strength and weakness essay mba

Sample MBA Essay - What is your greatest weakness

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I am Atul Jose - the Founding Consultant at F1GMAT.

Over the past 15 years, I have helped MBA applicants gain admissions to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, MIT, Chicago Booth, Kellogg, Columbia, Haas, Yale, NYU Stern, Ross, Duke Fuqua, Darden, Tuck, IMD, London Business School, INSEAD, IE, IESE, HEC Paris, McCombs, Tepper, and schools in the top 30 global MBA ranking. 

I offer end-to-end Admissions Consulting and editing services – Career Planning, Application Essay Editing & Review, Recommendation Letter Editing, Interview Prep, assistance in finding funds and Scholarship Essay & Cover letter editing. See my Full Bio .

Contact me for support in school selection, career planning, essay strategy, narrative advice, essay editing, interview preparation, scholarship essay editing and guiding supervisors with recommendation letter guideline documents . 

I am also the Author of the Winning MBA Essay Guide, covering 16+ top MBA programs with 240+ Sample Essays that I have updated every year since 2013 (11+ years. Phew!!)

I am an Admissions consultant who writes and edits Essays every year . And it is not easy to write good essays. 

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How to Discuss Failures & Weaknesses in Your MBA Essay

May 10, 2023

The disadvantage of perfection

Demonstrating a growth mindset, using failure to your advantage, what kinds of failures and weaknesses can be used in mba essays, using stories to effectively discuss failures and weaknesses in your mba essay.

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UPDATE: This article was originally posted on June 6, 2019. It has been updated with new information and tips below. 

When writing your MBA admissions essay, you want to shine. World-class programs are looking for leaders, visionaries, and reliable sources of future impact, and it is imperative that you show the admissions board that you are one of these candidates. 

You may think this means that you need to show them a straightforward history of success, a spotless professional record, and a flawless transcript. After all, top MBA programs are looking for perfect candidates, right?

Of course not. 

If your record is devoid of weaknesses, failures, or misadventures, it probably lacks authenticity. Nobody is perfect.

In fact, if your past reads as completely flawless, they may feel like you have not thoroughly reflected on your profile or their application questions. 

For MBA candidates, this has a twofold advantage: not only that you should not avoid talking about failures and weaknesses in your MBA essay, but that these stories can actually play to your advantage.

If you try to make a case to the admissions committee that claims you have a flawless record, this is unlikely to be successful. In other words, to allege perfection is likely to get your application set aside. This is because the adcom is looking for a pattern of success based on abilities of self-reflection, open-mindedness, and capacity for improvement . If you do not show that you recognize the fact that there is always more to learn, why should they let you into their school? 

After all, a school – including top programs like Harvard , MIT, or Yale – are institutions of learning . All schools implicitly value growth, improving on one’s weaknesses, and intellectual appetite in their candidates. 

Berkeley Haas , for example, emphasizes four defining leadership principles . Among other qualities, they define being a “student always” as a fundamental element of leadership:

“ We are a community designed for curiosity and lifelong pursuit of personal and intellectual growth. This is not a place for those who feel they have learned all they need to learn .”

The Berkeley admissions committee explicitly states that they are not looking for candidates who already have all the knowledge in the textbook but rather for students who can recognize the need to learn from their weaknesses. 

If you claim that you are perfect, you indicate that there is nothing left to learn . This is definitely not the impression you want to give the adcom. 

Top MBA programs are looking for students with what is called a growth mindset . This term was coined by Carol Dweck, a professor of psychology at Stanford University. 

Dweck explains the “growth mindset” in comparison to its counterpart, a “fixed mindset”: 

“ In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits. They spend their time documenting their intelligence or talent instead of developing them. They also believe that talent alone creates success—without effort. They’re wrong.

In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment. Virtually all great people have had these qualities. ”

According to this article by the New York Times , a growth mindset helps promote innovation. That being said, it is no surprise that elite MBA programs explicitly look for evidence of this in their applicants. 

MIT , for example, specifically looks for candidates who desire “ growth in both professional and personal endeavors. ” One of Kellogg’s essay questions even begins with “An MBA is a catalyst for personal and professional growth,” as they directly draw upon the growth-minded principle when selecting candidates.

Some schools are even explicitly looking for a growth mindset by asking you to reflect on your weaknesses or discuss a failure. Take INSEAD, for example, whose motivational essay questions request you do both:

 “Give a candid description of yourself (who you are as a person), stressing the personal characteristics you feel to be your strengths and weaknesses and the main factors that have influenced your personal development, giving examples when necessary.” (approximately 500 words)

“Describe the achievement of which you are most proud and explain why. In addition, describe a situation where you failed. How did these experiences impact your relationships with others? Comment on what you learned. (approximately 400 words)”

INSEAD knows that you must reflect on failure to continue growing, and outright demands this skill from their candidates. 

Remember, you are not trying to tell the adcom that you are perfect . Instead, you are trying to tell them how you use imperfection to your advantage to lead you to success.

Of course, talking about weaknesses and failures in an effective way can be tricky. If you are looking for help to determine if your essays are structured in a way that stands out to the adcom, don’t hesitate to check out our MBA Resource Center! 

There, you can find dozens of past successful essays and detailed brainstorming worksheets to help you plan out a winning essay. Our library also includes guides for all top global MBA programs, interview tips and mocks, CV templates, and recommendation letter guides. Click to join !

The admissions committee for your t op MBA program is looking for future leaders who have experience making difficult, real-life decisions . 

People with experience are people who have made mistakes. This doesn’t mean that the adcom is looking for people who are failures. Instead, it means that they seek candidates who have learned from their mistakes and failures . 

This is great for MBA admissions essays. This means you can talk about a negative event in a positive light when you show the adcom what you learned from the experience . 

For example, in her INSEAD essay, our client Vanessa described a story about a professional failure like this: 

“My performance in this project would be the main factor in determining a full-time offer as an associate, so I decided to impress the project leader and do every task by myself. In doing so, I encountered difficulties that I could not solve alone – yet, I refused to ask for help, missing a deadline. By the time I did ask the project leader for help, I had not finished the task. This mistake was crucial. I learned that I have to ask for help when I encounter difficulties I cannot solve, especially when timing is vital. Luckily, learning from my initial mistake did not damage my relationship with the Project Leader; I had enough time to change this bad impression and received a full-time offer. However, this failure could have cost me a huge career opportunity.”

Vanessa uses this mistake to clearly show how she grew out of this situation. She thus successfully demonstrated a growth mindset by explaining how she learned firsthand about the importance of asking for help .

By demonstrating that you learn from your mistakes, see the need to improve on your weaknesses, and know that you still have a lot to learn , you can show the admissions board that you are the type of reflected leader that belongs at their school. 

Everyone has failed at one time or another. The range of experiences you could talk about in this regard is wide and varied. 

Failures may be reflected by a failed business venture, a missed target for a client, or a class you failed in college . All of these are professional experiences from which one can learn straightforward lessons that contribute to your growth as a professional. 

Take a look at this example from our client Guilherme. In his answer to Yale ’s question “Describe the biggest commitment you’ve ever made” (500 words), Guilherme describes his experience of starting his own business, only to realize that the best decision was to shut down the company: 

“Making the decision was not easy. I could have taken everything we had developed and pursued my entrepreneurial dream. However, that was not the kind of leader I wanted to be – someone who puts his selfish ambitions before the needs of his team. Doing what felt fair to all involved was more important, whatever the cost. Today, I am happy about my decision. I lost the business, but I gained the trust and confidence of my team. I saw entrepreneurship from another perspective and truly considered the difficult decisions business leaders face.”

Guilherme’s “biggest commitment” was not the venture itself but the decision as a leader to shut it down for the well-being of his team. Although he describes a professional failure, he also describes the success he won from it: how he grew as a leader .

However, these are not the only kind of failures that you could write about in your MBA essay. Some misadventures may be more subtle . You may have experienced letting down a colleague by not dedicating time to giving them the extra help they asked for. You may want to explain a failed presentation at work that made you look bad in front of your boss or team . However, the repertoire of failures and weaknesses is even broader. Personal failures are just as valid as professional ones – especially because our experts at Ellin Lolis Consulting find that it is important to have a good mix of personal and professional stories in your MBA essays.

Personal weaknesses may range from disappointing a good friend to a tendency for tardiness. They could include not fulfilling someone else’s expectations, deciding not to take over the family business, or the fact that you have trouble negotiating compromise . 

Last year, our client Conrad wrote about a personal failure while leading his sailing team in a regional competition. 

In his answer, Conrad explains that his team consisted of him and his five teammates, all expert sailors. However, an inability to work together, despite careful planning, led them to lose their first race of the regatta:

“I learned that to have a successful team, it is not sufficient to focus only on high-performing individuals. Instead, it is necessary to create a unified mentality that moved us toward the same goal. If given a second chance, I would begin our planning by emphasizing how we were all skilled sailors but that we needed to form a united team. Some of us might disagree with aspects of the strategy, but we must derive a single plan and stick to it, knowing that focusing our efforts is the best overall option.”

Here, Conrad learned an important lesson about leadership, an important quality in MBA candidates , and a good choice of topic for your MBA admissions essay. As you can see, strong professional lessons can also be derived from personal stories.

