cornell mba essay tips

cornell mba essay tips

Effective Strategies for Writing the Cornell MBA Application Essays

1. Introduction to the Cornell MBA Application Essays

Essay Topic Analysis: Cornell Johnson has very specific questions in their online application, plus the standard career goals and leadership questions that stump candidates every year. The best writing strategy for Johnson is to be direct, use simple language, and to include the visual elements they suggest for the Table of Contents essay. Use significant space to answer Essay 1, using half as much, whether it is the optional question or a brainstorm for further promotion of fit with Johnson’s community. Good luck to all applicants!

With a small number of seats available and a large applicant pool, admissions staff seek a diverse and interesting set of students who will contribute to and benefit from a collaborative, stimulating, and unique M.B.A. program that will prepare graduates for the business world. The application essay questions help the school in determining a set of individuals looking to take advantage of the Cornell M.B.A. program. Therefore, your ability to articulate your thoughts, dreams, and personal experiences is an important factor in determining your fit for the program. To help you develop strong topics for the Cornell essays, I have taken the liberty of analyzing the prompts and offering tips on how to address each essay.

2. Understanding the Cornell MBA Program and its Values

The first of the Cornell Johnson MBA application essay questions is: “People/Team Fit: Describe your fit with your selected community. What role do you hope to play, and what are your expectations of being a part of your chosen community? Please limit your response to 500 words or fewer.” The primary purpose of this essay question is to assess your “people” and communication skills, and more importantly your fit with the Johnson MBA class. Any lack of a match with the Johnson program can be a deal breaker. When the admissions team asks about fit, it is not simply assessing your team skills, but also in evaluating YOUR fit with the program!

Before you start working on your MBA application to the Johnson School of Business (Cornell University), reflect on the expectations the admissions team has from your application. They are looking for you to demonstrate a deep understanding of the Johnson business model and their programs. Creating a killer application with a strong match with Columbia’s program and values is an absolute must.

3. Crafting a Compelling Personal Story

Use personal insights to shed light on the significance of events that have been described in the resume and application. How applicants feel about the events in his or her life is far more important than what happened. There is no one “correct” answer. Each person has written something about him or herself that differentiates them from other candidates, thereby increasing the likelihood of success. A great tragedy could be something that was very minor if the writer felt that it was important enough for all time. Conversely, if something is not a tragedy, disaster, etc., do not treat it like one. Avoid melodrama. What psychometricians won’t tell you is that there are essays that are so bad that they, on their own, are deal-breakers. You have to be okay writing content that bears your name for the rest of your life. There are only three criteria by which to measure any piece of writing: Is it clear, compelling, and convincing. How long did it take for an examiner to want to stop reading? Faced with choices, many examiners stop selecting to read essays that are unreadable.

It should come as no surprise that every piece of writing you will be submitting as part of your application to the Cornell Business School is a composite of multiple elements, including the quality of your analysis, persuasion, communication, and self-assuredness. However, many of you have not attempted to tell personal or leadership stories for some time, if ever. Beginning this process would create a story that tells the admissions team what is most important to you and what they would not otherwise know from a preponderance of numbers and ratings. Many applicants fear that in telling the truth about what you consider challenging situations, both academic and professional, the admissions committee will use these admissions against you. We counsel to the contrary. Seldom are individuals invited into any group on the basis of their achievements alone. It is those who have experienced hardship who have also learned valuable lessons to prepare them for future challenges, grow opportunities, and shape the communities to which they belong.

4. Showcasing Your Leadership and Impact

Effective written responses to MBA programs’ essay prompts provide details from each candidate’s background which, taken in the aggregate, add color, context, and clarity to the application. The ultimate goal is not only to introduce the candidate to the admissions team, but also to distinguish this specific individual from the other applicants. While fascinating, compelling, and ultimately enriching for the Cornell community, the fine detail of any candidate’s unique backstory by itself is not the primary focus of the application essay. The important “how” matters more. In other words, the how of storytelling is the star of Success Center’s MBA Tips: STAR and SMART. In this primer, we focus on the STAR and SMART frameworks, suggesting that applicants use them and their ideas about who they are and why they can make a difference as templates to create compelling admissions essays.

Demonstrating how you lead while advancing the mission of your organization is essential for a successful Johnson MBA Cornell application. By utilizing the STAR and SMART framework, applicants can demonstrate impact and leadership in a concrete, compelling way to earn that admit. Examples from a financial regulator to a not-for-profit demonstrate what counts and why. Investment recommendations waste over 100 pages of writing to make comparable arguments – of course, applicants’ stories will have greater immediacy and passion! Think of our next section in this light.

5. Final Tips for Success

The best essays are those that are truly reflective of what you are capable of. The final goal – to create essays that will help you to stand out and get into your dream business school! The time and energy you allocate to your decision to apply to Cornell will demonstrate how seriously you are committed to your education and future career. Once you decide Cornell’s Johnson School is the right place for you, the next step will be to apply. The application process is managed efficiently and effectively. The requirements are both comprehensive and clear. And if there are any questions, the Admissions Office is always willing to help. Keep asking questions until you are confident you are on track. Good luck!

The optional essay should be used to explain weaknesses in your application which you feel you haven’t had the chance to address elsewhere. Some examples of situations that may warrant use of the optional essay include gaps in employment, changes in your academic record, poor performance in a single class, etc. A brief and simple straightforward response requires total introspection, deep reflection, and honesty. Of course, it also requires diligence, editing, and proofreading.

Start drafting your essay responses for the Cornell MBA essays early, and try to avoid last-minute writing and edits. Ask for feedback from people you trust. Review your responses within the broader context of your MBA application. Does what you’ve written give admissions a comprehensive understanding of who you are and what you can bring to the Johnson community? The application also includes an optional essay.

We view leadership as a broad concept that can apply to a range of experience, so please don’t think of leadership only in terms of being the captain of a sports team or the president of a club.

Leadership: How do you define leadership and what brand of leadership are you most drawn to? What impact have you had either in or outside of work? What impact do you want to have post-MBA? (Word limit: 700-750)

In order to write the best Cornell MBA application essays, it is important to answer each of the essay questions to the best of your ability, which includes being open and honest with yourself. Here are some other tips for effectively writing the essays:

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