mba essay questions 2021

MBA Essay Questions for 2021-22 Admissions: Complete List for Top U.S. Programs

• December 15, 2021

By now you’ve probably done a TON of school research and narrowed down your list of target MBA programs. That means it’s time for one of the most challenging parts of the MBA application process: tackling those darn admissions essays!!! 

Your MBA Essays Matter. Here’s why.

The essays are a critical component of your MBA application. They allow the admissions committee to get a better sense of your character, values, career goals, and vision. Adcoms want to know more about the kind of people who might be coming to campus if admitted into their program, and the essays are their main way to find out. Do you share the same core values as the school? Will you contribute to the vitality of the community? The adcom is also learning more about your ability to communicate in these essays. Can you share who you are and what you’re passionate about in a manner that is clear, heartfelt, and inspiring?

Understanding the school’s mission and values is key to deciphering their essay questions.

Many applicants are daunted by the essay writing process, especially since every school requires different essays. If you’re applying to 6-8 MBA programs, you could be writing as many as 10-20 different essays. Unsuccessful applicants are typically those who try to recycle the same essay for several schools, so here at Career Protocol we caution against a one-size-fits-all approach to MBA admissions essays.

Take the time to really research the mission and values of the schools you’re applying to. Those pages on the school websites aren’t just marketing ploys. They offer valuable clues to help you decipher what qualities each school is looking for with their carefully crafted essay prompts.

Now that we’re on the subject, wouldn’t it be nice to have all those different bschool essay prompts in one place for reference? Spare yourself the trouble of hunting, copying, and pasting every essay question into an Excel spreadsheet, because we’ve done something really handy…

That’s right. We’ve collected all the essay questions for the top U.S. MBA programs!

Career Protocol has your back! Below is a one-stop reference guide for all the essay prompts used by top U.S. MBA programs in the 2021-2022 admissions cycle. We’ve also provided some free resources for each school to help you get started on brainstorming. Now you can use the time we saved you to focus on writing!

Applying to programs outside the U.S.? Check out our comprehensive list of essay questions from European MBA programs.

You've got this!!! Talk to us about working together.

U.S. Business Schools

Harvard mba essay question 2021-22.

• As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School MBA program?

There is no word limit for this question. Don’t overthink, overcraft and overwrite. Just answer the question in clear language that those of us who don’t know your world can understand.

Admissions Website

• Harvard Admissions Website  

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Stanford GSB essays (Video)

• How to Answer Stanford GSB’s ‘What Matters Most to You and Why’  
• Stanford MBA Admission Secrets
• How to Wow the MBA Adcom: Inspiring Storytelling for MBA Applications and Interviews
• Don’t Write Boring MBA Essays! Here’s How to Start
• Don’t Write Your MBA Personal Statements Until You Watch This
• Why Your MBA Essay Needs Strong Career Goals

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Stanford GSB essays (Blog Posts)

• Don’t Screw Up Your Goals in the MBA Application
• A Screenwriter’s Guide to Epic Narratives for Your MBA Essay
• How to Write a Great MBA Essay
• Please Stop Trying to Convince People You Are Good

HBS Resources

• The Harbus Essay Guide
• HBS Application Tips

Stanford MBA Essay Questions 2021-22

• Essay A: What matters most to you, and why?

For this essay, we would like you to reflect deeply and write from the heart. Once you’ve identified what matters most to you, help us understand why. You might consider, for example, what makes this so important to you? What people, insights, or experiences have shaped your perspectives?

• Essay B: Why Stanford?

Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs.

Instructions: Both essays combined may not exceed 1,050 words. We recommend up to 650 words for Essay A and up to 400 words for Essay B.

• Stanford Admissions Website
• Don’t Write Boring MBA Essays! Here’s How to Star

GSB Resources

• MBA Admissions Advice
• Evaluation Criteria
• Dean’s Office Hours with Kirsten Moss
• Sharing Your Story I
• Sharing Your Story II
• Sharing Your Story III

University of Chicago (Booth) MBA Essay Questions 2021-22

• How will a Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals? (Minimum 250 words, no maximum.)
• An MBA is as much about personal growth as it is about professional development. In addition to sharing your experience and goals in terms of career, we’d like to learn more about you outside of the office. Use this opportunity to tell us something about who you are… (Minimum 250 words, no maximum.)
• Is there any unclear information in your application that needs further explanation? (Maximum 300 words.)

Reapplicant Essay (required for reapplicants)

• Upon reflection, how has your perspective regarding your future, Chicago Booth, and/or getting an MBA changed since the time of your last application? (Maximum 300 words.)
• Booth Admissions Website

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Chicago Booth essays (Video)

• How to Get into Chicago Booth: Busting Some Booth MBA Myths
• Don't Write Boring MBA Essays! Here's How to Start

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Chicago Booth essays (Blog Posts)

Booth resources.

• Ask a Boothie: What’s your best advice for applicants
• Booth YouTube page
• Booth Full-Time MBA Admissions blog

University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) MBA Essay Questions 2021-22

• How do you plan to use the Wharton MBA program to help you achieve your future professional goals? You might consider your past experience, short and long-term goals, and resources available at Wharton. (500 words)
• Taking into consideration your background – personal, professional, and/or academic – how do you plan to make specific, meaningful contributions to the Wharton community? (400 words)
• Please use this space to share any additional information about yourself that cannot be found elsewhere in your application and that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee. This space can also be used to address any extenuating circumstances (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, areas of weakness, etc.) that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider. (500 words)
• Please use this space to share with the Admissions Committee how you have reflected and grown since your previous application and discuss any relevant updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, and extracurricular/volunteer engagements). (250 words)

Admissions Website:

• Wharton Admissions Website

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Wharton essays (Videos)

• How to Answer the Wharton MBA Essays for 2021

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Wharton essays (Blog Posts)

• Wharton MBA Admission Secrets

Wharton Resources

• Wharton Application Tips 2021
• Wharton Essay Tips Article

Northwestern (Kellogg) MBA Essay Questions 2021-22

• Kellogg’s purpose is to educate, equip and inspire brave leaders who create lasting value. Provide a recent example where you have demonstrated leadership and created value. What challenges did you face and what did you learn? (450 words)
• Values are what guide you in your life and work. What values are important to you and how have they influenced you? (450 words)

Additional Essays (for certain applicants)

• One-Year applicants: Please discuss your post-MBA career goal, the current experience you will leverage to support the transition, and the Kellogg 1Y opportunities that will help you reach this goal. (250 words)
• MBAi applicants: The Kellogg McCormick MBAi program is designed to train the next generation of leaders who can help businesses deliver successful outcomes through AI-driven technology. This requires leaders who have both strong technical and business skills; many firms struggle to find leaders with these skills. Tell us about your firsthand experience with this disconnect between business and technology and how MBAi will prepare you to successfully lead businesses at the intersection. (450 words)
• MMM applicants: The five core values of the MMM Program are curiosity, creativity, empathy, open-mindedness and a learning mindset. Describe a situation in which you demonstrated one of these values. Why is this value an important part of the MMM experience for you? (250 words)
• JD-MBA applicants: Please discuss your post-JD-MBA career goals and why the JD-MBA Program is the right program to help you reach those goals. (250 words)
• Since your previous application, what steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? (250 words)

Required Video Essays

We've read your essays, we've read your resume — now we want you to bring all that to life in a video. Show us the person behind all those carefully crafted words. The video will be comprised of three questions, each designed to help you showcase your personality and share some of the experiences that brought you here today.

Here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare to complete this section:

• Video Essays are due 96 hours after the application deadline
• A video essay link will appear on your application status page after you submit your application and payment
• You will need an internet-connected computer with a webcam and microphone
• The video should take about 20-25 minutes to complete, which includes time for setup

After submitting your application and payment, you will be able to access the video essay through your application status page. You will be asked to answer three questions:

• Video essay 1: Please introduce yourself to the admissions committee. – Consider this your opportunity to share what you would want your future Kellogg classmates and our admissions committee to know about you. What makes you, you?
• Video essay 2: What path are you interested in pursuing, how will you get there, and why is this program right for you? – This is an intentionally broad question so you can answer honestly and meaningfully. We want to know why you’re pursuing an MBA and why you’re choosing a particular Kellogg Full-Time Program
• Video essay 3:  This question will be based on a challenge you've faced and what you've learned from it.

Here are some additional tips:

• There are practice questions that you may complete as many times as you like to get comfortable with the format and technology. The practice questions and experience will simulate the actual video essay experience, so this is meant to be a useful tool to help you feel prepared
• We encourage you to practice so you are comfortable with the format once it is time to complete the official questions. You will not have an opportunity to re-do the answer to the official video essay questions
• You will have 20 seconds to think about the question and up to one minute to give your response
• Kellogg Admissions Website

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Kellogg essays ( Videos)

• “Tell Me About a Time You…”: Answering the Most Common MBA Interview Questions (the tips here on behavioral interview questions are helpful for Kellogg’s leadership essay)
• Awesome MBA Video Essay Advice

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Kellogg essays ( Blog Posts)

• Discovery: Your Essential First Step to Awesome MBA Essays

Kellogg Resources

• Kellogg’s 2022 Full-Time MBA Application: Three Key Areas of the Application
• Insights From Admissions: The Video Essays
• MBA Application Video Essays: Managing Yourself Through Disruption  
• 5 Tips on Writing the Essays

MIT (Sloan) MBA Essay Questions 2021-22

Required cover letter.

MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion.

• Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more professional examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the Admissions Committee (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation).

Required Video Statement

You will also need to submit a video statement as part of your Sloan MBA application. Check out the requirements below.

• Introduce yourself to your future classmates. Here’s your chance to put a face with a name, let your personality shine through, be conversational, be yourself. We can’t wait to meet you!

Videos should adhere to the following guidelines:

• No more than 1 minute (60 second) in length
• Single take (no editing)  
• Speaking directly to the camera
• Do not include background music or subtitles

Required Organizational Chart

To help us better understand your current role and the impact that you have on your team and department, please submit an organizational chart. We should be able to clearly understand the internal structure of your organization, where you sit in your organization, and your line of reporting.

Organizational charts should not be more than two pages and keep the following in mind:

• Give us as much detail as possible (names, titles, etc.) but it’s ok to redact names if you need to.
• Make sure we can easily identify where you are, to whom you report, and if applicable, who reports to you.
• If your recommender or references are on your organizational chart (they may not be, and that’s ok!), please highlight them for us.
• Most applicants only submit one page. However, you are welcome to submit a second if you recently changed positions or companies.
• If you are a consultant, entrepreneur, or affiliated with the military review our  FAQs  for suggestions on how to approach the organizational chart.

Interview-only Essays

If you get past the initial round, Sloan asks the following of its applicants.

• The mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management is to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and to generate ideas that advance management practice. We believe that a commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and well-being is a key component of both principled leadership and sound management practice. In 250 words or less, please describe how you, as a member of the MIT Sloan community, would work to create a campus that is welcoming, inclusive and increasingly diverse. Details for submitting your essay will be included in the interview invitation.
• We are interested in learning more about how you use data to make decisions and analyze results. Please select one of the following prompts to respond to:

Option 1: Please select an existing data visualization and in 250 words or less explain why it matters to you. The data visualization should be uploaded as a PDF. Examples may come from current events, a business analysis, or personal research.

Option 2: In 250 words or less, please describe a recent data driven decision you had to make, and include one slide (PDF) presenting your analysis. The slide may include a data visualization example and should present data used in a professional context.

