The application season is upon us, and with it comes a renewed focus on showcasing your unique potential and fit for the M7 business school- MIT Sloan. This blog post, unveils the latest application components, including essays, a new video question, and crucial details about the standardized test waiver process.

Application Deadlines: Round 1: September 30, 2024; Round 2: January 14, 2025; Round 3: April 7, 2025

This year, MIT Sloan has introduced a new video essay question alongside the existing cover letter and short answer question. Here’s a breakdown of each component and how to approach them effectively:

Cover Letter (300 words):

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

Tips: This is your opportunity to craft a compelling personal narrative. Highlight professional experiences that showcase your leadership qualities, intellectual curiosity, and “doer” mentality, aligning with MIT Sloan’s values.

Video Question 1 (60 seconds): 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 second) in length
  • Single take (no editing)
  • Speaking directly to the camera
  • Do not include background music or subtitles

Tips: Introduce yourself to your future classmates! Let your personality shine through in a conversational and authentic manner. Be confident, articulate, and showcase the unique qualities you’d bring to the MIT Sloan community.

Video Question 2 (60 seconds, no prep): 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 Essay 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 5 seconds to prepare for a 60-second response.

Tips: This randomly generated question delves deeper into your thought process and communication skills. Stay calm, demonstrate clear thinking, and showcase your ability to think on your feet.

Short Answer Question (250 words): How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? For example, your family, culture, community, all help to shape aspects of your life experiences and perspective. Please use this opportunity to share more about your background.

Tips: While this question was optional last year, it is compulsory this time. Reflect on how your background (family, culture, community) shaped your identity and perspectives. This is an opportunity to provide context to your experiences and illustrate your personal growth.

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 FAQs for suggestions on how to approach the organizational chart.

Tips: For a clearer picture of your professional context, submit an organizational chart outlining your company structure, your position, and reporting lines. Annotate the chart for clarity and highlight any relevant individuals, such as recommenders.

Standardized Test and Waivers: Standardized tests, specifically the GMAT (Focus Edition and 10th Edition) and GRE are a critical component of the application process and play an important role in our holistic evaluation process. The MIT Sloan Admissions Committee expects that you will submit a GMAT (Focus Edition and 10th Edition) or GRE score to be reviewed as part of your application. Both the remote and in-person versions of these exams are accepted with no preference.

If your current situation prevents you from being able to submit a test score, you may request a test waiver explaining the situation; the Admissions Committee will take your request under advisement and let you know if the waiver has been approved. If the waiver is approved, and you are later admitted, the Admissions Committee reserves the right to offer conditional admission such as, but not limited to, receiving a certain score on the GMAT or GRE or taking a supplemental class. The test waiver request form is not intended to be a Statement of Academic Readiness and should focus only on the circumstances surrounding your inability to take a GMAT or GRE.

The MIT Sloan application is your chance to paint a compelling portrait of yourself – a future leader brimming with potential and perfectly suited for their innovative program. To make your application truly shine, here are some strategic brushstrokes to consider:

  • Unleash Your Inner Star: Authenticity is the gold standard. Let your genuine voice and personality resonate throughout your essays and video introductions. Don’t be afraid to showcase your unique quirks – they might be the very qualities that set you apart!
  • Become a Beacon of Impact: Don’t just tell, illustrate! Showcase your leadership and problem-solving skills through powerful anecdotes that highlight the positive impact you’ve had in your professional environment.
  • Think Like a Trailblazer: MIT Sloan thrives on innovation. Align your goals and aspirations with their forward-thinking spirit. Demonstrate your desire to tackle complex challenges and contribute to the development of cutting-edge solutions.
  • Practice Makes Perfect (and Confident): The video essays are your chance to connect with the admissions committee on a personal level. To conquer those jitters, prepare beforehand. Brainstorm potential topics that showcase your strengths and personality, and practice your delivery to ensure clarity and confidence.

By implementing these strategies, you’ll transform your application from a good one to a masterpiece. Remember, MIT Sloan is one of the best MBA programs globally. So, unleash your inner leader, showcase your impact, and paint a picture of yourself that screams “MIT Sloan fit!”- ARINGO can help you with that 😊. Contact us today for your MIT Sloan application.