Admissions committees need something beyond a GPA or test scores to differentiate applicants and determine who is a good fit for the program and who is not. This is where the MBA essay comes into play. Your MBA essay tells the admissions committee who you are and helps to set you apart from other applicants. Not every business school requires an MBA essay as part of the admissions process. For some schools, the essay is optional or not required at all. Don't let the opportunity to differentiate yourself from other applicants pass you by. Some business schools put strict requirements on the length of MBA application essays.

For example, they may ask applicants to write a one-page essay, a two-page essay, or a 1,word essay. If there is a desired word count for your essay, it is very important to adhere to it. If you are supposed to write a one-page essay, don't turn in a two-page essay or an essay that is only a half-page long. Follow instructions. If there is not a stated word count or page count requirement, you have a little more flexibility when it comes to length, but you should still limit the length of your essay. Short essays are typically better than a long essay. Aim for a short, five-paragraph essay. If you can't say everything you want to say in a short essay, you should at least stay below three pages. Remember, admissions committees read thousands of essays - they don't have time to read memoirs.

A short essay demonstrates that you can express yourself clearly and concisely. There are some basic formatting tips that you should follow for every MBA essay. For example, it is important to set the margins so that you have some white space around the text. A one-inch margin on each side and on the top and bottom is typically good practice. Using a font that is easy to read is also important. Obviously, a silly font like Comic Sans should be avoided. Fonts like Times New Roman or Georgia are typically easy to read, but some of the letters so have funny tails and embellishments that are unnecessary. A no-frills font like Arial or Calibri is usually your best option.

Many essays - whether they are application essays or not - utilize a five-paragraph format. This means that the content of the essay is split into five separate paragraphs:. Each paragraph should be about three to seven sentences long. If possible try to create a uniform size for the paragraphs. For example, you don't want to start with a three-sentence introductory paragraph and then follow up with an eight-sentence paragraph, a two sentence paragraph and then a four-sentence paragraph. It is also important to use strong transition words that help the reader move from sentence to sentence and paragraph to paragraph. Cohesion is key if you want to write a strong, clear essay. The introductory paragraph should start with a hook - something that captures the reader's interest.

Think about the books you like to read. How do they start? What grabbed you on the first page? Your essay isn't fiction, but the same principle applies here. Your introductory paragraph should also feature some sort of thesis statement , so the topic of your essay is clear. The body paragraphs should contain details, facts, and evidence that support the theme or thesis statement introduced in the first paragraph. These paragraphs are important because they make up the meat of your essay. Don't skimp on information but be judicious - make every sentence, and even every word, count. With a personal story essay, your objective is to show the reader how your story is unique and how you will add value and diversity to classroom discussions and on campus activities. This can be one of the hardest essays to write.

To get started, Personal MBA Coach advises that you make a list of everything you have done in your life and take the time to write it all down. Then, think carefully about the decisions you have made, activities you enjoy and, most importantly, why you made those choices. Finally, look for a theme! What single idea connects these items? This is the hard part, so give it time. Do not overthink the conclusion. In fact, with short word limits, Personal MBA Coach often advises clients to write just one concluding sentence or remove the conclusion altogether. Conclusions can be fluffy, generic or repetitive. You do not need or want to waste words here. If you have told your story well and you have addressed the question clearly and concisely, do not worry about the conclusion!

As soon as possible! It is never too early to start thinking about your MBA essays. In fact, Personal MBA Coach works with many clients 6 month — 3 years in advance through our Early Planning package, helping future applicants make the appropriate career and extracurricular decisions to ensure they have enough experience to write strong MBA essays. That said, with diligence, some Personal MBA Coach clients are able to develop a compelling MBA essay within a month. Keep in mind, this is a very compressed timeline and takes dedication to achieve!

Plus, you always want to leave time for proofreading and should avoid submitting your essays at the last minute. Our team includes a former M7 admissions director and former M7 admissions interviewers. Partner Sites mba. com mba. com Partner Sites GMAC Calling All Optimists BusinessBecause The MBA Tour mba. Continue Shopping. push function {googletag. com How To Apply Admissions Essays MBA Essays: Everything You Need to Know. MBA Essays: Everything You Need to Know August 26, Scott Edinburgh - Personal MBA Coach Scott Edinburgh is an mba. save save. Why do I need an MBA essay? Do I need different MBA essays for each program I apply to? What should I write about in my MBA essay? What are the most common MBA essay questions? Below, Personal MBA Coach shares our tips for answering each of these key essay types: Goals Essay When answering a question about your MBA goals , it is crucial that you are decisive.

Why an MBA? Essay To answer a question about why you want an MBA or why you want to study at X school, you want to show that you have carefully thought through how an MBA at your target program will prepare you to achieve your career goals. Personal Story Essay With a personal story essay, your objective is to show the reader how your story is unique and how you will add value and diversity to classroom discussions and on campus activities. How do you conclude an MBA essay? How far in advance should I start my MBA essays? Article Sponsored by.

We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page. Manage Settings Continue with Recommended Cookies. To improve your chances of getting accepted into your desired business school, writing a convincing MBA application essay is crucial.

Besides GPA, GMAT score, and academic record, an outstanding and realistic application essay is a key ingredient of the business school admission process. Many admission committees base its decision heavily on these essays. Admission committees of top-rated business schools have shared these samples. MBA application essay is a detailed write-up about your personal and professional goals and aspiration. It also explains how the MBA program will help you attain your objectives for the future. Your essay is your one shot to convince the admission committee to consider you for the initial interview.