In fact, failures and weaknesses can also include much larger personal challenges. You may even find that themes like discussing dealing with addiction, coming to terms with your identity, or overcoming loss are powerful – and authentic – solutions for answering an essay question. This may be another way to creatively elaborate a change in industry or direction in your professional past. 

Which failures and weaknesses you want to discuss in your MBA essay are completely up to you. They will depend on your personal history and your ability to reflect on the not-always-so-shiny moments of your past. However, when you begin to investigate, you may find there is more to mention here than you originally imagined.

The best way to talk about failures and weaknesses – and, more importantly, the lessons you learned from these experiences – in your MBA admissions essay is by utilizing stories . 

Our editors at Ellin Lolis Consulting believe that using stories in your MBA admissions essay is an effective tactic for persuading the adcom that you deserve a spot in their program. By using storytelling , incorporating psychological storytelling concepts , and choosing your stories wisely, you can make your essays stand out and increase your chances of being admitted to your number one MBA program.

How to use stories to discuss failures and weaknesses

When using storytelling to discuss failures and weaknesses in your MBA essay, there are a few essentials to include. 

To effectively discuss a failure, the following elements must be clear : 

1) The problem : Why did the failure happen in the first place? Why did you act as you did in that situation from your perspective?

2) How you recognized the problem : How did you notice it was a problem? What further consequences did this problem have? 

3) How you overcame the problem : What did you do to solve this problem? What do you wish you would have done differently?

4) The lesson you learned from the experience : What was your takeaway from this story? How would you apply this lesson in the future?

It is important to include all of these elements to tell an effective story about failure or weakness. For example, take a look at how our client Andrey concisely discussed a weakness in his Ross essay last year. 

“I was humbled when I failed to implement a product’s preparation process at a retail store during a consulting project, leading to sales loss risks – besides client dissatisfaction. Later, the store’s manager eliminated parts of the process, completely redesigning it. His idea initially seemed like unfounded nonsense, as necessary data wasn’t being collected. However, the manager insisted on its success, so I tested his idea in two other stores: it was indeed agiler while maintaining effectiveness. I learned that listening to others is essential, even when our opinions diverge. The manager’s idea was subsequently shared with 300+ stores.”

Andrey does an excellent job of including all of these elements:

1) The problem : Andrey designed an ineffective process and, more importantly, did not listen to an alternative suggestion from his subordinate.

2) How he recognized the problem : The subordinate presented evidence of the effectiveness of the new solution. 

3) How he overcame the problem : Andrey decided to test the idea in other stores, which led to success.

4) The lesson he learned from the experience : Andrey learned firsthand that listening to others is important, even if he has a different opinion on the matter.

As you can see, all of these elements must be present to tell an effective and compelling story about failure . If one or more of these is unclear or missing altogether, you will not be able to make an effective case.

We Make Your Story Shine

One of the most common mistakes we see in MBA essays is that candidates fail to tell compelling stories . This is important because if your stories are not compelling, they will not be persuasive. At the same time, they must be backed by strong examples that establish a track record of success and prove to the admissions committees why you belong at their school. 

Striking this balance between content and creativity can be tough, however, as succeeding means not only choosing the right stories but ensuring they are told in an optimal manner. 

This is why our iterative developmental feedback process here at Ellin Lolis Consulting helps you mold your message through the application of our storytelling expertise until it reflects exactly what makes your profile stand out and show fit with your target program. 

No matter how long we work with you, we will always ensure your essays shine . Sign up to work with our team of storytelling experts and get accepted.

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From Flaw to Strength: 5 Weaknesses For Your MBA Application

Updated: Feb 1

Some business schools explicitly ask for weaknesses in their written applications. For example, the INSEAD MBA application includes a strengths and weaknesses essay:

“Give a candid description of yourself (who are you as a person), stressing the personal characteristics you feel to be your strengths and weaknesses and the main factors which have influenced your personal development, giving examples when necessary in 500 words.”

While answering a question like this, you need to reflect on your work experience to identify a weakness that is, first off, undeniably a weakness, and second improvable. Think of something that is a trait or a skill that needs improvement. Humbly accept it and show how you’re working on improving it. Then pair it with a fierce strength of yours, especially something you’ve been applauded for at work, to balance it out and make a strong impression on AdCom.

But for those schools that don’t have a personal strengths and weaknesses essay, it’s also a question you should be ready to answer in your 1:1 interview , a mandatory part of most business school applications. These interviews are usually conducted by the AdCom or a second-year student and statistically you have a 50% chance of making it through to the school.

In these MBA interviews, a weakness question could come up in many ways, but according to our client feedback the two most common weakness interview questions are:

“Tell us about your biggest weakness”

“Tell us about a time you failed”

Don’t even think about brushing them off with a rubbish answer, such as “I’m a perfectionist”, thinking they won’t be able to see through you. Forget it. They definitely will. So, how do you identify a weakness for your essays and interviews? Let’s read further.

How to identify (a good) weakness

Admitting a weakness might look like it could harm your candidature. And yes, it could if you don’t approach the question in the right way, which is to find a genuine weakness and explain how you are working to improve it. This shows maturity, self-awareness and the ability to address an area for improvement. After all, if you were perfect already, you wouldn't need an MBA!

Instead of focusing on fundamental personality flaws, we suggest highlighting a skill that you are working to improve. To do this, make a list of the technical and non-technical skills that are required to succeed in your industry. Then, identify the skills you already possess and the ones you need to develop. Finally, select a skill that an MBA program could help you improve.

For example, if you find it difficult to share your innovative ideas with a room full of strangers, explain how this has affected you at work. Then talk about the actionable steps you have taken to improve this weakness. This could include taking on a hobby such as public speaking or acting. This approach demonstrates that you are action-oriented, have a growth-oriented mindset, are introspective and have the maturity to articulate your weaknesses. It also shows that you are not afraid of being vulnerable , a trait that is essential for success in an MBA program and in life.

Pro tip: One of the first steps we take with clients is to ask them to complete a Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality test. Using this, you can identify weaknesses typical of your personality type. You can take a free personality test at 16personalities.com.

Take an MBTI personality test to find the weaknesses typical of your personality type

Now that you understand how to choose a weakness and discuss it in your interview, check out five examples of personal weaknesses that you may want to use in your essays or interview.

5 personal weaknesses examples for MBA applications

1. I tend to overlook details

“My biggest weakness is that I am not naturally detail-oriented, and tend to focus more on the big picture. As a project manager in my current job, I once lost a significant deal due to overlooking crucial details in the contract. Since then, I’ve been working on improving my attention to detail. For instance, I now take detailed notes during meetings and review them afterwards to ensure I didn't miss anything important. I also make a point of double-checking my work before submitting it, and have been delegating some of my tasks to a colleague known for their attention to detail. I’ll continue to improve on this during my MBA by systematically checking coursework for myself and my study team."

2. I tend to be overly self-critical

“Being highly self-conscious, I sometimes struggle with self-criticism. I often find myself judging my thoughts and ideas, which leads me to doubt my skills and abilities. Because of this, I sometimes get stuck in a continuous procrastinating cycle. Fairly recently, I missed out on an important project at work because I was afraid to open up and share my ideas with my teammates. To improve on this weakness, I’ve been trying to be more mindful of my thoughts and practice self-compassion. I try to remind myself that it's normal to make mistakes and that everyone has unique strengths and weaknesses. I also try to reframe my negative thoughts and turn them into positives. Practicing meditation and mindfulness techniques has also helped me focus on the present and not get caught up in negative thoughts. Recently, I was able to present my ideas one at a time to a prospective client without getting too caught up in my head, by taking these small steps. He was so impressed by my presentation that he signed a new contract. This is the biggest client account I have onboarded in my current role.”

3. I struggle to multi-task

“I can struggle to manage different tasks at the same time. This especially became challenging when I took over as an Operations Specialist, where I led the implementation teams for 10 different tier-2 cities across India. With so much happening on various fronts, I sometimes failed to meet the deadline or could not resolve supply chain issues with different city teams. My manager gave me feedback to use a platform like 'Notion' to manage project timelines better. She also advised breaking tasks into smaller goals and set a to-do list for each day. I have also started to delegate wherever possible so that my team becomes more efficient and self-dependent. Since implementing these suggestions, I’ve certainly improved my ability to multi-task and have received great feedback.”

4. I lose interest during execution

“I’m the Ideas person in my team. When we’re marketing a new product in our agency, I’m the one who devises an innovative marketing strategy and creates effective action plans. I love making chart boards and step-by-step plans and using data visualization tech like Tableau. However, when it comes to executing our strategies, my mind often moves onto the next project before the last one is complete. In my post-MBA role of Marketing Manager at a startup, I’ll lead the in-house marketing team where I’ll need to oversee the execution of our strategies while also devising new strategies. During my MBA, I plan to take the Operations elective with professor XYZ to help manage this.”

5. I can be reluctant to speak up

“Being an introvert, I can be reserved in meetings and after-work networking gatherings. While working with new teams, it takes me time to warm up to my teammates and openly share my ideas. However, I have recently acknowledged this weakness and am working on becoming more comfortable in social settings. I go out of my way to attend networking events regularly, where I challenge myself to initiate conversations with new people. I have also joined the Toastmasters public speaking club to help me improve my confidence. I am determined to continue to put in the effort to become more outgoing and confident in social settings, as I know it will help me achieve my professional goals."

