INSEAD Application Essays for 2010-2011

Today we take a close look at INSEAD's admissions essays for the coming application season. You can access these essay topics in INSEAD's online application.

Note that INSEAD's essay prompts have not changes for the past several years. When a school doesn't change its essay topics, that suggests that the admissions committee is pleased with how applicants have been answering the questions. What makes for a good batch of responses? Essays that are clear and revealing, and that help the admissions committee identify who's a good fit with the school. Pay close attention to what the schools asks in its essay prompts -- they ask these things for a reason!

Here are INSEAD's essays for 2010-2011, followed by our comments in italics:

INSEAD Admissions Essays

Job Essays

1. Please give a detailed description of your job, including nature of work, major responsibilities; and, where relevant, employees under your supervision, size of budget, number of clients/products and results achieved. (250 words)
   
   The goal of this essay is clear: You must succinctly help the admissions office understand exactly what you do on a day-to-day basis. As easy as it is to become consumed with your GMAT score and your extracurricular activities, at the end of the day, the most accurate predictor of your professional potential is what you have done in your career to date. Don't be spooked by the fact that the school asks for the number of employees under your supervision and the size of the budget you manage -- if you haven't really managed a team or owned a budget yet, that's okay. The school is just trying to understand exactly what it is you do in your present job. Also, note the emphasis on your PRESENT job. This is not a typical "career progression" essay; stick to what the question asks.


2. Please give us a full description of your career since graduating from university. If you were to remain with your present employer, what would be your next step in terms of position? (250 words)
   
   Here is where you can provide some context around your career progression up until now. Of course, doing this in 250 words is a tough job, do you will really need to stick to the highlights in terms of what you have achieved and the reasons for the moves you have made. You will have to ditch most of the flowery prose in favor of clear, easy-to-follow facts. The second part of this question is interesting in that it pretty directly hits on something that INSEAD and any other top business school wants to know -- that you're interested in pursuing an MBA to turbocharge an already successful career, not to bail out of a stagnant one. Painting the picture of a successful young professional (in not many words, of course!) will be key here.

Personal Essays

1. Give a candid description of yourself, stressing the personal characteristics you feel to be your strengths and weaknesses and the main factors, which have influenced your personal development, giving examples when necessary. (400 words)
   
   While the Job Essays above required you to really stick to the facts and simply summarize your resume, here is where you can start to provide more narrative. Many applicants see the word "weaknesses" and tense up, thinking, "Oh no! I need to come up with an innocuous weakness that won't kill my candidacy!" But the admissions committee knows that no one is perfect. INSEAD truly wants to understand what you're good at and where you need some work. The school wants to see evidence of strong self-awareness and a desire to build on your strengths and improve on your weaknesses. The seemingly natural place to go from here is to explain how INSEAD can help you with these areas, although note that this is not a "Why INSEAD?" essay prompt. Keep the focus mostly on you and what you have accomplished to date.


2. Describe what you believe to be your two most substantial accomplishments to date, explaining why you view them as such. (400 words)
   
   
3. This is not very different from Harvard's "three most substantial accomplishments" essay. Accordingly, our advice is pretty much the same: This gives you a great opportunity for you to spell out at least two main themes that you want to emphasize in your application. Remember, the "why" in your story is even more important than the "what," so be sure to spell out why these accomplishments are so critical to describing you as an emerging leader. Also, don't feel that both accomplishment need to come from your job. If you have a great achievement from outside of work -- such as from your community service efforts or even from a hobby that you're passionate about -- that can also provide great material for this essay.


4. Describe a situation taken from school, business, civil or military life, where you did not meet your personal objectives, and discuss briefly the effect. (250 words)
   
   Ack, a failure question! Time to run for the hills! Don't worry -- as stated above, INSEAD knows you're not perfect. The question is how you are able to overcome your failures and grow as a result of them. INSEAD's word choice in asking for the "effect" of your failure is odd; what the school really wants to hear is what you learned and how you improved (both as a professional and as a person) as a result. And, ideally, you can even work in an example of ho you put what you learned to use when faced with another challenge. Of course, the word count is tight, but being able to work in this example shows that you're not just talk.


5. Discuss your career goals. What skills do you expect to gain from studying at INSEAD and how will they contribute to your professional career. (500 words)
   
   Now we're really getting into the "Why and MBA?" and "Why this school?" questions. Note that, as important is it is to make a convincing case about your career goals and your reasons for wanting an MBA, you also really need to spell out why specifically INSEAD can help you achieve your goals? This is where you need to show that you've done your homework, and convince the school that you're not only applying because INSEAD is a highly ranked program.


6. Please choose one of the following two essay topics:
   
   a) Have you ever experienced culture shock? What did it mean to you? (250 words)
   
   b) What would you say to a foreigner moving to your home country? (250 words)
   
   Both of these essay prompts try to help the admissions committee understand you a little bit better. While it's easy to lump these questions into the "diversity" bucket, really what the school is trying to gauge is your emotional intelligence and cultural sensitivity. More than perhaps any other MBA program INSEAD truly is a melting pot of management education. You may be in study teams with people from four other continents -- how well will you work with them at 3:00 AM when you have a tough final project due in six hours? A little bit of humor a humility can go a long way in answering these questions. Help the admissions committee be able to envision you sitting in a study group on INSEAD's campuses in Fountainebleu and Singapore.

Applying to INSEAD this year? Download our INSEAD Annual Report, one of 15 completely free guides to the world's top business schools. And, as always, be sure to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

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UCLA Anderson Admissions Essays for 2010-2011

Today we dig into UCLA Anderson's MBA admissions essays for the coming year. You will notice that Anderson has changed its essays pretty extensively this year. And, the school's famous "video essay," which is optional, returns for 2010-2011. Pay special attention to our advice regarding the video response, below.

Here are the school's essay topics (for new applicants) for the coming season, followed by our comments in italics:

UCLA Anderson Application Essays

Required Essays

1. What event or life experience has had the greatest influence in shaping your character and why? (750 words)
   
   This question is new, although it's not radically different from last year's first essay prompt. Really, the admissions committee is trying to dig deep into who you are and what makes you tick. We actually prefer last year's wording, since this year's version seems to put extra emphasis on a single event, which may create some pressure in applicants' minds to come up with a dramatic single incident. In reality, the "or life experience" part of this year's question still leaves it open-ended enough that you shouldn't feel the need to focus on one single point in time. Try to answer this question with your personal development in mind. Your tendency will be to tie it right back to your career and why you're pursuing an MBA, but consider this input from the admissions office: "Please be introspective and authentic in your responses. Content is more important than style of delivery. We value the opportunity to learn about your life experiences, aspirations, and goals."


2. Describe your short-term and long-term career goals. What is your motivation for pursuing an MBA now and how will UCLA Anderson help you to achieve your goals? (750 words)
   
   This question carries over unchanged from last year, and should be approached the same as most other "Career Goals" / "Why an MBA?" essays. Note that the "Why an MBA?" component is very important, but you absolutely MUST demonstrate in this essay a knowledge of and a passion for UCLA Anderson. One way any school protects its admissions yield is by ferreting out those who don't demonstrate enough enthusiasm for the program. Failing to answer the "how will UCLA Anderson help you achieve you goals" part of the question is a sure way to get ferreted out by the admissions committee.

Optional Essays

1. You may respond to the following question via written essay, audio or video clip: What is something people will find surprising about you?
   
   It's back! But, this year the school only gives you one answer option, rather than giving you a choice between a question about entrepreneurship and the one presented here. It's easy to get too worked up over this video response. But, in short, we do recommend that our clients take advantage of it, despite the point that Anderson makes about not giving preference to those who submit one. Why? It's simply easier for an admissions officer to envision you at the school if he or she can see your face and feel at least some connection with the real you. It's simply human nature, despite their best efforts to remain objective. We think you should prepare well and make sure you deliver your answer smoothly, but a more impromptu-sounding response will sound warmer and more authentic than an overly scripted response. Lastly, have fun with this! Your response doesn't need to be funny or wacky, but brightening the admissions committee's day always helps.


2. Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? (250 words)
   
   Our advice for this type of question is always the same: Only use this question as necessary. No need to harp on a minor weakness and sound like you're making excuses when you don't need any.

If you haven't already, be sure to check out our UCLA Anderson Annual Report, one of 15 completely free guides to the world's top business schools. And, be sure to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

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NYU Stern Admissions Essays for 2010-2011

Recently we wrote about NYU Stern's MBA application deadlines for 2010-2011. Today, we take a close look at Stern's admissions essays for the year.

You will see that Stern's essays are virtually unchanged since last year. Still, our advice has evolved slightly, so read closely. Stern looks extra hard for applicants who can prove that they really are passionate about the program.

Our comments follow each question in italics:

NYU Stern Application Essays

1. Think about the decisions you have made in your life. Describe the following (750 words):
   
   (a) What choices have you made that led you to your current position?
   (b) Why pursue an MBA at this point in your life?
   (c) What is your career goal upon graduation from the NYU Stern? What is your long-term career goal?
   
   This question carries over unchanged from last year. What we think makes this question unique vs. other school's "Why an MBA?" questions is Stern's emphasis on the choices you've made up until now. Be sure to answer that part of the question -- don't simply write about what you've done up until now, but also explain why you did those things and made those choices. Stern provides some useful admissions tips on its essay page, including podcasts to help you clarify your story. These are great resources for any Stern applicant.


2. We take great care to shape the Stern community with individuals who possess both intellectual and interpersonal strengths. We seek individuals who are highly intelligent, collaborative, and committed to flourishing as Stern leaders. Please answer the following questions (500 words):
   
   (a) What is your personal experience with the Stern community? Tell us what actions you have taken to learn about us.
   (b) Describe what most excites you about Stern from both an academic and extracurricular perspective.
   (c) How do you anticipate making your mark on the Stern community? Be specific about the roles you will take on and the impact you hope to achieve.
   
   This question is also unchanged. Stern has removed the part of last year's question that asked about the toughest piece of feedback you've ever received, and as a result this question has evolved to hit the question of "Convince us that you're passionate about Stern" more directly. Note the emphasis on specifics -- don't speak in generalities or just copy language from the school's web site. What do you know about NYU Stern that convinces you that it's right right school for you, and that you're the ideal Stern student? And how will you convince the admissions committee? Looking at this kind of essay question early in the process will hopefully provide the impetus you need to really do your homework.


3. Please describe yourself to your MBA classmates. You may use almost any method to convey your message (e.g. words, illustrations). Feel free to be creative.
   
   This question is also unchanged. Like Booth and Anderson, Stern seeks new ways to learn about what makes you unique. The admissions office really does want to get to know the real you. Stern's admissions officers are almost begging you to stand out here, which is a reminder about how you can make their job easier by helping them remember the real you. One other note: Just because this question allows you to use any medium, that doesn't mean that you need to submit something other than the written word. If that's your best medium, use it. "Being memorable" means more than just sending them something outrageous; the most effective submissions really are the ones that leave admissions officers feeling like they know you better.

Applying to NYU Stern this year? Download our NYU Stern Annual Report, one of 15 completely free guides to the world's top business schools. And, as always, be sure to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

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UC Berkeley (Haas) Application Essays for 2010-2011

Recently we wrote about the Haas application deadlines for the coming admissions season. Today we'll dig into the school's admissions essays for 2010-2011.

You may notice that Haas has barely changed its essays since last year. When we school make few or no changes, that tells us that its current essay prompts are doing the job. By "doing the job," we mean that they help the admissions committee get to know each applicant better, and they help the committee separate the great applicants from the rest of the pool. As long as the school gets what it needs, there's no need to tinker with the formula too much.

Here are Haas's MBA admissions essays for the coming year, followed by our comments in italics:

Berkeley (Haas) Admissions Essays

Short Answers:

1. What are you most passionate about? Why? (250 words)
   
   Whoa! Did Stanford's Derrick Bolton slip into the Haas admissions office? Actually, this question carries over from last year. The key here is to write about something that you really, really care about. A good litmus test is this: How knowledgeable are you about the subject? Many applicants will be tempted to go bold and say something like "Fighting income inequality is what I'm most passionate about," because they feel like that's just what one is supposed to say here, but then can't back it up with facts... and passion. Admissions officers will see right through this, so try any stunts here!


2. Tell us about your most significant accomplishment. (250 words)
   
   This question also carries over from last year. Ideally the story you choose will demonstrate at least one or two of the key themes in your application. All things being equal, a story from your professional life will serve you best, but don't feel that your significant accomplishment MUST be from the workplace.


3. At Haas, our distinctive culture is defined by four key principles -— question the status quo; confidence without attitude; students always; and beyond yourself. Give an example of when you have demonstrated one of these principles. (250 words, Review Berkeley-Haas' Defining Principles)
   
   This question is new this year, replacing a question that put emphasis on innovation and creativity. The fact that the admissions office directs you to the school's defining principles sends a very clear message that those ideas/traits matter to Haas A LOT, and that the admissions office will be looking closely for evidence of those throughout your application, not just in this essay. Any of the four should make for a good starting point for a compelling essay, although we have noticed the admissions office frequently bring up the the "confidence without attitude" one in our discussions with them. If you're unsure of which one to choose, we'd say go with that one.


4. There are many ways to learn about our program, what steps have you taken to learn about the Berkeley MBA? (250 words)
   
   Haas slightly reworded this essay since last year, although it essentially remains the same. One subtle but importance difference: The addition of "There are many ways to learn about our program," almost says to us, "Please skip past the obvious ones like our web site and brochures... Show us some real effort, please." Our stance on essays like this is always the same: You'd better have better reasons for applying than "Because it's a top-ten program!" The Haas admissions team seeks evidence that you've really done your homework on the school.

Required Essays:

1. Give us an example of a situation in which you displayed leadership. (500 words)
   
   This question has remained the same for the past several years. Haas hits on it directly: The admissions office wants you to show how you are a leader. This should give you a clear idea of how important this trait is to the Haas admissions office when evaluating applicants. You don't need to have a big job title or have a team of ten people reporting to you. Think about any time when you showed leadership -- maybe by overcoming an obstacle, or by helping a colleague or was struggling -- regardless of your role or the circumstances.


2. What are your post-MBA short-term and long-term career goals? How do your professional experiences relate to these goals? How will an MBA from Berkeley help you achieve these specific career goals? (1000 words)
   
   This question also carries over from last year. Note that last year Haas added the "post-MBA" part to the question, suggesting that some applicant had perhaps been speaking in terms that were too "big picture." Pretty standard question here: Where do you see yourself in a few years (and beyond that), and why do you need an MBA to get there? Specifically, why do you need a Haas MBA to get there? Even though you will answer another "Why Haas"-type question, clearly it's very important to the school that you answer this question.

Plan on applying to Haas or another top MBA program this year? Veritas Prep now offers the ability to start working with an admissions consultant today and pay over time. And, be sure to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

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Chicago Booth Application Essays 2010-2011

Recently we wrote about Chicago Booth's admissions deadlines for the coming year. Today we dig into the school's admissions essays, which have changed quite a bit since last year.

It's interesting to note that, after there was some chatter a few months ago that Booth would drop its "PowerPoint question" this year, it lives on. We firmly believe that schools like Booth are still looking for new ways to learn more about you, and while that question hasn't been perfect, they don't want to give up on it since it's still Booth's best bet to get to know the real you before interviewing you.

