mba admission essay examples

mba admission essay examples

MBA Admission Essay Examples

1. Introduction

Having done an inspiring four-year course in business administration, I would like to further my education and remain in the business field. I feel that this would be the best way for me to add to my skills acquired from my extensive work experience, and an opportunity to make a significant contribution to my future employer. At this point in my career, I consider a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) as an essential supplement to my work experience and academic skill. I need it in order to become the business professional I aspire to be. A MBA will provide the tools and skills necessary to meet my career aspirations. The job market for business school graduates is improving, and there are plenty of reasons to go get that degree. According to a 2008 article in U.S. News and World Report, the job market is on the upswing for business school graduates. The article states that 62 percent of employers plan to hire new business school graduates, breaking a two-year decline in the hiring rate. The degree is also valuable to investors or aspiring entrepreneurs. A 2007 article in Business Week reported that a Wharton MBA can increase a person’s net worth by one million dollars within five years of graduation. An MBA can arm business school graduates with the skills and contacts they need to get where they want to be in their careers. After years of hard work, receiving a MBA degree can be a life-changing event. Business school professor and author of Beyond the MBA Hype Sameer Kamat says that receiving a MBA can be a transformational experience. He has worked with business school students with diverse backgrounds, and has seen the confidence and polish that comes with getting a MBA. The experience of learning new ways to look at the business world and meeting ambitious people can be a great way to re-enter or redirect a career. Just as important is the lifelong friendships and networking opportunities that can come from the two to four years spent in a business school.

2. Importance of a Strong MBA Admission Essay

It seems that the way marketers (and students) perceive the function of the MBA is fairly similar. Consider what one needs to complete an MBA. The answer is money and time, and both are precious to students and marketers. Do most students and companies want to merely “get through” the MBA for the benefit of having an additional line on the resume? Of course not. The purpose of an MBA is to provide the development that enables students to be more successful in their careers. As students research MBA programs, it is essential for them to really understand themselves and their career goals. They must then understand what exactly each particular program can provide for them. A student who fails to conduct such research may very likely invest a great deal of time and money into a program that is not in fact right for him. Additionally, if the student is unclear in his goals, he may find it difficult to articulate to the admissions committee or future employers why the MBA is an important milestone in his career. This lack of understanding can be detrimental to a student; it is difficult to climb the ladder if one is not precisely sure where he is going. An MBA is a career development project and it should be carefully considered and crafted.

3. Key Elements of a Compelling MBA Admission Essay

The MBA admissions essay is one of the most important pieces of writing for any business student. This essay gives the adcom an idea of who you are and what you are about. This essay should be personal and a window into yourself as a person and as a student. We urge you to use a candid style, and there is no right or wrong answer to the questions we are going to provide. And above all, make sure that you are following all of the guidelines set forth by the admissions committee. Many schools have gone to just one essay, but some schools still have two or three. The topics can vary greatly, but all revolve around your leadership potential and what has made you the leader you are today. Below are some examples of essay questions that have been culled from various schools in recent years. Also, we have changed the names where schools and professors have been named.

4. Examples of Successful MBA Admission Essays

I am actually quite proud of our failure because it gave me an understanding of what I am capable of accomplishing as a leader. It was the kernel that sprouted my desire to become an entrepreneur and made it clear to me which direction I should take.

Unfortunately, we were unable to fulfill our promise to the CEO and he was forced to close the company down. The system was actually revolutionary, so that was not the problem. I believe the company failed due to a lack of leadership and the ability to drive the project to completion. This experience gave me small insight into my own abilities in this area and it is something I regret to this day. Given the knowledge and understanding I have now of what it takes to be a leader, I believe I could have steered the project to success. This understanding is the reason I am pursuing an MBA.

After working as a software consultant for almost three years, I became involved with a local start-up company. The CEO had received his MBA from Harvard and was trying to produce a system to compete with the top companies in our industry. He gave our team an ambitious timeline and a significant amount of responsibility. This was exactly what I had been looking for.

In our competitive global economy, I cannot rely on being just a “technocrat” or a “consultant.” We live in a constantly changing world that requires being nimble, thinking on one’s feet and the willingness to take risks. These are the qualities of an entrepreneur which I seek to become. In order to reach this goal, we have learned an important lesson at my current job.

E1 Mahwesh Baber Essay 1: “Identify and show how you work, or plan to work, as a member of a team. In doing so, please give an example of a team failure of which you have been a part. If given a second chance, what would you do to avoid this?”

5. Conclusion

I know that graduate school will teach me the right direction. By using the resources and knowledge that I will gain from an MBA, I can use them to the best of my ability. Then I am able to utilize my record and skills to become an efficient manager for the Department of the Air Force. To continue my life in this career field, I know that acquiring an MBA is a realistic approach to promote my future. I am not certain that all my plans will come to pass, but I am certain that I will work hard and strive to the best of my ability to become a successful leader/manager in my career field. This is the main reason why I want to pursue my MBA studies and will also be the underlying motivation to keep me focused in successfully completing this graduate program. Like every decision I made with my career, deciding to pursue an MBA has certainly been a long road, but I know the road has been well chosen.