Essay Tips & Advice
Advice to help you compose business school admissions essays that communicate the highlights of your MBA candidacy and make your app stand out.
Latest Stories About Essay Tips & Advice
UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Essay Topic Analysis 2017-2018
Following up on the release of the Kenan-Flagler MBA essay topics for 2017-2018, we wanted to offer a few pointers to applicants targeting the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for their business school studies next fall. The UNC MBA essay set is mostly unchanged from last admissions season.... Read more »
UT Austin / McCombs MBA Essay Topic Analysis 2017-2018
Following up on our post with the 2017-2018 2017-2018 UT Austin / McCombs MBA essay questions, we wanted to offer our analysis of this season’s UT Austin MBA essays. The broad format of these essays is nearly identical to last year’s, with applicants introducing themselves to their cohort via a 250-word essay... Read more »
Georgetown / McDonough Essay Topic Analysis 2017-2018
Following up on the Georgetown / McDonough essay topics for 2017-2018, we wanted to share our essay topic analysis. The adcom has maintained the video essay, as well as optional and reapplicant essays. The main required essay, however, has shifted in focus to a defining moment that entailed exceeding expectations.... Read more »
Georgetown MBA Essay Questions 2017-2018
The Georgetown University adcom has updated the McDonough MBA essay questions for applicants targeting the Class of 2020. This year we see the return of the one-essay format in addition to the (now one year old) video essay. There are also two optional essays and an essay for reapplicants. 2017-2018 Georgetown MBA Essay Questions... Read more »
Northwestern / Kellogg Essay Topic Analysis 2017-2018
Now that Northwestern has announced the Kellogg essay topics for the 2017-2018 admissions season, we wanted to offer our advice to applicants who are targeting that program’s Class of 2020. The format for Kellogg’s essays remains the same as last year’s: applicants will respond to two required essays in a... Read more »
MIT / Sloan Essay Topic Analysis 2017-2018
Following up on the release of MIT Sloan’s 2017-2018 application essay prompt, we thought we’d offer some suggestions about how Sloan MBA hopefuls might approach this year’s written materials. The school has maintained their required cover letter—albeit with a bit more room compared to last year. The video essay is... Read more »
NYU / Stern MBA Essay Topic Analysis 2017-2018
Following up on the release of the 2017-2018 NYU / Stern Essay Topics, we wanted to share some advice for applicants targeting the NYU MBA Class of 2020. NYU Stern Essay Topic Analysis 2017-2018 Let’s take a closer look at each prompt. Essay 1: Professional Aspirations What are your short and... Read more »
Berkeley / Haas MBA Essay Topic Analysis 2017-2018
Now that the Haas MBA essay topics have been announced for the 2017-2018 season, we wanted to offer our thoughts on how to approach each of these prompts for business school applicants targeting the UC Berkeley MBA Class of 2020. The Haas admissions website notes that the adcom seeks “candidates from... Read more »
Admissions Tip: Crafting the MBA Essay
With several of the leading schools having already released their MBA essay questions for this admissions season, we’re sure that quite a number of early birds are eager to get a jump on the process in order to complete as many applications as possible by Round 1. As applicants find themselves... Read more »
Michigan / Ross MBA Essay Topic Analysis 2017-2018
Following up on the announcement of the Michigan / Ross MBA essay topics for the 2017-2018 admissions season, we wanted to offer some thoughts about how prospective members of the Class of 2020 might approach this application. In her admissions director blog, Soojin Kwon announced a new format to the Ross application’s essay... Read more »
Defining Your Post-MBA Career Goals
Though essay prompts tend to vary year to year, the two things that nearly every prospective student can count on being asked are “What are your short-term and long-term post-MBA goals?” and “How will Business School X help you achieve these goals?” And, even though many schools have now opted to... Read more »
Berkeley / Haas MBA Essay Questions 2017-2018
The UC Berkeley MBA admissions committee has announced the Haas essay topics for applicants targeting the Class of 2020. Haas MBA applicants will respond to three brief required essays of no more than 250 words (each). The Haas admissions website notes that the adcom seeks “candidates from a broad range of industries,... Read more »
Harvard Business School MBA Essay Topic Analysis 2017-2018
As we announced recently, Harvard Business School has released its MBA essay question for the 2017-2018 application season. For the second year running, HBS asks applicants to expand on their overall application. The school is also maintaining its post-interview reflection, which will require those who reach the interview stage to submit... Read more »
Yale School of Management MBA Essay Topic Analysis 2017-2018
We continue with our Essay Topic Analysis, as Yale SOM announced their MBA essay question for 2017-2018. For the second year running, Yale MBA hopefuls are required to respond to a 500-word essay about their biggest commitment. Last year, Admissions Director Bruce DelMonico commented that the Yale MBA adcom developed this... Read more »
Columbia Business School MBA Essay Topic Analysis 2017-2018
With the recent announcement of the 2017-2018 Columbia Business School essay questions, this season’s Essay Topic Analysis series is officially underway. Compared to last year, the adcom has trimmed the word limits and separated the prompts regarding one’s goals and interests in the Columbia MBA. Instead of giving applicants a range... Read more »