Here are Chicago Booth's essays for the Class of 2013, followed by our comments in italics:

Chicago Booth Admissions Essays

1. The Admissions Committee is interested in learning more about you on both a personal and professional level. Please answer the following (maximum of 300 words for each section):
   
   a. Why are you pursuing a full-time MBA at this point in your life?
   
   b. Define your short and long term career goals post MBA.
   
   c. What is it about Chicago Booth that is going to help you reach your goals?
   
   d. RE-APPLICANTS ONLY: Upon reflection, how has your thinking regarding your future, Chicago Booth, and/or getting an MBA changed since the time of your last application?
   
   This question is new this year, although in many ways it's a direct descendant of last year's first essay question. This is the fairly standard "Why an MBA? Why this school?" question that most schools ask. Note that, as important is it is to make a convincing case about your career goals and your reasons for wanting an MBA, you also really need to take part (c) seriously... What about Booth attracts you to the school? This is where you need to show that you've done your homework, and convince the school that you're not only applying because Booth is highly ranked.


2. Chicago Booth is a place that challenges its students to stretch and take risks that they might not take elsewhere. Tell us about a time when you took a risk and what you learned from that experience .(750 words)
   
   This question is also new this year. The best response here will come directly from your work experience, provide enough drama to pull the reader in, and give you an opportunity to really answer the second part of the essay prompt: What did you learn from the experience? Last year "reflection" was a big theme in Booth's essay questions, and while this question doesn't specifically ask for reflection, this is your chance to show the kind of self-awareness and introspection that Booth admissions officers really want to see.


3. At Chicago Booth, we teach you HOW to think rather than what to think. With this in mind, we have provided you with "blank pages" in our application. Knowing that there is not a right or even a preferred answer allows you to demonstrate to the committee your ability to navigate ambiguity and provide information that you believe will support your candidacy for Chicago Booth.
   
   We have set forth the following guidelines:
   
   
   • The content is completely up to you. Acceptable file formats are PowerPoint or PDF.
   
   
   • There is a strict maximum of four pages, though you can provide fewer if you choose.
   
   
   • The document will be printed in color and added to your file for review; therefore, flash, hyperlinks, embedded videos, music, etc. will not be viewed by the committee. You are limited to text and static images to convey your points.
   
   
   • The file will be evaluated on the quality of content and ability to convey your ideas, not on technical expertise or presentation.
   
   
   • Files need to be less than 9 megabytes in order to upload. If your file is too large you may save your file as a PDF and upload your essay.
   
   This is the famous "PowerPoint question," although Booth sets it up differently this year, putting much more emphasis on the "Hey, you have a blank slate here!" message than before. Here the school asks you to present yourself creatively and succinctly. Almost nothing is out of bounds, but you really must ensure that these pages add something new to your application -- don't use it to just show off professional achievements that you already cover elsewhere in your application. Be creative! The reason Booth kept this question is because, while it hasn't worked perfectly for the school so far, it really is the admissions committee's best chance to tease some personality out of your application. So, give them some!

Are you applying to Chicago Booth this year? Download our Chicago Booth Annual Report, one of 15 completely free guides to the world's top business schools, available on our site. And, as always, be sure to subscribe to this blog and follow us on Twitter!

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UVA (Darden) Application Essays for 2010-2011

The University of Virginia's Darden School of Business has released its application essays for the 2010-2011 admissions season. (We wrote about the school's upcoming MBA admissions deadlines last week.)

You'll notice that Darden has one of the shorter sets of admissions essays that you'll find among top schools. Also, Darden's essays are pretty different than most other schools' essays, meaning that you won't be able to do much copying and pasting. Darden wants you to put original thought into these essays and demonstrate your fit with -- and your enthusiasm for -- the program.

Here are Darden's essays for the 2010-2011 admissions season, followed by our comments in italics:

Darden Admissions Essays

1. The Darden MBA program expects students to actively participate in learning teams, the classroom, and the broader community. Please share one or two examples from your past experience that best illustrate(s) how you will contribute to this highly engaging and hands-on learning environment. (500 words)
   
   This question is new this year, although it's loosely descended from last year's Essay #2, which asked what you will contribute to an MBA program. This new version is actually very focused compared to most MBA admissions essay questions: Darden doesn't wallflowers, but rather active participants... Give them specific reasons to believe you are one of the latter. Ideally you can spell out at least one really good example using the "Situation-Action-Result" method outlined in Your MBA Game Plan. (One really good example beats two okay ones, hands-down.)
   
   Also, you only have 500 words, but this question is your best chance to demonstrate a measure of fit with Darden... Again, words are precious here, and the majority of your response will need to focus on you, but you need to give the admissions team at least some reasons to believe that you "get" the Darden community and understand what they're looking for when they talk about valuing active contributors.


2. Please discuss how a global event that has taken place in the past two years has impacted the way you think about leadership broadly and personally. (500 words)
   
   This question is a revision of last year's Essay #1, which asked "How have the changes in the global economy over the last 18 months affected you and your plan for the future?" We didn't particularly like this question, since it tended to steer applicants towards talking about "big picture" issues instead of talking about themselves. Plus, built into the question was the assumption that everyone HAD been affected by the rocky economic climate, while in fact many applicants' plans hadn't changes at all. This left many strong applicants scrambling to generate an impressive-sounding story when they didn't necessarily have one.
   
   So, we're glad they changed the question, although the risk of an applicant focusing too much on "big picture" global issues -- that don't really shed any light on who they are and what they hope to achieve in life -- still remains. The key here is to especially focus on the last few words, which put the emphasis on on YOU. If the global issue you want to discuss is rising energy prices and your alarm over what you think is a lack of a coherent national energy policy for your country, don't just stop there. Bring it back to a time you witnessed a similar challenge at work, and how you took the steps needed to make sure your team wasn't only making short-sited decisions. That's the type of story that can turn a potentially murky response into a winner.

Plan on applying to Darden this year? Download our Darden Annual Report, one of 15 free business school admissions guides available on our site. And, be sure to subscribe to this blog and follow us on Twitter!

Photo courtesy of Mr. T in DC, under a Creative Commons license.

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Dartmouth (Tuck) Application Essays for 2010-2011

Darmouth's Tuck School of Business recently published its admissions essay topics for the 2010-2011 application season. You'll see that some of the questions have changed a bit vs. last year's essays, although Tuck still hits on the same themes this year. That suggests that the school still feels that these themes (e.g., leadership and overcoming adversity) work well for the school in terms of finding applicants who are good Tuck material.

Note that Tuck does not have hard word limits for its essays, but the school does provide some rough guidance: "Although there is no restriction on the length of your response, most applicants use, on average, 500 words for each essay."

Here are Tuck's essays, followed by our comments in italics:

Dartmouth (Tuck) Admissions Essays

1. Why is an MBA a critical next step toward your short- and long-term career goals? Why is Tuck the best MBA program for you? (If you are applying for a joint or dual degree, please explain how the additional degree will contribute to those goals.)
   
   This is the fairly standard "Why an MBA? Why this school?" question that most schools ask. Tuck takes the concept of "fit" very seriously when evaluating candidates -- maybe more so than any other top school, given its small class size and remote location -- so be sure that you can present a compelling argument for why Tuck in particular is the right place for you to earn your MBA. If your answer has everything to do with you and nothing to do with Tuck, then you probably have more work to do in researching the school.


2. Discuss your most meaningful leadership experience. What did you learn about your own individual strengths and weaknesses through this experience?
   
   This question is new this year, and replaces another leadership question. Interestingly, last year's question was more specific and contained more clues as to what exactly Tuck looks for in its applicants. As we noted last year, the previous question was maybe a bit ambitious in terms of how much an applicant could cover in about 500 words. Still, the advice we gave last year remains mostly the same: Keep your response focused on one single situation, what action you took, and what the results were (Situation-Action-Result," or "SAR" as we call it at Veritas Prep). Note the last part of the question, about what you learned about yourself. What exactly happened is very important, but so is evidence of self-reflection. Ideally you can show that you learned something about yourself, such as a shortcoming or lack of experience, that you were able to act on and improve. That's the richest type of response one can give here.