We hope these 5 examples of weaknesses help you understand how to constructively share your weakness with AdCom during your interview. If you need help preparing for your business school interview, why not book a 20-min chat with any of our consultants and explore how our team can help you prepare for your MBA interviews.

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7 tips for writing a winning mba application essay.

Nervous about your MBA admissions essay? You’re not alone! Many applicants wonder how to put their best foot forward in a business school entrance essay.

In this article, I’ll tell you what admissions committees look for in application essays and offer MBA essay tips on how to make yours stand out. We’ll also take a look at the different kinds of business school essays and a few examples of MBA essay prompts.

Why Do Business Schools Ask for Essays? What Do They Look For?

Business schools ask for essays for several reasons, all of which help admissions committees determine whether you have the skills and traits to succeed in an MBA program.

First, MBA admissions committees want to see how you write. Communication skills—including concision, clarity, style, and fluency in English—will be essential to your success in business school. One way of discerning your level of writing ability is to require an original writing sample. In an MBA essay, you have to get your point across straightforwardly, elegantly, and concisely; being able to do this is a key element of succeeding in business school and the world of business in general.

Also, MBA admissions committees want to get a sense of who you are on a more personal level. MBA application essays tell admissions officials about you not only through what you say, but in how you say it. Are you self-aware, for example, and can you reflect on past challenges or mistakes in a thoughtful way? Do you demonstrate insight into who you are and your goals? How you answer questions about yourself, your career, and your journey can help MBA admissions officials discern your level of critical thinking and personal insight.

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You can have countless accomplishments, but to succeed in business school, you’ll also need to fit in with the campus climate, work well with your peers, and contribute to campus diversity in a meaningful way. The MBA essay is a place for you to talk about the background or experiences you have that are unique to you and that you believe could differentiate you from your colleagues and/or provide a fresh perspective to campus.

Finally, essays are a way for you to showcase the qualities that most MBA programs say they are looking for in applicants, such as leadership skills, community involvement, problem-solving skills, communication skills, clear goals, and a strong sense of ethics. Some of these traits might not be readily apparent from a resume alone, and an MBA essay can be a place for you to elaborate on how you’ve cultivated them in yourself.

MBA Entrance Essay Sample Prompts

Most MBA entrance essays ask you about one of several things. Many of them are variations on similar questions: the open-ended question, the leadership question, the personal growth question, questions on short- and long-term academic and career goals, and the diversity question. For each one, I’ll give an example of a real MBA essay prompt from 2016 or 2017.

#1: Open-Ended

The open-ended MBA application essay question is just that: open. It allows you to tell your own story, giving you quite a bit of freedom but also little to no guidance. For that reason, many applicants find it to be the most challenging MBA essay prompt.

Harvard Business School has only one essay for its MBA application, and it’s the quintessential open-ended MBA essay question. This is the prompt for 2017-2018 applicants.

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?

Note that, as in other open-ended MBA admission essay prompts, this question asks you to decide what you’ll write about. Successful Harvard applicants and HBS admissions counselors have advised applicants to use the prompt as a chance to demonstrate their past use of an especially desired trait, such as problem-solving skills. For example, many successful applicants use the prompt to describe a scenario in which they faced and overcame a challenge, especially as a leader or alongside a team.

Notably, Harvard also doesn’t list a word limit, so you can decide the appropriate length for your essay. However, most admissions counselors will advise you to keep it concise and straightforward.

#2: Leadership

Another common MBA essay prompt asks you to demonstrate your experience and skills as a leader. Leadership qualities are listed by nearly all MBA admissions counselors as fundamental to a career in business and, thus, to a successful business school application.

Let’s look at a sample leadership MBA essay prompt from Kellogg.

Leadership and teamwork are integral parts of the Kellogg experience. Describe a recent and meaningful time you were a leader. What challenges did you face, and what did you learn? (450 words)

In a response to this kind of prompt, you should be as specific as possible. Name the company you were working for or specifically describe the project you were heading. Who was on your team? What were your objectives? Did you meet them? How could you have done so more effectively?

While you shouldn’t be overly self-deprecating, don’t be afraid to address the challenges you met and how you overcame them (or would overcome them now, with more experience and knowledge). Remember that one important aspect of leadership is accountability, so if there were problems, don’t solely blame your team for them. Instead, reflect on how you successfully worked with your team to solve the problems, and/or on how you could have done so more effectively or efficiently.

#3: Personal Growth

The personal growth MBA admission essay prompt will ask you how you’ve changed in the past and how you want to grow in the future. Here’s one example from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management.

Pursuing an MBA is a catalyst for personal and professional growth. How have you grown in the past? How do you intend to grow at Kellogg? (450 words)

Don’t be afraid to get a bit personal with these kinds of prompts . They’re meant to gauge something about your personality and who you are, rather than only what you’ve done.

Many successful MBA admission essays that respond to these kinds of questions follow a past/present/future format. Ask yourself what traits you’ve gathered over the years that have benefited you personally and professionally, how you’ve improved, and what you’ve learned. What experiences have shaped you? Be as specific as possible.

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Then, take stock of yourself now: your career, your education, and where you see yourself in the future. What do you need in order to get there?

Finally, most essay MBA prompts in this vein (like Kellogg’s) will ask you how they can help you move towards that personal or professional goal. Be as specific as you can, focusing on the particular strengths of the prospective MBA program and how they match up with what you want to improve about yourself as a person, colleague, and leader.

#4: Your Plan

Some MBA application essay prompts will ask you about your career goals and how attendance at a particular business school will help you to achieve them. Let’s look at one from the USC Marshall School of Business.

Essay #1 (Required) – 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)

As you can see, questions like these often request brief responses. So get straight to the point, and give details. Name a specific job you’d like to hold, what you’d like to do there, and even particular companies if you can.

Questions like this one will require some research. Research alumni from your prospective business school who’ve ended up in positions comparable to ones you’d like to hold in the future, particular companies and positions that match up with your personal and professional goals, and specific coursework or industry experiences offered by your prospective business school that would help you get there.

#5: Diversity, Culture, and Community

Finally, some MBA essay prompts will ask you how your unique background and experiences would contribute to the overall diversity and collegial atmosphere of a school’s campus climate and community. Here’s one example from USC.

Essay #2 (Required) – At Marshall, we take pride in the fact that our students work collaboratively, both inside and outside the classroom, to create a culture, a community, and an environment that truly defines what we call the Trojan Family. Please describe the contributions you expect to make to your classmates during your time at USC. How will they benefit from your presence in the program? (word limit: 500)

You can respond to questions like this, depending on the wording of the original prompt, by discussing your cultural background, identity, and/or personal experiences that have given you particular insight into a given community or that have lent you a unique perspective that could be valuable to your colleagues as you collaborate.

You can also discuss past community service projects or issues you’re passionate about and how you plan to carry those experiences and passions into your work at your prospective MBA program.

7 MBA Essay Tips

Writing MBA essays takes a particular skill set. Let’s go over the top seven MBA essay tips for making your application essay shine.

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#1: Write Early and Often

Even though MBA entrance essays are brief, they take a lot of polishing. Writing MBA essays takes time.

Don’t expect to write yours at the last minute or knock out a quality essay in a day. Most students need several drafts to make sure they’re getting their points across as elegantly and clearly as possible.

Start your essay well before the application deadline, when you don’t yet feel any pressure. For several weeks, don’t try to write at all. Instead, before crafting your essay for MBA admission, take notes on your past, present, and future. What have you learned? What unique experiences have you had? What have been the most meaningful projects you’ve undertaken? Ask friends, family, and mentors to tell you what they value most about you or what they see as your greatest personal and professional assets.

Only once you’ve gathered this material should you begin your first draft of your MBA application essay. Start with an outline for each one that includes the story you want to tell and the main points you want to get across.

Once you have a clear outline, you can start drafting. Taking the writing process seriously from start to finish will give you a much better product in the end than trying to write something hastily right before the deadline.

#2: Show, Don’t Tell

MBA admissions committees want to be able to tell that you have the qualities that are necessary to succeed in business school, such as leadership skills and integrity.

Your MBA admissions essay can be a great place to showcase those qualities. However, remember to show, not tell. Saying “I have strong leadership skills” doesn’t tell an admissions committee much. Through an anecdote about, say, meeting a difficult deadline or overcoming an obstacle, a reader should be able to tell that you have the qualities of a strong leader without your having to say so explicitly.

#3: Research Your Goals

When describing your future goals, be as specific as possible. Business schools know that your goals may change in the future, but stating specific goals now will show that you’ve done your research and have an idea of what you want and how an MBA program can help you get there.

Before writing your essay for MBA admission, research the ins and outs of the industry you want to enter, the position you’d like to have, companies you might like to work for, and coursework and internships or fieldwork that could aid you on your way to those goals.

#4: Keep It Concise

Never, ever go over a stated word count limit when you’re writing your essay for MBA admission. It might be tempting, but business schools want to see that you can get your point across concisely and straightforwardly.This rule goes for MBA essay prompts that don’t have specific word counts, too: sometimes, less is more.

One of the biggest mistakes applicants make in writing an essay for MBA admission is to use too much flowery language to come across as more professional. If you do this, it can be distracting and cause the admissions committee to miss the main points you’re making.

Bottom line, trim anything extraneous from your essay —that is, anything that doesn’t actively support the main point(s) you’re trying to get across.