• Sloan Admissions Website

Career Protocol resources for tackling the MIT cover letter and video statement ( Videos)

• How to Ace the MIT Sloan Video Essay

Career Protocol resources for tackling the MIT cover letter and video statement ( Blog Posts)

• Awesome MBA Video Essay Advice for MIT and More

Sloan Resources

• MBA Application Tips & Admissions Overview 2021  
• MIT Sloan Application Tips – The 60-Second Video
• MIT Sloan MBA Application Tips – What is Being Evaluated
• MIT Sloan MBA Application Tips – Resume and Cover Letter
• MIT Sloan Application Tips – Organizational Chart 2021

Columbia MBA Essay Questions 2021-22

Required short answer question  .

• What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (50 characters maximum)

Required Essay 1

• Through your resume and recommendation, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals over the next three to five years and what, in your imagination, would be your long-term dream job? (500 words)

Essays 2 and 3: Please respond to 2 of the 3 essay questions listed below:

• The Phillips Pathway for Inclusive Leadership (PPIL) is a new co-curricular program designed to ensure that every CBS student develops the skills to become an ethical and inclusive leader. Through PPIL, students attend programming focused on five essential diversity, equity, and inclusion skills: Creating an Inclusive Environment, Mitigating Bias, Communicating Across Identities, Addressing Systemic Inequity, and Managing Difficult Conversations. Tell us about a time you were challenged around one of these five skills. Describe the situation, the actions you took, and the outcome. (250 words)
• Why do you feel Columbia Business School is a good fit for you? (250 words)
• Tell us about your favorite book, movie, or song and why it resonates with you. (250 words)
• If you wish to provide further information or additional context around your application to the Admissions Committee, please upload a brief explanation of any areas of concern in your academic record or personal history. This does not need to be a formal essay. You may submit bullet points. (Maximum 500 words)

Deferred Enrollment Program

Deferred Enrollment candidates will answer three short essay questions instead of the essays listed above .

• How is a Columbia MBA going to help you? (250 words maximum)
• What has been your favorite class, and why? (250 words maximum)
• Who is a leader you admire, and why? (250 words maximum)
• Columbia Admissions Website

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Columbia essays (Videos)

• How to Get into Columbia Business School: Essential Advice from and MBA Admissions Expert

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Columbia essays ( Blog Posts)

Columbia resources.

• MBA Program brochure  
• Columbia Information Session schedule

UC-Berkeley (Haas) MBA Essay Questions 2021-22

Our distinctive culture is defined by four key principles – Question the Status Quo, Confidence Without Attitude, Students Always, and Beyond Yourself. We encourage you to reflect on your experiences, values, and passions so that you may craft thoughtful and authentic responses that demonstrate your alignment with our principles. 

• What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why? (300 words maximum)
• The definition of successful leadership has evolved over the last decade and will continue to change. What do you need to develop to become a successful leader?   (300 words maximum)

Optional Essay Topics

The admissions team takes a holistic approach to application review and seeks to understand all aspects of a candidate’s character, qualifications, and experiences. We will consider achievements in the context of the opportunities available to a candidate. Some applicants may have faced hardships or unusual life circumstances, and we will consider the maturity, perseverance, and thoughtfulness with which they have responded to and/or overcome them.

Optional Information #1

We invite you to help us better understand the context of your opportunities and achievements:

1. What is the highest level of education completed by your parent(s) or guardian(s)?

• Did not complete high school
• High school diploma or equivalency (GED)
• Associate's degree (junior college) or vocational degree/license
• Bachelor's degree (BA, BS)
• Master's degree (MA, MS)
• Doctorate or professional degree (MD, JD, DDS)

2. What is the most recent occupation of your parent(s) or guardian(s)?

• Skilled worker
• Professional

3. If you were raised in one of the following household types, please indicate:

• Raised by a single parent
• Raised by an extended family member (grandparent, aunt/uncle, niece/nephew, cousin)
• Raised in a multi-generational home
• Raised in foster care

4. What was the primary language spoken in your childhood home?

5. If you have you ever been responsible for providing significant and continuing financial or supervisory support for someone else, please indicate:

• Extended family member (grandparent, aunt/uncle, niece/nephew, cousin)

6. Please elaborate on any of your above responses. Alternatively, you may use this opportunity to expand on other hardships or unusual life circumstances that may help us understand the context of your opportunities, achievements, and impact. (300 words maximum)

Optional Information #2

This section should only be used to convey relevant information not addressed elsewhere in your application. This may include explanation of employment gaps, academic aberrations, supplemental coursework, etc. You are encouraged to use bullet points where appropriate.

• Haas Admissions Website  

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Berkeley Haas essays

Haas resources.

• Recorded Chats & Webinars  
• Haas Defining Leadership Principles

Dartmouth (Tuck) MBA Essay Questions 2021-22

Required short answer question.

• Share your short-term goals.

Required Essay Questions

• Tuck students can articulate how the distinctive Tuck MBA will advance their aspirations. Why are you pursuing an MBA and why Tuck? (300 words)
• Tuck students recognize how their individuality adds to the fabric of Tuck. Tell us who you are. (300 words)
• Tuck students are encouraging, collaborative and empathetic, even when it is not convenient or easy. Describe a meaningful experience in which you exemplified one or more of these attributes. (300 words)

Optional Essay Question

• Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere (e.g., atypical choice of evaluators, factors affecting academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application. (300 words)

Reapplicant Essay (required of all reapplicants)

• How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally. (300 words)
• Tuck Admissions Website  

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Tuck essays ( Videos)

Career protocol resources for tackling the tuck essays ( blog posts), tuck resources.

• Tuck Essay Guide  
• ACCOMPLISHED  

Yale (SOM) MBA Essay Questions 2021-22

• How did you arrive at [your] career interests? How have you or how will you position yourself to pursue them? (250 words maximum)

Required Essay

• Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made. (500 words)

Video Essays

There is also a video component to the Yale SOM application. You will not receive the questions in advance, and they vary depending on the applicant.

Behavioral Assessment

Yale requires a Behavioral Assessment, which is an online, adaptive test administered by ETS that measures an applicant’s interpersonal and intrapersonal skills. The test uses a multiple-choice format and typically takes around 20-25 minutes to complete. Applicants are presented with 120 pairs of statements and will need to select the statement within the pair that best corresponds with their own behaviors. For more on Yale SOM’s Behavioral Assessment, please check out their website .

Admissions Website  

• SOM Admissions Website

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Yale essay ( Videos)

• Awesome MBA Video Essay Advice  

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Yale essay ( Blog Posts)

Yale som resources.

• Application Guide  
• Application Tips Panel  
• Inside the Application Literally  
• Application Tips – Essay  
• Yale SOM MBA blog

Virginia (Darden) MBA Essay Questions 2021-22

• Tell us what you would want your Learning Team to know about you that is not on your resume. (150 words)

Required Leadership & Impact Essay

• Darden strives to identify and cultivate responsible leaders who follow their purpose. Please respond to one of the following prompts . (200 words)

Option 1: Tell us about a time when you acted with a team to solve a problem or seize an opportunity. What role did you play? What did you learn from this experience?

Option 2: Tell us about a time you acted to solve a problem for the greater good. What drew you to this issue? What did you learn from this experience?

Required Diversity & Inclusion Essay

Diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission, and they work best when they are an integral and celebrated part of our community. Review the University of Virginia's Commitment to Diversity.

Diversity stands with ethics, integrity, and academic excellence as a cornerstone of university culture. The University promotes an inclusive and welcoming environment that embraces the full spectrum of human attributes, perspectives, and disciplines. When people of different backgrounds come together, they exchange ideas, question assumptions (including their own), and broaden the horizons for us all. A University of Virginia community rich in diversity affords every member equal respect and provides a forum for understanding our differences as well as our commonalities.

The Darden School develops practices and cultivates a culture that reflects and incorporates the worldviews of its many community members. In this inclusive culture, the community learns important—and sometimes uncomfortable—lessons from one another, resulting in more conscientious global leaders and citizens.

• Select the prompt to which you will respond. (200 words)

Option 1: Share a time when you learned something related to diversity, equity, or inclusion that was previously unknown to you? How did this experience impact your perspective?

Option 2: Share a time when you advocated for a perspective, identity, or community different from your own. How did this experience impact your worldview?

Required Career Goal Essay

• What is your short-term, post-MBA goal and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career? (150 words)

Required Darden Worldwide Essay

The Batten Foundation Worldwide Scholarship provides all Darden students in our full-time MBA program with an opportunity to participate in a Darden Worldwide course.

Click here for the Worldwide video .

• Darden has an incredible network of alumni and partners around the world, and, in a typical year, the School connects with over 80 countries. If you could choose any location in the world, where would you want to travel? (5 words). And why? (50 words)

Darden expects its students to participate in at least one global opportunity during their two years of MBA. In 55 words, identify the name of the country that you would choose for your global assignment, explain reasons for your choice, and how your choice will enhance your learning and the learning of your peers. This super short question not only reveals your knowledge of Darden but also speaks about your personality and interest. You may use this essay to show a different side of you that you have not presented elsewhere in the application.

• Darden Admissions Website  

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Darden essays ( Videos)

• “Tell Me About a Time You…”: Answering the Most Common MBA Interview Questions (tips here on behavioral interview questions are helpful for Darden’s leadership essay)

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Darden essays ( Blog Posts)

Darden resources.

• All About the Application: Crafting a Cohesive Application Narrative
• Short Answer Questions for the Darden Admissions Application to the Class of 2024
• All About the Application – Short Answer Questions
• UVA Darden Admissions – Essay Advice
• UVA Darden Admissions – Authenticity in the Application Process
• UVA Darden Admissions – Crafting Your Narrative

Cornell (Johnson) MBA Essay Questions

Required short answer – goals statement.

A statement of your goals will begin a conversation that will last throughout the admissions process and guide your steps during the MBA program and experience. To the best of your understanding today, please share your short- and long-term goals by completing the following sentences and answering the enclosed short answer question (350 words maximum):

• Immediately post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) ____[Targeted Job Role]____ at ___[Targeted JobCompany]___ within ___[Industry]___ .
• In 5 – 10 years post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) ____[Targeted Job Role]____ at ___[Targeted Job Company]___ within ___[Industry]___ .
• How has your experience prepared and encouraged you to pursue these goals?

Required Impact Essay

• At Cornell, our students and alumni share a desire to positively impact the organizations and communities they serve. Taking into consideration your background, how do you intend to make a meaningful impact on an elite MBA community? (350 words maximum)

Optional Essay (required for all reapplicants)*

• If you are reapplying for admission, please use this essay to indicate how you have strengthened your application and candidacy since the last time you applied for admission. Please also review our Application Guide for additional information about reapplying. (350 words maximum)

*If you are not reapplying, you can use this section to clarify and add details about aspects of your application which you feel do not accurately reflect your potential for success at Johnson.  

• Johnson Admissions Website

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Cornell essays ( Videos)

Career protocol resources for tackling the cornell essays ( blog posts), michigan (ross) mba essay questions 2021-22, required short answer questions.

Select one prompt from each group of the two groups below. Respond to each selected prompt in 100 words or less.

• I want people to know that I:
• I made a difference when I:
• I was aware that I was different when:
• I am out of my comfort zone when:
• I was humbled when:
• I was challenged when:  
• What is your short-term career goal and why? (200 words)
• Ross Admissions Website

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Ross essays ( Videos)

Career protocol resources for tackling the ross essays ( blog posts), ross resources.

