The MIT Sloan School of Management offers an MBA program that is rigorous, data-driven, and impact-oriented, designed for leaders who want to solve complex global challenges through technology and collaboration. At Sloan, students become part of a hands-on, highly analytical community where ideas are tested and applied in real-world settings. Whether you’re looking to lead in tech, finance, sustainability, or entrepreneurship, Sloan’s MBA equips you with the tools to drive meaningful change.

MIT Sloan MBA Application Deadlines 2025-2026

Round 1:

  • Application Deadline: September 29, 2025
  • Notification of Board’s Decision: December 2025

Round 2:

  • Application Deadline: January 13, 2026
  • Notification of Board’s Decision: April 2026

Round 3:

  • Application Deadline: April 06, 2026
  • Notification of Board’s Decision: May 2026

MIT Sloan MBA Application Essays and Tips 2025-2026

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 professional examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the Admissions Committee (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation).


This is not just a summary of your resume; it is your argument for admission. Adcoms wants to understand your values, impact, and future potential.

  • Start strong: Open with a clear, confident statement of purpose—why an MBA from MIT Sloan, and why now?
  • Show, don’t tell: Use 1–2 strong, specific examples that demonstrate leadership, problem-solving skills and creativity.
  • Match MIT Sloan’s values: Highlight qualities such as independent thinking, collaboration, humility, and forward-looking ambition.
  • Connect your goals to Sloan: End with how an MBA from MIT Sloan will elevate your impact and how you will contribute back to their community.

Video Question 1

Introduce yourself to your future classmates. Here’s your chance to put a face with a name, let your personality shine through, be conversational, be yourself. We can’t wait to meet you!

Videos should adhere to the following guidelines:

  • No more than 1 minute (60 seconds) in length
  • Single take (no editing)
  • Speaking directly to the camera
  • Do not include background music or subtitles.

Here are some tips for the video essay:

  • Be human: This is not your resume. Show your personality, hobbies and what lights you up.
  • Keep it structured
    • 10 seconds: Name + where you’re from + fun fact
    • 20–30 seconds: Your passions or experiences
    • 20 seconds: What excites you about Sloan or the MBA journey
  • Speak naturally: Smile, be relaxed, and make eye contact with the camera.

Video Question 2

All MBA applicants will be prompted to respond to a randomly generated, open-ended question. The question is designed to help us get to know you better; to see how you express yourself and to assess fit with the MIT Sloan culture. It does not require prior preparation.

Video Question 2 is part of your required application materials and will appear as a page within the application, once the other parts of your application are completed. Applicants are given 10 seconds to prepare for a 60-second response.

The following are examples of questions that may be asked in the Video Question 2:

  • What achievement are you most proud of and why?
  • Tell us about a time a classmate or colleague wasn’t contributing to a group project. What did you do?”

Here are some tips for the video essay:

  • Think in STAR format:Situation – Task – Action – Result
  • Practice with mock prompts to build fluency under time pressure.
  • Speak clearly and confidently, this is more about presence and composure than perfect delivery.
  • Demonstrate values like empathy, leadership, humility and innovation as it aligns with MIT’s culture.

Short answer question

The Admissions Committee is excited to learn more about you and your background. In 250 words, please respond to the following short-answer question:

How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? For example, your family, culture, and community all help to shape aspects of your life experiences and perspective. Please use this opportunity to share more about your background.

Here are some tips:

  • Be personal: Share specific stories from your upbringing, family, community, or culture.
  • Avoid cliché hardships unless very authentic, focus on how you grew and what values you carry.
  • Reflect on identity: Think of traits you bring to teams, classrooms and your career.
  • Connect it to your perspective: How has this shaped your outlook or ambition?
  • Keep it balanced: Story + reflection. Don’t just describe, analyze what it means to you today.

Organizational Chart:

To help us better understand your current role and the impact that you have on your team and department, please submit an organizational chart. We should be able to clearly understand the internal structure of your organization, where you sit in your organization, and your line of reporting.

Organizational charts should not be more than two pages and keep the following in mind:

  • Give us as much detail as possible (names, titles, etc.) but it’s ok to redact names if you need to.
  • Please circle your role in red so that your position is easily identifiable.
  • Make sure we can easily identify where you are, to whom you report, and if applicable, who reports to you.
  • If your recommender or references are on your organizational chart (they may not be, and that’s ok!), please highlight them for us.
  • If you are a consultant, entrepreneur, or affiliated with the military review our FAQs for suggestions on how to approach the organizational chart.

At ARINGO MBA Admissions Consulting, we understand that applying to MIT Sloan is about showing more than just leadership; it is about proving you’re a thinker, a doer, and someone who isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo. That’s exactly where we come in.

  1. Strategic Profile Positioning: Sloan values data-driven thinkers with bold ideas and real-world impact. We help you highlight the kind of innovation, independence, and integrity that adcoms at Sloan looks for.
  2. Cover Letter & Video Prep: From crafting a punchy, high-impact cover letter to rehearsing your video essays, we guide you in presenting your story with confidence, clarity, and authenticity while staying true to Sloan’s unique application style.
  3. Resume & Org Chart Support: We fine-tune your resume and help design a clean, strategic organizational chart that clearly communicates your role, leadership scope, and professional growth.
  4. Mock Interview Coaching: With Sloan’s behavioral interview model, preparation is everything. We conduct tailored mock interviews focused on past performance, so you’re ready to deliver real, results-oriented stories under pressure.

Your ideas matter, and so does the way you tell your story. If MIT Sloan is on your radar, don’t leave anything to chance. Schedule a free consultation with us today, and let’s build an application that reflects the impact-driven leader you truly are.