#5: Show Self-Awareness

It might feel tempting to use the MBA admission essay as a space to list all of your accomplishments (and since your resume is already part of your application, this is unnecessary), but MBA admissions committees would rather see that you have insight into both your strengths and weaknesses. No one is perfect, and in your essay for MBA admission, you shouldn’t try to come across as if you’ve never made a mistake or faced a challenge that you’ve had to learn from.

Also, in business school and the business world at large, bouncing back from failures, being flexible, and problem solving are all essential skills. All of them require a thick skin and awareness of what you could do better.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t showcase your achievements, but if you’re asked about personal growth or an obstacle you’ve overcome, be clear about what you could have done more effectively in the past (at a job or in your education, for example) and the steps you’ve taken or will take to sidestep that mistake in the future.

#6: Share Your Personal Journey

Many applicants would prefer to focus only on their professional backgrounds and goals in their MBA essays, but you shouldn’t be afraid to get personal in your essay. You don’t need to tell your whole life story, but especially in response to questions that ask about your growth over time, you should showcase your personality and give the admissions committee an idea of your personal background and experiences.

#7: Ask for Edits

It might seem obvious, but many applicants don’t do it: proofread your work! When writing MBA essays, revision is key. Turning in an MBA essay with typos and other errors will come off as thoughtless and unprofessional.

You should also get a second (and, perhaps, a third and fourth) pair of eyes on your essay to make sure it’s coming across as you want it to. Going through several rounds of drafts is a necessary part of the writing process to ensure that you’re putting your best foot forward in your MBA entrance essay.

What’s Next?

Worried about how your GMAT score matches up to other applicants’? Find out more in our list of average GMAT scores by school.

Concerned about your chances of getting into an MBA program? Our guide to business school acceptance rates will help.

Ready to apply to business school? Check out our top eight tips for applying to MBA programs here.

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Author: Laura Dorwart

Laura Dorwart is a Ph.D. student at UC San Diego. She has taught and tutored hundreds of students in standardized testing, literature, and writing. View all posts by Laura Dorwart

MBA Resources

Strengths and Weaknesses Unveiled: Navigating Your MBA Application Journey

MBA & Beyond Team

21/08/2023 | 10:21 pm

Welcome to our guide on addressing “Strengths and Weaknesses” in your MBA application. As you embark on this crucial journey towards your business school aspirations, it’s essential to master the art of presenting your strengths confidently while candidly addressing your areas for growth. In this article, we’ll delve into strategies and insights to help you navigate this aspect of your application process effectively. Let’s unlock the potential of your candidacy together.

Writing an application includes your GMAT scores or GPA; it tells who you are as a person. Your Strengths and Weaknesses in an MBA application serve as indicators of your credibility and accountability in unfamiliar and challenging situations, a common and signature element of the business field.

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Condensing all the essential dimensions into a few paragraphs and showcasing the “best” in you for the cause may appear daunting and exhausting.

But fret not!

This article will cover all the pertinent details to include and avoid when addressing your strengths and weaknesses essay in detail during the drafting of your B-school application.

Our bullet spells will help you succeed with flying colors. 😉

So, here’s your key tip for crafting a high-quality strengths and weaknesses essay for your MBA application.

HERE ARE FEW TIPS TO ACE YOUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESS ESSAY FOR YOUR MBA APPLICATION

What are your strengths for an mba.

The question mentioned above is considered one of the most anticipated ones that nearly every MBA applicant needs to address, either within an essay or as a query for your recommenders.

“What are your strengths for an MBA?” may appear as a generic question, but the scope of knowing your “strengths for MBA application” and aligning them with the values that your target b-school holds can be a total game-changer!. World-class B-schools seek leaders, visionaries, and individuals capable of challenging established norms in the business world. It is crucial to demonstrate to the admissions committee that you embody these qualities by highlighting your strengths in your MBA application.

IDENTIFY THE POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES OF YOUR PROFILE

Strengths for MBA are easy; most of the top B-schools are looking for candidates with leadership qualities. 

College administrations are aware that most candidates won’t have many significant accomplishments in terms of strengths for MBA early in their career. However, they seek qualities such as innovative vision, creativity, teamwork, and thoughtful curiosity in applicants.

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Alongside implementing other general tips outlined in the article, ensuring that your strengths and weaknesses for MBA application complement each other effectively in your b-school essays is a strategic and wise move.

• Precision in your writing of Strengths and weaknesses essay 

Be precise while introducing yourself or providing valuable details such as your GMAT/GRE Scores in your strengths and weakness essays. 

Precision doesn’t entail portraying oneself as a ‘perfect candidate’; the objective should be to selectively highlight pertinent aspects, depicting oneself as a ‘credible candidate’ who pays attention to even minute details when conveying strengths and weaknesses for MBA applications.

RATE MY CHANCE FOR TOP B-SCHOOLS

• Creativity is the key to master strengths and weaknesses for MBA applications.

Well, it’s no secret that every B-school receives thousands of application letters every day so, what makes your letter unique among others? 

Beyond professional certificates and test scores, the method of expressing your strengths and weaknesses for MBA applications plays a pivotal role in your selection.

Why would they accept your candidature? Everyone talks about their leadership experiences, accomplishments, social impact, etc. What will make you stand out?

To tackle such questions, position yourself as the protagonist when detailing your strengths for MBA. Make yourself the focal point. Mould your actions and experiences into a narrative that showcases your involvement in managing difficult situations while addressing your strengths and weaknesses essay. Add a touch of personality to infuse depth and flavor into your essay.

• Be Professional in your Strengths for MBA essay.

Remember that you are creating an application for a professionally-oriented B-school. Therefore, emphasizing strengths in your professional experience should be your primary focus.

It’s vital to underscore strengths for MBA that highlight your personality, but that’s the second step to consider. Initially, you must link your strengths for MBA to your professional life, future goals, and aspirations.

WEAKNESS FOR MBA APPLICATION

When prompted to explore their weaknesses for MBA applications, candidates should ponder two fundamental questions before starting:

What should I avoid mentioning about my weakness for MBA interviews?

What is the college administration looking for in my strengths and weaknesses essays?

Answering these two questions clearly and earnestly will help you craft a thoughtful and compelling response that will enhance your strength and weakness for MBA application.

MAXIMIZE CHANCES FOR TOP B-SCHOOLS SCHOLARSHIPS

First, avoid mentioning weakness for MBA applications outside your academic or professional life as they aren’t relevant to your future career.

Crafting a weakness that logically aligns with your strengths is a strategic approach. It not only underscores your self-awareness but also showcases your leadership trait of recognizing areas for improvement. This method can be particularly valuable when addressing weaknesses for the MBA application and interview. The essence lies in establishing a connection between specific drawbacks and particular strengths in your weakness for the MBA application.

The college administration is seeking applicants with positive character traits such as self-awareness and self-assessment—someone who can interpret their shortcomings and improvise to develop them into potential growth areas. 

WHY IS WEAKNESS A STRENGTH?

To answer this above question, here are some tips to address your “ weakness for MBA application .”

• Personalize your weaknesses for MBA application:

Each candidate possesses their own set of shortcomings and weaknesses. Offering appropriate context for them in your strength and weakness essay enables the reader to comprehend the specific circumstances and envisage how you would handle similar situations as a student if admitted.

Leadership experience and potential are highly valued at business schools but may not be universally attainable. Instead, consider weaknesses for MBA as opportunities for growth and present them effectively in your strength and weakness essays.

APPLY WITH TOP B-SCHOOL EXPERTS

• Be Honest 

“The most crucial takeaway is to be honest.” Presenting specific flaws and addressing them sincerely in your weakness for MBA application essays will give you an advantage by allowing you to discuss the impact they’ve had on shaping who you are today. Every candidate has their own flaws, but not everyone will use them as an opportunity to reveal their true selves in their strengths and weaknesses for MBA application essays.

• Avoid counting too many weaknesses for MBA admission essays.    

Avoid delving into excessive weaknesses; one or two examples will suffice. Instead, concentrate on sharing a genuine weakness in your MBA application. You can emphasize a specific area of knowledge, skill, or type of experience that you wish you had acquired based on your previous work. Furthermore, be sure to elaborate on your plans for skill development in your strengths and weaknesses essays. This approach will convey to the college admissions committee that you are actively addressing your areas of improvement, demonstrating your commitment to personal growth while acknowledging that nobody is flawless.

• Focus on yourself in your strengths and weaknesses essays

Instead of attributing blame to colleagues and the work environment, it is crucial to present proof of your capacity to identify the skills needed. Discuss the strategies employed in addressing these challenges in your strengths and weaknesses essays. Demonstrating self-awareness and self-assessment is essential to depict yourself as an applicant who acknowledges areas for improvement.

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES EXAMPLES

Leadership qualities, intellectual appetite, self-introspection, and personal accountability are some prime qualities every B-school is looking for. 

Feel free to narrate a success story! Sharing a success story is a fantastic method to highlight your decision-making and communication skills adeptly. Nevertheless, it is equally crucial to illustrate how you have actively enhanced these skills and your recognition of the necessity to incorporate additional skills into your skill set.

BEST-FIT B SCHOOLS FOR YOUR PROFILE

While discussing your strengths, always remember to follow a Problem, action, result approach!

