Ivy League Admission: 180 Successful Business School (MBA) Essays Nancy L. Nolan, Ph.D. Ivy League Admission: 180 Successful Business School (MBA) Essays Nancy L. Nolan, Ph.D. First Edition Magnificent Milestones, Inc., Florida Copyright 2006. Nancy L. Nolan, Ph.D. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review. Electronic and CD-ROM versions published by: Magnificent Milestones, Inc. Post Office Box 100582 Palm Bay, Florida 32910 www.ivyleagueadmission.com CD ROM Edition 10-digit ISBN 0977376443 13-digit ISBN 9780977376445 PDF Version 10-digit ISBN 0977376494 13-digit ISBN 9780977376490 Printed in the United States of America Disclaimers: (1) This book is a compilation of successful admission essays; it does not claim to be the definitive word on the subject of MBA admission. The opinions expressed are the personal observations of the author based on her own experiences. They are not intended to prejudice any party. Accordingly, the author and publisher do not accept any liability or responsibility for any loss or damage that have been caused, or alleged to have been caused, through the use of information in this book. (2) Admission to business school depends on several factors in addition to a candidate's essays (including GPA, test scores, interview and reference letters). The author and publisher cannot guarantee that any applicant will be admitted to any specific school or program if (s)he follows the information in this book. Dedication For students everywhere; may the size of your dreams be exceeded only by your tenacity to attain them. Acknowledgements I am deeply indebted to the students, professors and admissions officers who have shared their perceptions and frustrations about admissions essays. This book, which was written on your behalf, would not be nearly as powerful without your generous and insightful input. I also want to thank my colleagues at www.ivyleagueadmission.com for providing a constant source of support, along with the best editorial help in the business. Ivy League Admission: 180 Successful Business School (MBA) Essays Table of Contents Introduction: The MBA Admission Process The Role of Essays in the Admissions Decision Writing Tips Common Pitfalls Strengths to Highlight Successful Business School Essays: Discuss Your Post-MBA Goals Discuss Your Unique Contribution to the School A Decision You Wish You Could Change Evaluate Your Candidacy as an Admissions Officer What are Your Outside Interests? Discuss Your Most Challenging / Difficult Professional Relationship Describe How You Handled an Ethical Dilemma Discuss a Challenging Team Experience How Would You Resolve a Team Impasse? Discuss Your Strengths & Weaknesses Describe a Typical Day Discuss the Most Difficult Constructive Feedback You Have Received What Matter Most To You? Why? Addendum to Explain a Low GPA How You Would Spend a Million Dollar Gift An Historical Event You Would Have Like to Have Attended Cover Letter for MBA Admissions Committee Leadership Experience Write Your Annual Performance Review Defining Moment Situation in Which You Failed Development of Foreign Markets Comment on the Following Quotation Discuss your Favorite Book or Fictional Character Discuss an Obstacle You Have Overcome How Would You Spend a Free Day? Formulate an e-Commerce Strategy for Your Company Creatively Describe Yourself to the Dean of the Business School Addendum to Explain a Poor GMAT Score Relevance of Market Forces & Government Regulation on Corporate Values Describe Something You Feel Passionate About Most Valuable Tangible/Intangible Possessions What It Means To Live in a Global Community Personal Characteristic You Would Like to Change How You Would Spend Four Extra Hours per Day Do Academic Grades Reflect True Potential? What Makes a Good Leader? Discuss Your Most Challenging / Difficult Professional Relationship I Wish the Admissions Committee Had Asked Me Commitment to Political Activism Discuss Your Two Best Personal Attributes Discuss a Situation in Which You Questioned Your Values or Beliefs Team Building & Selection Why Our School? Addendum to Explain Job Loss / Getting Fired Pick Three Guests for a Formal Dinner Party What Would Surprise People About You? Resume Submitted with Application Addendum to Explain a Gap in Employment or Education Addendum to Explain an Arrest / Criminal History Personal Background Best Mistake You Have Ever Made Discuss How You Introduced or Managed Change Role of Innovation in Management Models Discuss an Improvement / Impact You Made in an Organization What is your Greatest Talent? Raised Overseas / Cross Cultural Experience Definition of Success Ideal Role Models Three Most Valued Accomplishments Introduction: The MBA School Admission Process For most students, few processes are as daunting as the MBA admissions process. Competition is fierce at top business schools, particularly in the prestigious Ivy League programs. Candidates must generally pass two levels of screening to be offered a seat in the class: 1. The Numbers. Your GPA and GMAT scores must exceed the minimum cutoff level that the school has imposed. Selectivity varies greatly among programs, which means that scores that are considered "great" at one school may not be competitive at another. As a general rule, a successful candidate at a state school has a minimum GPA of 3.2 to 3.5, and a minimum GMAT score of 600 to 650. At highly competitive programs, the cutoffs are as high as 3.75 and 700 for the GPA and LSAT, respectively. Candidates whose "numbers" fall below these levels can still gain admission in special circumstances, but their odds of success are greatly diminished. 