• Test Waivers, Essays, and Application Deadlines – 30 Minute Tips

Duke (Fuqua) MBA Essay Questions 2021-22

Instructions for all written submissions.

• Responses should use 1.5-line spacing and a font size no smaller than 10-point.
• Do not repeat the question in the document you upload with your application as this will cause the essay to be flagged for plagiarism.
• Respond fully and concisely.
• Length requirements vary by question and are detailed below.
• Responses must be completed before submitting your application.
• All submissions are scanned using plagiarism detection software. Plagiarism is considered a cheating violation within the Honor Code and will not be tolerated in the admissions process.

Instructions: Answer the following question in 100 words.

• What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first-choice career plan and your alternate plan.

Required Essay Questions  

• The ‘Team Fuqua' spirit and community is one of the things that sets the MBA experience apart, and it is a concept that extends beyond the student body to include faculty, staff, and administration. Please share with us “25 Random Things” about you. The Admissions Committee wants to get to know YOU – beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript. Share with us important life experiences, your hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you who you are. Your list will be limited to 2 pages (750 words maximum). Please present your response in list form, numbered 1 to 25. Some points may be brief, while others may be longer.
• Fuqua prides itself on cultivating a culture of engagement. Our students enjoy a wide range of student-led organizations that provide opportunities for leadership development and personal fulfillment, as well as an outlet for contributing to society. Our student-led government, clubs, centers, and events are an integral part of the student culture and to the development of leaders. Based on your understanding of the Fuqua culture, what are 3 ways you expect to contribute at Fuqua? Your response will be limited to 1 page (500 words maximum).

Optional Essay

If you feel there are circumstances of which the admissions committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g., unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance). Note that you should NOT upload additional essays nor additional recommendations in this area. The Optional Information section is intended to provide the admissions committee with insight into your circumstances only. Your response will be limited to 1 page (500 words maximum).

• Fuqua Admissions Website

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Fuqua essays ( Videos)

Career protocol resources for tackling the fuqua essays ( blog posts), fuqua resources.

• Tips on Writing Your “25 Things” Essay  
• Fuqua Application Insight – Our 25 Random Things
• Inside the Admissions Committee

NYU (Stern) MBA Essay Questions 2021-22

Required short answer question: professional aspirations.

• What are your short-term career goals? (150 words maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font)

Required Essays

1. Change: _________ it

(350 words maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font)

In today’s global business environment, the only constant is change. Using NYU Stern’s brand call to action, we want to know how you view change. Change: _____ it. Fill in the blank with a word of your choice. Why does this word resonate with you? How will you embrace your own personal tagline while at Stern? Examples:

• Change: Dare it.
• Change: Dream it.
• Change: Drive it.
• Change: Empower it.
• Change: Manifest it.
• Change: [Any word of your choice.]

2. Personal Expression (a.k.a. “Pick Six”)

Describe yourself to the Admissions Committee and to your future classmates using six images and corresponding captions. Your uploaded PDF should contain all of the following elements:

• A brief introduction or overview of your “Pick Six” (no more than 3 sentences).
• Six images that help illustrate who you are.
• A one-sentence caption for each of the six images that helps explain why they were selected and are significant to you.

Note: Your visuals may include photos, infographics, drawings, or any other images that best describe you. Your document must be uploaded as a single PDF. The essay cannot be sent in physical form or be linked to a website.

Please provide any additional information that you would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee. This may include current or past gaps in employment, further explanation of your undergraduate record or self-reported academic transcript(s), plans to retake the GMAT, GRE, Executive Assessment, IELTS or TOEFL, or any other relevant information. (250 words maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font)

• Stern Admissions Website

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Stern essays ( Videos)

Career protocol resources for tackling the stern essays ( blog posts), ucla (anderson) mba essay questions, required (optional for reapplicants).

• For the 2021-2022 application year, we have one essay question that is required for first-time applicants and optional for re-applicants*:

How have recent events influenced the impact you would like to make in your community, career, or both? (250 words maximum) We welcome reflection on any events that influenced you in your personal or professional lives, or in society in general, and look forward to learning about specific ways you want to leave your mark.

• Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? (250 words maximum)

*Reapplicants are those who applied to the MBA program within the last two application years, so those who applied three or more years ago are considered new applicants. Reapplicants may answer one or both of the essay questions above as options, and they must provide additional updates within text boxes given in the application for any new test scores, career developments, or other changes since their last application.

• Anderson Admissions Website  

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Anderson essays ( Blog Posts)

Ucla anderson resources.

• How to Get in to UCLA Anderson

Carnegie Mellon (Tepper) MBA Essay Questions 2021-22

• The Tepper community is dynamic and unique. Each community member’s individual journey has shaped them into classmates who are collaborative, supportive, and inclusive. Describe how you have overcome adversity during your journey. What did you learn about yourself and how has that shaped who you are? (Maximum 350-500 words)

There also is an optional essay for additional information about your candidacy that you may wish to share with the admissions committee. Use this essay to convey important information that you may not have otherwise been able to convey. This may include unexplained resume gaps, context for recommender selection, etc. However, do not feel obligated to complete the optional essay.

*Reapplicants should use the optional essay to discuss how their candidacy has strengthened since their last application.

Deferred Admissions

College Seniors applying through the Tepper Future Business Leaders should answer the essays provided in the Deferred Admission for College Seniors section.

• What are your post-undergraduate career plans? What company are you joining? What will be your role? (150 words)
• Why is our Tepper Future Business Leaders format a good fit for your MBA program? (350-500 words)
• Tepper Admissions Website

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Tepper essay

• “Tell Me About a Time You…”: Answering the Most Common MBA Interview Questions (the tips here on behavioral interview questions are helpful for Tepper’s overcoming adversity essay)

CMU Tepper Resources

• Tepper MBA Admissions blog

USC (Marshall) MBA Essay Questions 2021-22

• What is your specific, immediate short-term career goal upon completion of your MBA? Please include an intended position, function, and industry in your response. (word limit: 100)
• Please draft a letter that begins with “Dear Admissions Committee.” (word limit: 600)

Please provide any additional information you would like the admissions committee to consider. (word limit: 250)

• Marshall Admissions Website

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Marshall essays ( Videos)

Career protocol resources for tackling the marshall essays ( blog posts), north carolina (kenan-flagler) mba essay questions 2021-22.

1. Your response should be no longer than 500 words and should address the following questions:

• What are your immediate career goals and how will you benefit from earning an MBA at Kenan-Flagler Business School?
• As the business world continues to evolve, circumstances can change and guide you in a different direction. Should your goals that you provided above not transpire, what other opportunities would you explore?

2. Your response should be no longer than 500 words and should address the following question:

We all belong to different communities representing various aspects of who we are, including groups we belong to, where we come from, how we think, what we believe, and how we see and experience the world. The process of discovery is strengthened when people with diverse perspectives and life experiences come together to share and learn from one another, negotiate differences, and engage in diplomacy.

• How have you dealt with differences in your personal or professional relationships? In what ways will you contribute to the community and learning environment by embracing your authentic self while respecting others? How do you envision furthering your growth in inclusive leadership as an MBA student and as a business leader?

We encourage you to tell us more about who you are so we can get to know you as a person and potential member of the Carolina community. Use this essay to convey information that you may not have otherwise been able to in the application. Your response should be no longer than 200 words. Optional topics:

• Personal or professional accomplishments
• Interests and passions
• Gaps in work experience or inconsistent academic performance
• Context for recommender selection
• A fun fact about yourself
• Kenan-Flagler Admissions Website

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Kenan-Flagler essays ( Videos)

Career protocol resources for tackling the kenan-flagler essays ( blog posts), texas (mccombs) mba essay questions 2021-22.

• Write an essay (250 words)
• Share a video introduction (one minute in length)
• Picture yourself at the completion of your MBA journey. Describe how you spent your time as a Texas McCombs MBA student to achieve your personal and professional goals. (500 words)
• Please provide any additional information you believe is important or address any areas of concern that you believe will be beneficial to MBA Admissions in considering your application (e.g., gaps in work experience, choice of recommender, academic performance, or extenuating personal circumstances). (250 words)  
• McCombs Admissions Website

Career Protocol resources for tackling the McCombs essays (Videos)

Career protocol resources for tackling the mccombs essays (blog posts), washington (foster) mba essay questions 2021-22.

• Post-MBA Plans (750 words maximum) – Tell us your ideas about what lies ahead for you in your career. What are the gaps or deficiencies currently preventing you from pursuing these potential career paths? How do you plan to use your time in the Foster MBA program to fill these gaps and advance your career?
• Inspiring Experience Essay (500 words maximum) – Tell us about an experience that inspired or confirmed your decision to pursue the MBA.
• Optional essay (500 words maximum) – Include this essay if you have additional information you believe would be helpful to the admissions committee in considering your application.
• Optional Diversity, Equity & Inclusion essay (500 words maximum) – At the Foster School of Business, we embrace diversity as one of the foundations of both successful business strategy and a world-class educational experience. We share the University’s dedication to promoting the understanding and appreciation of human differences, and the constructive expression of ideas. We welcome you to share some of the ways you have practiced inclusion, promoted equity or supported the advancement of underrepresented groups.
• Foster Admissions Website

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Foster Essays (Videos)

Career protocol resources for tackling the foster essays (blog posts), emory (goizueta) mba essay questions 2021-22.

• Post-MBA Career Goals – Define your short-term post-MBA career goals. How are your professional strengths, past experience, and personal attributes aligned with these goals? (300-word limit)
• Leadership in Business – The business school is named for Roberto C. Goizueta, former Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, who led the organization for 16 years, extending its global reach, quadrupling consumption, building brand responsibility, creating unprecedented shareholder wealth, and demonstrating a commitment to values and positive impact on society. Roberto Goizueta's core values guide us in educating principled leaders to have a positive influence on business and society. Provide a specific example of your leadership and explain what you learned about yourself through the experience. (300-word limit)
• Why Goizueta? – What are you looking to gain from Goizueta's MBA degree and how do you see yourself contributing to the Goizueta community? (200-word limit)

Required Video Essay

Telling your story in the written essays is an important part of the application process, but we also want to hear you tell some of your story. The video essay lets every candidate talk to the MBA Admissions Committee and we enjoy getting to know you through the “small talk” questions.

• If there is an important part of your story missing from your MBA application (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, academic probation issues), please use this section to provide a brief explanation. Please use bullets if you need to address more than one topic. (200-word limit)
• Goizueta A dmissions Website

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Goizueta essays (Videos)

Career protocol resources for tackling the goizueta essays (blog posts), indiana (kelley) mba essay questions 2021-22.

1. Discuss your immediate post-MBA professional goals. How will your professional experience, when combined with a Kelley MBA degree, allow you to achieve these goals? Should the short-term goals you have identified not materialize, what alternate career paths might you consider? (500 words)

2. Respond to one of the following short essay prompts. (300 words)

• My greatest memory is…
• I'm most afraid of…
• My greatest challenge has been…
• I'm most proud of…

3. Share a brief fact about yourself that your classmates would find interesting, surprising, or noteworthy. (25 words)

• Is there anything else that you think we should know as we evaluate your application? If you believe your credentials and essays represent you fairly, you shouldn't feel obligated to answer this question. (300 words)
• Kelly Admissions Website

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Kelley essays (Videos)

Career protocol resources for tackling the kelly essays (blog posts), georgetown (mcdonough) mba essay questions 2021-22.