• Mention the situation and your role
• Mention your action and how you utilize your skills to deal with the problem.
• Describe the result and how the situation turned out in favor of your company.
• Lessons you learned and how these skills will help you prosper in your future.

Lacking adequate knowledge in a specific domain can be a valid weakness. For instance, in your previous role as a Marketing Manager, limited exposure to the technical aspect of the business could be identified as an area for improvement. Subsequently, you can elaborate on your plans to enhance these skills.

The top B-school programs seek individuals with leadership qualities, visionary thinking, and an entrepreneurial spirit capable of challenging and shaping the future. It is crucial to convey to the admissions board that you embody these traits. With competition intensifying each day, securing a spot at the top business schools has become an increasingly challenging endeavor. Merely having good grades, certificates, and educational history is no longer sufficient for MBA applicants; they must possess additional qualities to gain admission.

While reviewing application essays, the admission committee seeks credible individuals poised for future impact. Hence, it is your responsibility to articulate your personal and professional narrative in a manner that engages the reader. You may think this means that you need to show them a history of spotless professional records, a flawless transcript, and a journey filled with success?

KNOW YOUR ADMISSION CHANCE

Of course not! If your story lacks failures or weaknesses, it may come across as lacking authenticity, and the admissions committee might perceive it as if you haven’t fully contemplated their application questions.

Every individual has experienced failure at some point, and such setbacks can serve as a dual advantage for your application. They not only showcase the capacity for self-introspection, a rare leadership trait, but also provide an opportunity to outline your action plan for future endeavors.

HOW TO COMMUNICATE YOUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES FOR AN MBA INTERVIEW TO THE ADCOMS?

The first and foremost step is to be perfectly honest, don’t try to outplay the interviewer by marking your strengths as your weaknesses.

Ensure that any strength you highlight incorporates qualities that B-schools specifically value. Avoid presenting yourself as perfect, as it implies there’s nothing left to learn, and this impression may not be well-received by the Adcoms.

Self-introspection is valuable, but it doesn’t necessitate tearing yourself down. Limit your weaknesses to one or two at most. Simply stating your weaknesses is not sufficient; provide a logical foundation linked to your future goals. Question why you believe a particular aspect needs change and consider how this transformation can contribute to your personal growth.

If you’re still seeking further guidance on how to prepare your strengths and weaknesses for an MBA interview, join us for a call! Our 45-minute in-depth consultation will assist you in overcoming any challenges encountered during interview preparation. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I make my MBA application strong?

Rather than making your strengths and weaknesses for MBA application exhaustive detail-wise, try to make it more genuine by focusing on strengths for MBA relevant to your future goals and how admission to your dream school will help achieve them.

Precision, creativity, honesty, and professionalism are the major aspects of drafting a near-perfect strengths and weaknesses essay for an MBA application.  

How can you justify your strengths?

Ensure that your certificates, academic background, and prior work experience seamlessly align with the highlighted strengths for MBA. The college administration recognizes that noteworthy achievements at a young age are uncommon, making them particularly interested in individuals with vision, creativity, and strong leadership skills.

What should I write about my weaknesses in MBA?

Crafting weaknesses for MBA essays can be challenging, but to prevent misinterpretation, focus on offering logical weaknesses tied to your profession. However, refrain from listing too many in your MBA application essays; limit them to two or at most three. Additionally, keep in mind that the capacity for self-criticism and introspection is a valuable leadership trait, and it’s relatively rare among B-school applicants.

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Mba essay tips: turning weaknesses into strengths, the mba essay: your spotlight in a sea of applicants.

Considering that the lives of those who want to join MBA are so high profile, many students have almost the same scores and GPAs. This means you cannot use your numbers to differentiate yourself. According to the GMAC Prospective Students Survey 2024, the full time 2 year MBA programs have seen the applicant pool going from 40% to 52% amongst all the respondents from 2014 to 2023. In terms of the full time one year MBA the applicant pool has increased from 41% to 49% from 2014 to 2023. This shows the competitiveness of the MBA application process now.

The MBA essays will enable you to tell others about your personality, what you have gone through and your dreams in a way one cannot just by looking at numbers. Regarding an applied business school essay, it should be thought of as the most critical segment since it is the only moment where an individual can speak out their unique story which will leave memories with the admission committee.

Why Your MBA Essay is Crucial:

Beyond the Numbers: Although academic records and test scores provide quantitative data, essays provide a qualitative perspective on such issues. The admissions committees do encourage candidates to demonstrate their aspirations, motivations and value systems—those immeasurable aspects that make them fit for a given program.

Demonstrating Fit: Various MBA programs exhibit different cultural values. Essays give applicants an opportunity to express how they conform with such principles and also contribute towards nurturing these ideals within the institution.

Showcasing Your Uniqueness: Among highly qualified applicants; the MBA essay is his or her chance to beat other people within that competitive pool. Share personal anecdotes, unique experiences, and diverse perspectives that set you apart from the crowd.

Communicating Your Potential: The purpose of writing an application essay is not only showing how successful or cool you have been but also demonstrating what kind of success one may expect in future from this person/potential worth supporting/ Look like someone who loves challenges and aspire to obtain more knowledge throughout life when studying at this particular educational establishment.

To quite some extent its about selecting the right stories. Applicants with well-rounded applications strategy, while coming up with authentic essays, have higher chances of acceptance into their dream MBA schools.

Remember that the MBA Essays are not just about fulfilling requirements; indeed they allow you show your spike factor to the Admissions committee.

The Unexpected Power of the Weakness Essay

Writing a weakness essay is a tough assignment. Why would you want to emphasize your weaknesses when applying for an MBA program? However, this essay can be a unique opportunity to showcase your self-awareness, resilience, and growth potential.

Embracing Imperfection:

Admissions committees understand that nobody is perfect. They do not need candidates without any flaws; instead they are looking for individuals who can acknowledge their shortcomings, learn from their mistakes and always strive for improvement.

Turning Weakness into Strength:

The trick of writing a good weakness essay is to think of anything that challenged you like an opportunity for personal growth. Discuss a specific situation where you faced disappointment or failure but do not concentrate on the negatives alone. Rather than putting blame on oneself as it happened, explain how one analyzed it, took responsibility and made efforts towards making changes. It would also be important to point out what were some of the steps taken by an applicant in order to overcome all these challenges as well as what he/she learned while on this journey.

Showcasing Self-Awareness:

By acknowledging one’s own weaknesses openly, you demonstrate high levels of self-consciousness. This quality is very vital among MBA students because it indicates that such learners are ready to acquire new knowledge and change with time/ Admissions committees look forward to seeing self-evaluating applicants who are willing and able at times to make necessary improvements.

Examples of Powerful Weakness Essays:

For instance, if someone had difficulty speaking in public, he or she could write about enrolling into training courses so that they could improve their skills and later giving a successful talk after practicing hard.

One could discuss how he got through personal difficulty by seeking help, learning coping skills and became stronger in the end.

The purpose of the weakness essay is not to make excuses for your mistakes but rather to show that you are capable of changing things about yourself.

Turning Challenges into Triumphs in your MBA Essays - A Guide from GOALisB

MBA essays are the ideal opportunity for you to present your abilities and potential to admissions committees. But what if I have moments of weakness or failure? Should I pretend they did not happen at all? No! Actually, when you embrace them, it makes your application stronger.  We at GOALisB are experienced MBA admission consultants who believe that your ability to overcome adversity is a valuable asset. Here’s how you can address your weaknesses strategically in your MBA essays:

1. Choose Your Challenges Wisely

This is extremely crucial. Not all challenges should be brought out in the essay. It is better off to choose one or two major setbacks that have had significant impact on either your personal life or professional growth.  

2.  Focus on the "How" and the "Why"

Instead of dwelling on the negative side of the challenge, concentrate on how you went about resolving it, what actions you took part in and which plans were used towards overcoming it. This shows resilience, resourcefulness, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. Additionally, explain why this particular challenge was significant to you. What did you learn from it? How did it shape your values, goals or perspective?

3.Showcase Growth & Learning

The most powerful essays demonstrate how a challenge was transformed into an opportunity for growth. Discuss specific lessons learnt during this period; skills acquired; ultimately making you better off and more capable individual. Admission committees want assurance that whenever things go wrong, you have the ability to emerge out of it.

4. Link to Your Future Goals

Connect your past challenges with future aspirations.What overcoming these obstacles means in terms of readiness for an MBA program and career ambitions. Explain how these experiences have inspired me towards achievement and positive social change.

5.Maintain a Positive Tone

Be honest but maintain positivity that looks ahead.Avoid self-pity as well as a blame game. Focus on your resilience, adaptability and how you have turned adversities into opportunities.

It’s not about the challenges; it’s all about how we approach them. You can turn your weaknesses into interesting stories of growth, resilience, and determination by thoughtfully addressing them in your MBA essays.

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Tips for Questions About Strengths and Weaknesses

Jun 15, 2021

The graduate school application process is a gauntlet of questions that challenges applicants to tell their individual stories. Some of the trickiest questions to answer well are those that ask the applicant to reflect on their strengths and weaknesses. These questions also offer the opportunity to craft exceptional answers that can distinguish one amid a sea of other applicants. This post will consider challenges, opportunities and strategies associated with answering essay and interview questions pertaining to your strengths and weaknesses.

First, let’s look at an example of an essay question that requires the applicant to address strengths and weaknesses. This is an INSEAD MBA essay question.