3. What is the greatest challenge or hurdle you have overcome, either personally or professionally, and how did you manage to do so?
   
   This question is also new, and replaces one about the toughest criticism you ever received. While this question is certainly different, in many respects it addresses the same core attribute that Tuck wants to see in its applicants: The ability to objectively take a challenge and setback and turn it into something positive, coming out better in the end. It's interesting that Tuck had gotten away from the "toughest feedback" or "biggest failure" questions, since those tend to be very revealing. This question is subtly different, but there are many responses that could work for a "failure" question that could still work well here. In fact, writing a response about overcoming a failure or weakness will usually more powerful than answering with "My biggest challenge was completing a marathon." While that's impressive, it's far less revealing than a story about a time when you had to make a more fundamental change to who you are as a person and as a leader.


4. Tuck seeks candidates of various backgrounds who can bring new perspectives to our community. How will your unique personal history, values, and/or life experiences contribute to the culture at Tuck?
   
   This is a good chance to specifically highlight any strengths or themes that may need more emphasis in your application. Everything in your background is fair game here: your work experience, your personal life, and your hobbies all make you unique. Don't just think of "diversity" in terms of race or national origin!


5. (Optional) Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere that may be helpful in reviewing your application (e.g., unusual choice of evaluators, weaknesses in academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes, etc.). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application.
   
   As always, only use this essay if you need to explain a low undergraduate GPA or other potential blemish in your background. No need to harp on a minor weakness and sound like you're making excuses when you don't need any. More generally, if you don't have anything else you need to tell the admissions office, it's okay to skip this essay!

Applying to Tuck this year? Download our Tuck Annual Report, one of 15 completely free guides to the world's top business schools. And, be sure to subscribe to this blog and follow us on Twitter!

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The Rise of the Multimedia MBA Admissions "Essay"

Imagine the business school application of the future: Rather than spending weeks on dozens of revisions of multiple essays, you sit down at a computer and give short verbal responses to questions, which are recorded via a webcam and uploaded to your target business school's online application system. Sound crazy? It's not necessarily as far away as you might think.

Some MBA admissions officers have begun to experiment with wildly different formats that replace the traditional essay. These multimedia questions, which are completed through such platforms as audio, video and sometimes PowerPoint, are an increasingly common tool used by the likes of the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago and the Anderson School of Business at UCLA to learn about the "real" applicant, or the person behind the resume, GMAT score and undergraduate institution of record.

And it doesn't stop there. Admissions officers from another top MBA program recently told us that they're considering an even more radical change, asking applicants to do all of their responses via video, and to do them all in one sitting, in a semi-live format. (Imagine a scenario similar to taking the GMAT in a test center... You walk in, do all of your responses at once, and then you're done.) While this is still just an idea, it clearly indicates where admissions officers' minds are.

A shift in the response format of an MBA admissions essay generally indicates that admissions offices were not getting what they needed to make accurate determinations about applicants. Rather than being intimidated by these new multimedia questions, you can think of them as offering a fresh opportunity for applicants to be creative and demonstrate the key qualities that admissions officers look for, including emotional intelligence (also known as "EQ") and capacity for critical thinking and self reflection.

If you're working on one of these "essays," keep in mind these tips for making it great:

1. A well-prepared audio or video response doesn't come across as an-overly scripted one. While very few applicants can sit down and make a perfect impromptu video or recording in one take, the more an applicant can strike a friendly and not overly formal tone, the more likely the response is to draw in one's audience. Loosen up and speak from the heart -- the last thing an admissions officer wants to see is something that looks or sounds like a hostage reading a prepared statement.


2. Gimmicks are less effective than you might think. Sure, it's hard for an admissions officer to forget the video of the guy juggling flaming torches, but if the only thing the video communicates is "This guy likes to juggle flaming torches," then that applicant has missed a valuable opportunity to share something meaningful about himself.


3. Less is more. Many applicants mistakenly assume that a video or a PowerPoint deck gives them the chance to communicate a wide variety of information, more than a written essay ever could. But, just as it can with an essay, trying to cram in too many messages will dilute the effectiveness of the whole product. Keep your response concise and single-minded.

Do you plan on applying to business school this year? Give us a call at (800) 925-7737 and speak with one of our mba admissions experts today. And, as always, be sure to subscribe to this blog and follow us on Twitter!

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MIT Sloan Admissions Essays for 2010-2011

A few weeks after releasing its application deadlines for the coming year, the school has published its admissions essays. Here they are, followed by our comments in italics:

MIT Sloan Cover Letter
Prepare a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA Program. Describe your accomplishments and include an example of how you had an impact on a group or organization. Your letter should conform to standard business correspondence and be addressed to Mr. Rod Garcia, Director of MBA Admissions. (500 words)

While this isn't an essay in the traditional sense, the cover letter is a rite of passage of MIT Sloan applicants every year. Over the past couple of years the prompt has evolved slightly to place more emphasis on your "impact on an organization." (And regular readers of this blog know how much emphasis we place on demonstrating impact!!) This year the question remains the same, so the Sloan admissions office must think that this phrasing helps them more effectively get at what they're looking for in MBA applicants.

MIT Sloan Application Essays

1. Please describe a time when you went beyond what was defined, expected, established, or popular. (500 words)
   
   Sloan added this question last year, and it must have liked what it saw in applicants' responses. Just as the cover letter prompt has evolved to place more emphasis on impact, this change suggests that Sloan is really looking closely for evidence of how you have gone beyond your regular job description to make a positive impact on those around you. We consider this as one of the key ingredients of leadership, and Sloan clearly wants to see more of it in its applicants.


2. Please describe a time when you convinced an individual or group to accept one of your ideas. (500 words)
   
   This question is new this year, and it is yet another example of how Sloan is really looking for leaders in its applicant pool. If you just read that last sentence and thought, "Oh no, I've never managed anyone or been a team lead," that's okay. That's not how Sloan (or any top MBA program) defines leadership. One practical definition of leadership is the ability to positively influence others, and Sloan directly asks for an example of that ability with this question. Even if your example feels fairly mundane (such as an engineer convincing other engineers to pursue a certain technical solution), you will be successful if you can show real skill maturity in HOW you go it done.


3. Please describe a time when you took responsibility for achieving an objective. (500 words)
   
   This question carries over from last year. Once again, we see a question that gets at signs of leadership. In this case, it's a willingness to take on the burden of achieving a goal. Once again, the "SAR" technique will be critical to demonstrating not just what you accomplished, but also HOW you accomplished it, which is what the admissions committee really wants to see. They don't want to simply hear about how you were handed a goal and you easily achieved it; discuss an instance when you took on an especially challenging goal, maybe when others avoided it or had failed in achieving it, and describe what exactly you did to make it happen.


4. You may use this section to address whatever else you want the Admissions Committee to know. (250 words)
   
   Our usual words of warning here... Applicants tend to err on the side of overusing this essay to explain away small details in their profiles. Only use this essay if needed! Two examples are if you have a low undergrad GPA (this is the most common use that we see) or if your current supervisor does not write a recommendation for you. But don't waste the admissions office's time unless you really need to answer a significant question that admissions officers might have about your application.

Getting ready to apply to MIT Sloan? Download our MIT Sloan Annual Report, one of 15 completely free guides to the world's top business schools, available on our site. And, be sure to subscribe to this blog and follow us on Twitter!

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Michigan (Ross) Application Essays for 2010-2011

A couple of weeks after releasing its application deadlines for 2010-2011, the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business has released its admissions essays for the coming year. Ross has made some very significant changes to its essays this year. While the school's Round 1 deadline is still more than three months away, now is a great time to start mapping out your application strategy, starting with these essays.

