Essay writing

Overcoming Adversity in Your MBA Application

Overcoming Adversity in Your MBA Application

It's highly unlikely that you'll be able to apply for an MBA without submitting an essay about a challenge you faced and how it changed you. You could find yourself at a loss for words and are perhaps reluctant to discuss your struggles or areas of weakness in your writing. However, this blog post will explore how to approach this essay question while still presenting yourself as a competitive MBA applicant.

MIT Sloan Essay Analysis and Breakdown 2022-2023

MIT Sloan Essay Analysis and Breakdown 2022-2023

With one minor adjustment, the MIT Sloan application this year is mostly unchanged from the previous cycle. Once more, the school demands that applications include a cover letter, organizational plan, an optional short answer question, and 60-second video statement.

Emory Goizueta Essay Tips for 2022/2022

Emory Goizueta Essay Tips for 2022/2022

The three essay questions on the Emory Goizueta along with the video essay ask you to cover a lot of ground. The program's core values, your alignment with them, and of course your ability to interact and communicate effectively will all be factors considered by the admissions committee. The application's limited space for writing out your responses is another obstacle. Thus, choosing which important ideas and anecdotes to include and which to omit will be crucial.

Stanford Essay Breakdown and Tips 2022/2023

Stanford Essay Breakdown and Tips 2022/2023

This essay topic analysis looks at MBA admissions essays for Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) for the 2022-2023 admissions season. Stanford is asking applicants to answer the same two questions it has been asking for a few years. The word limit of 1,050 words from last year was kept, and applicants were told to use 650 words for Essay A and 400 words for Essay B. There are also two essays about the candidate's impact and background that are optional. Let's take a deeper dive.

Things You Must Know Before Writing Your Essays

Things You Must Know Before Writing Your Essays

When approaching writing your MBA admissions goals essay, you have to get into the right mindset. Always think, "I must answer the question directly, at a high level. Thus, my long-term goal should be front and center.”

The Biggest MBA Essay Writing Tip

The Biggest MBA Essay Writing Tip

Summertime is essentially the MBA application prep season. There are a ton of things to think about when applying to business school, almost to the point of being overwhelming. Overwhelmed by the MBA essay writing process? Use a simple matrix to ensure you cover all your bases.

Why Aristotle's Poetics is relevant for your MBA application essay

Why Aristotle's Poetics is relevant for your MBA application essay

Here’s why MBA applicants should know Aristotle’s guidelines: If a story, in this case your MBA application essay, is not working, and you can’t put your finger on why — the reason usually is that you left one of Aristotle's rules out, or you broke them. Let’s try to diagnose why with these ten structural tips.

What are the MBA application readers looking for?

What are the MBA application readers looking for?

What are the MBA application readers looking for? Get into the mind of how MBA application readers think. Avoid too much jargon. Understand how the admissions committee is constructed. Remember that you are APPLYING to attend b-school & not yet graduated. Do NOT submit the same resume you would for a job opportunity.

Stay Motivated

Stay Motivated

As the end of round two approaches, are you feeling like you’re running out of gas?  Here’s a few things you do to stay motivated and finish well.

Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day

Well, it's February, which means it's time to take a break from writing round three essays to re-watch Groundhog Day.  The 1993 classic Bill Murray comedy chronicles a day in the life of Phil, a weatherman who is cursed to re-live the same day over and over again.  As an MBA applicant, you can sometimes feel like this is also the curse of the application process.  Here are some tips to avoid the long and arduous grind...

MBA Candidates: Knives Down!

MBA Candidates: Knives Down!

PSA time. 

To all MBA Candidates out there, especially those of you racing to hit the HBS deadline on September 9th ... please, for the love, know when to set your essay down, put your hands in the air, and say "time."  I borrow from Top Chef and call it "put your knives down!"  It's that moment in the show when the buzzer has sounded and they have no choice but to put the chef's knife down, put their hands in the air, and accept that their dish is finished.  In our situation, there isn't a buzzer (yet), but we can still use the principle.  In fact, one of the great ironies of the Top Chef "quick fire" challenge that gave me this expression is that some of the best dishes on that show come because there IS a buzzer - it keeps the contestants from noodling and tweaking and, basically, ruining a great plate of food.  So ... how can we use this for our MBA apps?