“Give a candid description of yourself (who you are as a person), stressing the personal characteristics you feel to be your strengths and weaknesses and the main factors which have influenced your personal development, giving examples when necessary (maximum 500 words).”

While this question asks for more than a simple consideration of the applicant’s strengths and weaknesses, the other parts of the question give valuable hints about what elements and information can help generate a strong response to questions about strengths and weaknesses. Let’s break it down.

“Give a candid description of yourself (who you are as a person)…” Talking about strengths and weaknesses is highly personal, can feel quite sensitive and has the potential to reveal a good deal about your values, personality, worldview and, generally, ‘ who you are as a person .’ Note the use of the word ‘ candid ,’ meaning honest and sincere. This is a reminder that the INSEAD admissions committee wants you to show your true self when speaking about your strengths and weaknesses.

“…stressing the personal characteristics…” Not every question is going to be about professional experiences and career goals. Universities also want to know who you are as a person. This is a critical part of this question and is a good example of why we always encourage applicants to read each question very carefully. Here INSEAD is asking about personality traits rather than skills. So empathy, patience, integrity or leadership could be good plays, but being a Python coding expert or a meticulous auditor would not.

“…the main factors which have influenced your personal development…” Talking about your strengths is likely to afford you the chance to talk about some growth experiences. Sharing these stories will make the essay more vivid and give the reader reasons to believe in your strengths. Similarly, talking about weaknesses is a great time to mention important learning moments and realizations that have shaped your understanding of yourself and your future goals.

“…giving examples when necessary.” When answering these questions, using real stories from your life will illustrate and qualify or quantify your strengths and weaknesses. If project management is a weakness, share that you struggled in your first junior account management role until a senior colleague began mentoring you. If leadership is a strength, share a detailed account of leading a team to win a group competition.

By breaking down this multi-part question, you can see the complete storytelling opportunity that INSEAD would like you to take. Here are a few more tips for building strong stories about your strengths and weaknesses.

“Please share a weakness and what you are doing about it.” – London Business School MBA Interview Question

Give Each Rain Cloud a Silver Lining

Any story you tell about a weakness should result in learning or finding a growth opportunity. This is the real point of the question – the school wants to know about your resilience, your growth mindset, your willingness to learn, your manageability. The way you deal with a weakness, shortcoming, or failure can reveal those things.

Show What Motivates You

For many people, a weakness or defeat inspires them to do better or achieve something in the future. When talking about a weakness, it is advisable to spend a considerable portion of your word count – possibly more than half – talking about your resulting growth, what you have done and what you are continuing to do to improve yourself. Tie this experience and growth to your career goals whenever possible. 

“What would your manager say are your strengths?” – Indiana (Kelley) MBA Interview Question

Strength Involves Personal Growth

Some strengths come naturally to us, and these are usually personality traits such as empathy or leadership. But strengths can also come in the form of learned skills and habits. Becoming an expert at a skill or rigorously forming good work habits are processes that require years of practice and training. Sharing the story of the dedicated efforts you made to acquire and improve this ability tells the reader more about you than if you simply focus on results-based validation.

A Strength Can Be Something to Build On

Remember that the results and experiences you offer to back up your strengths don’t have to stop in the present. You are applying for a graduate program to continue to improve yourself and boost your career. Your strengths are likely related to your career direction or goals, so show that you are still hungry for more by including your intention to keep pushing to improve upon a given strength. If you have your sights on achieving a rare standard or becoming a verified expert, make that known.

[Conclusion]

Talking about your weaknesses and strengths is an opportunity to highlight some of the most formative experiences from your past while sharing insights about your motivations for the future. While some schools might ask it in your essays, others could pop the question in an interview. These are challenging but important topics that will help you prepare to ace similar questions in future job interviews. 

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INSEAD Essay 1 (Strengths & Weaknesses): Tips & Winning Essay/ Sample

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MBA Essays That Worked At Harvard & Stanford

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What does a successful MBA essay look like at Harvard Business School and Stanford Graduate School of Business?

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

The answers will vary greatly from applicant to applicant, just as the essay prompts for these two schools differ dramatically. Harvard asks applicants the following: 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?

Stanford’s prompt is among the most iconic MBA essay questions in admissions: What matters most to you, and why?

Both prompts are notoriously challenging. Even if these schools had more generous acceptance rates (currently 10% and 6%, respectively), their essay prompts would still vex candidates with both their simplicity and open-ended nature. How do successful applicants respond to these prompts and, more importantly perhaps, how do they adopt their narratives to fit each school’s requirements? (see  She Applied To Harvard & Stanford With These Two MBA Essays ).

Here are four recent examples from successful MBA applicants who shared their essays with us for What Matters? What More? , a unique collection of 50 successful essays written by applicants to either Harvard, Stanford, or both business schools. Published by Poets&Quants with mbaMission and Gatehouse Admissions, the guide is instantly downloadable , at a cost which is less than $1 an essay. Accompanying each essay is expert commentary from mbaMission founder Jeremy Shinewald or Gatehouse founder Liza Weale on the strengths and sometimes weaknesses of each one, even including detailed footnotes to highlight key passages in every single essay.

If you plan to apply to Harvard Business School or the Stanford GSB or any top MBA program, this digital book is a must-have resource. You can access the book here.

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?”

In 2014, a pulmonologist in Singapore, where my parents live, told my father he had three months to live. The only solution was to undergo a complete double lung transplant in America—a precarious, logistically complex, and financially burdensome procedure. Despite the daunting news, I sprang into action and spent weeks researching options. I channeled my inner Product Manager and delegated aspects of the research and planning to different family members, creating dozens of spreadsheets detailing our to-dos. We then waited patiently for the call.

After months of nervous anticipation, I received word from the hospital that a matching donor lung had been found. We hastily grabbed our “go bags” and rushed to the hospital. The 10-hour surgery, though harrowing, was a stunning success. Assuming my work was done, I flew home to San Francisco with an enormous burden lifted. In the subsequent months, though, my mother would call me almost every day crying. Sometimes she was upset that my father—struggling with his recuperation—wasn’t appreciative or, worse, was harsh with her; other times she was stressed by the body- and mind-numbing labor that goes into postsurgical care. I listened and would tell her that everything was going to be alright, but no amount of reassurance seemed to make her feel better. To be honest, I had to wonder if it actually would be; there was no clear end in sight, and everyone’s patience was running thin.

There’s a saying in Chinese: “Amongst the hundreds of virtues, filial piety is the first in line (百行孝 為先).” I had been there for my father and did not want exhaustion to prevent me from supporting my mother, who had given up her career and dedicated her life to raising and supporting her children. One evening, I stumbled upon an opportunity to volunteer at Helping Hands, a suicide prevention hotline that focuses on providing emotional support. I knew that helping strangers would be rewarding in itself but also thought the program could expand my own perspective and help me guide my family through this emotional crisis, so I signed up on the spot.

I had never encountered any experience as intense, rigorous, and grueling as Helping Hands. Helping Hands volunteers go through an active listening boot camp, with dropout rates higher than the Navy SEALs. After all, there is no room for error when you’re taking calls on a suicide hotline. After months of relinquishing all weekend hours to training, I took my first call: a teenage girl who just wanted to “be a kid and go to school” but had to work to financially support her chronically ill parent. My first instinct was to respond with phrases like, “it’s ok, don’t worry,” but training taught me that platitudes prevent the caller from feeling heard. Instead, an active listener must validate the callers’ feelings and ask open-ended questions, empathetically steering the conversation “towards the pain.” Rather than avoiding sensitive topics, active listeners get to the root of suffering through deliberate dialogue.

Taking over 500 calls at Helping Hands, I learned how judgment and excellent listening skills are incompatible, especially when the other person holds views or values that are completely diametric to yours. 2 For example, I will never forget the call from a serial pedophile who had nobody to turn to except for us. Helping Hands requires operators to treat every caller equally and with empathy, no matter how you feel about them. So, I cast aside all presumptions and focused on talking to the caller like an old friend, listening to what he had to say and unraveling the struggles he was wrestling with. By helping him get troublesome thoughts off his chest, I could only hope that I helped reduced the chances of him reoffending. Practicing empathic listening with these callers enabled me to understand and connect with humans who are vastly different from me.

Working with Helping Hands also taught me the importance of knowing my own emotional limits, so I learned to practice self-care as a means to engage others. I started journaling regularly and became far more open to being vulnerable. Having inherited a stoicism from my father, I had to take an honest, critical look at myself in order to manifest this shift. When I allowed myself to truly unmask my feelings, I started to find real strength and resilience within.

As I came to these realizations, I began to incorporate them into phone calls with my mother. I withheld advice and simply listened actively, validating her feelings and allowing her to unpack her emotions. Slowly but surely, brick by brick, she began to piece her own life together in her own way. She allowed herself to leave my father’s side and instead to focus on her own well-being. She picked up yoga and made new friends at her local church. A year later, she even took a solo trip to the UK to attend a retreat at a monastery.

Since my time volunteering at Helping Hands and supporting my mother, I’ve also incorporated active listening into my professional life. When I discovered that a teammate was struggling to keep up with her programming tasks, instead of jumping to conclusions, I put my active listening skills to use. She confided in me that she felt her manager had neglected her and that she had been struggling with personal issues outside of work. After talking through her concerns, we made an action plan that would allow her to get back on track. I followed up with her consistently and supportively, and a year later, she was nominated to become a technical lead.