Please select one of the following essays to complete in 300-350 words (approximately one page, double spaced) and include the essay prompt and your first/last name at the top of your submission .

• Principled Leadership: Georgetown McDonough places a strong emphasis on principled leadership, providing both curricular and co-curricular opportunities to strengthen your leadership skills. Describe a time when you have led a team in a professional environment to implement a new idea or process. What leadership characteristics did you utilize? What could you have done to be more effective? And most importantly, what skills will you be able to bring to the teams you lead at McDonough?
• Hoyas for the Common Good: Georgetown McDonough embodies the ethos that people and organizations can and should contribute to the greater good. The admissions committee would like to better understand how you have demonstrated these values during uniquely challenging times. Describe a time where you have put the needs of others ahead of your own or ahead of the bottom line. We look forward to learning more about the challenge you faced, what unique characteristics you brought to that scenario, and what you learned from it.
• Personal Brand: Think of a business leader or role model you admire or aspire to be. What are the defining characteristics of his or her personal brand that you see in yourself? Give an example of how you have been able to emulate these characteristics in your professional career and how your personal brand will enrich the McDonough community.
• The Georgetown Community: Georgetown McDonough is a diverse, global community. We look to understand the contribution that your personal background would make to our community. As appropriate, you may wish to address any obstacles or challenges you have overcome; any educational, familial, cultural, economic, and social experiences that have helped to shape your educational and professional goals; or how your background (e.g. first-generation student, resident outside the U.S.) or activities (e.g. community service and leadership) will contribute to our community.
• Please provide any information you would like to add to your application that you have not otherwise included (300-350 words, approximately one page, double spaced).

Reapplicant Essay (required for all reapplicants)

• How have you strengthened your candidacy since your last application? We are particularly interested in hearing about how you have grown professionally and personally (500 words or fewer).

What makes you unique? In a one-minute video, describe the most compelling aspects of yourself that you believe make you unique from other MBA candidates. (Hint: one minute goes fast! We already have your resume and goals – share something new!) Use this video as an opportunity to bring life to your application.

• You may use your phone, computer, or other means to record the video, but please ensure all audio and visual components are clear. We recommend a well-lit room and minimal noise distraction.  
• The admissions committee would like for you to appear in person during part of your video.
• We recommend unscripted, conversational videos – help us get to know the real you!
• Upload your video to an accessible website (such as YouTube, Vimeo, Youku, or Tudou), and submit the direct video URL into your online application.  
• Please note that all videos must remain active and accessible to the admissions committee online for a minimum of five years for record retention purposes.
• For your privacy: Do not include your name in the title of your video. You may submit “unlisted” videos via YouTube or password protected videos through Vimeo. If using a password, please include immediately after your link in the text box below. [Ex: www.youtube.com/123, password: Hoyas]
• McDonough Admissions Website

Career Protocol resources for tackling the McDonough essays (Videos)

• Tell Me About a Time You…”: Answering the Most Common MBA Interview Questions ( the tips here on behavioral interview questions are helpful for the McDonough leadership and common good essays)

Career Protocol resources for tackling the McDonough essays (Blog Posts)

Georgia tech (scheller) mba essay questions 2021-22.

• Why an MBA and why Georgia Tech? – Describe how your experiences, both professional and personal, have led you to the decision to pursue an MBA at Georgia Tech. (2,000 character maximum, including spaces)
• Short- and long-term career goals: Discuss your short- and long-term career goals and how Georgia Tech is best suited to help you achieve your goals. (2,000 character maximum, including spaces)
• Ten Facts: List 10 facts about yourself that will help your future classmates get to know you. (2,000 character maximum, including spaces)
• The admissions committee believes that the required essays address issues that help us learn about you and understand your candidacy for the MBA program; however, you may provide us with any additional information pertinent to your admission that has not been previously covered in the rest of the application. Feel free to discuss any unique aspects of your candidacy or any perceived weaknesses. (2,000 character maximum, including spaces)
• Scheller A dmissions Website

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Scheller essays

Rice (jones) mba essay questions 2021-22.

• “In 100 words or less, please share your short-term goals.”
• “In 100 words or less, please share your long-term goals.”

Creative Essay (required for Full-Time MBA & Professional MBA Applicants)

Please choose to answer one of the following prompts . (Choose one topic and response format.)

• What movie, song, or book has most influenced your life and the way you view the world? Why?
• While we know a picture is worth 1000 words, in 500 words or less tell us the story of a photo of your choosing that has significant value in your life experiences. Please feel free to share your photo!
• Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the United States and food is a large element of culture. If you had to design a 3-course menu to prepare for your future MBA Core Team, what would be on the menu that showcases more about who you are?

Please choose only one method of communication that you would like to use for your response :

• Write an essay (500-word limit)
• Share a video (one to three-minute time limit)

Executive MBA Required Essay

As you evaluate where you are today, how have your educational, professional, and personal endeavors brought you to this point? In addition, please explain how the Rice EMBA is part of your future plan. (750-word limit)

• If you have any additional information for the admissions committee or if you wish to clarify any aspect of your application (including breaks in employment, your choice of recommendation providers, your past academic performance, etc.), you may submit an additional, optional essay. (750-word limit)
• Jones Admissions Website

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Jones essays (Video)

• Don’t Write Your Personal Statements Until You Watch This

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Jones essays (Blog Posts)

Notre dame (mendoza) mba essay questions 2021-22.

• Please share your short-term professional goals. What role does a Notre Dame MBA play in helping you achieve these goals? (100 words or less)
• Cardinal O’Hara established the Mendoza College of Business at Notre Dame in 1921, firmly committed to the idea that “the primary function of commerce is service to mankind”. As the world economy continues to grow and change, how do you see business acting as a positive force in the world? (500 words or less)
• The University of Notre Dame was founded in 1842, by Father Edward Sorin, C.S.C, with a mission to become “one of the most powerful means for doing good in this country”. In 1879, Father Sorin’s vision for Notre Dame appeared to be at a sudden, abrupt end. A massive fire destroyed the building that housed virtually the entire University. Instead of giving up, Father Sorin interpreted the fire as a sign that he had dreamed too small, and decided to rebuild, bigger and better than ever. That Main Building still stands today, topped by the gleaming Golden Dome, not only as an iconic campus building, but as an ongoing symbol of perseverance and vision. Tell us the story of a time in your own life or career when you had to overcome an obstacle, start over, or rebuild. (500 words or less)
• Mendoza Admissions Website

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Mendoza essays (Videos)

• “ Tell Me About a Time You…”: Answering the Most Common MBA Interview Questions (the tips here on behavioral interview questions are helpful for Mendozo obstacle essay)

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Mendoza essays (Blog Posts)

Vanderbilt (owen) mba essay questions 2021-22, video response.

The video response is a chance for you to provide a glimpse of the authentic you, speaking without a script. The video questions are designed to be easy to answer and help us to get to know you as a person. You will have time to prepare your response and the application will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to record your answers.

• What are your short-term career goals after obtaining your MBA and what functional area do you plan to study while in the MBA program? What are some specific skills that you want to develop during your time in business school to help you achieve your career goals? (150-word limit)
• Please highlight something about yourself that isn’t already captured in the application. (150-word limit)
• You may provide an additional statement to explain anything that you think is important for the Admissions Committee to know about you that is not already addressed elsewhere in your application. Many applicants use this statement to explain significant gaps in full-time employment, lack of recommendation from a current supervisor, or subpar academic performance.
• Owen Admissions Website

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Owen essays

Washington (olin) mba essay questions 2021-22.

• Share with us one of your strongest values. Help us understand how that value connects to your career aspirations. Please include the following in your response: Target function and/or industry; Desired company or organization; Skills you will need to develop; Necessary connections and/or experiences. (350-500 words maximum)
• The confidence to operate beyond one’s comfort zone is grounded in understanding who you are, what you value and how you uniquely contribute. Share your story. Describe who you are and the impact you wish to have. (350-500 words maximum)
• Is there anything else you would like to share? If so, please provide any additional information not previously addressed in the application that would help the admissions committee assess your candidacy. (250-word maximum)
• Olin Admissions Website

Career Protocol resources for tackling the Olin essays (Videos)

Career protocol resources for tackling the olin essays (blog posts), byu (marriott) mba essay questions 2021-22.

BYU Marriott requires different essays, depending on the degree:

Each of the degrees offered at BYU Marriott require a different application essay. This is a very important part of the application. Regardless of your GPA, we recommend that you spend a considerable amount of time answering the questions.

You can find the essay topics for each degree here .  

• Entrepreneurial Management
• Experience Design & Management
• Global Supply Chain Management
• Human Resource Management
• Information Systems
• Strategic Management

And there you have it! Our comprehensive guide to the essay questions that top U.S. MBA programs asked in the 2021-2022 cycle. We’re sure you’ll put your best foot forward when it comes to your MBA admissions essays, especially if you dedicate ample time to school research (its importance can’t be overestimated!!) and take advantage of the incredible resources linked in this guide.  

Chat with a member of our team  about how Career Protocol can make your MBA journey more awesome.

Connect with a Career Protocol team member to discuss working with us:

Free strategy call.

Angela Guido

Student of Human Nature| Founder and Chief Education Officer of Career Protocol

The highest quality MBA resources you’ll find this month. (Jonny’s MBA Bulletin, March 2024)

The highest quality MBA resources you’ll find this month. (Jonny’s MBA Bulletin, February 2024)

The highest quality MBA resources you’ll find this month. (Jonny’s MBA Bulletin, January 2024)

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50 MBA Essays That Got Applicants Admitted To Harvard & Stanford

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What Matters? and What More? is a collection of 50 application essays written by successful MBA candidates to Harvard Business School and Stanford Graduate School of Business

I sat alone one Saturday night in a boardroom in Eastern Oregon, miles from home, my laptop lighting the room. I was painstakingly reviewing a complex spreadsheet of household energy consumption data, cell by cell. ‘Why am I doing this to myself? For remote transmission lines?’…I felt dejected. I’d felt that way before, during my summer at JP Morgan, standing alone in the printing room at 3 a.m., binding decks for a paper mill merger that wouldn’t affect my life in the least.

That’s how an analyst at an MBB firm started his MBA application essay to Stanford Graduate School of Business. His point: In a well-crafted essay, he confronts the challenge of finding meaning in his work and a place where he can make a meaningful difference. That is what really matters most to him, and his answer to Stanford’s iconic MBA application essay helped get him defy the formidable odds of acceptance and gain an admit to the school.

Getting into the prestigious MBA programs at either Stanford Graduate School of Business or Harvard Business School are among the most difficult journeys any young professional can make.

NEARLY 17,000 CANDIDATES APPLIED TO HARVARD & STANFORD LAST YEAR. 1,500 GOT IN

This collection of 50 successful HBS and GSB essays, with smart commentary, can be downloaded for $60

They are two of the most selective schools, routinely rejecting nine or more out of every ten applicants. Last year alone, 16,628 candidates applied to both schools; just 1,520 gained an acceptance, a mere 9.1% admit rate.

Business school admissions are holistic, meaning that while standardized test scores and undergraduate transcripts are a critical part of the admissions process, they aren’t the whole story. In fact, the stories that applicants tell the schools in the form of essays can be a critical component of a successful application.