Here are Ross's admissions essays, followed by our comments in italics:

Michigan (Ross) Admissions Essays

1. Introduce yourself in 100 words or less.
   
   Wow... Short and sweet! This question is new this year, and it's the quintessential "elevator pitch." You have just four to six sentences to highlight what the admissions committee absolutely must know about you. This is not an exercise is seeing how much information you can cram into 100 words. Instead, your challenge is to distill down your candidacy to no more than several key points that 1) demonstrate your fit with Ross and 2) help you stand out vs. the competition. This essay will be a super-summary of the rest of your application, so don't be bothered if some of the content here seems to overlap with what's in your other essays.


2. Describe your career goals. How will the Ross MBA help you to achieve your goals? (500 words)
   
   This question is also new this year. It is essentially the typical "Why do you want an MBA, and why this school?" question. Remember to keep it realistic and to demonstrate that you understand what a Ross MBA will and won't do for you as a young professional. Note that many similar questions start with "Describe your career progress to date," but this essay is only forward-looking. Still, any discussion of your career goals will likely include at least some background on what you've learned and accomplished. So, you should plan on succinctly discussing what you've done until now.


3. Describe a time in your career when you were frustrated or disappointed. What did you learn from that experience? (500 words)
   
   This question is also new, and replaces a question on last year's application that asked for an applicant's most significant professional accomplishment. This new question gets much more at the "emotional intelligence" that we hear admissions officers talk about wanting to see in applicants. While this isn't explicitly a "failure" essay, an example of a time when you failed is fair game here. Other possibilities are a time when you had to deal with a difficult co-worker or a time when you had a hard time winning others over to your way of thinking. These would all make for good demonstrations of how you've dealt with adversity. And remember that the second half of this question is the most critical: What did you learn from this rough patch in your career? (And, how did it make you a better person or more successful professional later on?) That's what Ross admissions officers most want to know.


4. Select one of the following questions:
   
   • What are you most passionate about and why? (300 words)
   
   • We expect that Ross MBAs will not only be effective leaders, but also effective teachers. How will you contribute to the learning experience of your peers at Ross? (300 words)
   
   Both of these questions are new. The first one is very much like Stanford's famous "What matters most to you, and why?" question, and requires an honest response about something that truly moves you. Again, the second half of the question is the meatiest part: You can be passionate about anything, but what really makes great responses stand out is when the "Why" part is memorable, believable, and contains specifics about how you have acted on that passion. Are you passionate about bicycling? Great. Now explain why, using specific examples... All in 300 words!
   
   Regarding the second question, when you hear the word "diversity" used to describe a business school classroom, this goes beyond race or gender. This also refers to the experiences (both personal and professional) that you bring to the classroom. Your job here is to demonstrate those experiences and convince the Ross admissions office that you'll actively contribute these in the school's "action-based learning" environment. Ross doesn't want wallflowers in the classroom, so don't look like one!


5. Optional question: Is there anything else you think the Admissions Committee should know about you to evaluate your candidacy? (500 words)
   
   As always, only use this essay if you need to explain a low undergraduate GPA or other potential blemish in your background. No need to harp on a minor weakness and sound like you're making excuses when you don't need any. More generally, if you don't have anything else you need to tell the admissions office, it's okay to skip this essay!

If you want to learn more about the Ross School of Business, download our Ross Annual Report, one of 15 completely free guides to the world's top business schools, available on our site. And, as always, be sure to subscribe to this blog and follow us on Twitter!

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Kellogg Application Essays for 2010-2011

Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management recently released its admissions essays for the coming year. While Kellogg's application won't be live until early August, now is a great time to start mapping out your essays for a Round 1 application to Kellogg.

Here are the new essays, followed by our comments in italics:

Kellogg Application Essays

1. a) MBA Program applicants -- Briefly assess your career progress to date. Elaborate on your future career plans and your motivation for pursuing an MBA. (600 words)
   
   b) MMM Program applicants -- Briefly assess your career progress to date. How does the MMM Program meet your educational needs and career goals? (600 words)
   
   These questions have changed only very, very slightly from last year. For the most part, they are the standard "Why and MBA? Why now?" questions that you will see on nearly every top business school's application. One challenge that applicants face is BRIEFLY describing their career progress until now, and then devoting enough space to why an MBA is right for them, why now is the right time, and why specifically Kellogg is the right MBA program for them. While there is no hard rule, ideally the backward-looking part of your essay will take up no more than about half of the total word count. Admissions officers will learn enough about your professional background from the rest of your application (your CV, your data sheets, your letters of recommendation, etc.), so no need to completely rehash it here.


2. Describe your key leadership experiences and evaluate what leadership areas you hope to develop through your MBA experiences. (600 words)
   
   This question has been the same for a couple of years now. The best examples of responses to this question are ones in which the applicant focuses on no more than two or three mini stories. The fewer, the better, since including too many examples means that no one story will have very much impact. Be as specific as possible here, rather than discussing leadership in broad terms or with vague generalities. When discussing what areas you want to develop, be realistic about what you will learn in the classroom -- Kellogg knows that you won't emerge from a classroom lecture as a completely finished leader. Discuss what you want to learn at Kellogg, but also tie it back to the "real world" and your post-MBA career.


3. Assume you are evaluating your application from the perspective of a student member of the Kellogg Admissions Committee. Why would you and your peers select you for admission, and what impact would you make as a member of the Kellogg community?
   
   Kellogg introduced this question last year, although it's similar to a question that Kellogg used to use, which encouraged applicants to evaluate their applications as if they were admissions officers. Note that the emphasis is now on how a STUDENT member of the admissions committee would look at your application, driving home the emphasis that Kellogg places on fit with its culture. This is a terrific opportunity to highlight the two or three core themes that you want to make sure jump out from your application. While Kellogg looks for some humility in every one of its students, don't be a afraid to toot your own horn a bit here!


4. Complete one of the following three questions or statements. Re-applicants have the option to answer a question from this grouping, but this is not required. (400 words)
   
   a) Describe an instance where you encountered resistance in a professional team setting. How did you address the situation?
   
   b) People may be surprised to learn that I...
   
   c) The best mistake I ever made was...
   
   Questions A is new this year, although it's closely related to last year's Question 4A, which asked about a time when an applicant had to make an unpopular decision. This is your chance to discuss an experience that shows off leadership abilities, teamwork, and/or ethics. Question B lets you have some fun and discuss some less obviously MBA-related traits. Don't underestimate how important these traits are to admissions officers; they truly do want to get to know you "beyond the numbers."
   
   Question C is new this year, which is sort of too bad, because it replaces the school's old "I wish the admissions committee had asked me..." question, which we always liked. However, this new question gives you a chance to show off some serious introspection: You had the humility to admit you made a mistake, you learned from it and grew as a person, and then (ideally) you were able to put what you learned to use in another setting. If that structure reminds you of a story in your background, this new question could be a great one for you to choose.


5. Required essay for re-applicants only -- Since your previous application, what steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? (400 words)
   
   (This last question says it all when it comes to describing what every top MBA program looks for in reapplicants. Ideally you will have at least one or two significant achievements or experiences that will bolster a weakness that may have kept you out of Kellogg last year. The most obvious examples are a big promotion at work, a higher GMAT score, or strong grades in some post-college coursework, but anything that demonstrates leadership, teamwork, maturity, or innovation -- if one of these was a weakness in admissions officers' eyes last year -- can help your candidacy.)
   

If you haven't already, this is a good time to check out our Kellogg Annual Report, one of 15 completely free guides to the world's top business schools. And, be sure to subscribe to this blog and follow us on Twitter!

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Stanford MBA Admissions Essays for 2010-2011

A couple of weeks after announcing its application deadlines for the coming year, Stanford GSB has released its MBA application essays for 2010-2011. Bucking the trend that some other top business schools have exhibited so far this year, Stanford hasn't made a single change to its essays. Accordingly, our advice mostly remains the same.