In another instance, two executives with disparate opinions on our fraud management strategy kept talking past each other. One believed that Square should fight fraud using internal resources, while the other wished to leverage multiple external vendors. When the conversation reached an impasse, I used my active listening skills to paraphrase each person’s position so both executives felt heard and followed up with open-ended questions to ensure the issues at hand were sufficiently explored. I steered the conversation out of the stalemate, and the executive team reached a multilateral solution— to conduct a time-bound test of the potential systems before choosing a path. The following day, the CTO commended me on my approach and my diplomacy. Active listening allows me to work and understand people at a level that is simply unattainable if all I do is listen passively or speak without thinking.

So, with this new perspective on personal growth, I found myself one quiet evening chatting with my mother, looking back at how far we had come from those trying times. She briefly pondered my role amid our family crisis. Against the sounds of cicadas in the humid Singapore air, she looked at me and replied, “you were my lifeline through my darkest times, listening to me day after day without fail.” In the end, the best way to support my mother had been to provide her with the scaffolding from which to reconstruct her own life.

Jeremy Shinewald, founder of mbaMission

Commentary by Jeremy Shinewald of mbaMission: Many applicants have preconceived notions about how a great HBS essay should read. A candidate could be forgiven for thinking something along the lines of “HBS wants to see ferocious, unyielding leaders who achieve the impossible,” but the idea that most applicants would fit this mold is unrealistic. Reading this guide should prove that point! In this essay, which is one of our absolute favorites, the applicant writes about a superpower that effectively plays directly against the aforementioned perceived HBS “type.”

Rather than being the kind of leader who raises his fist and screams, “After me!,” he listens and is continuously improving his ability to listen, while developing an enormous well of empathy in his dealings with others. In managing a complicated family dynamic, he realizes the importance of truly paying attention to what someone is saying, and he adroitly hones this skill through challenging community work, which itself equips him to solve personal and professional problems. Throughout, the applicant creates a narrative that is deeply thoughtful and calming. His voice in the essay gives the reader the sense that he is a fundamentally introspective person who draws power from reflection. But do not try to simply replicate his voice in your essay. What is critical is finding your own.

ORDER: WHAT MATTERS? WHAT MORE? 50 SUCCESSFUL MBA ESSAYS TO HARVARD & STANFORD

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MBA Applications: How to Approach the "Weakness" Question

By QS Contributor

TopMBA.com looks at the "criticism-weakness-failure" questions often asked during MBA applications , and offers tips on how to answer them. 

The ‘criticism-weakness-failure’ essay is common in MBA admissions essays because it is a test of an applicant’s maturity, self-knowledge, honesty, and ability to learn from mistakes. It is, in other words, the biggest indicator of real leadership ability and potential.

Sample questions are:

Tuck 3. Discuss the most difficult constructive criticism or feedback you have received. How did you address it? What have you learned from it?

Wharton 3. Describe a failure that you have experienced. What role did you play, and what did you learn about yourself?

HBS 2. What have you learned from a mistake?

Columbia 3. Please provide an example of a team failure of which you’ve been a part. If given a second chance, what would you do differently?

Applicants to business school often struggle with these essays because they feel that admitting a weakness erodes their candidacy.

In fact, it does just the opposite. Successful leaders are able to admit their weaknesses to themselves and others, so they can work on them, or work around them.

MBA admissions: Being able to identify your weaknesses

No one is comfortable talking about their weak spots and failure. But nobody is perfect or has not failed, being able to admit your weaknesses, shows self-insight and points to seniority.

Stating that you have no weaknesses, just tells the admissions committee that you don’t know what they are yet or that you’re too immature to face up to them.

It says you don’t know yourself, therefore you don’t yet know where you will make mistakes and nor do you know how you can improve.

Take a tip from George Soros, self-made billionaire, philosopher, philanthropist, social reformer, and fund manager extraordinaire – famous for ‘breaking the Bank (of England)’ by shorting the pound sterling in 1992 – who shares this candid account of his weaknesses:

“I’m a very bad judge of character. I’m a good judge of stocks, and I have a reasonably good perspective on history. But I am, really, quite awful in judging character, and so I’ve made many mistakes.

"It took me five years and a lot of painful experiences to find the right management team. I am pleased that I finally found it, but I cannot claim to be as successful in picking a team as I have been in actually managing money.

"I think that I’m very good as a senior partner, or boss, because I have a lot of sympathy for the difficulties that fund managers face.

"When they are in trouble I can give them a lot of support, and that, I think, has contributed toward creating a good atmosphere in the firm. But I’m not so good at choosing them.” (Soros on Soros: Staying Ahead of the Curve, 1995).

Even the greatest business leaders have weaknesses and they have also made significant mistakes in their careers and their lives.

And note his tone - Soros is candid, straightforward, and objective in his self-analysis. He shares measured self-insight with the reader.

He doesn’t try to slip in softening or deflecting phrases, or hide behind humour; nor is he self-excusing or whining and looking to blame others, the mark of a too-junior applicant.

The point is not to prove that you don’t fail, or won’t fail. It is to prove that you have the insight into yourself to be able to recognize and compensate for your weaknesses.

The admissions officers do not want to know how you avoided failure, but how you managed it, what you learned, what insights into yourself you gained, and how you grew from there.

They want to see that you have the will and the insight to locate and understand the source of your mess-up – the underlying weaknesses that caused it – and that you have the maturity to face and work on the issue. This is a significant test of your readiness for senior leadership.

This article was originally published in November 2012 . It was last updated in March 2021

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5 tips for stating PI strengths/weaknesses

Why does the evaluator ask this Question?

• To find out how well you understand yourself. The panel wants to assess you on your clarity of thought and there can be no better way to do so than checking whether you understand your strengths and weaknesses or not!
• To find out how your strengths are related to your past experiences and to future expectations. This demonstrates an ability to apply strengths in real life situations.
• Every person has some weak points. The evaluators would like to know whether you understand what your weaknesses are and how you plan to remove these weaknesses.

How to decide on your strengths/weaknesses?

• You should be able to justify your strengths and weaknesses by stating past experiences with examples. The width and depth of examples will define the sanctity of what you say.
• Examiners usually ask you instance where you demonstrated a particular strength or where a weakness landed you in problem.
• You should be able to justify how your strengths and weaknesses are going to help in achieving your future expectations. For example, if you are opting for a role in finance, good analytical skills would be an advantage. If you are opting for a career in HR, team skills and values become important. For a person interested in marketing, 'getting along well with people', 'persuasive skills' etc. become important.
• Interviewers would ask you questions on how your strengths and weaknesses can help in achieving your future expectations. For example, if you are someone with high levels of initiative, then you can project it as a trait which will facilitate your leadership roles in professional set ups.

Examples of Strengths

• Willingness to learn – which is critical for any learning program.
• Strong application orientation- which measures your ability to apply theory into practice and becomes imperative for a management program.
• High levels of initiative- which mark your ability to take first steps in the right direction.
• Temperament suitable for team work- which benchmarks your ability to collaborate with team members.
• Capacity for hard work- which is a basic requirement for contributing to a cause.

Examples of Weaknesses

• Impulsive- someone high on energy runs the danger of being restless and impulsive, at which point it starts affecting performance adversely.
• Over meticulous- while having an eye for detail is a positive trait, it starts operating as a hurdle when you get too fastidious about things.
• Set very high goals- which assumes the proportions of being unrealistically ambitious.
• Too curious- which is a disturbing trait as it leads to redundant intervention.

Avoid the following

• Do not state a strength merely because of its political correctness.
• Do not over commit under situational pressure.
• Do not state a weakness of character, like lack of integrity or fairness.
• Do not keep on unfolding with every goad the panel exercises to evoke a reaction from you. For example stating too many weaknesses  as the panel continuously pushes you into a situation where it keeps triggering you, may not go well!
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Tuesday Tips: MBA Strengths and Weaknesses

Almost every MBA application asks some version of the strengths and weaknesses question . It may be part of an essay , or it may be one of the questions your recommender is asked. Whatever the context, the need to define strengths and weaknesses for an MBA application is one of the most difficult tasks an MBA applicant faces.

If you have difficulty knowing your own strengths and weaknesses , it can help to read through past performance reviews at work, think about projects where you were particularly successful (and why) and speak with your colleagues and friends about what their perception. Often your own desire and motivation to involve yourself in a particular task can reveal the areas where you feel strong and the areas of improvement.

Honesty is the best pol icy and you should be honest about your genuine areas for improvement and the qualities you are quite proud of. Often your greatest strength is the flipside of a frustrating weakness. For example, you are an analytical and thorough worker who is detail oriented, and yet have a difficulty seeing the big picture in a strategic way.

Avoid insincere weaknesses that are clearly strengths disguised as weaknesses . Statements like: “my driven nature sometimes leads others to dislike working with me because I am always the strongest member of the team” certainly exhibits a weakness in interpersonal skills. The candidate may have intended communicate a strong work ethic and willingness to take on additional responsibility with such a “weakness” but the attempt can easily backfire.

The ability to discuss your weaknesses candidly is a strength in itself. In general, MBA programs are seeking smart, dedicated and self-aware students who are able to see themselves clearly and improve and adapt when necessary. Your own ability to understand the areas you might be able to improve is a great way to demonstrate this ability to self-assess.