So what kinds of stories are successful applicants to Harvard and Stanford telling their admission officers? For the first time ever, a newly published collection of 50 of these essays from current MBA students at these two schools has been published. In ten cases, applicants share the essays they wrote in applying to both schools so you can see whether they merely did a cut-and-paste job or approached the task anew. The 188-page book, What Matters? and What More?, gains its title from the two iconic essay prompts at Harvard and Stanford.

THOUGHTFUL CRITIQUES OF THE ESSAYS

Stanford can easily boast having the most difficult question posed to MBA applicants in any given year: In 650 words or less, candidates must tell the school what matters most to them and why. Harvard gives applicants ample room to hang themselves, providing no word limit at all, “What more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy?”

One makes this unusual collection of essays powerful are the thoughtful critiques by the founders of two MBA admissions consulting firms, Jeremy Shinewald of mbaMission and Liza Weale of Gatehouse Admissions. They write overviews of each essay in the book and then tear apart portions by paragraphs to either underline a point or address a weakness. The book became available to download for $60 a pop.

As I note in a foreword to the collection, published in partnership with Poets&Quants, the essay portion of an application is where a person can give voice to who they are, what they have achieved so far, and what they imagine their future to be. Yet crafting a powerful and introspective essay can be incredibly daunting as you stare at a blank computer screen.

APPLICANTS OPEN UP WITH INTIMATE STORIES THAT SHOW VULNERABILITY

One successful applicant to Harvard Business School begins his essay by conveying a deeply personal story: The time his father was told that he had three months to live, with his only hope being a double lung transplant. had to undergo a lung transplant. His opening line: “Despite all we had been through in recent years, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I asked my mother one summer evening in Singapore, ‘What role did I play during those tough times?’”

For this candidate to Stanford Graduate School of Business, the essay provided a chance to creatively engage admission readers about what matters most to him–equality-by cleverly using zip codes as a hook.

60605, 60606, 60607.

These zip codes are just one digit apart, but the difference that digit makes in someone’s life is unfathomable. I realized this on my first day as a high school senior. Leafing through my out-of- date, stained, calculus textbook, I kept picturing the new books that my friend from a neighboring (more affluent) district had. As college acceptances came in, I saw educational inequality’s more lasting effects—my friends from affluent districts that better funded education were headed to prestigious universities, while most of my classmates were only accepted by the local junior college. I was unsettled that this divergence wasn’t the students’ doing, but rather institutionalized by the state’s education system. Since this experience, I realized that the fight for education equality will be won through equal opportunity. Overcoming inequality, to ensure that everyone has a fair shake at success, is what matters most to me.

HOW AN APPLICANT TO BOTH SCHOOLS ALTERED HIS ESSAYS

Yet another candidate, who applied to both Harvard and Stanford, writes about being at but not fully present at his friend’s wedding.

The morning after serving as my friend’s best man, I was waiting for my Uber to the airport and—as usual—scrolling through my phone,” he wrote. “I had taken seemingly hundreds of photos of the event, posting in real time to social media, but had not really looked through them. With growing unease, I noticed people and things that had not registered with me the night before and realized I had been so preoccupied with capturing the occasion on my phone that I had essentially missed the whole thing. I never learned the name of the woman beside me at the reception. I could not recall the wedding cake flavor. I never introduced myself to my friend’s grandfather from Edmonton. I was so mortified that before checking into my flight, I turned my phone off and stuffed it into my carry-on.

The Stanford version of his essay is more compact. In truth, it’s more succinctly written and more satisfying because it is to the point. By stripping away all but the most critical pieces of his narrative, the candidate focuses his essay entirely on his central point: the battle of man versus technology.

Even if you’re not applying to business school, the essays are entertaining and fun to read. Sure, precious few are New Yorker worthy. In fact, many are fairly straightforward tales, simply told. What the successful essays clearly show is that there is no cookie-cutter formula or paint-by-the-numbers approach. Some start bluntly and straightforwardly, without a compelling or even interesting opening. Some meander through different themes. Some betray real personality and passion. Others are frankly boring. If a pattern of any kind could be discerned, it is how genuine the essays read.

The greatest benefit of reading them? For obsessive applicants to two of the very best business schools, they’ll take a lot of pressure off of you because they are quite imperfect.

GET YOUR COPY OF WHAT MATTERS? AND WHAT MORE? NOW

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Mba essays: top tips for 2021.

Sia Admissions founder and Yale graduate, Susan Berishaj, shares her insight on crafting winning MBA essays © Yale via Facebook

2021 is set to be a competitive year for applicants, so it's vital your MBA essay stands out—Susan Berishaj of Sia Admissions explains how to craft your stand-out essay

Tue Nov 17 2020

In this Applicant Question , Susan Berishaj, founder of Sia Admissions, explains how to get ahead in your 2021 MBA essays.

Given the economic landscape as a result of COVID-19 , the admission process has become even more competitive—and your MBA essay is a crucial part of the application equation. 

Some professionals have moved up their MBA timeline, while others who had not considered applying are now forced to reconsider retooling to ensure they are competitive in whatever comes next. As a result, you have a larger applicant pool to compete with. 

Gaining admission to a top MBA program has always been challenging; this new landscape makes it even more competitive. Therefore, to gain admission, capturing what you bring to the table in a nuanced way is essential to making sure you stand out. 

While there are several layers to a strong application, the three elements outlined below are critical to delivering a stand-out profile—there is a slim chance of admission to a top MBA program if you do not incorporate these elements in your writing. 

Always bring it back to your goals

Regardless of which school you target, each MBA program has its own set of essay questions related to your goals, leadership experiences, and getting to know you. 

Irrespective of the question being asked, I recommend you keep your goals in mind. Suppose you seek a role in operations consulting. In that case, the leadership experience you recount in your narrative should relate to or reflect your ability to envision a process that supports an organization's mission and effectively and successfully leads the initiative. 

This example shows the admission committee that you have the improvement-oriented mindset required to succeed in an operations role and are persuasive in influencing and leading others. 

In this example, these elements showcase transferable skills that the admission committee can reference as evidence supporting a successful job placement immediately post-MBA.

Be careful to answer all parts of the question

While this may seem obvious, I mention it for a reason. Answering the question in its entirety is essential as it serves as evidence of your teachability. 

You do not want the admission committee to receive your beautifully written essay, and, after reading it, be left feeling puzzled: "too bad she didn't answer the question!" It is wise then that, when you start writing, you break the sentence down into its multiple parts. 

I recommend that you first, in bullet form, write your direct responses to each part of the question before you proceed into crafting a narrative. This approach will save you a lot of time and frustration with the writing process, by helping you structure the essay early on.

Find a reliable proofreader

Whatever you’re applying for, it’s important to have a trusted friend, colleague, or family member proofread your writing. 

Ask them to ensure it is coherent, that all the critical points have been addressed, and that there are no ambiguities. When you are very close to the project you are working on, it is easy to miss essential elements that need to be clarified or addressed. 

Therefore, I recommend that you ask someone you trust to read your material before you submit. While this may wound the ego, ask the trusted reviewer to be brutally honest with their feedback because that's the only way you can produce a stronger written work. 

A generous editor will provide comments that will make you reflect on strengthening your writing so the reader, in this case the admission committee, can understand what you bring to the table. You still reserve the right to reject your reviewer’s recommendations and go your own way, but you do so consciously.

Writing strong essays requires reflection and time, and I recommend placing writing deadlines on your calendar to ensure you continue crafting your written essays until your application captures the leader you are and the experiences you bring to the classroom. 

READ ANOTHER APPLICANT QUESTION:

MBA Interview Questions: What Can I Expect In 2020-2021?

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The Most Common MBA Admission Essay Prompts: MBA Ivy League

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The most common mba admission essay prompts, mba admission essay success, or how to get into a top ten or ivy league business school:.

MBA admission essay prompts are the first encounter you will probably have with your application.

The questions may change every year, but the MBA essay prompts for the Top Ten business school programs typically fall into the same consistent categories. This means YOU have an edge if you know what the essay questions are before you begin your applications:

Read through the below to see the most common MBA admission essay questions:

• Why are you pursuing an MBA?
• In this question, Ivy League and Top Ten MBA admissions officers are looking for your motivation in terms of your current work and/or life experiences.
• Think about where you think an MBA can take you in your career , and how you couldn’t get there as easily without the degree.
• What is it about this particular school’s business school program that has caused you to apply to this particular school? Why HBS, or MIT Sloan, or Kellogg, Wharton, or any of the other Top Ten bschool programs?
• In other words, know your school!

2. What are some strengths and weaknesses you have?

• Failure is not a negative by itself and the way you responded to it is very telling! Give examples how you failed, but how you learned from those examples and overcame adversity in order to learn from your mistakes and succeed the next time. Show that you own your failures and grew from them, and that way every life experience becomes valuable!

3. How have you shown yourself as a leader?

• This is your opportunity to show your leadership style and how you use it to successfully complete projects. Admission officers want to see that you can influence and motivate a team. Just because a person has a leadership position doesn’t mean they are any good at it! Showcase what makes you a great leader.

4. What makes you stand out?

• You need to show off the qualities that you possess that make you stand out and make you more unique than other candidates. Remember most of the applicants are all going to be high performers but you are unique from them and here’s where you can demonstrate that to the MBA admissions officers.

5. What principles do you work and live by?

• MBA admission officers are looking for people with strong business ethics and values. Everyone can talk about good values, but having solid examples where you show your commitment to them even perhaps when tempted will resonate strongly.

If you need more guidance and insight please reach out for a free MBA or EMBA consultation.

As a former Harvard admissions interviewer and Harvard grad, I specialize in helping clients get into the Top Ten + Ivy League MBA and EMBA programs around the world.

Take a look at my website at:  www.MBAIvy.com and let me help you get into a great MBA program and achieve your dreams!

Also, check out my other MBA & EMBA  admission essay tips and blog articles, such as The 5 mistakes That Will Ding Your MBA Application!

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Top Five Tips for Writing Compelling MBA Admissions Essays

Erin Wand - Personal MBA Coach

Erin Wand is an mba.com Featured Contributor and the Vice President of Marketing and Operations for Personal MBA Coach , a boutique MBA admissions consulting and tutoring firm.

For many of the business school applicants I work with, the MBA admissions essay is the part of the application they dread the most.

Does that sound like you? It doesn’t have to be! If you’re unsure about how to start on your MBA admissions essays, don’t worry. This is your opportunity to move beyond your GMAT exam scores , GPA, or resume and reveal something deeper about yourself to the admissions committee. Read along for my best MBA admission essay tips.

Crafting winning MBA admissions essays

The question is: how to you write MBA admissions essays for top-tier programs that stand out from the stack and effectively tell your story? Here are five tips for compelling essays that will stick in the minds of the admissions committee and help you get into your top choice business school program.

1. Stay focused and answer the question asked

It’s surprising how often candidates write beautiful essays but do not answer the question. While I certainly endorse thinking outside of the box and considering the “why” behind an essay prompt, first and foremost you must answer the question.

Business school applicants like you are often highly accomplished, and it can be tempting to try to include as many of the details of your accomplishments as possible into your essays. It’s crucial that you avoid this urge and focus on the specific question at hand.

2. Less can be more: be succinct

A trend I’m seeing at many leading full-time MBA programs is shorter essay word limits. Michigan Ross , Stanford GSB , UCLA Anderson , and Duke Fuqua are just a few of the programs that have reduced their essay word counts in recent admissions cycles. This trend underscores a key piece of advice: be succinct!

