Plan B? [text box]

MBA Essay

(Maximum 300 – 350 words, double spaced, 12 point font):

Imagine that you meet up with a member of the Admission Committee at an airport while on a layover. You have an opportunity to make a memorable impression. Use this essay to introduce yourself. Include any information that you believe is important for the committee member to know about you both professionally and personally. [upload]

Optional Essay

Is there anything else that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee as we evaluate your application? If you believe your credentials and essays represent you fairly, you should not feel obligated to answer this question. This essay is intended to provide a place for you to add information that you think is important but is not covered elsewhere in the application. This could include clarification of your employment or academic record, choice of recommenders or helpful context for the admissions committee in reviewing your application. [upload]

ADDITIONAL OPEN QUESTIONS FROM THE ONLINE APPLICATION:

Employment

Tell us about your company – industry, products/services, how many employees and annual revenue. [text box]

Reason for Leaving (50 words maximum) [text box]

The essay questions provide you with an opportunity to help the admissions committee gain greater insight about you as a potential member of the Tuck community. We do not allow substitution or replacement of essay responses after an application has been submitted. Please be clear, succinct, forthright, and thoughtful in your responses. Additionally, we ask that you share what you truly feel, as opposed to writing what you think the admissions committee would like to read. There are no right or wrong answers. Reapplicants should also complete the reapplicant essay. Tuck expects that the work contained in the essays is completely accurate and exclusively your own. Use of professional essay-writing services violates Tuck’s admissions policies.

Please respond fully but concisely to the following essay questions. There are no right or wrong answers. We encourage applicants to limit the length of their responses to a word count of 500. Please double-space your responses.

1. (Required) What are your short and long-term goals? Why is an MBA a critical next step toward achieving those goals? Why are you interested in Tuck?

2. (Required) Tuck’s mission is to educate wise leaders to better the world of business. Wisdom encompasses the essential aptitudes of confident humility, about what one does and does not know; empathy, towards the diverse ideas and experiences of others; and judgment, about when and how to take risks for the better. With Tuck’s mission in mind, and with a focus on confident humility, tell us about a time you:

  • received tough feedback,

  • experienced failure, or

  • disappointed yourself or others.

How did you respond, and what did you learn about yourself as a result?

3. (Optional) Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere that may be helpful in reviewing your application (e.g., unusual choice of evaluators, weaknesses in academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes, etc.). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application.

4. (To be completed by all reapplicants) How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally.

Additional open questions from the online application:

Employment Information

Description of your organization (175 words maximum) [text box]

Reason for Leaving (50 words maximum) [text box]

Description of your responsibilities [text box, 225 words max]

Global Exposure

Briefly list all experience you have working, studying, living, or traveling outside your home country. How have your experiences influenced your world view? If you have not yet had opportunities outside of your country, please discuss other ways in which you have gained global perspective. [text box, 300 words max]

Current and/or Postcollegiate activities

Description of Participation [text box, 100 words max]

Collegiate activities

Description of Participation [text box, 100 words max]

Awards

Award Description: *3 [text box, 175 words max]

First-time applicant and re-applicants (those who applied to begin the program in the fall of 2017 or 2016) are required to complete both essays.

The Admissions Committee wants to get to know you on both a professional and personal level. We encourage you to be introspective, candid and succinct. Most importantly, we suggest you be yourself.

  • Essay 1:  What do you hope to gain professionally from the Wharton MBA? (500 words) [text box, 7500 characters]
  • Essay 2: Teamwork is at the core of the Wharton MBA experience with each student contributing unique elements to our collaborative culture. How will you contribute to the Wharton community? (400 words) [text box, 7500 characters]

Optional Essay

First-time applicants can use this essay if you feel there are extenuating circumstances of which the Committee should be aware (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, significant weaknesses in your application). (250 words)

All re-applicants (those who applied for Fall 2017 or 2016) are also required to complete the Optional Essay. Please use this space to explain how you have reflected on the previous decision on your application and to discuss any updates on your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, extra curricular/volunteer engagements). You may also use this section to address any extenuating circumstances. (250 words) [text box, 7500 characters]

Additional open questions from the online application:

Personal Information – Awards

List your most significant community & professional awards as well as recognitions you have received. [text box, 2000 characters]

Work Experience

How many employees do you supervise? Please explain this number briefly (i.e. direct reports, matrix organization, dotted line). [text box, 500 characters]

Reason for Leaving [text box, 400 characters]

Academic Background

Academic Awards [text box, 1000 characters]

Test Information

If waiving due to professional environment, please provide a description here. [text box, 1000 characters]

Standardized test scores are not the only indicator of language skills, therefore, if you have submitted an English language test score, please use this section to describe how, when and where you are using English in your day-to-day life. This should include circumstances where you speak, read or write in English on a regular basis. (200 words) [text box, 1000 characters]

Our note to candidates, due to Yale’s ethics policy: if you are “recycling” an essay from another school to create a Yale essay, use the non-edited first draft that you created for the other school.

Required Essay

Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made. (500 words maximum)

Optional Information

If any aspect of your candidacy needs further explanation (unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, academic performance, promotions or recognitions, etc.), please provide a brief description here. (200 words maximum)

Additional open questions from the online application:

Academic Record

Graduate Degree Information – If you have a graduate degree, how, if at all, does pursuing an MBA relate to your previous graduate studies? (100 words maximum)

Work Experience

Gaps in Work Experience – If you have had any post-undergraduate gaps in full-time employment greater than three months (other than for graduate study), or if you are currently unemployed, please use the space below to provide more information. (250 words maximum)

Post-MBA Career Interests

How did you arrive at these career interests? How have you or how will you position yourself to pursue them? (250 words maximum)

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