Buisness Management
Your MBA: Tips for a Great Essay
When you apply to business school, you face a uniquely difficult challenge because many programs require a series of essays rather than a single, comprehensive personal statement. Part of the reason for all this extra writing is that business schools place a stronger emphasis on practical experience. Your academic ability may carry the most weight, but it's not enough to get you into a school, just as it's not enough to guarantee your success in the business world.
Business schools pay close attention to your personal qualities, including leadership, communication skills, initiative, and vision. Your grades, scores, and resume don’t give much insight into this side of you, so your ability to convey your experiences and goals in written form is very important — your acceptance may depend on it.
What they really want to know
The primary question you’ll need to address on nearly every application (if not all of them) is why you want to pursue your MBA. Without a doubt, this is the most important essay you’ll write, whether you write two, three, or four. This is the one that should tie your response to your background and to your goals, and provide the context for the remainder of your application. Essential information about your qualifications, your readiness, and your aspirations should be included here — it will all tie in to everything else you put into your application.
What you must include
Unless your application contains other areas for addressing them, you should convey why you want to pursue your MBA by addressing each of the following in your personal statement:
Both your short- and long-term goals
Past experiences that are relevant to your goals and aspirations
Your strengths and why they make you a good candidate
Unmet objectives or gaps in your work experience and/or education
How an MBA program will...
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