Sometimes discussing a strength can seem too much like bragging. The best way to communicate effectively about your own abilities and talents is to show and not tell . Provide a very specific example of a time that you utilized this great quality, and your solid results. If you are still worried, create a reality check for your own ego by having a friend or family member read your essay and let you know if you are coming across as arrogant.

Strengths and Weaknesses in a Recommendation: For some reason, this question strikes more fear in the heart of a recommender than any other. Your recommenders are often concerned that they will expose a fatal weakness to the admissions committee, and somehow ruin your chances. Therefore, many recommenders ask you to tell them what your strengths and weaknesses are. Ideally, when you are asked to communicate your strengths and weaknesses to your recommender, you will be able to take the opportunity to sit down and brainstorm together. This can be awkward, but if you are honest about what you think you need to work on and what you are hoping to gain from your MBA education, it can be a productive conversation.  Make sure that your recommender is able to cite solid steps you have taken to overcome any weakness that is raised in a recommendation.

Overall, honesty and self-awareness will be noted and appreciated in the process whatever your strengths or weaknesses may be!

For a concise, thoughtful guide that will help you navigate the MBA admissions process with greater success, order our NEW book, The MBA Application Roadmap .

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Addressing Strengths and Weakness Essays

In the pursuit of higher education and professional development, self-reflection becomes an invaluable tool for personal growth. As an applicant to esteemed institutions such as McCombs School of Business, Haas, INSEAD, and McDonough, the opportunity to candidly assess one’s strengths and weaknesses offers a gateway to understanding oneself more deeply. Through this introspective process, individuals not only showcase their self-awareness but also demonstrate their capacity for growth and improvement. In addressing the questions posed by these institutions, applicants have the chance to present themselves authentically, weaving together narratives that reflect their unique experiences, values, and aspirations. In this article, we will be addressing Strengths and Weakness Essays for MBA.

At the McCombs School of Business, we are proud to have an active and diverse student community. What do you consider to be your personal strengths and how have you leveraged them in the past to enrich your work and non-work communities?- McCombs

“We are a community designed for curiosity and lifelong pursuit of personal and intellectual growth. This is not a place for those who feel they have learned all they need to learn.” – Haas

“Give a candid description of yourself (who you are as a person), stressing the personal characteristics you feel to be your strengths and weaknesses and the main factors that have influenced your personal development, giving examples when necessary.” – INSEAD

“Describe the achievement of which you are most proud and explain why. In addition, describe a situation where you failed. How did these experiences impact your relationships with others? Comment on what you learned. ”- INSEAD

NOTE : For those aspiring to join the ranks of INSEAD MBA students, it Is recommended to check our article “ Best INSEAD MBA Interview Questions & Interview Tips ” which presents a valuable resource. Packed with firsthand insights and expert advice, this guide equips candidates with the knowledge and strategies needed to excel in their interviews. By following thee tips and recommendations provided, applicants can confidently navigate the admissions process and present themselves as strong contenders for admission to INSEAD’s prestigious program.

Addressing Weakness Question

A weakness essay is the Admissions Committee’s biggest tool for identifying whether the applicant has the capability to self-reflect on one’s own actions and unintended character traits they suffer. The schools want to learn what actions has the applicant taken, with sufficient awareness and effort to correct the eccentricity so that it does not impact the applicant’s ecosystem.

The key to addressing the question is to go beyond vague, unimaginative weaknesses such as “lack of business knowledge”, “impatience”, “ workaholism ” and so on. Such weaknesses can be inferred as “lack of self-awareness”, “personality disorder”, and “one-dimensional personality”. 

Good examples of weaknesses are subtle eccentricities that, if molded with will and positive reinforcement can help the applicant become a better manager at what he/she currently does.

For example, suppose an applicant is aware of how in his haste to complete a project and deliver an outcome, he has obliviously, on occasion, overlooked certain necessary checks and approvals. He would acknowledge how his oversight impacted his stakeholders and the outcome, leading him to introspect and course correct his approach by being extra cautious about aligning all pieces of the project to achieve the desired outcome. The applicant should also add vivid details about the scale of the impact (first negative and eventually positive) to bring credibility to the story. An example of an evolving person, working on one’s flaws deepens Adcom’s trust in the applicant’s capabilities.

Addressing the Strengths Question

The strengths question provides you an additional opportunity to share your experiences which will help the committee get a better understanding of you. Do you comprehend your personality with maturity? These provide you the chance to establish trust by being straightforward. Adcom will be more ready to believe your favorable statements if you are honest.

The traits you highlight must complement those identified by your recommenders and described in your application’s narrative . If you do your homework and properly research each business school, you be aware of the school’s distinctive unique culture and values (INSEAD’s communication and global outlook, Haas’s innovation, Sloan’s technology, innovation, and business). While leadership, collaboration, analytic prowess, and communication abilities are valued by all business schools, your narrative will blend your true self with the “must have” qualities needed for respective business schools.

“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?” – Georgetown

For schools like McDonough that just want one example, find a story or work project that will clearly highlight all of your skills and weaknesses. It is quite challenging to be creative when discussing traits that you presumably share in common with most individuals. Remember that in this essay, your originality will come from the specific combination of qualities you describe and the examples you choose to show this combination of strengths.

NOTE : In the pursuit of higher education and professional development, self-reflection becomes an invaluable tool for personal growth. When addressing personal strengths and weaknesses in application essays for institutions like INSEAD, it’s crucial to convey these aspects through compelling narratives. Exploring the essays from from our article “ SUCCESSFUL INSEAD MBA ESSAYS SAMPLES ” provides invaluable insights and inspiration for crafting authentic narratives that resonate with admissions committees.

Conclusion: Addressing Strengths and Weakness Essays

In conclusion, the process of addressing strengths and weaknesses in admissions essays serves as a powerful exercise in self-discovery and authenticity. By transcending superficial responses and delving into nuanced aspects of character, applicants demonstrate their capacity for introspection and growth. Through the artful synthesis of personal narratives and institutional values, applicants not only convey their suitability for academic programs but also contribute to the rich tapestry of diverse perspectives within the academic community. As individuals embark on this journey of self-reflection and expression, they pave the way for meaningful connections and transformative experiences in the realm of higher education and beyond.

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How to Answer “What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses?”

• Joel Schwartzberg

Advice and examples to help you craft an authentic answer to this common interview question.

Don’t take common interview questions lightly just because they’re predictable. Underpreparing for them can make the difference between moving ahead and moving on. One question that often comes up: What are your strengths and weaknesses? In this article, the author outlines clear steps for how to describe your strengths and weaknesses along with sample language to use as a guide.

Some questions come up again and again in job interviews . At the top of the list: “ Tell me about yourself ,” “ Why do you want to work here? ” and “What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?”

• JS Joel Schwartzberg oversees executive communications for a major national nonprofit, is a professional presentation coach, and is the author of Get to the Point! Sharpen Your Message and Make Your Words Matter and The Language of Leadership: How to Engage and Inspire Your Team . You can find him on LinkedIn and X. TheJoelTruth

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February 4, 2019

6 Tips for Talking About Your Weaknesses

How do you react when you read/hear the weakness question? With this question, schools are assessing how well you self evaluate. Like a business problem, they want to hear your plan of action, your implementation, and your success rate.

Here are some tips to help you a) think about and evaluate your weaknesses, and b) be prepared to write about them in an essay or discuss them in an interview .

1. Prepare answers in advance.

When an interviewer asks, “So Natalie, tell me about your weaknesses and what you did to overcome them?” you don’t want to be left silent drawing a blank, or worse – caught off guard and say something crazy like, “Gosh, there are so many, I don’t even know where to begin.” Ding!

2. Be honest.

If you have been let go from a position, you need to discuss the lessons learned from this negative experience and how you overcame the situation. If you have a procrastination problem, you need to talk about ways in which you’re working on boosting your time management skills.

3. Remain professionally focused.

Don’t discuss your addiction to video games or your weakness for chocolate. It’s also certainly not the time to talk about anything inappropriate. We’re talking about work-related, professional weaknesses.

4. Focus on your own weaknesses.

Don’t talk about your cousin’s attraction to arson or your mother-in-law’s conspiratorial behavior. Don’t discuss how your boss is a jerk or how you can’t stand your coworker’s habit of nail biting or how your desk is unorganized because the guy you share your cubicle with always throws his garbage your way. This question is about YOU and your weaknesses – don’t shift the attention or blame onto someone else.

5. Proactively address the issues.

If you have a quantitative weakness , take courses that address the weakness (accounting, statistics). Don’t wait for the admissions committee to ask you to take a course. If you are uncomfortably shy, getting involved with an organization like Toastmasters can help you and show the committee that you’re taking steps to overcome that challenge.

6. Avoid clichés.

“Gee, I guess I just work too hard sometimes” is a copout – the adcom/interviewer will know that deep down you’re proud of your intense work ethic. It is the life of a student to work hard – don’t use that as your “weakness . ”

If you need help drafting your essay or framing your answer for your interview , Accepted is here to help you.  Contact us for assistance.

Related Resources:

• 5 Fatal Flaws To Avoid In Your Grad School Statement of Purpose , a free guide • 5 A’s for Your Low GPA , a podcast episode • How Personal is Too Personal?

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