Remember, your essays and short answers are just one part of your application. In addition to the details you’ll provide on the application form itself, you’ll also submit an MBA resume ( check out my resume tips here! ). This allows admissions committee members ample opportunity to read about everything you have accomplished, all the roles you have held, and the awards you have won. There is no need to fit every detail into your essays.

Instead of squeezing in as much as you can, focus on sharing a few key highlights, peppering in some interesting details, and convey your authentic voice through your writing. This is your chance to explain your choices, show your accomplishments, and share your passions. The fewer things you try to cover in your essays, the more you will be able to achieve this objective.

3. Be authentic, not what you think schools want to hear

I can’t emphasize this enough: do not write what you think admissions committee members want to read! The qualities and experiences that make you unique are your greatest selling points. Each essay should paint a clear picture of who you are, what motivates you, and what you’re passionate about.

Related to this, don’t feel compelled to show how you fit the mold that seemingly makes up the “ideal” candidate. If you have no desire to run a non-profit, that’s okay! If you’re not motivated to save the planet, don’t pretend you are! The admissions committee will see right through this, and you could end up doing more harm than good. Instead, focus your energy on simply being authentic.

4. Keep your language approachable and focus on the “so what?”

The terms you regularly use at the office may be foreign to others, including admissions committee members. When in doubt, do not assume the reader is familiar with everything about your job. Admissions directors come from all backgrounds and fields and are not assigned to candidates with similar backgrounds. They do not know the ins and outs of your industry and do not need to. In fact, details and accomplishments that are significant only to someone in your industry are less compelling than understandable results and transferable skills.

Everyone from your grandmother to a professor of microfinance should be able to understand your essays. So even if your accomplishment would be extremely impressive to another engineer or investment banker, if the reader doesn’t understand the “so what,” you’re wasting your words.

5. Limit the amount of flowery prose

Remember: You’ re not submitting your essays for a Pulitzer Prize. All you’re trying to do is tell your story. While of course you want your essays to be well-written and free of grammatical mistakes and typos, you also want them to be relatable and easy to follow. They should also convey why you are someone others would want to study with, learn from, and eventually be inspired by. That type of person is human and down to earth. Your essays should show this. 

Erin Wand is an mba.com Featured Contributor and the Vice President of Marketing and Operations for Personal MBA Coach , a boutique MBA admissions consulting and tutoring firm.

Founded by a Wharton MBA and MIT Sloan graduate who sits on the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants Board of Directors, Personal MBA Coach has been guiding clients for 14 years and is consistently ranked #1 or #2, currently holding the #1 ranking in the US on Poets&Quants.

We help clients with all aspects of the MBA application process including early planning, GMAT/GRE/EA tutoring, application strategy, school selection, essay editing and mock interviews. Our team includes a former M7 admissions director and former M7 admissions interviewers.

Last year, our clients earned more than $6M in scholarships!

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7 Common MBA Essay Questions and How to Tackle Them

There are a handful of business school essay questions that seem to capture the heart and imagination of many an MBA program.

It seems that, across the board, admissions committees feel these queries offer the best insight into the minds of their applicants. You are likely to see a version of one or more of these common MBA essay questions on your b-school application . These tips will help you craft the perfect answer.

1. Describe your specific career aspirations and your reason for pursuing an MBA.

This may be the most important essay question you tackle. You must convince the admissions committee that you deserve one of their few, cherished spots. Reference your background, skills, and career aspirations, demonstrating how this degree is a bridge to the next step in your professional life. Be sure to speak to how this particular program will help you realize your potential.

It's okay to present modest goals. Deepening your expertise and broadening your perspective are solid reasons for pursuing this degree. If you aspire to lofty goals, like becoming a CEO or starting your own company, be careful to detail a sensible (read: realistic), pragmatic plan.

Read More: Find Your Business School

2. What are your principal interests outside of work or school? What leisure and/or community activities do you particularly enjoy?

There's more to b-school than the library. The best programs buzz with the energy of a student body that is talented and creative and bursting with personality. These students are not just about case studies and careers. Describe how you will be a unique addition to the business school community.

B-school is also a very social experience. Much of the work is done in groups. Weekends are full of social gatherings or immersion experiences, and the networking you do here will impact the rest of your career. Communicate that people, not just your job, are an important part of your life.

3. Who do you most admire?

The admissions committee wants to know the qualities, attributes and strengths you value in others and hope to embrace. Drive, discipline and vision are fine examples but try and look beyond these conventional characteristics. Tell a story and provide specific examples. If you choose someone famous (which is fine), remember that you risk being one of many in the pile. Instead, consider a current boss, business associate, or friend. Know that your choice of person is less important than what you say about him or her.

4. Describe a situation in which you led a team. What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?

The committee isn't looking to see how you saved the team through your heroic efforts (so put yourself on ego alert). They want to see how you helped foster an environment in which everyone contributes, illustrating that the sum is greater than its parts. B-schools like leaders, but they like leaders who can help everyone get along and arrive at a collaborative solution.

You should shift gears for this question. Almost the entire application process thus far has asked you to showcase "me-me-me." Now the focus of your story needs to be on the "we" and how you made the "we" happen.

5. Our business school is a diverse environment. How will your experiences contribute to this?

This essay gets at two concerns for the admissions committee: (1) how will you enrich the student body at this school and (2) what is your attitude toward others' diverse backgrounds?

Diversity comes in many shapes. If a grandparent or relative is an immigrant to this country, you can discuss the impact of his or her values on your life. Perhaps you are the first individual in your family to attend college or graduate school. Maybe you are involved in a meaningful or unusual extracurricular activity. Whatever you choose to write, it's vital that you discuss how it contributes to your unique perspective.

6. Describe a personal achievement that has had a significant impact on your life.

Don't pull your hair out just because you haven't founded a successful start-up or swum across the English Channel. Smaller accomplishments with a lot of personal significance are just fine if they demonstrate character, sacrifice, humility, dedication, or perseverance. A good essay describes how you reached a personal objective and what that meant to you. Maybe you didn't lead a sports team to a victory. Maybe the victory was that you made it onto the team .

Read More: 20 Must-Read MBA Essay Tips

7. Discuss a non-academic personal failure. What did you learn from the experience?

Many applicants make the mistake of answering this question with a failure that is really a positive. Or they never really answer the question, fearful that any admission of failure will throw their whole candidacy into jeopardy. Don't get crafty. You should answer with a genuine mistake that the committee will recognize as authentic.

Write about a failure that had some high stakes for you. Demonstrate what you learned from your mistake and how it helped you mature. This is a chance to show b-schools your ability to be honest, show accountability, and face your failures head-on.

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Tuck’s 2021-2022 Essay Questions

By tuck admissions.

We are excited to share an advance look at the Tuck application essays! The application for the 2021-2022 season will open before the end of June, but our essay questions have been finalized and we wanted to give you a sneak peek at them now.  Be sure to look for our upcoming blog that will talk about our new prompt for essay 3 and provide advice and guidance on what we are looking for in each of our essay questions.

• Tuck students can articulate how the distinctive Tuck MBA will advance their aspirations. Why are you pursuing an MBA and why Tuck? (300 words)
• Tuck students recognize how their individuality adds to the fabric of Tuck. Tell us who you are. (300 words)
• Tuck students are encouraging, collaborative and empathetic, even when it is not convenient or easy.  Describe a meaningful experience in which you exemplified one or more of these attributes. (300 words)
• (Optional) Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere and 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. (300 words)
• (To be completed by all reapplicants) How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally. (300 words)

The MBA application process is an opportunity to reflect on your experiences, your plans for the future and what motivates you. Just as you learn about us in the coming months, we can't wait to learn about you as well!

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Jul 12, 2023

A Closer Look at Tuck’s Admissions Criteria: Encouraging

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Essays help us learn about who you are rather than solely what you have done.

Other parts of the application give insight into your academic and professional accomplishments; the essays reveal the person behind those achievements.

Essay Questions

We request that you write two personal essays.

In each essay, we want to hear your genuine voice. Think carefully about your values, passions, aims, and dreams. There is no “right answer” to these questions - the best answer is the one that is truest for you.

Essay A: What matters most to you, and why?

For this essay, we would like you to reflect deeply and write from the heart. Once you’ve identified what matters most to you, help us understand why. You might consider, for example, what makes this so important to you? What people, insights, or experiences have shaped your perspectives?

Essay B: Why Stanford?

Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs.

Both essays combined may not exceed 1,050 words. We recommend up to 650 words for Essay A and up to 400 words for Essay B. We often read effective essays that are written in fewer words.

Editing Your Essays

Begin work on the essays early to give yourself time to reflect, write, and edit.

Feel free to ask friends or family members for feedback, especially about whether the tone and voice sound like you. Your family and friends know you better than anyone. If they think the essays do not capture who you are, what you believe, and what you aspire to do, then surely we will be unable to recognize what is distinctive about you.

Feedback vs. Coaching

There is a big difference between “feedback” and “coaching.” You cross that line when any part of the application (excluding the letters of recommendation ) ceases to be exclusively yours in either thought or word.

Appropriate feedback occurs when others review your completed application - perhaps once or twice - and apprise you of omissions, errors, or inaccuracies that you later correct or address. After editing is complete, your thoughts, voice, and style remain intact. Inappropriate coaching occurs when you allow others to craft any part of your application for you and, as a result, your application or self-presentation is not authentic.

It is improper and a violation of the terms of this application process to have someone else write your essays. Such behavior will result in denial of your application or revocation of your admission.

Additional Information

If there is any information that is critical for us to know and is not captured elsewhere, include it in the “Additional Information” section of the application. Pertinent examples include:

• Extenuating circumstances affecting your candidacy, including academic, work, or test-taking experiences
• Academic experience (e.g., independent research) not noted elsewhere

This section should not be used as an additional essay.

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MBA Essay Prompts and Essay Examples

With sample essays from harvard, kellogg, stanford, and more.

Featured Expert: Nirusan Rajakulendran, MBA

MBA essay questions and answers are helpful in tackling the MBA application essay. Knowing the MBA essay questions or prompts ahead of time lets you know what top MBA programs are looking for and reading some sample essay answers is a great way to begin brainstorming your own answers. The MBA essay is a critical part of your application, so many students consider hiring a grad school essay tutor to coach them on the writing aspect. Others can rely on MBA admission consulting to provide feedback on their essay draft. MBA essay questions typically stay the same year to year, but you might be thrown a curveball once in a while. In this blog, we’ll look at what you can expect from MBA essay questions and answers, as well as some prompts from top MBA programs and sample answers for each. 

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Article Contents 10 min read

Mba essay questions and answers.

Many of the top business schools use MBA short essay questions and prompts as part of their applications. The MBA essay is different than the MBA statement of purpose or MBA personal statement, which both focus on your personal motivations and future career goals. Most MBA programs provide specific prompts for the MBA essay, with questions curated by the admissions committee.

While the MBA essay questions and prompts may change from year to year, most schools stick with what works and ask all applicants the same probing questions about their personal motivations. A common essay question is “ why do you want to pursue an MBA ”. These type of questions are designed to gain a deeper insight into the applicant’s personal, professional and academic life. Admissions committees ask these important questions to see if you can both write a concise, insightful and poignant essay, and also to determine whether you are a good fit for the MBA program. For many programs, the essay is vitally important to the overall application, and can determine whether you’ll need to start your MBA interview prep or not. In fact, many of the most common MBA essay questions are similar to MBA interview questions , and ask applicants why they chose to pursue an MBA, why they chose particular school or how their strengths will contribute to the school’s MBA program.

