mba admission essay samples

mba admission essay samples

MBA Admission Essays: Crafting a Winning Application

1. Introduction

The competition for business schools is on the rise. More and more people are realizing it’s not a good idea to rely on pot luck when it comes to future career prospects. For companies in today’s fast-paced world, more often than not, they will select a candidate with an MBA over one without. This is because the world of business moves very quickly and these companies want to hire the best possible personnel to fuel their success. Some people have been put off by the escalating tuition fees and the worsening economic climate. Personally, I believe this is the best time to acquire an MBA. Putting heightened global competition for b-schools aside, track record numbers of companies are planning to hire MBA graduates problems 202. A general opinion poll of companies worldwide reported that 80% were either planning to hire or were considering hiring new employees who hold MBAs. A mere indifferent companies planned to not hire at all. Considering that a company providing their employees with an above-average pay rate is vital to its long-term success, this figure is not surprising. As a general ‘rule of thumb’, it is said that if someone has a degree or is thinking of entering an educational field, they cannot go wrong in the pursuit of an MBA. A renowned financial genius and teacher of the subject of economics once said, while observing the trend of the education market at the time, that a teacher who does not have a degree should go to school and earn one so that they will be considered for higher pay in the future.

2. The Importance of a Strong MBA Admission Essay

In a subjective process, evidence of good written and verbal communication skills is more important than ever. If an applicant does not pass the “communication skills” bar, they will not be an attractive candidate for some of the more selective programs. With the growing popularity of the MBA degree, the degree itself is no longer an automatic ticket to an attractive career. People now get MBAs to make career changes, and most applicants don’t have a clear idea of how the MBA will help them in their careers. Unclear goals are the kiss of death to an MBA application. Higher ranked schools are especially looking for candidates with clear long-term goals and pertinent reasons for pursuing an MBA at this time. An effective essay will explain how the applicant’s background is in line with the school’s curricular strengths and how they fit with the profile of people the school is looking to attract. For example, an applicant might not be able to clearly articulate and substantiate why they need an MBA at this point in their careers. In that case, the applicant is much better off postponing the application until they have a clearer idea of what they want to do post-MBA.

Admission into the MBA program of their choice is the goal of many applicants. It is a critical step on the journey toward a fulfilling career. The essay process is crucial because it allows the applicant to “put a stake in the ground” and to clarify their career goals, and it puts the onus on the applicant to reflect on their past experiences and connect the dots to how and why an MBA is a critical part of their career plan. The essay also allows the applicant to demonstrate writing and communication skills. It is an opportunity to make a strong and memorable impression. A memorable essay is one that effectively conveys the applicant’s motivation for pursuing the degree and it provides a vivid picture of the applicant as a real person, not just a GPA and GMAT score.

3. Key Elements of an Effective MBA Admission Essay

– Use power verbs: Ever notice how writing something is different from crafting, developing, or authoring it? Too often, our essays lack strength because the verbs are passive, generic, or overused. Using action words to define your process will give us an understanding of the nature of your work. Action words also have a tendency to take up precious word count. Step one step ahead of the school with an essay that shines a light on your edge.

– Be concrete: An effective essay often times can distinguish an admit from a reject. Be passionate about your work, and find a university where you can be passionate about the subject you love. Then write an essay that advocates an admit.

– Be specific: One of the most common mistakes is to write a generic statement and then simply cut and paste it into an essay. We’re not looking for an essay consisting of a collection of buzzwords. An effective essay will answer the who, what, when, where, and why. Think about content, and let the content speak for itself.

For one, effective MBA admission essays are often the most influential factor in an admissions decision. With such a weighty responsibility, writing an effective essay, rich in content and voice, is key. In stating your point and developing your answers, you need to:

Concise, specific, and powerfully persuasive.

4. Examples of Successful MBA Admission Essays

I have compiled the best examples of written applications to the Cambridge MBA program, featuring three types of written essays: career vision, optional, and analysis of a decision. Please note that names have been changed and select details of their application products have been altered to protect the confidentiality of the applicants. While I have little information on final outcomes, I believe that I was able to craft very strong responses to the essay questions one and three of one of my preferred schools. In writing only a page or less for these essay prompts, I was able to be efficient yet effective in communicating complex ideas. Since I was successful in applying, at least in my mind, I will without question make my responses to those two questions the framework for whatever essays I will need to write in the future. The following essays have been edited for this item. Each is followed by my critique.

5. Conclusion: How to Stand Out and Secure Your MBA Admission

The conclusion offers an exceptionally succinct yet comprehensive summation of what it takes to pass from a wait-list decision to accepted status, or to solidify an already secure admission. The advice is both solid and doable, but more than that, it highlights what the MBA admissions process is really selecting for in most cases. The genuine answers to the essay questions will solidify a secure admission. Since these are likely topic areas you have not addressed elsewhere, and which are crucial to many wait-listed candidates, the book is likely worth a second read before you put the finishing touches on your next year’s application. Remember, crafting a discernibly impressive and distinctive essay can pay great dividends; secure an admission and spend that extra $50K+, and save yourself a year of grief, hunting down recommendation writers and preparing your materials again! High performance can lead to a 25, 50 even 100 fold return on investment. With such potential payoff, the MBA admissions process can be “game time” for the enterprising.