One thing we really about Stanford's essays is that they put so much emphasis on an applicant's impact and willingness to go beyond what's expected of him. While all top business schools look for these exact same traits, we like that Stanford hits these ideas right on the nose. Also, note how much coaching Stanford gives applicants right on its essay page. When in doubt, start with the advice that they explicitly give you!

Here are Stanford's admissions essays, followed by our comments in italics:

Stanford GSB Application Essays

1. What matters most to you, and why? (750 words recommended, out of 1,800 total)
   
   This question has been around for years. Believe it or not, it used to have no word limit. Now, the essay's 750-word limit forces applicants to be a little more economical with their words. With this essay, take Stanford's advice to heart: "Truly, the most impressive essays are those that do not begin with the goal of impressing us." This question requires a great deal of introspection, after which you should create an essay that truly answers the question asked, whether or not you feel that it's directly applicable to your candidacy. Obviously, the more relevant your essay is to the goal of getting into business school, the better, but where many Stanford applicants go wrong is by writing about grand ideas and using impressive-sounding words, rather than a real glimpse into who they are as a person. The latter is much more powerful and, ultimately, much more effective in getting you into Stanford GSB.
   
   We leave you with these words of advice, taken directly from Stanford's own site: "[The best essays] do not focus merely on what you've done or accomplished. Instead, they share with us the values, experiences, and lessons that have shaped your perspectives. They are written from the heart."
   


2. What are your career aspirations? How will your education at Stanford help you achieve them? (450 words recommended)
   
   This is the more common "Why do you want an MBA, and why this school?" question. Here you can feel more comfortable writing about the topics that business schools more often look for in their applications. Remember to keep it realistic and to demonstrate that you understand what the Stanford MBA experience will -- and won't -- do for you as a growing professional. Again, you will do well to heed Stanford's advice here: "Use this essay to explain your view of your future, not to repeat accomplishments from your past."


3. Answer two of the four questions below. Tell us not only what you did but also how you did it. What was the outcome? How did people respond? Only describe experiences that have occurred during the last three years. (300 words recommended for each)
   
   Option A: Tell us about a time when you built or developed a team whose performance exceeded expectations.
   
   Option B: Tell us about a time when you made a lasting impact on your organization.
   
   Option C: Tell us about a time when you motivated others to support your vision or initiative.
   
   Option D: Tell us about a time when you went beyond what was defined, established, or expected.
   
   As noted above, these essays all carry over unchanged from 2009-2010. What that tells us is that the Stanford admissions office likes what it got from applicants last year. For Option A, note the emphasis on "whose performance exceeded expectations"... Results matter, and you need to show them here. This is a classic Situation-Action-Result ("SAR") question. Again, we love the "impact" idea in Option B... Stanford is looking for young professionals that leave a trail of success and positive, meaningful impact everywhere they go. If you have a good example to use, we strongly urge you to answer Option B.
   
   Over the years Option C has evolved from a question about overcoming an obstacle or failure to a question that gets at one version of leadership -- motivating others to support your ideas. Stanford considers this type of persuasiveness a key ingredient in the future leaders that it wants to produce. Option D is another results-oriented question that also gets at a core component of leadership: the ambition and ability to do more than what is listed in your job description. We think the way this question is phrased sounds a bit pedestrian, but a great response will show you you tackled a problem or pursued an opportunity (in the workplace or in your community) that would have otherwise gone ignored.
   

If you plan on applying to Stanford GSB this fall, download our Stanford GSB Annual Report, one of 15 free guides to the top business schools on our site. And, as always, be sure to subscribe to this blog and to follow Veritas Prep on Twitter so that you don't miss a beat in the worlds of GMAT prep and MBA admissions!

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Wharton Application Essays for 2010-2011

After releasing its application deadlines a few weeks ago, Wharton has just released its admissions essays for the Class of 2013.

The Internet is already buzzing with chatter about Wharton's new essays, which are radically different than last year's. In Spring 2009, when Wharton Dean of Admissions J.J. Cutler was new to the job, the school made numerous changes to its essays. Now Wharton introduces even more radical changes to its application this year.

Wharton's 2010-2011 MBA admissions essays are below, followed by our comments in italics:

Wharton Admissions Essays

Required Question
What are your professional objectives? (300 words)

This question is new this year. At its core, it is still in many respects a "Why an MBA?" essay. (Note that those questions don't come up in any other essay here, so you will need to address them here.) Also note that, while this seemingly mandatory question only requires 300 words, Wharton gives you 600 words for each of the other, more introspective essays. Clearly, the Wharton admissions committee is more interested in getting to know you as a person than as a professional. Business schools always say that, but Wharton is really putting this idea into action.

Still, it is critical that you use this essay to properly "set the stage" for the rest of your candidacy. It's only 300 words long, but after reading this essay admissions officers should clearly understand where you want to go in your career and why a Wharton MBA makes sense for you now. Wharton doesn't ask "Why Wharton?" and you don't have many words to spare, so don't devote too many words to answering this here. You have 1,800 - 1,900 words (across your three other essays) to help lead them to the conclusion that you're a great fit with Wharton.

Optional Questions

Respond to three of the following four questions:

1. Student and alumni engagement has at times led to the creation of innovative classes. For example, through extraordinary efforts, a small group of current students partnered with faculty to create a timely course entitled, "Disaster Response: Haiti and Beyond," empowering students to leverage the talented Wharton community to improve the lives of the Haiti earthquake victims. Similarly, Wharton students and alumni helped to create the "Innovation and the Indian Healthcare Industry" which took students to India where they studied the full range of healthcare issues in India. If you were able to create a Wharton course on any topic, what would it be? (700 words)

If you were worried about demonstrating your knowledge of (and fit with) Wharton, here's your chance to show some of that here. The risk for many applicants will be in overreaching with this essay and discussing something too high-minded to be believable (e.g., "I want to start a class on providing drinking water to Third World nations.") The Haiti and India examples will likely contribute to that problem. If there's something you're truly passionate about, this is a great place to discuss it, but it does NOT have to have the impact on the social good that the Haiti example provides. What are you passionate about? How would you want to educate your Wharton classmates on it?


2. Reflect on a time when you turned down an opportunity. What was the thought process behind your decision? Would you make the same decision today? (600 words)

This is a terrific "introspection" question. MBA admissions officers really want to see self-awareness and introspection in applicants, and this question provides that. Don't worry if the opportunity that you turned down seems small -- you don't need to blow them away with the "sexiness" of the opportunity. Also, note the emphasis on your thought process; that's far more interesting to Wharton than what the actual opportunity was. Help them understand why you made the decision, what you learned about your wants and values in the process, and how it's shaped you as a person. Also, answering "No." to the last part of the question is okay. Having the humility to wish you could make a decision over again is one terrific sign of introspection and maturity.


3. Describe a failure that you have experienced. What role did you play, and what did you learn about yourself? How did this experience help to create your definition of failure? (600 words)

This is the only question that carries over from last year, although the last part is new. As with all failure-related questions, the key is to put enough emphasis on what you learned. This sort of self-awareness is what admissions officers typically look for when they ask a "failure" question. Also, ideally you will be able to describe a later time when you applied what you learned to a new situation to avoid a similar failure.


4. Discuss a time when you navigated a challenging experience in either a personal or professional relationship. (600 words)

This question is also new this year, although, at its core, it's similar last year's Question #2, which asked about a time when you had to accept the perspective of people different from yourself. You need to demonstrate empathy, maturity, and a willingness to consider others' points of view. Where it differs is that it takes a little emphasis off of the idea of diversity and explores tough relationships of all types. As we said last year, it's most important here that you can make clear why the situation was challenging, what you did to overcome it, and -- hopefully -- how you were successful. Even if you weren't successful, though, what's most interesting here is what you learned in the process.