2. Personal Strengths. Candidates whose "numbers" meet the school's expectations are further evaluated for their personal fit for business school. In the pre-interview stage, this "fit" is assessed from the applicant's essays and reference letters. Without exception, these documents must highlight the skills and traits that business schools covet, including honor, maturity, a solid work ethic and exemplary communication skills. A great essay brings your "numbers" to life and provides a creative description of your performance and potential. It also provides critical information about your personality, ethics and integrity that isn't captured anywhere elsewhere in the application. The BEST essays are short, specific and insightful. They are written by candidates who know what they want and aren't afraid to go after it. Here is what the committee hopes to learn from your admission essays: a. Your specific qualifications, including the depth of your academic and professional experiences b. Your unique traits that aren't covered anywhere else in the application c. Your demonstrated commitment to pursuing an MBA d. How you compare to other candidates with similar aspirations How Personal Statements are Used in the Admissions Process The most typical question we are asked about personal statements is how they are used in the admissions process. As a general rule, they supplement the primary admissions criteria, which are your GPA and GMAT score. In highly competitive programs, the applicant pool can quickly be sorted into three categories: a. candidates with excellent grades and test scores: good chance of admission b. candidates who are borderline cases: application is competitive, but not outstanding c. candidates with low grades and disappointing test scores: poor chance of admission Unfortunately, if you fall into category c, even a great personal statement may not save you from rejection. In a highly competitive applicant pool, schools usually screen out lesser qualified applicants by imposing a minimum "cutoff" for GPA and test scores. Although an essay can "explain" a disappointing academic performance, it usually cannot compensate for it. There are limits to how much leeway we can give to a candidate who does not present a solid track record of success. In contrast, essays from candidates in category a are usually disaster checks. These applicants have exceptional grades, test scores and impressive letters of recommendation. On paper, they are everything we are looking for. Their personal statements must: a. explain their motivation and goals b. document their character, integrity and work ethic For candidates in category a (excellent grades and test scores), bad or mediocre essays can be extremely harmful. In a highly competitive applicant pool, each piece of the admissions puzzle (GPA, GMAT score, essays, references) must "fit" together in a cohesive manner to show us who you are and what you have to offer. If your essay is poorly written, or reveals a lack of focus and dedication, the committee will be less likely to take a chance on you. Surprisingly, nearly 70% of the applicant pool falls into category b, or borderline. These candidates have competitive grades and test scores, but are otherwise not distinguishable from others with similar “numbers. “ Their acceptance or rejection often hinges on an exceptional intrinsic quality that captures our interest and makes a positive impression. In some cases, this can be their commitment to family, their dedication to community service or their ability to overcome an obstacle. A persuasive essay that discusses a candidate's passion (and how (s)he plans to use that skill in the future) can make or break his/her application; it provides the final piece of the "puzzle" that the committee needs to become excited about the applicant. Writing Tips In a typical day, an MBA admissions officer will read between 25 and 50 essay sets from candidates around the world. What makes a positive impression? Passion. Sincerity. Insight about yourself and the world around you. From our experience, a great essay can take any number of forms; since no two candidates are alike, their personal statements won't be, either. The only "magic formula" is honesty; you must have the courage to reveal your true personality, whatever that may be. Show us who you are and what you will bring to our program. Show us the contribution that only you can make. We surveyed thirty admission officers on what they expect to see in business school essays. Here's what works: 1. Answer the question that was asked. Many candidates try to dodge tough questions, particularly those about ethical issues, personal weaknesses and failure. Yet the committee asks these questions for a reason. We want to understand how you respond to adversity and the specific insights you developed from those experiences. Answer the tough questions honestly and directly. Don't try to sell us the artificial "canned" response you think we want to hear. 2. Write naturally, but concisely. Use simple sentence structure and your normal everyday vocabulary. Don't waste time on fancy introductions; get to the point quickly and reinforce it with specific examples. 3. Use excellent grammar and punctuation. Use logical paragraph breaks to separate your thoughts and to make the essay easier to read. Proofread your work carefully before sending it in. Don't let simple carelessness ruin your chances. 4. Show your real personality (let us get to know you). Too many essays are long, boring theoretical pieces about politics, the economy or complex business issues. No matter how well-written or researched, they don't tell us a darn thing about the candidate. Anyone can write a rational, detached paper, but that's not what we are looking for. We want to get to know you and the unique contribution you will make to our school. 5. Personalize your essay as much as possible. Write about your own unique, funny, interesting experiences. Provide details to add color. Adopt a relaxed, conversational style. 6. Use humor only if it works. Few people can write humorous prose or recount funny experiences effectively. If you have this gift, by all means use it. Before sending us a "funny" essay, though, have several different people read your material to make sure it comes across well on paper. Avoid anything off-color or mean-spirited. 7. Convey a positive message (avoid cynicism). Many applicants choose to discuss a misfortune they have experienced and how it shaped their personality. Be very careful of your tone if you decide to write about a hard-luck story. Avoid the "victimization" perspective and focus on how you overcame the situation. Show us how the experience helped you to demonstrate your stamina, perseverance and intelligence. If written well, these essays show us that you can succeed in the face of terrible obstacles. If written badly, you may sound plaintive, self-righteous and bitter. 8. Use the active voice. Nothing is more tedious than trying to read an essay written in the cold, detached passive voice. While popular with scientists who publish in technical journals, it is pretentious and verbose in everyday writing. Keep your verbs simple and active. What's the difference? Active Voice: The cow jumped over the moon. Passive Voice: The moon was jumped over by the cow.