The admission committee looks for strong evidence of the following factors in your MBA application essay:. If you want to learn more, here is the complete guide on how admission committees process MBA applications. These are the significant components of an MBA essay. Just adjust the sequence, play with words, and come up with a persuasive yet realistic picture of yourself. Wants more tips? Here is a complete guide to writing a compelling MBA application essay. Now you have known that what makes a great MBA admission essay, the next step is to write one for yourself. Before writing, check out this list of 20 expert-vetted MBA application essays that secured admissions to top-rated business schools in the world.

Admission consultants have shared these samples and they can be helpful if you read and analyze them carefully. This sample is particularly focused on leadership traits. If your essay is about explaining your leadership quality experience, this sample is right up your alley. The best thing about the essay is that it is much written in a simple, engaging, and humorous style. It defines a great experience in a very conversational style. If you are asked to write about your strength, weaknesses, aims, and goals in your application essay, this sample will help you. This applicant who wrote this got accepted to the INSEAD business school.

It highlighted the events and incidents that shaped her personality. In this application essay, the candidate has defined three phases of his life and how he survived through each adversity. He beautifully explained why the MBA program is important to his future. This essay was submitted to Harvard business school. The best thing about this piece is that the writer has explained her learning and professional development journey in a very sequential and engaging manner. Have a low GPA? What would you write about academics in an MBA essay to convince the admission committee?

Do not overthink! MBA essay is not all about high achievements and sterling background. It is also an opportunity to atone for your past mistakes. This MBA essay was written by a student who obtained very low academic grades, yet got admitted to her desired business school. Her turning point? A powerful application essay. Suppose you are ambitious in a skill or profession that has nothing to do with the MBA program, yet you need the degree for certain reasons. This sample essay will show how you how. A guitarist who got selected for the MBA program wrote this one.

The applicant has intelligently defined his passion for guitar as a way of developing discipline, determination, leadership, and success. He explained how his passion affected his academics and how the guitar helped him cope with the challenges. If you come from a technical or engineering background and have the ambition to pursue an MBA degree to boost your engineering career, this sample essay will help pave the way for you. This essay was submitted by a mechanical engineer to Harbus Business School. The writer explained how his engineering experience motivated him to pursue an MBA and how the program is important to his long-term goals.

This essay was written by a candidate who got accepted to Harvard Business school. Check it out to know what the prestigious academic institution looks for in your essay. This essay has been honored as one of the best MBA essays ever received by the Wharton Business School in Pennsylvania. They explained why the applicant who wrote this was instantly accepted to the program and why they appreciated its content. This sample was taken from a pool of successful MBA application essays submitted to the University of California business school. Read it carefully and analyze its structure, words, and substance before you compose your own fantastic MBA essay.

If Oxford Business School is your target destiny for earning your MBA, then check out this outstanding application essay. This essay was written by a candidate who got accepted to London Business School. Sometimes the MBA admission portal may demand an essay specifically focused on your future goals. In such a case, you must be very sure about yourself and must convey your goals and future directions based on your experiences and planning. This successful MBA application essay was submitted to the MIT Sloan Executive MBA Program. EMBA essay requires you to show strong potential, impact, leadership, and the ultimate need for the program.

Many business schools are turning to video-based essays for MBA applications. A video-based essay is a better option to express yourself directly to the admission committee. Listen to the video and appreciate how beautifully the applicant has explained his journey from beginning to end. Want to learn more about video MBA essays? Here is a complete guide. Some business schools require candidates to respond to short questions to get insights into their personalities and suitability for the MBA program. More or less, most of the questions revolve around the same theme. The key to success is to grasp the intention of the admission committee behind the questions and to stick to your identity. These successful answers submitted to the Tepper School of Business will help you in formulating your answers.

This essay was submitted by a successful candidate for the MIT Sloan School of Management MBA program. See how this applicant smartly answered the essay questions. The Michigan Ross Business School asks a diverse range of questions from candidates to analyze their competencies from multiple perspectives. The application essay is a core part of the admission process in the increasingly competitive MBA program. If you do not want to miss the chance of getting selected, you need to know what will make your essay stand out from the crowd. The expert-vetted list of 20 great MBA application essay samples we cited here worked for the top business schools.

Learn them by heart, and who knows, it may work for you too. Put your other activities aside, read and analyze the list carefully and start writing your MBA essay to land in your dream business school. Vendor List Privacy Policy. Read more: 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a College Paper. Read more: The 9 Best Writing Programs for Elementary Students. Read more: Best Educational Apps for Kindle Fire For Kids of All Ages. Rafal Reyzer Hey there, welcome to my blog! I'm a full-time blogger, educator, digital marketer, freelancer, editor and content manager. I started RafalReyzer. com to provide you with great tools and strategies you can use to achieve freedom from through online creativity. My site is a one-stop-shop for writers, bloggers, publishers, content enthusiasts and freelancers who want to be independent, earn more money and create beautiful things.

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The best thing about this piece is that the writer has explained her learning and professional development journey in a very sequential and engaging manner. Discuss classes you are particularly interested in or perhaps professors you are looking to study with, etc. Using a font that is easy to read is also important. Many candidates get stuck on the MBA essay questions. Showcase Your Extracurricular Activities on Your Business School Application January 27, Graduate Management Admission Council. If you do not want to miss the chance of getting selected, you need to know what will make your essay stand out from the crowd. Please verify.

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