Before you begin your Wharton application, download our Wharton Annual Report, one of 15 completely free guides to the world's top business schools, available on our site. If you're ready to start building your own application for Wharton or other top MBA programs, call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today! And, be sure to subscribe to this blog and follow us on Twitter!

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Yale MBA Application Essays and Deadlines for 2010-2011

The Yale School of Management has released its application deadlines and admissions essays for the coming admissions season. Here they are, followed by our comments in italics.

Yale MBA Application Deadlines
Round 1: October 7, 2010
Round 2: January 6, 2011
Round 3: March 17, 2011

These deadlines are virtually the same as last year's, with the exception of Yale's Round 3 deadline, which is one week later than it was last year. Note that, like some other top MBA programs, last year Yale pushed its Round 1 deadline up to early October, which enables the school to render decisions on Round 1 applications before the holidays (and before the Round 2 deadlines come in early January). If Yale SOM is your top choice -- or one of your top choices -- this gives you a chance to take a strong shot at the school early and apply to your backup schools in Round 2, if needed.

Yale MBA Admissions Essays

Short Answers
Please answer each of the four questions below with a short paragraph of no more than 150 words. This is an opportunity to distill your core ideas, values, goals and motivations into a set of snapshots that help tell us who you are, where you are headed, and why. (600 words total)

1. What are your professional goals immediately after you receive your MBA?


2. What are your long-term career aspirations?


3. Why are you choosing to pursue an MBA and why now? (If you plan to use your MBA experience to make a significant change in the field or nature of your career, please tell us what you have done to prepare for this transition.)


4. What attracts you specifically to the Yale School of Management’s MBA program?

These short (and we do mean short!) questions carry over unchanged from last year. These essays really challenge you to be succinct and get right to the point in answering the school's questions. But, we think that's okay. Each of these "micro-essay" questions covers a topic that you should be well prepared to answer by now. Yale just wants you to cut the fat and get right to the point, so the best thing you can do is answer these questions head-on. Career switchers should take special note of the additional instruction in Question #3. In this economic climate, Yale SOM, like all schools, is especially interested to know how well you will do in the post-MBA job market. Career switching is fine, and is even a great reason for pursuing an MBA, but you need to show that you've done your homework and are realistic about your intended career.

(By the way, the above paragraph is exactly 150 words, by design. Notice that you really can say a lot in just 150 words!)

Personal Statements
Choose two (2) of the following topics and answer them in essay form. Please indicate the topic numbers at the beginning of your essays. (500 words maximum per essay)

While last year Yale asked everyone to answer the "leadership style" question (#3 below) and then choose from a short list of other questions, this year that question is just one of five questions that applicants can choose from. Since Yale has kept the question, it must give the school what it wants, but Yale must have gotten enough good info from the other questions that it now wants to give every applicant the chance to choose which two essays will work best for him or her.

1. What achievement are you most proud of and why?


2. What is the most difficult feedback you have received from another person or the most significant weakness you have perceived in yourself? What steps have you taken to address it and how will business school contribute to this process


3. Describe an accomplishment that exhibits your leadership style. The description should include evidence of your leadership skills, the actions you took, and the impact you had on your organization.


4. An effective leader for business and society is one who is able to hear, understand and communicate with people from all segments of society. In order to educate such leaders, Yale SOM is committed to promoting diversity and creating a community that cultivates a wealth of perspectives. In this spirit, describe an instance when, as part of a team, you played a role in bringing together individuals with different values or viewpoints to achieve a common goal.


5. For Reapplicants (answer this topic plus one (1) of the other topics): What steps have you taken to improve your candidacy since your last application?

Question #1 is similar to Harvard's "three most substantial accomplishments" essay. Of course, here you can devote 500 words to just one accomplishment, allowing you to go into more detail. The "why" is really what matters here -- in your life until now, if you can pick just ONE thing, it had better be good. And not just impressive, but also consistent with the overall story you present in your Yale SOM application.

We like Question #2 because it gives you a chance to really show off your self-awareness. Applicants are understandably uneasy about discussing their weaknesses and failings, but being able to show how you maturely and constructively handled tough feedback -- and then how you put that feedback to use in a later situation -- is a terrific thing for your candidacy.

Question #3 gives you the chance to put the Situation-Action-Result (SAR) framework to use, although for many applicants, the best example to use here may overlap with Question #1, so we expect that many applicants will find themselves having to choose between #1 and #3. Question #4 may reflect an evolution in Yale's thinking... Two years ago, the question was "What unique attributes would you bring to Yale," but now the school is interested in seeing how you worked with and brought together people with different viewpoints. This ability to work well with (and lead) others is a trait that Yale SOM really prizes in its applicants.

For more advice on applying to Yale SOM, download our free Veritas Prep Annual Reports! And, as always, be sure to subscribe to this blog and follow us on Twitter!

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Duke (Fuqua) Admissions Essays for 2010-2011

Duke University's Fuqua School of Business has released its admissions essays for the 2010-2011 season. They've made some pretty interesting changes this year, so let's dig in. Our comments are in italics.

By the way, note that Fuqua doesn't provide specific word limits, but rather asks that applicant limit each essay to no more than two pages, with a font size no less than 10-point and 1.5 line spacing. They ask applicants to "respond fully and concisely" to each essay.

Duke (Fuqua) Application Essays

1. Describe your vision for your career and your inspiration for pursuing this career path.
   
   This question starts off the same as last year's first Fuqua essay prompt, but it strictly asks about you, whereas last year's question also asked about "the role of The Duke MBA in achieving your goals." (That latter part is addressed in Question #3, below.) Overall, your approach to this question will be very similar to your approach to other "Why an MBA?" / career goals questions. While you should save the "Why Duke?" material for Question #3, be as specific as possible about how you see your career progressing over the next ten to twenty years. Do you want to dive right into industry and get your hands dirty? Learn as part of a larger operation and "grow up" as a leader, eventually taking the reins of a division within a large company? This is where you need to show that you've at least thought these things through, even if you know that you may change your mind one day. And by "specific" we don't mean that you must spell out that you will spend exactly four years as a management consultant, then three years as a business development manager, etc. Rather, you must show that you can "tie it all together" and envision a realistic career path for yourself after graduating from Fuqua.
   
   Also, this is the time to discuss the career choices you've made up until now. Even though the essay asks for your "career vision," don't miss the "inspiration" part of the question -- this is Fuqua's way of trying to understand the you've made up until now. Your biggest potential mistake here is to give the impression of an applicant who's applying to Fuqua simply because he's bored or has stagnated in his current job. You always want to look like an applicant who is moving toward something great, not moving away from something bad.


2. How will your background, values, and non-work activities enhance the experience of other Duke MBA students and add value to Fuqua's diverse culture?
   
   This question is new this year, although it's interesting that it's almost identical to one of Tuck's admissions essays from last year. This essay gives you a good chance to specifically highlight any strengths or themes that you want to emphasize more in your application. Everything in your background applies: your work experience, your personal life, and your hobbies all make you unique. Some applicants see this and think, "Oh, it's a 'diversity' question. I'm afraid I don't bring much 'diversity' to the table," but that's simply not true. All applicants have some things in their backgrounds that make them interesting... Discuss them here! And, do it in a way that demonstrates that you "get" the values that Fuqua prizes -- including teamwork, innovation, and a global perspective.


3. Why Duke? (If you are interested in a specific concentration, joint degree, clubs or activities, please discuss how you would contribute to these in this essay.)
   