However, a number of the top MBA programs ask the same questions each year, and the admissions committee are looking for certain traits and strengths in their applicants. Below we’ll look at some of the MBA essay questions asked by top MBA programs, as well sample answers.

The Stanford Business School requires all its applicants to submit two MBA essays. Both essays have a maximum word count of 500, so they are asking for short essay format. For Essay A, Stanford MBA asks applicants to answer: “What matters most to you, and why?”. For Essay B, the question is a simple: “Why Stanford?”. These both seem like simple questions, but they can be tricky to answer in practice. Read the sample below for an answer to the first Stanford MBA essay question.

Prompt: What matters most to you, and why? For this essay, we would like you to reflect deeply and write from the heart. Once you’ve identified what matters most to you, help us understand why. You might consider, for example, what makes this so important to you? What people, insights, or experiences have shaped your perspectives?

I have found both in business and in life, that having direction, having a purpose and goals, are vital. And the root of direction, in my experience, is organization. Organization might seem a strange thing to prize so highly, but to me it is essential to be organized lest we become disorganized. In disorganization, nothing can be planned, no goals can be accomplished. It breeds only aimlessness and purposelessness.

My dislike of disorganization can be traced back to my grandfather. For over 25 years, he owned a hardware store and handyman shop which he operated alongside my grandmother. Grandma’s office in the hardware store was tidy as a church. She did the books, hired and fired the staff, dealt with customers, sales and payroll. She was the skeleton, the structure holding the business together for decades. My grandfather’s shop could be featured on an episode of Hoarders. Shelves of boxes in disarray, tools laid haphazardly on benches or tables, sawdust and wood shavings littering the floor. Yet in this madman’s chaos he was never lost. He always found what he needed. His skill and passion for carpentry, for craftsmanship was undeniable. His creations were sold out of the store, and his expertise was highly valued by customers. It was a business marriage that somehow worked.

When my grandmother passed of a sudden heart attack, everything changed. The existing staff did their best to fill my grandmother’s shoes, but business started a slow decline anyways. My grandfather let disorganization creep into his time management. He ran behind on projects without my grandmother’s prompting and refused to enter her office. When I took it upon myself, I discovered an organized, if dusty, office. I managed to slide into my grandmother’s old job, but not her old role. My grandfather resisted attempts to organize his shop, saying it was organized the way he liked it. After some fruitless fights, I decided to try a new approach. I asked him to take me through his organization system and explain it to me. The way I saw it, the business he had built and nurtured his entire life wouldn’t survive if we couldn’t learn to balance his creative genius with organized structure. I wanted to understand his way of thinking so I could preserve the side of the business that was my grandfather. My grandmother, in her hyper-organized glory, had left behind everything we needed to continue. If my grandfather were to pass, there was no one who could replace him and keep his business and legacy behind. There was no sense of direction. Of organization.

My grandfather spent an entire day explaining his system to me. I followed behind him, taking notes and making labels. I recorded his organizational system, nonsensical though it was to all but him, so I could preserve the spirit of his goals and direction for the business. But without knowing how it was all organized, I would not be able to carry on his role. (word count 496)

Want to see more Stanford MBA personal statement examples ?

Prepping for your MBA interview? Check out this infographic.

For those who want to know how to get into Harvard Business School , there is only one required essay for the MBA application. This year, the school has imposed a maximum word limit of 900, though it is acceptable to stay within the 500-to-700-word range. The Harvard Business School essay is considered vitally important to the admissions committee, so it can be a significant factor in your overall application. Hiring an MBA essay consultant might be a good idea to tackle the Harvard essay, so you can be sure to submit a polished and succinct document. Or read some Harvard MBA personal statement samples to get an idea of what to write about.

Prompt: As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School MBA Program?

I’ve often been accused of being unable to commit to anything. Of being too flaky. Of changing my mind or jumping from opportunity to opportunity, hobby to hobby. This has always been said with an air of censure and disappointment. It’s always set off my internal defense mechanism because I never understood why having many interests or pursuing them could be bad. When I decided to apply to this MBA program, there were plenty of naysayers. Those who thought I wouldn’t be able to commit to this program. Yet I arrived at the decision to pursue an MBA after learning a vital lesson about myself, and it is this lesson I would like to share with you.

My apparent flakiness comes from my childhood upbringing. As all children of military parents, I was often moved around, bounced from school to school. We never learn to put down roots, and we get used to changing environments and having to start over from scratch over and over again. This creates a pattern, but it also builds resilience and flexibility. It plants the seeds of determination to see things through when they really matter. As I grew up and applied for university, I received some surprising feedback from family members when I was rejected from the programs I applied to. Their response was to shrug their shoulders and tell me I wouldn’t have been able to commit to a four-year degree anyways. So it was for the best. At first, I believed them, but eventually my decision not to try again weighed on me. I reapplied for school, and this time I was successful.

Throughout school and even after I graduated, I bounced from job to job, never really satisfied. Once again, it reinforced the view others held of me and the view I held of myself. I couldn’t commit. I had no structure. But I came to realize that it wasn’t me. I wasn’t satisfied with my job because it wasn’t a good position for me. It wasn’t what I really wanted. I quit my job. I booked a ticket to travel abroad for a year. In this short year, I truly examined what I wanted to do and what I did not want to do with my life. I landed on business, and realized I needed an MBA. It was a thought I’d always kept in the back of my mind, and now it was inescapable.

My view of myself as someone who couldn’t commit was shifted. I’m not flaky. I’m adaptable. I know how to pick myself back up again and rise to a new challenge. I am ready for the challenge of getting my MBA and working in business. If I don’t get accepted, I know I can try again and succeed. I believe my apparent inability to commit was really evidence of dissatisfaction. And my background hasn’t made me flaky, it’s made me strong enough and adaptable enough to succeed in business. (word count 494)

The Kellogg Business School focuses on values and leadership in its essay question prompts. Below we’ve included one of the essay prompts provided by the Kellogg Business School for its MBA applicants, as well as a sample answer. The essay prompts all have a word limit of 450 words.

Prompt: Kellogg’s purpose is to educate, equip, and inspire brave leaders who create lasting value. Provide a recent example where you have demonstrated leadership and created value. What challenges did you face, and what did you learn?

My first opportunity to step into a full leadership role at my job came very recently. I have been working as an assistant manager of a restaurant for many years, and the last eight months as the assistant manager. In this role, I have been able to cultivate in myself many useful skills of team management and leadership. But I have always had my manager to back me up and act as my leadership mentor. She has always been able to provide final say and take the reins as needed. Months ago, she was placed on short-term leave to treat an unexpected injury, and with our operation being typically short-staffed, I was thrust into the role of temporary, full-on manager. At first it felt like diving out the plane without the skydiving instructor strapped to your back for the first time. It was intimidating, and it took some time to adjust. And, of course, it didn’t take long for the first real test of my leadership skills to present itself.

An ongoing conflict flared up among the waitstaff soon after our manager was placed on leave. It had started as a scheduling conflict, with two members of the waitstaff each wanting prime shifts but not wanting to work alongside one another. The newer member of staff often accused the more senior member of being controlling and using their seniority to win workplace disputes. The interpersonal conflict was spreading and affecting the rest of the staff, but no compromise had been reached. I had tried to resolve it in the same ways my manager had when creating the schedule or assigning sections. We reached a turning point during a particularly busy shift where I asked the senior staff member to assist on the lounge bar. I noticed her proficiency behind the bar. An idea formed.

I proposed to her that she move behind the bar full-time. That way, both she and the other staff could keep their desired shifts, but they wouldn’t need to interact directly. As a bonus, the senior member of staff wouldn’t suffer on tips and the remainder of the staff wouldn’t be caught in the middle. The reason she hadn’t been moved behind the bar already was no one had realized how much she was suited to it before. I spoke with her and discovered how much she enjoyed working as a bartender. Upon speaking with the other staff member, I was happy to hear how much better their shift went when they didn’t feel “supervised” by the other senior waitress.

By the time the manager returned to work, the interpersonal conflict had fizzled, both parties were happy with their change in positions, and the rest of the staff were visibly less stressed by the entire thing. In managing this conflict, I realized the importance of seeking new solutions, keeping open and honest communication and establishing clear outcomes with both of the staff members. It also taught me to really listen and observe my staff’s behavior. (word count 499)

Want to see more Kellogg MBA essay examples ?

There are many other top business schools which require an MBA essay, MBA cover letter , an MBA motivation letter or otherwise ask students to submit optional essays as part of the application process. Below we’ve covered some other essay questions and prompts from top business schools in the US.

The Haas School of Business also invites applicants to submit an optional or MBA diversity essay to talk about any adversity the applicant has faced. These prompts are similar to the AMCAS statement of disadvantage examples , and might include explanations of gaps in education or significant barriers an applicant has overcome to get their education. There are a variety of different prompts listed on the school\u2019s website. ","label":"Haas School of Business","title":"Haas School of Business"}]" code="tab1" template="BlogArticle">

To write an MBA essay, use short essay format and stick to 500 words or less, depending on the word count limit. Your MBA essay should be succinct and well structured, with appropriate personal anecdotes and plenty of detail. It’s important to grab the reader’s attention with this and provide some insight into yourself and your experiences. Also don’t be afraid to use a bit of storytelling and creativity to get your point across!

The best MBA essays will of course address the prompt provided, but the key is to do so in a way that is authentic, insightful and meaningful. Storytelling can be a powerful tool here, but make sure you are also making a strong and clear point. Answer the question you are being asked and provide as much detail as you can in the space provided. Go beyond a surface level answer and give the admissions committee a look into your personal experiences.

Usually yes, schools keep the same MBA essay questions or prompts every admission cycle. Once in a while the admissions committee will shake things up, but you can expect to see the same type of questions asked each year.

To effectively answer MBA essay questions, be sure to address each part of the question fully. Don’t leave anything out of your answer and keep a genuine, authentic voice. Also be sure to remain within the word count limit. Keep your writing concise and make your point clearly.

Yes, the MBA essay is typically a required part of the application to any MBA program. For top MBA schools, the essay is critically important to your overall evaluation. 

If an MBA program offers an optional essay, it is a good idea to write one or respond to one of the provided prompts. Any additional essay can only strengthen your application, and optional essays are great ways to expand your application profile.

Start your essay with a short introduction of who you are, where you come from or what your goals are. Most MBA essays have a word count of 500 words or less, so it’s important to introduce yourself right off the bat and tell the admissions committee what they need to know about you. 

Yes, the MBA essay is a very important part of your MBA application. Most admissions committees consider the MBA essay a critical evaluation factor when reading your application, and it can determine whether or not you get an MBA interview at the school. 

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What You Need To Know: 2021-22 Essay Questions and Application Deadlines

I’m Iooking forward to a summer with a bit more sense of normalcy, and hope the same is true for you. With many internships expected to be virtual and full-time jobs not starting until later this summer, I expect to see many Michigan Ross students around Ann Arbor golfing, hiking, biking, kayaking, stand -up paddleboarding, and ice cream eating (all activities I recommend to students who are here over the summer). 

Spring is also the time of year when the Admissions team and I debrief on what went well and what we may want to adjust for the upcoming cycle. We felt really good about the quality of this year’s candidates and the prospective students’ feedback about our application, so I encouraged the team not to tinker too much with what is working. 

Here are important updates about our 2021-22 application process: 

Same choice, same essay prompts

We enjoy providing students a choice in their essay answers. This past year, we received very insightful answers to the prompts that allowed us to learn more about your values and what you would add to the Michigan Ross community. 

Part 1: Short-answer questions

Select one prompt from each group of the two groups below. Respond to each selected prompt in 100 words or less .

I want people to know that I:

I made a difference when I:

I was aware that I was different when:

I am out of my comfort zone when:

I was humbled when:

I was challenged when: 

Part 2: Career Goal Essay

What is your short-term career goal and why? (200 words)

A return to three rounds

In the 2021-22 cycle, we will return to three application rounds. We’ve found this year that a June decision timeframe causes more stress for our international applicants given visa processing timelines and want to be as equitable as possible going forward. 

Since we continue to receive strong applications from applicants in the spring, we decided to push back the Round 3 deadline rather than having an additional round. 

The application deadlines and decision releases are below.

Reapplicant process

Our team has been getting lots of questions from reapplicants, so we wanted to share an update on the reapplication process. 

We’re proud to continue our streamlined application for reapplicants with details here. We will also continue waiving the application fee for all reapplicants. In addition, we are hosting a panel of current Michigan Ross students who were successful reapplicants in July to share tips and success stories from their reapplicant journey. 

As a reminder, the test waiver request process will open in July, along with the application itself. 

We look forward to seeing you at Admissions Office Hours and other Michigan Ross events this summer! 

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Stanford MBA Essay Questions for 2023-2024

Stanford Graduate School of Business has confirmed the essay prompts for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle. The required Stanford MBA essay questions remain unchanged from previous admissions seasons.

Stanford asks for two personal essays in order to gain a greater understanding of applicants’ character and hopes. “In each essay, we want to hear your genuine voice,” the admissions team advises. “Think carefully about your values, passions, aims, and dreams. There is no ‘right answer’ to these questions — the best answer is the one that is truest for you.”

Stanford MBA Essay Questions

Essay a: what matters most to you, and why.

For this essay, we would like you to reflect deeply and write from the heart. Once you’ve identified what matters most to you, help us understand why. You might consider, for example, what makes this so important to you? What people, insights, or experiences have shaped your perspectives?

Essay B: Why Stanford?

Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs.

Both essays combined may not exceed 1,050 words. We recommend up to 650 words for Essay A and up to 400 words for Essay B. We often find effective essays that are written in fewer words.

Optional Short-Answer Question

In the Essays section of the application, we ask you to tell us about who you are and how you think Stanford will help you achieve your aspirations. We are also interested in learning about the things you have done that are most meaningful to you. If you would like to go beyond your resume to discuss some of your contributions more fully, you are welcome to share up to three examples (up to 1,200 characters, or approximately 200 words, for each example)

What do we mean by “optional”? We truly mean you have the opportunity to choose. If you feel that you’ve already described your contributions well in other areas of the application, congratulations, you’re done! If not, feel free to use this opportunity to tell us more.

Question: Think about times you’ve created a positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, academic, or other settings. What was your impact? What made it significant to you or to others?

The Stanford MBA application for the Class of 2026 is officially open. Here are the GSB’s updated application deadlines . For more information, please visit the Stanford GSB admissions website. If you need guidance on your Stanford MBA application or wish to discuss your MBA plans, reach out for a complimentary analysis  of your candidacy. We’re here to help!

Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot of the AdCom expertise on the Stacy Blackman Consulting team:

SBC’s star-studded consultant team is unparalleled. Our clients benefit from current intelligence that we receive from the former MBA Admissions Officers from Harvard HBS, Stanford GSB and every elite business program in the US and Europe.  These MBA Admissions Officers have chosen to work exclusively with SBC.

Just two of the many superstars on the SBC team: Meet Erin , who was Assistant Director of MBA Admissions at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business (GSB) and Director of MBA Admissions at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.

Meet Andrea , who served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at Harvard Business School (HBS) for over five years.

Tap into this inside knowledge for your MBA applications by requesting a consultation .

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June 29, 2023

Harvard Business School MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines [2023 – 2024]

The Admissions Office at Harvard Business School (HBS) has announced updates for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle. The most important update is that if you plan to apply to HBS and have yet to take an entrance exam, you should take the traditional GMAT test (including the AWA) or the GRE. HBS will not accept the GMAT Focus Edition exam because it will not be available until after the Round 1 deadline. This will eliminate any confusion that might occur across Rounds 1 and 2. 

The essay prompt and word limit will remain the same, at a maximum (not necessarily a requirement) of 900 words. The team also indicates that if you can tell your story in 500 words, that’s fine too.

• HBS MBA essay tips
• HBS 2023-2024 deadlines
• HBS class profile
• Sample HBS Essay
• More resources

Harvard will continue being one of the few, if not the only, school with just two rounds (September and January). HBS uses an April deadline exclusively for HBS 2+2, its deferred admission program.

Let’s talk about Harvard’s MBA application

On to the Harvard MBA application and essay question itself: HBS clearly likes  the responses it has received  to the past several years’ excellent essay question because this year’s question is identical. The essay is again required, and there is a 900-word limit

Harvard Business School MBA essay tips

There is one question for the HBS Class of 2026:

As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School MBA program?

The website provides the following advice as well: 

We think you know what guidance we’re going to give here. Don’t overthink, overcraft and overwrite. Just answer the question in clear language that those of us who don’t know your world can understand.

Before you begin to complete your application I have two suggestions for you:

• Review Harvard’s criteria for admission , and its MBA Application Tips: Essay video .
• Watch the embedded video on the case method at HBS.

This is a great essay question. It allows you to choose what you want the school to know about you without having to fit that information into a framework required by a question that doesn’t really align with your story. It also allows you to demonstrate judgment and communication skills, which are critical given Harvard’s residential culture , study groups, and case method. Finally, this essay is a chance for HBS to get to know you beyond your resume and the limited (and limiting) boxes. In fact, as Chad Losee says in his essay tip video, they want to get to know you through your essay. That’s the essay’s purpose.

Now THINK. What else – really and truly – do you want Harvard Business School to know about you? The HBS admissions committee has told you what they want to know in the other sections of the application. “What more” do you want the HBS readers to know?

Please note that your essay has to be additive. “What more” are the key words in the prompt. It shouldn’t be a resume in prose. And it shouldn’t be a series of vague generalities and assertions that would apply to many others. Finally, it can’t be a series of anecdotes with no meaning or significance associated with the experiences. It should reflect at least part of your unique story, the part that you want HBS to know. Finally, your essay should reflect your motivations, values, and dreams.

The answer to HBS’ question is not something I can give or even suggest to you in a blog post aimed at the many (for individual guidance, please see Accepted’s MBA Admissions Consulting ). It must be different for each of you. Again, refer to the HBS criteria, as you contemplate possible topics, but the options are infinite. A few possibilities:

• Provide context for events described in the required elements.
• Delve into your motivations for the decisions or commitments you have made.
• Discuss experiences that shaped your dreams for the future, which might just benefit enormously from an HBS education (caveat: HBS doesn’t ask why you want to attend Harvard, so don’t make this a central theme of your essay).
• Examine challenges you have faced. These could be personal challenges, or perhaps interpersonal challenges.
• Envision something you would like to accomplish at HBS.
• Provide more detail about an activity or commitment that is particularly important to you.

Please don’t limit yourself to these suggestions. I am offering them to stimulate your creativity, not to shut it down. 

If one thing is true, it is that HBS has valued concision. And, in today’s tweet- and sound-bite-driven world, it is requiring short responses in the other portions of the application. Don’t take this essay’s generous word limit as a license for verbosity. Make every word count, no pun intended.

A few cautions and warnings regarding this essay – it is NOT:

• Stanford’s “what matters most to you and why?” essay
• The kitchen sink in which you throw everything
• An autobiography
• A resume in prose or a rehash of your transcript and honors
• An ode to the awesomeness of Harvard (The admissions committee doesn’t need you to tell them they have a great institution that you would be honored to attend. They’ve heard it before.)

For expert guidance on your HBS application, check out Accepted’s  MBA Application Packages , which include advising, editing, interview coaching, and a resume edit for the HBS application. Looking to score some scholarship money while you’re at it? Accepted’s clients received over $3.5 million dollars in scholarship offers in the most recent application cycle.  Explore our services  for more information on how Accepted can help you get into HBS.

Harvard Business School 2023-24 application deadlines

Source: HBS website

* Applications must be submitted online by 12 noon Boston time.

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with individual programs to verify the essay questions, instructions and deadlines.***

HBS class profile [Class of 2024]

Here’s a look at HBS’s Class of 2024 taken from the  Harvard Business School website :

Number of applications:  8264

Enrolled:  1,015

Countries represented:  

• United States: 62%
• Mexico, Central & South America: 5%
• Middle East: 3%
• Oceania: 1%

Women:  46%

International:  38%

US minorities:  52%

Average GPA:  3.70

Average years work experience:  5.0

Percent of class taking GMAT:  74%

• Verbal range: 29– 51
• Quantitative range: 34 – 51
• Total range: 540–790
• Median verbal: 42
• Median quantitative: 48
• Median total : 730

Percent of class taking GRE:  30%

• Verbal range: 147 – 170
• Quantitative range: 150–170
• Median verbal: 163
• Median quantitative: 163

Breakdown of undergraduate majors (137 domestic universities and 158 international universities)

Breakdown of pre-mba industries, sample harvard business school essays from admitted hbs students, are you considering applying to business school.

We have the resources to help you navigate the options and make the right choice for you:

• M7 MBA Programs: Everything You Need to Know
• What It Takes to Get Accepted to HBS, Stanford GSB, and Wharton

Is HBS at the top of your wish list?

Get the competitive edge with HBS-specific advice and inside information:

• “I Wish the Admissions Committee Had Asked Me…” : How to answer open-ended MBA essay questions
• What Harvard Business School Is Looking For: Engaged Community Citizenship
• What Harvard Business School Is Looking For: Analytical Aptitude and Appetite
• What Harvard Business School Is Looking For: The Habit of Leadership
• 7 Important Tips for Your HBS Post-Interview Reflection

Hear directly from Harvard alumni in these inspiring blog posts:

• An MBA Success Story Reflects on His HBS Experience, 7 Years Later, podcast Episode 419
• A Harvard MBA’s Experience & Advice on Writing the Perfect Essay, podcast Episode 375
• Entrepreneurship at HBS: How Stride Will Help You Fund Your Future, podcast Episode 341
• How to Leverage an HBS Education: The Story of LeverEdge, podcast Episode 313
• Ida Valentine: Investment Banker, Inspirational Speaker, HBS 2021, podcast Episode 311
• The Journey from India to Harvard MBA, podcast Episode 220

Do you need help gaining admission to HBS or any other top MBA program? That’s what we do! Explore our MBA Admissions Consulting Services and work one-on-one with an experienced admissions advisor who will help you GET ACCEPTED.

As the former executive director of admissions at Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School and assistant dean of admissions at Georgetown’s McDonough School and the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz School, Kelly Wilson has 23 years’ experience overseeing admissions committees and has reviewed more than 38,000 applications for the MBA and master’s programs in management of information systems, computational finance, business analytics, and product management.   Want Kelly to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

• What Is Harvard Business School Looking For?
• “I Wish the Admissions Committee Had Asked Me…”
• Best MBA Programs: A Guide to Selecting the Right One

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