   As mentioned above, in some respects Duke took last years' Question #1 and chopped it into two questions: this year's Question #1 and Question #3. This new essay prompt wins the award for shortest essay question ever, beating out NYU's "Why Stern?" question by one letter. (Just kidding. There's no such Stern essay!) In all seriousness, Duke, like some other top schools that tend to sit just outside the top ten in the MBA rankings, gets a lot of applications from candidates who also have applied to Harvard, Wharton, etc., and the school is quite savvy at recognizing when an applicant is truly excited about Duke. This is your opportunity to demonstrate that you have really researched the program, understand its core values (mentioned above), and really want to spend the rest of your life as a member of the Fuqua community.
   
   Some applicants will surely rattle of names of classes, professors, and on-campus clubs, to show that they've done their homework. For the most part, while this research is critical for you, "showing off" this kind of knowledge usually elicits a "big deal" from admissions officers. Go deeper, and force yourself to answer the question... Why Duke? Some pragmatic components to your response are totally fine -- it has strong ties to the health care industry, which is what first drew you to the program, for instance. That's a completely real, honest response. Then, starting there, move into how you can see yourself thriving in the Duke community. You prefer the school's teamwork-oriented teaching style since it's consistent with your undergraduate experience... Every student or alum you have met has raved about the program... That's just an example, but it's a more heartfelt, interesting, and effective response than simply rattling off names of clubs, because it's about you.
   

For more advice on getting into Fuqua, download our Fuqua Annual Report, one of 15 completely free guides to the world's top business schools. If you're ready to start building your own candidacy for Harvard or another top MBA program, call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today!

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Columbia MBA Admissions Essays and Deadlines for 2010-2011

Last week Columbia Business School released its online application for the 2010-2011 admissions season. Oddly, they seem to make applicants create two accounts on their site: One on their "Inside MBA" site and one on Apply Yourself, which actually hosts Columbia's online application.

Columbia's application deadlines and admissions essays are below, followed by our comments, in italics:

Columbia Business School Application Deadlines
January 2011 Entry ("J-Term"): October 6, 2010
Early decision: October 6, 2010
Merit fellowship consideration: January 5, 2011
Regular decision: April 13, 2011

These deadlines are virtually the same as last year's. Columbia has always been a little unusual compared to other top MBA programs because of its J-term intake, but that deadline neatly coincides with Harvard/Stanford/Wharton's Round 1 deadlines. Also, note that Columbia Business School uses a rolling admissions schedule, so the only really firm deadline is the April 13 one. However, even though Columbia doesn't have a traditional Round 1, Round 2, etc., our advice still holds: We recommend against applying at the last minute. Applying as late as March or April means competing for one of the very few seats still open at that point.

Columbia Business School Application Essays

1. What are your short-term and long-term post-MBA goals? How will Columbia Business School help you achieve these goals? (750 words)
   
   This question carried over unchanged from last year. It's the standard "Why an MBA? Why this school?" question that many top MBA programs ask. Where some applicants is in failing to explain why Columbia is the best place for them to earn their MBA, given the school's culture, academic strengths, ties to certain industries, etc. Yes, Columbia has a big name and proximity to Wall Street. Those strengths are obvious. What else does Columbia offer that you can't find anywhere else?


2. Please tell us about yourself and your personal interests. The goal of this essay is to get a sense of who you are, rather than what you have achieved professionally. (500 words)
   
   This question is new this year. It replaces last year's question about Columbia's Master Classes, which included a video prompt that applicants watched before answering the question. It seems as though that question didn't give the Columbia admissions office what it wanted (i.e., helping them learn more about each applicant), so it replaced that question with one that very directly hits on the "Tell us more about you" theme. They clearly just want to get to know you better. If there's any doubt about that, they explicitly add "rather than what you have achieved professionally." Don't be afraid to get a little casual here and show some personality. In this way, this new question is quite similar to the new "Introduce yourself to your future classmates" question on the new HBS application.


3. (Optional) Is there any further information that you wish to provide to the Admissions Committee? (Please use this space to provide an explanation of any areas of concern in your academic record or your personal history.)
   
   As we always advise, only use this essay if you need to explain a low undergraduate GPA or other potential blemish in your background. No need to harp on a minor weakness and sound like you're making excuses when you don't need any.
   
   It's interesting to note that last year's "team failure" essay is gone, leaving just two mandatory essays. Again, when a school drops an essay it usually isn't giving the admissions office what it wants. Columbia must be looking to streamline its application, and that was the question that had to go.

Applying to Columbia this year? Before you do, download our Columbia Business School Annual Report, one of 15 completely free guides to the world's top business schools, available on our site. Ready to get to work? Call us at (800) 925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today. And, as always, be sure to subscribe to this blog and follow us on Twitter!

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HBS Admissions Essays and Deadlines for 2010-2011

If you were wondering whether the 2010-2011 MBA admissions season could really upon us already after Wharton released its application deadlines last week, then wonder no more. Yesterday Harvard Business School announced its application deadlines and admissions essays for the 2010-2011 season. Here they are, taken from Harvard's site. Our comments are in italics:

Harvard Business School Application Deadlines
Round 1: October 1, 2010
Round 2: January 11, 2011
Round 3: March 31, 2011

This year's Round 1 deadline is exactly the same as last year's. We wonder if a top school will soon move its deadline into September? Round 2's deadline is about one week earlier than last year's, meaning applicants will have a bit less breathing room after the holidays pass this year. The Round 3 deadline has also crept forward by about a week.

Harvard Business School Application Essays

• What are your three most substantial accomplishments and why do you view them as such? (600 words)
  
  This question has remained unchanged for years. It's a great opportunity for you to spell out three main themes that you want to emphasize in your application. This being HBS, at least one of your examples should highlight leadership, but don't discount stories that also demonstrate other traits that admissions officers look for, including teamwork, innovation, and maturity. Remember, the "why" in your story is even more important than the "what," so be sure to spell out why these accomplishments are so critical to describing you as an emerging leader. Also, ideally you will be able to draw upon multiple types of experiences -- not only on the job, but also from your community involvement, your hobbies, and even, in some cases, your personal life. Finally, don't be intimidated by that relatively tight word count! Harvard's word limits force you to focus on your most important experiences!


• What have you learned from a mistake? (400 words)
  
  This question also carries over from last year. An okay essay will answer the question and describe what you have learned, but a great one will then discuss how you put that lesson to work in a later experience. This allows you to move away from this essay being purely hypothetical to discussing another achievement in your young career.


• Please respond to two of the following (400 words each):
  
  
  1. What would you like the MBA Admissions Board to know about your undergraduate academic experience?
  
  
  2. What is your career vision and why is this choice meaningful to you?
  
  
  3. Tell us about a time in your professional experience when you were frustrated or disappointed.
  
  
  4. When you join the HBS Class of 2013, how will you introduce yourself to your new classmates?
  
  
  
  The first two questions carry over from last year. The first one has "Optional essay for applicants with problematic undergraduate transcripts" written all over it. Only use it if you're in this situation. The second one is not too different from other school's "Why MBA?" and "Short-term/long-term career goals" questions. This is a perfectly fine question to choose, but avoid speaking in over broad generalities or in grandiose terms -- e.g., "To solve world hunger" -- that admissions officers will find hard to believe.
  
  The third question is an interesting because, on the surface, it doesn't seem very different from the "What have you learned from a mistake?" question. We recommend that you answer this one only if you can do what we describe for that other question: Don't only describe a time when you were disappointed, but also discuss what you learned from it and how you put that lesson to work.
  
  The last question essentially replaces last year's "Write a cover letter for the admissions committee" question, and we like it the slightly less formal slant that this version takes. What do you think are your most memorable experiences or attributes? How do you want to be known by your classmates? It will be interesting to see how applicants tackle this one, but we recommend erring on the side of being less formal -- friendly, written in the first person, and maybe even a little humorous.

Every year dozens of Harvard Business School applicants turn to Veritas Prep for help in getting into HBS. For more advice on getting in, download our HBS Annual Report, one of 15 completely free guides to the world's top business schools. If you're ready to start building your own candidacy for Harvard or another top MBA program, call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today!

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